DTV DestinationVisalia 2014 test

8/11/2019 DTV DestinationVisalia 2014 test

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www.downtownvisalia.com 1

EVENTSGET OUT AND HAVE

SOME FUN!

ARTEXPLORE AND CELEBRATE

OUR CREATIVITY

DININGSAVOR THE

BOUNTIFUL HARVEST

OF OUR VALLEY


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Publisher

(559) 732-773

[email protected]

Creative Director / Graphic Designer

Eric Cribbs - www.cribbsproject.com

(559) 308-6277

Project Manager / Editorial

Carolina M. Evangelo

www.evangelocommunications.com

(209) 777-8995

Advertising Sales

Christi Metzner

[email protected]

(559) 732-7737

Editorial Contributors

Carolina Evangelo, Steve Pastis and

Downtown Visalians

Photography

JJ Fry

[email protected]

(559) 799-8603

Advertising, Business and

Editorial Inquiries call, email

or write us at:

Downtown Visalians

119 S. Church Street

Visalia, CA 93291

(559) 732-7737

[email protected]

Every effort has been made to ensure the

information within this publication is

complete and accurate at the time of

publication. Downtown Visalians, and

all parties associated with producing this

publication do not warrant such

accuracy or the claims of its advertisers.

Reproduction or reuse of any photos and/

or written material contained within this

magazine is prohibited without the expresse

written consent of the publisher.

Destination Visalia is published annually.

15,000 copies are distributed by:

Downtown Visalians

DowntownVisalia.com

(559) 732-7737

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16

58

INSIDE THIS ISSUE6WELCOME

8THE FOX THEATRE: CELEBRATING 85 YEARS AS VISALIAS

GREATEST TREASURE

12VISALIA OFFERS A RANGE OF SHOPPING EXPERIENCES14EDITORS PICKS: SHOPPING

16AEROSOL ARTIST ERIK GONZALEZ USES FREEHAND TECHNIQUE

20BIG ENTERTAINMENT

24IMAGINEU INTERACTIVE CHILDRENS MUSEUM

26LOCAL EVENTS COME ON OUT AND HAVE SOME FUN!

29EVENTS CALENDAR

34DOWNTOWN VISALIANS OFFER NEW SMART PHONE APP

36THE NEW FARM TO TABLE CAMPAIGN IS BASED ON AN OLD IDEA

41FUGAZZIS OFFERS AN ORIGINAL DINING EXPERIENCE

44MAP

45VISALIA COMMUNITY PLAYERS

46TWO MICROBREWERIES ADD TO DOWNTOWN DINING EXPERIENCE

47PURSUIT OF HOPPYNESS

48EDITORS PICKS: FOOD & DRINK50PALACE HOTEL BUILDINGS RICH HISTORY TO BE PRESERVED

52VISALIA TROLLEYS OFFER A CONVENIENT WAY TO SHOP, DINE AND

SEE THE CITY

54VISALIA: WHERE URBAN CHARM MEETS THE LAND OF GIANTS

56VISALIA: A COMMUNITY OF SERVICE

57STAYING HEALTHY

58SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY COLLEGE OFFERS CAREER FOCUSED PROGRAMS

60DESTINATION KAWEAH OAKS

62SEQUOIA SHUTTLE OFFERS EASIEST RIDE TO SEQUOIA

NATIONAL PARK


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OFFICIAL VISITOR CENTERSDowntown Visalians

119 S. Church Street

Visalia, CA 93291

(559) 732-7737

www.downtownvisalia.com

Visalia Chamber of Commerce

220 N. Santa Fe Street

Visalia, CA 93291

(559) 734-5876

www.visaliachamber.org

Visalia Convention Center

303 E. Acequia Avenue

Visalia, CA 93291

(559) 713-4800

www.ci.visalia.ca.us

Convention & Visitors Bureau303 East Acequia Avenue

Visalia Ca, 93291

(559) 334-0141

www.visitvisalia.org

DRIVING DIRECTIONSComing from the North

Take CA-99 South toward Bakersfield

Take exit 97 for CA-198 West

Merge onto CA-198 East

Take exit 107A to merge onto CA-63 N/W

Noble Ave toward Cutler Orosi/Kings Canyon Turn left at South Court Street

Coming from the South

Take CA-99 North toward Fresno

Take exit 96 to merge onto CA-198 East

toward Visalia/Sequoia National Park

Take exit 107A to merge onto CA-63 N/W

Noble Ave toward Cutler Orosi/Kings Canyon

Turn left at South Court Street

FLY VISALIA

Visalia Airport

Non-stop Flights to Burbank & Sacramento

www.seaportairlines.com

1-888-573-2767

SAN FRANCISCOSAN FRANCISCO

SACRAMENTOSACRAMENTO

FRESNOFRESNO

LOS ANGELESLOS ANGELES

BAKERSFIELDBAKERSFIELD

SAN DIEGOSAN DIEGO

KINGS CANYON

SEQUOIAN.P.KINGS CANYON

SEQUOIA N.P.

VisaliaVisalia

VISALIA - WHO ARE WE?Visalia is rated in the top 100 communities in America by RelocateAmerica for its great music, culture, arts and entertainment, aswell as the many shopping and dining venues. Visalias Downtownreceived an honorable mention as one of Californias Best Downtowns(according to population) on the Best and Worst Downtowns listsaying, Its the one to watch.

Downtown is the transportation hub of the community. The newlyexpanded transit center accommodates local bus

services, a downtown trolley, service to Amtrak

and Greyhound Bus services.

The results of a city-wide cultural arts surveyconducted by the City of Visalia, residentschose downtown as their second favorite place

to take visiting friends and family. Their firstselection is the National Parks. Downtown has

two locations where the shuttleto Sequoia National Park

can be boarded. For moreinformation on the SequoiaShuttle, call (877) 287-4453.

Visalia supports the use ofalternative transportation.

We are a designated bicyclefriendly community offering

miles of bike routes. Anddowntown scored a 98 outof a possible 100 rating forbeing a pedestrian friendlydowntown.



Visalias downtown is itscore, and at its core arededicated business andproperty owners committedto maintaining its vibrancy,diversity, and vitality. A smalltown atmosphere is balancedwith a mix of professionaloffice space, unique boutiques,culturally diverse restaurants

and entertainment venues for all ages.

Its mix of historically preserved buildings and newlyrenovated spaces combine to showcase the areasrich history and promising future. Located just north ofState Highway 198, Downtown Visalia has served asthe citys epicenter for social culture and local businessprowess since the Citys founding in 1852.

Home to more than 130,000 residents, Visalia is adiverse community that has preserved its small-townfriendliness while still being the medical, commercial,educational, cultural and government center of atwo-county area. Once a creekside settlement, theCity has grown into a thriving community with big-city amenities. Its location in the foothills below themajestic Sierra Nevada Mountains puts it on the mapas the Gateway to the Sequoia and Kings CanyonNational Parks.

The pride of our citizens in their community is apparentthroughout the city its a place to live, play and work.

City of Visalia Mayor,

Steve Nelsen

WELCOMETO VISALIA

DOWNTOWN VISALIA,

THE HEARTOF THECITY, BEATS STRONG


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WELCOME TOTULARE COUNTY!

T

he City of Visalia and TulareCounty have much in

common. Where ever you areplanning to spend your time whilehere on vacation, we know you willenjoy your stay here.

We know you have choices andare glad you have chosen tostay here. Let me share a few ofmy favorite sites to see in Tulare

County. I grew up here in Visalia and it was normal to takea day trip to the mountains. Just a short ride up the hill andyou can be at the General Sherman Tree in Grants Grove.Our mighty redwoods and giant sequoias are quite a site

that you will never forget. If you dont want to drive yourself,take the Sequoia Shuttle. This wonderful and affordable busride includes the cost of admission into the park and allowseveryone to experience the great views during the ride.

While in the park there is also a transit system that is free ofcharge to move around the park.

There are many smaller communities in the county that havebeautiful murals and great restaurants. The cities of Exeterand Lindsay both have nice downtowns with murals and offthe beaten path restaurants to enjoy. Justoutside of the community of Strathmore on Highway 65 isthe Orange Works Cafe. They are well known for their tri-tipsandwiches and fresh made daily orange sherbet. My familywill take the twenty minute trip there just forthe sorbet.

Last but not least on my list of favorite places to go is themany farmers markets held throughout the county everyweek. Friday evening is the city of Lindsay, Thursday eveningand Saturday mornings in the city of Visalia. The freshest andbest fruit and vegetables available anywhere in the UnitedStates.

Again thank you for choosing to stay here in our community.We know what ever your plans are, you will have a wonderfultime experiencing the beautiful place we call home.

Supervisor

Phil Co



THE FOX THEATRE:CELEBRATING 85 YEARSAS VISALIAS GREATESTTREASURE By: Erin Olm-Shipman

Its difficult to miss the Visalia Fox Theatre; the image of its iconic clock tower adorn flags hung from nearly every

lamp post along Main Street, it is the favorite subject of many local artists, and it towers above the Sierra Nevadamountains in the Citys logo. It is the symbol chosen by the community to represent our city.

From the Spanish Colonial clock rising above the downtown skyline (it was the largest electric clock of its kind whenit was installed), over a hundred hand-painted elephants marching along the ornately carved plaster beams, and thesoft glow of the dazzling chandeliers, it is clear the space was intended to transport theatre-goers to another worldas soon as they stepped through the lobby doors. Sink into the soft velvet cushions that fill the courtyard of an EastIndian palace, surrounded by manicured gardens, underneath a blanket of stars that twinkle in the ceiling above.Twilight fades into night as the heavy curtains flanking the stage are drawn open for a movie, a ballet, a communitytheatre performance, or a big-name rock band.

Each year, the Visalia Fox Theatre presents a wide variety of programming that represents the diverse communityfound throughout Tulare County, and it has a long history of doing so.

On February 27, 1930, William Fox opened the doors of his namesake theatre for the very first time. Little did he knowwhen construction of the Visalia Fox began in early 1929, however, just how badly the people of Visalia would needthis escape in the years to come.

Just a month before the originally anticipated opening of the Visalia Fox Theatre, the Stock Market Crash foreverchanged the course of American history, and the nation quickly plummeted into the Great Depression. For ten years,citizens of nearly every industrialized western country suffered, and the 7,000 residents of Visalia were no exception.With the arrival of the new Fox Theatre, however, they were at least provided some relief an entertaining distractionat the very least.

For $0.50, an adult could purchase a ticket to the theatre and spend the afternoon inside its scientificallyrefrigerated interior, laughing along to a Laurel & Hardy comedy, tapping along to live organ renditions of popular

music, and experiencing the magic of talkie films on the big screen a phenomenon which had only just beenintroduced in 1927. Within months of opening, the experience was enhanced by the addition of live entertainment.Talent competitions, vaudeville skits, and various music performances became a regular fixture before every maincinematic feature.

To further entice the public, every Wednesday was designated Ladies Cream Night, wherein every woman inattendance received a free jar of beauty cream, which undoubtedly paired quite well with her buttered popcorn.Random drawings were periodically held for IGA Stores gift certificates, a General Electric refrigerator, and even abrand new Chevrolet. None of these promotions, however, compared with the theatres brilliant marketing plan to


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drum up business on slow evenings with the inauguration ofHam n Bacon Night, which consisted of weekly drawingsthat sent the lucky winners walking away with armfuls of freeham and bacon.

The day before Thanksgiving and Christmas, parents woulddrop their kids at the theatre for a full day of childrensprograms while they finished their holiday cooking and last-minute shopping. Late at night, one local high school boywould let himself into the theatre to play the organ, teachinghimself chord progressions until he was good enough toperform for the audience. The balcony is where generationsof Visalia residents had their first kissand secondand third.

But the theatre wasnt just a place where people wouldretreat in solitude; it was also a place where the communitygathered to be together. Long before televisions became

a staple in American homes, people caught up on currentevents by watching the Movietone newsreels that playedbefore nearly every film. When the United States formallydeclared war on Japan following the attack on Pearl Harbor,the National Guard reported to the Visalia Fox lobby beforebeing ordered to active duty, and throughout the course ofthe war, dozens of bond drives held at the theatre raisedmoney to support the efforts overseas. In June 1944, daysprior to the D-Day invasion of Normandy, a community prayerwas held in the auditorium, and attended by over 1,000citizens.

The Visalia Times Delta newspaper once described the

Visalia Fox Theatre as, a landmark, an emblem, a place ofour identity, and it is undeniably that. Want to create yourown Visalia Fox Theatre story? Its never too late to escapeto the Visalia Fox Theatre and make one!

For a complete list of upcoming events, visitwww.foxvisalia.org


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MORE ART &ENTERTAINMENT

THE ENCHANTED PLAYHOUSEOver the past 16 years, The EnchantedPlayhouse has presented more than 50stage productions, including such belovedstories as Charlottes Web, Beautyand the Beast, The Velveteen Rabbit,Cinderella, and The Hobbit. Thecompany also presents community events,concerts, workshops, and fundraisers.The Enchanted Playhouse receives anenthusiastic attendance of over 3,000children and adults at each production, ofwhich 1,600 are school children attendingspecial morning performances with theirteachers, parents and schoolmates.The Enchanted Playhouse Theatre islocated at 307 E. Main St., Visalia.

ICE HOUSE THEATERThe Visalia Players have been providinglive theater presentations at the IceHouse Theater for the enjoyment ofVisalia and the surrounding communitiesfor the past 50 years. Their 2014-2015

season featured a variety of productions,including: Bonnie & Clyde: A NewMusical, The Trip To Bountiful, Side BySide By Sondheim, The 39 Steps, andThe Graduate.For information about the Visalia Players2015-16 season, visitwww.visaliaplayers.org or call(559) 734-3900.

THE CREATIVE CENTERThe Creative Center, a non-profitcommunity arts center for adults withdevelopmental disabilities, is dedicatedto fostering self-expression, self-worth

and personal growth through thearts, community integration, providingcultural resources to the community, andrecognizing the individuals value andcontribution.In addition to presenting art exhibitions,the center hosts a Gift Faire; an ArtShowcase, a juried show for Visalia HighSchool Visual Arts Students; and theCreative Center Players Spring Show.For more information, call (559) 733-9329.

TULARE COUNTY SYMPHONYThe Tulare County Symphony performseight concerts a year, kicking off with aPops in the Park in September and alsoincluding a popular Holiday Pops.The symphony was organized in 1960by the Tulare Union High School banddirector. Today, under the directionof music director Bruce Kiesling, theorchestra consists of almost 80 musicianswho live in Visalia and surroundingcities. The orchestra also performs youthconcerts for just under 9,000 elementaryschool students each year.For more information, visitwww.tularecountysymphony.com or call(559) 732-8600.



The City of Visalia has most of the largestores you would expect to find in a cityof its size, but it also has many intriguingone-of-a-kind shops and boutiques. The

result is a shopping experience for everytaste.

If we look at just our downtownarea, its a pretty unique scenario

where you can walk to get a coffeeand then meander through all the shops, said

Suzanne Bianco, tourism and marketing managerfor the Visalia Convention & Visitors Bureau. Andthe people who own and operate these shopshave a special interest in making the customer feelwelcome.

The downtown shopping experience is one ofthe citys selling points to visitors. The VisaliaConvention & Visitors Bureau suggests aGirlfriends Getaway in its travel brochure, startingwith a meal at The Lunch Box, and includingdowntown boutique shopping, a visit to AntiqueRow on East Main Street, a cocktail at Caf 225,dancing at the Cellar Door, and a spa experience tofinish the day.

Friends like to go and have a weekend away, saidBianco, adding that this is the kind of girlfriendsgetaway that might encourage her girlfriends from

L.A. to come up for a visit.

The same brochure also promotes The UltimateMan Tour, actually includes shopping destination the Sequoia Cigar Company. For those with othershopping interests, Downtown Visalia also has

VISALIA OFFERS A

RANGE OFSHOPPINGEXPERIENCES


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-DOW

NTOWNVISA

LIA

-

-VINTAGE

CHRISTMAS

-

-DOW

NTOWNVISA

LIA

-

-VINTAGE

CHRISTMAS

-

PresentedB

y

November 30

December3rd, 10th & 17th

stores for those interested in sports apparel, coins,records, and board games.

Mooney Boulevard offers a different shoppingexperience, or perhaps experiences is moreaccurate.

The Visalia Mall, located at 2031 S. Mooney Blvd.,features Macys and J.C. Penney department stores,along with a variety of smaller stores includingOld Navy, American Eagle Outfitters, All AmericanSports Fan, PacSun, Forever 21, Victorias Secret,Aeropostale, and Hot Topic, as well as restaurants anda childrens play area.

The Sequoia Mall, a few blocks south at 3355 S.Mooney Blvd., includes a Sears and a Hobby Lobby,and for those looking to keep family members busywhile they shop in peace, a 12-screen movie theater.

Further south, the Packwood Creek Shopping Centerfeatures a Target, a Tillys, and a Sport Chalet, alongwith several restaurants, including Chipotle MexicanGrill, Chilis, and Panera Bread. Across MooneyBoulevard are Lowes Home Improvement, PetSmart,

Michaels, Best Buy and Guitar Center, along with OliveGarden to complete the experience.

Other large retailers located along Mooney Boulevardinclude Walmart, Dicks Sporting Goods, Big 5 SportingGoods, Staples, Office Depot, Big Lots, and Toys R Us.



PACIFIC TREASURESLodge Cast Iron Skillets$18.99-$79.99

EDITORS PICKSSHOPPING

BROWNS SHOE FITUggs $220

JANEENSLinen Side Chair $999Queen Bed $2,399 with NightStands $999

MARCELLASKing Bed $2,799

ZIAYASBird houses $30-65

Scarves $10 or 2 for $15

MICHAELS JEWELERSSimon G CollectionItems $1540 +

MIDTOWN SPORTS

Sport Baseball caps $9.95-14.9Visors $11.99

VELOURIARecords $5-7


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AEROSOLARTISTERIK GONZALEZ USESFREEHAND TECHNIQUE

Erik Gonzalez has been an active aerosol artist for more than 15years. His work has been shown throughout California, as wellas in Mexico, Oregon, Seattle and St. Louis. In May, he paintedtwo street art murals in El Paso for a citywide beautification project.

Locally, Gonzalez art has been on display at such venues as ArtsConsortium, Arts Visalia and the Lumber Yard. He enjoys watchingpeople as they look at his work.

I really get a kick out of folks expressions when they realize my workwas painted with all spray paint no stencils, no tape, no brushes,said Gonzalez. Not that there is anything wrong with using thosetools, but I take some pride in my freehand technique. Its what setsme apart from other spray can artists.


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Depending on the scale of a project, Gonzalez willspend anywhere from a couple of hours to a coupleof days to complete it. The biggest challenge isaccomplishing can control. Manipulating spray paintto do what you want it to do is not always easy, heexplained. In addition to the challenge of keeping yourform, you are also working against the elements.

Gonzalez, who has been interviewed about his artin newspapers, magazines, web media, television

and radio, is inspired by typography, shapes, colorsand the challenge of painting whatever images I amworking on.

Growing up in Los Angeles, I was very lucky toexperience graffiti art in the late 80s, he recalled.I was extremely attracted to the colorful large scaleworks I would find throughout the city. Like mostprofessional graffiti artists today, my roots werefounded as a young rogue artist.

One memorable moment that stands out was when Ipainted on the large skateboarding quarter-pipe fromthe Thrashin movie set in Venice Beach, he added.It was left behind for the locals after the movie toskate and to paint on.

In the 90s, I moved to the Bay Area where my craftprogressed as I matured, he continued. By this point, Iwas well invested in the artform and was here to stay.

Occasionally, Gonzalez has to deal with themisconceptions that we all destroy property or that allvandalism you see in the streets is gang-related. Onething I get asked often is, Are you an ex-gang member

that turned your life around and now serving youth andcommunity? False. I have never been in a gang.

Through his work, Gonzalez tries to deliver positiveand meaningful messages to young people about theimportance of art and education, youth empowerment,risk behavior prevention, and more. He has also beeninvolved with various organizations to deliver creativeoutreach, including exposing young artists to the urbanart career opportunities that exist in contemporaryadvertising and design markets.



As an artist, I believe I have the opportunity to communicatemessages through my artwork so why not make them positiveones? he said. I have been very fortunate to work with organizationsthat serve youth, such as Pro-Youth HEART, Boys & Girls Club,and others. Working with youth on a regular basis allows me tocommunicate positive ideas in depth.

In January 2012, Gonzalez founded the Urbanists Collective, whichhe describes as an art group with a focus to promote the educationand positive expansion of urban art within the community. Membersinclude spray-can artists, photographers, a tattoo artist, writers, poets,vocalists, and screen printers.

A few of us painted a street art veterans mural in downtownFresno and, we have showcased our work at the Lumber Yard for#lumberyardsessions during the Visalia First Friday event, Gonzalezsaid.

The Urbanists Collective is also busy planning its participation in the

Visalia Taste the Arts festival on October 17.

For more information about the UrbanistsCollective, visit urbanistscollective.com. Moreinformation about Gonzalez is at erik85.com

OCTO

BER17,2015

/TastetheArts

ART

FIRST FRIDAYEvery month, First Friday brings togetherartists, patrons, experienced collectors,curious beginners, and the community atlarge.As the name implies, events take placeduring the first Friday evening of eachmonth, from 6-8 p.m. During this time,downtown galleries, arts organizations,studios, and other businesses open their

doors and invite the community to enjoythe work of a variety of artists, rangingfrom musicians and sculptors to poets andpainters.A special project of the Arts Consortiumand funded in part by the City of VisaliasCommunity Arts Grant, the program is freeto the general public and for participatingartists.

ARTS CONSORTIUMThe Arts Consortium brings togetherartists, organizations and art enthusiaststo advocate, promote and provideopportunities to create and celebrate the

arts for all Tulare County residents andvisitors.Its projects include: First Friday; My VoiceMedia Center, a collaboration with theTulare County Health and Human ServicesAgency to bring those with lived mentalhealthcare experience and their familiesaccess to the digital media they need totell their stories and express their artisticaspirations; The Visalia Visual Chronicle,a privately-funded, publicly-owned artcollection that helps define Visalias icons,culture and quality of life; and the VisaliaOpera Company.

IMAGINEU CHILDRENS MUSEUMImagineU is a hands-on place ofimagination that engages children withinteractive exhibits and meaningful familyexperiences. Created by Head Starteducator Angela Huerta in 2002, themuseum has been housed in a former cardealership in Visalia. This fall, it will moveinto a state-of-the-art building at Oak andTipton in Downtown Visalia.ImagineU, currently located at 700 E.Main, Visalia, is available for field trips,birthday parties, and family camps. Formore information, call (559) 733-5975 orvisit www.imagineUmuseum.org.

SOUND N VISION FOUNDATIONSound N Vision Foundation is a uniqueVisalia-based non-profit organization thatexists to bring top-tier national touringmusic, art, and multicultural events to theCentral Valley. The organization hostsover 100 concerts each year. Additionally,the organization hosts free summer musicand art classes for the areas youth.For more information, visitsnvfoundation.org.


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BIGENTERTAINMENT


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106.7 KJUG COUNTRY turnedup the heat again in 2015 on thelargest Country Music Festival inCentral California with the annualJUGFEST concert May 30th at theInternational AgriCenter.

The star-studded lineup includedAmerican Idol Alumni LaurenAlaina, Tennessee Native ChaseBryant, Craig Campbell, crowd-favorites Big & Rich, and headlinerChris Young.

The annual music festival haslong been the go-to event for thebiggest names in Country Music,having hosted performers like EricChurch, The Band Perry, EastonCorbin, Justin Moore, Clay Walker,Gary Allan, Travis Tritt, RonnieMilsap, and Lee Brice.

The gates opened at 1pm, witha long line of country music fansalready waiting to stake a greatviewing spot near the stage. As

in years past, KJUG set asideover 500 seats in the reservedsection for active, retired, andveteran members of the military.A highlight of the show was whenBig & Rich brought second classpetty officer Chris Taylor of theU.S. Navy on stage to representthe brave men and women of ourarmed forces in a salute to whatJohn Rich called the true heroes ofour country. Taylor was invited toremain on stage for the rest of the



performance, enjoying what was truly the best seat in the house.

Over 25,000 country music fans braved the heat to enjoy the show, anew attendance high for the festival. After staging the show at PlazaPark in 2014, and at Twilight Park in Woodlake in 2013, KJUG Countryinked a new location and found a great partner in the InternationalAgriCenter in Tulare, ensuring plenty of parking and room for thislongtime local tradition to grow.

With the new location and biggest crowd to date, KJUG took steps tomake sure the crowd had a great view of the action no matter wherethey were sitting by adding new outdoor jumbo video screens forviewing the show.

Numerous vendors were on hand selling food, drink, and artistmemorabilia. Attendees were encouraged to bring lawn chairs orblankets to sit and enjoy the event.

As always, admission for the show was free, but attendees had thechance to purchase reserved seating for just $20. The planning forthis annual event starts immediately after the festival each year, andnegotiations for touring acts are already in the works to bring JUGFEST

2016 to the South Valley.

106.7 KJUG COUNTRY is one of the Californias oldest and longest-standing country western music radio stations, serving the Visalia-Tulare-Hanford area.

For more information, and behind the scenesphotos of JUGFEST, visit www.KJUG.com

EVENTS

IRISH FESTThe Visalia Breakfast Lions host thisannual event at Rawhide Ballparkfollowing the St. Patricks Day Parade inDowntown Visalia. Guests hear musicfrom local bands while enjoying asampling of craft beer from a variety ofcraft breweries, along with food suppliedby local businesses and organizations.This event is open to all guests 21 and

over with all net proceeds benefiting localcharities. For more information, visit www.visaliabreakfastlions.org.

TASTE THE ARTS FESTIVAL &STREET FAIRTaste the Arts, an annual festivalpresented by the Arts Consortium tocelebrate the rich cultural and artisticheritage of our community, will be heldfrom 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday, October17, at the Garden Street Plaza and the OldLumber Yard, and along Garden Streetbetween Main Street and School Avenuein Downtown Visalia.

The event offers a full day of freeactivities, showcasing 70 regional visualartists and their paintings, sculptures, steelwork, photographs, gourds, and jewelry.Entertainment on two stages will featuremusical acts, dance troupes, and culturalperformers.For more information, visit www.artsconsortium.org/tastethearts.

DOWNTOWN SUMMER JAMCome down to the Garden Street Plazain downtown Visalia on Saturday June 11,2016 and enjoy the 4th annual SummerJam. There will be four bands performing

at this free concert sponsored by AvedianProperties. Wine, beer (provided bySequoia Beverage Company), kettle cornand Visalia Brewing Companys BBQsandwiches will be available for purchase.For more information, visitwww.downtownvisalia.com or call559.732.7737.

WORLD AG EXPOThe World Ag Expo will celebrate its 49thyear on February 9-16, 2016 in Tulare.The largest annual agricultural expositionof its kind, World Ag Expo features morethan 1,500 exhibitors displaying the latestagricultural technology and equipment on2.6 million square feet of show grounds.An estimated 100,000 individuals from 70countries attend the expo each year.Over 40 seminars will be offered inbeef, dairy, hay and forage, internationaltrade, irrigation, and general agriculturecategories.More information is available atwww.WorldAgExpo.org.


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OUR HISTORYThe ImagineU Interactive Childrens Museum wasfounded in August 2002. Since then, the museum hasprovided a learning center of possibilities andpromise, a family place where children and parentscan learn about themselves, each other and the worldwe live in through explorations, interactions,role-play and direct experiences.

MISSIONOur mission is to inspire children through interactiveeducational experiences by providing multicultural,

hands-on learning through the sciences,environmental conservation, and the arts. Byempowering children and their families in a funenvironment, we can transform lives and enhanceour community.FIELD TRIPSImagineU is an ideal field trip destination for schools,Head Start and after-school programs. We look forwardto helping your students explore and learn in anexciting and educational environment. When your

school group visits ImagineU, teachers and studentswill be treated to several hands-on exhibits andinteractive activities. We are starting an EducationalCommittee to make the field trips fit the needs ofCommon Core curriculum. Call the museum to reservea field trip for your students.

BIRTHDAY PARTIESImagineU has become a very popular venue forbirthday parties. The museum can be rented for partiesand other private events Our birthday party packagesoffer flexibility, privacy, and full access for 50 people to

over 20 interactive childrens exhibits. Bring your owncake, food, refreshments, and decorations if youchoose. We will provide five tables with chairs and willtake care of the post party cleanup!

For more information aboutImagineU visit:www.imagineUmuseum.org

IMAGINEUINTERACTIVECHILDRENS MUSEUMBy ImagineU Staff


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22ND ANNUAL TASTE OF DOWNTOWN VISALIAGet ready for the 22nd Annual Taste of DowntownVisalia on Tuesday October 6, 2015 from 5:00-8:30pmfor delicious treats. Downtowns fabulous communityof restaurants open their doors once a year and offer ataste of their favorite menu items. A ticket admits youto all of the participating Downtown restaurants as wellas entrance to wine tasting by the Bank of the Sierraand beer tasting hosted by Suncrest Bank. Spend thenight strolling the streets enjoying culinary delights

and live music or jump on the Visalia Towne Trolley fora lift to your favorite restaurant. Guests from all overthe United States have come to this popular event thatsome have dubbed a grown-ups trick or treat. Butthere are never any tricks, only treats. The challengeis to visit all of the participating restaurants. Ticketholders are encouraged to wear comfortable shoesand loose waist bands.

Ticket price remains at $35 until September 20th, thenthe price increases to $40. Tickets purchased need tobe picked up at the Downtown Visalians office locatedat 119 S. Church. Tickets will not be mailed.

CANDY CANE LANE PARADEVisalias Candy Cane Lane Parade will celebrateits 70th year bringing holiday spirit to the streets ofDowntown Visalia on Monday November 30, 2015 at

7pm. This years theme is Vintage Christmas with Mrs.Charlotte Wittig as Grand Marshall. The 1 mile routeproceeds west on Main Street from Liberty to Conyer,where is turns south to unload passengers at theConyer and Mineral King parking lot. Winning floats willreceive cash prizes provided by Groppetti Automotive.Please DO NOT ROPE your chairs together to save acurbside space.

LOCALEVENTSCOME ON OUT AND

HAVE SOME FUN!


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WINE, CHOCOLATE & CHEESE WALKCome downtown and enjoy one of our best DowntownVisalia events! The 5th Annual Wine, Chocolate &Cheese Walk will take place on Thursday April 7,2016 from 5:30 to 8:30pm. Stroll though shops andboutiques while sipping on wine and enjoying deliciouscheeses, chocolates and appetizers at each shop. Livemusic will also fill the air downtown. Tickets are $35.For more information, visit downtownvisalia.com.

DOWNTOWN EXPOBring your family down to our 6th Annual DowntownExpo and Car Show, sponsored by BMW of Visalia,on Friday May 20, 2016 from 5-11pm. Enjoy thelatest fashions from our downtown boutiques, theBreakfast Lions Car Show classic cars & hot rods, fooddemonstrations and several vendors. Dance to livemusic performed by Run 4 Cover. Tickets are $10 and

children 12 & under are free. A portion of the ticketsales benefit Breast Cancer Research. Purchase ticketsonline at downtownvisalia.com.

SUMMER JAMMusic will be the centerpiece at the Garden StreetPlaza on Saturday June 11, 2016 from 4:30-10pm. Comeout and dance all evening long to some great livemusic at Downtown Visalias 4th Annual Summer Jamsponsored by Avedian Properties. Enjoy a variety offood, beer and wine (available for purchase). This is afree event, for more information, visitdowntownvisalia.com.

PURSUIT OF HOPPYNESSGather your friends together and be ready to sampleyour favorite beer. Enjoy a fun-filled evening atDowntown Visalias first annual craft beer tasting. Yourpurchase will include: a souvenir beer tasting glass,bottomless craft beer tastings, live music, food and lotsof fun! Watch for more information in 2016 about thisfun Downtown Visalia event, Pursuit of Hoppyness, at

downtownvisalia.com.


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SEPTEMBER 326KENNETH CONN:SOLO EXHIBITIONwww.artsvisalia.org

SEPTEMBER 1920ROCKY MOUNTAIN GUN SHOWSomething for every outdooradventurer, gun enthusiast andhunter.www.rockymountaingunshow.com

SEPTEMBER 2423RD ANNUAL VISALIAWAITERS RACEDowntown Visalia on Main Streetbetween Garden and Court Streets,

beginning at 5:15 pm, with $7,000in cash prizes.www.visaliabreakfastlions.org

SEPTEMBER 2527VISALIA HOME EXPOwww.visaliahomeshows.com

OCTOBER 1OKTOBER FESTVossler Farms, 5:30pmwww.visaliachamber.orgoktoberfest

OCTOBER 2GAITHER CONCERT TOURA full evening of entertainment andmeaningful music

www.gaither.com/tour/gaither-concert-tour

OCTOBER 1312015 NORTH AMERICAN PRINT &DRAWINGwww.artsvisalia.org

OCTOBER 6TASTE OF DOWNTOWN VISALIAwww.downtownvisalia.com

OCTOBER 911VISALIA COWBOY CULTURALCOMMITTEE 25TH ANNIVERSARY

AT RITCHIES BARNTri-tip dinner with our world-famous dutch oven peach cobbler

EVENTS CALENDAR



for dessert will be served at5pm Dinner each evening willbe followed by a concert at 7pmwith performances by renownedcowboy band, The ComstockCowboys, and gifted cowboy poetsDave Stamey and Gary Robertson.All are welcome to attend ourNon-denominational CowboyChurch service in the barn onSunday morning, October 11 at 9amPastor Russ Highfill will present themessage.www.visaliacowboys.com

OCTOBER 17TASTE THE ARTSFree downtown street faire from11am 5pm with more than 70artists, local entertainers andactivities for the whole family!www.artsconsortium.org

OCTOBER 17TASTEMAKERS FESTIVALFestival of food and live music atRawhide Stadiumthetastemakermag.com/tastemakersfestival

OCTOBER 2125VISALIA SENIOR GAMESwww.visaliaseniorgames.com

OCTOBER 30

THE VISALIA OPERA COMPANYPRESENTS, CARMENVisalia Lumberyard/Arts District(Corner of Oak and Garden Street)www.visaliaoperacompany.org

NOVEMBER 1, 7 AND 8THE VISALIA OPERA COMPANYPRESENTS, CARMENVisalia Lumberyard/Arts District(Corner of Oak and Garden Street)www.visaliaoperacompany.org

NOVEMBER 528ADRIANNA LUNA: SOLOEXHIBITIONwww.artsvisalia.org


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NOVEMBER 1415HOLIDAY MARKETPLACEwww.facebook.com/CVWNHolidayMarketplace

NOVEMBER 30CANDY CANE LANE PARADE,VINTAGE CHRISTMASwww.downtownvisalia.com

DECEMBER 124ARTS VISALIA HOLIDAY SHOWAND SALEwww.artsvisalia.org

DECEMBER 3, 10, 17DOWNTOWN VISALIA HOLIDAYOPEN HOUSEwww.downtownvisalia.com

DECEMBER 56GATEWAY TO CHRISTMASPROGRAMwww.gatewayvisalia.com/gateway-to-christmas/

DECEMBER 11CHRISTMAS TREE AUCTIONwww.visaliachamber.org

DECEMBER 1920DISCOVER THE DINOSAURSExperience moving and replicamuseum quality dinosaurswww.discoverthedinosaurs.com/

DECEMBER 31GI FORUM NEW YEARS EVEPARTYwww.visalia.org

FEBRUARY 1214, 201623RD ANNUAL SPRINGFESTHOME & PATIO SHOWOver 350 home and patio productdisplays, unique gifts and crafts,

and great foodwww.visaliahomeshows.com

SPRINGBLING IT ON: A LADIESNIGHT OUTwww.downtownvisalia.com

MARCH 2016FARMERS MARKET BEGINS,EVERY THURSDAY NIGHT ONCHURCH STREET. RUNS MARCHOCTOBERwww.visaliafarmersmarket.com

MARCH 35SPRING SIDEWALK SALEwww.downtownvisalia.com

MARCH 12ST. PARTICKS DAY PARADEwww.visaliabreakfastlions.org

MARCH 12VISALIA IRISH FESTwww.visaliabreakfastlions.org



APRILVISALIA RAWHIDE BASEBALLSEASON BEGINSwww.rawhidebaseball.com

APRIL 7WINE, CHOCOLATE& CHEESE WALKwww.downtownvisalia.com

APRIL 1416INTERNATIONAL DXCONVENTIONFor DXers or anyone interested inham radios

www.dxconvention.org

APRIL 2830GREAT WESTERN GOSPEL FANFESTIVALwww.fanfestivals.com

MAY 1415ROCKY MOUNTAIN GUN SHOWSomething for every outdooradventurer, gun enthusiast, andhunter.www.rockymountaingunshow.com

MAY 20DOWNTOWN EXPOA fashion, food and music event.

www.downtownvisalia.com

MAY 21BREAKFAST LIONS CLUB CARSHOWwww.visaliabreakfastlions.org

JUNE 2016SEQUOIA NATIONAL PARKSHUTTLE SERVICE BEGINS(June September)www.sequoiashuttle.com

JUNE 11SUMMER JAMwww.downtownvisalia.com

O U R P R O DU C T S T ELL S T O R I ES .

505 W. Center Street

Visalia 559-901-3135

Mon-Fri 10am-5:30p/Sat 10am-4pm

Enjoy the Store Visalia

@enjoythestorevisalia

Local made artisan oodand gifs


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Theres a campaign in cities across the country to getpeople to buy locally grown food. Whether its calledfarm to table or farm to fork, advocates are working

hard to promote the benefits of getting people to buyhealthier food, because its fresh and because it strengthensthe local economy.

Here in Tulare County, which is ranked as the mostproductive agricultural county in the nation, the campaign isalso important in promoting local tourism.

As a result of incorporating the bounty of locally produced

food into the cuisine of its restaurants, the City of Visalia wasrecently named as one of Americas Best Small Towns forFood by USA Today and Rand McNally.

People enjoy the local experience, and for most of us, food

is that experience, explained Suzanne Bianco, tourism andmarketing manager for the Visalia Convention & VisitorsBureau. When people come to the Central Valley, I thinkthey expect that their food is grown here.

Its only in the last few years that people have really takenan interest in where their food comes from, she said.Theres an emotional quality to it when the restaurateurknows the person hes doing business with, and he can sayhe knows the person he bought his food from.Knowing where your food comes from is actually the waythings were a long time ago.

It used to be that people were pretty familiar with farms andfarming, said Bob McKellar, owner of McKellar Family Farms,Family Farm Fresh, and Historic Seven Sycamores Ranch,which offers visitors a chance to walk through orchards


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loaded with oranges, and pick their own citrus. Nowadays,people have no idea where their food comes from.But apparently, the demand for fresh food is growing.

From our farm, we have a delivery service program wherepeople sign up and we deliver food, said McKellar, whosefarm delivers 150 baskets a week to people in Tulare,Kings and Fresno Counties. Its called CSA CommunitySupported Agriculture.

CSAs started a long long time ago, he continues.

The concept was that a small farmer on the edge of towncame to town and found people who would pay him inadvance for fruit or vegetables, and later each person wouldget their share.

McKellar only grows oranges and mandarins, but has formedkind of a co-op with other farmers who add their avocadosor other vegetables to the baskets. He believes that interestin fresh fruit and vegetables is growing.

You cant pick up the newspaper without someone sayingthey have the freshest sandwich or they have the freshestsomething or other, he said. Theres a lot more peopletoday who are interested in where their food comes fromthan there were five years ago.

Other local opportunities to experience farm to table include

visiting a farmers market, stopping at a roadside fruit stand,and picking fruit on a farm (with permission, of course), or toattend a nut butter tasting on the farm of local grower JohnOneto.

THE NEWFARM TO

TABLE

CAMPAIGN IS BASEDON AN OLD IDEA



Farmers markets allow visitors to buyproducts such as fruits and vegetablesdirectly from the grower, which resultsin fresher and less expensive goodsgoing directly from farm to table. Theseevents also provide an opportunity forconsumers to talk directly to growers, andask them about their products.

The Visalia Farmers Market Associationholds farmers markets every Saturdaymorning year round and every

Thursday evening from mid-March through October. There are also Tuesdayevening markets at Tulare Outlets from May to October. The markets alsofeature locally produced honey and cheeses, breads, and even handmadesoaps and arts & crafts. Visit www.visaliafarmersmarket.com for moreinformation.

McKellar Family Farms is located at 32988 Road 164 in nearby Ivanhoe.For more information, visit www.mckellarfamilyfarms.com orwww.familyfarmfresh.com, or call (559) 798-0557.

Information about additional farm to fork programs,including cooking demonstrations and the previ-ously mentioned nut butter tasting can be foundat the Visalia Convention & Visitors Bureau website,www.visitvisalia.org

FARMERS MARKET

DOWNTOWN VISALIA MARKETE Main St & N Church StVisalia, CA 93291Thursdays, 5pm to 8pm

VISALIA MARKETSears Parking Loton S Mooney Blvd & W Caldwell AveVisalia, CA 93277Saturdays, 8am to 11:30am


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FUGAZZIS OFFERS ANORIGINALDINING

EXPERIENCE


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Among the most popular andunique places for lunch or dinnerin Downtown Visalia is Fugazzis,

a California Restaurant Associationand Peoples Choice award-winningrestaurant. For ten consecutive years, ithas been a Taste of Downtown Visaliaaward-winner, and it has been votedCentral Valleys Best Caterer.

Fugazzis is a California bistro with amenu that includes fresh produce andseafood such as salmon, tuna, andhalibut, as well as pork, chicken, filetmignon, New York steaks and prime rib.

My favorite is our pistachio-crustedhalibut in lemon butter sauce, servedon a bed of couscous and grilledvegetables, said Gabriel Diaz, general

manager and catering manager.

Fugazzis also serves light salads, wraps,and pizza, and more than 20 differentpasta varieties, including Portobelloravioli and al pesto tortellini. Therestaurants gourmet pizzas range fromtraditional pepperoni to garlic chickento Cajun.

Fugazzis chicken dinners are madeusing only breast meat. We dont messwith legs or thighs, said Diaz.

Were known for our bread and sauce,said Diaz, describing the combination asa multigrain ciabata bread and an oliveoil and tomato-based sauce.

Fugazzis California Bistro is located at127 W. Main Street. The companys otherlocations include Fugazzis On The Go,for people who want to pick up theirdinner, at 5347 W. Cypress; FugazzisCalifornia Grill at 1441 E. ProsperityAvenue in Tulare; and Fugazzis at 601

W. 7th Avenue in Hanford. Although allof Fugazzis locations offer the samemenu, all have their own niche as faras dcor, said Diaz, adding that all havetheir own private dining rooms.

The companys newest location isVictorian Garden, billed as Visaliaspremier wedding venue. Fugazzisacquired the property in August 2014



and held its first wedding there inOctober. A Victorian house actually sitson the grounds, surrounded by largeoak trees, said Diaz.

The staff at Victorian Garden work withthe bride and groom or anyone else

planning an event there to help themselect a menu by hosting a tastingparty. The staff also works to ensurethat the dcor and colors are perfect forthe event.

We just hosted a wedding where thebrides color was blue, so in addition toblue decorations, our bartender made acocktail that was blue, said Diaz.

He added that with all the servicesprovided by Victorian Garden, the onlything youve got to do is find is a DJ,florist and wedding cake.

Mike Fligor and his wife, Debbie,opened the first Fugazzis in 1997. Mike

had operated U-Bake Pizza locations inthe South Valley before hearing aboutthe availability of the Downtown Visaliasite from a friend.

He came to this location and wevebeen doing well ever since, said Diaz,who has been with Fugazzis for 15years.

People often ask where the nameFugazzis comes from. Mike was inSeattle and saw the name on the sideof a building, explained Diaz. He justliked the way it sounded.

Fugazzis is open from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.

Monday through Thursday, and 11 a.m.to 10 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays formost of the year. During the summer,the restaurants stay open an hour later.

For more information,call (559) 625-0498 orvisit fugazzisbistro.com


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MICROBREWS

MICROBREWING

MOVEMENT FINDS

HOME IN VISALIA

Microbreweries, or craft breweries,are breweries that produce what isconsidered a small amount of beer,usually less than 15,000 barrels annually.Definitions vary, but microbreweries areknown for emphasizing quality, flavor,and brewing technique, and, becausetheir beer is brewed on a smaller scale,there is more flexibility, adaptability, andexperimentation.

Traditional artisan brewing, which wouldfit the modern definition of microbrewing,has existed in Europe for hundreds ofyears. The microbrewing movement

that began 40 years ago in the UnitedKingdom, however, is credited forlaunching its current popularity.

The purchase of Anchor BrewingCompany in 1965 by Maytag, and thecompanys quick turnaround, helpedrevive the popularity of craft beer in theU.S. The microbrewing movement wasjumpstarted in 1979 when PresidentJimmy Carter de-regulated the beermarket.

The Tulare County HomebrewersOrganization for Perfect Suds, orTCHOPS, was formed about 23 years ago,according to one of its members, DavidSpencer, who explained, The charteris for education in beer styles and beerbrews.

We are a homebrewing, wine and meadmaking club in the Tulare County area ofCentral California, according to the homepage of its website, tchops.org. Our goalis to share our craft with each other, buildan awareness of craft brewing in the area,and create an educational environmentfor beginner, novice, and experiencedhomebrewers alike.

PURSUIT OF

HOPPYNESSOFFERS AN EVENING OF BEERTASTING AND SHOPPING

Downtown Visalians are planning to launch a new annual event, Pursuit of

Hoppyness. Plans call for this opportunity to treat your taste buds to an

evening of beer tasting and discover your new favorite craft beer.

The expectation is that this new event will be as popular as other Downtown Visalia

events, such as the annual Taste of Downtown and the Wine & Cheese Walk.

Watch for more information in 2016 about this fun Downtown Visalia event, Pursuitof Hoppyness, at downtownvisalia.com.



CHARGlazed Cronut - $3.52Char-cu-te-rie.com

PITA KABOBClassic Lunch Combo: ChickenShawarma Wrap with garlic sauceand feta fries - $13.25Pitakabob.com

FUGAZZISCoconut Prawns - $7Fugazzisbistro.com

CAF TOMMYSweet Potato fries - $5Bread Pudding - $7Facebook.com/cafetomm

*Allpricessubjecttoch

ange.


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FIGAROSMango Salad with Chicken - $9.55Taquitos - $6.45Figarosmexicangrill.com

TAYLOR BROTHERSChili Hotdog - $1.60

ROSA BROTHERSChocolate Milk - $4.39Rosabrothers.com

KATHYS KERNELSCinnamon Pecan White ChocolateCaramel Corn 8oz. - $8.00Kathyskernels.comBREWBAKERS

Raspberry Apple Beer - $3.50Garlic Fries - $6.99Onion Rings - $9.99

Brewbakersbrewingco.com

GOODIES COOKIESAssorted Cookies - $2.00Goodiescookies.com

A&WCheese Curds - $3.99facebook.com/awcentralvalley

CV HEALTHY SNACKSMed. Orange Works Ice Cream - $3.25Centralvalleyhealthysnacks.com

ROOKIESRaspberry Lemon Drop - $8.00Downtownrookies.com

HENRY SALAZARSBurrito Fantastico with GreenSauce - $10.29Henrysalazars.net

VINTAGE PRESSWild Mushrooms in Puff Pastry - $13.95Gin Orange Press - $10.00Thevintagepress.com



The Palace Hotel building, a partof Downtown Visalias colorfulhistory, was sold to developer

Danny Freitas, president of Dan FreitasElectric, Inc. in April.

Its probably the oldest commercialbuilding still in service in Visalia, saidlocal historian Terry Ommen. In its day,it was plush. Its certainly well built. Itwas considered one of the best hotelsin the southern San Joaquin Valley.

Visalian Solomon Sweet, a major figurein the agricultural development of thearea, hired Kenister and Baun of San

Francisco to design the hotel. AlbertWashburn of Stockton was hired ascontractor. The lower story of thebuilding was designed with four mainbusiness rooms. The upper story had52 guest rooms, seven of them suites.

California Governor William Irwinattended the hotels grand openingon October 12, 1876, where the PalaceHotel was described as the largest,finest hotel outside San Francisco.The hotel quickly became the lodgingof choice for entertainers whoperformed in town, often to headlinethe Armory Hall, which was a blocksouth of the hotel.

One of its prominent guests was EdgarWilson Bill Nye, a popular journalist

and humorist in the late 1800s. Manypeople said it was impossible to bringhim to Visalia, said Ommen, addingthat a $275 guarantee managed toget him to headline a downtown showon Saturday, February 25, 1893. Heperformed for two hours to a capacitycrowd.

When the baseball team from Fresnoplayed the Visalia baseball team onSunday, April 22, 1894, the Visaliapitcher basically beaned Fresnoplayer Frank Chance, accordingto Ommen. He was knockedunconscious.

Chance was taken to the Palace Hotelwhere he stayed until he was wellenough to be taken back to Fresno. He

PALACE

HOTELBUILDINGS RICHHISTORY TO BEPRESERVED


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would later become a Hall of Fame first baseman for theChicago Cubs, a member of the famous Tinker to Evers toChance double play combo.

Dance instructor S.J. Millington, who billed himself as aPioneer Teacher of California, held his popular dancing

classes throughout the state. In 1882, he booked a room atthe Palace Hotel, where he ended up committing suicide.He was terminally ill and he decided this was the place hewanted to kill himself, Ommen explained.

Many historians have reported that the Palace Hotelwas where the notorious Black Bart, known for robbingstagecoaches (and leaving his poetry behind), was last seenon February 28, 1888.

Thats a point of dispute, said Ommen, who believes that,based on newspaper accounts at the time, Black Bart mighthave been at the Visalia House, which was at the northwest

corner of Church and Main Streets (the current site of a Bankof America).

The search for the well-known local outlaws Chris Evans andJohn Sontag was good for business at the Palace Hotel in1892-1893. All the lawmen and the bounty hunters lookingfor them were staying at the Palace Hotel, said Ommen.They would strategize there about how to capture them.

In 1894, a formal reception was held for Republicangubernatorial candidate Morris Estee. He lost the race, hissecond unsuccessful try to become governor, and he alsolost twice as a candidate for U.S. Senator. He eventually

became the first U.S. Federal District Court Judge for theTerritory of Hawaii.

The Visalia Historic Preservation Advisory Committee andthe Kaweah Collectors of Questors unveiled a plaque on thePalace Hotel building on October 13, 2011. The plaque wasthe first to be installed through the citys Historic RecognitionProgram.

Its a unique building, saidnew owner Freitas. We wantto preserve it .

He was surprised by howwell previous owners hadpreserved the building. Thehistory of it, with the hotel, isall still there, he said. Thealleyway shows how it wasused 80 years ago.

Freitas plans to repaint theoutside of the building and put in new glass windows, whichare currently boarded up. He is waiting for a report fromengineers before deciding whether to make the buildingssecond floor into residential apartments or a restaurant.

Other than that, were not going to change much, said

Freitas. It will look the same as it does today. We want to tryand keep the historic feel as much as we can.

(Historic photo predit: Tulare County Public Library)

Bill NyeMorris M. EsteeFrank Chance



VISALIATROLLEYSOFFER ACONVENIENT

WAY TOSHOP, DINE

AND SEETHE CITY


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The Visalia Towne Trolley takes riders to a varietyof destinations in the Downtown Visalia area,the Visalia Transit Center, the Visalia ConventionCenter, the Tulare County Civic Center, as well asto Recreation Park for home games of the VisaliaRawhide Minor League Baseball team.

The trolley also stops at other downtown locationsnear more than 50 restaurants, shops and boutiquesalong Main Street. Riders can use the trolley to attendevents at the Visalia Fox Theatre and the free concertsat Garden Street Plaza.

The trolley connects with bus routes to cities in Tulareand Kings Counties, and to Greyhound, Orange Belt,and Amtrak.

The price to ride the Visalia Towne Trolley is only 25.Unlimited monthly passes are $5. For more informationon the Visalia Towne Trolley, call 1-877-404-6473 or

visit www.visaliatransit.com.

During the holiday shopping season, Visalia Transitoffers free rides on its Holly Trolley, which offers 40stops, shopping and dining destinations along MainStreet, Visalia Mall, Sequoia Mall, and Packwood CreekShopping Center. For more information and to heartwo Holly Trolley holiday songs visitwww.hollytrolley.com.



Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parksare both celebrating their designations asNational Parks in 2015: 75 years for KingsCanyon and for Sequoia it is 125 years sincePresident Harrison sign the legislation, foreverprotecting this land of unrivaled beauty. That isdefinitely a reason to celebrate with a trip to theParks. Visalia is a Gateway town to these twoNational treasures and is a wonderful home basefor visitors wanting to explore the majestic beautyof two of our National Parks and to discover moreabout the region.

Just a few short hours by car from Los Angelesand San Francisco, Visalias central location makesit an easy drive and a great stopover for visitors

to the Parks. Visalias charm and strong sense ofcommunity, welcomes visitors from around theglobe to explore our downtown and our agriculturalheritage. Whether your idea of a perfect vacation isescaping to the great outdoors or discovering ourquaint downtown, a visit to Visalia will leave youwishing for more time to explore. And there are lotsof things to explore here.

VISALIA:WHEREURBAN CHARM

MEETS THE

LAND OF

GIANTS


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As the nations leading dairy producer and hometo over 250 different crops, a visit to Visalia simply

wouldnt be complete without some exploration intoour Countys leading industry-agriculture, known heresimply as ag. Visit cheese making facilities, and theworlds largest orange maze. Take a farm tour and doa nut-butter tasting. Not just peanut butter, but alsocashew, walnut, pistachio butters and more. Dig a littledeeper into the ag industry with a visit the AgVenturesmuseum or the Antique Farm Equipment Museum.But to really get a taste of our countys bounty strollthrough our local farmers markets or stop by the manyroadside stands that sell ripe-from-the-fields fruits andvegetables.

Join us in town for a trolley ride, professional baseballgame at the Visalia Rawhide stadium, live music,great restaurants and more. Or take a short drive tohundreds of outdoor excursions including everythingfrom golfing to fishing, hiking, biking, camping, boating,horseback riding, skiing, and even spelunking in aplace of unmatched natural beauty.

When it is time to head to the Park, summer visitors canleave their cars behind in Visalia and use the SequoiaShuttle as an easy, stress-free way to get to SequoiaNational Park. Round-trip tickets are a nominal $15and include park entrance. With various pick-up pointsand times throughout the day, this convenient modeof transportation takes visitors into the park for a dayspent among the Sequoias. Once in the parks, ridersuse the inter-park shuttles to get to all the populardestinations like Moro Rock, Tunnel Log, LodgepoleVisitors Center and the absolute must-see: GeneralSherman Tree, the largest living thing on earth.

Whether you spend a day, or spend a week, Visaliawill welcome you on your way to the Sequoia and

Kings Canyon National Parks. The Parks are calling,especially in this anniversary year. And with 2016

being the centennial of the National Park Service thecelebrations will continue.

We invite you to come and play inour backyard!



VISALIA: A COMMUNITY OF SERVICEVISALIA HAS SEVERAL SERVICE GROUPS, WHICH SUPPORT OUR COMMUNITY

THROUGH FUNDRAISERS AND PROGRAMS.

LIONS CLUBS

Visalia Breakfast Lions Club chartered in 1959, and the largest LionsClub in Visalia has 80 service driven members. Going above and

beyond the Lions Club motto WE SERVE, the Visalia Breakfast

Lions Club financially contributes to numerous local charities.

Currently, they organize 21 local events that donate time and

treasure to individuals and organizations in need. Some of their

annual community events include: the St. Patricks Day Parade, Irish

Fest, Downtown Visalia Car Show, Waiters Race, the Turkey Drop

(donating over 700 turkeys), and they flip pancakes on their own

authentic chuck wagon for organizations that include: Happy Trails

Riding Academy, Boy Scouts, Cub Scouts, Walk to End Alzheimers

and the SPCA.

Visalia Host Lions Club was chartered in 1926 as one of Visaliasfirst service organizations. They organized the start of the annual

downtown Visalia Candy Cane Lane Parade. Sequoia Lions were

also among the original Visalia Lions Clubs founded in 1956. Our

other dedicated Visalia Lions Clubs include: Charter Oaks Lions

Club, Visalia Sunset Lions and Visalia Pride Lions Club.

CASA OF TULARE COUNTYCASA of Tulare County (Court Appointed Special Advocates)

mission is to speak up for the innocent children who are victims of

abuse and neglect advocating for their safety and well-being by

training community volunteers to represent their best interests and

be their voice in court.

The purpose of CASA is to humanize the complicated, unfamiliar

and often frightening legal and child welfare system for the child

victim. CASA provides a trained child advocate volunteer who

serves as a consistent caring adult with one mission; to represent

only what is in the childs best interests. Unfortunately, there are

always more children waiting than volunteers available. CASA does

make a tremendous difference for each child we serve.

For more information visit: www.casatulareco.org

SOROPTIMIST INTERNATIONAL OF VISALIASoroptimist is a global volunteer organization working to improve

the lives of women and girls through programs leading to socialand economic empowerment. The word Soroptimist is a coined

term meaning Best for Women. This is accomplished through

education, scholarships and involvement in community and

international service projects. Soroptimist of Visalia is actively

involved in volunteer work and contributing to Karens House,

Family Services of Visalia, ACT for Women and Girls, Boys & Girls

Clubs, CASA of Tulare County and over 30 more organizations in

the Visalia Area. Meetings are held the 2nd and 3rd Monday of

each month at Sue Sas Club House Deli at the corner of Center and

Johnson.

For more information, visit www.sivisalia.org

ROTARY

Visalia is rich in Rotary! Were five clubs strong, with more than 400members coming together every week to have fun, raise money and

support the amazing community of Visalia.

Rotarians build parks, supply clean water to those without, feed

neighbors, clean-up streets and bike paths and river ways. We

work to enrich the lives of children and support other non-profits.

We are part of an international service organization more than 1

million members strong! We fight to END POLIO globally. We help in

disasters.

Locally, our Visalia Rotary Community Foundation founded by the

Rotary Club of Visalia and made up of all five clubs has given out

more than $1 million since 1997 in grants to other non-profits andscholarships to students. As you drive or stroll along town, keep an

eye out for our trademark Rotary wheel. It marks the spot where

weve worked to make the lives of Visalians a little better and

hopefully a lot brighter!

Rotary Meeting Details:

Visalia Sunset Rotary visaliasunsetrotary.org Meets Mondays

@ 4:45PM Holiday Inn

Visalia County Center Rotary vccrotary.org Meets Tuesdays

@ Noon Lamp Liter

Rotary Club of Visalia visaliarotaryclub.com Meets

Wednesdays @ Noon Marriott

Visalia Latino Rotary - Tulare County Latino/Facebook Meets

Wednesdays @ 6:30PM The Club House

Visalia Breakfast Rotary vbrotary.org Meets Thursdays @

6:30AM Visalia Country Club

KIWANISSequoia-Visalia Kiwanis and West Visalia Kiwanis are two of

Visalias Kiwanis Clubs.

Their mission is to serve the children of the world. Kiwanis and its

family of clubs - nearly 600,000 members strong - annually raise

more than $100 million and dedicate more than 18 million volunteer

hours to strengthen communities and serve children.

Members of every age attend regular meetings, experience

fellowship, raise funds for various causes and participate in service

projects that help their communities.

For more information visit: www.sequoia-visaliakiwanis.org and

www.westvisaliakiwanis.org


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KAWEAH DELTA RESIDENCY PROGRAMTo help meet the communitys growing healthcareneeds, Kaweah Delta Health Care District launchedits residency program in 2013, adding to its surgery,family medicine, emergency medicine, and psychiatryprograms. Thirty-one residents have been added so

far this year, bringing the total number of residentphysicians to 59.

The program increases access to care for patients,according to Lori Winston, M.D., designatedinstitutional official of Kaweah Deltas ResidencyPrograms.

It improves the quality of care by focusing on thelatest in evidenced-based medicine, she said. Itensures a better culture of patient safety and increasesthe number of doctors in the hospital to care for sickpatients at all hours of the day or night. The residencyprogram also helps recruit more physicians, not onlybecause physicians enjoy academic careers but alsobecause residents tend to remain in the areas that theytrain.

Kaweah Delta is focusing on starting residencyprograms in the specialties that are most needed in thearea, such as family medicine, she added.

OTHER HEALTH CARE PROVIDERSFamily HealthCare Network is a private nonprofitorganization that operates federally qualified health

centers. It has 18 sites; 14 of them are communityhealth centers located in Tulare and Kings Counties.FHCN is recognized by the National Committee forQuality Assurance as a Level 3 Patient CenteredMedical Home, and is dually recognized by The JointCommission with its Gold Seal of Approval for PatientQuality and Safety, and as a Patient Centered PrimaryMedical Home.

Visalia Medical Clinic was originally formed in 1940 asa medical partnership between Dr. I. M. Lipson and hisson-in-law, Dr. William S. Neal, and with the addition ofDr. J.H. Brady in 1941, the roots of what would becomethe clinic were established. The practice establisheda clinic in 1942, eventually moving to its current

44,000-square-foot clinic at 5400 W. Hillsdale Ave. in1974. The building undergoes continual changes toaccommodate additional physicians and staff, imagingand other ancillary services. Visalia Medical Clinic isnow the largest physician-owned clinic in the SouthValley.

STAYING

HEALTHY



San Joaquin Valley College, which has 13 campuses in California, as well

as an online division, was founded in the Visalia by Bob and ShirleyPerry in 1977. Shirley was one of the first certified medical assistants in

the state.

SJVC started by offering a medical assistant program.Within the first year, they also offered a dental assistant program, saidJoseph Holt, SJVCs chief administrative officer. In the early 80s, they starteda business program. They opened the Bakersfield campus at the same time,and then the Fresno campus soon after.

The schools flagship campus, located at 8344 W. Mineral King Avenue,offers accelerated programs in the medical, dental, business, criminal justice,

technical, and industrial fields.

We offer more than 20 different programs, said Holt, who has been withSJVC for 15 years. Our instruction employs hands-on training. Our medicalassistant program, students learn venipuncture, (giving shots inside the vein).In our externship programs, students actually work in a doctors office.

As with community colleges, SJVC degree programs include generaleducation classes. But it differs from community college because we focusvery specifically on a career, said Holt.

SAN JOAQUIN VALLEYCOLLEGE OFFERSCAREERFOCUSEDPROGRAMS

EDUCATION

VISALIAS COMMUNITY AND PRIVATECOLLEGES PROVIDE RANGE OF DEGREES

In addition to San Joaquin Valley College, severalother private colleges and one community collegehave campuses in the City of Visalia, offeringdegrees in a wide range of fields, includingbusiness, education, healthcare, accounting, andcomputer science. Available degrees includeassociate, bachelors, masters, and doctorate.

COLLEGE OF THE SEQUOIASCollege of the Sequoias, with its main campus at 915S. Mooney Blvd., is a two-year community collegeoffering educational and enrichment programs. Theschool serves 13,000 students per semester, someseeking vocational training and others planning tocontinue on to a four-year university.The college was established in 1925 and movedto its current 62-acre main campus site in Visaliain 1940. In addition to its Visalia campus, COSoperates full-service centers in Hanford and Tulare.BRANDMAN UNIVERSITYBrandman University, 649 S. County Center Dr.,

focuses on catering to the needs of workingprofessionals by offering degree programs thatallow them to pursue their educational goals whilecontinuing their part-time or full-time job. TheVisalia campus offers associate, bachelors, masters,doctorate, and credential programs throughits Schools of Arts and Sciences, Business andProfessional Studies, and Education.

FRESNO PACIFIC UNIVERSITYThe Visalia campus, 245 N. Plaza Dr., offersaccelerated bachelors degree completionprograms, as well as masters degrees andcredentials. All courses are offered in the eveningand taught by experienced faculty. For more

information, call (559) 302-4100.MILAN INSTITUTEMilan Institute, 6500 S. Mooney Blvd., offers short-term educational programs in accounting, massagetherapy, and medical assisting, and training forcareers as a computer and network technician,administrative medical assistant, administrativespecialist, nursing assistant, and registered dentalassistant.THE UNIVERSITY OF PHOENIXThe Visalia Learning Center, 301 East AcequiaAve., offers both bachelors and masters degreeprograms in a variety of subjects, and has programsfor those seeking California teaching credentials.The university offers a range of business degreeoptions, as well as other programs, including healthadministration and nursing.

COSMETOLOGYFor those seeking a career in cosmetology, theEstes Institute of Cosmetology, 324 E. Main St.,has cosmetology and manicurist programs, andthe Marinello Schools of Beauty, 2335 S. MooneyBlvd., offers programs in cosmetology, esthetics, nailtechnology and makeup artistry.


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Just a few minutes east of Visalia,

one finds present-day KaweahOaks Preserve on land that

was nearly leveled in 1982. It s hardto imagine that happening now,considering the thousands of annualvisitors -- school children, hikers andothers who come to see the regionsnative species found among KaweahOaks broad canopy of old trees. Butthis ancient forest came very close tovanishing forever.

Gladly, Kaweah Oaks Preserve (KOP)recently entered its fourth decade. Nowtrekked by school field trippers andvisitors who make year-round use of itswell-maintained trails, Kaweah Oakstrees are in some case several hundredyears old. The forest overall, countlessthousands of years old, is the lastremaining riparian native Valley Oakforest of its size and kind in the region.

Several well-maintained trails traverse

the preserve. Among the most popularare The Skip Pescosolido Wild RoseTrail and Grape Trails. The former wasso-named by Pescosolidos survivingphilanthropic family members in honorof the late Exeter area citrus businessowner so-named for the native roseand grape species found on each. TheSycamore Trail is also popular, featuringnative Sycamores and more than a fewValley Oak.

The forest has not only been spared;it recently expanded by 22-acres, withopen ground to be reforested thanksto a successful $552,000 capitalcampaign conducted by its present-day owner, the Visalia-based nonprofitSequoia Riverlands Trust. In 2015, TheTimothy Blaine Tashjian Deep CreekFitness Trail at KOP was established bythe late Tim Tashjians daughter HayleyTashjian on the new parcel, to be

developed further once fitness features

and the long-anticipated riparianrestoration are completed alongthe creek that forms the preservesnorthern border. The elder Tashjian,like Pescosolido, was an Exeter andIvanhoe area citrus farmer.

A Childrens Trail, too, is in the worksand will feature play-based learningfeatures for younger visitors.

KOP may have received new resources,

but it also faces new challenges dealtby the climate, the economy, increasedvisitors, and the realities of the regionsphilanthropic culture.

With more than 10,000 visitors per yearusing KOP for a variety of disparateuses from wedding photographers, touniversity researchers, day hikers, yogaclasses, increased visitor numbers havemeant the need for sanitary restrooms

DESTINATIONKAWEAH OAKSBy Aaron Collins


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facilities, which are being designed by the preservesarchitect of record, Fresno-based Thom Black.

The annual Kaweah Oaks Earth Day 5K Run organized bySoul 2 Sole Sports turns out hundreds of visitors. There arevery few local trails that are as accessible as the KaweahOaks Preserve, said Sole 2 Soul owner and race organizerScott Newton. This event combines a distance that anyonecan enjoy and allows many to experience a trail run for thevery first time. The great thing is that not only is the venuebeautiful, but that the event is to raise funds to preserve it forfuture generations, Newton said. It is great that you get torun in a preserve that is like going back in time.

The land gets more use than ever, and one cannot help butwonder what the forests fate might be today, had it remainedin private hands. It might still have been the last of its kind,but quite likely it would be a forest felled, a ghost of centuriespast offering no further shade, recreation, educationalopportunity nor beauty from its increasingly rare animal

habitat.

Just like KOP, much of the Kaweah River Delta was once avast riparian Valley Oak woodland habitat replete with deerand elk, big cats even grizzly bears formerly found amongthe abundant flora and fauna in the Kaweah River Delta untilthe mid-1800s.

Fortunately, Kaweah Oaks Preserve still stands to offerechoes of that not-so-distant past. For the sights and soundsof a vanished era and humanitys primeval habitat, come outand walk or sit among these massive trees and ponder thepersistent thrum of the ancients who have dwelt there beforeyou.

For more information on Kaweah OaksPreserve or Sequoia Riverlands TrustsCampaign for Kaweah Oaks, please visit:www.sequoiariverlands.org


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