Travel, Leisure & Fun for G dLife The South Valley Adults 50+ · 2014-04-07 · G dLife_____ The...
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______ ______ G dLife G dLife The Travel, Leisure & Fun for South Valley Adults 50+ April / May 2014 • Volume 1, Number 2 Tulare Couple Gets Hooked On Gourd Art By Donna Luallen, Special to The Good life ive years ago, Rosemary Catron opened the morning paper and saw a photo of a woman holding a gourd. The featured article described things that could be done with gourds and Catron said to her husband, Rodger, “Let's go check this out.” The Catrons attended a meeting of the budding group, the Central Valley Gourders, an organization founded by Cecile Garrison, the woman in the photo, and several others to promote growing and designing with gourds. It was and remains an organization where there are no by-laws, no dues and no rules. F By Nancy Vigran, editor isalia's Mooney Grove will be the site of a Hawaiian luau on May 16 when more than 700 seniors, their families and caregivers are expected to attend the 45th annual Senior Day in the Park. Organized by the Kings-Tulare Area Agency on Aging with the help of Community Services Employment Training, anyone 60 and over is welcome along with their family and friends of any age to enjoy live entertainment, food and more. There is no charge to attend and participate. A traditional part of the event and one looked forward to every year, is the car show hosted by Visalia Vapor Trailers, the Good Timers and Rollin' Relics car clubs. More than 100 cars, originally built before the '60s have been shown each year, said Homer Davis, past president of Visalia Vapor Trailers. There is no entry fee and no judging. “It's really just there for the seniors,” Davis said. In fact, most of the cars and their owners are seniors themselves, he said. V Soon the Catrons were accumulating tools, paints and embellishments for their own gourd designs. Rodger Catron planted his first gourd seeds in 2009 and the first finished gourd art appeared in their home in 2010. Now, at their Tulare home, they have a barn dedicated to drying and storing big, round gourds, long, skinny gourds and even tiny gourds, waiting to be a part of the next creative wave to flow through their household. Rosemary Catron has always been involved in arts, dabbling in needle arts, calligraphy and making paper. She enjoys a weekly line-dancing class and gardening, as well as studying rocks and astronomy. When she looked at the gourds on the Volunteer Rick Struble serves food at the Porterville Senior Center five days per week, and is one the Center's many volunteers. Rosemary Catron has a special table where she paints her gourds. She has been in the hobby of gourd art for five years. Hawaiian Luau, Car Show for Senior Day in the Park There are always a couple Model T Fords and other vintage cars of different makes and models, he said. Davis, himself, has a 1924 Model T, a Model T bucket roadster, a Bricklin and a 1941 Ford pick-up that he used to drive to college. “Most of us enjoy the old cars,” he said. “And those who have older cars, enjoy seeing other old cars.” On hand will be the revamped A&W Restaurant van, Davis said. The Visalia Vapor Trailers supply ice cream, and the local A&W Restaurant supplies root beer for floats that are free, he said. Some 700 visitors attend the Senior Day in the Park event annually. This year's event starts at 9 a.m. and ends at 2 p.m. Anyone with an older vehicle is welcome to enter it in the car show. There is no preregistration. “They can just show up and I'll tell them where to park,” Davis said. In May, 1963 Older Americans month was declared by President John F. Kennedy and a few years later, the first Senior Day in the Park was held in Tulare County. For more information about the event, call 1-800-434-0222. Photo by Nancy Vigran Photo by Donna Luallen, Special to The Good Life By Nancy Vigran, editor ome say it has been a longtime coming, but Porterville seniors finally have a place to truly call their own. Through an agreement between the City of Porterville, and Community Services and Employment Training (CSET), the new location at will be for senior use only for a longtime to come, according to Albert Cendejas, CSET assistant director for community S Porterville Seniors Receive New Center initiatives. It is my understanding that this has been in the works for years, Cendejas said. The old location is a multipurpose building and used for many events. This new facility is a prime location, next to a senior- living apartments. The new location at the corner of 4th Street and Cleveland Avenue, adjacent to the Playa de Santa Fe Apartments , is equipped with a multipurpose room that serves See Gourds on page 7 See Senior Center on page 8
Transcript of Travel, Leisure & Fun for G dLife The South Valley Adults 50+ · 2014-04-07 · G dLife_____ The...
____________G dLifeG dLifeTheTravel, Leisure & Fun forSouth Valley Adults 50+
April / May 2014 • Volume 1, Number 2
Tulare Couple Gets Hooked On Gourd ArtBy Donna Luallen,
Special to The Good life
i v e y e a r s a g o ,Rosemary Ca t ronopened the morning
paper and saw a photo of awoman holding a gourd.
T h e f e a t u r e d a r t i c l edescribed things that could bedone with gourds and Catronsaid to her husband, Rodger,“Let's go check this out.”
The Catrons attended ameeting of the budding group,the Central Valley Gourders, anorganization founded byCecile Garrison, the woman inthe photo, and several othersto promote growing anddesigning with gourds. It wasand remains an organizationwhere there are no by-laws, nodues and no rules.
F
By Nancy Vigran, editor
isalia's Mooney Grovewill be the site of aHawaiian luau on May 16
when more than 700 seniors,their families and caregivers areexpected to attend the 45thannual Senior Day in the Park.
Organized by the Kings-TulareArea Agency on Aging with thehelp of Community ServicesEmployment Training, anyone 60and over is welcome along withtheir family and friends of anyage to enjoy live entertainment,food and more. There is nocharge to attend and participate.
A traditional part of the eventand one looked forward to everyyear, is the car show hosted byVisalia Vapor Trailers, the GoodTimers and Rollin' Relics carclubs. More than 100 cars,originally built before the '60shave been shown each year,said Homer Davis, pastpresident of Visalia VaporTrailers.
There is no entry fee and nojudging.
“It's really just there for theseniors,” Davis said.
In fact, most of the cars andtheir owners are seniorsthemselves, he said.
V
Soon the Catrons wereaccumulating tools, paints andembellishments for their owngourd designs. Rodger Catronplanted his first gourd seeds in2009 and the first finishedgourd art appeared in theirhome in 2010. Now, at theirTulare home, they have a barndedicated to drying and storingbig, round gourds, long, skinnygourds and even tiny gourds,waiting to be a part of the nextcreative wave to flow throughtheir household.
Rosemary Catron has alwaysbeen involved in arts, dabblingin needle arts, calligraphy andmaking paper. She enjoys aweekly line-dancing class andgardening, as well as studyingrocks and astronomy. Whenshe looked at the gourds on the
Volunteer Rick Struble serves food at the Porterville Senior Center five days
per week, and is one the Center's many volunteers.
Rosemary Catron has a special table where she paints her gourds. She has
been in the hobby of gourd art for five years.
Hawaiian Luau, Car Showfor Senior Day in the Park
There are always a coupleModel T Fords and other vintagecars of different makes andmodels, he said. Davis, himself,has a 1924 Model T, a Model Tbucket roadster, a Bricklin and a1941 Ford pick-up that he used todrive to college.
“Most of us enjoy the old cars,”he said. “And those who haveolder cars, enjoy seeing otherold cars.”
On hand will be the revampedA&W Restaurant van, Davis said.The Visalia Vapor Trailers supplyice cream, and the local A&WRestaurant supplies root beerfor floats that are free, he said.
Some 700 visitors attend theSenior Day in the Park eventannually. This year's event startsat 9 a.m. and ends at 2 p.m.Anyone with an older vehicle iswelcome to enter it in the carshow. There is no preregistration.
“They can just show up and I'lltell them where to park,” Davissaid.
In May, 1963 Older Americansmonth was declared byPresident John F. Kennedy anda few years later, the first SeniorDay in the Park was held inTulare County.
For more information about theevent, call 1-800-434-0222.
Photo by Nancy Vigran
Photo by Donna Luallen, Special to The Good Life
By Nancy Vigran, editor
ome say it has been alongtime coming, butPorterv i l le seniors
finally have a place to truly calltheir own.
Through an agreementbetween the City of Porterville,and Community Services andEmployment Training (CSET),the new location at will be forsenior use only for a longtimeto come, according to AlbertCendejas, CSET assistantd i rec to r fo r commun i ty
S
Porterville SeniorsReceive New Center
initiatives.It is my understanding that
this has been in the works foryears, Cendejas said. Theoldlocation is a multipurposebuilding and used for manyevents. This new facility is aprime location, next to a senior-living apartments.
The new location at thecorner of 4th Street andCleveland Avenue, adjacent tothe Playa de Santa FeApartments , is equipped with amultipurpose room that serves
See Gourds on page 7
See Senior Center on page 8
2 • The Good Life
Calendar Eventsof
Publisher Larry KastEditor Nancy VigranArt Director Kent Stahl
For advertising informationcall 559-732-5030
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To submit events to the calendar,mail to Kast & CompanyCommunications, P.O. Box 7173,Visalia, CA 93290, or e-mail [email protected] must be appropriate forThe Good Life readership of 50-and-over, and be received by the 15 ofthe month prior to publication.
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Wednesday, April 9 – 11 a.m.- 3p.m.
Friday, April 11 – 11:30 a.m.-Noon
Friday, April 11-Sunday, April 13
Saturday, April 12 – 7:30 p.m.
Tuesday, April 15 – 7:30 p.m.
Wednesday, April 16 – 1 p.m.
– Visalia Senior Center OpenHouse. Barbecue lunch,entertainment, class exhibits andinformation booths. Tickets $3.50for 55+; $4.50 for guests. Ticketsare limited. 301 N. Locust, Visalia.Information: 559-713-4381.
– 50+ Speaker Series – AvoidingFalls. Free. Stay for lunch with 24-hour advance reservations. 301N. Locust, Visalia. Information:559-713-4381.
– 41 Annual JazzAffairthroughout Three Rivers. Threedays of live jazz music for $95,shuttle service from venue tovenue included. Information: 559-561-4549, or [email protected], April 12 – 12-4 p.m. –Bowling for PADS. High Gameand Low Game Prizes, 1st & 2ndPlace winner prizes, other prizes.All proceeds go to PortervilleAdult Day Services. $125/5-personteam, any ages. Corporatesponsorships available.Porterville Lanes, 952 W. Grand,Porterville. Information: TishDavis, 559-436-4782 [email protected].
–Tulare County Symphony at theVisalia Fox Theatre, 300 W. Main,Visalia. Information: 559-625-1369.
–The Great Guitars – MartinTaylor, Frank Vignola & VinnyRaniolo and Peppino D'Agostinoat the Visalia Fox Theatre, 300 W.Main, Visalia. Information: 559-625-1369.
–Wellness and You:Understanding Alzheimer's andDementia with speakers, StephenM. Grossman, M.D., C.M.D. andMarie Espinola, executive
st
Around theSouth Valley
director of Alzheimer'sFoundation of Central California.Held at Quail Park, 4520 W.Cypress Ave., Visalia. Information:Kaweah Delta Healthcare District- 559-624-5085.
– 50+ Speaker Series– Waste Diversion Options inVisalia. Free. Stay for lunch with24-hour advance reservations.301 N. Locust, Visalia.Information: 559-713-4381.
– Exeter Open Air PeddlersMarket on Palm Street. For boothrental or information: 559-592-1490; 559-936-1487.
–PFLAG meeting. Meeting atCongregation B'Nai David, 1039S. Chinowith St. Visalia.Information:
– Basket and Gourd Conferenceat Visalia Oaks Lodge, 3100 W.Main St., Visalia. Information: 559-627-5430.
- Diabetes Expo & KidneyEducation Program - hosted inpartnership with the AmericanNephrology Nurses' Association(ANNA), Kaweah Delta OutpatientSpecialty Clinics and other localorganizations, will provideattendees with a chance to takea kidney disease risk survey, gettheir body mass index measured,speak with a healthcareprofessional, and get freeeducational materials at KaweahDelta Multiservice Center, 402 W.Acequia Ave., Visalia Informationand pre-registration: 559-624-2520 or [email protected].
– The Mighty Oak Choruspresents Harmony on Broadwayfeaturing many Broadway hittunes. Tickets $16/adults;$8/children 12 and under. At theCentral Valley Christian HighSchool Theatre, 5600 W. TulareAve., Visalia. Information andtickets: 559-901-4615;[email protected].
–45 Annual Senior Day in MooneyGrove Park. A luau with livemusic and food for seniors, theirfamilies and caregivers.Information: 1-800-434-0222.
Wednesday, April 16 – 11:30a.m.-Noon
Friday, April 18 – Sunday, April20
Sunday, April 20 – 3 p.m.
Friday, April 25-Sunday, April 27
Saturday, April 26 – 9 a.m. – 1p.m.
Saturday, May 3 – 2 p.m. & 7:30p.m.
Friday, May 16 – 9 a.m.-2 p.m.th
The Good Life is published by Kast & CompanyCommunications. Articles and information notwritten by Kast & Company Communications areassumed to be accurate as provided. Thispublication is does not provide professional,medical, legal or accounting advice, and alwaysrecommends seeking counsel from an appropriateprofessional.
Kast & Company CommunicationsPO Box 7173, Visalia, CA 93291(559) 732-5030
www.TheGoodLifeSV.com
Traditionally spring brings thefragrance of blossoms and the beautyof flowers, but in the South Valley it isalso a time when a lot of music fills theair.
In April, jazz returns to Three Riverswith the 41st annual JazzAffair on April11-13. There are four venue stagesfeaturing different bands all day andinto the evening for three days. TheHigh Sierra Jazz Band remains thetraditional host band with 12 otherbands including the local ReedleyHigh School River Rats.
The event is organized by SierraTraditional Jazz Club members, whocontract bands from around thecountry and provide help with lodgingand information for visitors fromaround the world, who gather to attendthe event.
Tickets are $95 for all three daysincluding all concerts and a shuttlefrom one location to another. One-daytickets are also available. Food anddrink is available at all sites.
Information and tickets: 559-561-4549, [email protected].
April Jazz
Springtime Brings Music to the South ValleyMay Broadway
May brings the sound of Broadwaymusicals to Visalia when the MightyOaks Chorus presents Harmony onBroadway on Saturday, May 3 at theCentral Valley Christian High SchoolTheatre.
Songs featured are from suchBroadway hits at Les Miserables,Fiddler on the Roof, Oklahoma,Phantom of the Opera, Paint YourWagon and more.
This is the 33rd annual showpresented by the Mighty Oaks Chorus.The group has members from allaround Tulare, Kings and Fresnocounties. The chorus and quartetsfrom the chorus sing at many localevents in the South Valley.
Sponsors of the event include A&WRestaurants, ServiceMaster byBenevento, Iron Horse Design,Redwood Springs Healthcare andVillage Printing.
There are two performances, a 2p.m. matinee and 7:30 p.m. eveningperformance. Tickets are $16/adultsand $8/children 12 and under. Advancetickets are available, although seatingis first come, first serve.
Information and tickets: 559-901-4615, [email protected].
The Good Life • 3
Dusting Off Historywith Terry Ommen
In 1852, nearly 25,000 squaremiles of land on the south end ofMariposa County was carved offcreating Tulare County. The newcounty's boundaries stretchedfrom the Los Angeles Countyline on the south, to theMariposa line on the north. Itswestern edge was the coastrange and on the east, thecounty line extended to what wenow know as the Nevada stateline.
But the huge new county,about the size of West Virginia,was not destined to remain sofor long. In 1856, the northernsection broke off formingFresno County and in 1866 Kernand Inyo counties were createdfrom the southern and easternsections, respectively. For thenext 27 years, Tulare County'sboundaries remained intact, butin 1893 Tulare County gave birth
to yet another county—this onecalled Kings.
The beginn ing of themovement to create KingsCounty started in 1886, but thebill failed in the state legislature.By the 1890s, west side settlerswere again grumbling about theinconvenience of Visalia as thecounty seat. They claimed it wastoo far to travel for the peopleliving in and around Hanfordwhere the majority lived. Theyalso complained that TulareCounty taxes were too high andnoted that many tax dollarswere going to areas like themountains that had littleconnection to them.
Opponents of a new county,primarily those from the Visaliaarea, countered by sayingVisalia was actually centrallylocated and the tax money usedfor mountain area services also
Photos courtesy of Terry Ommen
History
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Kings County Courthouse in Hanford built in 1897.
The Emergence of Kings County
benefited the western countysettlers by providing lumber,mineral resources and pastureland.
Lobbying on both sides washeavy. The Hanford Sentineladvocated strongly for the newcounty while the Visalianewspapers staunchly opposedit. Surprisingly, the LemooreLeader opposed the creation ofthe new county unless, ofcourse, the city of Lemoorecould become the county seat.The Visalia Delta expressedobvious frustration over theconstant editorial bickering andasked for honest dialogue.
"People are always ready tolisten to reason; but thenauseating medicines nowb e i n g a d m i n i s t e r e d i ngigantopathic doses make apatient and wearied public wishit had died when a baby," theylamented.
Advocates for the new countykept up the pressure and inMarch 1893, the state senatepassed the Kings County bill.California Governor HenryMarkham signed it, moving thefinal decision closer to a vote ofthe people. The Visalia Deltasaw the momentum.
See History on page 4
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By Nancy Vigran, editor
Many years ago, when youneeded a new car, you boughtone. There was no such thing asa private lease. In more recentyears, leasing has become apopular option. But it is not foreveryone.
“There is a very narrow groupof people for which a lease isadvantageous,” said MichaelManning, general manager ofJim Manning Dodge, Chrysler,Jeep, Ram in Dinuba. “Leasing isvery rigid,” Manning said.
If know you will drive a limitednumber of miles per year andyou like to pay a fixed amountper month, and know thatrepairs will be taken care of,then a lease could be for you.
To Buy or Lease Your Next New Car?This is especially true if you liketo a new car every few years.
“If you don't fit that narrowwindow, then leasing is not foryou,” Manning said.
Leases are generally offeredon luxury cars with a lot offeatures as opposed tostandard models. Most leasesare for three years with 30,000miles covered by the lease. Ifyou drive more miles, it will costmore. And if you have anaccident , you and yourinsurance will have to pay forrepairs.
A person's age does not factorinto a lease agreement, whetherthey are twenty or sixty.However, whether the car is forpersonal use or business usecan have some effect on the
decision, said Kevin Green, CPA,with the firm M Green &Company.
Everyone should do researchon their own to help make aninformed decision.
“No one should let a dealertalk them into a lease, (unlessthey have all of the details andoptions),” Green said.
“Do some independent study,”he said, adding that whether forpersonal use or business use, orboth, consumers should discusswhether to lease or buy with afinancial advisor who is aware oftheir personal circumstances.
Manning and Green agree thatit is important to look at thebottom line, the dollar ratio. Afinancial calculator on the M.Green & Company website,
"Kings County contains someof the best agricultural land inthe San Joaquin Valley and withan enterprising population…itwill prosper," it reported itreported on March 24.
G o v e r n o r M a r k h a ma p p o i n t e d f i v e l o c a lcommissioners who divided theproposed new county into
Historyfrom page 3
www.mgreencpas.com/financial_tools, provides help withbuying vs. leasing a new car.Type in the numbers for thevehicle you are looking at for acomparison.
“It's a number calculation, Ithink,” Green said.
For some the decision couldbe more than just dollars,especially if there is littlevariation in the cost. Manningsuggested considering whetheryou enjoy changing cars everyfew years, or get attached andgenerally like to keep the sameone for a longer period of time.While you have the option ofbuying your previously leasedvehicle, it generally will cost youmore than buying it in the firstplace.
supervisorial districts, set upvoting precincts, and organizedan election to allow the issue togo to the voters.
On May 23, 1893, the west sidepeople went to the polls. Afterthe votes were tallied the VisaliaDelta announced the news,"Division Wins—the County ofKings Created by the Electors."
The total vote count was 1,355for division and 412 againstg i v ing the new county
supporters more than the two-thirds majority they needed.
Today, Kings County is the34th largest county with nearly1,400 square miles. Even afterlosing ground on the north,south, east and west, TulareCounty continues to have morethan 4,800 square miles of land,and is the 7th largest in thestate.
Local writer Terry Ommen enjoyslearning about the old west,especially the role Tulare Countyplayed in creating it. He wrote thebooks “Then & Now Visalia, WildTulare County” and “Chris tLutheran Church, A Gathering Placefor Half a Century.” His blog,“ H i s t o r i c H a p p e n i n g s ”www.visaliahistory.blogspot.comserves as a Visalia historicalnewsletter.
The Good Life • 5
We understand that
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We want to help you
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Delta Nursing & Rehabilitation Center514 N. Bridge St, Visalia 93291559-732-8614
1007 W. Lacey Blvd., Hanford 93230559-582-2871
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The journey toward home begins here…
Kings Nursing & Rehabilitation Center
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851 Leslie Lane, Hanford 93230559-582-4414
680 E. Merritt Ave., Tulare 93274559-686-8581
GET WELL. GO HOME.
RAPID RECOVERY REHABILITATION
Home
GardeningCentral Valley
in the
with Peyton Ellas
Volunteer Corner
7-8 tablespoons olive oil¼ cup minced fresh cilantro¼ cup lime juice1 ½ teaspoons sugar1 small clove garlic minced½ teaspoon salt (or saltsubstitute)¼ teaspoon ground pepperCombine ingredients in avinaigrette bottle and shakewell to mix.
This is especially good atopspinach, avocado andseafood salads.
Fresh CilantroVinaigrette
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Recipe brought to you by
There are many reasonspeople volunteer. They want tohelp in their community. Theywant to learn about somethingdifferent. It is a chance tosocialize and meet new people.Or, they just may have sparetime on their hands.
Offering to help at theelection polls has all of theseand one more bonus - it pays.
“There is always a need forpoll workers,” said Kari McCully,department of electionssupervisor for Tulare County.
The job includes a smallamount of lifting and movingthings, but it is a group activity,she explained. The day is long,about 15 hours, but there arerewards.
“As a poll worker, they cansee all the checks andbalances that we use to makesure the ballots are countedcorrectly,” McCully said, addingthat anyone can observe andlearn the process withoutworking as a poll worker.
Those interested shouldcomplete an application tobecome a poll worker, whichcan be found on the website foreach county. Poll workers mustlive in the county where theywish to work.
“There is a need for bilingualworkers,” said Janis Young,department specialist in KingsCounty, who coordinates pollworkers and polling locations.
Before each election, Young
Poll WorkersReceive Benefits
contacts previous workers tosee if they are available. Whenthere is a vacancy, she calls onthose who have filled out anapplication. But even if notcontracted to work at theonset, applicants can becalled, even on the eve or themorning of Election Day.
“Between the times, lifeh a p p e n s , ” Y o u n g s a i d ,explaining that something cancome up, someone may nolonger be available, or illnessmay prevent them from beingable to work.
Kings County poll workerst a k e a t r a i n i n g c l a s sapproximately one weekbefore Election Day. The classlasts a few hours, and teachesall aspects of the workings ofthe polls.
Coordinators try to keepworkers as close to home aspossible, but the furthersomeone can travel, the morehelpful it is to the community.
Tuesday, June 3, is astatewide Election Day, atwhich time some 800 to 1,000poll workers are needed inTulare County alone.
Poll workers start their day at6 a.m. and finish somewherearound 8:30 or 9 p.m. They arepaid a stipend of around $100for the day, and receivepayment approximately fiveweeks after the election.
For more information inKings County, 559- 582-3211ext. 4401.
For more information inTulare County, 559-624-7301.
Springtime in Californiagardens is a bounty of flowers.From fruit trees to roses toCalifornia chaparral plants andwildflowers, we enjoy anabundance of riches, evenwhen rainfall has been sparse.Ah, the wonder and beauty ofnature, whether beyond thefence or in our own backyards!Also celebrating with us arehundreds of beneficial insects,birds, reptiles and mammalsthat share our gardens andrevel in springtime bounty.
This year especially, we are alllooking for new and creative
ways to reduce our outdoorwatering. Many plants aresimply over watered. Tryreducing your water a little bitat a time until you find ahappier, lower balance of waterusage and plant health. Youmay discover that someestablished plants really didn'tn e e d w a t e r i n g a t a l l .Sometimes the planting bedplants have their roots underthe lawn and receive all theyneed from the turf sprinklers.
Consider eliminating orreducing the use of high-
See Gardening on page 7
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Spring in the garden:Enjoy the flowers
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Travel
Glaciers are one of many draws for visitors on an Alaskan cruise.Stock photo
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By Nancy Vigran, editor
Pristine views, native traditions,unique wildlife; there is so muchto see and do with a visit toAlaska. And while on a cruise,vacationers can pick andchoose just how much they wantto do, or how much they justwant to relax.
May through September iscruise time to the 49th state,when the weather and water isbest for travel. There are a widevariety of cruise lines andoptions from which to choose,and travelers should spendsome time researching for whatis best for their needs and whatthey want out of the trip.
And while there generally areno “senior discounts” available,now it is quite affordable to takean Alaskan adventure. Plan on aseven or 10 day cruise, or evenlonger. Cruises leave from portsin San Francisco, Seattle andVancouver.
Each cruise generally has asouthern-central Alaskan
Now is a Great Time to Book an Alaskan Cruisedestination port such as Sewardor Whittier, where travelers maychoose to spend a few days,exploring the local towns,habitat and lifestyle.
Cruises travel each way, sothere is a choice to cruise up ordown, or both. Some may wishto try a sea/land package, wherethe tour continues on land by railor bus returning to the departingcity.
Consulting a travel agent is agood idea, as they have a lot ofexperience working with cruiselines and can arrange the mostdesirable package for anindividual, couple or family.
“We tailor the client to the rightship,” said Christine Rowan,manager of Altour-Lewis Travelin Visalia. “It's like hotels, everyhotel is different.”
Some are more likely to enjoya casual experience. Otherswould prefer to “dress” fordinner. Different itineraries andcruise lines offer differentexperiences.
It is important to take into
cons iderat ion just whatsomeone wants to see. Sometrips show off more spectacularglaciers and wildlife, right fromthe ship, while others may offermore land excursions.
Alaskan cruises are a greatvacation for grandparents totravel with their grandchildren orentire families, Rowan said.
Booking can be done as earlyas 18 months ahead of a cruise,and good deals can be made ifbooked early. However, for thosewho are more flexible and wantto consider a last minutebooking, great deals can behad, according to Yeti Ortiz, aconsultant with Pro Travel in
Hanford.“We get new specials all of the
time,” she said.Prime travel time to Alaska is
June through August, but theremay be better deals for thosewho are willing to travel in May orSeptember.
“I've gone in September, andwe had the most beautifulweather,” Ortiz said.
If an Alaskan cruise has beenthe wish list for some time, or is aspur-of-the-moment idea, thismay just be a great year to go.With the competition for touristsup and the price of cruisingdown, it would be wise to checkit out.
Every two years theCalifornia Gourd Societyholds a conference in Visalia,cosponsored with the Tulare-Sequoia Gourd Patch.Classes are offered in avariety of basketry and gourdtechniques. This is anopportunity to see some ofthe best gourd art in theWestern states.
The event is held at the ElksLodge and is open to thep u b l i c . T h e o p e n i n greception is Friday, April 25at Arts Visalia, 214 E Oak Ave.The rest of the event,i nc l ud ing c lasses onSaturday, April 26 andSunday, April 27 , will be heldat the Elk's Lodge, 100 W MainSt. Visalia. More informationcan be found at the CaliforniaGourd Society website,www.californiagourdsociety.com.
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The Good Life • 7
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Gourdsfrom page 1
Gardeningfrom page 5
www.TheGoodLifeSV.com
Central Valley Gourderssupports the
Basket and Gourd ConferenceApril 25-27
Visalia Elk’s Lodge
For Registration & informationcall 559-627-5430www.calgourd.com
3100 W. Main St.
Gourd ConferenceGarrison farm, her creativity wasinspired with images ofabstract, traditional and ethnicmotifs.
“I love the feel, touch andsmell of what can be done withgourds,” she said.
She and her husband threwthemselves into learning aboutgrowing, drying and the array ofmethods and materials used incompleting a gourd-inspiredwork of art. She has taken anumber of classes, locally andat gourd festivals around theWest, to gain insights into theuse of dyes and paints, carvingand pyrography. She envisionsher own designs, ofteninco rpora t i ng an As ianinfluence.
When the Catrons consideredbuilding a studio where theycould work on gourds anddisplay f in ished pieces,Rosemary knew she wanted astorage room, a burn room anda painting room, as well as alarger workroom where her
grandnieces could come to doprojects. She likes to standwhen she is carving ordesigning, so one of herworktables is tall and long,providing ample room to lay outproject elements. The studioeven has plumbing, so there isno need to leave the studio for acup of coffee or othernecessities.
Rodger Catron placed a 50-gal plastic drum outside with alocking lid, which can be filledwith water. Here the driedgourds are submerged toloosen the cutaneous coating ofthe gourd and any mold thatdeveloped during the months ofdrying. After soaking a day ortwo, each gourd is scrubbedwith a copper or steel scouringpad, leaving a smooth outersurface hard enough to carvewith dremel-like tools or toaccept wood burning. Theywork outdoors when cleaninggourds or doing those tasks thatcreate dust, such as sawing orsanding. Working with gourdsrequires some attention to eye
nitrogen fertilizer. Many plants,including lawns, are over-fertilized, and in lean-wateryears we don't need toencourage more foliage growth.Convert to drip irrigation orwater-saving pop-up sprinklerswherever possible. Mulch yourgarden beds to reduceevaporation and keep soilcooler. Consider replacing oldplants that have never workedwell or are pest-magnets withnewer climate-right species.Consider making a speciesswitch for your turf, or reducingthe size.
Small changes add up, and allof these things are great spring-time jobs. We want to keep ourgardens attractive and healthy,even in a drought, and we can.Instead of “grandmother's way,”we can try to do things“granddaughter's way” lookingto the future, recognizing theneed to stop depleting thew a t e r a q u i f e r s f u t u r egenerations will need to growfood and prosper in our valley.
April and early May are finemonths to transplant newplants, especially those that arefrost sensitive, such as citrusand most succulents, or if youhave an urgent need, such as apest-insect ridden shrub, awater-hogging planting bed, anover-sized lawn. We shouldn'tthink we can't plant anythingnew just because we lackabundant water. A small newclimate-right plant will use lesswater than a climate-wrong
safety and protection from thegourd dust or burn fumes,Catron says, which can set offrespiratory issues.
Rosemary Catron is mostdrawn to using pyrography inher art. She is fascinated andeven comforted, she said, bythe ancient technique ofapplying heat to a surface tocreate an image. She hasseveral burners and considerseach important for their ownqualities. She will never give upher old boy scout-style burningtool even though it is slower andlimited compared to the moresophisticated burners with theirmultiple razor, spoon and microtips, she said. She recentlyordered an extra fine chisel penfor doing Chinese figures.
Catron is a woman with manyinterests.
“There is absolutely no excuseto sit and stare at a TV,” she said.
She has tried telling herselfshe will practice burning orcarving an hour a day, butadmits it does not happen. Hertime constraints are influencedby her creative whim, but thisyear she is determined to puther attention to two things shereally enjoys, line dancing andgourds. She is dedicating atleast two hours a day, threedays a week to “gourding.”
Next year, she may go on tosculpting, watercolor or someother form of art in her masterplan but will never give up hergourds.
Donna Luallen is a freelance writerl i v i n g i n V i s a l i a w i t h h e rhusband, Wayne. She is a mastergardener who enjoys the outdoorsincluding fly-fishing and also designsher own gourd art in her spare time.
larger plant.By reducing water in our
ornamental landscapes, we canstill easily and successfully growour own backyard vegetablesand fruits. Many methods thatwork well for ornamentals workfor edibles too. We can spacevegetable plants closertogether, water in the earlymorning hours instead of duringthe hot part of the day and growvarieties well suited to ourregion.
April and May are the bestmonths to transplant summervegetables and herbs liketomatoes, peppers and basil.You can also direct seed beans,melons, cucumbers, soft-neckgarlic, okra and squash. By theend of May, you may beharvesting the garlic youplanted in fall, as well as the lastof cool season vegetables.Remember to use crop rotationto avoid pest problems, whichmeans don't plant the samefamily of vegetables in the sameplace season after season, yearafter year.
Spring is a great time to be outin the garden. Once we havemade the changes we need toand have a plan for keeping ourgardens vibrant on less water,which often means less caretoo. We can relax and enjoy thebirds, butterflies and blooms ofspring. Enjoy!
Peyton Ellas is the owner ofQuercus Landscape Design,specializing in California nativeplant-based gardens, and theowner of Auntie's Home Grown,a small sustainable farm.
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a n e x e r c i s e r o o m , alibrary/television room, and acomputer room. The locationmakes it convenient for manylocal seniors to attend, beingnext door to the senior-livingapartment complex and closerto downtown. In its first week ofoperation in late March, thecenter had 17 new seniors joinand sign up for mid-day meals.
The old one was OK, but thisone is so nice with morerestrooms and the exerciseroom, and it’s close to us, saidEva Martinez, who volunteers forlunch service and lives nextdoor.
Her friend, Francis Nava,agrees.
I love it here, Nava said.Everything is so nice and
clean.CSET manages seven centers
Senior Centerfrom page 1
throughout the county, eachemploying a manager and insome cases an assistantmanager , and wi th theassistance of several volunteerslike Nava and Martinez help tokeep the senior centers andlunch programs running.
In Porterville, the center’saverage attendance is 50 to 55for lunch, five days a week.Participants 60 and over areasked to pay $2.50 per lunch,while friends and family who areyounger, but always welcome toattend, are asked to pay $4.Reservations should be madeat least 24 hours in advance.
The Porterville Senior Center’scurrent hours are 8:30 a.m. to1:30 p.m. Monday throughFriday. But in the near future,we hope to lengthen them,Cendejas said.
There is an exercise classMonday through Thursday from11-11:45 a.m., and the computer
room is open for members touse any time during regularhours. More classes and other
Francis Nava keeps track of lunch reservations at the Porterville Senior
Center. She first volunteered at the previous location two years ago and is
happy with the new Center, which is next door to where she lives.
Photo by Nancy Vigran
programs are also beingp l a n n e d , a c c o r d i n g t oCendejas.
