The Fresno Bee from Fresno, California • E1

THURSDAY E1 THE FRESNO BEE-PRERUNTHE FRESNO BEE PRERUN 1 Logical Page is THE FRESNO 16:48 By Daisy Nguyen Associated Press LOS ANGELES Sidney Sheldon had a prolific and award-winning career writing for theater, movies and television, but he often proclaimed his greatest love for another creative outlet. novels is the most fun ever Sheldon once said. The best-selling author died Tuesday at 89 at Eisenhower Medical Center in Rancho Mirage of complications from pneumonia. His wife, Alexan- dra, was by his side. try to write my books so the reader put them Sheldon explained in a 1982 interview.

try to construct them so when the reader gets to the end of a chapter, he or she has to read just one more chapter. the technique of the old Saturday afternoon serial: Leave the guy hanging on the edge of the cliff at the end of the Sheldon mostly wrote about stalwart women who triumph in a hostile world of ruthless men. His notable novels included of Other Side of and Tomorrow like to write about women who are talented and capable, but most important, retain their he said. have tremendous power their femininity, because men do without Several of his novels became television miniseries, often with the author as producer. Sheldon began writing as a youngster in Chicago, where he was born Feb.

11, 1917. At 10, he sold a poem for $10. During the Depression, he worked at a variety of jobs, attended Northwestern University and contributed short plays to drama groups. At 17, he tried his luck in Hollywood as a reader of prospective film material at Universal Studio for $22 a week. At night, he wrote his own screenplays and sold one, of to the studio for $250.

During World War II, Sheldon served as a pilot in the Army Air Corps. After the war, he established his reputation as a prolific writer in the New York theater. At one time, he had three musicals on Broadway: a rewritten Merry and with He received a Tony award as one of the writers of the Gwen Verdon hit His Broadway success ushered his return to See SHELDON, Page E2 Life By Rick Bentley The Fresno Bee The driving beat of Mariachi Tenochtit- lan sets a festive mood for the crowd of local community leaders and staff at KFTV, Channel 21, who have gathered at the Univision station. The party is to celebrate the new set for Valle the morning show a showcase for local and national musicians and provides a forum for local nonprofit agencies. Valle is the only locally produced Spanish-language morning show.

Viewers get their first glimpse at the changes at 6 a.m. today. Viewers will notice the show has a new look but the content will be the same. KFTV general manager L. rez says the set change was needed because of a delay in plans to move the entire station to a new location.

were supposed to be in our new building this year. Because it will be 2008, we decided to do this as a big project for this says. The new set will only be used one year. A different set for Valle will be built when the move is made. Currently, the KFTV studios are located on Ashlan Avenue.

The new building, to be at the corner of Palm and Herndon avenues, will house both KFTV and its sister station KTFF, Chan- nel 61. Univision radio also will be in the new home. Work started on the new set in late December. It debuts today because this is the start of the February sweeps, one of four months during the year when viewer totals are critical in setting advertising rates. The morning show has been on the air for 17 years.

Except for a few minor tweaks here and there, this is only the See STUDIO, Page E2 The Fresno Bee Thursday, February 1, 2007 PHOTOS BY MARK FRESNO BEE Jaqueline Kurtt talks about an artist who produces fabric and fiber art. She is a volunteer at the Timberline Gallery in Gallery Row. Art of surprise Sidney Sheldon Univision station gets a fresh morning look A new set debuts on Valle in time for February sweeps. Section FresnoBee.com many galleries have a growing reputation; now is a good time to visit. Above: Suzanne Banks paints in a corner of the Grimmer Gallery in Oakhurst.

She also is a volunteer worker in the gallery. Left: This is Gallery Row, housing a group of art galleries in Oakhurst on Highway 41 on the way out of town north toward Yosemite. INSIDE LIFE Look for community news inside Life section in papers distributed in the city of Fresno. This week, visit the Lawless Elementary School neighborhood bounded by Figarden Drive and Brawley, San Jose and Gates avenues. In a Fix looks at rough road on West Shields Avenue near North Brunswick Avenue.

Close to DAY TRIPS 1 ERIC PAUL FRESNO BEE Valle host Lupita Lomeli joins the celebration in the new set. She has been the morning host for the past 16 years on KFTV, Channel 21. By Felicia Cousart Matlosz The Fresno Bee AKHURST Tucked around a curve on Highway 41, just as the route heads out of the main hub of this foothill community, stands an L-shaped building fronted with a western facade. The exterior, though, ref lect the beauty within impressive works of art that could rival galleries in Carmel or Southern California. The building is named Gallery Row, for a series of diverse galleries that reside there: Timberline Gallery, which includes access to another gallery featuring the paintings of Mark Gudmundsen; Stavast Grimmer Gallery; and Stellar Gallery.

gallery here really has its own lavor and says Barbara Eicker, gallery director at Stavast. what people Art is a vital part of appeal, and there are other galleries and studios in the area. But a day trip to Gallery Row is a pleasant, single-stop introduction to the talent of local artists. A lot of them came from other places, discovered the alluring nature of the region, and now make their homes in eastern Madera County. a beautiful says artist Jonathan Bock, originally from Chicago and came to Oakhurst in 1989.

He owns Stellar Gallery as well as Williams Gallery West, which also is located on Highway 41 in Oakhurst. a place where people can have some he says. environment instills creativity in If you prefer taking in art at a more leisurely See OAKHURST, Page E3 Writer was a novelist first Sidney Sheldon said his books gave him the most satisfaction..