Clovis Roundup - August 17, 2023

A Day in the park with Two of Clovis PD’s K-9 Officers

Destiny De La Cruz

@ClovisRoundup

August 15, 2023 - Clovis Police Department’s weekly K-9 training is usually held at Sullivan Field, which is named after the late Captain Sullivan.

“Sullivan Field is named after Captain Dan Sullivan. He passed away from cancer a few years ago, he was one of the biggest proponents for the K-9 unit. He's a former K-9 handler. And it just felt fitting to name it after him,” said Clovis PD’s Public Information Officer, Ty Wood.

Bob Park’s honored for 60 years at Sassano’s

The training location has an obstacle course and space for a variety of training scenarios. Complete with an office to escape the heat, and even a small outdoor dog pool that even has the ability to pump water in and out so that the water doesn’t get stagnant.

The K-9’s typically train once a week

See K9, Pg. 5

Matt Basgall Clovis City Councilmember

August 14, 2023 - In an era marked by continued growth and technological advancements, the importance of outdoor recreation within the City of Clovis has emerged as a crucial factor in maintaining the physical, mental, and social well-being of our residents.

Urban landscapes that incorporate green spaces, parks, and recreational areas not only offer relief from the hustle and stress of

Photo Destiny De La Cruz, Clovis Roundup Clovis mayor, Lynne Ashbeck, presenting Bob Park with proclamation.

See BOB PARKS Pg. 4

Photo courtesy of Clovis Police Department Left: Officer Russell Moring with K-9 Dusty. Right: Officer Dayna de Jong with K-9 Mika.

Destiny De La Cruz @ClovisRoundup

What’s Up, Clovis?

CHECK OUT THE BUZZ AROUND TOWN

Cruising in Clovis

Clovis: It's a way of life

Photos by Ron Sundquist

Nathan (left) and Kat (right), the owner, bring a unique brew to old town Clovis.

Travis, a consistent participator and supporter of the Clovis Elks' Lodge Car Show with his vintage Chevy suburban 1948.

Emmi out for a walk with owner Barry.

Clovis Elks' Lodge Hot August Daze Car Show winner of People's Choice and Best of Show John Gonzalez with his 1950 Chevy truck.

World War II survivor Marlene shares her experience as a survivor of the Berlin bombing and her first impression of the United States.

Two participants of the Rennaisance Show at Treasure Ingmire Park.

(Left to right) Alfred, Bob, Dave celebrating Bob Park’s 60 years in business at Sassano's.

Clovis City Councilmember Pearce doubles down on LGBT “BookGate”

August 8, 2023 - “At the last meeting there was some indication that there had been staff talking to other council members and such and that was relayed. And so I just want to say very clearly that I respect our city staff and I don’t need anyone being an intermediary for us. And so, I want to make it very clear that if any staff that has an interest or need to talk to me about any topic, I am 100% available to you.”

That was the quote from Councilwoman Diane Pearce at Monday night’s Clovis City Council meeting during the City Council comments section when council members are allowed to speak on any topic they please.

Pearce was presumably under the impression that City Staff had been speaking to her fellow council members rather than speak directly to her after comments she had made relating to LGBT books being presented at the Clovis Library.

Pearce then revisited her opposition to certain LGBT books in the library by suggesting that the Clovis City Council as an entity write a letter to the Fresno County Board of Supervisors in order to “acknowledge their jurisdiction” in the matter, as the Clovis Library is a Fresno County run organization, and “acknowledge our communities concern with graphic sexual content in children’s books.”

“I have continued to have Clovis parents and grandparents express that concern to me and want to know what can be done about that, and I do agree with them that I don’t think that is up to our Clovis city standards.”

Pearce also stated that her hope is for the Clovis City Council to “...express support for a solution at the County level for their ability to assist or be helpful in any way that would be meaningful for them.”

After a brief pause, Mayor Pro-Tem Vong Mouanoutoua stated, “I would be in support because there are constituents who have concerns but to allow the County to do their job and allow the residents to go to the County and [express] their concerns.”

Councilman Drew Bessinger questioned the concept of the entire situation, saying “This is such a slippery slope though because who is the person who’s gonna make that determination? Do I trust their determination? This becomes a very difficult area.” Bessinger indicated his support for a letter so long as the Council did not specifically give the Fresno County Board of Supervisors direction, but merely asked them to look at and identify the topic that falls under their jurisdiction.

Mayor Lynne Ashbeck and Councilman Matt Basgall expressed opposition to writing a letter to Fresno County saying, “I don’t really see the need to send a letter to the County. I think everyone has their own positions and

agrees or disagrees with their own opinions, but it is the County Board of Supervisors’ position to take it up with the County or not.”

Basgall added, “I just think this delves into way too much as far as, now we’re asking people to interpret what books are safe and what books aren’t. We may feel one way about a certain book and other people may want other books taken off the shelves of libraries.”

Mayor Ashbeck suggested that if the three members, Councilmembers Pearce, Mouanoutoua, and Bessinger wanted to send a letter that they could but asked that she and Councilman Basgall’s names be left off.

“I’m not interested in my name on that letter at all. You think if they were gonna ask they would have asked a long time ago. This is not a new idea and it violates a principle that I’ve been operating with all these years.”

Clovis Transit Proposes

New Bus Routes

J.T. Gomez jt21gomez@gmail.com

August 9, 2023 - The City of Clovis in a Facebook post today released news that Clovis Transit has proposed new bus routes moving forward.

The City of Clovis believes that with these new bus routes, passengers will be able to “navigate throughout our city more quickly.”

The City of Clovis has only proposed the bus routes as potential options and has not officially selected them for use as of yet.

In that Facebook post, they ask for the public’s input and suggestions as they move forwards with this plan.

The proposed routes include streets such as Willow, Clovis, Sunnyside, Temperance, Herndon, Bullard, Shaw, and Ashlan avenues and each have a certain specific route to pick up and drop off city residents throughout the town.

For more information or to make a comment visit clovistransit.com.

These routes are fixed bus routes and not to be confused with the Clovis Roundup, which still schedules pick-ups and drop-offs for Clovis residents.

his ability to remind us why Clovis is special. And Bob is the best example of what makes Clovis, Clovis. And so it is really my privilege to be here with you this morning,” said Mayor Ashbeck.

Mayor Ashbeck went on to mention how Bob Parks graduated from Clovis High in 1962, and how his father had the idea for Bob to go down to Sassano’s to see about a job. Here we are—60 years later!

The Clovis Mayor went on to make a big announcement, “Today we are recognizing August 3, as Bob Parks Day in the City of Clovis.”

Next up on the microphone was District Representative, Blake Zante. “I'm here representing congressman and Speaker of the House, Kevin McCarthy, who's proud to represent Clovis in the US Congress. And we just want to say congratulations on 60 wonderful years. Happy Work-iversary and congratulations, as well, to the Sassano family,” said Zante.

“Thank you for being such a backbone here in Old Town Clovis and for all you do in the community.” On behalf of congressman Kevin McCarthy, Zante presented Bob Parks with a certificate of congratulations.

Greg Sassano stepped up to congratulate Bob Parks, say a few kind words, and present Parks with a custom, locally made wooden plaque to commemorate Bob Parks Day.

Bob Parks’ wife also came up to tell the story of how they met back in 1971 while working next door to each other. She explained how friendship blossomed into more, and they’ve

now been together for decades—sharing two daughters and two grandsons.

“Sassano’s has played a big part of our lives for all these years,” said Mrs. Parks “I say that God put Bob in this job for a number of reasons.”

“Thank you very much for coming and helping me celebrate this day. Thank you,” said Bob Parks.

If you haven’t been to Sassano’s or if it’s been awhile since your last visit, be sure to stop by and support this important local business— don’t forget to say hi to Bob!

Photo courtesy of Facebook Clovis City Councilmember Diane Pearce Facebook post regarding LBGT on June 28.

City of Clovis Honors Marjaree Mason Center for 10 Years in Clovis

August 8, 2023 - The Marjaree Mason Center was present at the Clovis City Council meeting Monday night in order to be celebrated for their 10 years of service in the community of Clovis.

It was 10 years ago that the Marjaree Mason Center opened its safe house in Clovis, and in those 10 years they have supported and empowered adults and children affected by domestic violence.

Mayor Ashbeck stated, “As we said when we opened the Marjaree Mason Center safe house in Clovis, it’s always a shame we need that, but it’s a blessing that we have it.”

In a video presented by the Marjaree Mason Center, Clovis Police Chief Curt Fleming reflected, “We really wanted to increase our partnership and grow and develop our relationship with the Marjaree Mason Center even further.”

Marjaree Mason was kidnapped, raped and beaten once by her eventual murderer, Fresno County Sheriff’s deputy Robert Tillman.

Before the Fresno County Sheriff’s Office could begin an investigation into the incident, Tillman once again kidnapped and

Standards and Training recommends a minimum of 16 hours of K-9 training per month, but at Clovis PD, they can actually get 30-40 hours of K-9 training each month.

assaulted Marjaree, ultimately leading to her death.

This incident galvanized the Fresno community to ensure that no one would suffer the same fate due to domestic violence, and in 1979, the Marjaree Mason Center was born.

In 2013, a safe house was built in Clovis in partnership with Granville homes.

Mayor Ashbeck finished the presentation thanking representatives from the Marjaree Mason Center saying, “Your work is very important,” and “We’re gonna keep working until it’s [domestic violence] zero.”

on Thursdays at the Sullivan Field for about 10 hours. On the day we visited, the officers and their dogs were training for felony traffic stops. We were able to sit down with Officer Russell Moring and ask some questions about what it’s like to be a K-9 officer.

“I've been with Clovis PD total, almost eight years with the K-9 unit, about three and a half years,” said Moring.

Before being considered for the unit, Prospective K-9 officers are expected to prove themselves on the street as a patrol officer for anywhere from a few to several years. In reference to what qualities are desirable for potential K-9 officer, Moring said, “Somebody who’s proactive and has a well-rounded resume.”

Prior to becoming a part of the unit, Officer Morning spent about a year coming out to the K-9 training days, “You have to show that you want to be out here [. . .] it’s something you have to be around.”

When asked about the transformation into a K-9 officer, Moring really emphasized the importance of time management, “There’s more of a chance of getting tied up on calls that involve really thorough investigations that can take a long time.”

Officer Moring’s dog, Dusty, has been a police dog for over three years now. Dusty is a 6 year-old German Shepherd from Slovakia. Officers form strong working relationships with their K-9’s, but the dogs can’t be treated like a regular home pet. “You want their reward to be at work,” said Officer Moring, “That’s his playtime.”

The California Commission on Peace Officer

“We’re really lucky, because a lot of police agencies don’t get anywhere close to that,” said Officer Moring.

We asked the officer what people might not know or understand about what it’s like to be a K-9 officer:

“The job doesn't stop. There's other officers that can go home, when they clock out— they're done,” said Moring, “Where I have a constant liability, a constant thought, in the forefront of my brain. He's always a consideration. I can't just go and leave for a two week vacation. Because my fourth kid is at home, and I have to make sure somebody is at home managing him. So, the job doesn't stop. When you're a K-9 handler, you are on 24/7.”

Clovis PD currently has five patrol K-9’s, which are either German Shepherds or Belgian Malinois. The department also has three narcotic detection dogs, which are Springer Spaniels

It’s important to Clovis PD to select patrol dogs that “are trained to the point where they can go to a school carnival or a church gathering and lay on its back and be pet by 10 kids surrounding it—and then 20 minutes later being on a code three chase, trying to get a suspect,” said PIO Ty Wood.

After speaking with Officer Russell Moring, we spoke with Officer Dayna de Jong.

Officer de Jong has been with Clovis PD for about 12 years, and has been a K-9 officer for 6 years. Her dog’s name is Mika and he is a 7 year-old German Shepherd from Germany.

Officer de Jong has been in the department since before there was a K-9 unit, and she has seen a lot of change and growth since the start.

“Throughout the years, we've been blessed by

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a lot of love and support from our community and different donors who have made it possible to purchase additional dogs and add to our unit,” said de Jong.

When speaking about donations from our community, Officer de Jong said, “You name it; [we’ve received] food donations for our dogs. A lot of the majority of this field was donated. Yes, it is city land, but we had people come out here and donate electrical. The grass, the obstacles—I mean, this building that we're sitting in—it's all been through donations. So that's been pretty special. To just see the backing of our community and the love that they have for our dogs.”

We asked Officer de Jong what she thought made for a good K-9 officer and she had this to say: “Someone who is well-rounded and has a good head on their shoulders. I would preferably like to see somebody who’s had a good 5 to 7 years on the street. Generally, about year five is when you really feel confident, and you've pretty much seen everything and done everything,”

Building on what PIO Ty Wood said in the previous interview along with Officer Moring, Officer de Jong further explained the importance of having a well-mannered dog: “For us,

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it was very important to be able to select dogs that just had a good overall demeanor. [Since] those dogs were purchased by donations from our community, we want to be able to take them out to community events and be able to allow the public to interact with our dogs. Because, ultimately—they gifted those dogs to us.”

Officer de Jong also spoke about family life with the dog. “All of our dogs are integrated with our families. All of us have our own children, and our children are allowed to interact with them,” said de Jong. “When he's at work, he's very much at work. But when he's at home, he's just like any other regular dog. And so that is a blessing, because it'll translate really nicely to retirement.”

We asked the officer if the dogs usually go to live with their handler when the dog retires, or if it varies. “It doesn’t vary,” said de Jong, “They go home with the handler.”

It’s clear that handlers and their dogs have a strong bond that only other handlers might understand. “He ensures my safety and my partner's safety,” said de Jong.

We are grateful as a community to have a K-9 unit like the one Clovis PD has built.

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Photo courtesy of Clovis Police Dept K-9 Dusty taking a break.

Clovis Elks Lodge Hosts 1st Annual Purple Heart Recognition Luncheon

Destiny De La Cruz @ClovisRoundup

August 8, 2023 - The Purple Heart, one of the oldest military awards still given to American servicemen, officially has a day in which those who have received a Purple Heart are honored and recognized.

That day, nationally falls on August 7th of each year, and this year, the Clovis Elks Lodge 2599 in partnership with the Clovis Veterans Memorial District hosted a luncheon to honor those who have received a Purple Heart during their time of service.

At this luncheon, the first ever put on by the Clovis Elks Lodge, representative Tom Richardson spoke and stated that it is the Elks Lodge wish to continue this luncheon for a number of years going forwards.

Richardson as well as other Elks Club members feel that the Purple Heart Medal “stands out” as those who have received it have either been wounded or had been in action against an enemy. More qualifications for the award can be found at We Are The Mighty.com.

While the first annual ceremony did not last long, the Elks Club did take the opportunity to honor Veterans from individual wars that Purple Heart awardees had taken part in.

There were no World War II or Korean War veterans present at the luncheon, but there were a number of Vietnam War Veterans in attendance who had received a Purple Heart Medal during their time in combat.

These Veterans were met with a lasting applause from the Elks Club members.

“As long as there are veterans, the Elks club will never forget them,” said

The luncheon continued on with a served lunch from Elks Lodge members. Clovis

Richardson as he stood at a podium in front of Club 2599’s hall.

Elks Lodge 2599 hopes to continue this tradition and build upon it for next year’s Purple Heart Day, August 7th alongside the Clovis Veterans Memorial District.

Photo J.T. Gomez, Clovis Roundup

Two Purple Heart awards were presented to the public at the Clovis Elks Lodge 2599 on Monday for National Purple Heart Day.

Kids Day at Clovis Big Dry Creek Museum

Destiny De La Cruz @ClovisRoundup

August 2nd, 2023 — Kids ages 5-10 years old attended Kids Day at the Clovis Big Dry Creek Museum.

The Clovis Big Dry Creek Historical Society’s President, Beth Christensen had this to say about their Kids Day events, “It gives kids a reason to come to the museum . . . [it’s] a chance for families to see what early life in Clovis was like.”

August 2nd’s Kids Day was the third in a series of three over the summer. The children got to learn how to play a wide variety of classic and historical games, each very interactive and unique. They also all got to take home a goody bag.

The first Kids Day in the series was focused on arts and crafts, where the children got to try weaving—complete with an actual spinning wheel for spinning yarn.

The second Kids Day was science-focused. The kids got to draw using berry ink, make butter, learn about the history of trains in Clovis, and even conduct a science experiment about train wheels.

This most recent Kids Day at the Clovis Big Dry Creek Museum may have been the last one of their summer series, but we are already looking forward to their Holiday Kids Day— set to take place on a Saturday in December. Once the Holiday Kids Day is officially announced, parents and guardians can come into the museum during business hours to sign their child up for the next Kids Day event. In the meantime, please stop by the Clovis Big Dry Creek Museum! They are open Tuesday through Saturday, 10AM to 2PM (they are also open on Friday from 6PM to 8PM in addition to their normal business hours)

When you visit the museum, be sure to ask about their Year-Round Scavenger Hunt or their History Counts game!

Dreams of a Grand Piano for Clovis Senior Activity Center

Peggy Bridges is a regular attendee of the Clovis Senior Activity Center with a passion for the piano. Her interest started when she was a child, having played piano since she was 7 years old.

Inspired by her love of the instrument, Bridges had the idea to raise funds for a Grand Piano to be presented at the new center which is set to open in late fall. “I’m determined to see this project through and bring the joy of music to the new center for all to appreciate. Nothing ventured, nothing gained,” said Bridges.

“People who attend the center feel a connection to Clovis and to each other in this safe and welcoming place. They deserve the best we can offer.”

The Grand Piano Fundraiser is having a

League of Women Voters of Fresno celebrates Women's Equality Day

Contributed

League of Women Voters of Fresno

Women’s Equality Day will be celebrated on August 27 by the League of Women Voters of Fresno with a gala event at the Universalist Unitarian Church of Fresno at 5:30 p.m.

Women’s Equality Day recognizes the signing of the 19th Amendment to the Constitution giving women the right to vote. It

was first celebrated in 1973. Each year the League selects an honoree who has broken the glass ceiling, i.e. succeeded in a profession usually dominated by men. This year’s honoree is Dr. Michele Cantwell-Copher, the first woman to be elected as Superintendents of Fresno County Schools.

The occasion is also used by the League to celebrate the Werner G. Lipton Award. Dr.

cardiovascular health, enhance muscle strength, and improve our overall fitness levels. Plus, the fresh air just feels good!

Lipton, whose widow is a former president of the League, was an agricultural research scientist whose volunteer work often focused on transportation issues. The award honors a local individual, male or female, who has a long history of volunteerism in an area of League interest. This year’s award goes to Dr. Marc Lasher, an osteopathic physician and community activist who runs a free medical clinic providing clean needles and physical examinations to addicts, many of whom eventually decide to receive help for their addiction.

The League, together with their members Francine and Murray Farber, also established an annual $1,000 scholarship in memory of

School, and they are always busy.

Pancake Breakfast generously provided by the Clovis Kiwanis on Saturday, September 2nd from 9:00 a.m. to noon at the Clovis Senior Activity Center.

There will be musical entertainment while attendees can bid on items at the silent auction. The silent auction items will include local baked goods, handmade quilts, guitars, pottery, Grizzlies baseball memorabilia, local artwork and more.

There is no charge to drop in to only participate in the silent auction bidding. Tickets are on sale at the center for $15 each or 2 for $25, and can be purchased on weekdays at the Clovis Senior Activity Center during operation hours. You can also donate even if you cannot attend the Pancake Breakfast Fundraiser.

Thank you for supporting our local seniors!

Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg. The scholarship is awarded to a minority female student at San Joaquin College of Law who epitomizes Justice Ginsburg’s ideals. This year’s awardee is Rosa Nava Garcia, who plans to become an immigration lawyer. Members and others are invited to contribute to the scholarship to sustain the annual award.

The public is invited to attend THE Women’s Equality Day celebration. The cost is $25 per person, including the program and heavy hors d’ouevres. Reservations are required, contact kaybertken752@gmail.com. Payment may be made at the door.

everyday life, but also contribute to a host of positive outcomes for individuals and communities alike.

Engaging in outdoor recreation activities within the City of Clovis environments presents numerous opportunities for individuals to maintain and improve their physical health, mental health and sense of community by participating and interacting with our neighbors.

Clovis trails, parks and recreational spaces provide settings for activities such as walking, jogging, cycling, yoga, team sports, and the ever-growing CrossFit classes.

These activities help promote

Recently, I was invited to observe a pickleball tournament with the hope of supporting pickleball courts within the City of Clovis. This event included all ages of competitors and had many spectators as well as local vendors.

Pickleball is an ever-growing popular sport and I fully support the City of Clovis finding ways to incorporate those courts within various neighborhoods throughout the city.

In fact, this is exactly the type of activity that encourages local and community engagement. Our City Staff (which is amazing) has been working on identifying potential additional locations throughout the city. Some courts do exist at Buchannan High

Our outdoor recreation spaces serve as gathering points for the many neighborhood communities that encompass the City of Clovis, fostering social interactions and connections among residents and neighbors. Parks and public spaces provide a neutral ground where individuals can come together, interact, and engage in shared activities.

This strengthens the sense of community and social cohesion. Furthermore, knowing your neighbors is a huge component in the prevention of crime within our communities. Engaging in outdoor activities within a city's green spaces also cultivates a sense of environmental awareness and stewardship.

As people spend time outdoors, they develop a closer connection to their community and

environment. Taking ownership in your neighborhood green space helps toward wanting to keep it clean and nice.

Incorporating outdoor recreation spaces within a city is not merely a luxury but a necessity. We are thankful our schools provide us with so many opportunities to do outdoor activities.

We are also thankful so many parks exist within our developed communities. The positive impact of these spaces on physical health, mental well-being, community engagement, environmental awareness, the economy, and education is undeniable.

As Clovis continues to grow, prioritizing and investing in green spaces will contribute to creating a healthier, happier, and more vibrant community for ourselves, our families, our neighbors and our businesses.

Photo Destiny De La Cruz, Clovis Roundup

The third day of the Kids Day events taught a wide variety of historical games.

Contributed Clovis Senior Activity Center

Photo courtesy of Nancy Horton Peggy Bridges shows raffles prizes for the upcoming Grand Piano Fundraiser.

American 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

San Joaquin College of Law

Tarpey Depot - Visitor’s Center

Old Town Service District

1. A1 Lock & Key

2. ABC Pack & Print

3. All American Smog

4. B and H Tire Automotive Shop

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

6. Central Valley Community Bank 7. Classic Catering 8. Clovis Boot & Shoe Repair

Car Wash, 409 Bullard Ave, 322-1380 17. Sam’s TV Repair 18. Shell Gas

FARMERS MARKET

Friday evenings, starting May 5th, from 5:30 pm Clovis on Pollasky between 3rd & 7th. The Old Town produce, with wonderful food selections and live foodies. Friday nights thru October 27th.

Saturday mornings from 9:00 am to 11:30 am. Located All year long.

CLOVIS/FRESNO 6TH ANNUAL TOY TRAIN SHOW

Saturday, September 23, 2023 - The show features items for kids under the age of 12, as well as toy (61 years or younger), $2 for seniors (62 years or 4th St. Clovis, CA 93612. For more information, Joe

to 8:30 pm. Located in the heart of Old Town Town Market Friday vibe is as fresh as the live music from our very own local artists and Located on Pollasky between 5th & Bullard.

SHOW features multiple operating train layouts, free raffle train items for sale. Admission: $5 per person or older). Open 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Location: 850 Joe Bencivengo at 559-720-6828.

Boutique,

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

2. Elle Style Bar

3. Fifth Street Salon

4. Hairology

5. Head to Toe Beauty Salon

6. Moxie Salon

7. Re:Treat Color and Hair Design Studio

8. Salon Innovation

Recipe

FAMILY FEATURES

With hectic day-to-day schedules and varying dietary needs, many families face the dreaded daily question: “What sounds good for dinner?” In contrast, millions struggle to put food on the table each night, impacting about 1 in 8 children, according to Feeding America.

You can help support those in need through Safeway and Albertsons’ “Fight Hunger, Serve Hope” cause program – an initiative to fight hunger in local communities during summer months when households with schoolaged children face higher rates of food insecurity. The company’s private label will donate one meal for every O Organics® product purchased, up to $7 million and the equivalent of 28 million meals. Donations will be made to Nourishing Neighbors, a program of Albertsons Companies Foundation, to fund grants dedicated to providing healthy meals for at-risk youth throughout the summer.

“While summertime sparks excitement for countless students, it also marks the unfortunate reality that millions of children face when they lose access to school cafeteria lunches and breakfasts they depend on throughout the school year,” said Jennifer Saenz, EVP and chief merchandising officer at Albertsons Companies. “As a company, we are committed to making a difference in the lives of children in need. For the first time, we are making it easier than ever for our customers to support this mission by connecting each purchase of our O Organics brand to hunger relief efforts in the communities we serve.”

Following the campaign period, families looking to help in their communities can give back in a variety of ways.

Donate Canned Goods

Once school is in session, many classrooms participate in canned food drives for a variety of causes while serving a dual purpose: feeding those in need and teaching children the importance of giving back. Sending your students to school with canned goods can show them the value of helping others and instill a sense of responsibility.

Volunteer at a Food Pantry

Sharing valuable resources like canned goods helps make a difference in communities, but local food pantries also need willing volunteers to sort and distribute food, among other duties. It can provide a unique sense of perspective as you meet other volunteers, improve the lives of people in your community and gain new skills.

Promote the Power of Family Meals

Whether it’s breakfast, lunch, dinner or all three, sharing a meal with neighbors can be a powerful moment. It provides an opportunity to connect while enjoying easy-to-make recipes like Ribeye Steak, Grape Tomato and Mushroom Kebabs; Grilled Chicken Salad with Goat Cheese, Fresh Raspberries and Pecans; and Mixed Berry-Lime Smoothie Bowl with Banana and Granola.

Find more meal ideas by visiting Safeway.com and Albertsons.com.

Ribeye Steak, Grape Tomato and Mushroom Kebabs

Recipe courtesy of Safeway and Albertsons

Total time: 30 minutes

Yield: 4 cups

2 cloves garlic

1/2 small bunch Italian (flat-leaf) parsley

1/4 cup O Organics extra-virgin olive oil

1/8 cup red wine vinegar

2 teaspoons O Organics Dijon mustard

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoon black pepper

3/4 pound O Organics ribeye steak

1/2 pint O Organics grape tomatoes

1/4 pound O Organics white mushrooms green pepper, sliced (optional)

1/2 medium red onion

6 skewers

Peel and mince garlic. Wash and dry parsley. Shave leaves off stems; discard stems and mince leaves.

In large bowl, whisk minced garlic, half the minced parsley (reserve remainder for garnish), olive oil, vinegar, Dijon mustard, salt and pepper.

Cut steak into cubes; transfer to marinade bowl and toss to coat.

Wash tomatoes, mushrooms and green pepper. Halve mushrooms. Add tomatoes, mushrooms and green pepper to marinade. Peel onion and cut into chunks; add to marinade. Toss beef and vegetables until well coated.

Heat grill pan, outdoor grill or skillet to medium-high heat.

Thread steak and vegetables onto six skewers.

Cook kebabs in batches until steak is browned and vegetables are tender, 3-5 minutes per side. Transfer to plate and repeat with remaining kebabs.

To serve, plate kebabs and sprinkle with remaining minced parsley.

Grilled Chicken Salad with Goat Cheese, Fresh Blueberries and Pecans

Recipe courtesy of Safeway and Albertsons

Total time: 20 minutes

3/4 pound boneless, skinless O Organics

chicken breasts

1/4 teaspoon salt

1/8 teaspoon black pepper

2 teaspoons O Organics extravirgin olive oil

1 package (5 ounces) O Organics spring mix

1 package (6 ounces) O Organics blueberries (or desired berry)

1/4 cup O Organics pecan halves

3 tablespoons O Organics olive oil

1 tablespoon O Organics balsamic vinegar

1/2 log (4 ounces) O Organics goat cheese

Pat chicken dry with paper towels and place on cutting board. Cut chicken in half horizontally to form thin cutlets. Season with salt and pepper on both sides.

Preheat grill pan, outdoor grill or skillet to medium-high heat.

Once pan is hot, coat with oil. Add chicken to pan and grill, turning once, until cooked through, 3-4 minutes per side.

Wash and dry spring mix. Place in medium bowl.

Wash and dry blueberries. Add to bowl with mixed greens. Using clean cutting board, roughly chop pecans. Add to bowl.

Transfer cooked chicken to cutting board and cut into thin strips.

In bowl, mix olive oil and balsamic vinegar to create dressing. Add chicken and dressing to salad bowl; toss to combine.

To serve, divide salad between plates or bowls and crumble goat cheese over top.

Mixed Berry-Lime Smoothie Bowl with Banana and Granola

Recipe courtesy of Safeway and Albertsons

Total time: 10 minutes

Yield: 3 cups

1 banana

1/2 package (6 ounces) O Organics blackberries

1/2 lime

2 cups O Organics frozen mixed berries

1 cup plain O Organics Greek yogurt

4 fluid ounces O Organics whole milk

1/8 cup O Organics honey

1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon

2/3 cup O Organics granola of choice

Wash and dry banana and blackberries. Peel and thinly slice banana; set aside. Zest and juice lime into blender. Add frozen mixed berries, yogurt, milk, honey and cinnamon. Blend on high speed until smooth, 1-2 minutes.

Photo courtesy of Getty Images

LET’S TALK CLOVIS:

Cliff and Mary Steward: A couple that loved Clovis

Peg Bos Historian/Clovis Museum

Contributed

Cliff and Mary Rosano Steward shared the love they had for each other after 64 years of marriage with Clovis, the city they loved. The David Rosano family migrated from Italy in early 1900s. In 1906, they purchased a large home on 60 acres of land at the intersection of Peach and Shaw. They planted a grape vineyard and the entire family worked long hours to make their farm successful.

Mary was born on June 8, 1924 at the Clovis Sanitarium in Old Town Clovis. She graduated from Clovis High School in 1943. During that era, numerous Clovis packing sheds provided additional income for families during seasonal harvests.

In 1945, pretty Mary was working as a packer at the Lamanuzzi and Pantaleo packing shed. She was determined to meet the handsome truck driver, Cliff Steward, who arrived each day to pick up the fruit shipment. The couple began to date.

Cliff was born in Norman, Okla. in 1927. His family arrived here in 1937. He left Clovis High School in 1945 to join the Army. Cliff and Mary were married in January 1946 when he returned on leave.

While Cliff served in Japan, Mary continued to work and save money for their first home at 219 9th Street. The couple later moved to

836 Oxford where they raised their children Doylene, Shirley and Duane.

Cliff was a master carpenter. He worked for Western Homes prior to joining the Clovis Unified School District as carpenter. He became supervisor of service plant operations at CSU, Fresno in 1969. He would retire from there in 1989.

He was a dedicated community servant. He served on the Clovis Police reserve (19541957) and received their honorary member

award in 1954 and their life member award in 1974. When the police department created a mounted patrol, he rebuilt corrals at the Clovis rodeo grounds for their use.

Cliff was involved with the Clovis Boys League from 1958-1976. In addition to helping maintain the baseball diamond, he built a new concession stand and a booth for the announcer. Mary and their girls would operate the concession stand. In 1964, Cliff received the Rex Phebus Award for his outstanding contribution to youth.

He joined the Clovis Rodeo Association in 1966 and served on their board of directors for 25 years, serving as president in 1981 and 1982. He helped build a new rodeo building, restrooms and rodeo stands. Their five grandchildren would ride with “Papa” while he disked the arena prior to the opening of the rodeo.

Mary was a stay at home Mom until their children were raised. In 1965, she took a part time job with Theta Chi Fraternity at CSU, Fresno. She was their cook and house mom. The members quickly grew to love and respect her, even when she employed required disciplinary actions. She retired in 1985, but continued to receive thanks and praise from the many young men she served.

She was always there for her family. Her projects included a garage full of Girl Scout cookies and providing homemade cookies as room mother.

Mary coordinated her 1943 class reunions and she became passionately engaged in “save the class stones” at Clovis High School when they were in jeopardy of being displaced. In 1985, she joined the Clovis Hospital Guild and was recognized as the “oldest active member of the guild” in 1997.

In 1997, Mary and Cliff were inducted into the Clovis Chamber Hall of Fame. Cliff served as grand marshal of the Clovis Rodeo in 1999.

They are an important part of our rich heritage.

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1. $200 Purple Checking: *Offer does not apply if you have an existing Valley First Credit Union checking account or have closed a Valley First checking account within the last 12 months, including joint account ownership. $200 bonus will be credited to your new Purple Checking account 100 calendar days after account opening providing the following conditions have been met: Have an established direct deposit of $750/month or more, are enrolled in Online Banking and are enrolled in eStatements. Account must be open and in good standing to receive Bonus. Bonus Dividend will be reported as interest (dividends) assumed on IRS Form 1099-INT. Recipient is responsible for any applicable taxes. Offer cannot be combined with any other offer. New accounts subject to ChexSystems. Membership eligibility requirements apply. Membership requires a Primary Share Account opened with an initial $25 deposit plus a $5 one-time membership fee, for a total of $30.

2. Purple Savings: *APY = Annual Percentage Yield. This is split rate account with 3.50% APY applying to balances up to $10,000 and a 0.10% APY applying to the portion of the balance over $10,000. Quoted APYs accurate as of 7/28/23: subject to change without notice. Rates and yields subject to change after account opening. Valley First Credit Union Purple Checking Account required to open Purple Savings. 3. 9-Month Share Certificate: *APY=Annual Percentage Yield. APYs accurate as of the last dividend declaration date of 7/28/23. Available on 9-month premium share certificates opened after 7/28/23 and offer may be withdrawn at any time. Minimum balance for premium share certificates is $10,000. A penalty may be imposed if any funds are withdrawn from the account prior to the maturity date. For complete terms, conditions and information on early withdrawal penalties, please refer to the "Share Certificate Accounts" section in our Truth-in-Savings Disclosure.

Photo Courtesy of Clovis Museum Cliff and Mary Steward, wedding picture. January 25, 1945.

August 11th DUI Checkpoint results

A DUI Checkpoint was held on Friday evening, August 11, on eastbound Shaw between Peach and Villa.

During the checkpoint, 5 drivers were arrested on suspicion of DUI, and 16 drivers were found to be in violation of their drivers license status.

Of those 16 drivers, 13 were cited for no license, and 3 were arrested for having a suspended drivers license.

12th Annual CLOVIS NIGHT OUT

To report a possible DUI driver, call 911. This checkpoint was funded by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety.

BBB Scam Alert: Protect yourself and your business from “check washing”

Join the Clovis Police Department for their 12th annual Clovis Night Out on Saturday, September 30, 2023! This family-friendly community event returns to David McDonald Park next to the Miss Winkles Pet Adoption Center at Temperance/Sierra and goes from 4pm-dark.

This is the Clovis PD's version of National Night Out, to and promote public safety and community! Join almost 100 local food and general vendors, police and city vehicle displays, live music, a drone light show, free bounce houses for the kids, and more!

VENDORS: If you are a local food or boutique vendor wanting to participate at Clovis Night Out event? Check out their website to apply to be a vendor, https:// clovisnightout.com/

Stay tuned to this event as more details become available! The Clovis PD is looking forward to visiting with our Clovis community on Saturday, September 30!

August 14, 2023 - Check use may be declining, but check fraud is still a serious problem. Watch out for this scam, dubbed “check washing,” which involves stealing checks from mailboxes and then altering them. Fortunately, you can do a few things to protect yourself and your business.

How the scam works:

You send a check in the mail as payment for a service or product. However, a few days or weeks later, you are contacted by the company you paid. They say they never received a payment. Then, you discover the check you sent has been cashed, either for the amount you wrote it for or for a much higher amount. What happened?

Scammers use many techniques to intercept mail, sometimes directly from you or the post office’s big blue mailbox. Scammers have even been known to sneak into post office boxes with stolen keys. Individuals can fall victim to this scam, but scammers mostly target businesses, which typically write checks for larger amounts and have a predictable schedule for paying and mailing bills.

Once scammers find an envelope containing a check, they use household chemicals to “wash off” the name and amount you wrote down, replacing it with a name and dollar amount of their choice. Usually, they use fake identities to cash the check later on. And even if no one cashes your check, you are at a much higher risk of identity theft once it's found its way into scammers' hands.

How to avoid check-washing schemes:

Take advantage of electronic payment methods. If you can use electronic means to make payments and receive them, do so. That will eliminate the possibility of falling victim to check washing.

If you must mail a check, take precautions. Drop it off at the post office using the lobby mail slot instead of leaving a

check in the mailbox with the flag up. If you need to use a blue box, drop off the mail before the day’s last pick-up time. Don’t leave unsent mail in your mailbox overnight; retrieve your delivered mail promptly, advises the United States Postal Service.

Put a hold on your mail. If you are going out of town, have your mail held at the post office until you return. If you run a small business that isn’t open on weekends, consider asking the post office not to deliver mail on Saturdays & Sundays.

Improve your mailbox security. Installing highly visible cameras near your mailbox and using a locked mailbox are two additional ways to avoid falling victim to this scam.

Keep an eye on your checking account. Monitor your bank accounts carefully to ensure no one cashes a fraudulent check from your account. If you notice suspicious activity, notify your bank immediately.

Use “positive pay” services. Many banks offer “positive pay” services for business checking accounts. You can pre-authorize checks for a specific amount by their check number. This will at least stop scammers from withdrawing more money than the specified amount.

Always report check fraud. If you think your check was intercepted in the mail, let your bank know right away. Then, file a report with the Postal Inspection Service and your local police department.

For more information:

Read about more ways scammers use checks to commit fraud in BBB’s Fake Check Scams Study. Get more advice on how to avoid scams at BBB.org/ AvoidScams.

If you’ve been a victim of check fraud, you can also report it to BBB.org/ScamTracker. Your reports help build public awareness and reduce scammers’ effectiveness.

World Cancer Support Month

Saturday, August 26

MOVING

FARMERS MARKET

Old Town Clovis Pollasky & 5th 5:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.

Saturday, September 16

CHUKCHANSI GOLD’S SUMMER CONCERT SERIES

Julian Torres [Sings the music of Juan Gabriel, Vicente Fernandez and More]

Sunday, September 17

OLD TOWN MARKETPLACE (ANTIQUES AND GLORIOUS JUNK) Old Town Clovis 7 a.m. – 3 p.m.

Friday, September 22

2023 CLOVIS POLICE FOUNDATION

Old Town Clovis Clovis Rodeo Grounds 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.

September 26 – 29

CENTRAL VALLEY VETERANS

2023 STAND DOWN

Veterans of Foreign Wars

Post 8900

3585 N. Blythe, Fresno, CA For Information call John Schuler at 559-977-3697

Saturday, September 30

12TH ANNUAL CLOVIS

NIGHT OUT CLOVIS POLICE DEPARTMENT

David McDonald Park, Clovis, CA 4 p.m. – 9 p.m.

Saturday, September 30

FAITH & BLUE AT CLOVIS NIGHT OUT

Thursday,

31

SEPTEMBER

Friday, September 1

BLUE GRASS IN THE PARK Grass Less Traveled Clovis Veterans Memorial District Liberty Park

5th St., Clovis, CA 6 p.m. until dusk

Friday, September 8

BLUE GRASS IN THE PARK Sycamore Bend Clovis Veterans Memorial District Liberty Park 901 5th St., Clovis, CA

GOLF TOURNAMENT Eagle Springs Golf and Country Club Friant, CA 7:30 a.m.

Saturday, September 23

CHUKCHANSI GOLD’S SUMMER CONCERT SERIES –Dustin Lynch [Country Music Award winning recording artist]

Saturday, September 23

CLOVIS/FRESNO 6TH

ANNUAL TOY TRAIN

SHOW

Clovis Senior Activity Center

850 4th St., Clovis, CA 9 a.m. – 3 p.m.

Saturday & Sunday September 23 & 24

CLOVIS POLICE DEPARTMENT

Patrol Beat #6, 7, 8 and 9 (east of Sunnyside between Herndon & Shaw. Also, north of Herndon spanning entire city.)

David McDonald Park, Temperance/Sierra 4p.m. – 8 p.m.

ALL MONTH LONG

U.S. FLAG RETIREMENT DROP BOX Clovis Veterans Memorial District, 808 4th St., Clovis Three Flag Retirement Drop Boxes on site Drive Up Box is available 24/7

FREE BLOOD PRESSURE

CHECKUP Clovis Senior Activity Center 850 4th St., Clovis, CA

Mondays, 10 a.m. - 3 p.m.

Tuesdays, 9 a.m. - 10 a.m.

PLACES TO VISIT

CALIFORNIA 9-11 MEMORIAL

3485 Never Forget Ln. Clovis, CA

Open 365 days a year

COMMUNITY HERITAGE CENTER

3rd and Veterans Parkway

OPEN Tuesday thru Saturday

10 a.m. – 5 p.m.

CLOVIS MUSEUM

4th & Pollasky Clovis, CA

Open Tuesday thru Saturday

10 a.m. – 2 p.m.

FARMERS’ MARKETS

FRIDAY NIGHT FARMERS MARKET (FRIDAY NIGHTS THRU OCT. 27) Old Town Clovis Pollasky & 5th 5:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.

CLOVIS OLD TOWN FARMERS’ MARKET Polasky Ave., Clovis, CA

Every Saturday

W. Ashlan Ave., Clovis CA 8 a.m. – 10 a.m.

Friday, September 15 MILITARY APPRECIATION NIGHT

CLOVISFEST AND BALLOON FUN FLY 2023

CITY OF CLOVIS HAZARDOUS

WASTE DROP OFF CENTER 79 N. Sunnyside, Clovis, CA

Tuesday thru Saturday 9 a.m. – 1 p.m.

Year-Round 9 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. (weather permitting)

Student becoming the master: The 67-year dedication to the art of Judo

Nikki McCabe mnick1717@gmail.com

“Be strong. Be beautiful. For mind, body and spirit,” that is the motto that student and head instructor for the Clovis Judo Club, Myra Kirk-Goode follows every day in her practices and teachings.

Back in April, 82-year-old Goode earned a prestigious 7th degree black belt. The rank or ‘dan’ given to Goode by the United States Judo Federation is called ‘Shichidan’. The Judo rank is achieved through at least 15 years of training and teaching the martial art to students, as well as other qualifications that Goode worked hard to meet. There are ten degrees of black belts that someone can achieve when pursuing the martial art of Kodokan Judo.

In 1956, 16-year-old Goode attended the club with her siblings. Ever since then, she felt drawn to the teachings of Judo. “Our brothers took it, they didn’t last,” said Goode. “But we wanted to do it, so we talked the head sensei into letting us start. In those days, not too many things were available for girls.”

That class would turn out to be the first time that girls like Goode would be allowed to learn and participate in Judo teachings at the Clovis club. Goode stuck with learning Judo fighting techniques and philosophy ever since.

“It looked interesting. In high school, I did not really fit into other things…I just thought it looked really interesting and different. Everything just kind of suited me more so than things happening in school. So I stuck with it.”

After 67 years, Goode is still sticking with it. She guides currently 30 enrolled members of the club through warm ups and demonstrations of Judo techniques and exercises.

Goode has taken great opportunities to compete in tournaments and even to travel to Japan to learn from high ranking Judo senseis. Goode’s former sensei was the first woman in the history of Judo practices to ever earn a tenth degree black belt, which is the highest degree to achieve in Judo. Training in Judo has helped Goode prepare for instances where at her age, falling could have consequences. “At my age, I take tumbles every once in a while. You learn

Sierra National Forest North Fork Mono Tribe Awarded $150K; Supplemental Meadow Restoration Agreement

allowing the precipitation to fully reach the surrounding watershed.

how to tuck and roll, you just kinda relax and go with it. Because you are gonna fall anyway, so you might as well relax and go with it. That way you don’t get broken bones. Throughout the years that has helped me.”

Goode said she has come close a few times in her life, where she has had to use her knowledge of Judo to protect herself. She said in most cases she uses what she calls ‘verbal Judo’.

“You just have to walk with confidence. Most people that attack people, they like weak people. So you learn to walk with confidence and have a confident look about yourself.”

In Goode’s off time from Judo, she enjoys working with her husband Ron Kirk-Goode on running operations of their deer ranch. The husband and wife both have taken roles as senseis’ for the Judo club. He said it is amazing what his wife has accomplished.

“Judo is not like other martial arts,” said Goode. “You don’t get promoted right away. The promotions are very hard to get, she has come a long way. Here in the San Joaquin Valley, she’s the highest ranked person.”

Goode said he was taking Taekwondo before he met his wife. A mutual friend introduced them both because of their shared love for martial arts. They have been together ever since learning and teaching Judo to the community of Clovis.

Goode wants to help get Myra inducted into the Clovis Hall of Fame for her dedicated years of service to the Clovis Judo Club. “Not many people go every night to class, and whether it's raining or hot or whatever, she still shows up to class every night. Whether we get one student or fifty students, matters not. That’s dedication.”

Ron said he hopes to see the day where he and Myra can keep achieving higher degrees in their black belts, but knows it's uncertain considering the amount of time it takes to achieve, as well as considering their age. “It gets harder and harder the higher you climb.”

If you would like to join the Clovis Judo Club, the group meets every Monday and Wednesday on the Alta Sierra Middle School campus in the Wrestling Room between 7 to 8:30 p.m.

Clovis, CA August 9, 2023 — The Sierra National Forest and the North Fork Mono Tribe have entered into a $150,000 agreement for work to be complete on several meadows in the footprint of the Creek Fire, on the Bass Lake Ranger District. The project will supplement additional gully and stream restoration work by Trout Unlimited.

Over 8,200 meadows have been identified in the Sierra Nevada Mountain Range, 70% of which need maintenance, restoration, or repair.

With only 5% of the meadows in good health, there are 25% that are no longer functional meadows.

Restoring the meadows largely improves the watershed, providing higher predictability, and more evenly distributed water content to the San Joaquin Valley floor.

Restoring the meadows requires bringing the water table up to the surface

This is done by removing invasive plant species, encroaching conifers, and/or repairing erosion to gullies and culverts on roads that cut through the meadows.

The North Fork Mono Tribe has been burning and maintaining their homeland acreage for thousands of years on the western Sierra Nevada Range.

They’ve also conducted ecological restoration on the Sierra National Forest since 1991, including directing meadow, oak, and cultural resource restoration.

Will McCullough

Public Affairs Specialist

Sierra National Forest Clovis, CA 93611 (559) 297-0706

bill.mccullough@usda.gov

fs.usda.gov/sierra

facebook.com/SierraNF

On Saturday, August 19, VFW Post 8900 invites you to the "Raise The Roof For VFW Post 8900 Festival," an extraordinary outdoor music extravaganza set to take place at VFW Post 8900, located at 3585 N Blythe Ave, Fresno, CA 93722. This event aims to restore hope and unity within our community while raising funds to rebuild our cherished VFW Post, which recently suffered the unfortunate collapse of its roof.

The festival features two outstanding bands: "Southern Comfort" from 3:00 PM to 5:00 PM and "Crooked Crick" from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM. Renowned local radio personality, Gnarley Charley, will emcee the event, adding an extra touch of excitement to the festivities.

The event will take place in a beautiful park setting behind the VFW building, offering plenty of space for dancing in front of the bands and ample grass area for

guests to relax. Choose from a variety of food trucks and beverages from vendors on-site. The festival also boasts a silent auction.

Attendees are encouraged to bring their lawn chairs and pop-up canopies for a comfortable experience under the shaded area with many trees. Restrooms will be available on-site, and parking will be plentiful for guests' convenience.

Tickets to the "Raise The Roof For VFW Post 8900 Festival" are priced at $20, and gates will open at 2:00 PM, allowing ample time for attendees to get settled before the festivities kick off at 3:00 PM. Guests must have a ticket to enter, and we encourage purchasing in advance at rjrguitar.com/ vfwtickets.

Join us on 8/19/23 as we come together to rebuild and reunite, forging a brighter future for our VFW Post and the incredible veterans it serves.

Photo Courtesy Of The Clovis Judo Club Facebook 82-year-old Myra Kirk-Goode earns prestigious 7th degree black belt.

Contributed The VFW Post 8900

Contributed Sierra National Forest

Clovis parents attend “Welcome to Clovis Unified” Night

August 11, 2023 - Parents new to Clovis Unified arrived at Dry Creek Elementary on Thursday August 10th in order to gather information on their children’s welfare within the school district.

Clovis Unified has held a “new parent” workshop like this in the past, and looks to continue hosting their “Parent Academy” which are monthly free workshops designed to familiarize parents with resources, support and information.

Many of the parents who showed up to the workshop are new parents to CUSD and were given the opportunity to meet not only with Clovis Unified representatives, but with certain programs and organizations such as Career Technical Education, Clovis PD, and the Clovis Unified Health Centers to name a few.

Held in an open-house like setting, this style allows parents to gather information on the district and the community, helping both students and families to succeed in school

and beyond.

CUSD says that feedback from previous attendees recommended holding this type of introduction workshop prior to the start of the school year.

Registration became so high, over 500, that the event had to be moved to Dry Creek Elementary in order to accommodate the larger crowd.

Richard Sarkisian, Administrator of Assessment and Accountability for Clovis Unified, was happy to welcome families to Clovis Unified and perhaps more importantly get them in touch with different resources and opportunities students can get at their respective school sites. “We also just like to welcome them [new parents] to a new community.

On CUSD’s reasoning for having such a night like the “Welcome to Clovis Unified” night, Sarkisian mentioned, “It’s out of some feedback we’ve received from families, we ended up doing these Parent Academy nights a few years ago, and brought them back last year. Parents were really interested in [the

topics] that we had, so we just really wanted to expand it and really get that information out for all the different resources we had for our community.”

In addition to the informational booths provided by both CUSD and the community,

there also appeared to be a raffle going on where prizes were being given at random to parents who received a raffle ticket. With this certain event of outreach to the public, CUSD looks to have a school year of success which starts August 21st.

Mendota High School Students Win Award for Fentanyl App

Four Mendota High School students, Jimmy Fuentes, Anthony Trinidad, Jonathan Alfaro, and Gerardo Portillo decided to get involved in the fentanyl crisis when they made a phone application while in the 8th grade. The app, known as “FentaKNOW”, is designed to provide information on the dangerous drug fentanyl, such as symptoms, dangers, and the opioid reversal agent narcan.

In a report done by ABC 30, it was stated that the four students spent “countless hours after school gathering information about Fentanyl, teaching themselves how to code, and putting it all in one place for the community to easily access.”

With information in both English and Spanish, it is the boys’ hope that the app can help life saving situations as well as inform those who don’t understand the dangers of fentanyl to become familiar. There is also a 911 button directly built into the app for emergency situations.

The app was submitted to the National MESA Championship. MESA stands for

mathematics, engineering, science and achievement, and is a club that all four boys are now apart of. The team won their preliminary round of competition in Fresno, a regional award in the Bay area, a state competition in San Diego, and finally were

awarded 1st Place overall in the MESA USA National Engineering Design Competition. This competition was against 25,000 other students and their respective creations.

In a quote given to ABC 30, the boys’

MESA coach, Carlos Tamayo stated, “This is obviously something students are going to look up to in the future and the community can feel proud of these boys and what they’ve accomplished.”

Make a difference in a young student’s education and Christmas

girl to enjoy. You can include a personal note to the child receiving your donation and a picture of you and your family as well.

August 14, 2023 - Humanitarian aid organization, ‘Samaritan's Purse, has a special mission this Christmas. To make sure every child in need has a present to open.

During this back to school season, children are often in need of school supplies to supplement their education and learning activities.

The organization’s project ‘Operation Christmas Child’ was designed to meet those needs at a time when children are in school, but also wanting a present to open during the holidays.

Residents of Clovis and members of the Memorial United Methodist Church have been fundraising money to donate to the organization to help gather school supplies. Samaritan’s Purse welcomes you to donate money, but also encourages filling a shoebox with pencils, crayons, notebooks, personal care items and fun toys for a young boy or

If you prefer to donate online, you can donate $10 toward your shoebox gift online. You will receive a tracking label to find out where your donation is heading. You can also browse the website, samaritanspurse. org/buildonline to find presents that match up to a child’s specific age and gender, and pack a virtual shoebox.

According to the Evangelical Christian organization, Operation Christmas Child has collected and delivered more than 209 million shoeboxes to kids since 1993.

This is a global project that hopes to reach as much as 11 million children across 100 different countries this holiday.

There is still time to join in on the project and make a difference in a young student’s education and Christmas day. National collection week for the gift-filled shoeboxes will be on Nov. 13 and will continue through the rest of the week.

Photo J.T. Gomez, Clovis Roundup Clovis Unified parents spoke with informational booths at Clovis Unified’s “Welcome to Clovis Unified” night.

Clovis Roundup Staff @ClovisRoundup

Photo from nedc.mesausa.org

Team members: Jonathan Alfaro, Jimmy Fuentes, Gerardo Portillo Mendez, Anthony Trinidad Cisneros.

Photos are Courtesy of Samaritan's Purse Samaritan's Purse's mission is to ensure every child in need has a present to open for Christmas.

Nikki McCabe mnick1717@gmail.com

Young Entrepreneurs: Children’s Business Fair at ClovisFest

August 14, 2023 - This year will be the 3rd Annual Children’s Business Fair, organized by Central Valley Young Entrepreneurs (CVYE) and partnered with the Clovis Chamber of Commerce.

Central Valley Young Entrepreneurs has challenged kids to start their own business. Children who sign up are able to be an actual vendor at ClovisFest. The ages of these young entrepreneurs range from 6 to 17 years old.

The first year, 50 kids participated. Last year, 80 kids participated. The Children’s Business Fair continues to steadily grow each year.

This year, about 100 children will be participating in the Children’s Business Fair at Clovis Fest—and all of the slots were filled in just 20 days.

Mykel Suntrapak, the Founder of Central Valley Young Entrepreneurs does everything she can to help and support the kids on their business journey.

“I want them to have an entrepreneurial mindset,” said Suntrapak, “I want them to be successful in whatever path they choose in the future.”

The founder of CVYE said that it’s important to encourage the following qualities in young entrepreneurs: courage, problem solving, curiosity, grit, and persistence.

Once the kids are signed up, they are able to

access a downloadable workbook, and then in early September they get to participate in a workshop. This year, the workshop is held on the Fresno State campus.

During the workshop, the new entrepreneurs are educated on topics that are needed for success as a vendor. They learn a variety of topics—from marketing and financial literacy, to packaging and booth presentation.

When speaking about the Children’s Business Fair at ClovisFest, Founder Mykel

Suntrapak said, “It’s fun to see how the community supports the kids,” “It's the support from our community that allows me to put this on for them.” Central Valley Young Entrepreneurs 2023 Sponsors for the Children’s Business Fair at ClovisFest are: Valley Children's, Fresno State, City of Clovis, Central California Parent Magazine, Fresno Economic Opportunities Commission, Top Hand Media, Me-NEds, Libertarian Party of Fresno County,

Inspiration Transportation and of course, Clovis Chamber of Commerce.

If you are interested in signing up your child for next year’s Children’s Business Fair, visit www.cvye.org and join their mailing list.

Also, do not forget to visit this year’s Children’s Business Fair at the 2023 Clovis Fest, on September 23rd & 24th from 8AM to 5PM, located between 7th & 8th Street on Pollasky.

Photo courtesy of the Clovis Chamber of Commerce

A young entrepreneur vendor at the 2022 Clovis Business Fair during ClovisFest.

Destiny De La Cruz @ClovisRoundup