Midnight Writings

2009-10-23T17:41:00.000-07:00

Marine Band wows Porterville

Several members of The President’s Own, the United States Marine Band, line up across the stage as they played “Semper Fidelis” – the Marine Corps march – before a packed auditorium Wednesday night at the Frank “Buck” Shaffer Theater. The band, under the direction of Col. Michael J. Colburn, received numerous standing ovations throughout their performance. Photo by Jennifer Servantes
CLICK HERE for story

Way to go Granite Hills and Strathmore High School Bands

2009-10-19T20:29:00.000-07:00

Photo by Esther Avila

Congratulations Granite Hills High and Strathmore High bands.

Here are some of the results of the 2009 Visalia "Music in Motion" Band Review - Saturday, October 17, 2009

Granite Hills High School:
Parade: First, majorette team ; Field competition: First, class D
Strathmore High:
Parade: Second, solo majorette, Third - military drum major
Parade: Second place, class E
Exeter High:
Parade: First, class C

Check out the full story: Friday, October 23, in the Southern Sierra Messenger

http://www.sosierramessenger.com/

I will post the story here later - so you may want to check back in a couple of weeks.
In the meantime, here are some of the results:

PARADE:
Majorette Team - Granite Hills High School, Porterville
Solo Majorette - Fowler High School, first place; Strathmore High Shool, second place
Percussion - Buchanan High, first; Tulare Western, Tulare, second; El Diamante, Visalia, third.
Drum Major - Military: Fowler, first; Sierra, second; Strathmore High, third.
Drum Major - Open: Tulare Western
Drum Major - Mace: Golden West, first; Hanford West, second; Edison, third.
Identification category: Buchanan, first; Fowler, second; Tulare West, third.
Flags: Fowler, first; Tulare Union, second; Mission Oak, third.

Parade - Bands:
Class E: Riverdale, 1; Strathmore, 2; Sierra High School, 3.
Class D: Mission Oaks, 1; Edison, 2; Orosi, 3.
Class C: Exeter, 1; Mt. Whitney, Visalia, 2.
Class B: Golden West, Visalia, 1; Tulare Western, 2; Tulare Union, 3.
Class A: Fowler, 1; El Diamante, Visalia, 2; Buchanan, 3.

Parade Music Sweepstakes: Hanford West
Grand Sweepstakes Parade: Hanford West

FIELD: Results below won first, second, and third respectively.
Field Auxilliary - Buchanan High School, El Diamante, Golden West.
Percussion - El Diamante, Buchanan, Tulare Western
Class D - Granite Hills, Orosi, Edison.
Class C - Exeter, Woodlake, Mt. Whitney.
Class B - Golden West, Tulare Western, Hanford West
Class A - Buchanan, Redwood

Field Music - El Diamante
Field Showmanship - Buchanan
Field Sweepstakes - El Diamante
Grand Sweepstakes - El Diamante

I will post middle school results in a couple of days.

Long time, no write

2009-07-15T15:04:00.001-07:00

Jennifer and Richard - Mardigras - near Louisiana

Marisa entering Mississippi

Marisa in Alabama

So much has happened this year and I have not written in my blog much - my apologies to myself as much as to others for that. Let's see if I can catch people up.....

January - I lost my dream job. Odd that I call it that. But to me, it was. I loved writing for my home paper and still miss it alot. But, like dozens of others who have been laid off from the newspaper business, I had no choice but to move on. I chose to do so by traveling.

February - Spent Valentines Day in Mississippi. I loved the area. A whole week in Mississippi, Alabama (including a drive to Cuba, AL) and Louisiana. It was fun. I remember stopping in Alabama and seeing a little red-headed, freckled-face, bare-footed boy riding his bicycle down a narrow road. A brown dog ran after him. I loved it. So Norman Rockwell like. At Hardees with Marisa and Jennifer - I'd never been to one before.

March 2009 - NYC

March - Spring Break with my daughter Catherine in New York City. I finally had a dream come true - I ice skated in Central Park - a dream of mine since I was in 7th grade. (and saw it on "Love Story")

April - San Francisco - 4-day band trip with Jennifer.

May - Disneyland and California Adventure with Marisa.

June - Pacific NW - following the Fabulous Studio Band around (and wrote about them while they were in Seattle and in Everett, WA) Included side trips to Forks and Port Angeles in Washington (yes, we are Twilight fans) We did the "Twilight" tour.

July - I am currently writing this from North Carolina - where I am spending a week with Jennifer. (Cherry Point MCAS)

Richard and Jennifer hugging - Atlantic Beach, NC

I promise to return to writing again, and soon -- and I will try to keep this blog up -- but in the meantime, I did learn of Jason Evan's latest contest and couldn't help but enter. I feel everyone who enters (or reads the stories) is a winner. http://clarityofnight.blogspot.com/

Fabulous Studio Band - Everett, WA - June 2009

2009-09-27T23:38:00.000-07:00

Fabulous Studio Band continues Pacific NW trip
Tour: Oregon, Washington residents treated to band sound.
June 18, 2009 10:05 AM

By ESTHER AVILA
FOR THE PORTERVILLE RECORDER

(photos by Esther Avila)

EVERETT, Wash. — Members of the Fabulous Studio Band are on their way home from their three-state, 2,869-mile Pacific Northwest tour. They are scheduled to return Friday evening.
The band left Porterville on June 9, and has played in numerous venues in Oregon and Washington.
Tuesday evening they kicked off a summer concert series for the city of Everett, Wash.
With the harbor as their backdrop, the band entertained a large crowd with their big-band and contemporary numbers.
“I was walking by and saw them setting up and I just had to stop,” said Larry Wold of Everett. “I enjoy the big band sound. This group sounds pretty good.”
Estelle and Charles Spaulding of Mill Creek, Ore., said they attended because they heard that big-band music was on the schedule.
“It is our first time here. We enjoy concerts like these — and being out here in front of the waterfront — you can’t beat that.”
It was a sentiment expressed by several in attendance. While some dined or enjoyed a drink from restaurant patios, others brought lawn chairs and blankets and sat on the lawn.
Jordan Donato, 2, could not sit still. The toddler hit the dance floor every time the band played.
“She has always liked to dance. I don’t think she can resist it,” said her mother, 23-year-old Alexandra Donato. “We come often — whenever my mom invites me. I’m enjoying this. It is different from what I usually listen to, but it’s lovely.”
As the band continued to play big-band hits, couples danced. Judging by the hearty applause, they loved it.
“We play all over the country,” said band leader Jim Kusserow. “And next June, some of these kids will be playing at Carnegie Hall when we take the band to New York.”
George Sandia, 62, of Everett, applauded and cheered as the band played “New York, New York.”
“They play so well,” Sandia said. “I can see them playing at big cities. But I’m glad they came here — and are playing for us.”
After its Everett performance, the band performed Wednesday evening in Oak Harbor, on Whidbey Island.
“What we are trying to do, besides keeping the big band sound alive and let people across America know that there are still bands out there performing this music, is recreate what it was like for a traveling big band — letting the kids know what is like to be in a performing big band, whether just traveling up and down the state or across the country,” Kusserow said. “Some of these kids might have aspirations to perform. This gives them a little cross section of all it takes. They learn to work together. Everyone has a job and everything gets done.”
Pianist Jerika Hayes and Suzy Napieralski, who plays clarinet and saxophone, agreed. It was the first band tour for both.
“Setting up has been easy,” Hayes, a junior at Porterville High School, said. “It has been a real unique experience. I wouldn’t say it has been hectic though. Everything has worked out perfect — like a well-oiled machine. We have always had enough time for our performances.”
It was not all work, however. The band’s members had plenty of time for sightseeing.
Band members sand boarded at the sand dunes in Florence, Ore., toured a music and sci-fi museum, visited a rainforest in Olympic National Park, and toured through Forks, Ore. — home to the popular “Twilight” books.
“I was able to tour a lot with [former band director, the late] Buck Shaffer and I am merely trying to pass on the great experience I had,” Kusserow said. “It has been a great reward for me to do so. It has been a great trip.”

Music in Porterville - Fabulous Studio Band and Sierra Vocal Arts - June 2009

2009-09-27T23:30:00.000-07:00

Music in Porterville

By Esther Avila
Southern Sierra Messenger

There is no doubt about it – Porterville is a musical town, not only during the school year but year round. The music is everywhere – with elementary, middle, and high school students, as well as community groups, local bands and individuals performing with choirs, orchestras and bands.

One does not have to look far to find it, either. It is as close as the center of town.
“Music on Main Street” – sponsored by the City of Porterville and the Porterville Chamber of Commerce – continues at 6:30 tonight with Duggin’s Citrus Express taking center stage at Centennial Park. The concerts, which run every Friday night through the end of June, are free and open to the public. Centennial Park is located directly in front of City Hall on Main Street.
I also find it heart-warming that local musicians, such as the Fabulous Studio Band and the Sierra Vocal Arts Ensemble, are currently on tour – sharing their music with the world.

(photo by Esther Avila)
The Fabulous Studio Band, under the direction of Jim Kusserow, left Porterville Tuesday morning. The band is performing in Portland, Oregon tonight and Saturday night before continuing towards Seattle, and Whidbey Island in Washington. They will log more than 2,800 miles as they perform at numerous venues during their 10-day North West Pacific tour.
A small group gathered to see the musicians off. Among them was Dawn McMaster, mother of Kyle and Kory McMaster, recent graduates of Porterville College and Porterville High School.
“This is the last time they will be playing with the band,” McMaster said. “It has been an amazing experience for them. They have grown so much, in music, and as young men. They won’t be here next year. This is it. Both are attending Azusa Pacific next year. Both are majoring in music.”

The Sierra Vocal Arts Ensemble is also on tour. The community choir, celebrating their 20th season, left Thursday and will be visiting and performing in some of the most beautiful and historic cathedrals and churches of the world – London, Salisbury, Stratford-upon-Avon and Cambridge. They will also participate in a workshop with English composer John Rutter.
“There will be something for everyone. There is so much history within the area where we will be traveling that one can’t see it all,” said Fred Knutson, the ensemble’s founding conductor. “I do know that for many of our singers, having the opportunity to have a choral workshop led by internationally renowned composer John Rutter, will be the highlight.”
This is the ensemble’s first extended tour, said Sara Guinn of Hanson Travel Ideas of Porterville. Other than performances in Modesto, the choir has performed only in the Porterville area.
Guinn has arranged for the ensemble to visit many historically important sites, including Westminster Abbey, St. Paul’s Cathedral, William Shakespeare’s birthplace, Winston Churchill’s burial site, Anne Hathaway’s cottage, and numerous museums and historic churches.
“We will be performing in some of the most beautiful and historic venues in the world. Salisbury Cathedral was built within a period of 38 years beginning in 1220,” Knutson said. “Imagine something built in the 1200’s that is as beautiful and functional today as when it was built. So much of the music we perform was composed for beautiful buildings much like that cathedral, it brings a singer so close to the original performance sound, which we rarely get to experience in our modern church buildings. Probably the most exciting part will be experiencing so much that’s new with the great friends I have in the Sierra Vocal Arts Ensemble. They are a dynamic group of people and I know that it will be fun to ‘ooo’ and ‘ahhh’ with them.”

Fabulous Studio Band - Seattle, WA - June 2009

2009-09-27T23:46:00.000-07:00

Fabulous Studio Band plays for appreciative Seattle audience
June 15, 2009 9:44 PM

By ESTHER AVILA
FOR THE PORTERVILLE RECORDER
(Photos by Esther Avila)
SEATTLE — Porterville’s Fabulous Studio Band continued to entertain young and old alike Monday afternoon when they performed at the Seattle Center in Seattle during the seventh day of their three-state Pacific Northwest tour.
The band, under the direction of Jim Kusserow, left Porterville June 9.
“This band has performed all over the place. They’ve performed in just about every U.S. Air Force base you can think of, before the U.S. Senate, the White House and Hawaii,” Kusserow said to the crowd gathered at the food court of the Seattle Center House. “We travel a lot, always at no cost to the students.”
The audience responded favorably by cheering, whistling and clapping heartily as the band opened with “I Remember Basie” and continued with “Hello Dolly,” “Georgia on my Mind” — featuring Clark Keele on tenor sax — and “It’s Almost like being in Love,” a number which featured George Andrade on trombone and Kusserow on trumpet.
Ernie and Kathy Lassman of Seattle said they could not resist getting up to dance as the band played “Moonlight Serenade.”
“We have heard a lot of big-band music and we must say, this band is great,” Ernie Lassman said. “They are top notch. We have enjoyed listening to them.”
But big-band music was not all the band played. They also treated the audience to a few contemporary numbers from Chicago; K.C. and the Sunshine Band; and Earth, Wind and Fire.
Sitting in the audience was the McMaster family from Porterville.
“Today is my birthday,” Dawn McMaster said. “What a great way to spend my birthday. We flew into Seattle yesterday and met up with the band in Port Angeles.”
The tour is the family’s last opportunity to see her two sons, Kyle and Kory McMaster, perform with the band, she said. The boys, recent graduates of Porterville High and Porterville College, are heading to Azusa Pacific University in the fall.
Also in the audience was a young woman with two children. The three tapped their feet and danced in their seats as the band played.
“I’m their nanny,” said Shanda Gimbel of Seattle. “We were having lunch here and the music started and the children started dancing like crazy. This was great. I loved it. Big band is still a timeless sound and it is evident that it appeals to all ages. We all loved it.”
The Fabulous Studio Band continues its tour with a performance in Everett, Wash.
All photos by Esther Avila

Summer's not over

2009-08-27T23:07:00.000-07:00

Well, since summer was not over, I continued to travel. Jennifer, Marisa and I went to Yuma, Arizona.... 10 hour drive. Fun. We got caught in a nasty sand storm as we arrived.
I did some research for my novel and we visited Richard - we stayed on base.

We left and drove all the way to Oregon -with a stop in Visalia to drop off Jennifer and pick up Catherine. We spent the night in Redding and then spent the next day exploring waterfalls in the Shasta Mountains. (pic is of Catherine at Sweet Briar Falls) Breathtaking beautiful. It was a perfect day.....from there, off to McMinnville for the annual LaMotte/Flores garden party - a perfect end to summer.
(pic: Catherine under one of the arbours at the party - as the sun went in, hundreds of twinkling lights came on.)

What fun!
What a summer!

Yes - I am still writing.

2009-09-27T23:17:00.000-07:00

I started writing for Exeter Sun Gazette and for Southern Sierra Messenger - and I did freelance a couple of band stories for the Porterville Recorder.

Southern Sierra Messenger has been wonderful. I actually got my own column with them and my editor (not me) named my column "Esther Avila's Porterville."

My column has my memories about a Porterville moment and comments about a current situation, festival, or person from Porterville.

I've talked about meeting Buck Shaffer when I was 4-years old, the old kiddie wading pool at Murry Park, first day of school jitters, the fire pits at Taco Bell, ...... and other such memories.

I love having my own column.

I've also been writing all of the copy for a special publication for an upcoming apple festival. I've written a dozen stories and will spend most of the week as a photographer.

I love my job.

Nothing like checking out the backyard

2007-09-18T20:56:00.000-07:00

I've been very busy the past two months - writing. I don't even know how many stories I've written.I wrote a batch of stories for our local museum (at least 10) I had a lot of fun writing them and learned alot. Here is one story about the Yokut Indians and reed boats.

Then our Tulare County Fair came into town and I covered the fair daily - two days stand out for me - Physics Day (students rode the carnival rides with intention of collecting data to use in graphs) - and Auction day for 4-H and FFA students - always one of my favorite events - It is what the fair was all about. It was not about rides and hundreds of commercial exhibitors.

But that wasn't all - I have also been writing stories about our surrounding communities for our "Living Here" tab magazine.

My home town - Porterville - is the gateway and headquarters to Sequoia National Forest and Giant Sequoia National Monument - it's absolutely breath taking.

I loved working on the "Living Here" stories - I was reminded how great my area of the world is.

Click here for cam

These trees are huge! Can you spot the people next to the trees?

Sequoia National Forest
1839 South Newcomb Street
Porterville, CA 93257
559-784-1500

Living Here: Porterville - Visalia - Springville - Tulare - Exeter - Lindsay - Tulare County
(I will place links to my stories after the "Living Here" tab is published on 9/30)

Another fringe benefit of writing articles : getting the whole scoop - Here is one event that I am looking forward to attending.

Country music fest to rock Visalia

Jugfest to feature some of country's biggest entertainers Sept. 22.

By Esther Avila / Special to The Bee

09/14/07 05:34:27

More information

If you go

What: Jugfest 2007 -- 10 artists in back-to-back country music performances, with opportunities to meet and greet the artists; kids' activities.
When: Sept. 22, starting at 11 a.m.
Where: Plaza Park, Plaza Drive and Highway 198, Visalia.
Tickets: Advance -- all day and evening $15, general admission and $25 for preferred seating. At the gate, tickets $5 for daytime only or $25 and $35 all day/evening. Advance tickets available online at www.kjug.com or www.gorillatix.com and at Best Buy Market, 1300 W. Walnut Ave., Visalia; 1798 N. 10th Ave., Hanford and 1135 W. Bush St., Lemoore.
Details: (559) 553-1500.

A country music festival Sept. 22 will feature performances by 10 country artists at Jugfest, a day filled with back-to-back performances and opportunities for fans to meet several of the artists.

"We are excited to offer an event of this magnitude to the Central Valley. Currently there are no other country music festivals in our area," said Melinda Caz, marketing director at KJUG FM 106.7, which is celebrating its 30th anniversary.

"There'll be something for everyone -- for all ages," she said. "The best deal is to come early and stay all day, especially through the evening when we have our grand finale, a tribute to our troops."

The day kicks off at 11 a.m with performances on two stages by country artists Dusty Drake, John Berry, Ty Herndon, Whiskey Falls, Lance Miller and Sarah Buxton.

But Jugfest will offer more than just country music. A Kids' Zone area will offer a children's bounce houses, bungee run, jousting activities and a trampoline euro-power jump. In addition, there will be free face painting, magic shows and strolling clowns making balloon animals for the children. Plenty of local food vendors and craft booths will also be on site.

"Country music isn't what it was when I was a kid," Caz said. "With artists like Bon Jovi and Sheryl Crow releasing country songs, country music is expanding its fan base -- and, on the day of Jugfest, I think we are going to see that. We are expecting big groups of country music fans and families."

The station has received confirmations from people who will attend from San Diego, San Francisco, Arizona and Miami, she said.

As evening arrives, the main stage will heat up with more acts. At 7 p.m., country group Cole Deggs and The Lonesome will light up the main stage. They will be followed by recording artist Paul Overstreet. Overstreet has written hit songs for George Jones, Randy Travis, Tanya Tucker and Marie Osmond. Country group Little Texas will follow and is expected to rev up the audience with some of its greatest hits, including "God Blessed Texas" and "Amy's Back in Austin."

But it will be Darryl Worley who will take the stage and rock the arena with the grand finale -- a tribute to United States military men and women. Program listeners were encouraged to send a photo of someone in the military or a veteran to honor in a presentation at the evening concert.

Lawn chairs or blankets are recommended for the daytime concerts.

"Don't underestimate the power of country music; it's electrifying and the listeners are loyal," said Dave Daniels, program director for Westcoast Broadcasting, owner of KJUG. "Not everyone has the opportunity to go to Nashville and experience country music one on one."

September Skies

2007-09-29T09:49:00.001-07:00

September -- my favorite time of the year - weather starts changing, school starts, and its my birthday! And though I'm not big on birthdays, I do love the day.

I never had a birthday party until I was 40 - so I feel as if I am catching up on them. So far my birthday weekend has been full of surprises - from a group of first-graders serenading me with songs, to white roses - my favorite - and 49 of them! Aren't they absolutely gorgeous? I love them! They look beautiful and they smell great.

Yes, I am almost half-a-century years old. But I love it. I don't feel my age - I'm always writing, working, attending sports, bands, concerts or club events - or doing something fun with my family, that I don't have time to feel older. But, if I could have the perfect birthday weekend, it would include writing! There is nothing I would like more than to have an entire weekend to write. Not newspaper or magazine articles, I write plenty of those all the time - in fact, I am still working on an entire series for the Women in Business local newspaper-magazine tab. Today my "Living Here" tab published - a series of stories about Porterville and the surrounding communities.
I love my work, but I want to get back to my short stories and novel. Two years ago I participated in Nanowrimo for the first time, and I loved it. It really kicked off my September Skies novel.

November is National Novel Writing Month. Even though it is it still a month away, I can't help but get excited over it. I'm not sure if I will participate - a lot of it depends on what family activities are happening that month.

Please send Miss Eleanor a postcard

2007-08-16T23:01:00.000-07:00

UP DATE: September 5, 2007 - I drove by her work, and there she was - wearing a "thank you" on her outfit. Isn't she beautiful?

How it started:

I printed the request below on my writers online community - and I have been really pleased with the positive response I've received from everyone. It is all in fun - so I'd thought I'd share it here too.

Please send Missy a postcard

There is a mannequin near my home in front of a restaurant-supply store (about two blocks from my house) She sits out there every day - dressed in a professional chef coat and chef hat. We call her "Missy" and ever since the kids were little, we'd wave at her every time we drove by. It all started innocently about several years ago - I told them she was a real person who was out there. We met her when I took a wrong turn on the way to school and the girls asked where I was going...

"I want to drive this way to wave to my friend Eleanor," I said and then pointed to her as we drove by. They said it was a fake person, I claimed she was real. We still call her Eleanor when we drive by and a postcard or two has her listed as Eleanor -- but later, when we wrote Ms.Mannequin on the card, we started calling her Missy.

While in Hawaii recently, one daughter said, "Lets send Missy a postcard" -- so we did and we had such fun, we have sent her cards from everywhere we have gone this summer -- Texas, Oregon, etc.

We never really say who we are, just that we are thinking of her and hope that someday she can join us or that someday she can take a trip or we just ask how she is and how the restaurant business is going, etc. Very G-rated. Nothing bad.

It suddenly reminded me of the gnome story -- obviously we can't steal "Missy" to photograph her all over the world - she's human size - not a little gnome.

But I do wonder what the heck the business owner must think every time a card comes in. We've sent at least a dozen.

So, here is my request: If you can, can you please send "Missy" a postcard from where ever you live? And when you do - let me know here so that I can keep track as to how many states are sending (sent) a card. I'd love for her to get them from all over - from California to Seattle to New York to Florida - and from other countries too -- from Canada to Mexico and across the oceans from India to Australia - where ever you all are. You don't have to write much, "hello from Alabama" or whatever state or country will suffice.

But PLEASE - if you do write something -- keep it very clean. It is nothing illegal - just sending friendly post cards.

Miss Eleanor Mannequin
C/O Handley's Restaurant Equipment
400 N. Johnson St.
Visalia, CA 93291

Thanks, everyone.
Missy (Eleanor) thanks you too!

__________________

The Tule Fog

2007-11-03T22:02:00.000-07:00

It happens every year -- the California Tule Fog sneaks in - sometimes causing zero visibility. It is something that has scared me since I was a child. And every single year, there is at least one disastrous pileup on our Freeway 99. Usually I try to avoid traveling too early or too late - waiting for the fog to lift. There is nothing worse than driving along and suddenly hitting a white wall of nothing. I remember as a young nursing student - in 1978 - coming upon such an accident - and upon arriving at Tulare County Hospital, being assigned to care for a patient who had broken his back in the accident - and he turned out to be a 1976 classmate from my school.

Earlier today I was talking to my newspaper photographer John Tipton when he came upon this horrible pileup. So sad.

***** also*****

Micky Padilla of Porterville was driving with his family to a baptism in Fresno when he slammed into a Nissan Maxima.

"It was just bang, bang all around us," Padilla said. "I can't believe I still have my wife and my kids. Someone was looking out for us."

Massive Pileup Closes California Highway

By GARANCE BURKE,

Posted: 2007-11-03 19:08:31

Filed Under: Nation News

FRESNO, Calif. (Nov. 3) - More than 100 cars and trucks crashed on a fog-shrouded freeway Saturday, killing at least two people and injuring dozens more, the California Highway Patrol said.

Eighteen big rigs were involved in the massive pileup on Highway 99 just south of Fresno as patches of dense fog obscured visibility on the heavily traveled roadway, CHP officials said.

Photo Gallery: Highway 99 Pileup

Gary Kazanjian, AP

The wreckage of more than 100 cars is seen here on a Fresno, Calif., highway after dense fog led to a pileup that killed at least two people.

A 6-year-old boy and a 28-year-old man traveling in separate vehicles were killed in the chain-reaction collisions around 7:45 a.m. , said CHP Officer Paul Solorzano, Jr., who described it as one of the Central Valley's worst freeway crashes in years.

"It looked like something out of a movie, walking up and seeing all the cars mangled and crushed," Solorzano said.

Rescuers had to extract several people trapped in the wreckage, and paramedics transported more than three dozen patients to the hospital with injuries, Fresno City Fire Department spokesman Ken Shockley said.

The freeway's northbound lanes around Clovis Avenue were shut down indefinitely as investigators worked to determine the cause of the crash. Traffic backed up for miles south of the wreckage. Southbound lanes remained opened.

Two of the big rigs leaked 90 gallons of diesel fuel onto the freeway when their fuel tanks ruptured, but the diesel was contained. No hazardous materials were spilled, CHP officials said.

Hours after the accident, the freeway was littered with smashed cars and trucks, broken glass, auto parts and blood. A big rig carrying stacked crates of live turkeys was stranded in the middle of the normally busy highway.

Crash victims gathered on the freeway shoulder near the wreckage, waiting to be interviewed by investigators.

Cindy Ramirez, 21, of Selma, said her purple Mazda pickup truck was rear-ended as she was driving to her job washing windows in Shaver Lake.

"Everybody was trying to miss everybody, but it was impossible not to get hit," Ramirez said. "I'm fine physically, but I keep thinking about all of the things that could have happened."

Omar Macias, 33, was hauling asphalt from Bakersfield to Elk Grove when his truck was caught in the pileup.

"I got out to check on people at first, and then I heard more crashes around me, so I got right back in," said Macias of Bakersfield. "I feel OK, but I don't what OK means right now. People got hurt."

Even as investigators interviewed dazed drivers on the roadside, crews began sprinkling sand on the freeway and sweeping up shattered glass.

Thick seasonal fog known as "Tule fog" typically occurs in Central California in the late fall and winter. Two people died along a nearby stretch of fog-blanketed Highway 99 in an 87-vehicle pileup in 2002, and another section of the roadway several miles south was the scene of a 74-vehicle crash that left two dead nearly a decade ago.

"There was probably two-foot visibility in the fog when I got here. It was really bad," said Mike Bowman, a spokesman for the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection. "It looked like chaos. Cars were backed up on top of each other."

Micky Padilla of Porterville was driving with his family to a baptism when they heard the sound of metal screeching, struggled to brake and slammed into a Nissan Maxima.

Padilla ran out and found a man bleeding in a white pickup. The man was still breathing minutes later when firefighters arrived, but later died on the highway, Padilla said.

"It was just bang, bang all around us," Padilla said, shaking his head as he stood next to a puddle of blood on the blacktop. "I can't believe I still have my wife and my kids. Someone was looking out for us."

Associated Press writer Marcus Wohlsen contributed to this report from San Francisco.

A very Merry and Blessed Christmas

2007-12-25T06:30:00.000-08:00

Merry Christmas from my family to you!

Christmas 2007

Esther and girls: Catherine, Marisa, Jennifer (and Meeko)

Frank S - you gotta love him

2008-05-12T16:39:00.000-07:00

Fly Me to the Moon

Fly me to the moon
And let me play among the stars
Let me see what spring is like
On Jupiter and Mars
In other words hold my hand
In other words darling kiss me

Fill my life with song
And let me sing forevermore
You are all I hope for
All I worship and adore

In other words please be true
In other words I love you

Some of my favorite music to play in the car has always been my Frank Sinatra CDs - and lately I've been playing them a lot every day to and from work. Sometimes I tell myself to stop, but I can't.

Stardust - Fly me to the Moon
I've got you under my Skin
The way you look Tonight
Moonlight Serenade
Young at Heart

Such beautiful music and lyrics. Sigh. I was born in the wrong decade.

Fairytales can come true, it can happen to you
if you're young at heart...."
And here is the best part, you have a head start
If you are among the very young at heart."

2008-05-26T18:57:00.000-07:00

Stardust - Frank Sinatra

And now the purple dusk of twilight time
Steals across the meadows of my heart
High up in the sky the little stars climb
Always reminding me that we're apart
You wander down the lane and far away
Leaving me a song that will not die
Love is now the stardust
Of yesterday
The music
Of the years gone by

Sometimes I wonder why I spend
The lonely nights
Dreaming of a song.
The melody haunts my reverie
And I am once again with you.
When our love was new, and each kiss an inspiration.
But that was long ago, and now my consolation
Is in the stardust of a song.
Beside the garden wall, when stars are bright
You are in my arms
The nightingale tells his fairy tale
Of paradise where roses grew.
Though I dream in vain, in my heart you will remain
My stardust melody
The memory of loves refrain.

From Beethoven with love

2008-12-01T22:41:00.000-08:00

Broken hearts do not heal. People say they do, but they don’t.
They are hollow, like a broken drum – silent and undone.
And life goes on but the spirit doesn’t. It remains,
with such longing and such unfulfilled belonging…..

She thought this year would be different.
She thought he was different.
Yet, she’s alone.… through evenings, weekends and holidays.

The heart beats but no rhythm is played......she remains alone....and he does too.

Love letter from Beethoven to his immortal beloved on July 7, 1812

Though still in bed my thoughts go out to you, my Immortal Beloved, now and then joyfully, then sadly, waiting to learn whether or not fate will hear us.

I can live only wholly with you or not at all—yes, I am resolved to wander so long away from you until I can fly to your arms and say that I am really at home, send my soul enwrapped in you into the land of spirits.

—Yes, unhappily it must be so—you will be the more resolved since you know my fidelity—to you, no one can ever again possess my heart—none—never—Oh, God!

why is it necessary to part from one whom one so loves and yet my life in Vienna is now a wretched life—your love makes me at once the happiest and the unhappiest of men—at my age, I need a steady, quiet life—can that be under our conditions?

...Be calm, only by a calm consideration of our existence can we achieve our purpose to live together—be calm—love me—today—yesterday—what tearful longings for you—you—you—my life—my all—farewell—Oh continue to love me—never misjudge the most faithful heart of your beloved.

ever thine
ever mine
ever for each other

I Love you baby and if it's quite alright......

2008-01-22T17:19:00.000-08:00

I love you baby...and if it's quite alright, I need you baby.....
Click here to see the scene on YouTube. (I AM SORRY TO SAY THAT THE VIDEO HAS BEEN REMOVED BY THE OWNER)

There is one scene from "Ten Things I Hate About You" that I don't mind seeing again and again... when the girls' soccer team is practicing on the field, and Patrick (Heath Ledger) is up in the stands, microphone in hand, and suddenly over the loudspeaker, you can hear him singing to Kat (Julia Stiles) - while the high school band accompanies him. I will drop everything I am doing and, being the hopeless romantic that I am, will watch blissfully. -I absolutely LOVE that scene!

Heath died today. Ironically, this song is associated with another really good friend I lost recently, making it a very, very sad day for me. It's been quite the day and more than I could take in one day. (sigh) Heath, why did you have to do that? And baby, this is for you. I will never stop loving you. You will live in my heart forever.

"You're just too good to be true.
Can't take my eyes off you.
You'd be like Heaven to touch.
I wanna hold you so much.
At long last love has arrived
And I thank God I'm alive.
You're just too good to be true.
Can't take my eyes off you.

I love you, baby,
And if it's quite alright,
I need you, baby,
To warm a lonely night.
I love you, baby.
Trust in me when I say:
Oh, pretty baby,
Don't bring me down, I pray.
Oh, pretty baby, now that I found you, stay
And let me love you, baby.
Let me love you.

You're just too good to be true.
Can't take my eyes off you.
You'd be like Heaven to touch.
I wanna hold you so much.
At long last love has arrived
And I thank God I'm alive.
You're just too good to be true.
Can't take my eyes off you.

I love you, baby,
And if it's quite alright,
I need you, baby,
To warm a lonely night.
I love you, baby.
Trust in me when I say:
Oh, pretty baby,
Don't bring me down, I pray.
Oh, pretty baby, now that I found you, stay.."

2009-01-21T09:25:00.000-08:00

I am very excited and honored to learn that I earned an Honorable Mention - and made it into the "Forties Club" - with the story I submitted into Clarity of Night's recent contest. (Members of the Clarity of Night Forties Club are entries which scored 40 or higher out of 45.)
For those of you who missed my story, here it is:
Entry #125
Waiting on a Miracle
by Esther Avila

Jack watched the television, his mouth open at the scene unfolding at Fashion Point Mall -- police tape, metal, skin, and chaos.

“Unbelievable!” he said to himself as the phone rang.

“Hey, are you watching the news?” Kyle asked. “Can you believe it?”

Just the day before, Jack and Kyle met for dinner -- and a few drinks.

“Stop being such a baby. If I were in that wheelchair, I wouldn’t be such a whiner,” Kyle had said.“I dare you to spend the whole evening in a wheelchair.”

The deal was on. Heading to the mall, Kyle obtained a chair and proceeded to maneuver around the shops.

“Nothing to it,” he said. “I bet my grandma could do this blindfolded.”

“Tell me that after you take the stairs.”

Kyle headed to the escalator, ignoring the warning: Strollers and Wheelchairs Prohibited.

“Don’t do it Kyle. I was kidding.”

Too late.Jack felt helpless as he watched his best friend tumble to the bottom of the stairs.

Laughing, Kyle stood, thankful for the beers that cushioned the fall.

A concerned crowd had gathered around him.“I can walk,” Kyle yelled as he stood and pushed away the chair. “It’s a miracle!”

Jack’s attention turned back to the pretty reporter on the news.

“…..two people are in critical condition and four others in serious condition after they rolled their wheelchairs down the escalator, apparently looking for a miracle. A man in his mid 20s was miraculously healed yesterday …..”

33 Comments:

McKoala said...
Appreciated your twist!
January 15, 2009 12:23 AM

kunal said...
good ending .. riveting in a way.
January 15, 2009 1:01 AM

Lena said...
that was some good twist. but somehow it is good that people still believe in miracles, even though it does not work out always. Well written!
January 15, 2009 1:36 AM

*~*{Sameera}*~* said...
Ha ha!That was a good read,and relieving too :)
January 15, 2009 3:35 AM

K.Lawson Gilbert said...
Unique take. Good writing skills - I like the way the story unfolded. (Kyle needs an attitude adjustment- lol)
January 15, 2009 7:14 AM

Scott said...
Things just work out for some people! I loved your take on the picture; this was a fun-to-read piece.
January 15, 2009 7:35 AM

laughingwolf said...
nice twist :)
January 15, 2009 7:45 AM

Aerin said...
oh, my gosh. such a great story - LOVE this
January 15, 2009 8:35 AM

wrath999 said...
Cool and enjoyable tale
January 15, 2009 9:08 AM

RiverSoul said...
Loved the macabre twist...Heh! Heh! Server them right for blindly believing everything they see.:DDo read my story too.:)#86.:)
January 15, 2009 9:26 AM

peggy said...
what a twisty ending. good job!
January 15, 2009 12:18 PM

BernardL said...
Ouch! Well done.
January 15, 2009 1:11 PM

Aine said...
Oh!! Fabulous! And, sadly, so true to human nature. You had me on the edge of my seat until the scene was revealed.Loved it!!:)
January 15, 2009 4:23 PM

Patsy said...
I wasn't expecting that.
January 15, 2009 4:55 PM

Jaye Wells said...
Loved the punch line. Thanks for the laugh.
January 15, 2009 5:24 PM

Anonymous said...
Wicked! Loved it.John McAuley
January 15, 2009 7:11 PM

bluesugarpoet said...
Nice twist at the end - completely unexpected! - jana
January 15, 2009 9:50 PM

Catvibe said...
I really love the ending!
January 16, 2009 10:52 AM

BrownPhantom said...
Nothing prepared me for the end. Very fuuny :).-Prashant Dhanke
January 16, 2009 12:16 PM

iLL Man said...
Never be shy of a sick joke........... =DMinimal fuss in the telling and the gag came out of nowhere. Nicely done.Ewen.
January 16, 2009 8:44 PM

pjd said...
Like everyone else, I love the brilliant twist. The buildup really sells it.
January 17, 2009 1:53 AM

Senorita said...
LOL...great writing... loved the end :)
January 17, 2009 11:32 AM

September said...
Thank you for reading it and commenting. It sure was fun writing it. I got the idea after my daughter tripped on one and jokingly said the same thing after standing up (though not on stairs)and being a news reporter, I had to throw one into the story. :)I've enjoyed reading all of the other stories too. I am almost done too. There sure were a lot of them. Thanks again.
January 17, 2009 10:55 PM

sawan said...
Esther, tht was a grt grt story and a grt msg too..
January 18, 2009 12:56 PM

Terry said...
Esther, such inspired writing! I could really see your characters, and I loved the line, "...thankful for the beers that cushioned the fall." I've dated this idiot. Fun read with an outrageous twist.
January 18, 2009 3:23 PM

Geraldine said...
Naughty but nice. Tres interesting take on this photo prompt!
January 18, 2009 11:20 PM

September said...
Sawan, Terry and Geraldine - Aww...You guys warmed my heart and made me smile. Thank you so much for the kind and uplifting comments.
January 19, 2009 3:22 AM

ceedy said...
Nice story...and a good message...What the heck take a chance will ya.....
January 19, 2009 12:05 PM

Sarah Hina said...
I loved this one, Esther! Such a natural unfolding of events, making the twist that much more memorable. You did so much right with this joke gone wrong. :) Expertly written, with convincing characters and dialogue. The desire to believe can lead people to do crazy things. Well done!
January 19, 2009 2:11 PM

September said...
Ceedy and Sarah, thank you so very much for your comments. They mean a lot to me.Everyone: Well, I read every single story in the contest - all 125 of them, and some of them I read two to three times. I also commented on each and every one.Wonderful little contests Jason runs. They are fun to write, and even more fun to read and learn.
January 20, 2009 2:40 AM

Terry said...
Thanks for giving us another wonderful example of how it's done! Congratulations on placing so highly in this talented little pond.
January 20, 2009 12:52 PM

jason evans (contest official) said...
Congratulations on the honorable mention!Great job with pacing, entertainment value, technical skill, storytelling, and voice! And welcome to the Forties Club!!Thanks for being a wonderful part of the contest.
January 20, 2009 11:01 PM

September said...
Oh Terry - You're too kind. Thank you.Jason: Thank you for all of the hours you put into this. Your contests and comments are greatly appreciated and have encouraged me to take a leap of faith. I write newspaper articles but my heart and soul wants to move towards short stories again - and I want to continue with my novel once more...thank you for re-firing me up.
January 21, 2009 12:23 PM

Clarity of Night Contest

2009-01-14T23:05:00.000-08:00

Jason at Clarity of Night held another short story contest.
I always love these writing contests.

The contest has ended, but there are plenty of wonderful short stories to read.

Do go and check out some of them. (and of course, make sure and read my entry - entry No. 125)

If you aren't familiar with his contests, let me tell you a little bit about them.....

Jason Evans posts a photo to get our creative writing juices flowing - and using 250 words of less - we write a short short story. Simple.

What I love about the contests is reading all of the entries. I usually comment on every single one of them. :)

At the very end, Jason returns to comment on each story. Wow. That's a lot of work and I am so thankful for all he does.

You can find the site here: www.clarityofnight.blogspot.com

Highlights of 2008

2009-01-03T23:03:00.000-08:00

Wow - another year already.
I always like to reminisce over the past year - and I will do so again - but not at this moment.

Though I will say that I am excited that a story I wrote was named the "Top story of 2008" in my home paper.

More later

:)

2008-12-25T22:57:00.000-08:00

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year everyone.

I will return soon to post my annual "highlights of 2008" later. I stay in Porterville Mon through Fri - taking care of my mom - and I don't have as much time to devote to writing (other than my work at the newspaper daily) lately.

Christmas morning 2008

Favorite Christmas cities

2008-12-07T10:17:00.000-08:00

A country or small town Christmas experience is beautiful and actually - it is the place that I would want to spend Christmas Eve and Christmas Day - but on the days leading up to Christmas, this country mouse loves to go into the city for a day or two. There are some things that our small towns just can't offer -- the sounds of the city, people everywhere, giant stores with beautiful decorations, ice skating in a central plaza or central park, and one of my favorites - going to a symphony orchestra Christmas concert.

So, with that in mind - Here are some of my favorite cities for Christmas:

Philadelphia
New York City
San Francisco
Disneyland (not a real city, but oh so beautiful)
Seattle/Victoria, B.C.
Portland

"cold" cities - with snow (or if no snow - with rain)

Christmas time is here again....

2008-12-07T09:10:00.001-08:00

It's finally happened.
My home is slowly getting transformed into a glistening Christmas home.
I got a big tree up in the entryway - and decorated it all evening/night. (all by myself.)
I got a smaller 5-ft white tree for my daughter's room. She decorated it in blues, pinks, purples and penguins. It's so pretty.
I placed three smaller trees in the dining room, and a small table top tree in Catherine's room. She returns next weekend from UC Santa Barbara. Yay! I'm so excited. I can't wait for her to see our little winter wonderland sparkling home. Marisa's room is too small for a tree (she has the cutest room - at her request, she wanted that room - think half a dorm size) but we are placing green garland around her window. It's lighted, plays Christmas tunes, and she can hang some of her small ornaments from it.
My mantel and piano is also covered in beautiful rustic garland, with silver and gold accents.
My house smells like gingerbread or home-baked apple pie (depending on which candles I light) and I constantly play Christmas music - I am listening to Eugene Ormandy conduct the Philadelphia Orchestra (Glorious Sound of Christmas album) "Hark the Herald Angels Sing" as I write this.

I have always loved decorating my home for Christmas but it has been a few years since I've really gone all out. It kind of stopped in 2003 when Catherine was dying in the hospital and I "lived" there for a couple of weeks - never coming home. (that year we got our tree the day she came home - Christmas Eve.)
Since then, I've decorated but never the same again....though last year I started getting back into the swing of it.

Yes - it's definitely beginning to smell, sparkle, and look a lot like Christmas at my home.

Christmas traditions

2008-12-07T09:41:00.000-08:00

I have several traditions at my home, though they are all quite special, I will share a few of them here.

Every year, since my girls were little, I have bought each of them a special ornament. When the girls were in ballet, I got them little porceline "girls in pink tutus" ornaments. As they grew, and had different interests, they got more individualized ornaments - softball player, musical instruments, and other unique ones -- Paris' eiffel tower, NYC's empire state building - and other gold, silver, and gemstone ones.
Jennifer treasures her Care Bears, Marisa her Back Street Boys ornament s- and Catherine, her Barbie ones.
Someday, when they leave and have their own place -- they will each take their box of special ornaments to hang on their first tree.

There is another tradition we have - shopping in a "big city" --normally that means San Francisco Union Square (always have to go see Santa at Macy's) --The trip is not complete without a special brunch or lunch, hot chocolate and ice skating in the plaza.

Last year was truely magical. It snowed. I was promised a "little girl" Christmas experience I would never forget - and I certainly got it -- an awesome light show and listening to Christmas music played on the largest pipe organs I have ever seen at the biggest, most beautiful Macy's I had ever been to. I will never forget it and will forever treasure the photo with Santa I have as a reminder of that magical day.

Disneyland at Christmas is another tradition. I take the girls twice a year. In the summer, and at Christmas. Disneyland is always magical - but even more so at Christmastime.
We will go on Friday, and I can't wait. Marisa especially, is counting the days. Every day she asks "how many more days?" and she jumps up and down and claps when I tell her.

And, my favorite tradition - opening gifts on Christmas morning. Growing up, it was always done the eve before. I wanted to give my children the excitement of Santa (Marisa still believes.)

Whatever your traditions are, may they leave beautiful memories for your loved ones.

Buck Shaffer Community Clock

2008-11-10T23:01:00.000-08:00

All photos by Esther Avila

Saturday was such a bittersweet day for me - very emotional, and yes - along with many others - I cried.

Anyway -- It is official. The beautiful Buck Shaffer Community Clock is definitely up.

If you are in, or anywhere near, Porterville, stop by and take a look and you can probably agree with me and say that it is striking.

An added surprise that we kept secret is the sculpture of Buck- directing the band - that stands on top of the clock.

Saturday was a beautiful day - and, I am very biased, and have to say that listening to Jim Kusserow and the Fabulous Studio Band rated right up there with the unveiling of the clock. What a treat.

REMINDER - Don't forget, if you are in the area, meet at the clock before the parade -- 9 a.m. Tuesday, November 11 -- for the dedication of the clock to the city of Porterville. It will be short and sweet.

The parade starts at 10 a.m. And the Buck Shaffer Band-A-Rama at 2 p.m. - with preshow at 1:15 p.m. at PC's Jamison Stadium.

Hope to see some of you there,

Esther Avila
Class of 1976

I wrote two stories on Saturday's event -- if you missed them, here are the links

Buck Shaffer Community Clock unveiled
Porterville Recorder, CA - 22 hours agoBy ESTHER AVILA
Thousands of community members gathered at the plaza at Centennial Park at noon Saturday with one thing in mind — to see the unveiling of the city's new Buck Shaffer Community Clock.
“A year ago, I was standing here looking at a vacant piece of land, saying ‘The clock will be here,’” Felipe Martinez, a City Council member who is also on the committee that spearheaded the project, said. “Porterville is a community that gives and gives. Buck Shaffer’s soul is here. It’s an amazing feat to come together and do this.” ......click on link to read full story.

Music marches on in Porterville
Porterville Recorder, CA - 23 hours agoBy ESTHER AVILA
Somewhere up in heaven, Frank "Buck" Shaffer is smiling. That’s because music was flowing down Main Street Saturday during the Fabulous Music Jam II, an all-day music festival at the plaza at Centennial Park in downtown Porterville. And because one of the last wishes of his life was made real.

The celebration of sound took place in conjunction with the unveiling of the Buck Shaffer Community Clock, a monument in honor of the late Frank “Buck” Shaffer, Porterville’s musical icon and former Porterville High School band director. ....click on link to read entire story.