WWW.TULAREVOICE.COM
Weekly wrap-up of the news, events, and people in and around Tulare JUNE 8-15, 2015
W h a t
w e
l e a r n e d
This Week Delano facing financial emergency, council told
“Considering the lack of positive cash flow, low per capita income compared to the region, and unfunded pension liabilities, staff must address this crisis situation and consider cuts which may impact the public peace, health, safety, and welfare of the community,” city financial officer Rosa Rios said.
Erin Andrews named keynote speaker at women’s conference Her speech will chronicle her ascent into the maledominated sports world, share some of her experiences as a contestant and co-host on the dancing competition show and discuss her advocacy work for hunger relief and prostate cancer advocacy group On the Line.
City cautious with water hookups City officials cautiously approved 50 new connections for a subdivision on the east side of Mooney. On June 4, the Public Utilities Commission approved for 50 new connections for the subdivision instead of the proposed 106 connections. The developer, San Joaquin Valley Homes, proposes to have 355 units on the subdivision which will be located on the East side of Mooney Boulevard between Seminole and Prosperity Avenues. “[San Joaquin Valley Homes] approached us about having a water analysis run on the development,” said City Engineer Michael Miller. “Initially the report looked at the entire 355 unit sub division and the impact of that number of connections. [The report] found that level of development would have a significant impact on the city system. The recommendations were definitely not to allow any new connections until the short term improvements are completed.” The report was looked at again focusing only on the first phase of the subdivision which consists of 106 lots. These findings on the supplemental report implied little significant impact on the city’s water system as long- and short-term improvements are completed and verified, he said.
Opposition grows during Redskin ban bill hearing A Senate hearing into a bill that would force Tulare Union High School to drop its historic redskin mascot has been delayed but opposition continues to swell. A delegation of Union students and administration planned to make their voices heard at the June 10 Senate Committee on Education hearing. But even Assemblyman Luis Alejo, D-Watsonville was surprised when AB 30 disappeared from the hearing agenda late last week, even though the move generated a notice saying the hearing was “cancelled at the request of author.” AB 30, introduced in December 2014 by Alejo, was approved by the House of Assembly last month where Alejo stressed it received “tremendous support by legislators” with a vote of 60-9 moving it onto the Senate. But a spokesperson from Alejo’s office said on Monday the delay was due to personal reasons related to a family death and although it wasn’t on the online schedule Monday, the hearing is rescheduled for the June 17 Senate Education Committee session. Meanwhile, Tulare Union Principal Dr. Michelle Nunley said the delegation of students and staff still plans to personally make their voices heard at the State Capitol when they ask senators to reject the bill and let any decisions about school mascots remain in local hands.
BPU turns on the pump for COS The Board of Public Utilities approved a yearlong temporary water purchase agreement between the City of Tulare and College of the Sequoias for agricultural use. COS will purchase and acquire water from the city at $120 per acre foot from a well located on the college’s campus. Currently, two of the college’s wells are pumping at a lower rate and it is affecting the agricultural program. “The problem is because their well is going dry they are going to have to start to curtail their program and the college is very important to us,” said Public Works Director Joe Carlini. An approval was reached out of support of the college and due to a high level of nitrates being present in the well. The high level of nitrates have developed in the last year due to the
drought, said Don Dorman, city manager. Though the water is not able to be used for the city, it is ideal and acceptable for agricultural use. “This isn’t about farming operations, this is about education,” Dorman said. “This is a lifeline to keep their agricultural program alive.” This well will probably be the agricultural program’s primary well, said Larry Dutto, COS Tulare Campus provost. The water purchase agreement allows either party to separate from the contract if the water conditions improve locally. “I think it’s very fair given the emergency circumstances we are under, this is what neighbors do for each other,” said Mark Watte, board member.
Onward and upward for Hawks principal Mission Oak Principal Isidro Carrasco is taking flight along with the Hawks graduating class of 2015, headed for a loftier perch. Carrasco was at the helm since the Tulare’s newest high school opened in 2008 and it is with mixed emotions he moves on to become Woodland Union School District’s Assistant Superintendent effective July 1. “Of course it’s bittersweet. I’m very attached to this school and a part of it and the history,” Carrasco said just before the start of Mission Oak’s 2015 graduation ceremony. “It’s tough to leave but its in great hands with the students, the community and the staff there now [and] I’m moving to a position where I’ll have an opportunity to impact ever more students and staff at a district level position.” Tulare native Michele Borges, once Assistant Principal at Tulare Union, will be the new head Hawk, returning to Tulare after three years as principal of Hanford’s Sierra Pacific High School.
Students tour TRMC Students from Tulare Union High School toured the Clinical Lab at Tulare Regional Medical Center on Wednesday with their science teacher, Eric York, as part of the school’s STEM education program. STEM is an acronym that refers to the academic disciplines of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics. The students toured the blood bank and chemistry and microbiology labs to see first-hand how a hospital laboratory functions, according to Clinical Lab Manager Sharon Fong.
“It’s been a great ride with you all,” Carrasco later told cheering graduates as they assembled to march into Bob Mathias Stadium for the graduation ceremony. “He’s pretty cool. He supported us throughout all of our activities and everything we did,” graduate Alondra Santiago said, feeling mixed about his departure and adding “as long as he’s happy.” She wasn’t the only one with mixed feelings. “He was pretty sociable and friendly and I’m going to miss him,” senior Madison Childress said. “But I’m also excited to see what the new principal has in store for Mission Oak.” The same held true for Carrasco’s colleagues.
“We wanted them to see the importance of the testing we do that saves lives and aids in diagnosis,” she said.
“We are a close district and we all collaborate and work together, so I look forward to the future but Isidro was great, a great person to work with,” Tulare Western High School Principal Lucy Van Scyoc said. “But he’s pursuing what he really loves and I admire that; I think we should be able to do that.”
The visit to Tulare Regional Medical Center was part of a larger tour of nearby laboratories and health- and environment-related businesses.
Tulare Union Principal Dr. Michelle Nunley is also sad to see Carrasco go, particularly since it also means losing the school’s veteran counselor Cleo, Carrasco’s wife. But she’s also excited about the return of former Redskin administrator to the fold.