out old wood burning

candidates save up to $5000 when replacing their older devices.

March 2, 2023: The San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District held a “Fireplace Change-Out Show & Tell” on Thursday March 2nd at the Malaga Community Recreation Center in Fresno.

The purpose of this event was to inform attendees on fireplace removals, decommissions, and overall replacements with cleaner options such as gas or electrical heating devices.

The event also gave the opportunity for local retailers in the San Joaquin Valley to showcase their services and to connect with potential clients.

The San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District working with retailers such as Ponderosa Hearth and Home out of Clovis, can replace old wood or pellet burning “devices” with new, cleaner, and safer options that overall benefit the Central Valley.

Programs such as this help to reduce particulate matter, one specific to the Central Valley known as PM 2.5, by reducing the amount of the pollutant that is released into the air by older wood burning devices. These devices have been defined as chimneys, fire pits, or otherwise any other unsafe avenues that are prohibited on non-burn days.

They commonly and significantly contribute to unsafe air pollution in the fall and winter months.

The program itself can help qualified

Eligibility for replacement depends on a few matters, one being that the device itself must be within the Fresno or Madera Counties, or the Valley Air Basin portion of Kern County. For qualified low income applicants, an additional $1500 can be added on top of the possible $5000.

For those who wish to only decommission and not absolutely replace a wood burning “device”, applicants may receive up to $750.

Media contact for the San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District, Cassandra Melching believes that this program is extremely important for the San Joaquin Valley, saying, “A lot of people don’t realize they’re not only impacting their own household, but wood smoke doesn’t just stay in one spot, it travels, so they’re impacting their neighbors and people who live around and animals who can suffer respiratory issues as well.” These respiratory issues of course mainly come from the PM 2.5 pollutant mentioned before.

“[PM 2.5] is one of the most harmful pollutants. It’s so small, it can get in your bloodstream and it can cause heart attack, stroke, it just brings upon all kinds of bad health conditions.”

When asked about the impact the retailers have on their communities, “We have quite a few of them that we contract with throughout the whole San Joaquin Valley. It brings in more business for them if folks know there is funding to help them make that switch.”

The retailers, such as those present at the Fireplace Change-Out Show & Tell, are not only on the front lines of the replacement of older wood burning devices, but have also become “very knowledgeable” of the San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control

District’s program that can assist in funding the replacements.

You can learn more on how the program works and also how to apply at valleyair. org/change-out or by calling (559) 230-5800.

On December 26, 2022, Thomas William Ramage passed away at the age of 81. His final days were spent surrounded by his loving wife, Sandi, and his daughters, Tami, Susan and Holly. Tom lived his life exactly as he wanted: as the best teacher, husband, father, grandfather and friend to all who were fortunate enough to know him.

Tom devoted his life to education, beginning his career at the age of 21 in the Clovis Unified School District and remaining there for 40 years. It is difficult to overestimate the profound impact that Tom had on his students during his long career. Perhaps this is best exemplified by the numerous letters, visits and testaments from his students, even decades after he taught them. For many, Tom was a dedicated educator with a gift for sharing his knowledge and a wonderful sense of humor. For others, Tom offered much-needed encouragement, stability and unwavering support during challenging times.

His dedication to kids extended past the school year, as a camp counselor and director at Bob Mathias/Alta Sierra Summer Camp. The relationships formed there were truly life-altering, forging decades-long friendships with his camp family, who affectionately know him as “Bobo”. At camp, Tom was greatly admired as a mentor, leader and friend.

Tom was preceded in death by his brother, Dick, and his parents, James and Ruth. At this time, the family requests that you share your thoughts about Tom on his memorial site at Forever Missed. A memorial service to celebrate his life will be held at a future date.

Legion Post 147 Centennial Plaza

Clovis Chamber of Commerce

Clovis Civic Center

Clovis Elks

Clovis Fire & Police Station

Clovis Fire Station No. 1

Clovis Library

Clovis Museum

Clovis Rodeo Grounds

Clovis Senior Activity Center

Clovis Veterans Memorial District

Community Heritage Center

Mercedes Theater/Clark Intermediate Old Town Trail

Old Town Water Tower

Old

Service District

5. Boice Funeral, 308 Pollasky Ave, (559) 299-4372

Boot & Shoe

Antique and Gift Shops 1.

CRAFT BEER CRAWL

March 19th - Sip your way through the best of California Trucks. Get your tickets now!

VINTAGE MARKET & ANTIQUES

March 26th - Meet in the street for everything vintage, collectibles, heirlooms and more. The old Town Vintage

BIG HAT DAYS

April 1st & 2nd - BIG Hat Days is the largest two-day visitors fill the streets of Old Town to enjoy hundreds

California brews, and partake from local Food vintage, antique, refurbished, repurposed, DIY, Vintage Market has something for everyone! two-day festival in Central California. Over 140,000 hundreds of craft and food booths.

Boutique, Clothing, Accessories

1. Autumn Psalm 2. D A Designs Dancewear

3. Heart’s Delight

4. Ivy and Lace

5. Jackson Jewelry

6. Lulu’s Boutqiue

7.

Food and Drink

1. 559 Brewery

2. 500 Club

3. Blast & Brew

4. Bobby Salazar’s

5. Kuppa Joy

6. DiCicco’s Italian, 408 Clovis Ave, 299-3711, www.DiCiccosClovis.com

7. Full O Bull

8. House of Juju

9. Le Parisien Cafe

10. Luna Pizzeria, 349 Pollasky Ave, 299-4141, lunaclovis.com

11. Michaelangelo’s Pizzeria

12. Old Town Saloon

13. On the Edge Coffee Shop

14. Outlaw Tavern

15. Rodeo Coffee Shop, 535 Fifth St, 299-3750, rodeocoffeeshop.com

16. Roll Me Some - Handcrafted Roll Ice Cream, 530 Pollasky, 825-7204, rollmesomeice.com

17. Salsa’s Cantina

18. Soups and Scoops, 433 Pollasky, 299-9606

19. The Local, 401 Clovis Ave #102, 900-4253

20. Two Cities Coffee Roasters Organic coffee and tea - Rolled Ice Creamery, 608 4th St., 765-4652

Hair Salon and Spas

1. A Little Indulgence Salon and Day Spa

Elle Style Bar

Fifth Street Salon