Visalia On Air

Join Visalia On Air as we welcome local historian Terry Ommen into the studio. Step back in time with us as we discuss Visalia's historic beginnings up to a time when seeing an elephant strolling down Main Street wasn't a complete shock.

"Some people think culture is static, culture is something you explore and create. You've got to be part of it. If you're at a mariachi, get up and dance!" - Niccolo Go. This episode we start "Joaquin Around" Visalia and talk food, arts, music and events.

"There's definitely a lot of growth going on...it helps that there is this core downtown that you can get to within 10 minutes of anywhere in town and have access to great restaurants, great places to stay and things to do." - Matt Ainley. This episode we chat with Visalian Matt Ainley, Principal Engineer of 4Creeks and 4C Construction, and get the inside details on downtown's up and coming addition, The Darling Hotel, local growth and more.

"The value of City Story is that I'm going to run into people I would not normally see at work, or I would not normally see at church, or on the weekend at my kid's basketball game. This gives us the opportunity to have a real and authentic community conversation." This episode we chat with Gail Zurek and Jason LeFaive, two of the minds behind City Story Visalia, a grassroots effort to bring positive stories forward and reshape the narrative of Visalia.

"Ag is obviously an economic driver in the Central Valley, America's bread basket here, producing all kinds of products, not just for our consumers here in California, or even consumers in our country, but consumers globally." This episode we chat with Rob Vandenheuvel,  Senior Vice President of Member & Industry Relations for California Dairies, Inc. and learn just how Cal Dairies produces 17 billion pounds of milk annually and how far across the globe this Visalia export goes.  

"I love all the exciting things going on in Visalia. From the east downtown with the new beer tasting places and restaurants to the great art and entertainment scene, Visalia is a really vibrant town." Join as we visit with Suzanne Bianco, Tourism Marketing Director for Visit Visalia and she shares spring special events, things to do, one of a kind experiences and hidden gems just waiting to be uncovered in Visalia.

"We talk a lot about being a catalyst, a convener and a champion and those three words for us are pretty important because the catalyst brings that idea to fruition, the convener, it's important to pull people together, it's powerful when get a group of leaders together, and then championing those causes, it's really important for us." Join us this episode as we sit down with Gail Zurek, President and CEO of the Visalia Chamber of Commerce as we talk about local business, how new business comes to town and how the Chamber works for the community as a whole.

"It's such a gorgeous theatre, and I've known that for a long time. I remember going to the Fox as a kid. I fell in love with it all over again when I visited as an adult." Join us this episode as we learn and talk about Visalia's very own Fox Theatre, the Central Valley's premier destination for arts and cultural entertainment since 1930. Shelley and Allison sit down with Marina Rojas, the Fox Theatre's Patron Relations Manager and Marketing Coordinator, to discuss the history of the Fox, it's evolution as an entertainment destination and how it's a living piece of history open to all.

"I was on my way to Oregon, had a job lined up, and just fell in love with the area. I thought I'd give this place a shot and call it home. I had to get to work! I love tacos and I love ramen and I searched and searched and couldn't find any that I really wanted, so I had to build our own and go from there." Join us on this episode as Chris Gonzalez, owner of Tacos Lucha (the only taco and ramen shop in the world) and Niccolo Go, of JoaquinAround.com, join the pod and talk small business, economic growth in northern Visalia and the Lincoln Oval, farm to table and choosing Visalia.

"It's all about making the changes, new retailers coming into the market. I think that's what makes the retail environment so exciting, there is a lot of opportunity out there for Visalia." Join us this episode as Rick Feder, General Manager of the Visalia Mall, joins the pod and talks exciting developments at the Visalia Mall, it's economic impact to the region, new business in the Mall and on the property and the Mall's important place in Visalia's past, present and future.

"People come into the parks and they don't realize all the different, cool things we have. Often they visit to see the biggest tree in the world, the General Sherman tree, but then they also find Moro Rock...there are just so many things to see." Join us this episode as Sintia Kawasaki-Yee, Public Affairs Officer and spokesperson at Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Parks, joins the pod. We chat about the hidden gems, special events and operations of the world famous land of giants.

"We're in that next phase where we need to say, now what do we need to do? With our mission and vision alive, you want to honor the past, and all that hard work and effort and energy, yet be current and attractive to the next generation." Join this episode as Jody Gilman, native Visalian, retired medical professional, community volunteer and current president of Soroptimist International of Visalia, joins the pod. We chat about the current state of service clubs (organizations like Soroptimist, Lions, Kiwanis, etc.), their mission and values and how clubs continue to evolve to serve both their members and their communities.