March 2010 by Lifestyle Magazine

on tHE CoVEr: the Vander Poel home features a variety of local artisans’ handiwork as well as nationally-known sources from High Point, nC, the capital of the u.S. home furnishings industry. Interior design by Annie Gilles, ASID; mica, burnished gold and wrought iron chandelier by Fine Art lamps, stone range hood by Stone Age Design, Francois & Co., Georgia. Photo by Bob Marcot te, Marcot te Photography

Ho ME t o u r 20. The Vander Poel Home San Joaquin Dairy House Conjures Strains of the renaissance

MARCH 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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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

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

ain, rain go away…wait, did I just say that? Yes, I know we need the rain, and I do appreciate its benefit but there are only so many cloudy, overcast days that a sun-worshiper can take. My heart longs for the crisp, clear air while the warmth of the sun casts a glow on my face. Instead, outside the ground is wet and inside my desk flooded with paperwork. To say that my desk is flooded is probably understated. In publishing there is a sea of paper … articles, photo layouts, press releases, and tear sheets all stacked neatly in piles, some which have yet to be reviewed, and others waiting for a decision. Perhaps only another editor would appreciate the next comment, but buried within the piles there is treasure: pitches from writers, invitations to parties, stories that make me laugh, or cry, and comments from readers about an article they just read in Lifestyle Magazine, and the referrals to potential features they would like to see. Whether an accomplished writer or merely someone whose soul is stirred by the written word, there are a number of excellent writers’ workshops and conferences, with information found on page 42. I have participated in a number of these in the past, and there is nothing like spending a few hours with creative people with like interests. Literary Arts writer Diane Slocum does a marvelous job at keeping our finger on the pulse of what is happening in the literary field. Charitable soirees, art exhibits, special excursions and annual events – there is always something happening in the South Valley, but if you don’t believe me check out all of the Lifestyle Happenings, beginning on page 44. And while we’ve often documented the travels and triumphs of our local residents, rarely does one of our photographers step from behind the camera. You certainly will recognize the name Forrest Cavale as his work regularly graces the pages of Lifestyle. Forrest recently traveled to Costa Rica, but not to lounge on the beaches or fly through the air on a zip line. Rather, Forrest and a team of 15 men performed much-needed labor and medical services to those who need it most. Make sure to read Forrest’s account of the trip, found on page 50. We appreciate all of the positive comments we receive, and we are glad to know that in the year 2010 people still love to smell the ink and feel the pages as they turn. Some of our best feature ideas have come from our readers. For various reasons we can’t ensure they’ll make it to the printed page, but we do carefully consider each of them. Please accept our heartfelt thanks to everyone who has taken the time to drop us a note or two. Rain or shine, we appreciate your trust in us.

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.

LIFESTYLE | MARCH 2010

Text by Diane Slocum

hris Brewer’s roots are buried deep in the fertile soil of the southern San Joaquin Valley. His great, great grandfather Col. Thomas Baker was a founding settler not only of his namesake city, Bakersfield, but also of Visalia. Brewer, though born and raised in Bakersfield, now resides in Exeter where he is a prodigious proponent of the literary arts and of historical preservation of the Valley. He has authored eight books on Bakersfield, Exeter and other sites in Tulare and Kings counties. Most of his works feature historical photographs which preserve scenes of bygone eras. Not content to immerse himself in only one aspect of the publishing field, Brewer also owns and operates Bear State Books publishing company, Bear State Library and the Book Garden book store. Additionally, he is a founder and the curator of the Exeter Historical Museum. “I like to keep my fingers in the pie for preservation,” he said. “For a really small town, Exeter has done some pretty amazing things. How many people get to build their own museum?” Brewer came by his interest in history two ways. First is his family, not only through his pioneering ancestry but because his father cared about the subject and introduced him to old timers around Bakersfield who regaled them with tales of the old days. Another pathway to the past opened for him while he was taking piano lessons. His teacher’s husband was a Bakersfield historian who shared his books-in-progress with the young student.

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Despite his early interest in history, when it came time to choose a career, the multi-talented youth turned to music. He had begun piano lessons when he was five years old and went on to study concert piano. Later, in the school orchestra, he wound up playing trombone, and after a stint in the Navy he went on to play professionally. His gigs included Caesar’s Palace in Las Vegas and traveling with celebrities such as Paul Anka and Sammy Davis, Jr. Even as he performed in what would be a dream career for many musicians, Brewer kept his devotion to history. “Everything I made, I put into my historical collection,” he said. Then, another interest captured his attention. “I met my wife and came off the road in Bakersfield,” he said. The former Sally Botkin is a native of Exeter, a hospital administrator and owner of Exeter Flower Company. While the couple lived in Bakersfield, Brewer first volunteered at the Kern County Museum and later worked his way up to acting director. Following this, he went into private practice as a consultant. He is a registered professional historian with the California Council for the Promotion of History. This organization began the registry in 1986 when it realized that government agencies and businesses were using historians to do research related to litigation and environmental and cultural studies. The council requires its historians to hold a degree in history and have experience in historical studies. Applicants apply for their areas of expertise such as expert witness services, historical archaeology or genealogy. Brewer is registered in historical architecture and currently advises Caltrans on historical matters relating to such things as bridges and canals. He also consults in building restorations.

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Brewer began writing books around 1986, while he was still in Bakersfield. Most are historic photographic albums of the area. His first, written with Don Pipkin, was Bakersfield and Kern Picture Album. Among his following works are Bakersfield’s Photographic Past and Exeter’s Photographic Past, both from 1998, and Historic Tulare County, California in 2004. When Brewer moved to Exeter, he purchased many of the works of Frank Latta, an expert on the culture and history of the native Yokuts people who were indigenous to the southern and central San Joaquin Valley. Latta’s Handbook of Yokuts Indians is generally recognized as the most thorough study of this culture. For his research, Latta interviewed more than 200 Yokuts elders over a span of 55 years. The first edition of his book was published in 1949 with an expanded version in 1977. Brewer’s Bear State Books, in conjunction with Coyote Press, has reissued this expanded version. They have also published a new edition of Latta’s Calfornia Indian Folklore. Brewer’s list of republished Latta works also includes Dalton Gang Days and Death Valley ‘49ers. In reprinting these and other historical works, Brewer is making available information that has been difficult to find for researchers as well as readers with a casual interest in local history. He’s also helping others to have copies of books that that are cultural artifacts themselves beyond the content of their pages. Bear State Books’ latest publication is Historical Atlas Map of Tulare County. This is a reprint of a rare book of maps originally published in 1892, at a time when Kings County was still a part of Tulare County. It includes illustrations and four-color maps that show property lines and ownership of land at the time. “What a book, but what a job,” Brewer said.

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He started on this project when the genealogical society wanted it reprinted, and besides, he needed another copy for himself. His old atlases were getting damaged as he repeatedly used them for research. But he found that getting a 14 ½” by 15” book reprinted was no easy task. It took him a couple of years to work it out. In the first place, he had to digitize the book, and few places can scan something that size. “I found a resource for that in California,” he said. “But all the big printers had gone offshore. It killed me to do it, but I had to print offshore.” Though perhaps more specialized than usual, this book is typical of Brewer’s endeavors in most ways. His publications are more labors of love than attempts at earning a profit. “If you’re in this to make a lot of money, you’re in the wrong business,” he said. “If you break even, you’re lucky. Over the long term, it could take 20 years to get the money back. You have to be patient.” Some of his best sellers are the Bakersfield picture books. Some have gone into a second printing and continue to sell. “‘Should I put out another edition once they are sold out?’ is always the question,” he said. Ron Hughart’s Beyond the Dustbowl books are two of Brewer’s publications that are in their second edition. Hughart is the kind of author a publisher hopes for. “Ron’s an unusual success story,” Brewer said. “As an author, we are the best sales person. Get out and relate to people and your book will sell. Ron has gone all over the west and made a lot of good contacts.” As a small press, Brewer says he operates on a shoestring. His published books need to bring in $25,000 to $30,000 before he can afford to print another one. There isn’t room in the budget for much, if any, advertising. Brewer is currently working on a manuscript about his prolific town-founding ancestor Col. Baker who was born 200 years ago this November. With all of the places Baker left his mark upon, this is an ambitious project. With his own ability to juggle talents, Chris Brewer is well-suited to the task.

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ABoVE: George Stewart (second from left) and Sequoia Ski Club Members at keystone, Colorado for Far West Ski Association Ski Week 2010. rIGHt: Debbie Stewart racing against club member lupe Bower in Big Sky Montana.

Text by Chris Haberman

hen winter hits the Valley and the days grow short, the skies cloud over and the fog settles in, how do Visalians escape the seasonal doldrums? George and Debbie Stewart have discovered a cure that lasts well into spring on into summer … they go skiing! And they’re not alone. They ski with the Sequoia Ski Club, one of the oldest ski clubs in the western US. George and Debbie, owners of GW STEWART’S Salon and Gift Emporium in Visalia, are definitely ski enthusiasts. George began skiing at 16 years of age at nearby Sierra Summit/China Peak, while Debbie began skiing in her 20’s at Bear Valley and Mammoth Mountain. Over the past three decades they have skied about 25 days every winter. 14

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In any given year they can be found on the slopes of North America, including Nevada, Montana, Wyoming, Colorado, Utah, Oregon, New Mexico, Idaho and Canada; however, they say some of their favorite mountains and runs are to be found in the Sierra Nevadas in California, especially around Lake Tahoe. Although the Stewarts have traveled near and far in search of new ski experiences, they still consider Mammoth in the Eastern Sierras to be their “home mountain” and visit their condominium year round for enjoyment.

Uplifting Solutions

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ABoVE rIGHt: Back country of keystone, Colorado, as seen on snow-cat tour. ABoVE CEntEr: Debbie Stewart racing in Big Sky Montana.

George and Debbie have skied in some pretty exciting locales over the years. There was the year that George went heli-skiing in Telluride, Colorado. Starting early in the morning, a helicopter picked up the adventuresome skiers and dropped them off at 12,000 feet on virgin slopes of the mountain to boldly ski where no one had skied before. It took 45 minutes to ski back to the base camp, where they caught the chopper and were whisked away to another fresh slope. George completed about ten magnificent runs that day. Even more fun was the present that Debbie gave George this year for Valentine’s Day: snow-cat skiing at Keystone in Colorado. The snow-cat, a large vehicle with tracks reminiscent of a tank, transported ten or so skiers through the forest and up the mountain to remote locations. The passengers were released to ski back on pristine slopes, untouched by other skiers. In recent years the Stewarts have even made the international ski scene, jumping the pond to France and Austria to ski the famous Alps. In France, George and Debbie skied in Les Trois Vallées (The Three Valleys), one of the largest ski regions in the world. “We stood at the top of one mountain in France, and as far as the eye could see there were alpine ski runs – over 200 of them stretching to the horizon. It was an amazing sight.” In Austria, the Stewarts were surprised to find that the atmosphere at the ski resorts was homey, charming and small. Closer to home they have skied the downhill courses at Whistler in British Columbia, Canada. Yes, those same mountains that Bodie Miller and the world’s best skied last month in the Olympics. George assures us that the courses are not nearly as daunting as when they’re laid out for the professional racers. That’s not to say that George and Debbie don’t race. They do! Three years ago, friends talked George into taking up competitive ski racing; not to be outdone, Debbie took up racing a year later. Both husband and wife say racing is great fun and geared for all ages and levels of ability.

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You might get the idea from the description of their lifestyle that the Stewarts ski out of a need for excitement. While the skiing is fun, George and Debbie say that what keeps them coming back to the slopes is the camaraderie they feel with members of the Sequoia Ski Club, Sierra Council and Far West Ski Association [FWSA]. The Sequoia Ski Club consists of people primarily from Tulare County, but some Sierra Council and FWSA members hail from as far away as Indonesia and Australia to attend the various trips. The members have differing levels of skiing experience, from novice to professional. FWSA is very family-friendly; snowboarders and children are welcome. There are even members who don’t ski at all, but relish the time they spend with other members at the various events and activities. This year marks the 75th anniversary of the founding of the Sequoia Ski Club, making it the oldest active ski club in the Far Western Ski Association, an organization representing skiers throughout the American West. The Sequoia Ski Club was organized on February 4, 1935, by a group of 15 snow enthusiast who met in the office of the Lindsay California Chamber of Commerce. Before the year was out this new club boasted a membership of 79 active members and 24 auxiliary members from all over the San Joaquin Valley. In early days the Sequoia Ski Club was instrumental in improving ski conditions throughout the nearby Sierras in Sequoia National Park, especially slopes around Wolverton and Pear Lake where the club operated with a permit from the National Park Service. The club maintained cabins, installed rope-tows, and ran ski and racing schools. The club’s association with Sequoia ended in 1982 with the closing of Wolverton’s slopes.

ABoVE: George Stewart and the majestic rockies in telluride, Colorado lEFt: Debbie Stewart (right) and Sequoia Ski Club member rosalie Fisher strike a pose between runs in telluride, Colorado.

Although the closing of Wolverton marked the end of an era, it also opened a new period of globetrotting for the club. Today the club participates in numerous trips to ski destinations around the world. These trips are made affordable through purchasing power of the group. In fact, the club through the Far West Ski Association doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t limit their travels to skiing junkets; they also participate in cruises, scuba dive trips and adventure trips to international destinations such as China and the Panama Canal.

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The Stewarts have held various positions with their club over the years: George is the webmaster and Debbie has held numerous positions including President for five years; she now serves as Secretary. Debbie is also the Vice President of Travel for the Sierra Council and is part of the FWSA travel team, which pre-arranges and markets the travel packages. She loves handling the travel opportunities for participating members. Previous trips include a 768-person adventure in Whistler in 2007, and other trips have included Sun Valley, Idaho. An upcoming trip will take members to Switzerland. So the next time winter has you feeling blue, join George and Debbie Stewart and their many friends for a day on the slopes.

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on tHE SPrEAD: the sunroom in the tulare home of Mike and Paula Vander Poel features a distinctive lighting fixture by Fine Art lamps, teak chaises by Century, and travertine marble floors worthy of Dutch renaissance nobility. local Visalia artisan Melissa Hamilton hand-crafted the pillows.

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Tex t by A aron Collins | Photos by Bob Marcot te, Marcot te Photography

t heart, who are the Dutch, really? Are they best exemplified Van Gogh’s quirks and freewheeling eccentricities? Or is Holland’s national psyche better summed up by the austerities of the Dutch Reformed Church, those that led to a ban on religious imagery in art at its outset? Is Dutch cultural DNA better traced to the materialistic and savvy capitalists who constituted Holland’s merchant and upper classes of the Renaissance, or more to the Ponzi-like Tulip Mania incident whose greed would make ole Bernie Madoff proud? Or does the unique Dutch zeitgeist owe more to its thrifty Calvinists who took a dim view of usury? Which is more telling: the masterfully detailed and ornate Dutch still life, or their friendly, chromatically saturated and Minimal international graphic design of contemporary times? The answer is, of course, that historically the Dutch were many of the above in all their dichotomous glory – and certainly no one thing above another. Group identities rarely follow simplistic scripts or reductive historical narratives. ABoVE: European details abound throughout the tulare home of Mike & Paula Vander Poel. “the style we were going for was old World castle,” as Paula describes it. “I’ve always liked the historical look so I have a feel for this style,” she says.

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toP: Avila’s tile & Cabinets of tulare collaborated with interior designer Annie Gilles on detailed custom cabinetry details such as these corbels on the kitchen island. travertine marble floors; Century and Italia furnishings with custom fabric from Franey’s, lighting by Fine Art lamps of los Angeles.

What’s easily observed is that the Dutch have exerted an outsized influence on the world, disproportionate to their country’s rather tiny geographical size. The Netherlands isn’t much larger than California’s Central Valley, the region Dutch descendants Mike and Paula Vander Poel call home. Dutch success and its diaspora results from a bit of geographical determinism, both despite and due to the motherland’s prospects as a waterlogged, low-lying land along the North Sea. All that sogginess will make you build polders if you want to eat, and build a boat if you want to get around with dry socks. Once you learn the boatbuilding craft, well, a bigger boat follows. Then you realize a whole big world awaits out there, eager to pay dearly for as much as you can load onto that bigger boat.

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Then one day, the boat sets out on a long voyage and never comes back. The Dutch were enthusiastic importers and avid explorers. Among those driven by innovation and wanderlust were the Dutch artists in the early 17th century who traveled to Italy to see the work of the master, Caravaggio, after having taken a fancy to his Italian brand of realism.

ABoVE lEFt: Curios reflect Paula Vander Poel’s attention to period detail. ABoVE rIGHt: A bowl sink in the powder room reflects a trend toward distinctive plumbing fixtures. Settco in Fresno offered a trove of possibilities, according to Annie Gilless, ASID, designer on the project.

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There they studied his work intensely and made it their own, returning to Holland with astounding skill to satisfy a market that favored highly realistic genre scenes that depicted various debaucheries perpetrated by a cadre of frivolous performers, compromised prostitutes and inebriated pub dwellers. The paintings of the Caravaggisti had a way of permitting their multi-culturally-aware Dutch patrons to simultaneously moralize about and revel in an art that reflected their burgeoning worldliness while appeasing any Reformistsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; puritanical ideologies by casting the art works as moral cautionary tales â&#x20AC;&#x201C; all with a bit of a wink.

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The Dutch eventually landed in South Africa, Indonesia, and perhaps most fatefully, New York. But Central California also reflects that same spirit of Dutch mobility and geographical determinism, albeit in its own way. It has a large population of enterprising Dutch Americans whose grandparents and parents first put down roots in Southern Californiaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s dairy industry after arriving in the U.S. Many set up their offspring with dairies of their own, teaching them the trade and giving them a leg up in life.

on tHE SPrEAD: A backyard oasis by Chris Caylor lures residents and visitors outdoors at the Vander Poel dairy home in tulare. Paula Vander Poel says the setting â&#x20AC;&#x153;is such a calming place. the pool, the waterfalls, the feeling of nature, the canary palm trees amid grassy mounds and all the plants and structures really do give it a resort-like feel.â&#x20AC;?

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BEloW: A custom fireplace surround in the Vander Poel sunroom was created by a local three rivers-based artisan. Moroccan ceramics in the niches were finds of Visalia designer Annie Gilles, ASID.

Drawn in recent decades by what was, at the time, much cheaper land in the San Joaquin Valley, the large influx of Dutch immigrants/descendants has been stemmed by how many cows one region can bear, the dour and punishing economy, and the more nascent appearance of much cheaper land elsewhere in the Midwest, a force which may reshape the region and induce yet another exportation of Dutch â&#x20AC;&#x201C; only this time from Central California instead of the motherland.

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However, Chino native Mike Vander Poel, one of seven kids whose parents have been in the dairy business for nearly 50 years, and wife Paula, a native of Visalia who as a kid relocated to Southern California where the couple met and married in 1988, say they are staying put. Their recently-built Tulare-area home reflects that commitment.

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This new home reflects a little of the spirit of cultural diversity that characterized Holland in the 1700s. The design is not specifically Dutch, or even at all. Italianate gestures mingle amongst custom-made entry columns derived from India; contemporary conveniences fit nicely alongside French ornament like fleur de lis; and Old World faux atmosphere clads the surfaces of the homeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s contemporary architecture which owes its open layout and casual spaces to the uniquely American design philosophies and ideals of Frank Lloyd Wright â&#x20AC;&#x201C; all with the ample room expected by any successful Utrecht burgher. There is plenty of room for their three kids and three dogs, although their oldest daughter Ashley is away at college and living in a sorority now.

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oPPoSItE toP lEFt: A bar features granite countertops and custom millwork by Avila’s tile & Cabinets of tulare. oPPoSItE BottoM lEFt: Mike Vander Poel’s study features this whimsical shaded chandelier from Anchor lighting, which reflects the owners’ nod to the old World castles that inspired the project. lEFt: the dining room features a box beam ceiling and furnishings by Century, specifed by Visalia interior esigner Annie Gilles who scoured the country from High Point to l.A. in search of distinctive furnishings for the Vander Poels’s tulare dairy residence. BEloW: the Vander Poel kitchen and breakfast nook.

The Euro influence was no accident, according to Paula who says it was a longstanding interest. “Yes, our Dutch heritage definitely influenced the ‘old’ European design of our home,” she says. “The high ceilings and earth tones and muted colors, the [traditional] design of the furniture, and the dark wood tones used throughout” all reflect their European roots, she says. The Vander Poels began planning for their new abode in 2005 for construction that was completed in 2008. Paula says the couple wanted to take their time, to be sure all the details they wanted were included in the finished project. The detailed outcome would make the Enlightenment’s Dutch merchant class proud. “The style we were going for was Old World castle,” as Paula describes it. “I’ve always liked the historical look so I have a feel for this style,” she says.

The land was already in use for the family dairy, and they liked the location for its distance from the main road and surrounding buffer of farmland. Choosing the site was perhaps the easier step. “We stayed involved with the decisions throughout the process during design, building and decorating,” Paula says of the elaborate and lengthy process, adding that Mike could often be seen early on with spray paint can in hand. Creating became a life size sketch, in situ and hands-on. “Before we even had the pad for the house done, Mike would outline the plan on the dirt so I could envision the size and layout of the rooms” she says, pointing out that as revisions were made, Mike would take to the spray can again, keeping the drawing up-to-date.

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lEFt: rangel Mata, who also works a set designer in the entertainment industry, spent the better part of a year applying the extensive faux artistry found throughout the Vander Pole’s renaissance-inspired dairy residence in tulare. Dressing room chair from Decorative Arts, Italy. BEloW: rhinestone-encrusted drawer pulls and lavish faux patinas in the dressing room combine for a luxurious old World feel.

That planning paid off in mostly-smooth realization of the project, notwithstanding some changes along the way. “Our general contractor Mark Burgess, TJR Construction and Don Fritzler were great to work with,” Paula says. “They were patient with our concerns and the changes, and they always made themselves available. We were so glad we chose them for our project,” she says of the home, which was completed in time to celebrate Mike’s 40th birthday, among the many memorable family events held in the home’s brief history. The decorator whose handiwork is evident throughout the project was another big plus, she says. “Annie Gilles of Franey’s was willing to go the extra mile to find the unique design elements we wanted to incorporate in the décor,” Paula says. “I can’t say enough about her enthusiasm; she’s a great personality and she was excited for us” as the couple realized their dream home. Various touches include architectural elements like coffered ceilings, iron entry doors, antique mirrored cornices, decorative painting – the Vander Poels even had the exterior column replicas modeled upon a building in New York that Paula saw in her many hours spent in online research for the project. A star dome conjures Galileo’s heavens in the ceiling just above the master bathroom’s Jacuzzi tub. Gilles located antique doors that now flank the buffet in the home’s formal dining room. The Vander Poels say that one of their favorite rooms in the house is their media room which features a jukebox, a game table, and a 103” television. The bar in the same room features unique columns which they found and incorporated into the custom design. 30

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Floors are travertine, and materials in the kitchen include a stone range hood that matches the nearby fireplace surround, granite countertops, and a island of mahogany millwork, as well as a hammered copper sink. The house may give a nod to Old World success, but even the DeBeers might have coveted touchless faucets, a Subzero refrigerator, a warming drawer, or sleek pop-up outlets on their kitchen counters. Outside, the grounds are anything but an inundated Dutch polder. They’re much more California oasis, continuing the eclectic spirit of the residence. Landscape design services were provided by Chris Kaylor. Paula says the outcome offers a truly restful getaway. “Our back yard is such a calming place. The pool, the waterfalls, the feeling of nature, the canary palm trees amid grassy mounds and all the plants and structures really do give it a resort-like feel,” she describes. The columns made for the gazebo match those which were created for the front entrance, based on the New York source. Now that the house is complete, the Vander Poels thoughts may turn to travel, which they enjoy most with extended family. In mind is a trip to Europe that they’ve wanted to take, setting their sights Holland where Paula’s mother was born, for a chance to see all that Old World architecture close up, through the lens of the present, on the heels of creating their own homage to their European roots.

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BRUSCHETTA (enough for all of the recipes below)

SALMON CAMILLO

16 tomatoes 4 cloves garlic 8 basil leaves 2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil salt and pepper to taste 1 baguette French bread, or similar Italian bread ¼ cup olive oil

2 medium salmon filets 1 cup flour Bruschetta mixture (see above) 1/4 cup white wine 1/4 cup water or chicken stock Salt, pinch

Chop tomatoes, garlic and basil leaves and put into a bowl. Add olive oil, salt, and pepper. Stir with wooden spoon or spatula until contents are evenly mixed. *Note: DO NOT prepare bruschetta mixture in advance (ie. the night before). To avoid mushy tomatoes, make only when you’re ready to serve them. Place the rack in the top position in your oven. Heat oven to 450 degrees. Slice the baguette on a diagonal, into ½ inch thick slices. Coat one side of each slice with olive oil, using a pastry brush. Place on a cooking sheet, olive oil side down. Place in oven for 5-6 minutes, until bread just beings to turn golden brown. Remove and top with Bruschetta.

LIFESTYLE | MARCH 2010

Lightly flour salmon fillets. On medium-high heat sear fillets in skillet until they are a nice brown color, lightly salt, then turn over to brown the other side. Add bruschetta mixture, wine, and water (or chicken stock) to skillet. Reduce to low heat, cover, and simmer for 15-20 minutes. Note: When salmon is firm, it’s finished cooking.

LIFESTYLE | MARCH 2010

NOODLES BRUSCHETTA

SALAD

Six quarts water 1 pkg, Linguini noodles

Mixed greens Gorgonzola cheese Bruschetta mixture

In a pot, cook noodles as according to package directions. Once cooked, toss them in the skillet with the salmon. Let noodles cook for one minute (the last minute in which the salmon has to cook). SPRING MIX SALAD WITH STEAK AND BALSAMIC REDUCTION

2-12 oz Black Angus NY Ribeye Steaks Salt and pepper, pinch 2 Tbsp olive oil Preheat oven to 450 degrees. Heat oil in a skillet on stove. Sprinkle steaks with salt and pepper and place into pan; sear until brown, then flip and repeat. Remove steaks from skillet and place on a cookie sheet. Place cookie sheet in oven for five minutes, on each side (for medium-rare). Drizzle with balsamic reduction just before serving.

BALSAMIC DRESSING FOR SALAD

1/4 cup balsamic vinegar Â˝ cup olive oil 2 Tbls. dijon mustard 1/2 clove garlic, finely chopped Pinch salt Pinch pepper Whisk together balsamic vinegar, Dijon mustard, and chopped garlic in a medium bowl. While whisking, slowly pour in oil. Salt and pepper to taste. BALSAMIC REDUCTION

Pour one bottle of balsamic vinegar into a pot. Simmer on low heat until liquid becomes thick. Camillo Danh is the owner and head chef of La Piazza in Tulare.

LIFESTYLE | MARCH 2010

B BUSINESS CENTS

Tex t by Lupe Sanchez, Vice President/Investments, Stifel, Nicol aus & Company, Incorporated

ust a generation ago, planning for retirement was simple. By adding together company pensions and Social Security benefits, most employees could figure out how and when they could retire comfortably. Today, retirement planning is more complex. It’s also more challenging. For example, we must take into consideration the well-documented shortfalls in Social Security and the disappearance of company pensions. As we look forward to retirement, we must also consider longer life expectancies and a rising cost of living. For these and other reasons, many of us are compelled to assume more responsibility when it comes to ensuring our own retirement goals. Retirement stands as one of our most important financial objectives. Whether you’re nearing retirement or simply planning ahead, you’ve probably asked yourself “Am I saving enough to enjoy my retirement years?” By planning now and planning wisely, you can take the steps necessary to finance your retirement. The following six-step process can help you plan for a secure, comfortable retirement. DETERMINE YOUR RETIREMENT NEEDS AND GOALS. Whether

it’s financial security or realizing lifelong dreams, attaining your retirement objective requires a bit of foresight. Perhaps you hope to travel, or perhaps you’re happy to stay at home, spending time with family and friends. Depending on your plans, your financial needs could range from 70 to 100 percent of your current income to support your lifestyle.

CHOOSE THE RIGHT TIME TO RETIRE. While most of us hope

to retire early, many of us set unrealistic goals. To adequately finance your retirement, you may need to work longer than you would like. Your needs and goals will determine how long you must work to finance your retirement. If you hope to retire at age 50, for example, you might forgo the purchase of a second home. If you retire at 60, that second home may be included in your retirement goals. ESTIMATE YOUR CURRENT RETIREMENT BENEFITS. By analyzing

your current retirement benefits, you can estimate how much income you will receive from Social Security and company pension plans. Such income will help offset the amount of money you need to save for retirement. Of course, you should make sure your estimates are reasonable and not based simply on current benefit levels.

REVIEW YOUR CURRENT RETIREMENT SAVINGS. Preparing a

net worth statement can help you assess how much you’ve already saved for retirement. Such a statement is simply a listing of what you own (assets) and what you owe (liabilities), with the difference representing your net worth. Preparing such statements on an annual basis will help you evaluate the progress you’re making toward long-term goals. Also, when reviewing your retirement savings, you should review your other financial needs for the future.

DEVELOP YOUR RETIREMENT SAVINGS PLAN. To develop a plan, start by estimating how much the retirement lifestyle you envision would cost today. Now, adjust these amounts for inflation. This should give you an idea of your total capital needs at retirement. Next, determine how much you need to save on a monthly, quarterly, or annual basis. REVIEW YOUR RETIREMENT PLAN. By reviewing your retirement plan annually, you can evaluate your progress. An annual review will allow you to make any needed changes to your plan. You may find your retirement date estimate moved forward or back, or you may find your yearly savings toward retirement needs to be altered.

LIFESTYLE | MARCH 2010

Flaherty Footcare

2914 W. Main Street, Visalia | 559.627.2849 | www.flahertyfootcare.com lahety Footcare is proud to announce the recent addition of Dr. Paul Mayo to the podiatric practice. This medical partnership brings together two podiatric physician and surgeons with over 37 years of combined experience. The groups’ mission is “to provide total care to our patients as we would to our own family members, with absolute integrity.” What is particularly satisfying about the merger is the ability to treat all foot and ankle problems within a short period of time. Both Dr.’s Flaherty and Mayo have various areas of specialization which include sports medicine, reconstructive surgery, diabetic care, trauma and podiatric care for seniors. “If it’s a problem with the foot, we’ve got you covered,”says Dr. Mayo. Dr. Flaherty has been practicing for over 25 years in Visalia and is past president of the Mid-State Society California Podiatric Medical Association. She is a board-certified foot surgeon and has anchored her practice in the highest standards of professional care. She is particularly proud to have several long-term employees whom she considers a huge asset to her practice. She is married to Dr. Chris Dent, a large-animal veterinarian, and together they have five sons.

LIFESTYLE | MARCH 2010

Dr. Paul Mayo has practiced for 12 years and, is a boardcertified surgeon with privileges at both Kaweah Delta, Cypress Surgery Center, and the Hanford hospitals. Dr. Mayo was born and raised in Hanford and is thrilled to be providing podiatric care to both Kings and Tulare County residents. His wife, Gina, is an RN and manages Dr. Michael Steven’s laser center. The two of them are busy raising a son and daughter. The new Visalia location is only one block west of Dr. Flaherty’s previous office in the Green Acres professional center at Millcreek and W. Main Street. The building has been completely renovated with large treatment rooms, a comfortable waiting room, an in-patient surgical suite and X-ray facilities. It also has a new computerized vascular analyzer to easily diagnose patients with peripheral artery disease – a lack of circulation common in diabetic patients. Dr. Flaherty and Dr. Mayo are available at 2914 W. Main Street. New patients can usually be seen within three days, and same day appointments are available for emergencies. The doctors have an easy-to-navigate Web site. Paperwork can be filled out conveniently online and most foot conditions can be easily researched on the Web site. Be sure to check out the Web site, as informed patients are better prepared to make decisions regarding their health and well-being.

CHARITY EVENT W WORD PLAY

Tex t by Diane Slocum

here’s more to March than St. Patrick’s Day and spring. In celebration of National Nutrition Week, read Food Rules: An Eater’s Manual by Michael Pollan, a Knight Professor of Journalism at the University of Berkeley. This sixth book from Pollan was published by Penguin in December. Some reviewers say the book’s rules could be compressed into one sentence: “Eat mostly plants and do it in moderation,” and that the rest is common sense. However, this sense doesn’t seem to be so common as diet-related health issues continue to expand. Pollan reminds readers to think about what they eat with lines like “Don’t eat anything that won’t eventually rot.” The 5-Factor World Diet by Harley Pasternak incorporates foods from the 10 healthiest countries into five meals a day, with five ingredients each, that can be prepared in five minutes. Published by Random House in January. Weight Release: A Liberating Journey: the Powerful New Way to Release Weight Forever by Freeman Michaels (Morgan James Publishing, January) puts the emphasis on resolving issues that cause weight gain rather than specific diets. Celebrate Robert Frost’s birthday (March 26, 1874) by reading Jay Parini’s biography of the poet: Robert Frost: A Life. Though known primarily for his poems of New England, such as “Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening,” Frost lived his first turbulent years in San Francisco. Parini spent over 20 years digging out the complex details of the poet’s life for his book. LOCAL AUTHORS

One of the popular books sold at the Tulare Art Museum is John Bergman’s The Southern San Joaquin Valley: A Railroad History Fresno to Bakersfield. Published by Bergman in 2008, the book includes photographs and maps to illustrate the descriptions of the main lines between the two cities as well as connecting lines such as the Visalia & Tulare and the Hanford & Summit Lake. Ron Hughart reports that a “Hollywood person” who wishes to remain anonymous bought “a truckload” of his books, The Place Beyond the Dustbowl and Beyond the Dustbowl with a Pocket Full of Peanuts, for the purpose of donating them to classrooms. “Any school administrator or school librarian within your reading audience can contact me for a free class set as long as this year’s lot lasts,” Hughart said. His Web site is www.ronhughart.com. PUBLISHING

Researchers at the University of Pennsylvania found that readers of the New York Times want to share awe-inspiring articles. They studied and analyzed the articles readers e-mailed to other people and often these were related to science. Emotional and positive articles tended to out-perform negative ones, but favorites were about subjects that redefined the readers’ understanding of their place in the world or similar lofty ideas. The researchers also postulated that by sharing these insights with others they were attempting to heighten an emotional bond with those who could see things in this new light. 42

LIFESTYLE | MARCH 2010

Michael Kinsley has been inducted into the Magazine Editors Hall of Fame. Kinsley was founding editor of Slate.com and served as editor at Harper’s, The Washington Monthly, and the Los Angeles Times. CLASSES

A sampling of classes from mediabistro includes “Breaking into Travel Writing,” a 5 1/2-hour workshop with Jay Cooke, an editor for the Lonely Planet guidebooks, to be held in San Francisco on March 27. “Feature Writing” with Joe Pappalardo will be held online for four weeks beginning April 6. S. Kirk Walsh will lead the online class on “Short Story Writing” beginning April 27. For details see www.mediabistro.com/courses. CONFERENCES

Zena Dell Lowe, a presenter at the Florida Christian Writers Conference this month, offers advice at http:// floridachristianwriters.blogspot.com. Lowe, who has had a variety of entertainment jobs, from sound girl to producer, emphasizes that Christian writers should not sugarcoat the truth in order to make their stories nice. She uses “Schindler’s List” as an example of a story that could not be told without its harsh realities. Algonkian Writer Conference’s Fisherman’s Wharf Writers conference will be held May 12-16 at the Fort Mason Center in San Francisco. The theme is “From the heart, but smart: premise, platform and execution in today’s tough novel market.” The areas of study will be novel structure, narrative enhancement, and marketing technique. Details: http://algonkianconferences.com. The 21st Annual Mendocino Coast Writers Conference will be held July 29-Aug 1 at the College of the Redwoods in Fort Bragg. The theme for this conference is “writing for social change – not in the sense of preaching – but in the deeper sense that honest words make a better world.” Editors and publishers participating are Stefanie Freele, Steve Mettee and Bianna Smith. Agents are April Eberhardt and Sally van Haitsma. Details: www.mcwc.org. THE LAST WORD

If more of us valued food and cheer and song above hoarded gold, it would be a merrier world.” — J. R. R. Tolkien (1892 - 1973)

LIFESTYLE | MARCH 2010

April 9 A fun night with The Drifters featuring Charlie Thomas, “Save the Last Dance for Me” and “Under the Boardwalk.” The Tokens with Jay Siegel’s “The Lion Sleeps Tonight” and “The Portrait of My Love.” Jay Traynor of Jay and the Americans with “She Cried.” And more! April 9 at 9:30 p.m. Visalia Fox Theatre. $35, $45, $75. www.proyoutheart.org.

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Living Out. Theatre event by Lisa Loomer. What does it mean to leave one’s own child at home in another country to come to the United States in order to care for someone else’s? This funny and ultimately tragic story of Ana, a Salvadoran nanny, and the Anglo lawyer she works for in Los Angeles explores the shared humanity between them and the differences wrought by race, class and Ana’s illegal status. March 19-21, 26-28, April 1-3. Ice House Theatre. Race Avenue & Santa Fe St., Visalia. www.visaliaplayers.org or 734-3900.

MAR

Cabaret. COS Theatre presents the sassy, sizzling sensation of a show. March 20, 26, 27 at 7:30 p.m.; March 21, 27 at 2 p.m. Contains some adult language. $22/general admission. $18/students or seniors. 730-3754.

MAR

Tulare County Symphony. French, German and Russian music including Tchaikovsky’s Fifth Symphony in E Minor. March 20, 7:30 p.m. Visalia Fox Theatre. 625-1369.

AR TEXHIBITS

CHARITABLEEVENTS

THE ATE RPERFORMANCES

A P R Easter Pancake Breakfast. Kiwanis Public Easter Pancake Breakfast. April 4, 9 a.m.-noon. Exeter Memorial Building 324 North Kaweah Exeter. (559) 592-2919.

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.

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Three Rivers Artists Studio Tour Number 9. Twenty-one artists open their home art studios in Three Rivers. Read details about the self-guided tour and how to get tickets on the Web site. Tickets $15-20. March 19-21. threeriversartstudiotour.com or 559-561-4671.

MAR

A P R Baskets and Gourds – Containers of Our Culture. Third Annual Basket/ Gourd Conference. Art reception, classes, vendor booths and displays, dinner and special speakers; noted author and artist Ginger Summit and renowned Washoe basket maker Sue Coleman. Sign up for classes on basket making, gourd basketry, ancient vessel stamping, jewelry making, masks, and much more. April 16-18. Arts Visalia, 214 E. Oak Avenue. For complete schedule and details on classes, visit www.calgourd.com.

MAR

Jerry Seinfeld. Comedian will appear at William Saroyan Theatre in Fresno. March 25, 7 p.m. $44.25-$75.25. www.ticketmaster.com or 559-445-8200.

MAR

A P R COS Choir & Chamber Singers. The COS Choir and Chamber singers will perform at the COS Theatre. The $15 ticket includes cheesecake and coffee. April 10, 8-10 p.m. COS Theatre. 730-3712.

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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. The Splendor of the Japanese Screen. Japanese folding screens occupy a special position not only as works of art but also as functional pieces of furniture. This exhibit will showcase single screens and pairs of screens of different size dating from the 17th century to the 21st. $5 for adults, $3 for students. The Clark Center for Japanese Art and Culture. Feb. 6-April 10, 2010. (559) 582-4915.

LIFESTYLE | MARCH 2010

S PE CIALEVENTS

27 3 9

24 29

21st Annual Isabella Lake Fishing Derby. Sponsored by the Kern River Valley Chamber of Commerce. Over $200,000 in prizes. March 27-29. Isabella Lake. derby. kernrivervalley.com.

MAR

A P R First Saturday in Three Rivers. Art, music, dance, storytelling, food and drink. Maps available at Nadi Studio. Downtown Three Rivers. April 3, noon to 7 p.m. Future dates: May 1, June 5, July 3, Aug. 7, Sept. 4. nadispencer@yahoo.com. A P R Best of the Valley. A regional show of quilts, wearable art, and cloth dolls. Featured artist Anna Koelewyn of Hanford. Also on display will be a collection of 2009 Hoffman Challenge winners. Quilt sale and quilt appraiser on hand. $10/General Admission. Children 12 and under are free with an adult. April 9-11 at the McDermont Field House in Lindsay. www.botvquilts.com or call (559) 625-5430. A P R Annual Exeter Women’s Club Home Tour. Tour four of Exeter’s beautiful and unique homes. Saturday, April 24, noon to 4 p.m. Tickets are $20 and are available at Franey’s in Visalia, and Exeter Chamber of Commerce. For more info call (559) 799-3641. A P R The Great Western Fan Festival. Top southern gospel music artists meet up with thousands of fans and supporters. This three-day event, April 29-May 1, 2010, is packed with remarkable concerts, life-changing devotions, and astounding showcases that will delight southern gospel fans of all ages. Visalia Convention Center. Begins April 29 at 2 p.m. Closes May 1 at 11 p.m.

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CLASSESWORKSHOPS

DIVERSIONSEXCURSIONS

Field Sketching from Shadequarter Mountain Lookout. Spend two days in the beautiful Southern Sierra Foothills exploring and learning sketching techniques with renowned local artist Matthew Rangel. Call the Sequoia Natural History Association for reservations. Cost $170/ member, $195 nonmember. March 27-28. (559) 565-4251 or www.sequoiahistory.org

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.

MAR

Swing Lessons and Dance Music. Taught by professional teachers. $5 lessons. March 24 at 10 p.m. Future dates: March 31, April 7, 14, 21 and 28. The Cellar Door. 636-9463 or www.cellardoorvisalia.com.

MAR

A P R Basket and Gourds 2010 Classes. Classes on basket making, gourd basketry, ancient vessel stamping, jewelry making, masks, and much more. April 16-18. Arts Visalia, 214 E. Oak Avenue. www.calgourd.com or President Walker at (831) 728-4427.

Imagine U Interactive Children’s Museum. A variety of classes, exhibits, hands-on workshops. For more information visit: www. imagineumuseum.org or 733-5975. 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. 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.

LIFESTYLE | MARCH 2010

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.

WRITERSREADERS Book Sale. Friends of the Library now hosts two annual outdoor sales. The next one is May 15. Additionally, lobby sales at the Visalia branch are available during all business hours. 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.

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 April 2010 issue must be received by March 25.

LIFESTYLE | MARCH 2010

hat are the necessary ingredients for a perfect Tulare County Symphony concert? Start with one new Music Director: Dr. Bruce Kiesling, a leader with fresh ideas, infectious enthusiasm, and well-honed musical skills. Next, add a large number of dedicated musicians. Pick them carefully because many of their instruments are fragile. Transport everyone to the Fox Theater on Main Street in Visalia. Place them on-stage. Rehearse well, stirring frequently, and allow to marinate for over a week. Beat time with a well-oiled baton. Fold in equal measures of teamwork and elbow grease. Mix in one outstanding soloist, with local roots but national experience. When the mixture is ready, add formal black attire. Assemble drums, polish brass, moisten reeds, and tune strings. Let rise. On March 27 open the Fox Box Office at 5:30 p.m. and then the auditorium doors. Smile and warm gently as seats fill. At 6:45 p.m., bring to a rolling boil with Dr. Kiesling’s pre-concert chat. Then, maintain a simmer of excitement as musicians warm up and flex their “chops.” At 7:30 p.m., serve and enjoy. DESSERT FIRST?

Dr. Kiesling and the Symphony will present each dish, starting with a French sweet. Suite Alsacienne, composed by Jules Massenet, has four movements, each with a descriptive title. “Sunday Morning,” includes a hymn tune; “At the Tavern” contains a robust hint of brewery hops; “Under the Lime Trees” features a romantic cello and clarinet duet, with a delicate yet piquant slice of lime; and “Sunday Evening” provides a satisfying finish. The music is alternately lively, romantic, mild and sweet. Kiesling said, “Best known for his output of almost 30 operas, Massenet’s music continues to touch the world. Certainly his “Meditation” from Thais is a familiar standard to almost any concertgoers’ ears. However, he composed several orchestra suites of utterly charming and engaging music. In Suite Alsacienne, Massenet pays tribute to the charms and beauty of Alsace.”

LIFESTYLE | MARCH 2010

PAIR FRENCH TREAT WITH DELICATE GERMAN SOUFFLE

Even though German Carl Reinecke was a teacher, pianist, conductor and a composer of operas, other vocal works, three symphonies and numerous concerti, how many recognize his name? Dr. Kiesling said, “Reinecke is perhaps the best-known composer most listeners have never heard of. Although written near the beginning of the 20th century, his flute concerto harkens back to the romantic period of decades earlier. Warm, beautiful and lyrical writing epitomize this engaging work for the flute, which is also a pleasant surprise when heard for the first time by delighted audiences.” Presenting Reinecke’s Flute Concerto in D Major will be flutist Tracy Harris, who lives in nearby Mehrten Valley, but performs and teaches across the US. She brings her outstanding technique, lush tone and vibrant interpretation to this romantic, silvery soufflé. Relax into airy, enchanted perfection when she spins delicate tendrils of melody. RUSSIAN FIFTH IGNITES A “FLAMING” FINALE

Russian Peter Tchaikovsky’s Fifth Symphony in E Minor provides the “meat and potatoes” on the concert menu. Four thickly sliced movements, marbled with familiar melodies, and glazed with rich harmonies, it will satisfy everyone’s appetite. The heated, dramatic music opens with a melodic fragment that recurs in each movement, establishing emotional unity. While in the throes of composing the Symphony, Tchaikovsky described the first movement’s introduction as “complete resignation before the inscrutable predestination of Providence … Shall I throw myself in the embraces of Faith?” Dr. Kiesling declared that Tchaikovsky’s “prodigious gift for sweeping and beautiful melodies fills each movement. After quiet string chords open the second movement, one of the most stunning moments in the symphony arrives with a horn melody no listener can fail to be moved by. “Near the end, the main theme of the opening movement returns. But here, Tchaikovsky’s struggle for purpose and meaning are clearly resolved by this finale. The fate motto from the opening movement returns, now in a glorious major key before a joyous and triumphant coda ends the work.” Bring your family to savor French, German and Russian music on March 27, 7:30 p.m., at the Visalia Fox. For tickets, call 732-8600, or stop at the box office prior to the concert. Start your evening with Dr. Kiesling at 6:45 p.m. Bring your appetite for fine Symphonic “dining.” You’ll be glad you did.

LIFESTYLE | MARCH 2010

ABoVE: After a storm washed out a road, the team worked together digging out yards of dirt by hand, so the trucks could get through. BEloW lEFt: My father, Michael Cavale, and me.

Text by Cheryl L. Dieter as told by Forrest Cavale | Photos by Forrest C avale, Third Element Studios

ven though Forrest Cavale had traveled internationally, nothing he had experienced before prepared him for being in Costa Rica. It wasn’t the terrain that was different nor the five-hour bus trip that took him through windy mountain passes to arrive at the group’s destination. And it wasn’t the daily lunch of rice and beans. What made the trip memorable for Forrest was the team of 15 men he traveled with who were in the country to support the people of Shiroles and the missionaries who worked there.

ABoVE MIDDlE: the volunteers “hitched a ride” on the cattle truck on their way to the work sites. the man in front is luke Van laningham. ABoVE rIGHt: one of the many banana trees found in the area.

LIFESTYLE | MARCH 2010

“I served as documentarian, which allowed me to really connect with the people of Costa Rica and the group of men I traveled with,” explained Cavale. “Usually you are so busy working that the little things pass you by but since my main job was to concentrate on photographing the area and what our members were trying to accomplish, I feel like I gained insight that I might have otherwise missed.” According to Cavale every day in Costa Rica was different, exciting and filled with a heavy workload. For instance, the second day was spent laying brick and mortar for a women’s barracks that was being constructed at the Bible school where they were bunking.

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LIFESTYLE | MARCH 2010

LIFE DOCUMENTED

“The guys were sifting sand by hand in extremely hot weather,” explained Cavale. “For me, this kind of work was hard labor. Yet, for all these men who were older than me and who had worked hard all their lives, it was a walk in the park. They are a different breed of men with a different mindset than the kids of today. They were there not to vacation but to leave as much as they could of themselves behind. For them it was an awesome responsibility because they knew if they didn’t make it happen right then and there, they knew it wasn’t going to happen at all. Men of my dad’s generation aren’t a bunch of whiners and complainers – they are hard working people who just get the job done, and on this trip I gained an even greater respect for them.” Cavale explained that each member of the group had his own set of special skills that could be utilized on the trip. Two on the team were physicians who went to assist doctors at a nearby hospital. Others helped fix the missionaries’ computers. Still others went to help harvest bananas on the local plantations which gave everyone a newfound appreciation and respect for how a banana makes its way from Costa Rica to the supermarkets in Visalia. The group traveled with Students International (www. stint.com), a non-profit group based in Visalia. The main focus of the organization is on long-term multifaceted community development in Costa Rica, Guatemala, Fiji and the Dominican Republic. They also support 45 full-time missionaries who reside in the four nations. The ministry also accepts volunteers of all ages for short-term projects in numerous areas including construction, agriculture, medical, education, microfinance, business, and according to SI President Dave Hansen, “in just about any other area you can think of. There are always needs that we are trying to fill.” ABoVE lEFt: Michael Cardoza, of Visalia, digging the leech line. ABoVE MIDDlE: Dave Hansen, president of Students International, speeding down the zip line. BEloW: Michael Cavale takes a few minutes to enjoy the beauty as he walks along the Cahuita Beech.

LIFESTYLE | MARCH 2010

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LIFESTYLE | MARCH 2010

LIFE DOCUMENTED

As it turned out, the needs in Costa Rica were many. A recent storm had washed out a bridge and several roads in the area. More importantly to local residents, the road that had been used to haul supplies brought to the town via boat had been destroyed; so the team worked together digging out by hand yards of dirt, rock and debris that had rendered the road impassable. Another project involved installing a toilet for a local family. It was here that the men dug a waist-deep trench to empty the contents of the old leach line. Using small buckets they hauled the fermenting contents of the old leach field into the jungle and then installed a new line. After building a raised concrete platform for the toilet, the group called over the grandmother and all the kids to put their hands in the wet cement. 54

LIFESTYLE | MARCH 2010

“All this nice new concrete and then we tell them to stick their hands in it,” chuckled Cavale. “I will never forget the looks on their faces; they just looked at us like we were out of our minds.” But for Cavale the most rewarding part of the trip came as darkness fell and each man shared the good, the bad, and the ugly about their lives and the impact that their faith had made on each one. “It was the kind of stuff that men usually don’t talk about and because of that I gained so much insight into my own life just by talking to the guys. Sharing the experience with my dad also gave me some understanding about him that I might never have learned had we not spent this time together.”

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While team members spent the majority of their time working, their last day was reserved for a little rest and relaxation. The group spent their last hours in the country white-water rafting, body surfing the waves along a white sandy beach, and riding on zip lines over top of the jungle canopy â&#x20AC;&#x201C; all in all the perfect ending to a trip which Cavale feels benefitted him in ways he couldnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t have imagined prior to experiencing the small towns and back roads of Costa Rica. In fact, he was so inspired by that trip that he will soon be traveling to Guatemala with Students International. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d be lying if I didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t say that I feel like the luckiest guy on the planet when I participate in this kind of mission work doing exactly what I love to do,â&#x20AC;? marveled Cavale with a huge grin plastered across his face. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Life often seems like such a mystery, yet by helping others I think we often find we have helped ourselves just as much or more than we ever could have imagined. Costa Rica was one of those times in my life where I know I was exactly where I was supposed to be and I was doing what I was supposed to be doing.â&#x20AC;? oPPISItE toP: Michael Cavale, holding the baby of a local woman named Judith, who he met on a previous trip. oPPISItE BottoM lEFt: the team head out to the job site, by way of boat. oPPISItE BottoM rIGHt: With no modern conveniences, a local woman does her laundry on a rock by the river.

Another New VMC Physician Welcome Thomas Nguyen, MD, BoardCertified Internist t 3PTT 6OJWFSTJUZ 4DIPPM PG .FEJDJOF t +FXJTI )PTQJUBM PG $JODJOOBUJ *OUFSOTIJQ 3FTJEFODZ t 5ISFF ZFBST QSBDUJDJOH JO UIF $FOUSBM 7BMMFZ t 1SPVE IVTCBOE GBUIFS BOE BNBUFVS QIPUPHSBQIFS i* HPU JOUP NFEJDJOF CFDBVTF * FOKPZ JOUFSBDUJOH XJUI QBUJFOUT BOE IFMQJOH UIFN HFU CFUUFS *U NBLFT XIBU * EP NPSF NFBOJOHGVM w

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Tex t by Major Rogers | Photos by Taylor Vaughn

here do you seek your art, be it of the hand or body, paint or performance? Those who love theater art often head off to Los Angeles or San Francisco; it’s what most are conditioned to think they should do when New York or Paris are not a quick option. But right here in Visalia you can get your fix, applying the savings of gas and hotel fare to eat like royalty locally, while supporting the arts in an area that needs it more than ever. There are entertaining as well as soul-searching productions being carried out at Visalia’s historic Ice House Theatre. One company that operates out of the site is the Visalia Community Players, a group that was founded in 1957. Their productions “embrace the introduction of new, thought-provoking, and socially significant works.” In other words they strive for emotional climax of high and low, which is what an audience should expect with a theatrical performance. 56

LIFESTYLE | MARCH 2010

Lifestyle Magazine was invited to an exclusive dress rehearsal of the performance Hot Flashes; a story of four mid-life-prime women who perform as a vocal band. The quartet performed four decades of covered music such as “Senior Moment,” which is a blue haired burlesque song – complete with walkers, feather boas and the lyrics, “When you get to the store, and forgot what you’re there for? – Senior Moment!” Then there’s Jefferson Airplane’s “White Rabbit,” only now the pills popped are prescription, and you don’t “Ask Alice,” you “Ask Jeeves.” This particular bit included a psychedelic light show with matching kinetic dramatics on stage.

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LIFESTYLE | MARCH 2010

Other songs were from genres such as country, menopauseinspired blues, and even an angry rap that dealt with “gum problems, not gun problems.” The musical set was complete with a tender moment when the song “Learning to Let You Go,” was performed. It was a soft ballad about loss in life, and how we must learn to deal with the pain in order to move forward. Performers are all local talents, with a common motivation to perform to make others happy. Pat Jansen, who played Mavella, a bubbly senior actor who loves what she does, said, “People have approached me after shows and said that our performance had erased the bad week they’ve had.” Other production stars were Susan Mathews (Sharon), a lively spirit, who was a theatre teacher at Green Acres School; Karen Simpson (Kate), who has been quite active in several area performances around the Valley; and Elaine Wood (Lynn), who is living a dream of being in a rock band, and was thrilled to be a part of the production. “I got recognized in the grocery store the other day,” she beamed with well-deserved pride. Co-Director Gary Benjamin said, “You don’t need to travel to Los Angeles or San Francisco. You can see good theater here.” Benjamin, who also played drums in the quartet supporting band, said the production connected well with the audience. “Women of a certain age loved it,” he said. But interest must not have been limited to that demographic as every performance of the adult-content show was sold out, prompting the team to add a Valentine’s Day show, which too sold out. “We had a waiting list for every show that was 20 people deep,” said Co-Director Sylvia Tejerian Garoian, who oversaw the production with enthusiasm. In 1976 the City of Visalia gave the Ice House Building to the Visalia Company Players, a smart move by local leaders. Populations need to have access to culture, art and history. These things expand the mind and spur imagination. If you truly appreciate the arts, then you can’t just support them elsewhere. Do your part locally to keep the arts dream alive and accessible to all within the community. The Ice House has low-cost matinee performances as well, to promote family or senior attendance. Here’s to Visalia’s own Broadway.

LIFESTYLE | MARCH 2010

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LIFESTYLE | MARCH 2010

Text by Sharon Mosley

ho hasn’t uttered those words on one or two occasions? (Especially, if you’re standing in front of those dressing-room mirrors on steroids!) No matter what your size – or your age – we all want to look our best. And yes, there are some real secrets to slimming down on the fashion front. This season, Sher Canada, Chico’s style expert, offers her tips on new ways to shape up and look fabulous. Here are some of her best bets when it comes to slimming down for spring: START WITH COLUMN DRESSING. This is one of my personal

favorite tips that I’ve used in my own wardrobe for years. Simply put, it’s wearing the same color on top and bottom – then topping it off with a great cardigan or jacket and wonderful accessories. My basic “column” pieces are usually black, but in the spring, it’s time to lighten up, according to Canada. Column dressing “creates a longer, leaner look, even in white,” she says. Metallic silver and gray is my alternative to black in the spring.

STYLE IT, GIRLS! OK, YOU’VE GOT TO WORK IT A LITTLE BIT. Come

on, you can do it! Canada says to push up those sleeves, wear heels with your slim-leg jeans and pile on the jewelry. It’s the little things that mean the most when it comes to creating a stylish spring look, even when you’re wearing the most classic clothes. Try teaming oversized accessories with your professional suits for a more up-to-date style.

THROW IN A TREND. You can do this, too! Update your wardrobe with at least one new trendy item that suits your own fashion personality. Canada suggests the “modern-in-the-moment, musthave pant” on the spring horizon: “an incredibly comfortable cargo that’s chic with satin.” And the jean du jour? A slim-leg, zippered ankle jean.

BALANCE IS CRITICAL. Hopefully, you’ve already figured out

what “proportions” look good on you. Cropped jackets over flared pants? Long, soft tops over skinny pants? Then tweak your favorite pieces and take it to the next level: “The key is the highlow rule,” says Canada. “Build your look around a single star piece, and balance it with basics.”

GET ENERGIZED WITH COLOR. No, you don’t have to wear black to feel slim and trim in your clothes. Break out of that style rut and mix it up a little bit ... even if you wear a pop of a purple sequin tank and cardigan over your black pants. Citron is another way to give your wardrobe an unexpected twist: “Citron always looks fresh with white and silver,” says Canada. Another colorful tip? “Match colored denim with a patterned novelty jacket to look perfect but not planned,” adds Canada. ACCESSORIES SHAPE UP. Yes, you can wear a belt and get the

lean look, too. “Think you’ve lost your waistline?” asks Canada. “Think again.” She suggests experimenting with “slouch” belts hooked on top of your stomach – “not too high, not too low. The slight dip will slim your waistline,” she says. Stretch or chain belts are great when worn underneath a shirt or jacket to show off the buckle and hide the elastic.

SCARF IT UP! We all seem to have problems on the way to wearing

a scarf. But I personally have dozens in my wardrobe. Talk about a way to add a lot of personality and variety to those basic “column” pieces! Canada advises wearing scarves in a natural way: “You want a scarf to look as if it just fell into place – even if it didn’t.” She also finds that uneven ends form a slimming vertical line. “Even ends cut you in half.” So, if you only buy one accessory this spring, make it a scarf. It’s instant glamour!

LIFESTYLE | MARCH 2010