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Clovis East Alumni Accomplishes his Dream PAGE 16
Published Every Other Wednesday LOCAL NEWS, SPORTS, & ENTERTAINMENT
Clovis Chamber of Commerce Hosts Salute to Business Awards Luncheon
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Clovis Unified Holds Career Technical Education Event
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Courtesy of CUSD
A high school medical student putting on a pulse oximeter on a volunteer at the CTE Night event on January 26, 2022. Alexis Victoria Govea/Clovis Roundup
WHAT’S UP, CLOVIS!
What does Valentine’s Day mean to you PG 3
California 9/11 Memorial received the Community Impact Award at the Salute to Business Luncheon hosted by the Clovis Chamber of Commerce on Thursday, Jan. 27, 2022. From left to right: Jim Stemler, Julie DeBenedetto, Dr. Michele Cantwell-Copher, Dr. Kathryn Catania, Heather Calandra, Curt Fleming, Miss Clovis Caleigh Alday.
ALEXIS VICTORIA GOVEA @LexGovea
The Clovis Chamber of Commerce held its annual Salute to Business Awards Luncheon on January 27th 2022 at the Clovis Veterans Memorial District with CITY NEWS
Pedestrian Bridge Project Closer to Realization PG 4
over 200 people in attendance. President and CEO of the Clovis Chamber of Commerce, Greg Newman said this is an opportunity to recognize and celebrate leaders in our community, local entrepreneurs, and volunteers.
See SALUTE TO BUSINESS, Pg. 5
Small Businesses Defines The Clovis Way of Life BROOKE CHAU
The Clovis Way of Life is often looked at by referencing Main Street America and honoring local families who have created business in the Clovis community. Small businesses are an essential part of the Clovis Way of Life with antique stores, locally See SMALL BUSINESS, Pg. 4
CR File Photo
Small businesses are essential to the Clovis Way of LIfe.
Clovis Unified School District’s annual Career Technical Education (CTE) Expo retuned to an in-person event this year. Held at the Clovis Veterans Memorial Building on January 26th, students got to experience hands-on training and demonstrations. First introduced in 2019, the event provides an opportunity for prospective students to speak with currently enrolled students, teachers and counselors about different career pathways and job opportunities such as welding, agriculture, construction, healthcare, computer science, criminology, medicine and media. The expo is meant to provide an opportunity for CUSD families and students to come out and be under one roof on one night so they can learn about Career Technical Education in the district. Five comprehensive high schools within CUSD, as well as CART offer See CTE NIGHT, Pg. 5
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“They really help make our community special,” Newman said. Six awards were presented at the event honoring the following: Director of the year (Kurt
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SPORTS
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INDEX What’s Up, Clovis? Old Town Clovis Guide Recipe
3 8-9 10
Let’s Talk Clovis Log of Shame Business & Service
11 12 13
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What’s Up, Clovis? CHECK OUT THE BUZZ AROUND TOWN A Stroll Down Old Town Clovis
Ron Sundquist took a stroll down Old Town Clovis on a beautiful Friday. With Valentine’s Day just around the corner, Ron asks Clovis residents and shoppers, “What does Valentine’s Day mean to you?” PHOTOS BY RUN SUNDQUIST
Jennifer: Remembering the ones we love - past, present, and future!
Gunny: Flowers, hearts, my late wife and sweets!
Joe: Dinner, 2 lbs box of See’s Candies, and in honor of my wife who passed, I fill our cards for children and family and sign “Michelle with love, from above!”
Katrina: Love of Jesus, my husband, and chocolates! Kayla and little Rivalee: Thankful for your loved ones! Leland: It’s all about love!
Lucy: Getting flowers and eating out!
Ross: It is my birthday!
Tom: Remembering the ones we love!
Rupi and little Emreen: It is everyday to the ones we love!
Vincent: If I was the Tin Man, I would want a heart.
Lynn: Really hits men’s wallets!
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www.ClovisRoundup.com . Wednesday, February 2, 2022
Pedestrian Bridge Project Closer to Realization KARL COOKE JR. kcooke29@mail.fresnostate.edu
On January 18th, City of Clovis Staff presented several items to the Council in regard to the Class I trail/pedestrian bridge project. The bridge will cross over Highway 168 and be located east of Temperance and south of Owens Mountain Parkway along the Enterprise Canal. Beginning in September of 2015, the City of Clovis in partnership with CalTrans District 6 conducted studies to discover if a pedestrian bridge would be beneficial to the area. These studies concluded that the bridge would directly link the surrounding uses of land while providing safe transit for pedestrians on the trail network. In November of 2017, city staff found extra finances when they were awarded $1.2 million in Congestion Mitigation Air Quality (CMAQ) funds for the project. The search for a bridge design consultant would take some time once these funds were received. In June of 2019, staff went to City Council and proposed the city come to terms on a contract with Biggs Cardosa and Associates (BCA) to design a signature bridge for the project. The contract would be broken up into two different phases. Phase one for preliminary designs of the bridge and Phase two for the final design and construction documents. This phased contract was made to allow for concepts and realistic estimates to be prepared. This would also allow for decisions to either terminate the preliminary design or move forward for completion. From June 2019 to present time, phase one of the contract is 45 percent completed. The completion includes bridge alignment, four bridge concepts, photo simu-
(Courtesy of City of Clovis)
A rendering of the architectural pedestrian bridge between Shepherd Ave. and Owen’s Mountain Parkway.
lations of the concepts, and the estimated costs for each bridge type. The rest of phase one that needs completion are public outreach, stakeholder meetings, environmental reviews, and preparation of the structural design scheme. The four bridge concepts were presented to the council with the different estimated costs for each design. One design was a standard CalTrans bridge. The other three were signature bridge designs. According to the contract with BCA, they estimated the CalTrans design would come in at approximately $7.4 million. However, further research showed costs for the bridge were estimated at $10 million. The other signature bridge designs
estimated at higher costs. Prices for these ranged from $15 to $18 million in just construction. These conflicts in prices led city staff to find the BCA contract insufficient to complete a signature bridge design concept. With this in mind, staff brought three different options to the council. Each option came with the idea of terminating the contract with BCA, or keep the contract and find a way to make it work. After much deliberation the council was in agreement about choosing option number one. This option meant that staff would work with BCA through the completion of phase one of their contract. After which they would return to the City Council and consider if if there is any better option for
SMALL BUSINESS CONTINUED FROM FRONT PAGE
owned restaurants and cafes, clothing and boutique shops, and generational family businesses line the streets of Old Town Clovis. Peg Bos was the former president of the Clovis Museum and was the first female mayor of Clovis from 1984-1986. “The Clovis way of life was adopted by a commercial experience and it has stuck with us,” said Bos, “New people are an advantage to us, it allows us to show our way of life when they walk into our businesses.” When you shop local, you help create jobs for teachers, parents, children, firemen, police officers, and many other essential workers. Buying from a locally owned business conserves energy and resources in the form of less fuel for transportation and less packaging. The math for shopping locally is compelling. For every $100 spent at a locally-owned business, $73 remains in the local economy. Compared to $100 spent at a major corporation, only $43 remains in the local economy. Tammy Shultz is the owner of Clovis Appliance which has been in business for 71 years. Since 1951, Clovis Appliance has been a family owned and operated business that has proven the great benefits of why you should buy local. Shultz’s father, Glenn Skinner, and his business partner first purchased Clovis Appliances back in 1979. However, with her dad’s passing, Schultz’s role as the owner of Clovis Appliance means much more to her than simply just running a business.
CR File Photo
A photo of Old Town Clovis looking north on Pollasky and Fifth Street.
“We pride ourselves in taking care of customers the best we can,” said Shultz, “With us, we treat them the way we wanted to be treated, it’s the values my dad instilled in me at a young age.” Businesses in Old Town that help establish the Clovis Way of Life range from being in business for over 70 years like Clovis Appliance, or just 12 years like The Foundry. The Foundry is a high-quality, unique clothing, accessories, stationary, home goods, & baby products. The Foundry opened its doors in Old Town Clovis in 2012 as Vintage on Fourth. In just three years, the inventory and client base more than doubled. Owner Karen Chisum, packed up the store’s merchandise, moved to a bigger spot, and officially established The Foundry. “The reason I love Old Town Clovis
is the rich history of quality and standards,” said Chisum, “When you shop in our community you can be confident that you’ll be treated with a warm smile, and have a variety of products available within walking distance in a safe, family friendly environment.” Not only do local business owners take pride in owning a business in Old Town, but the leaders of the Clovis community also take immense pride in what the Clovis community contributes to the Clovis Way of life by shopping locally. Greg Newman is the President/CEO of the Clovis Chamber of Commerce. Newman believes that local businesses are the backbone to successful communities and weighs in on the impacts of shopping local. “Strolling down the streets of Old Town really brings you back in time. You can
them to continue with the project, or to continue to phase two of the BCA contract. Councilmember Drew Bessinger explained his reasoning for choosing option one as the best choice. “We’re doing it for a good reason,” Bessinger said. “I can get behind this because this is a worthy project. If we can, at the very least, get to a point where we know the numbers are better, we know what our chances are at getting an extension past 2027 are, then we have a little bit of potential to be able to get a funding source for at least part of this.” The City Council voted 5-0 on the first option shown to them by city staff. During this time, staff will also study and search for different funding sources to help contribute to this project.
stop at a local shop and most often have the owner of the shop there to answer your questions, provide a service or ring up your purchase,” said Newman, “There are many local shops in our community that have been around for decades serving our community. I would recommend that our community make the effort to visit these local stores, find the owner, say hello and thank them.” During the COVID-19 pandemic, many businesses struggled and needed to keep their doors open in order to earn a living. The Clovis Way of Life was built off of people helping others and that is exactly what shopping locally does. In the State of California, cities rely on sales tax dollars to pay for everything they provide to their citizens. Shawn Miller is the Business Development Manager for the City of Clovis and when asked about the importance of Old Town, he said, “Old Town is like the hub on a wheel. There are “spokes” which extend from the hub to the rest of the wheel. Every part is necessary for the wheel to work, therefore, every part is important. Since the founding of Clovis, the area that is now called Old Town has served as the hub of our community.” Keeping money local, supporting families, personal connection, effective cost and diverse products are all examples of why shopping locally in the Clovis community is important and a vital attribute to the Clovis Way of Life. For more information on what Old Town Clovis has to offer, visit www.oldtownclovis.org.
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Old Town Clovis Merchants Concerned Over Events KARL COOKE JR. kcooke29@mail.fresnostate.edu
At the January 18 City Council meeting, an item was pulled from the Consent Calendar that was brought to the attention of City Council for further discussion. The item was in regards to an action declaring certain events as Old Town Special Events. Another concern in the item was how these events were affecting parking for some Old Town Clovis businesses. Councilmember Drew Bessinger informed council and staff that a downtown merchant voiced concerns in regard to a recent car show. This event affected the merchant by cutting off parking availability for customers that want to go to his business. The unidentified merchant was not the only one who had concerns about parking. Luna Pizzeria co-owner Bert Liberta explained how these events cut off parking for his eatery. “I deal with over 20 street closures on Friday nights already,” Liberta said. “The hardship for my customers and the other businesses there in downtown Clovis, that’s my concern. Parking is the key to everything. If you don’t have parking, people aren’t going to come.” In relation to the car show that was mentioned, Liberta suggested they can move this event to places like Sierra Vista Mall
Brooke Chau/Clovis Roundup
Classics cruising Old Town Clovis for a cause took place on Dec. 12, 2021.
and the Clovis Rodeo Grounds. The Business Organization of Old Town (BOOT) President Cora Shipley was in attendance at the meeting and spoke in response to Liberta’s concerns. “I understand where he’s coming from, but we try not to interfere,” Shipley said. “Our Farmers Market that he’s talking about starts at 5:30 in the afternoon, so in
CTE NIGHT CONTINUED FROM FRONT PAGE
programs. The students can go to any of the programs at any of the schools. The program offers students who are interested in a career field the opportunity to be introduced to that field now rather than later in their life. Some students have received postsecondary degrees, certificates, apprenticeships or employment during or right after high school after enrolling in the CTE classes. CUSD Superintendent Eimear O’Brien said the district’s CTE programs comply with the state CTE regulations, requiring certain certifications and completed courses the students have to go through. “It’s a pretty rigorous program for us to adhere to it,” O’Brien said. “If a Clovis West student wants to attend the construction program at Clovis High for two periods a day, they can do that,” O’Brien said.
Shipley, Clovis was named one of the most eventful cities in the State of California. The City Council voted unanimously to approve the original item detailed in the Consent Calendar. Also, will have city staff look into the parking concern and work to find an action that could accommodate both the businesses in Old Town and the Old Town Special Events.
Clovis PD Announces 2021 Employees of the Year
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Each year Clovis PD presents an award voted on by their peers to honor the employees who exemplify the department motto “To those we serve, we want to be the best”. On January 25, Clovis PD announced these employees on social media. The winners will be honored at a special event later this year with co-workers, family and friends. The 2021 Employees of the Year are: Police Officer of the Year, Jim Ellenberger; Dispatcher of the Year John Sai; Professional Staff of the Year Shawn Knapp; Professional P/T Staff of the Year Deanna May; Reserve Police Officer of the Year Sylvia Gee; Volunteer of the Year Larry Monfort
SALUTE TO BUSINESS
dra DiCicco who was recognized as Businessperson of the Year, said it was quite the honor and she was very surprised. Sieve), Businessperson of the Year (Sandra DiCicco’s message for young girls and DiCicco), Chamber Ambassador of the women: “You can do whatever you want. Year (David Reed), Einar Cook Leadership There’s no boundaries anymore. Just think Award (Luke Serpa), Community Impact outside the box…we can do it all.” Award (California 9/11 Memorial), and Sky’s the limit she said — just work Business of the Year (Central Valley Com- hard though. munity Bank). “You do have to work hard,” DiCicco CEO of Grand Restaurant Group, San- said.
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the daytime it’s open. We have accommodated him by never blocking out the back alley so he can have his pickups.” Shipley also emphasized that the events BOOT puts on are for the entire City of Clovis and they try not to interfere with the local businesses in a negative way. She also stated that they are proud of the events they have host. According to
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DONNA MELCHOR Owner/Publisher dmelchor@clovisroundup.com BILLY XIONG Operations Manager ads@clovisroundup.com STAFF REPORTERS: Alexis Victoria Govea Brooke Chau Carole Grosch Gabriel Camarillo Karl Cooke Jr. Sydney Morgan
City of Clovis Photo
City of Clovis Photo
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Jim Ellenberger
Deanna May
John Sai
Sylvia Gee
Miss Clovis, Caleigh Alday said she’s honored to be standing with such an amazing community. “Clovis is known to be full of this vibrant spirit, it’s quality,” Alday said. “We stick to our values, and I saw that come out in the presentations.” In 2021, this event was virtual. This year the community was able to gather and have the award ceremony. Alday said interacting with people is a true blessing.
CONTRIBUTING WRITERS: April Blankinship - Log of Shame Peg Bos - Let’s Talk Clovis Toni Garcia - Log of Shame ACCOUNTING SERVICES: Teresa Stevens, CPA (559) 326-7072 teresa@tmstevenscpa.com STORY IDEAS/CALENDAR: Laurann Kanamu calendar@clovisroundup.com
Shawn Knapp
CUSTOMER SERVICE Catherine Kenney info@clovisroundup.com FOR ADVERTISING AND SALES: Office: 559-324-8757 Email: info@clovisroundup.com
Larry Monfort
Membership Director, Diana Hunnicutt from the Clovis Chamber of Commerce described the event as fabulous. “So overwhelmed with support we received not only from our sponsors but from the community as a whole,” Hunnicutt said. Hunnicutt went on to say they honored some amazing individuals and said it was wonderful to see so many people come out and celebrate all of their successes.
The Clovis Roundup is a custom publication. Reproduction by any means of the entire contents or any portion of this publication without written permission is prohibited. The appearance of any advertisements in this publication does not constitute support or endorsement for any product, person, cause, business or organization named therein, unless specifically noted otherwise in the advertisement. All costs associated with producing, printing and mailing Clovis Roundup are entirely funded by our advertisers. To show your appreciation of their support, we ask you to consider patronizing these businesses and services as the need arise. PROUD MEMBER OF
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Your Money, Your Choice NOBLE CREDIT UNION @NobleCUFresno | Sponsor
What was the very first financial choice you ever made? Think about it: it likely took place before your first job, even as far back as when your annual income consisted of Tooth Fairy money and lucky pennies. The very first financial decision you ever made is also one of the most important choices—it’s where to keep your money. When you first made that decision, piggy banks, sock drawers and buried-inthe-sandbox-like-pirate-treasure all seemed like perfectly acceptable options. As it turns out, they aren’t nearly as super-secret as you might have hoped. Opening a bank account is the best solution, but in order to do that, you first need to choose a financial institution—so, your choice is between a bank and a credit union. Banks and credit unions offer essentially the same products and services, but there are huge differences in the way they operate. Despite this, many people put more thought into building their Netflix queue than they do choosing their financial institution. Whether you’re just starting out or rethinking your current financial setup, here is what you need to know. The main difference between banks and credit unions is in their structure. Banks are for profit, while credit unions are member-owned and -operated. This means that banks have numerous expenses that credit unions simply don’t have. Banks have to pay their shareholders, their private investors and even their board of directors (credit union boards are typically volunteers elected by credit union members)—and all this is in
CR File Photo
The Noble Credit Union Clovis branch is located on 175 N Clovis Ave. between Sierra and Herndon Ave.
addition to regular operating costs. Banks are set up in a way that allows a select group of people to make money off of your banking activity. Credit unions, on the other hand, are set up in a way that allows all of their members to benefit from their profits. Once the operating costs are covered and reserves are set aside, the profits are distributed back to members in the form of free banking products and services, lower interest rates on loans and higher interest rates on savings accounts. Credit unions in the United States are also exempt from federal and state income taxes, which translates to even more profit that comes back to members. Credit unions sound pretty great, right? You might be wondering why some people choose banks over credit unions, even though credit unions consistently outperform banks when it comes to deposit and loan rates and customer service. The simple answer is that banks are big-
ger, and some people believe bigger is better. A more effective approach would be to figure out your banking priorities. Here are some factors to consider: 1) Am I eligible for an account? Banks are open to anyone. Credit unions have membership requirements, but don’t let that intimidate you! Requirements can be as simple as living in a certain community or working in a certain field. 2) How much does it cost to get set up? Are there any fees associated with opening an account? Is there a minimum balance required? Joining a credit union involves purchasing a share (they’re usually $5), but this is different from a fee—it means you’re a member-owner of the credit union. 3) Will I have good access to ATMs? You might feel as though you see larger bank ATMs everywhere, but credit union ATMs are just as accessible. In fact, the largest credit union ATM network is actually larger than the largest bank ATM network. Find out
which other financial institutions share your local credit union’s network—free ATM transactions are not limited to machines with a particular credit union name on them. 4) What can I do online? More and more financial institutions are offering online banking services. Find out what you can do from your computer and/or smartphone. Can you deposit a check? Schedule payments? Transfer money between accounts? Taking advantage of online products can be super-convenient, and can avoid a trip to the ATM or the nearest branch. 5) What can my financial institution do for me? Ask about products that are tailored to your situation. How do the interest rates compare to other financial institutions? Are there free products you’re eligible for? Don’t settle for a financial institution just because you need an account—you should also want to have an account there. At the end of the day, choosing a financial institution is a personal decision with a huge influence on how you manage your money and your time. If you make the effort to ask questions and compare services, you’ll find the best home for your finances. Noble Credit Union, a Forbes Best-inState Credit Union, has been treating each member with kindness, dignity, and honor while helping members make sound financial decisions for 80 years. The Credit Union offers members full access to a wide range of financial education and services, including low-rate auto loans, MyRewards Visa credit card, mortgage and equity loans, online and mobile banking, and more. For more information about membership at Noble Credit Union, call (559) 252-5000 or visit NobleCU.com.
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The Legacy of Old Town Clovis is What Some May Say Started The “Clovis Way of Life” BROOKE CHAU @BrookeChauTV
In 1890, the City of Clovis began as a freight stop along the San Joaquin Valley Railroad by Fresno businessmen Thomas E. Hughes, Fulton Berry, Gilbert R. Osmun, H.D. Colson, John D. Gray, and William M. Williams, in partnership with Michigan railroad speculator Marcus Pollasky. The railroad began in the summer of 1891 and reached the farmlands of Clovis M. Cole and George Owen by late fall of that year. The railroad was then purchased by both farmers directly in half. The east side from Cole and the west side from Owen where the railroad tracks ran up the borderline between the two properties. The railroad established a station on the west side of the tracks and decided to name it “Clovis.” after Clovis Cole, the owner of the west side property line. Clovis was incorporated as a city in February 1912. Principal streets in the town center were named for the railroad’s officers. Fulton Street was later named Front Street, then Main Street, and is now Clovis Avenue. Clovis has a long history as a western town known for its slogan, “Clovis – A Way of Life”. Old Town Clovis was not always what it looks like now with an abundance of shops, cafes and bars for everyone to enjoy. Old Town Clovis was a work in progress that took decades of hard work and support from city workers and business owners to make Old Town what you see today. Old Town Clovis was nearly 50% vacant for 20 years in the early stages of 1960. It was not a place where locals and tourists gravitated towards at all. However, many property owners came together and wanted Old Town to have a cowboy theme that would draw people in and bring in business to the community. Old Town’s first stores were antique shops and by 1970, there were advertisements on Highway 99 letting people know what has changed in the sleeper town. Eventually within time and lots of convincing, construction began with adding street lamps at the visitor center, improving roads, landscaping and the sidewalks. There is a plaque on Pollasky Avenue that mentions those who worked on revitalizing Old Town. Those names include several recognizable Clovis families, like Sassano, Osterburg and Liberta. Since 1914, the Clovis Rodeo has been held on the last weekend in April, with a pa-
CR File Photo
Photo taken next to Sassano’s Mens Wear looking south towards Fifth and Pollasky in Old Town Clovis.
rade on Saturday morning, followed by the rodeo that afternoon and all day Sunday. Joan Lassley’s family is a ranching family that has been a major asset to the establishment of Clovis. Lassley has been a member of the Clovis Rodeo Association since 1989, and was elected to the board in 2010 and later elected Treasurer in 2012. Lassley moved to Clovis when she was 10 years old and is a 1966 graduate of Clovis High School. She grew up living on 40 acres across from Clovis East where there are now 286 houses on that property. “Clovis is a way of life for me because of the welcoming of the community as a whole and how everyone takes care of those around them...from rodeo, church, schools, festivals, events and our Police department,” Lassley said. Lassley’s continuous involvement in the Clovis community is a representation of one of many who’s hard work and hands on involvement makes the city a safe, enjoyable and successful place that many get the privilege of calling home. “I love community service so I started a Kiwaniianns group in the 80’s when women were not allowed in the Clovis Kiwanis. I also worked for San Joaquin College of Law from 1991 until 2014,” said Lassley, “Then I was elected to the Clovis Veterans Memorial District from 1996 to 2006. Since retirement I have served as a caregiver for family members.”
The legacy of Old Town Clovis has many contributing assets to the Clovis Way of Life like street festivals, including Big Hat Days, ClovisFest, the Wine Walk, Clovis Rodeo and the weekly Friday Night Farmers Market held between mid-May and mid-September every year. Cora Shipley is what many refer to as a Clovis icon. Shipley moved to Clovis in 1970 and nearly 20 years later the Old Town Clovis farmer’s market first began. Shipley set up a small booth serving food and told herself that if she ever opened up a business, it would be in Old Town Clovis. Since 1990, Shipley has been the owner of three popular Old Town Clovis businesses: Ivy & Lace, Hearts Delight, and Scoops Soups & More. Shiply currently serves as president of the Business Organization of Old Town (B.O.O.T.). “Old Town is special because of the merchants, our Chamber of Commerce, and B.O.O.T., when we started 35 years ago it was always to keep the Clovis Way of Life,” said Shipley, “To me that is a flashback in time, neighbors knowing neighbors, customers being known by name, a friendly and personable atmosphere and preserving the old fashion way of doing business.” With generations and generations of families that reside in the City of Clovis, Old Town is a special place where history was started. The oldest family business in Clovis
started in 1932, just 20 years after the city was officially established. That business is Sassano’s Men’s Wear that is still in business today. However, Sassano’s Men’s Wear closed down in August 1931 due to the depression but reopened in February 1932. Greg Sassano graduated from Clovis High School in 1976, and is the proud owner of Sassano’s. Sassano pays a great deal of respect and gratitude to Bob Parks who was hired on Sassano’s fifth birthday. “On August 3rd 1963 Bob’s father told him to go see Shorty at Sassano’s after school, that was the beginning of his career. Working part time for a while while finishing school, eventually becoming a full time job for the next 58 years. We would not still be in business if not for Bob. What a great person,” said Sassano. When asked about the legacy of Old Town Clovis and what makes it special, Sassano said, “There’s a lot of core families here that welcome the new generations and the Clovis Way of life. It’s simple, feel safe, take care of your neighbors and be happy.” Older buildings on Clovis Avenue, the main street running through Old Town, have been restored and new buildings have been established with exteriors that resemble those found in the early 20th century. The historic area has been reborn as Old Town Clovis which is a prime example of the “Clovis Way of Life.”
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Points of Interest A. B. C. D. E. F. G. H. I. J. K. L. M. N. 0. P.
American Legion Post 147 Centennial Plaza Clovis Chamber of Commerce Clovis Civic Center Clovis Fire & Police Station Clovis Fire Station No. 1 Clovis Library Clovis Museum Clovis Rodeo Grounds Clovis Senior Activity Center Clovis Veterans Memorial District Mercedes Theater/Clark Intermediate Old Town Trail Old Town Water Tower San Joaquin College of Law Tarpey Depot - Visitor’s Center
www.ClovisRoundup.com . Wednesday, February 2, 2022
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A1 Lock & Key ABC Pack & Print All American Smog B and H Tire Automotive Shop Boice Funeral, 308 Pollasky Ave, (559) 299-4372 Central Valley Community Bank Classic Catering Clovis Boot & Shoe Repair Clovis Garage Clovis Smogs EECU Finest Sewing Services Halfcocked Gunsmithing Mac’s Tire Pros NAPA Auto Parts
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4th Street Antique Mall 402 Pollasky, (559) 323-1636 4thStreetAntiques.com A Secret Garden Avon Bears, Dolls, and More Cigars Limited Clovis Antique Mall Clovis Floral Clovis Sports Cards & Collectibles Country Rose Antiques
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Fifth Street Antiques Frost Oak Creek Creations Goode Ol’ Days Antiques Maxwell House Antiques Once Upon a Time Robin’s Nest Suquie’s Treasures
Miscellaneous 1.
3 Oaks Studio
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A Book Barn, 640 Clovis Ave., 297-9052
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Clovis Appliance, 602 5th St., 299-6806 Clovis Coin Shop, 442 Pollasky Ave, 326-8464
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Brick and Morter
Comfort Suites Foxtail Gallery Gottschalk Music Center JT’s Music Store Realty Concepts The Perfect Pillow
Clovis Roundup Are you a business owner in Old Town Clovis? Advertise with us and have your business listed! For more info, please email info@ clovisroundup.com
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10. Cozy Cottage, 444 Pollasky, 324-1006 11. 12. 13. 14. 15. 16. 17.
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Clovis Roundup Community Newspaper . 9
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Autumn Psalm D A Designs Dancewear Heart’s Delight Ivy and Lace Jackson Jewelry Lulu’s Boutqiue Madeleine’s Bridal Boutique Nonnie’s House Revival 23
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The Foundry Collective Urban Ornaments
10. Sassano’s Mens Wear, 448 Pollasky Ave, 299.4430, SassanosMensWear.com
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Clovis Senior Activity Center (559) 324-2750 850 Fourth Street Clovis, CA 93612
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356 Tavern 500 Club Blast & Brew Bobby Salazar’s Kuppa Joy
DiCicco’s Italian, 408 Clovis Ave, 299-3711, www.DiCiccosClovis.com Full O Bull House of Juju Le Parisien Cafe
10. Luna Pizzeria, 349 Pollasky Ave, 299-4141, lunaclovis.com I 2
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Michaelangelo’s Pizzeria Old Town Saloon On the Edge Coffee Shop Outlaw Tavern
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Salsa’s Cantina
15. Rodeo Coffee Shop, 535 Fifth St, 2993750, rodeocoffeeshop.com 16. Roll Me Some - Handcrafted Roll Ice Cream, 530 Pollasky, 825-7204, rollmesomeice.com
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18. Soups and Scoops, 433 Pollasky, 2999606 19. The Local, 401 Clovis Ave #102, 900-4253 20. Two Cities Coffee Roasters Organic coffee and tea - Rolled Ice Creamery, 608 4th St.,
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A Little Indulgence Salon and Day Spa Elle Style Bar Fifth Street Salon Hairology Head to Toe Beauty Salon Moxie Salon Re:Treat Color and Hair Design Studio Salon Innovation
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Recipe
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FAMILY FEATURES
hef Nate Appleman knows how important it is to serve healthy meals to your family – ones they actually want to eat. Before having his first child, he transformed his eating and exercise habits and lost 85 pounds to get on a healthier path. Now, he’s cooking meals for his family, including 14-year-old Oliver who was diagnosed with Kawasaki Disease as a toddler – an inflammation of the blood vessels that can cause damage to coronary arteries – as a healthy lifestyle is important to help manage the disease. Since Oliver’s diagnosis, Appleman made it his personal mission to create awareness of Kawasaki Disease and for the critical need for plasma donations that many people with the disease rely on for treatment, which is why he partnered with Abbott to bring attention to the need for plasma donations. Plasma is a powerful part of your blood that supports essential bodily functions. It’s a lifeline for thousands of people who are immune-compromised and live with a variety of chronic and complex diseases. In fact, more than 125,000 Americans rely on medication made from plasma every day, according to the Plasma Protein Therapeutics Association (PPTA). The COVID-19 pandemic led to a serious shortage of plasma donors – average donations per center in the United States were down approximately 11% during the first few months of 2021 compared to the previous year, further deepening the nearly 20% decline in donations in 2020 compared to 2019, according to the PPTA. Donating plasma is a safe and relatively easy process. Since plasma is replaced in the body within about 24 hours, it can be donated up to twice per week. With a donation that typically takes between 1-3 hours, you can make a lasting impact by providing lifesaving medicine for patients like Oliver. It’s a good idea to fuel up with iron-rich foods before and after donating, so Appleman created these fresh, nutritious recipes he loves to serve his family: Marinated Skirt Steak, Lemon Chicken with Roasted Red Onions and Potatoes, and Cheesy Frittata with Veggies. Learn where you can donate at bethe1donor.abbott.
Marinated Skirt Steak
Recipe courtesy of chef Nate Appleman on behalf of Abbott Vinaigrette: 1/4 cup oil 1/4 cup fish sauce 1/4 cup rice wine vinegar 1/4 cup water 2 tablespoons raw sugar 1 cup chopped fresh cilantro 1 lime, juice only 1 clove garlic, minced 1 small Thai bird chile or serrano chile, chopped 1/4 head finely shaved green cabbage 1/4 head finely shaved purple cabbage 2 carrots, thinly julienned
Marinated Skirt Steak
Skirt steak: 1 1/2 pounds trimmed skirt steak 1/2 cup coconut milk 3 cloves garlic, minced 2 tablespoons lime juice
1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro 2 tablespoons sriracha salt, to taste 3 cups cooked brown rice 1/2 cup crushed peanuts 1 lime, quartered, for garnish To make vinaigrette: In large bowl, mix oil, fish sauce, rice wine vinegar, water, sugar, cilantro, lime juice, garlic and chile. Toss cabbage and carrots in vinaigrette; refrigerate until ready to serve. To make skirt steak: Marinate steak in coconut milk, garlic, lime juice, cilantro, sriracha and salt, to taste, at least 1 hour, or up to 24 hours. Heat grill to high. Grill 3-4 minutes each side until medium rare. Let rest 3 minutes. Thinly slice steaks against grain and serve with vinaigrette, rice and crushed peanuts; garnish with lime wedges.
Lemon Chicken with Roasted Red Onions and Potatoes
Recipe courtesy of chef Nate Appleman on behalf of Abbott Lemon chicken: 1 whole chicken, cut into eight pieces 1 ounce minced garlic 1/4 teaspoon granulated garlic 1/4 teaspoon paprika 1/4 teaspoon smoked paprika 1/4 teaspoon ground fennel seed 1/4 teaspoon dried oregano 1/4 teaspoon ground coriander 1 tablespoon kosher salt Potatoes: 2 1/2 pounds Yukon gold potatoes salted water oil Cauliflower: 1 head cauliflower salted water ice 2 tablespoons mayonnaise 1 teaspoon tamari or soy sauce 1 tablespoon chopped parsley Roasted onions: 1 red onion salt oil For serving: 3 ounces pitted Castelvetrano or green olives, cut into quarters 5 ounces wild arugula 1 lemon, quartered To make lemon chicken: Marinate chicken in mixture of minced garlic, granulated garlic, paprika, smoked paprika, fennel pollen, dried oregano, coriander and salt; let sit overnight. To make potatoes: Boil potatoes in heavily salted water until tender. Cool, peel and cut into 1 1/2-inch chunks. Toss with oil to coat; reserve.
Cheesy Frittata with Veggies
Lemon Chicken with Roasted Red Onions and Potatoes
To make cauliflower: Cut cauliflower into florets and blanch in salted water 1 minute; shock in ice bath. Remove from ice and dry. Toss with mayonnaise, tamari and parsley; reserve. To make roasted onions: Preheat oven to 450 F. Peel onion and slice into 1-inch rings. Toss with salt and oil; roast until slightly caramelized with texture. Chill and reserve. Preheat oven to 450 F. Bake chicken on sheet pan approximately 15 minutes. Add potatoes and cauliflower. Bake approximately 15 minutes then switch oven to broil approximately 10 minutes. Squeeze lemon over reserved onion. When chicken is crispy and reaches internal temperature of 165 F, remove from oven and add onions and olives. Plate chicken, potatoes, onions, olives and cauliflower on top of arugula and garnish with lemon.
Cheesy Frittata with Veggies
Recipe courtesy of chef Nate Appleman on behalf of Abbott Roasted garlic: 2 heads garlic olive oil salt Frittata: oil 2 medium leeks, sliced 8 ounces blanched, chopped broccoli salt, to taste 9 eggs 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley 2 ounces grated Parmigiano Reggiano 2 tablespoons heavy cream To make roasted garlic: Preheat oven to 400 F.
Slice 1/4 inch off entire heads of garlic and place cut sides down in 1-liter casserole dish. Drizzle with olive oil and sprinkle with salt; cover with lid. Bake 35-45 minutes until heads of garlic are soft and light brown. Let cool then use back of knife to squeeze garlic from pods. To make frittata: Lower oven to 375 F. In saute pan, heat oil over medium-high heat. Cook leeks until soft; add broccoli then season with salt, to taste, and remove from heat. In mixing bowl, mix roasted garlic, sauteed leeks and broccoli, eggs, parsley, Parmigiano Reggiano and cream; place in 9-inch pie dish and bake approximately 20 minutes until top of frittata is brown. Remove from oven and let cool slightly before cutting and serving.
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Clovis Roundup Community Newspaper . 11
LET’S TALK CLOVIS:
To All Those Born Before 1940 PEG BOS Historian/Clovis Museum Sponsor
Clovis Historian Nick Ubick lived to be 102 years old (1911-2013). He was a charter member of the Clovis Museum and was active in collecting and preserving the history of Clovis. We are grateful that his family donated a significant amount of his collection to the Museum. The population of Clovis in 1930 was 1,314; 1940 1,626; and by 1950 2,766 citizens. Clovis High was located at 901 Fifth Street (now San Joaquin College of Law) a block from Old Town Clovis. The photo depicts the 1938 Clovis High dress code of the day. Ankle length dresses and loafer shoes for the women and corduroy and Levi britches for the men. The britches were worn until the corduroy had deep creases and the Levi’s could stand up without support of the wearer. Among Nick Ubick’s many papers, we found the following article (author not known). It truly reflects the life of those born prior to 1940. Enjoy. “We were born before television, before penicillin, before Polio shots, frozen foods, Xerox, plastic, contact lenses, Frisbees and the Pill. We were before radar, credit cards, split atoms, laser beams, and ballpoint pens, before pantyhose, dish washers, clothes dryers, electric blankets, air conditioners, drip-dry clothes, and before man walked
on the moon. We were really QUAINT people----we got married first, then lived together. In our time, closets were for closets, not for “coming out of”. Bunnies were small rabbits, and rabbits were not Volkswagens. Designer jeans were scheming girls named Jean or Jeannie, and having a meaningful relationship meant getting along well with our cousins. We thought fast food was what you ate during Lent, and outer space was the back of the theatre. We were before house-husbands, gay rights, computer dating, dual careers, and commuter marriages. We were before day care centers, group therapy and nursing homes. We never heard of FM radio, tape decks, electric typewriters, artificial hearts, word processors, yogurt and guys wearing earrings. For us, time-sharing meant togetherness, not computers or even condominiums. A chip meant a piece of wood, hardware meant hardware, and software wasn’t even a word. In 1940, “Made in Japan” meant junk and the term “making out” referred to how you did on your exam. Pizzas, McDonalds, and instant coffee were unheard of. We hit the scene when there were 5-and-10 cent stores, where you bought things for five and ten cents. Skaggs and the corner drug store sold ice cream cones for a nickel or a dime. For one nickel you could ride a streetcar, make a phone call, buy a Pepsi or Coke or enough stamps to mail one letter and two postcards. You could buy a new Chevy coup for $600, but then who could afford one? A pity, too, be-
Contributed by Clovis Museum
1938 Clovis High School students. The photo depicts the school dress code in the 1930s.
cause gasoline was 11 cents a gallon. In our day, cigarette smoking was fashionable. GRASS was mowed, COKE was a cold drink, and POT was something you cooked in. Rock music was a grandma’s lullaby and AIDS were helpers in the principal’s office. We were certainly not before the difference between the sexes was discovered but were surely before the sex change.
(We made do with what we had). And we were the last generation that was so dumb as to think you needed a husband to have a baby! It’s no wonder we are so confused and that there is such a generation gap today!! HOWEVER-----WE SURVIVED!!!!” The population of Clovis is now 120,000 and growing. Those born prior to 1940 left us a rich heritage.
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www.ClovisRoundup.com . Wednesday, February 2, 2022
LOG OF SHAME APRIL BLANKINSHIP AND TONI GARCIA Contributed
January 15th, 2022 At around noon on Ashlan Ave, an officer noticed a car was swerving between lanes. When the driver was pulled over, the officer noticed the driver was under the influence of something. During a search, the officer found drugs in the driver’s pocket. After running the man’s name, turns out, he had two warrants for car theft! Not only did the driver get arrested for his warrants but he now added on a DUI charge. What a way to start the new year! January 16th, 2022 At around 8 p.m. on Highway 168, a female driver was pulled over for speeding. After a quick run on the driver’s name, the officer learned she had warrants out for stealing her now ex-boyfriend’s car! When the officer attempted to arrest her for the outstanding warrants, she insisted it was a mistake and would not get into the police car. The officer eventually got her into the back of the police car, and not only did she get booked into county for the theft charges; she caught resisting arrest charges. Next time, she needs to ask permission before she takes a vehicle. Talk about disrespectful. That fast food run just does not seem worth jail time anymore! January 17th, 2022 At around 3 a.m. at a local big box store on Shaw Ave, two juveniles were seen around the store by the security. The police arrived on the scene and the two juveniles were booked into custody for trespassing and delinquency. The juveniles had been kicking trash cans and being general menaces when they should have been at home! Let us hope a night or two in juvenile hall snaps them into shape before they get like the rest of these criminals. January 18th, 2022 A resident over on Fifth Street reported that her car had been vandalized. Police arrived a little before 10 a.m. to see that the vehicle was covered in brown paint. The suspect had painted a big poop emoji on the side of the car! The owner was not amused and now must figure out a way to cover up the “crappy” artwork. January 19th, 2022 Just before midnight at a bar on Herndon Ave, a report had been made of a drunk female fighting outside the bar with other females. When the police arrived, the woman had attacked three other females. The officer attempted to deescalate the woman, but she then began to attack the officer. Not only did she catch a drunk in public charge but four battery charges for attacking the officer and the three females. I hope a night in the drunk tank will persuade her to rethink her life choices and that drinking is not for her! January 20th, 2022 At a car dealership on Herndon Ave around 7 am, reports came in from three separate people regarding theft to cars. Three separate cars, including employee’s cars, had their tires and rims stolen! One car had damage to the side door that looked like someone had kicked in. Stealing things is frustrating and the guy took it out on that car. If anyone sees someone selling two sets of used rims and tires, it was the thieves! It sucks for the owners of the cars because they are now without vehicles for a little while but good thing they work for a car dealership. January 21st, 2022 At around 1 a.m., a vehicle was pulled over for speeding. The driver told the officer that it was his vehicle but when the officer ran the information, it turned out the vehicle was taken without his brother’s knowledge to go to the store. The driver tried to tell the officer he was his brother for fear of getting in trouble because he was on parole and was just released from prison! It is never a clever idea to impersonate someone else and take their vehicle, especially while on parole! Now he is in double trouble! Not a surprise he was in prison once with lies like that! January 22nd, 2022 At around 8 a.m. at the local hospital, an elderly patient had called the police to advise that someone had stolen their prescription from their purse! The patient had her prescription in her purse when she went into the office for services. She said she spilled her purse and a nice person helped her pick her things up. Turns out that the helpful stranger stole her medication when they were helping her! Goes to show, not every person helping is helpful! January 23rd, 2022 At a home improvement store around 4 p.m., a woman was arrested for stealing items from the store. The woman had attempted to walk out with two drill bits in her purse, but a sly employee caught her and called the police! She was attempting to save money on $10 drill bits, but now she will be facing tons more costs in bail money and lawyer fees! January 24th, 2022 A report of a theft came at just before 8 p.m. from a home located on Swift Ave. The owner reported that their car had been broken into. They reported that a bag had been taken off their front seat that contained a checkbook and a pregnancy test. The thief must have really had a pregnancy scare and needed a test ASAP! It is not a good idea to go stealing them from random people’s cars, but it is definitely not a good idea to steal pregnancy tests from them. You should have gone to get that for yourself and if you cannot afford one, you really should not be having any kids because boy, are they expensive! January 25th, 2022 A church on Armstrong Ave reported that someone had altered and cashed a fraudulent check for almost $1,500 that was made out for services. The check was intercepted by an unintended person and was cashed. What kind of person steals from a church? God does not look kindly on people who steal from him, and the wrath of God is scary. Good luck to you, sir! I will pray for you! *The above Police Logs are loosely based on actual events. The names have been changed to protect the innocent. The circumstances have been created and embellished for your entertainment.
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Clovis Roundup Community Newspaper . 13
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High School p.m. 1560 N. Minnewawa Ave., Saturday, Mar. 19, 9 a.m. Clovis, CA – 1 p.m. Friday, Feb. 25 at 1 p.m. WAKE UP CLOVIS VINTAGE MARKET & Looking Forward in 2022 CLOVIS ROTARY 30TH ANTIQUES Clovis Chamber of CRAB FEED & AUCTION Location: Old Town Commerce Location: Clovis Clovis HAVE AN ANNOUNCEMENT OR AN EVENT YOU WANT POSTED? Location: Online Virtual Veterans Memorial Sunday, Mar. 27 EMAIL US AT CALENDAR@CLOVISROUNDUP.COM Event District 7 a.m. – 3 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 9 808 4th St., Clovis, CA FEBRUARY 2022 BOYS LIL’ 9 a.m. – 10 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 26 CLOVIS FARMERS’ HOOPSTERS 6 p.m. – 9 p.m. MARKETS THE WEEKEND REGISTRATION 2022 GIRLS LIL’ BLENDER Location: Clovis West HOOPSTERS CLOVIS FFA BOOSTER CLOVIS OLD TOWN High School NOT YOUR TYPICAL REGISTRATION BBQ FARMERS’ MARKET 1070 E. Teague, Ave., COMIC CON Location: Clovis West CLOVIS FFA CA Location: Polasky Ave., Fresno, CA Location: Sierra Vista High School, 1070 E. BOOSTERS Clovis, CA Saturday, Feb. 6 at 2 Mall Teague Ave., Fresno, CA Location: Clovis Rodeo Every Saturday Yearp.m. Saturday, Feb. 5 & Saturday, Feb. 12 at 5 Grounds Round Sunday, Feb. 6 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 26 at 5:30 9 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. SUPERB OWL RUN 11 a.m. p.m. (weather permitting) Location: Railroad PROJECT LINUS - MAKE Park, 805 N. Peach Ave., A BLANKET DAY 2022 STAMPEDE YOUTH MARCH HARLAN RANCH Clovis, CA BASKETBALL LEAGUE Location: Sierra Vista FARMERS’ MARKET Saturday, Feb. 5 at 7:30 2022 Mall, 1050 Shaw Ave., SPRING INTO YOUR HARLAN RANCH a.m. Location: Clovis North Clovis, CA GARDEN 2022 COMMUNITY CENTER High School Saturday, Feb. 19 Spring Plant Sale Location: 1620 N. BUCHANAN HIGH 2770 E. International 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. Location: Clovis Leonard Ave., Clovis, CA SCHOOL BLOOD DRIVE Ave., Fresno, CA Botanical Garden Every Wednesday YearLocation: Buchanan Saturday, Feb. 5 at 10 BUCHANAN DISTANCE 945 N. Clovis Ave., Round High School a.m. CLASSIC 2022 Clovis, CA 5 p.m. – 9 p.m. (weather 1560 N. Minnewawa Ave., Location: Buchanan Friday, Mar. 18, 12 p.m.- 4 permitting)
Happenings
Clovis, CA Wednesday, Feb. 9 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.
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ROUNDUP
Central Section Adjusts Divisional Placement Weeks Before Winter Playoffs GABE CAMARILLO
@gabecamarillo_
The CIF Central Section Board of Managers met in Visalia Tuesday with a new proposal for high school playoffs on the agenda. Computer-based rankings have determined a school’s divisional placement for playoffs in bracketed sports this season, notably for football and girls’ volleyball in the fall. As winter sports like basketball and soccer near playoffs, the Board of Managers discussed an update to the playoff system due to complaints that the current model negatively affects low-enrollment schools. At the meeting, representatives for small schools said the current system, in which no team has a set division and placement is fluid, led to multiple football teams competing several divisions above or below their traditional level. One representative mentioned the Dos Palos football team, which went 10-0 in the regular season but jumped from Division-V to Division-II in playoffs. The Broncos lost in the first round, 64-13. Under the new format, a team will have a base division prior to each season. The proposal states the base division “may change each year based on the previous three years’ results (starting in 2025-26).” Teams will still be ordered by computer rankings at season’s end, but under the new format, they can only rise one division above or fall one division below their base. For example, a Division-I team can fall no lower than Division-II. Teams have a 48-hour window after
playoff seedings are posted to appeal their placement. They can also petition to have their base division elevated – but not decreased – prior to the season. In essence, the new proposal applied “ceilings” and “floors” to the current edition. The proposal was originally meant to be read and discussed without a vote Tuesday, but the representatives moved to make it an “emergency item” that could immediately be voted on and implemented. By exactly the two-thirds vote necessary, 29-14, the proposal was pushed to the voting table. It was the first time Central Section commissioner Ryan Tos had ever seen that done in this section. The proposal passed the final vote, 27-16. It will immediately impact winter sports playoffs that are 11 days away. Photo by Game Camarillo/Clovis Roundup “The big picture is that even Clovis East senior Camden Thompson brings the ball up the court in 77-46 win over Clovis High on Friday, January 21, 2022. though this is an unconventional process that happened today,” Tos said, “it is a process, and we heard the of April to determine the base divisions for Bracket sizes remain the same for all voices of our schools. Clearly it was not a baseball, softball, boys’ tennis, boys’ volley- sports – eight teams in Division-I and 16 unanimous vote, but nothing very rarely is. ball, and badminton. teams in the following divisions. We just think it’s important that we listen to The Open Division for basketball is still “It’ll be interesting because we will have what our schools desire and do the best with the top four teams regardless of division. For schools that we thought were making playwhat they give us.” example, a Division-III team can still make offs all year,” Tos said. “Some schools might For the format’s immediate implementhe Open Division if they are among the top not make the playoffs… There’s definitely tation in basketball and soccer playoffs, the four teams ranked in MaxPreps. If the team going to be some of that. For every decision, base division will be where a team competed is outside the top four, however, the highest there’s going to be this other side that doesn’t during the 2020-21 academic year. A spring they can play is Division-II unless they apwork. We’ll make the best of it.” sports meeting will be held the first week peal.
Buchanan Bests Clovis in Return of The Big One the line-up were ranked in the Top 20 state rankings. It’s no wonder why fans and coaches Paris Ruiz felt as if his heart was beating call it “The Big One” whenever these two outside of his chest. schools meet on the mat. The sold-out Clovis High School gym, “Family built [the rivalry] up, and I got the inflatable Cougar sitting on one side to be part of it later on, but they built it up of the mat, growling opposite an inflatbefore I came in,” said Clovis head coach able Bear, mirroring the frenzied student Gabe Schaefer. “It just keeps growing, sections and cheer squads rooting on Buwhich is great because the fans love it. The chanan and Clovis High – the environment fans don’t even know what’s going on half excited Ruiz as he wrestled in the first the time, but when something happens, match of “The Big One.” it’s exciting and they get into it. It’s just as Buchanan head coach Troy Tirapelle much for the fans as it is for the wrestlers told the freshman to soak it up. With the and coaches.” two premier high school wrestling proClovis High had a lot to cheer for early. grams of the Central Valley not facing each The Cougars won three of the first four other for two years, nothing could be taken matches, including victories by statefor granted, Tirapelle said. ranked No. 2 Nikade Zinkin at 108 pounds “Enjoy it and think of everything we did and state-ranked No. 3 Koda Holeman at in practice that nobody got to see,” he told 115 pounds. After Clovis senior Matthew Ruiz. “At least someone gets to see what Terrence won by fall at 128 pounds, Clovis you can do. Win or lose, have some fun. At took a 13-3 lead in team points. least we get to do this. It’s a blessing.” But Buchanan responded by winning Buchanan, ranked No. 1 in the state and eight matches in a row, starting with a No. 4 in the country, won the dual meet hard-fought 1-0 decision by junior Reggie over Clovis High by a team score of 44-16 Raiz over Clovis senior George Rosas at on Wednesday. Clovis entered the dual as 134 pounds. Raiz was the only non-ranked the No. 3 team in the state and No. 24 in See BUCHANAN, Pg. 15 the country, and 22 of the 28 wrestlers in
GABE CAMARILLO @gabecamarillo_
Photo by Game Camarillo/Clovis Roundup
Buchanan senior Caden Rodgers celebrates his win by fall during the dual meet against Clovis High on Wednesday, January 19, 2022.
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Clovis Roundup Community Newspaper . 15
AROUND THE TRAC:
How League Boys’ Basketball Teams Fared on Friday, Jan. 21 that.” Clovis East (13-9, 2-2 TRAC) will resume conference play at home Tuesday against Central. The Timberwolves are curHead coach Adrian Wiggins uses three rently slated as the No. 1 seed in Division-II, words among many to describe the Clovis ranked at No. 13 in the Central Section on East boys’ basketball team. MaxPreps. “A team effort.” “Every game these guys play,” Wiggins Those are the right words to describe the said, “we feel like we’re growing as a team.” Timberwolves’ 77-46 road win over Clovis Clovis High (8-14, 0-4 TRAC) will reHigh on Friday night. Clovis East sent 12 players onto the court, and every one of them sume league play at home Tuesday against Clovis West. scored. CENTRAL FENDS OFF CLOVIS “We shared the ball really well, reboundNORTH COMEBACK ed really well,” Wiggins said. “It’s exactly Sophomore Connor Amundsen led a furiwhat we said in the huddle - it was a great ous Clovis North comeback and even scored team effort.” the go-ahead basket with 1:30 remaining in There was no standout scorer for Clothe game, but Central junior Ladanian Streets vis East. Senior shooting guard Jamison made five of his last six free throw attempts Cowings led with 14 points. Senior Cam to secure the 67-63 win Friday. Thompson and sophomore Jeremy Pierro Central led 35-27 at halftime despite a each added 10, but the trio were the only Timberwolves to reach double figures. Start- cold shooting start for both teams. The Grizing senior guard Cristian Fuentes headed the zlies caught fire after the break and went on perimeter attack and made a team-high three an 11-2 run, helping them take their largest lead of the game, 46-29, early in the third 3-pointers. quarter. Collectively, the team shot nearly 50% But Clovis North sparked its comeback from the field in the first quarter, helping with a run of its own. A 10-0 spurt cut Clovis East jump to a 23-7 lead over Clovis Central’s lead to 50-46 with two minutes High. The Cougars cut the lead to 36-24 at remaining in the quarter. Amundsen played halftime, but the Timberwolves adjusted their press defense to pull away in the second a big role in the comeback, scoring 22 of his game-high 25 points in the second half. half. His father, head coach Tony Amundsen, “[Clovis] was doing a good job of breaksaid the Broncos’ energy and intensity were ing the press,” Wiggins said, “and we were ignitors to the Broncos’ resurgent run. fouling them too much. We fouled and “Our pressure picked up a little bit and stopped the game and gave them free throws, caused some turnovers, and we got some and that was hurting us. I thought we did a layups,” Tony said. “That definitely helped. better job in the second half of containing
GABE CAMARILLO @gabecamarillo_
Photo by Game Camarillo/Clovis Roundup
Clovis East senior Camden Thompson brings the ball up the court in 77-46 win over Clovis High on Friday, January 21, 2022.
We just couldn’t sustain it. We need to be able to sustain it for the entire game.” Clovis North remained within four points of Central for most of the fourth quarter, and Amundsen gave the Broncos a 62-61 lead with a diving layup. Central retook the lead with a pair of Streets free throws, and Clovis North could not answer; Amundsen missed a jumper from mid-range and junior forward Jaylen Bryant did not finish the put-back. Central held a 66-63 lead with eight seconds left after Streets made three of four from the free throw line. Clovis North senior Niko Jones was fouled, missed the first free throw, and purposely missed the second off the front rim, in an attempt to regain possession. Central recovered the ball and salted away its third league win of the season. “We can compete with the best as well,”
said Central head coach Greg Streets. “I really believe we are one of the top five teams in the Valley, and we just need to show it.” Central (13-7, 3-1 TRAC) entered Friday ranked at No. 8 in the Central Section on MaxPreps; Clovis North (12-8, 2-2 TRAC) was No. 4. Clovis North will resume conference play Tuesday at Buchanan. CLOVIS WEST ROUTS BUCHANAN Clovis West improved to 4-0 in TRAC play and 22-1 overall with a 64-40 win over Buchanan Friday. Sophomore Jackson Young led the team with 18 points, and junior Issac Martinez chipped in 13 points. Clovis West is ranked No. 1 in the Central Section, well ahead of No. 2 St. Joseph (Santa Maria).
Buchanan Offense Explodes in Pair of Girls’ Soccer Wins GABE CAMARILLO @gabecamarillo_
The Buchanan girls’ soccer team got their offense rolling this week, resulting in a wild win over Clovis North on Tuesday, followed by a dominant shutout of Clovis East Thursday. The Bears scored five goals in each game, and they needed every one of them in their 5-4 victory over Clovis North. Buchanan entered Tuesday’s match as the No. 2 team in the Central Section according to MaxPreps, behind No. 1 Clovis North. Clovis North struck first with a goal from senior Paige Smith. Her teammate, junior Braedyn Kincade, headed home another goal on a free kick in the 32nd minute. Clovis North, which came into its battle with Buchanan on its own offensive hot streak, having scored 28 goals in its previous four TRAC games, raced to a 2-0 lead. But Buchanan hinted at what was to follow in the second half. After applying pressure early in the match, Buchanan broke through; Daisy Torres scored a late-first half goal to cut Clovis North’s lead, 2-1, at halftime. In the 47th minute, UC Irvine-bound senior Alyssa Wheeler extended the Bronco
BUCHANAN CONTINUED FROM PAGE 14
wrestler to defeat a ranked opponent; Rosas was No. 3 in the state at 128 pounds. Buchanan took the lead when senior twins Jack and Michael Gioffre each won by fall at 140 and 147 pounds, respectively. “It was just another match,” Jack said. “I go out there and wrestle my hardest no
Three minutes later, Torres scored again on a penalty kick to tie the game at 3. Logan Nidy and Makayla Garza scored two more goals for Buchanan, which turned a 3-1 deficit into a 5-3 lead in the span of just over 20 minutes. “We definitely knew we were able to compete with [Clovis North],” Wilson said. “We work hard together. We knew we wanted to win, and we are capable of it. It definitely shows how powerful we are and how much we love each other.” The five goals surrendered by Clovis North were more than what the Broncos gave up through 10 games of TRAC play last season. Clovis North freshman Rebhia Mansour scored a left-footed shot for a goal, but Photo by Game Camarillo/Clovis Roundup the Broncos (15-2, 5-1 TRAC) ultimately The Buchanan girls’ soccer team celebrates a goal from a penalty kick against Clovis North on dropped their first league game of the season. lead to 3-1 with a long strike from well out- working on, and I think in their hearts, they Buchanan (12-2, 5-0 TRAC) defeated side the box that found the net. always believed they could,” Gillette Myles Clovis East two days later, 5-0. Wilson and Buchanan head coach Jasara Gillette said. “When the [3-1 deficit] happened, that Nidy each scored twice, and Torres chipped Myles said the Bears struggled to dig out was the wake-up for us. It turned on a fire in another goal as well. of large deficits last year, but the lessons in them.” “I think between both teams,” Gillette learned from the Central Section championLess than 30 seconds after Buchanan Myles said of Buchanan and Clovis North, ship loss at Clovis North prepared them this kicked off the ball after Wheeler’s goal, “you have some of the top talent in the Valtime around. Fresno State-bound senior Ciara Wilson ley.” “That’s something they have been scored for the Bears. matter who I face. The Clovis kid fought hard, so I had to try my hardest to get a pin.” Once the Gioffres got the ball rolling, Buchanan did not stop. The Bears scored 35 unanswered team points until Clovis freshman Mark Marin won by decision at 222 pounds. “It takes somebody like the twins to get it going,” Tirapelle said. “The kids who are established, the kids who are older,
the kids who are used to wrestling in an atmosphere like this. Then the other ones jump on board… Once everyone sees the winning, everyone is like, ‘Oh that looks fun, I want to do that.’” Senior Caden Rodgers ended the night with a win by fall at 287 pounds. The No. 1 wrestler in the state at 222 pounds, Rodgers moved up a class to wrestle another football two-sport athlete, Clovis senior Christian Smith.
Buchanan, now 5-0 in duals this season and 2-0 in TRAC play, will continue its quest for a sixth consecutive state title. “It’s amazing,” Rodgers said. “Wrestling my freshman and sophomore year and not winning, it’s amazing to come out here with a W and win as a team. “As a team, we’re all gunning for that state title again.”
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www.ClovisRoundup.com . Wednesday, February 2, 2022
Clovis East Alumni Accomplishes His Dream BROOKE CHAU @BrookeChauTV
A local family who has struggled to get services for their autistic son his entire educational career, is now smoothing the path for others who may be facing a similar situation. Clovis native Andres Diaz was diagnosed with autism when he was just 2 years old. 22 years later, Diaz is accomplishing everything that he has set his mind to, despite the odds against him. Diaz was one of the first of five kids in CUSD’s PALS program at Copper Hills where he was in SDC from Kindergarten through 3rd grade at Jefferson. He then shifted to 60/40, 80/20 SDC and general education through 6th grade at Clovis Elementary. Diaz landed back at the Clovis East campus for RSP in junior high and high school. Diaz went to graduate high school at Clovis East in 2015. But, Diaz did not want his education to stop there, he wanted to graduate from a 4 year university. Of the young adults with disabilities who do attend college, only 38% of them graduate. Diaz just completed his undergraduate degree at Fresno State earning a Bachelor of Arts degree in Communication. Diaz’s mother, Andrea shared her thoughts on encouraging her son to pursue his dreams despite the odds. “We didn’t really know what he would be capable of achieving, but when we listened to him, attending Fresno State was his dream,” said Andrea, “It was our job
Photo contributed by Diaz family
Andres Diaz was diagnosed with autism at the age of 2.
as his parents, and as his advocate to aid him in making that dream a reality. Our son has intangibles no assessment was able to define. He surpassed more than we could have ever dreamed for him.”
Andrea and her husband Thomas decided that they wanted to help and give back to the BREN Clinic at San Joaquin College of Law. The Diaz family worked with the BREN Clinic to create a $1,500
scholarship this year for one law student who works in the clinic. This scholarship is in honor of Andres’ journey and accomplishments. The Diaz family feels it was the best way to have the largest impact on improving access to education for other children and families who are struggling through the special education system. “For too long, families like ours have had to fight for basic and minimal special education services that can mean the difference between a college and vocational school pathway, or a quality of life that has longterm, detrimental socioeconomic outcomes,” said Andrea, “More kids like our son should have equitable access to a better future without the need to fight the education system at every turn.” Diaz is now enjoying post graduation life and is already looking ahead to accomplishing even more of his dreams very soon. “Since my team manager days at Clovis East, watching big plays and listening to the fans cheer is so much fun and entertainment it draws inspiration for me to write blogs about local and national sports,” said Diaz, “I hope to one day fulfill my career goal and get the chance of a lifetime to be able to see my name in the field of sportscasting and journalism.”
