Valley Voice Issue 100 (7 September, 2017)

Volume XXXVII No. 17 • 7 September, 2017

Those in the ground may not know the difference, but Tulare’s public cemetary isn’t inspiring confidence in some Tulare residents. Courtesy/Caring Cause

Tulare Public Cemetery District in Turmoil Catherine Doe Not all the guests at the Tulare Public Cemetery are resting in peace. The recent appointment of two new board members and a group called Caring Cause has changed the atmosphere from “business as usual” to one of change, and some would say, of contention.

Elaine Hollingsworth grew up in Tulare and started the Facebook site Caring Cause - Stop Neglect at Tulare Public Cemetery District.

“My concerns for the cemetery actually started long before I started Caring Cause,” she said. “Each time I went to the [Kern street] cemetery I’d think to myself ‘My God, why don’t the people in this town do something about the conditions at the cemetery, it’s deplorable.’”

Tulare Public Cemetery consists of two sections, the older section on Kern Street and the North Cemetery on J

Street. The grounds at the North Cemetery turned brown because the well went out, but those problems seem mostly resolved.

Hollingsworth, and about a dozen followers of Caring Cause, have been going to board meetings and voicing their concerns about the finances and maintenance at the Kern Cemetery.

At first glance the Kern Cemetery looks green. But on closer inspection the ground is covered in weeds interspersed with large patches of dirt. People visiting their loved ones have reported caved in plots and sinking grave stones. They have also complained to the staff about grave markers cracked in half and broken cement around the graves due to the carelessness of the cemetery’s staff.

In terms of finances, the two new board members, Phillip Deal and Vicki Gilson, question the wisdom of paying

CEMETERY continued on 12 »

Tulare Hospital Infighting Infects Tulare City Hall Dave Adalian For two long hours, the Tulare City Council argued, debated, talked over each other, and eventually directed staff to formulate an update streamlining the city’s rental policy for the Council Chambers at the Tulare Public Library.

At the end of discussions lasting nearly two hours at the August 15 meeting, the main sticking point ironically remained whether others using the room would be allowed to hold meetings lasting past 7pm, should hypothetical future meetings run late. The Council vote on the matter came after 9 o’clock, during a meeting that started late.

A draft of the new policy was to be presented for consideration at the Council’s Tuesday, September 5, meeting.

City Versus the Hospital

The often contentious discussion at

the August 15 Council meeting stemmed from Mayor Carlton Jones sharing reports from citizens about a fear of violence erupting at meetings of the Tulare Local Health Care District (TLHCD) Board of Directors.

That board has occasionally used the city’s meeting facility during the recent changes in its makeup, most recently following the ouster of Dr. Parmod Kumar by recall in a landslide vote against him.

Tulare Police Chief Wes Hensley said his department has been called to TLHCD meetings several times during the last three or four years in response to arguments and fights, including an incident on city property.

“The reason you’re seeing an officer present at the (TLHCD) meetings now is because I’ve had a number of citizens call me, both sides of this issue ... with concerns about the potential for volatil-

TULARE CITY HALL continued on 9 »

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Exeter Could Be Forced Into By-District Elections

Exeter has apparently become the next location on the hit list of some attorneys having made it their mission to get all of California’s cities and school districts to “comply” with the California Voting Rights Act (CVRA).

In a letter addressed to Exeter City Manager Randy Groom, dated July 14, 2017, Kevin Shenkman, an attorney with Shenkman & Hughes in Malibu, stated that he was writing on behalf of the Southwest Voter Registration Education Project (SVREP).

Exeter, he said, “relies on an at-large election system for election candidates to its City Council. Moreover, voting within Exeter is racially polarized, resulting in minority vote dilution, and therefore Exeter’s at-large elections violate the California Voting Rights Act of 2001 (‘CVRA’).”

Exeter does have an at-large election system – however, that the city is racially polarized is in doubt.

According to the SVREP website, it is a 501c3 national nonprofit organization based in Los Angeles. The website further states: “The Southwest Voter Registration Education Project (SVREP), founded in 1974, is the largest and oldest non-parti-

Nancy Vigran san Latino voter participation organization in the United States.

“SVREP was founded by William C. Velasquez and other Mexican-American political activists to ensure the voting rights of Mexican-Americans in the Southwest.”

It is true that Exeter has not had a Hispanic serve on City Council since the late Mayor Torres, who served on council for three terms in the late 1980’s and ‘90s. The data is on their side, Groom said.

However, only one Hispanic has been on the ballot since, he added. In fact in the last council election, there were only two candidates for the two seats on the ballot, and the formal election was cancelled. If divided into districts, it is unclear if there will even be viable candidates willing to run from all districts.

Exeter is not the only Tulare County city to have been hit with a letter of non-compliance. Visalia, for example, begrudgingly changed its council to districts in 2015, following much discussion through council and the public.

EXETER continued on 11 »

100 Issues: Voice’s Top 20 For those who might not keep track, this issue represents the Voice’s 100th since returning to grace newspaper stands across Tulare and Kings counties.

Starting first as a monthly in June of 2013, and stepping up the pace to twice-monthly in September 2013, this year also marks the resuscitated Voice’s four year anniversary.

Compiled from statistics on our web-

Tony Maldonado site, here are the top 20 stories sorted by views since we’ve started.

For a paper based in Visalia, covering all of Tulare and Kings Counties, it’s surprising how much space stories about Tulare take up -- 14 of 20 stories, including those relating to the hospital.

TOP 20 continued on 14 »

Woodlake Set to Start Work on 12,000 sqft. Community Center The City of Woodlake is ready to break ground on a highly anticipated project for its local community.

About four years ago, the city council and staff started actively discussing the need for a facility to be utilized by all age groups from seniors to schoolage children, said City Manager Ramon Lara. The city currently does not have a parks and recreation department.

Property was required in order to

Nancy Vigran qualify for a loan to build a community center. With that in mind, the Woodlake Lions Club donated a piece of property located on North Magnolia Street.

“We jumped all over that,” said Police Chief Mike Marquez, who is a member and past president of the Lions Club.

In April 2015, Woodlake City

WOODLAKE continued on 10 »

2 • Valley Voice

7 September, 2017 FROM THE PUBLISHER’S DESK

Matador With A Toothpick

This is the 100th edition of the Valley Voice since the Chief and I took ownership of it more than four years ago. I don’t know what--if anything--we’ve accomplished during that time. I’ll let our readers decide. But let me describe the experience.

Operating a newspaper during this era of their contraction and decline is tricky.

Except for actually printing it, we do everything ourselves. You might think, then, that because of this we’d be enjoying at least a tiny margin of profit. Au contraire. At the bottom of the ledger is a figure in red that negates what the IRS reckons I owe it each year.

I’m fine with this--although, if we’re not in it for the money, the Chief is wont to ask me why we are bothering with it at all.

To combat local BS, of course, simply by reporting the news. And I must confess that, in this capacity, I feel like a matador with a toothpick.

Please--no Freudian cracks; sometimes, a toothpick is just a toothpick.

I stand here, ludicrously, in a traje de luces two sizes too tight, hip-on to the rampant, snorting nonsense before me--with a toothpick poised between my thumb and forefinger.

Maybe make that a pen. You remember the old adage: “The pen is mightier than the toothpick.”

Because journalists are only ever armed with the facts as we’re capable of uncovering and corroborating them. What is incumbent upon us is accuracy, followed by performance in terms of how we convey it in writing. That’s the shooting match. The whole enchilada. The corrida.

If we’ve done our job properly we’ve brought something to light and presented it straightforwardly. Without bias, that is. Bias is reserved for editorials.

“Here--” we say, “take a look at this!”

It is then up to our readership to take whatever action it deems appropriate--if it trusts us. Which is why unbiased accuracy is so vitally important.

For us it’s then a return to our shovels and computers. More digging. More Microsoft Word.

About the highest claim we can make, if we’ve been accurate, goes to accountability. Our readership might sit on its hands, for instance, but we will have created a record.

I’m always pleased--and in equal parts amazed--to find a Valley Voice article tucked inside court documents as exhibit something-or-other. It’s validation.

So is every interaction with the public. It doesn’t matter whether we’re loved or hated--if, by either side of the spectrum, we’re at least considered important enough to respond to. And on some fundamental level, being a forum for the give and take of ideas is the perfect platform from which to combat BS. It’s the very sand of the bullring.

All gravy, right? Not so fast.

Heavy lies the ever-present threat of a lawsuit that can emerge from virtually any quarter.

But we’ve experienced that Pase de pecho before, and--enriching as it was--it has only encouraged our pen to seek the Rubio--”The ideal point for the matador to place his final, killing sword.” Ole! I’d never attend a bullfight, of course, or a lawsuit, either--except I’ve been personally involved with seven of them over the last four years. You don’t just not appear. And I’ve lost count of how many Tulare Regional Medical Center suits we’ve covered live from the courtroom.

Then there’s this: Last year the paper bought a 1987 Toyota SR5--the Rolling Flotsam--whose chief virtue, I’m delighted to report, is a new, out-of-the-crate engine. If only its suspension were equally up to date. Twice per month I drive to Fowler to collect the freshly printed bundles of the new issue. Now, the 99 is dreadful under the best of circumstances. But on the return journey, with the truck bed loaded to the gunwales, steering is reduced to a suggestion. Imagine riding bareback on an angry, pregnant rhino while guiding your progress by grasping her horn. How I haven’t been torn to mincemeat under the wheels of many a semi eludes me.

Maybe the pen is also mightier than the semi.

Still, it’s been something of an honor to risk life, limb and bottom line to bring you these 100 issues--and it fully is our intention to risk 100 more.

Joseph Oldenbourg

The Valley Voice is your newspaper Published by The Valley Voice, LLC.

Publisher/Editor: Joseph Oldenbourg (joseph@ourvalleyvoice.com) (559) 972-7778

Reporters:

Catherine Doe (catherine@ourvalleyvoice.com) Dave Adalian (dave@ourvalleyvoice.com) Stefan Barros — sports (stefan@ourvalleyvoice.com) Production/Website: Tony Maldonado (tony@ourvalleyvoice.com)

Sales & Special Sections Editor:

Nancy Vigran (nancy@ourvalleyvoice.com)

Contact us & share your opinion: www.ourvalleyvoice.com PO Box 44064 • Lemon Cove, CA 93244 The first five copies of this newspaper are free. Subsequent copies are 25 cents per copy.

Please contact the Voice for more information.

7 September, 2017

Valley Voice • 3

Political Fix “IT’S THE TULARE WAY”

Recently, an informant called saying that Tulare Regional Medical Center (TRMC) allegedly hadn’t paid its utility bills since April.

Then I interviewed a grieving daughter whose mother had been buried in the wrong plot at the Tulare Public Cemetery, and later a prominent Tulare businessman called with some outrageous, but consistent, complaints about Tulare’s mayor.

I looked over at my husband in disbelief and he said “It’s the Tulare way.”

I don’t know where we first heard it, or who first said it, but every time something spurious happens in Tulare my husband gets that look in his eyes and I know exactly what he is thinking.

Now with issues surfacing about the Tulare Public Cemetery, the city’s problems have come full circle. They literally have the residents of Tulare coming and going.

But what gets my knickers in a twist is mostly the hospital.

How did $50 million in bond money become unaccounted for, and no one is held accountable?

Why are the hospital employees’ pay checks bouncing?

How is Healthcare Conglomerate Associates (HCCA) being paid $268,000 a month, but the utilities are not?

How is it that patients have died of nonlethal causes and the doctors responsible are still practicing?

Why aren’t Tulare residents’ votes being respected?

We all know that Lindsay Mann was Kaweah Delta’s CEO and that he was just replaced with Gary Herbst.

But who is the CEO of the Tulare’s public hospital and why can’t we see that CEO’s form 700 or conflict of interests forms?

The most gnawing question - why are the residents of one of the poorest counties in California expected to resolve these problems on their own?

Where are our elected officials?

So, even though I am not the one reporting on the hospital, I stopped everything I was doing and decided to write our elected officials whose districts overlap that of TRMC. I wrote Tulare County District Attorney Tim Ward, State Senator Jean Fuller, Congressman Devin Nunes and State Assemblyman Devon Mathis.

I didn’t think of writing Mayor Carlton Jones because it seems he has already aligned himself with HCCA. This is what they had to say.

First off, the most useful piece of information came from a staffer, who did not want to go on the record, but said that when there has been a misuse of public money it needs to be immediately reported to the Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI).

Note to Alberto Aguilar, who meticulously cobbled together the financial information on the $85 million Hospital Bond passed in 2005 to discover $50 million was unaccounted for – call the FBI. The same staffer said that the FBI cannot reveal when they are in the middle of an investigation, insinuating that maybe an investigation has already been opened.

The first direct response I got was

Catherine Doe

from Tulare County District Attorney Tim Ward.

He had me talk with Assistant District Attorney Dave Alavezos, which didn’t get any further than a phone call.

But Mr. Alavezos commiserated with my frustration and said several times, “Well that’s a very good question.”

He asked me to forward my letter so he could discuss it with Mr. Ward.

I did, and like the rest of Tulare, I am still waiting.

Chief of Staff for Congressman Devin Nunes, Anthony Ratekin, was well versed in the goings on at the hospital and encouraged me to send him my letter.

Rep. Nunes, time permitting, would respond after they had a chance to discuss it.

The next day Mr. Ratekin called and said they had a lengthy conversation but that, in the end, Mr. Nunes is a federally elected official and that unfortunately “there is no role for a federal officer in a local public hospital.”

I whined, saying, “but he is from Tulare!”

To which Mr. Ratekin responded that while elected to congress anything Rep. Nunes does represents the federal government first and because of that he is a Tularean second.

State Senator Jean Fuller was the only one to directly answer my letter and her response was pretty awesome. Here is just part of her letter.

“The TRMC is run by an elected board and they represent the public they serve.

These officials must be held accountable for the decisions that impact the hospital’s finances and ability to deliver medical services.

The California Department of Public Health is responsible for licensing hospitals including TRMC. I will inquire with their legislative and regulatory affairs units to get a report on what actions have already been to taken to address the issues highlighted in your letter.

Also, the TRMC must adhere to FPPC reporting requirements, provide public records when required, and follow the laws that allow them to maintain their license.

To file a complaint with the FPPC use this link:http://www.fppc.ca.gov/enforcement/ electronic-complaint-system.html or call (916) 322-5660.”

She continued, “if the Tulare Regional Medical Center believes I can be of assistance in facilitating meetings with officials, making inquiries of state agencies, or coordinating communications with state regulators, I encourage them to contact me or my office.”

What struck me most though was when she said “….. my office can begin the process to request the State Auditor to look into the appropriate use of bond money……”

Gee, where have we heard that before? Requesting a “state auditor to look into the appropriate use of bond money?”

In December of 2015 Alberto Aguilar asked Assemblyman Devon Mathis to request an audit of the $85 million bond because $50 million had not been accounted for.

Mr. Aguilar got no response after several attempts.

When Mr. Aguilar finally caught up to Mr. Mathis to ask him personal-

ly why he never responded to his letters, Mr. Mathis said to Mr. Aguilar that he wouldn’t do it because he owed Dr. Benzeevi, CEO of HCCA, a favor.

Mathis denies the allegation.

Now HCCA has again been accused of a misuse of public funds. HCCA made a secret loan in March of 2016 of taxpayer money to the tune of $500,000 to Southern Inyo Health District in Lone Pine.

This loan happened without the knowledge or approval of the TRMC board and was only detected through the minutes of Lone Pine Hospital’s Board meeting.

TRMC, HCCA, and Southern Inyo Health District only have one public servant in common: Assemblyman Devon Mathis.

That common denominator connects generous campaign donations from HCCA, to not ordering the audit, to then recommending to Inyo County Supervisor Matt Kingsley that HCCA be the managing company for Southern Inyo Hospital District.

It’s nice to know that someone has Mr. Mathis’ ear.

As for my letter? Maybe I should have included a campaign donation.

At the end of the day I got a few sympathetic ears, a suggestion to contact the FBI and finally a representative willing to request an audit.

But we still don’t have an answer as to why the citizens of Tulare have been left to fight on their own a multi-million dollar company with its cadre of Los Angeles attorneys, PR experts and accountants.

We do know however that Mr. Mathis just accepted a recent donation of $4,400 from HCCA for his 2018 reelection campaign.

I wonder how that makes those TRMC employees feel whose pay checks have bounced?

Maybe the employees are just resigned in accepting “it’s the Tulare way.”

CATS, FOOD, AND THE MIRACLE ON THE WILLAMETTE RIVER

My older daughter, Teddy, who lives in Portland, called me crying at the beginning of August.

She was recovering from recent surgery, her roommate was leaving town, and she didn’t want to spend her 27th birthday alone.

Her and her brother’s birthday, my late son Alex, are only one week apart. She didn’t think she could handle that, either.

My youngest child, Mercedes, just turned 18, so I thought why shouldn’t I just hop on a plane? And while I’m at it I’ll stay for a couple of weeks and watch the eclipse.

Teddy was thrilled--then said, “What eclipse?”

Mercedes on the other hand was not thrilled.

She did not agree with my assessment that I am now a free woman and thought 18 was a pretty arbitrary number for me to pluck from the sky and consider her an adult.

Mercedes was always a clingy child.

Every time I left home she would peer

out the window and watch as my car disappeared down our long driveway and fret that I would never be back.

Teddy would tell her she is right, that I was going to get into a car accident and she would ever see me again.

At 12 years old, Teddy thought that was absolutely hilarious. Mercedes is still traumatized.

Not much has changed.

So I bought a one-way ticket, packed my carry-on, backpack and Nikes and waived goodbye to 100-plus degree heat.

To say that Portlanders are foodies is an understatement. The streets are lined with one restaurant after another, all full of happy diners whether it’s a weekend or the middle of the week.

For Teddy’s birthday we chose a place from the Food Network that hand stretched their noodles. Teddy pulled an almost three foot long noodle out of her soup that looked like something featured on Animal Planet’s The Monster Inside Me, but it was still delicious.

The next day Teddy’s scrawny kitten had goop in its eyes which warranted an emergency run to the vet.

This is where I need to apologize to all the Tulare County folk I accused of being crazy cat people, especially those who tend to the Mooney Grove cats.

Portlanders were about to put them all to shame.

I sat with my jaw in my lap as the

POLITICAL FIX continued on 10 »

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4 • Valley Voice

7 September, 2017

CHOICES Broadens Anti-Bullying Program Tulare County Office of Education Verbal, physical and psychological aggression can be forms of bullying when carried out over time with the intent to harm or disturb others. The consequences of bullying behaviors can include physical injury, social and emotional distress, depression, anxiety, sleep difficulties, and poor school adjustment for the victims. Youth who bully others are at increased risk for substance use, academic problems, and violence later in adolescence and adulthood.

Last year, the California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services (Cal OES) Victim Services & Public Safety Branch awarded the Tulare County Office of Education CHOICES Prevention Programs a two-year grant through its Bullying and School Violence Advocacy (XB) Program. The grant, which is being implemented this fall in 33 Tulare County CHOICES After School sites, will provide unprecedented levels of support to victims of bullying or school violence.

“The XB grant builds on the support we have been providing Tulare County school sites and their students,” said Adam Valencia, CHOICES extended learning program director. “With it, we have the ability to directly counsel and refer victims of bullying as we work alongside districts to strengthen their anti-bullying policies.”

CHOICES Prevention ProgramsThe XB grant will provide partner districts with an online reporting center for students to use in the event of bullying, plus training for administrators,

teachers, classified staff and students.

Sprigeo, the online reporting system used in Tulare County school districts since 2013, will serve as the tool for students, teachers and parents to report bullying incidents anonymously without fear of retaliation.

The system also has an administrative tool for identifying behavior trends and demonstrating accountability.

When a report is received through While physical and verbal forms of bullying are well known, psychological bullying, such as leaving someone out or the online reporting telling others not to be friends with someone, is equally harmful. Courtesy/TCOE The XB grant will serve to miti- to succeed academically are picked on system, CHOICES staff will contact the victim. Once con- gate incidents of bullying discovered in and over 62% of students indicated sent is provided, staff will arrange screen- a recent survey of Tulare County mid- “feeling left out” at their school. Nearly ing and assessment to develop a service dle and high school students conducted 15% of students in the survey have been plan that includes input from the victim. by CHOICES. In the spring of 2016, threatened with harm at school while Victor Carrillo, a Board Certified Be- CHOICES administered the nation- nearly 16% said they felt very afraid of havior Analyst with the Special Services ally-recognized PRIDE Learning En- being harmed while at school.

Gene Mendes, CHOICES school Division, will provide counseling and vironment Survey to capture informacreate a referral for additional services, tion about bullying, school climate and community liaison, reports that an onif needed. All referrals will be reviewed substance abuse with a sample of Tulare line bullying prevention resource page is to ensure the victim is receiving the ser- County students in 6th through 12th currently being developed for the TCOE vices needed. While TCOE will provide grades. The results of the survey illus- website. Visit tcoe.org later this month counseling to the victim of bullying and trated the impact of bullying on the lives for educational materials for school staff, school violence, referrals may be made of Tulare County youth. Over 30% of students and parents. For more inforto additional support services, including students indicated that bullying has in- mation on the CHOICES anti-bullythe California Victim Compensation terfered with their school work. Nearly ing program, call Mr. Mendes at (559) 32% indicated that students who strive 651-0155.

Board (CalVCB).

7 September, 2017

Valley Voice • 5

Latino Health Awareness Month Celebration for Sept. 8 Staff Reports In an effort to empower California’s Latino population to make healthier choices for their families, a Latino Health Awareness Month celebration will take place on Friday, Sept. 8, in Dinuba.

The event will take place from 5-8 p.m. at Entertainment Plaza, 289 S. L. St., in Dinuba. It is free and open to the public.

The event is hosted by Kaweah Delta, founders of the collaborative Network Leaders on the Move Tulare County Partnership, with the City of Dinuba, California Department of Public Health, and other organizations.

Such celebrations happen each September, when the California Department of Public Health’s Nutrition Education and Obesity Prevention Branch observes Latino Health Awareness Month (LHAM).

During the event, families will be engaged in nutrition and physical education activities. Physical education activities will include the Distance for Diabetes Walk – the first steps to encourage diabetics to be more physically active – and interactive children activities. Adults will also have the opportunity to learn firsthand how to create healthier changes in their community from resident community leaders. The event will also feature, a mini farmers’ market, health screenings, healthy recipe sampling, a thirst quenching alternative to sugary

beverages, raffles and much more.

“September is a month when we as Latinos are reminded to focus on our health and evaluate whether we need to make some changes,” said Eustolia Zamora-Bonilla, Community Health Worker II with Kaweah Delta’s Community Outreach Department. “Even the smallest changes can make a huge impact on our health.”

Alarmingly, obesity affects more than 32 percent of California Latino adults. Almost 40 percent of Latino adolescents are either overweight or obese,

according to the 2015 study, “Obesity in California.”

Also during the festival, attendees will learn how to “switch it up” by using traditional Latino recipes and incorporating more fruits and vegetables and by cooking with less oils and fats.

Additionally, attendees will learn the importance of drinking more water and the significance of cutting down on sugar-sweetened beverages such as sodas and energy drinks. Research shows that sugar-sweetened beverages comprise the largest source of added sugar and are associated with increased rates of obesity and other chronic conditions such as type 2 diabetes.

Kaweah Delta is a publicly-owned community healthcare organization that provides comprehensive health services to the greater Visalia region and Tulare County. For more information, visit www. kaweahdelta.org.

Students Find the Right Path at Porterville College Staff Reports Porterville College has announced that AT&T will be making a $20,000 contribution to the college’s innovative completion pathway program.

The contribution is part of AT&T Aspire, the company’s signature philanthropic initiative and financial commitment of $400 million since 2008 to drive innovation in education and promote student success in school and beyond.

“AT&T’s support for our Pathways Program will help increase the number of students who transition from high school to college and into successful careers,” said Dr. Rosa F. Carlson, President, Porterville College. “The programs this contribution will help fund gives our students the skills required to compete in today’s economy.”

The $20,000 contribution will be used to support the Pathway Program; a dual enrollment program where underserved high school and GED students learn about career options in industrial

technology.

The Pathways Program provides a pipeline from the high school career pathway academies at the Porterville Unified School District. The funding will also allow Porterville College to expand offerings and support to enable adults to complete a job skills certificate in industrial technology and/or a certificate of achievement in industrial maintenance.

“Through AT&T Aspire, we are investing in San Joaquin Valley’s students to give them the opportunity to learn

and to prepare them for success,” said Julie Tone, Director of External Affairs, AT&T California.

The training and education will focus in the fields of industrial technology specifically in welding, programmable logic controllers, electronics, applied mathematics, safety, and general industrial maintenance are necessary to enable adults and youth to attain skills needed to be competitive in the job market and to secure entry to mid-level positions in industry as industrial technicians.

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6 • Valley Voice

7 September, 2017

Agriculture Gentert Promoted to Deputy Agricultural Commissioner Staff Reports Former Agricultural & Standards Inspector IV, Marianna Gentert, has been promoted to the position of Deputy Agricultural Commissioner by Tulare’s Agricultural Commissioner/Sealer, Marilyn Kinoshita. She assumed office August 7, 2017.

Gentert grew up in the area on a

dairy farm and her father is in the hay business. She attended California State University, Fresno, graduating with her Bachelors of Science degree in Agriculture Economics with a specialty in Agriculture Appraisal in 2006. She

spent six years as a Tulare Agriculture Inspector before being promoted.

Gentert will be in charge of one of our department’s most demanding positions as the Deputy in charge of Pesticide Use Enforcement.

“Marianna already knows many of our growers and pest control businesses and has several years of experience dealing with ever-changing regulations,” Kinoshita said. “We congratulate Marianna and are confident that she will continue to serve our industry and the public with dedication.”

Dairy Producers Can Enroll for 2018 Margin Program Staff Reports The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Farm Service Agency (FSA) today announced that starting Sept. 1, 2017, dairy producers can enroll for 2018 coverage in the Margin Protection Program (MPP-Dairy). Secretary Sonny Perdue has utilized additional flexibility this year by providing dairy producers the option of opting out of the program for 2018.

“Secretary Perdue is using his authority to allow producers to withdraw from the MPP Dairy Program and not pay the annual administrative fee for 2018,” said Acting Deputy Under Secretary for Farm Production and Conservation Rob Johansson. “The decision is in response to requests by the dairy industry and a number of MPP-Dairy program participants.”

To opt out, a producer should not

sign up during the annual registration period.

By opting out, a producer would not receive any MPP-Dairy benefits if payments are triggered for 2018. Full details will be included in a subsequent Federal Register Notice. The decision would be for 2018 only and is not retroactive.

The voluntary program, established by the 2014 Farm Bill, provides financial assistance to participating dairy producers when the margin – the difference between the price of milk and feed costs – falls below the coverage level selected by the producer.

MPP-Dairy gives participating dairy producers the flexibility to select coverage levels best suited for their operation.

Enrollment ends on Dec. 15, 2017, for coverage in calendar year 2018. Participating farmers will remain in the program through Dec. 31, 2018, and pay a minimum $100 administrative fee for

2018 coverage. Producers have the option of selecting a different coverage level from the previous coverage year during open enrollment.

Dairy operations enrolling in the program must meet conservation compliance provisions and cannot participate in the Livestock Gross Margin Dairy Insurance Program.

Producers can mail the appropriate form to the producer’s administrative county FSA office, along with applicable fees, without necessitating a trip to the local FSA office.

If electing higher coverage for 2018, dairy producers can either pay the premium in full at the time of enrollment or pay 100 percent of the premium by Sept. 1, 2018. Premium fees may be paid directly to FSA or producers can work with their milk handlers to remit premiums on their behalf.

USDA has a web tool to help pro-

ducers determine the level of coverage under the MPP-Dairy that will provide them with the strongest safety net under a variety of conditions.

The online resource, available at www.fsa.usda.gov/mpptool, allows dairy farmers to quickly and easily combine unique operation data and other key variables to calculate their coverage needs based on price projections. Producers can also review historical data or estimate future coverage based on data projections.

The secure site can be accessed via computer, Smartphone, tablet or any other platform, 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

For more information, visit FSA online at www.fsa.usda.gov/dairy or stop by a local FSA office to learn more about the MPP-Dairy. To find a local FSA office in your area, visit http://offices.usda.gov.

Manure Management Program Grants Available Staff Reports The California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) has begun accepting applications for the Alternative Manure Management Program (AMMP).

The AMMP is one of two programs designed by CDFA to reduce overall greenhouse gas emissions.

The program will provide $9-16 million dollars in grants to California dairy and livestock operators to implement non-digester manure management practices that reduce their methane emissions.

Earth First Construction, a California educational non-profit organization, under a grant from the CDFA is holding four Technical Assistance Workshops.

These workshops will provide technical assistance with the application process and are free of charge.

At the two-hour workshop participants will learn about the application process, scoring and how to submit the SALES, SERVICE, RENTAL AG EQUIPMENT & TRUCK REPAIR

application through the online application tool, the Financial Assistance Application Submittal Tool (FAAST).

Applications and all supporting information must be submitted electronically using FAAST by Monday, October 2, 2017 at 5:00 p.m. PDT. In addition to the four workshops underwritten by a grant from the CDFA and the California Strategic Growth Council, Earth First Construction is offering the Manure Solutions Seminar.

This three-hour seminar includes these speakers and topics: Jeff Weisel, Dairy Advisor, Chosen Acres, “Separating Solids and Green Bedding” Lew Douglas, CEO, Urth Agriculture, “Microbial Solutions for Manure and Forage” Dick Wullaert, CEO, Bioguard Industries, “Functional Water – Water that Serves a Purpose” Ed Ober, Director, Sustainable Practices Associates, “Key Factors in Writing Successful Grants”

This Seminar will be held one time at the International Agri-Center in Tulare on September 11, 2017 from 9:00 to 12:00 pm.

Door opens at 8:30 am. The seminar is registration cost is $125. However, if a participant registers for both the Technical Assistance workshop and the Seminar then the registration cost is only $50 a savings of $75. Complete details and registration available at www.ManureSolutions.org The free of charge Technical Assistance workshop is being offered on the following dates and times: Monday, September 11, 2:00 – 4:00 pm at the International Agri-Center, Tulare Tuesday, September 12 at the Tulare County Library in Visalia, the workshop will be held from 9:00 am to 11:00 am; at 2:00 pm to 4:00 pm and from 4:30 pm to 6:30 pm.

Friday, September 15 at the Tulare County Agricultural Commissioner’s offices in Tulare, from 10:00 am – 12:00 pm at 4437 S Laspina, Tulare, CA 93274.

For complete details and registration visit www.ManureSolutions.org.

Space is limited to 40 people at the Seminar and either 20 or 40 people at each workshop depending on the location.

The AMMP is part of California Climate Investments, a statewide program that puts billions of cap-and-trade dollars to work reducing greenhouse gas emissions, strengthening the economy and improving public health and the environment—particularly in disadvantaged communities.

The cap-and-trade program also creates a financial incentive for industries to invest in clean technologies and develop innovative ways to reduce pollution.

California Climate Investment projects include affordable housing, renewable energy, public transportation, zero-emission vehicles, environmental restoration, more sustainable agriculture, recycling and much more.

At least 35 percent of these investments are made in disadvantaged and low-income communities. For more information, visit California Climate Investments.

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Valley Voice • 7

Agriculture Lilly Pimentel Honored With KCFB President’s Award Staff Reports Lilly Pimentel, ag teacher for Hanford Joint Union High School District, will be honored with the President’s Award at Kings County Farm Bureau’s Annual Meeting on Tuesday, Oct. 17.

Annual Meeting is an opportunity to celebrate Kings County Farm Bureau’s 99 successful years advocating for agriculture and to honor those in the community that support their efforts.

Part of the Annual Meeting tradition is for Kings County Farm Bureau’s board president to honor an individual or group that has gone above and beyond in their service to the local ag industry. President Josh Bettencourt selected Lilly Pimentel for this year’s President’s Award, citing her enduring commitment to ag education both in and out of the classroom and an incredible passion for cultivating the future leaders of agriculture.

“Whether she’s mentoring FFA students or volunteering as a 4-H club leader, Lilly is extremely generous with her time and always goes above and beyond the call of duty,” Bettencourt said. “She dedicates countless hours each year to ensuring local youth of all ages gain valuable life skills, such as leadership, public

speaking, problem solving and accountability through agricultural experiences and activities.”

The daughter of local dairy farmers Joe and Esther Pimentel, Lilly Pimentel was born and raised in Hanford, graduating from Hanford High in 1992. She attended College of the Sequoias before going on to receive her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in ag education from Cal Poly San Luis Obispo. In 2001, she was hired as an ag teacher at her alma mater.

Having been raised on a dairy and being an active member of both 4-H and FFA, becoming an ag teacher was a natural fit.

“I have such a passion for agriculture that it seemed like teaching it would be right up my alley,” Pimentel said. “Being an ag teacher is a commitment that goes beyond an 8 to 3 job, but everyone who knows me knows what a heart I have for youth.”

As an ag teacher and FFA advisor, Pimentel teaches a number of classes designed to prepare students for rewarding careers in agriculture and she has coached several Hanford FFA judging teams to a number of impressive wins. She volunteers her time as a Kings River 4-H club leader and advisor, and sits on the

Kings County 4-H Council’s board of directors. She serves on the June Dairy Month committee and is the secretary for the Foundation for Vocational Agriculture, the organization that raised the funds to build Hanford FFA’s new farm and learning laboratory. She’s a member of California Women for Agriculture and St. Brigid Catholic Church.

“KCFB is grateful for the many different roles that Lily serves in our ag community–leader, teacher, advisor, counselor and mentor–and it’s a pleasure to honor her with this award for her important contribution to Kings County agriculture,” Bettencourt said.

The annual meeting will be held at the Hanford Civic Auditorium on Tuesday, Oct. 17. It will begin with a social hour at 5:30 p.m., followed by dinner

at 6:30. Tickets are $75 each and can be purchased at the KCFB office, 870 Greenfield Ave. in Hanford.

The Kings County Farm Bureau is a non-profit advocacy organization that represents approximately 800 members of the agricultural community. Their mission is to provide education, promotion and representation of agriculture.

More information is available at www.kcfb.org.

Department of Water Resources Adopts Flood Plan Update Christine Souza, CFBF The flooding catastrophe in Texas and along the Gulf Coast as a result of Hurricane Harvey is a reality check for those living in flood-prone areas, including in California.

Coincidentally, the day before Harvey caused such devastating flooding, on Aug. 25 the Central Valley Flood Protection Board—under the California Department of Water Resources—adopted the 2017 Central Valley Flood Prevention Plan Update. The update, required under the Central Valley Flood Protection Act of 2008, is meant to improve the Central Valley system of state and federal-backed levees.

The updated flood plan released in late August is designed to improve flood protection for over 1 million Californians and $70 billion in homes, businesses and infrastructure, and is the first five-year update since the plan was initially adopted in 2012.

Taking a new approach to flood management, DWR’s strategy relies in part on use of farmland to create new “flood space” or system flow capacity that would come from new setback levees and bypass expansions. By taking a “multi-benefit approach,” DWR also intends to restore river health and increase floodplain habitat for fish and wildlife. Other goals could include groundwater recharge, decreasing the risk of Delta levee failures, improving water quality and preserving agriculture.

DWR’s 2012 plan caused controversy after proposing that 40,000 acres of farmland be used for bypass expansions (30,000 acres would remain farmable subject to flood easements and seasonal flooding), with 10,000 acres set aside for permanent habitat.

Richard Reinhardt, engineer for

A flood management plan by the state Department of Water Resources involves expansion of setback levees and bypasses, as well as retaining productive agriculture and increasing floodplain habitat, such as benefitting salmon on the Yolo Bypass. Kate Campbell/CFBF

MBK Engineers based in Sacramento, and representative for the Central California Flood Control Association, said DWR involved local stakeholders, so the updated plan has therefore taken “a more targeted approach.”

“The mistake they made in 2012 is they took a broad brush approach and said, ‘we’re going to take these agricultural lands and put them into the bypasses and 25 percent of that land we’ll put into habitat,’” Reinhardt said. “What you often see from state and federal government is topdown planning. Whereas, we went in and talked to the property owners, talked to the reclamation districts and counties and devised a plan that they could get behind.

“Everybody is giving up something, but they are getting something in return,” Reinhardt said.

Under the flood plan update, Reinhardt said, DWR divided the area into six geographic regions, “providing money so that those regions could organize themselves and build stakeholder consensus on a vision for flood management. To the extent that that vision matched the state’s goals, the (local) plan would be eligible for grant funding for implementation.”

Knowing that DWR’s vision for the entire flood control system could not be accomplished immediately, Reinhardt said, the department proposes focusing over the next decade, on a phased series of levee setback and weir widening plans for

the Yolo Bypass and for Paradise Cut off of the San Joaquin River.

While some improvements have been made, Justin Fredrickson, environmental policy analyst for the California Farm Bureau Federation, said “Concerns still remain for farmers in and adjacent to bypasses.” These include: agricultural conversion and compatibility issues, disagreement on bypass expansions, questions about levee financing and proposed fees and reservations about conservation strategy habitat targets.

“Land retirement shouldn’t be the only option when it comes to agricultural resources. Not only Paradise Cut, but other areas where they just widen the areas and take the land out of production,” said San Joaquin Farm Bureau Federation Executive Director Bruce Blodgett. “That’s some of our most valuable land and our

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7 September, 2017

Tulare Hospital Board Forced to Meet in Gym Lobby Tony Maldonado An issue of competing agendas for Tulare’s hospital meeting cleared itself up August 23, when officials with Healthcare Conglomerate Associates (HCCA) abruptly cancelled Wednesday’s scheduled regular meeting.

But one was still held anyway — by Kevin Northcraft, Mike Jamaica, and Senovia Gutierrez.

Linda Wilbourn and Richard Torrez were absent again — because Wilbourn had resigned and Torrez was unable to attend. A notice posted at the Evolutions gym stated that because of Wilbourn’s resignation and Torrez’s inability to attend, the meeting would be cancelled for lack of a quorum.

In a letter posted outside Evolutions, Wilbourn stated she was resigning her post effective Wednesday at noon.

The letter was addressed to Dr. Benny Benzeevi, CEO of Healthcare Conglomerate Associates, and Bruce Greene, attorney for HCCA. Northcraft stated that didn’t matter — the meeting would be held in Evolutions’ parking lot, if it came down to it, because a majority of the board was there.

He stated he didn’t receive notice of the resignation and cancellation until 3:15pm, while Jamaica said he received no notice at all. Outside legal counsel didn’t appear to receive any notice either: Carlo Coppo, a Carlsbad-based attorney representing the district in multiple lawsuits, was present as well.

A notice of the meeting’s cancellation was posted on HCCA’s website at 3:27pm.

“I’m still trying to absorb everything. We had some of our insurance attorneys that came down from down south to attend this meeting,” Jamaica said, referring to Coppo, “and be in the closed session, and no one informed them about it until they got here, like the rest of us.” “[I got] no notification at all, other than coming here and reading about it,” he said.

One thing was clear — the meeting would not be held in the conference room of Evolutions.

As more citizens filed into the Evolutions lobby, multiple officers from the Tulare Police Department appeared in the gym and could be seen inside talking to security officers and board members before the meeting began, though no arrests were made.

Ultimately, Northcraft, Gutierrez and Jamaica stood in front of a half-wall at Evolutions, limited to five minutes’ total to hold their public meeting session.

No action was taken on the public session items. Instead, Northcraft addressed the public and stated that the true meat of the meeting would be in closed session — where the board would address multiple lawsuits the district is facing.

“We have about five minutes to conduct a brief meeting,” Northcraft said.

“The most important part of the night’s meeting is in closed session, so we’re working with every attorney who represents the hospital.”

Northcraft stated a security guard gave him the five minute deadline.

Northcraft announced Wilbourn’s

resignation to cheers from the crowd, stating that the board will start the application process for a replacement to take the rest of her term.

He stated that the group had been “locked out” of the hospital’s facilities, and that the closed session could not take place at the hospital’s administration building as planned. Instead, the closed session was held at the Tulare Masonic Lodge.

No officials from Healthcare Conglomerate Associates were available at the meeting, which was slated to include discussion of the hospital’s finances and upcoming budget.

New Lawsuit Filed

Absent from both agendas was a lawsuit recently filed by Maxim Healthcare Services against the hospital.

The suit, filed against “Healthcare Conglomerate Associates, LLC d/b/a Tulare Regional Medical Center,” claims that the company is owed $160,645.35 for services rendered to the hospital, joining Graham Prewitt and Specialty Laboratories, Inc. in those seeking payment.

The three suits total $299,305.21 in alleged debts.

The suit was the same previously mentioned by Visalia attorney Michael Lampe at the board’s August 9 meeting.

Wilbourn’s Resignation

In her resignation, Wilbourn defended her voting record from criticism.

“When I was elected as Zone 5 Director, my only goal and agenda was to further the completion of the new tower project to bring our hospital into Cal-

ifornia state earthquake compliance before the 2030 state deadline,” Wilbourn wrote. “To my mind the every penny spent on or in the hospital hinges on the district finishing that tower. The very existence of the hospital is tied to the tower completion.”

“Every day since I was elected to this board, I have worked towards that goal. Since November 2016, the board makeup has significantly changed their direction and agenda. My goals do not seem to mesh with theirs any longer. The completion of the Tower has now taken a back seat to personal agendas and egos,” Wilbourn wrote.

Wilbourn stated she would be moving out of her zone by year’s end, and that “it would be best if I leave the Board at this time.”

“Let it be known to all that EVERY and I repeat EVERY vote I have cast in both open and closed session have what I feel has been best for Tulare Regional Medical Center, the employees of that hospital and for all the people of Tulare Local Healthcare District,” Wilbourn wrote.

“My votes have never been influenced by others, but what I felt were the best for TRMC.” She stated that the unique partnership between HCCA and the District could serve as a model for district hospitals throughout the nation, “if everyone opens their minds and starts thinking out of the box.”

Wilbourn stated that she would continue to support the hospital and the Tulare Hospital Foundation, and also gave her best to Greene as well.

7 September, 2017

Tulare City Hall Continued from 1

ity,” he said.

Hensley also expressed concern for the safety of library patrons while TCLHD meetings are in progress.

Mayor on the Spot

Infighting at the hospital, both among board members, and between new board members and management firm Health Care Conglomerate Associates (HCCA), has led to canceled meetings, and recently to a lockout of the majority of the Board at TLHCD’s Evolutions fitness facility.

At the City Council meeting held August 1, Jones named the TLHCD Board’s contentious meetings as the reason for revisiting the policy for renting the Council Chambers, with the possibility of excluding them.

At the August 15 meeting, he denied that connection or that he had referenced it, but the Mayor was met with resistance in the form of his own words, and it came from a handful of individuals who have been at the forefront of the ongoing trouble at TLHCD. “I was quite shocked at your comments that had complete untruths in them,” former TLHCD board member Deanne Martin-Soares said during the public comment period.

She then quoted Jones’s comments from the previous meeting.

“If you’ve ever been in recent times to the meetings they [TLHCD] have at their facility, they go pretty negative, to the point [hospital board members] have been threatened,” Jones said at the August 1 Council meeting. “To protect our public and our library, they [TLHCD] shouldn’t be allowed to have meetings in our chambers.”

Loyalties Questioned

Martin-Soares agreed the TLHCD meetings are contentious, saying HCCA intentionally encourages the chaotic atmosphere.

HCCA and its CEO Dr. Yorai “Benny” Benzeevi both donated separately to Jones’ campaign, as well as that of Councilwoman Maritsa Castellanoz, leading Martin-Soares to question the pair’s loyalty and motives.

Jones, she said, has accused Citizens for Hospital Accountability, a group she helps lead, with wanting a war with the

e

Th

Valley Voice • 9 TLHCD Board.

“I find it extremely offensive that you call these chambers ‘our chambers,’ referencing the Council,” she said. “As a business owner, a homeowner and a taxpaying citizen, I find these comments to be extremely arrogant and self-serving.

These chambers are the community’s, not for the five of you to use them as you see fit.”

Alberto Aguilar, a former member of the bond oversight committee tasked with monitoring spending of funds intended for expansion of Tulare Regional Medical Center, an issue that became the focus of a negative report by the Tulare County Grand Jury, agreed with Martin-Soares’ sentiments.

“We have people [on the Council] that supported the hospital, and they don’t want to go ahead and let go of the fact that the person who was there has been recalled and is no longer there,” he said. “It is not about this facility. It’s time we put politics aside, Mr. Jones, Maritsa, and we start doing what’s best for the city.”

Jones Responds

“I’m sorry if you think that if one of my friends donated money to my campaign, they buy my vote. Nobody buys my vote. I’m better than that,” he said.

“Kumar’s out. Senovia [Gutierrez is] in.

Make something happen. Stop arguing.

Stop fighting.”

At the center of the disquiet among the Council were Jones and newly elected Councilman Jose Sigala, who immediately contradicted Jones about his motives for changing the rental policy.

“Everyone is welcome to read the minutes of the last meeting, and you’ll see the reason why this is on the agenda,” he said, referring to Jones’ comments at the Council meeting on the evening of August 1.

This seemed to also contradict another of Jones’ earlier comments.

“I apologize to anyone who thought the reason this was on the agenda was you’re going to come see a knock-out, drag-out, ugly meeting,” Jones had said.

“We’re not going to have that.”

The exchange between Jones and Sigala came in the middle of the hourslong discussion.

Moments earlier, Sigala had stopped while talking over policy amendments with City Attorney Heather Phillips, announcing Jones had quietly asked him to be more respectful to her.

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“Just real quick, the Mayor is telling me to not be disrespectful to you, and I believe I’m not,” Sigala said. “If I am, I apologize. He’s whispering in my ear to not be disrespectful, but I’m asking questions I think are legitimate.”

Phillips agreed Sigala was respectful and that his questions were germane.

Hospital is the Cause

Sigala’s remarks to Phillips regarded why no written recommendation was presented to the Council and established why the policy was being revisited.

“I made it very clear that this issue was highlighted based on something that occurred following a hospital board meeting,” Phillips said. “That is the reason why the Mayor brought this up as an item of concern and wanted to look at that.”

The agenda, which the city’s attorney agreed was poorly worded, included the possibility of a vote to change policy at the August 15 meeting.

Policy changes, she said, were needed not specifically because of the issues with TLHCD meetings.

City staff has expressed concerns, she said, as have members of the public.

“It’s simply what highlighted this issue for the city, and that’s why we’re talking about it today,” she said.

Councilman Greg Nunley then reminded all involved of the lasting and widespread effects of any decision they may make.

“This is more of a policy to treat not just for the hospital, but everyone who wants to use this room, fairly and consistently,” he said. “So, I know we’re going to be talking about the hospital here, but whatever we vote on here tonight or dis-

cuss, it’s not just the hospital using this room; it’s everyone else, every citizen, everyone else that wants to use this room.

That’s what we’re talking about.”

Options on the Table

Phillips presented the Council with a pair of directions for revision of the current policy.

The first would limit use by groups other than the city to the hours when the library is open, set guidelines for behavior, and require renters to state the number of attendees they expect.

The policy should name the misbehavior that could lead to a ban, she said.

A second option would end rentals to outside groups entirely.

Councilman David Macedo, however, presented a third option.

City Services Director Rob Hunt maintains the city can find no one willing to work the minimal hours the city offers for the minimum wage the city is willing to pay to keep the room open after the library closes at 7pm.

Certainly, he said, no one at that pay-grade would be qualified to operate the complicated and costly audio-visual equipment there.

Yet Macedo feels it’s important the city make the room as available as it can to as many people as possible, including offering it for after-hours use.

“I don’t think we want to stop anybody from using this room,” he said.

“Let’s look at what it would look like if we let it go to 7:30 or 8 o’clock.”

Any changes to policy were to be voted on at the September 5 meeting.

The next meeting of the Tulare City Council is 7pm Tuesday, September 12, at the Tulare Public Library, 475 North M Street.

10 • Valley Voice

Flood

Continued from 7 best soil along these rivers. In terms of floodplains, we want to see areas maintain their agricultural productivity.”

For the Yolo Bypass expansion, according to a basin-wide feasibility study that supports the 2017 update, which has local support, DWR’s preferred option involves some 10,300 acres of land, of which DWR assumes 25 percent would be converted to habitat, with 75 percent likely retained in some form of agriculture, at an estimated cost of $1.8 to $2.4 billion, Fredrickson said. That’s in contrast to a preferred option supported by local flood agencies, consisting of roughly some 4,550 acres, at an estimated cost of $1.5

Political Fix Continued from 3

vet and Teddy cooed for 15 minutes over how her scrawny, and quite honestly pretty ugly, kitten fell asleep on the pillow next to her shoulder even though she was in the doctor’s office. Gasp!

The appointment hadn’t even started yet so I thought I’d collect my sanity in the reception area. There I saw a flyer for what I initially thought was a home garden tour. But I read it again and realized it was a “catio” home tour – “catio” being a play on the word “patio.”

Cat fanatics were invited to tour homes that had enclosed their patios to create a kitty play ground that simulated the real outdoors. Why they couldn’t just open their front door, give their cat a quick kick in the rear, then close the door behind them, I don’t know.

7 September, 2017 to $2 billion.

David Burroughs, president of the Yuba-Sutter County Farm Bureau, said landowners in Yolo County are not necessarily opposed to the Yolo Bypass expansion south of their area, but it is a different story to the north.

“There may be some opportunities for strategic levee setbacks to straighten out bends in the river and flood points, but we do not agree with the notion of wholesale levee setbacks in Yuba-Sutter,” Burroughs said. “In Sutter, they want to convert 50 percent of agriculture to riparian habitat. We oppose that.”

Burroughs suggested that DWR consider the deterioration of the Oroville Dam spillway and how that has impacted the downstream channels.

“They need to restore channel capac-

ities to the original specs. They need to be cleaning them up and removing the debris. There are millions of cubic yards of material in all of the channels that need to be removed,” Burroughs said. “This plan was put into place before the Oroville debacle and that has exacerbated the loss of channel capacity.”

In addition to bypass expansions, the flood plan update includes a conservation strategy to restore habitat. Fredrickson said of the strategy, “One of the things we fought hard for and was included is strong language that agriculture is a wise and compatible use of the floodplain that should be mitigated for and maintained as a dominant use.”

Fredrickson added, “another key concession was clear language that the conservation strategy is a planning tool only,

with no regulatory effect.”

To fund the plan’s implementation, which is estimated to cost up to $20 billion over a 20- to 25-year period, DWR included three new fee mechanisms, expected to be a topic of debate in the next phase of planning.

Fredrickson noted that one proposal is “reactivating the Sacramento-San Joaquin Drainage District fee, where lands benefitted by the flood project would be assessed and monies used to maintain and improve levees.” A second idea is a river basin assessment in landowners are assessed and funds used for water and flood projects within each watershed. The third proposal involves a proposed state flood insurance program.

This article reprinted with the permission of the CA Farm Bureau Federation.

Too bad I wasn’t going to be in town for the catio tour but we did have time to make reservations at Purrington’s cat lounge. It’s the only cat lounge in the Pacific Northwest, and for eight bucks you can spend 45 minutes sipping vanilla chai while being ignored and scoffed at by “adoptable” cats.

I did glean some useful information while waiting at the vet’s. The front desk ladies gave me the lowdown on the local news about the eclipse. They said they were already stressed out even though it was still ten days away.

Portland alone, with a population of 600,000, was expecting 500,000 visitors in the span of two days. The local news was reporting that Oregon was going to possibly deploy the National Guard to handle the crowds, that the state was going to run out of gas, and that the store shelves would be empty.

I had been toying with the idea of

driving to the cute little Oregon town of Madras the morning of the eclipse to experience totality. But then I discovered that Madras was “ground zero” for all the eclipse fanatics and that several hundred thousand people had thought about it before I had.

There wasn’t going to be totality in Portland, but I decided after hearing of the impending chaos, I could live with 99.6%. So Teddy and I bought our Fred Myers eclipse glasses early and planned on watching it along the Willamette River behind Teddy’s apartment building.

Teddy and I did touristy things during the day and cooked dinner and chatted in her apartment every evening.

I would end my night walking along the riverfront while she caught up on Big Brother or America’s Got Talent.

On the day of the eclipse we bought a caramel latte and joined the crowd that had started to accumulate on the river walk.

We put on our glasses and sat Indian style on the ground watching the sun disappear behind the moon. The light turned an eerie grey, the shadows filtering through the trees formed little crescents, the birds and crickets stopped singing and the traffic went silent.

At the peak of the eclipse the street lamps lining the river flickered on as if it were dusk. And as I sat there knee to knee with Teddy I forgot about the rest of the world. I forgot that I lost my son, I forgot about the eviction and all the lawsuits. We just sat there in total peace enjoying a miracle of the universe and the miracle of being a mother and daughter.

Woodlake

place for community meetings, and add to the continual beautification of downtown.”

Plans for the 12,000 square-foot building reveal a full kitchen, a full gym, the senior center, council chambers and offices for the city’s water/sewer department.

“It will be built to modern standards – a state-of-the-art building,” Mendoza said, which will include public computers and Wi-Fi. With heating and air conditioning, the center will undoubtedly be used as a cooling center in hot summer months as well, he added.

Mendoza hopes the facility will also attract the attention of local Boys & Girls Club to potentially start a program there.

“The project is funded by general funds for all portions, except the water/ sewer offices which will be funded by water/sewer funds,” Lara said. “The city has allocated current funds to repay the ($3 million) note.”

“It’s going to serve a multitude of purposes,” Chief Marquez said, “It will be great to have the center, for the community to gather and participate in public meetings. It will offer a place for seniors to go during the day and will be open into the evening hours with computers, and internet, for research or to do homework.”

Continued from 1

Council entered into an agreement with the Woodlake Lions Club which allowed the City to acquire the property that would allow the city to build the Woodlake Plaza and Woodlake Community Center.

The property, which had formerly also had an old building, had been owned by Francis J. White, a prominent Woodlake citizen for which a local school is named. He gave the property to the club. The old building has since been removed.

At a special council meeting in August, city council awarded the construction project to the “lowest responsive bidder” from a field of five, the Klassen Corporation, from Bakersfield. Work is set to begin within the next week or two.

The project is expected to take about a year to complete.

The reported estimate building cost is nearly $4 million, with $3 million coming through a 40-year loan.

“I can tell you that this is a project that’s overdue,” said Mayor Rudy Mendoza. “It’s a continuation of our renaissance period.”

The center, Mendoza said, “will house the senior center, be a gathering

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7 September, 2017

Valley Voice • 11

John Cox, Gubernatorial Candidate, Speaks in Woodlake Brendon Alexander Republican candidate for governor, John Cox, called Woodlake Mayor Rudy Mendoza for an endorsement last month. Mendoza’s response was that the small Central Valley towns are tired of being a fly-by zone for politicians a nd encouraged him to visit the Valley. Cox did one better and came to Woodlake for a campaign stop.

On August 21, Cox arrived for the grand tour of Woodlake then held a meet and greet at the Woodlake Veteran’s Memorial Building. He said his quest was to visit as much of California as possible, leaving no stone unturned.

Raised by a single mother on the south side of Chicago, Cox built his own business from scratch to having assets of over $200 million with almost 100 employees over a 35-year period. He is a firm believer in community service and that ideal neighbors should help one another.

The discussion during the meet and

Exeter

Continued from 1 Voters voted against it twice, but the city still had to comply.

With a population of 131,000, Visalia broke down into five districts for five council members, with at least one having to contain more than a 55% Hispanic vote, to comply with CVRA. Exeter has a population of 10,500 people - 4,200 of whom are registered voters. The districts could potentially have less than 1,000 registered voters.

Groom said he just never thought this would come to Exeter, being such a small town.

“It just doesn’t seem practical,” he said. “Do you give up, or fight them?”

To-date he said, no city – large or small - that has fought the implementation of the CVRA has won.

Many have just decided not to fight.

Palmdale, Groom said, spent $3 million fighting and lost.

This was also documented in the attorney’s letter to Exeter.

Huntington Beach has a pretty good argument and is still in the battle, he added.

There, out of a population of 190,000, only 38,200 are Hispanic and they are spread out throughout the city.

Breaking their seven-person council into districts will not help rally for a Hispanic on council, as there cannot be a 55% Hispanic vote in any given district.

However, Groom fears they will lose their battle, too.

Exeter has a 46% Hispanic population. It should not be difficult to come up with one or more districts with the 55% Hispanic vote mandated.

Complying with the attorney’s demands will cost the city approximately $30,000, at a time when it had already made severe cuts to meet its budget.

That cost also does not include staff research time.

“I don’t object to the concept,” Groom said. “It just seems disingenuous.”

It also goes against the Exeter Charter, which says elections will take place at-large.

Nonetheless, Exeter “has taken action to consider transitioning to a dis-

greet ranged from healthcare to immigration. Cox also expressed his opposition to Proposition 57, which allows parole consideration for non-violent felons. He suggested that California needs to crackdown on crime rather than get soft.

But it seemed that a main focus was Cox taking a stance on was corruption in Sacramento. Cox said that California needs “fundamental change” and that he is going bring the “Golden State” back to the people as opposed to the special interests who he says are the problem with California today.

The question that everybody had in mind was why Woodlake? Cox’s answer was that his agenda includes giving every Californian a voice. He said whether one lives in an urban community or a rural community it doesn’t matter. Cox even discussed his opponent, Republican candidate for governor Travis Allen, suggesting that he won’t be in the running for much longer. Mendoza hadn’t heard about this but pointed out that Allen would have a difficult time fulfill-

trict-based voting system to select its City Council Members, replacing its current at-large election system,” Groom has posted to the city’s website.

The city had until September 2 to get back to the attorney, “to discuss a voluntary change to your current atlarge system.”

Otherwise, the letter stated, “on behalf of the residents within the jurisdiction, we will be forced to seek judicial relief.”

No “residents” were specifically identified, however, Exeter is moving forward.

The process, Groom stated is as follows: Under Government Code § 34886 and Elections Code § 10010, the process of conversion consists of: two public hearings; the drawing of draft maps; two additional public hearings; and finally, adoption of an ordinance selecting a district map and establishing the process by which staggered district elections will be implemented. If approved, a district-based election system could be phased in over two election cycles starting in November of 2018 with full implementation in 2020. Each district would elect one Councilmember to a four-year term.

On August 22, 2017, the City Council adopted a Resolution of Intention stating that the City will consider establishing district- based elections for City Council members. Under statutory safe harbor provisions, the process of conversion proceeds as follows: First public hearing (to be held immediately following adoption of the resolution) Second public hearing (within 30 days of First public hearing) Release draft map or maps to the public (not less than 7 days before 3rd public hearing) Third public hearing Fourth public hearing (within 45 days of the release of draft map(s)) Introduction and adoption of implementing ordinance (adoption must occur within 90 days of the resolution of intention and not less than 7 days after release of final map to be adopted) In order to stay within the State’s safe harbor protections and avoid potentially costly legal exposure in the event of a CVRA

John Cox and Rudy Mendoza at an event on August 21. Brendon Alexander/Valley Voice

ing his legislative duties in the Assembly while putting 100% into a demanding campaign.

Cox is a private businessperson who has never held public office. He reported that he has already raised $3 million for

his campaign. Mendoza said Cox’ business experience is what makes him an attractive choice for governor and that the candidate is part of a national trend of business people running for public office.

challenge, this process must be completed within a short 90-day window.

Initiating the process does not require that the City convert to district-based elections. The City Council must subsequently adopt an ordinance to accomplish that result. By remaining within the timing constraints of the safe-harbor statute, the City will limit its exposure to potential litigants if it ultimately transitions to district-based voting.

To comply with a 90-day deadline,

Exeter held its first public hearing on September 5. A second hearing is scheduled for Tuesday, September 12. Draft maps are scheduled for completion by October 2, and a third hearing is scheduled for October 10 which will include the drafted maps and a final hearing is set for October 17 with the introduction of an ordinance.

At a regular council meeting on November 14, it is anticipated that adoption of an ordinance will take place.

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12 • Valley Voice

7 September, 2017

Cemetery Continued from 1

$15,000 a month to contract out the ground’s maintenance.

Members of Caring Cause, Deal and Gilson feel that with seven fulltime, full benefit employees they should be able maintain the grounds themselves. They contend several employees are too disabled or sick to physically do the maintenance work and need to be replaced with those who can.

After a year of going to the board meetings and seeing little change Hollingsworth came to the conclusion that the board was just giving her “lip service.”

“They have had a year to get things rectified and now I’m coming after them full force. Enough is enough!”

“He is a Bit of a Loose Cannon”

Caring Cause and the new board members have also pointed out problems with the nuts and bolts of running a public agency, such as Brown Act violations, and the absence of an employee handbook or a Public Cemetery Operational Manual.

Another problem in moving the cemetery forward is a constant 3-2 split vote on each issue.

According to Deal, whether it’s maintenance or a personnel issue, the vote is always the three old board members, Phil Vandegrift, Toni Chavez and Patricia Colson, against the two new board members.

“Every time we tried to get things done we were voted down,” said Deal.

But the biggest obstacle is the tension between the two squabbling sides.

During the July 12 Tulare Public Cemetery Board meeting, Alberto Aguilar, whose issue was part of the agenda, was in the middle of his presentation when Vandegrift became increasingly agitated.

Vandegrift said, “I’m outta here” and left the meeting followed by board member Chavez.

According to Marilyn Correia, the office manager, the comments got so vicious it made her physically ill and she left the room shaking.

She said some of them were so bad she could have sued for slander.

Colson, the Board president, agreed, saying some of the pubic were being too aggressive and the two new board members were too pushy.

Deal said that Chavez and Vandegrift really walked out of the meeting because they “don’t like to listen to the public.”

Both sides claimed that the other was “very rude.”

After 10 minutes Chavez and Vandegrift realized they had better return because the three remaining board members had a quorum to continue making decisions. According to Deal, when Vandegrift came back into the room Deal was looking down at his paperwork and was completely caught off guard by what happened next.

“Phil Vandegrift had his nose about three inches from my face and just berated me. He was yelling so loud and was so vehement that I honestly couldn’t even tell you what he said,” Deal said. “It took me a couple of seconds to realize what was happening when I told him to get out of my face and to never use that manner with me again.”

“He was very threatening, and wholly unprofessional.”

Gilson would only say about Vandegrift that “he is just a very angry man.”

Aguilar, a longtime and active Tulare resident, said that this was not an isolated incident with Vandegrift and claims he was known to have anger management issues.

Vandegrift is a former city council member and Mayor of Tulare.

In October of 2011, he stepped down Tulare’s vice-mayor as part of a settlement agreement of three lawsuits levied against the city and two council members alleging violations of California election laws, the Brown Act and the Public Records Act. As part of the lawsuit settlement agreement, Vandegrift resigned but did not admit any wrong doing.

Her Mother was Buried in the Wrong Plot

Mary Lou Ojeda and her mother, Janice Ojeda, were best friends. So when Janice passed away on April 5, Mary Lou welcomed the help of her niece and father when it came time to pick out a gravesite. Her dad would eventually be joining his wife so he chose a location three spaces from a large tree so he would be in the shade.

But after her funeral services, when Janice Ojeda’s casket arrived at the cemetery, Mary Lou knew immediately it was the wrong grave. The plot was in the opposite location from what they had chosen and directly in the sun.

When Ojeda saw an older mainte-

GET SOLAR

Woodville’s cemetary has green, plush landscaping; a stark contrast to Tulare’s. The key? Well water. Courtesy/Caring Cause

nance man on a golf cart she stopped him and said they opened the wrong grave.

Ojeda told the man that while cemetery employee, Gerardo Ramos, was helping them choose the site he was also taking care of his grandson and taking cell phone calls and must have been distracted.

Ojeda had the paperwork with the correct plot number and confirmed payment of approximately $3000 for a double space.

The maintenance man driving the cart insisted that she was mistaken and that she and her family chose the plot that was currently open. He spent so long arguing with Ojeda that she missed half of the graveside service.

Then after about 15 minutes, before the service was done, he told everyone they had to leave.

Ojeda said the man was so rude she felt sick to her stomach.

After many phone calls, letters and several board meetings, the cemetery agreed to give Ojeda a full refund.

Their reason for the mix-up was that Ramos has severe diabetes and that his blood sugar was high that day.

Ojeda at first considered not fighting, but then just wanted her money back because she wanted to make sure this didn’t happen to another family.

“It’s just an experience that I would not want to happen to anyone else.”

More Experienced Voices Respond

Correia has been working for the Tulare Public Cemetery since 1996. Patricia Colson has been on the board since 2005 and serves as chairwoman.

They both agree that new blood always brings a fresh perspective on how to solve problems, but they don’t agree with how Caring Cause or the two new board members go about it.

Colson acknowledged the mistake made on the Ojeda plot and knows that Ramos has to go.

But she says that the two new board members don’t realize that the old board has been working on this issue for six months.

She explained that with all the necessary documentation and rules it’s

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very difficult to fire a longtime employee without possible consequences to the district.

As for Correia, she is close to retirement age but not quite yet ready. And Colson isn’t looking forward to trying to find someone with Correia’s institutional knowledge of how to run a cemetery.

“At what we pay her, she will be very difficult to replace.”

Colson added that Correia “is always doing research on the current rules and regulations and going to conferences each year to keep up on ay new codes and staying informed on what other public cemeteries are dealing with.”

What other public cemeteries around the state are dealing with is the same as in Tulare – a reduction in the number of burials.

This results in a reduction of revenue. While Tulare Public Cemetery gets some of their revenue from property taxes, farm income, and interests from an endowment fund, about 80% of their revenue comes from burials, meaning it’s not a set amount.

“More people are getting cremated and their families are taking the ashes home or spreading them around which is illegal, but they are doing it,” said Correia.

Even when a family decides to inter the ashes in a niche it brings in a fraction of the revenue as a regular burial.

July was a particularly bad month for burials resulting in the cemetery’s expenditures being more than revenue.

“We are not perfect, but we don’t have the budget to be perfect,” said Correia.

Despite this, Colson had a list of solid accomplishments done by the board, some of which were: building a community crypt for those who can’t afford a plot, a hexagon niche for cremations, resurfaced roads, and new sprinklers.

Also on the advice of the newcomers, Correia will be submitting a bid

by AT&T at the next meeting to get cell phones for the staff and internet in the office.

Currently the office has only one landline, does most of its business by snail mail, and is closed from noon

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7 September, 2017

Valley Voice • 13

Briefly…

SUPPORT GROUPS AVAILABLE AT TULARE PUBLIC LIBRARY

If you, a friend, or a loved one suffers from kidney failure or cancer, then there is extra support to count on locally. Support groups for cancer and kidney failure meet once a month at the Tulare Public Library at 475 N M St. Mariah Grijalva leads the kidney support group and partners Corky Mills, who is in charge of the cancer support group. Together, they arrange a monthly meeting at the Tulare Public Library. They answer questions and give advice to local people diagnosed with kidney failure and any kind of cancer. Next meeting is scheduled to be at 6:00 pm, September 22nd.

During the last meeting on August 25th, they were very helpful and the group passed around personal stories. A representative of California Phones was present at the last meeting, discussing phone sets designed to help with specific conditions, whether they involve diminished vision,

Cemetery Continued from 12

to 1:30pm.

Notices of the meetings are posted on the cemetery office’s door, which satisfies the law, but doesn’t keep the public informed.

As to why the district did not have internet, Colson responded, “We have just been a conservative board watching every penny.”

Correia also responded to criticism of the cemetery’s grass.

She explained that the cemetery is on the city’s water system and it is restricted to watering three days a week, and no days in December, January and February.

To establish new sod, the grounds need to be watered every day.

In stark contrast to Tulare’s cemetery, the Woodville Cemetery has thick plush grass throughout the grounds, even in a section not yet open to the public.

That contrast is especially pronounced, considering Woodville is a poor, unincorporated community outside Porterville.

“That’s the name of the game – water,” said the manager at Woodville Cemetery. “We water every day.”

Woodville has its own well and is in the jurisdiction of the county so the cemetery can use as much water as it wants.

Woodville Cemetery also only has about one or two funerals a week, so the one fulltime employee has time to do all the mowing and is a certified backhoe driver to dig all the graves.

Correia said that with Tulare’s seven

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APPLICATION DEADLINE EXTENDED FOR COMMUNITY ADVISORY COMMITTEES

Applications must be received by 12pm on Friday, September 8 To ensure that everyone who would like to submit an application to serve on one of Kaweah Delta Health Care District’s three new advisory committees has the opportunity to do so, the District has extended its application deadline. Applications are now due at 12 p.m. PST on Friday, Sept. 8.

The committees are designed to generate ideas about how to better serve community health needs.

“We have had a great response already, however knowing the importance of community input as Kaweah Delta works to modernize, expand and improve healthcare facilities and services for the region, it’s important that everyone has an opportunity to apply,” said Dena Cochran, vice presifull time employees there are not quite enough workers to handle all the burials and do their own maintenance, especially if someone gets sick.

Colson added that they used to do the maintenance themselves but with all the environmental regulations the cemetery was going to have to replace all of its equipment.

That is when they switched to contracting out the maintenance.

As far as expenses, it’s close to a wash said Colson.

The key words are, “if someone gets sick.”

Deal stated that Steve Cunningham, the elder maintenance manager, wasn’t physically fit to do the work.

“He is fairly non-functional,” Deal said.

A source close to the cemetary staff alleged that Cunningham “sits in the office and just plays video games on his iPhone,” because some days he can’t work.

But Correia has heard all the rumors and says they aren’t true. She speculated they started because sometimes Cunningham has an equilibrium problem.

“Being the grounds’ manager is not an outside job all the time. He has a lot of paperwork he has to do while managing a crew,” said Correia.

Complaints have also surfaced that Correia is facing her own health issues that keep her at home many days.

Correia said, “I’m fine. I’m just getting a little older.”

Colson feels like the new group’s object is to push Correia and Cunningham to take an early retirement, or have them go on disability, to get them off the payroll.

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As a large regional health care organization, it is Kaweah Delta’s mission to serve the broad community. Each Community Advisory Committee will reflect the diverse demographics of the region and be comprised of up to 20 community members, as well as two Kaweah Delta employees. Committees will be formed around three key issues: • Community Relations: This committee will seek to enhance local partnerships and build better community relations.

• Healthcare for Today and Tomorrow: This committee will provide ideas about the future health needs of the community and how to address them.

• The Hospital of the Future: This committee will study growth, buildings and other facilities and work with Kaweah Delta staff on a plan to meet the community’s future healthcare needs.

Individuals over the age of 18 are encouraged to apply. Applicants must be committed to building a partnership with Kaweah Delta to better serve the community at large. Previous leadership experience is not required. Selected committee members will be required to attend

monthly committee meetings.

Individuals interested in being considered can get more information and complete an application form (available in English and Spanish) at www.kaweahdelta. org/committee, by emailing ourhospital@ kdhcd.org or by calling (559) 624-2359.

Kaweah Delta will review all applications and anticipates announcing committee members in September.

Cunningham and Correia are husband and wife and are the two highest paid employees at the cemetery.

“As far as I am concerned the public money is not being spent judiciously,” said Deal when asked about the work performance of Cunningham, Ramos and possibly Correia.

Dan Borba wrote on Caring Cause’s Facebook, “I was surprised to see the condition of the cemetery in January 2016 when I laid my mother to rest. Where

had the peaceful resting place gone?”

Ironically the two squabbling camps have many family members lying peacefully side by side in the cemetery, and they themselves will likely end up there, too.

Maybe six feet under, the residents don’t care about weeds or internet access, but for now, those family members still above ground want a well maintained cemetery.

VALADAO: “I WILL CONTINUE TO ADVOCATE FOR DREAMERS”

U.S. Congressman David G. Valadao (CA-21) released the following statement on the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program.

“For years, Congress has failed to repair our broken immigration system.

However, in light of the President’s announcement, Congress must come together within the next six months to reach a legislative solution. I will continue to advocate on behalf of dreamers. America is the only home these young people know and I will do everything in my power to ensure those who were brought to the United States through no fault of their own are not unjustly punished.”

14 • Valley Voice

Top 20

Continued from 1 In Catherine Doe’s wrap-up of 2015, she had this to say about the trend of Tulare stories being our most popular: “Tulare used to have the Advance Register, but it was bought out by the Visalia Times-Delta (VTD), and the VTD has a hard time covering their own city’s big stories. If Tulare had had an independent paper, then Tulare Police Chief Jerry Breckinridge would have never gone “missing” and the Tulare Police Department would have thought twice about covering up his DUI. The VTD hasn’t covered Visalia’s big stories like Walmart’s Super Center and the Nordstrom Fulfillment Center, and shouldn’t pretend to adequately cover Tulare.”

For reference: the 2015 list only included two out of 10 relating to Tulare.

I won’t go so far as to completely agree with her points about the Times-Delta’s lack of coverage. They’re staffed by good people who do great work, and there are certainly stories we’ve missed or could have covered better.

With that said, it was one part humorous and two parts depressing to find out from Pete Wevurski, the paper’s executive editor, at a 210 Connect forum in January that the Voice might have had more writers than the seemingly well-funded, hometown incumbent paper at the time.

Wevurski, a Salinas resident, was later laid off by Gannett, an international publishing behemoth which owns the Times-Delta. The paper still has day-today editors, but they now report to a “regional editor” based in Redding.

Which is the long way of saying: it sure looks like there’s a lot of pent-up demand in Tulare for more in-depth coverage of their community. We’ve definitely only scratched the surface.

1. Tulare Hospital Board Discharges Entire Medical Staff 2. Tulare Man Claims PD Brutality 3. Sources Explain Tulare Chief Breckinridge’s Absence 4. Board’s Opponents Strike at Tulare Hospital District During Meeting 5. Tulare Hospital Board Meeting Erupts in Controversy Over $800,000 Loan 6. Wrongful Termination Suit Filed Against Woodlake Officials 7. Tulare County Supervisors Vote to Ban Marijuana 8. UPDATED: Paychecks Bounce at Tulare Local Healthcare District 9. Black History Committee Plans Harlem Renaissance Celebration 10. Tulare Hospital District’s Meeting Turns Solemn to Raucous 11. Former Long-Time Grace Homes Employee Sues the Ministry 12. Tulare Politics Get Fishy as Hospital Recall Nears 13. Bob and Brenda Burke: Visalia’s Coolest Teachers 14. Attorney Cries Foul at Tulare Hospital’s Actions 15. Deal Gives HCCA Right to Buy Tulare Regional Medical Center 16. Visalia’s Fourth of July Fireworks Show Cancelled 17. Tulare Regional Medical Center: The Story of a Hospital’s Turnaround 18. Local Dairymen Take Part in California Milk Rose Parade Float

7 September, 2017 19. TLHCD’s Wilbourn Resigns, Meeting Cancelled – Then Held in Evolutions Lobby 20. HCCA to TRMC Board Majority: Cease. Desist. Prepare for Legal Action.

“Tulare Hospital Board Discharges Entire Medical Staff”

The top-rated story was one that led us down the rabbit hole covering the Tulare Local Healthcare District. Written

by Dave Adalian in March of 2016, the story started the Voice’s process of peeling away at the infinitely-increasing number of layers surrounding the troubled healthcare district.

The story was published online after the Voice’s print edition was sent to press.

Hospital officials and the district used a well-paid Los Angeles lawyer to threaten us after the story went online: retract the story, or we’ll see you in court.

There were errors in the article, and the paper -- with the article in it -- had already been sent to press. We needed to retract the story, they said, or we’d face damages that “would be measured by the hour.”

Some of the issues the hospital mentioned were legitimate: the article’s initial headline was that the board had fired the hospital’s entire medical staff. They’d instead chosen to “disassociate” from the Tulare Regional Medical Center Medical Staff, and the doctors practicing at the hospital were essentially became represented by a new medical staff, the Tulare Regional Medical Center Professional Medical Staff, with new leadership.

Others were matters of semantics, and others still could be considered downright false: the attorney claimed Sherrie Bell never stated Dr. Anil Patel had threatened her life. She later went on to make that exact claim in a sworn December 2016 deposition.

The prospect of retracting the article also meant bringing 15,000 copies of a freshly-printed newspaper to their eventual fate of fish wrapping and bird cage liner a lot quicker, too.

After all, the Voice may be rich in reporters, but it doesn’t exactly have high-powered Los Angeles attorneys under its belt. It’s likely that our initial reaction was what they wanted: a mix of fear and uncertainty.

Joseph Oldenbourg, the Voice’s publisher, called me while I was at a community college journalism convention and asked me to take down the story from our website while we figured out what to do. Distribution of the papers was halted while Joseph and Catherine sought legal advice.

It seems clear from this story’s position that it’s obvious how the story eventually ended: Joseph and Catherine later found an attorney who told us, in no uncertain terms, to pull the trigger and keep going, offering to take the case if the hospital’s officials made good on their threats. Of course, the errors were corrected online immediately, and in our next print issue.

Beginning a trend that’s continued, we made our first source document available for viewing: the letter from Bruce Greene of BakerHostetler, calling the story “perhaps one of the most irresponsible pieces of ‘journalism’ that we have ever seen in a long time.”

He did state we could publish it -next to a full retraction of the story. We put it next to the correction instead, and

we’ve published a lot more, too. Just look at the list.

“Sources Explain Tulare Chief Breckinridge’s Absence”

In January of 2016, Catherine Doe recapped her story on former Tulare Police Chief Jerry Breckinridge’s alleged DUI, following an extended period where he’d essentially vanished from the city.

She does it much more justice than I can.

“After the Memorial Day Holiday, Tulare Police Chief Jerry Breckinridge went missing. The Tulare taxpayers, who were paying more than $10,000 a month for their absent police chief, were none too happy with City of Tulare Manager Don Dorman’s cavalier attitude. Dorman was refusing to give an explanation, saying this was a personnel issue, taxpayer be damned.

“On September 29 the Valley Voice revealed in an article that Breckinridge’s disappearance was related to an unreported DUI and a domestic abuse case from 2014. The rumor was that Dorman went over to Breckinridge’s house the day after his DUI incident and told him to leave town and go into rehab.

“Perhaps as a result of the Valley Voice’s story, Breckinridge resigned five days later, on October 6. His resignation came two hours before the Tulare City Council meeting. Strangely, nothing was mentioned at the meeting; two city council members were absent, and no media was present except for the Valley Voice.

In closed session Dorman and the city council allowed Breckinridge to choose his own resignation day of November 13. It was speculated that Breckinridge picked the date to maximize his retirement package.

“In a comment on the Valley Voice’s website, then Vice-Mayor Carlton Jones said that, for his part, he believes that some or all of the allegations may be true, posting that, “As a citizen I think Jerry mad[e] a huge mistake and it’s being swept under the rug I think other officers know the truth.”

“Jones continued in another post, “This act started with one person, Jerry.

The first mistake is his. The next mistake is what happened when he was confronted by another officer. No I don’t know what happened. I have no way of finding out. You should all ask Jerry. I will do the same.”

“The citizens would like to follow Jones’ advice and “ask Jerry” but he is still missing.”

In her October 15, 2015 Political Fix column, she goes more in depth: “Mr. Breckinridge’s resignation isn’t the end of his career. It is just the beginning – depending on him. If Mr. Breckinridge comes out the other end of this difficult time in his life recovered and able, he could be the head of a police force much larger than Tulare’s.”

She was right, sort of: Breckinridge did indeed fall into a new position in March of 2016, though it was in the City of Arvin.

Local media there noted his absence from Tulare, the Voice’s story, and other prior reports.

“The reason for my resignation is a personal matter and I encourage people not to believe everything they read,” he told Jose Gaspar of the Bakersfield Californian.

And, asked if he was stopped for a DUI: “Again, that’s a personal issue. The

reasons behind my resignation I want to leave it a personal issue,” he told the Californian.

“Wrongful Termination Suit Filed Against Woodlake Officials”

A lawsuit filed by Daniel Garibay still snakes through the court system.

The original story, written by Catherine Doe, detailed Garibay’s allegations that he was fired from the Woodlake Police Department in retaliation for a relationship with the wife of a friend of Ramon Lara, Woodlake’s city manager.

He also claims the city violated his civil rights in conducting an allegedly intrusive investigation of any relationship he may have had with the woman.

After Judge Bret Hillman allowed the case to go forward, the attorneys for the 7,600-resident city took the case up the food chain, asking the California Court of Appeals to review the ruling. They upheld it. Then they asked the California Supreme Court to review the ruling -- which, again, upheld it. Then Woodlake officials tried to take it to the US Supreme Court.

The Supremes, it seemed, weren’t interested. They kicked it back to Tulare County, where the trial date has been set for December 11, 2017.

“Former Long-Time Grace Homes Employee Sues the Ministry”

For decades, Grace Homes was a well-respected icon of Visalia, dedicated to residential care, education and rehabilitation of troubled adolescent girls, from 12 to 18 years of age.

Established in 1987, the facility was the only place in the state that was licensed and had the ability to deal with the emotional needs of sex-trafficked pregnant girls and other victims of sexual abuse.

The Grace Homes formally closed its doors in the summer of 2016. Problems escalated when it was discovered that founder, Gale Kuns had not obtained the proper permits to operate the facility and the agency fell into debt.

According to former board member, Phil Mohr, all assets were sold off and the agency closed without owing money.

During the last year that Grace Homes was struggling to survive, the board hired Phil Luna to take over as CEO. Luna allegedly threatened and harassed employee Sherrie Kuns-Fehlman, and she sued for sexual harassment, physical assault and creating a hostile work environment. Gale and Glenda Kuns, founders of Grace Homes, also sued for wrongful termination.

The case was settled in April of this year. Their lawyers Maggie Melo and John Sarsfield could not disclose the terms of the settlement but said their clients were very satisfied with the result.

“Bob and Brenda Burke: Visalia’s Coolest Teachers”

The fact that a profile of two Visalia teachers is our may come as a surprise to some who’ve never been to Mt. Whitney High School.

As a former Whitney student and a former student of Brenda Burke, I’m certainly not surprised.

The article is also one of our topshared pieces on Facebook, and a number of their former students commented on their positive experiences with the Burkes.

7 September, 2017

Valley Voice • 15

Comments & Letters Kings County Libertarians: “ReEvaluate Impact of General Plan” Recently, small business owners in downtown Hanford, California, have been receiving letters from the City of Hanford ordering them to move all merchandise inside of their stores.

Often, stores will place merchandise outside in order to draw customers into their shops. In downtown Hanford, with the passage of the new General Plan in 2017, shop owners are now prohibited from putting merchandise outside in this way.

The City of Hanford says in the letter that the new ordinances are to “preserve, protect and promote the public health, safety, peace, comfort, convenience, prosperity and general welfare of the citizens of Hanford.”

From the perspective of the Libertarian Party of Kings County, as well as most downtown business owners, this does nothing but inhibit downtown businesses from gaining prosperity.

In speaking with members of the Hanford CIty Council who passed this new law, they noted that they were unaware of having passed this law.

It appears that the new ordinances were likely “snuck” into the new General Plan by Community Development Director, Darlene Mata.

While we expect our City Council members to do their due diligence and read new laws which they vote for, we also expect the Community Development Director to fully explain the impact of new ordinances which are being placed into the General Plan to the City Council.

These new laws are an overreach of the city government into the privacy of the business owners of Hanford. It again appears to the Libertarian Party of Kings County that the city government is working to hurt downtown businesses, rather than help them.

The Libertarian Party of Kings County condemns this outrageous attack on downtown businesses.

We have heard unsubstantiated rumors that these types of moves are part of

a conspiracy to drive down the value of buildings downtown to the point where developers buy up land downtown and completely rebuild downtown.

The Libertarian Party of Kings County does want to see downtown built up, while preserving historical buildings.

However, we demand that the government allow the free market to do this, rather than creating new prohibitive laws which have an underhanded impact and hurt existing businesses.

The Libertarian Party of Kings County calls on the people of Hanford to fight against this type of tyrannical approach by the city government and to elect leaders who will vote against imposing new ordinances onto the people of Hanford.

We call for smaller government which is dedicated to securing public safety so the people of Hanford will have the liberty to find and use free market solutions to solve problems in Hanford.

We ask that the City Council reevaluate the impact of the new General Plan on the people of Hanford and do what is right by both removing these obstacles to business in Hanford, as well as remove unelected city staff who are involved in moving the people of Hanford towards further restrictions of their liberties.

The Libertarian Party of Kings County urges the people of Hanford and surrounding communities in Kings County to join us in the fight to free the people of our community from such impositions by an overburdensome government.

To contact the Libertarian Party of Kings County please call us at 559960-3613, email us at kolsen@ca.lp.org, or send us a letter to 225 N. Irwin St., Hanford, CA 93230.

In Liberty, Kenneth Brent Olsen, Psy.D. Northern Vice-Chair, Libertarian Party of California Chair, Libertarian Party of Kings County

Macareno: End to DACA Comes at the Expense of the GOP It is a major disappointment that the President of the United States has lowered the moral foundation of our country by ending DACA (Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals). Sending back many who only know America as their home to unfamiliar foreign lands to start all over is wrong in so many ways.

Like many I have been disappointed to disgusted by the occupier of the Oval Office. That sentiment has flowed over to spineless GOP elected officials who celebrate country and family values as the mantra of their party but allow one man to spit on all of that and still remain silent. His voters however are ultimately the biggest disappointment of all who despite all that is happening to our country, they stand idle to the dismantling of what is beautiful about our country for a fabricated America they bought into.

Even at a time of calamity, even

when all walks of life are helping the victims in Houston, this President does this with no heart for the human spirit. Despite my many differences with the GOP, I use to believe that the GOP overall at the end wanted what is best for America because afterall we are one. Today, after all that has happened I don’t believe this anymore. Their agenda clearly excludes many and why they are allowing one man take the club to what even they hold dear.

Today, we continue to resist. Our resolve is stronger and we will persevere.

We will never allow this to happen again.

Ruben Macareno Candidate 14th State Senate District President Latino Democrats of Central California

USE YOUR VOICE

Comment online at ourvalleyvoice.com Send letters to editor@ourvalleyvoice.com or to PO Box 44064 Lemon Cove, CA 93244

“What Progressives Need to Do About the Alt-Right” The last few weeks have seen a racheting-up in activity by the Nazi-Fascist organizations of the extreme right, Fanned by what they see as encouragement from he who shall not be named, they are planning nationwide actions.

The first thing every American needs to understand is that these people operate in the shadows. They love publicity, as otherwise they are largely ignored by the media. They will only attract media attention if there is violence-’If it bleeds it leads”. All too often progressives, desiring to protest, fall into this trap. Exposing themeselves to Fascist violence, they are actually providing the means for those same elements to gain national credence.

This is certainly a dilemma-can you stand by when the Nazi thugs come to town? The answer is to beat them at their own game.

The first thing to do is strategize.

One sage Southern general once siad simply-Hit ‘em where they ain’t. That’s good thinking even today. By that I mean the alt-right wants confrontation.

By all means, counterprotest. But do it in a way that is not confrontational.

Stay far away from the thugs. Also make sure that counterprotesters have plenty of videos and cameras, and take plenty of pictures. You need proof to take to coourt-because a brawl isnt free speech.

Don’t interfere with speakers at hate rallies. Let them condemn themselves out of their own mouths. I’ve been to many racist and outright Nazi meetings.

I never realized just how despicable hate could be until you hear it from a dedicated racist. I once heard a man named Connie Lynch ‘preach’ a racist sermon. It was the vilest assemblage of fiction and downright bigotry I have ever heard. I

“ “

think if 99% of Americans had heard that talk, they would want to throw up.

Progressives need to think creatively. I’m reminded of the late, great Molly Ivins, who could poke holes at bigotry perhaps better than any other. Whem the Ku Kluxers planned a hooded march in Austin, Texas, she and her cohorts were ready. They didn’t throw stones.

They didnt’get in brawls.

They mooned ‘em.

There’s actually a better weapon than words. That’s silence.

Many years ago I saw this tactic in action. I was a student at San Francisco State, where the three Rs were in effect-readin’, ritin’ and revolution. We were troublemakers for sure. In an effort to needle the Administration, we determined to invite the most controversial speaker we could to campus. Malcom X and Huey Newton didnt get much of a reaction, so we brought out the big gun-George Lincoln Rockwell. Rockwell was the real deal. He styled himself Commander Rockwell-of the American Nazi Party. He never had more than a hundred or so mental defective, thug and sadist followers, but they got lots of publicity.

Anyhow, he accepted the invitation.

We met him at the entrance, and escorted Rockwell to the meeting hall-he was resplendent in full Nazi regalia including the swastika armband.

Inside the hall 800 seats were filled.

He gave his speech, and then left. There had been absolute silence the whole time. No one shouted, no one protested.

The silence was absolute So if the alt-right comes to town,we dont want to be their patsy. Do what progressives do-outthink the opposition.

Steve Pendleton

Citizens accountability group, you guys created this mess. What an embarrassment for Tulare and thanks to some of you we might not have an hospital after all. This was never about the people but jelousy and anger

”

— Mickey on Tulare Hospital Board Forced to Meet in Gym Lobby

Really? No the accountability group wants just that .. accountability and while you sit here and blame this group which I endorse and support .. you are being ripped off of your taxes on an hourly basis…. have you worked along side with benny while he was on duty as a dr with patients to care for ? I have and he’s a horrible lazy dr who just wants money for doing nothing he had horriabke stats and left patients waiting for hours while they got test ordered that didn’t need to be ordered he’s only about money and that’s money that comes in his pocket not what’s best for the patient .. I can say this as I worked along side of him for a few years ….

”

— Truthtalk on Tulare Hospital Board Forced to Meet in Gym Lobby

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I am so proud to be a citizen of Tulare. Benny and Kumar have tried to manipulate the media, bully opponents and buy city officials through massive campaign contributions. These tactics have worked well against third world peoples and even in several communities in U. S. (see for example the tragedy of the city of Bell, CA and Moreno Valley , Ca). The proud example of Tulare should be used in High School citizenship classes (assuming “Citizenship” is still taught in our schools.)

”

— Yankee Doodle on Tulare Hospital Board Forced to Meet in Gym Lobby

16 • Valley Voice

7 September, 2017

Visalia City Council Votes 4-1 Against “In God We Trust” Catherine Doe

During the August 21 Visalia City Council meeting, council members voted 4-1 against painting the motto “In God We Trust” above the city’s seal.

Councilmember Steve Nelsen, who requested the item be put on the agenda, was the only vote in favor.

Nelsen wanted to discuss the issue because he is heavily involved in his church.

He said that it has been the Nation’s motto since 1952, making “In God We Trust” not just a religious motto but a patriotic one.

He added that we are divided as a country because of labels but that we should all believe in the motto.

“This is who we are. This is our fabric,” he said.

Councilmember Bob Link, keeping his comments short, said, “I have a strong belief in God and use Him to make decisions. But we have a diverse community and this is a public building, so I do not think it is appropriate to write it on the wall.”

Councilmember Phil Cox was also succinct. “As a saved Christian Mormon man I do not need to have these words on the wall of our council chambers. I have them on the walls of my home and in my heart.”

Nelsen’s opinion was that, “If we have it on our hearts then let’s put it on our wall and share the motto of our country.”

Councilmember Greg Collins said that residents have approached the council to debate the city getting involved with issues such as creating a nuclear free zone or weigh-in on the issue of abortion, but the councils of the past have always resisted.

He said that debating the motto would take a lot of time effort and angst, “but at the end of the day is not a good use of our time.”

“These city chamber walls are for city business,” he said.

Mayor Warren Gubler said that “In God We Trust” is one of his favorite mottos and that he believes that Visalia is a religious city. But he added that we live in a pluralistic society and that he is not sure that all religions would be comfortable with it.

He noted that no one had approached him about the motto and didn’t think it was a pressing issue to the public. For that reason he was leaning against it.

Five members of the public spoke, all against putting the motto in the council chambers.

Carol Greening said that posting the motto ignores the fact that there

are those who do not believe in God or use different terms such as Jehovah or Buddha.

She also took umbrage at Nelsen’s rationale that if “In God We Trust” is good enough to be on our currency then it is reasonable to put it on the chamber walls.

She asked that, if using the same reasoning, we should put a pyramid or the all-seeing eye on the chamber wall also.

Steve Pendleton said that he fears it’s just pressure coming from the “tyranny of the majority” and that scares him when taking into consideration the events of the last two weeks.

Nelsen also brought up the fact that the cities of Fresno and Tulare had recently approved of posting the motto.

Pendleton countered that he hardly considers the Tulare City Council as Christian and using them as an example was “hardly a good recommendation.”

Neither does he consider Fresno as a good example of Christianity after recently banning homeless camps without providing anywhere else for them to go.

Maile Melkonian asked the council how they would feel if ‘In Allah We Trust’ was written on the chamber’s wall.

“Would you feel comfortable?

Would you feel welcome?,” she asked.

She said the E Pluribus Unum has been with us since the beginning of our founding and that In God We Trust came two hundred years later during the Civil War, then resurged during McCarthyism.

“It’s presumptive, exclusionary and divisive,” she said.

Nelsen did not agree and said that the motto is not a stop sign but means that all people are welcome and that history has shown that.

Renee Lapin reminded the council that the national organization pushing the motto had the ulterior motive of “turning every city red.”

“That’s their goal, to make everyone Republican,” she said.

“I wouldn’t come to the meetings anymore because I think it is un-American,” she said of the motto.

Nelsen later told ABC News that since the meeting he is encouraged by supportive e-mails he has received and looks forward to talking about adding the motto again in the future.

“Looking backwards, I think it was positive,” he said. “And I will continue to fight for it, and I will continue to march to do that,” he told the local news channel.

Valley Scene

7 September, 2017

Symphony Kicks Off Season with Pops in Tulare

“Purple flowers,” watercolor, by Lennie Salmon. Courtesy/Kings Art Center

The newly named Sequoia SymDonna Orozco phony Orchestra (formerly the Tulare picnic before the concert. ConCounty Symphony) will kick cert-goers can bring their own off its 2017-18 season with its picnic and also buy quesadillas traditional “Pops in the Park” and ice cream at the park. The in Zumwalt Park in Tulare on concert begins at 8pm.

Saturday, September 9.

Music director Bruce KiesBegun in Tulare in 1960, ling will teach children to conthe symphony changed its duct the orchestra before the name this summer to better reconcert, and they will each get flect its artistic growth and re- Valerie Salcedo. a quick chance to direct the gional appeal.

The concert will feature family-friend- orchestra.

Tickets are $20. Youth 12 and unly music including Americana, marches and film scores. Special guest soloist is so- der are free with a paid adult. Tickets are available by calling 559 732-8600 or at prano Valerie Salcedo from Fresno.

Gates open at 5pm so guests can the gate. Information: www.tularecountysymphony.com

Kings Art Center to Open Two New Exhibits John Robinson

The Kings Art Center is celebrating its 25 year anniversary this month with a “Past to Present” exhibit open from September 23 to November 11 in the center’s Marcellus Gallery.

In the Members Gallery, the center will exhibit “Internment 1942,” the 75th anniversary of the Japanese-American Internment with the work of Henry Sugimoto, a Hanford High graduate.

Both exhibits will have an opening reception on Friday, September 22, from 5:30-7:30pm. Admission is free, tours are by appointment. The center is located at 605 N. Douty, Hanford, CA.

“PAST TO PRESENT: Celebrating our first 25 years” The Center is celebrating the many people who have contributed to what has become a premier art center in the heart of the San Joaquin Valley.

Most especially those visionaries who met just over 25 years ago to create what at the time seemed like the impossible–a Center for art in Kings County. The visionaries: Bill Banister, Lloyd Christensen, Bob Marcellus, Steve Robinson, and Sid Sharp, spearheaded a campaign that included the donation of a building by the Women’s Club, and the donated skills of a local

KINGS ART continued on B6 »

Photography Exhibit to Open at Heritage Art Gallery Chris Harrell

The opening reception of “Ginny Wilson...A Blue Ridge Photography Retrospective” will take place on Thursday, September 14 at the Tulare Historical Museum’s Heritage Art Gallery from 5-7pm.

Coming off the heels of her farewell photography show, Lindsay/Visalia artist Ginny Wilson returns one final time with this very special career retrospective.

Born and raised in Michigan, Virginia “Ginny” Wilson was drawn to the beauty of nature at a young age, and she has been immersed in it ever since. As Ginny moved to California, her photography subject interests continued to evolve while she

took art and photography classes at Porterville College. Wilson honed her talents so much that in time she would teach photography classes at the college herself.

Ginny developed her passion into a business with her Blue Ridge Photography, which has allowed her to showcase her work throughout the San Joaquin Valley. After many years behind the lens, Ginny has decided to retire in order to spend more time with her husband Jim and their children and grandchildren.

“Ginny Wilson...A Blue Ridge Photography Retrospective” will run from September 14-November 4. The reception is open to the public and free of charge. Admission to Heritage Art Gallery exhibitions is free.

Children’s Storybook Garden and Farm History Museum motivator and director, Judy Wait, shows off Peter Rabbit’s Burrow and Mr. McGregor’s House, just two of the many houses, tunnels, barns and more for children to play in when they visit. Nancy Vigran/Valley Voice

Hanford’s Storybook Set to Open First Phase Volunteers have been working with fervor to compete as much as possible of the Children’s Storybook Garden and Farm History Museum Phase 1, prior to its soft opening on September 23.

Located at the corner of Harris and Tenth in downtown Hanford, Storybook was the brainstorm of Judy Wait, a retired Hanford teacher. She combined her teaching skills with her love for gardening, and in 2011 with her husband, Larry, took off on a trip to visit children’s gardens around the country.

Six years later, with some 70-80 regular volunteers and so many in the local community, her fairytale has become a reality, not that she ever doubted it would.

“I’m a believer,” she said. “I knew it would happen – it shows how much this was wanted.”

The garden and museum have been, and continue to be, developed through a non-profit organization of the same name. The original one-acre property purchase was made possible through a loan - now paid-off through a $200,000 donation through a private donor who

Nancy Vigran

wishes to remain nameless. Prior to that a donor-loaner, another private individual, helped ease payments by making them for the organization, allowing funds for progress on the museum and gardens. That donor-loaner has also been repaid in full.

The Victorian Burr Home, to become the museum, gift shop and kitchen, was donated by Bill Clark. And, through the donations of so many others including in part, Allen Laird Plumbing, Mike Crain Heating and Air, Randy Mc Nary Construction, Dan Veyna - Sierra Landscape & Design, Zumwalt & Hansen Engineering, Home Depot, Bettencourt Farms, Joe Robinson Concrete and Willie Williams Masonry, Storybook remains debt free.

“It’s very grass roots,” said Kate Catalina, a long-term volunteer. “Everything is through volunteers and local support, given with love.”

Sponsorships of individual gardens and or building areas have played an

STORYBOOK continued on B2 »

7 September, 2017

B2 • Valley Voice

Storybook Continued from B1

Visalia Fox to Host Tribute to Bob Hope on September 15 Staff Reports

The Visalia Fox Theatre is proud to present “On the Air: A Tribute to Bob Hope and Other Radio Stars of the 1940’s,” a Phoenix Producers Group presentation, on September 15 at 7pm.

In the days before television, families and friends gathered around the radio to listen to their favorite programs.

Radio brought the country together by creating a culture that all Americans could share. Most evening programs were presented live, including the effects and commercials.

“On the Air” stars Lynn Roberts and is presented as a 1940’s NBC Bob Hope radio broadcast. It features Chuck Carson as the on-stage staff announcer and side kick reading vintage commercial copy with a humorous touch, playing jingles of the era and interacting with

Bob and his radio and movie star guests.

Guests include tributes to: Red Skelton, Jack Benny and Jimmy Durante. It’s a laugh-loaded, music filled evening of nostalgia with contemporary humor designed for audiences of all ages.

“Since Bob Hope is the only individual ever given the title ‘Honorary Veteran of the Armed Forces’ by an act of Congress, we honor all veterans during the performance—WW2 to Korea, Vietnam, The Gulf War, Desert Storm and Afghanistan. It’s our salute to America’s heroes,” says the shows writer and director, Chuck Carson.

Tickets are only $15 to $25 and are on sale now through the Visalia Fox Theatre. Veterans are eligible for $2.00 off of their ticket price. Visit the box office, call 559.625.1369 or visit foxvisalia.org to purchase.

important part, as well.

With Phase 1 comes Peter Rabbit’s Burrow, Mr. McGregor’s House, Charlotte’s Dairy Barn, the Woodland Log Cabin and Garden, a Salsa Garden, the Teaching or Kitchen Garden, Nolan’s Critter Creek and Pond, the Topiary Garden, a Pizza Garden, the Three Little Pigs homes and Monet’s House.

Each garden will have its own unique features to explore, and a book box holding books representing the inspiration for each, will be placed there for reading.

The Teaching Garden will be planted with fall and winter crops by the children in the first field trips.

Following groups will help tend to the garden and later harvest, clean and prepare the crops.

The Victorian Burr Home is furnished with antiques donated by the community.

“We’re trying to set up as in its heyday,” Catalina said.

The Tank House, which came along with the Burr House, is also refreshed and will be utilized in teaching water conservation.

Storybook is managed and run through its volunteers.

However, an educational director and teaching assistant have been hired, each with her own set of experiences.

“We were lucky to get these two really special people,” Wait said. “What sold us on them, was that you could just tell they love kids and love gardening, and would love this children’s garden.”

Student volunteers are also welcome and encouraged through the Green Teens Club, ages 13-18.

They will learn to be docents and readers in the gardens, and will receive community service hours.

There is already a 4-H club tending to some of the gardens, as well as members of World Link Volunteer, a

foreign-exchange group.

Upon completion of Phase 1, Phase 2 will start to come together early next year, with completion of a new bathroom facility.

Also in Phase 2 will be the building of the Stone Cottage, the Secret Garden and Celebration Garden.

Completion of Phase 2 will allow for Storybook to be available for weddings and other small outdoor gatherings.

“I just feel like it is all coming together,” Wait said. “And, it’s beautiful as it is happening.”

Field trips for many Hanford schools have already been arranged.

Any school within the county and beyond, as well as clubs and other groups are welcome to schedule a trip.

Storybook will also be open to the public starting with the soft opening.

The hours, to start, are Tuesday – Sunday, 10am – 4pm. Storybook will be closed on Mondays.

Storybook will also feature a variety of special occasions including its first Happily Haunted Halloween Light Show in October.

Some type of children’s event and adult event will eventually be held each month including multi-cultural events, Wait said.

Sponsorships for areas of the gardens and buildings are still needed.

Monetary donations of $50 can be applied to a foot of fencing, or a brick becoming a border on a walkway.

Kings County Board of Supervisors Chair Craig Pedersen, who grew up in Kings County, said the board is excited about the project.

“A place where children have the opportunity to explore and grow is a good thing,” he said. “Anything we can do to try and help, we’ll do.”

For more information and to volunteer or donate, view, www.childrensstorybookgarden.org/ or call, 559-341-4845.

8 Locations!

ExEtEr Dinuba

nEW!

HanforD 2 Locations

tuLarE VisaLia 3 Locations

The Cary and Van Horn families are proud to support the communities and organizations that have helped us enjoy 50 years of serving great food and creating great memories.

Please join the celebration – tell us your A&W memories on Facebook! First date?

First job? Multiple generations of fans and more!

7 September, 2017

Valley Voice • B3

Great Conversations Tolstoy and the Problem of History Dr. Joseph Teller

Why do we study history? How do historical movements and events— from wars to clothing fashions, from revolutions to depressions—actually happen? Is it because of great leaders?

Abstract ideas and ideals? The masses? Economics? Chaos theory? Or, to put the question more dramatically: “What force moves the nations?”

This is the question that concerns Leo Tolstoy in his “Second Epilogue to War and Peace,” which COS’s Great Books discussion group tackled this week. Though this text is short in comparison to War and Peace itself, it explores some of the most difficult questions we must face if we want to understand history and how it might be studied.

Tolstoy begins his dense and creative argument by claiming that although modern (19th century) historians have dispensed with the notion of a force behind historical events, they still are attached to two flawed principles. The first principle is that “nations are guided by individual men,” and the second is that there is

a “known aim to which these nations and humanity at large are tending.”

Tolstoy argues that neither of these assumptions are true: as for the first, it is clear that powerful individuals do not in fact control or guide all the actions committed by the thousands (or millions) that claim to follow them; as for the second, it is not at all clear that humanity has a definable set of principles forming a universal telos.

In fact, Tolstoy says that all historians’ claims about “what force moves the nations” come down to power, and that such arguments are essentially circular: “What causes historical events?

Power. What is power? Power is the collective will of the people transferred to one person. Under what condition is the will of the people delegated to one person? On condition that the person expresses the will of the whole people. That is, power is power: in other words, power is a word the meaning of which we do not understand.”

Tolstoy offers an alternative explanation for “what force moves the nations”, one that accounts for how both “great men” and the masses participate in this thing called history: “the

movement of nations is caused not by power…but by the activity of all the people who participate in the events, and who always combine in such a way that those taking the largest direct share in the event take on themselves the least responsibility and vice versa.”

Historians look back on a historical event that is participated in by a combination of all people in that event, and then attribute what happens to a single cause (like great leader). But history, Tolstoy counters, should be concerned not with “great men,” but with identifying the “laws” by which such combinations and re-combinations of people happen—for these are what truly move nations.

But if there is a set of laws governing history and its endless combination of people and forces, then free will as moderns understand it exists only as an inexplicable experience of consciousness, because truly free choice would negate the very notion of laws. The interplay of exterior forces (“the laws of space, time, and cause”) and people, not spontaneously free choice, moves history, and thus study of that interplay should lie at the heart

of historical inquiry. Indeed, this shift is nothing less than astronomical, since it means accepting that a complex web of forces and laws—not the free choices of great (or unremarkable) persons—“moves the nations.”

In the early 21st century, we might take such an understanding of history for granted; though we accept that great leaders play a role in history, we also accept that things are not so simple, that innumerable social, cultural, economic, and intellectual forces shape events.

However, as our group also pointed out in discussion, Tolstoy’s treatise is actually part of his most famous novel, which ranges across economic classes and the points of view of a myriad characters to make sense out of Napoleon’s invasion of Russia. Perhaps storytelling, then, is an indispensable component of history, one that takes the innumerable forces and laws governing the movement of history and gives them faces, flesh, and names.

Dr. Joseph R. Teller is a professor of English at College of the Sequoias. Email him at josepht@cos.edu

Coming to the Hanford Fox Theatre Dave Mason Fri., Sept. 22 - 8 pm $35 - $65

The Marshall Tucker Band Thurs. Oct. 12 - 8 pm $25 - $45

Pink Martini Fri., Dec. 1 - 7 pm $42 - $65

Silent Movies Sat. Sept. 16 - 7:30pm $10/adults; $5/military, seniors, students Children 12 & under - free!

$5 Movies

Batman - Saturday, Sept. 23 - 7 pm Bonnie & Clyde - Wednesday, Sept. 27 - 7 pm

(559) 584-7823

www.foxhanford.com

Print replica edition at issuu.com/ourvalleyvoice

On Facebook at facebook.com/ourvalleyvoice

Calendar SEPTEMBER

Counties Suicide Prevention Task Force is pleased to announce its inaugural Hope Recognition 2017 Now through September 29: Awards event at the Tulare County Brianna Lee’s Beauty and the Office of Education Jim Vidak EdSublime!

Beauty and the Sublime will show- ucation Center, 6200 S. Mooney case her impeccable portraits, still- Blvd. Visalia. lifes, and figure studies, all focusing This event, coming just before Naon the point at which beauty trans- tional Suicide Prevention Week, will figures into the sublime at Arts Visa- celebrate nearly 10 years of action lia Visual Arts Center, 214 E. Oak directed by the task force, and will Ave . recognize and honor some of the individuals who have been instruSeptember 8: 23rd Annual mental in advancing its mission of Lemoore Salute to Agriculture 6pm - Our Salute to Agriculture suicide prevention awareness.

Banquet is right around corner! We The Hope Recognition Awards will are excited to announce that we are recognize people in Tulare and Kings honoring Congressman David Va- counties who have been instrumenladao as Agriculturist of the Year tal to those efforts in the realms of and Angie Avila, of Kings Fair, as Ag education, community activism Supporter of the Year. We hope you and youth services, as well as honor can join us on September 8th at the those work has blazed trails in new Fiahlo Hangar, 7414 18th Avenue, approaches to suicide prevention. to honor these amazing individuals!

Tickets $75 in advance; $85 after The event will also feature the artAug. 21. For more information and work that the youth of our commutickets, call the Lemoore Chamber nities created in the cause of promotion of mental health, entries in the of Commerce, (559) 924-6401. annual Slick Rock Film Festival, and September 9: “Why The Truth messages of encouragement from loAbout 9/11 Still Matters” cal dignitaries.

2-10pm - 1213 South Fairway Street, Visalia, CA 93277. A free, An array of food vendors will be on no-alcohol, pot luck event open to hand to provide options for food purchase, and light snacks will be the public. available. For more information, September 9: Oil Painting Made contact 624-7474, or visit the web Easy Workshop with Brianna Lee site at www.sptf.org.

9am - 3pm - In this workshop, you will be guided through a series of September 11: 9/11 Film Festival painting exercises in color mixing, 2-10pm - 1213 South Fairway painting techniques and composi- Street, Visalia, CA 93277. A free, tion. Designed for beginners but no-alcohol, pot luck event open to also beneficial for experienced art- the public. RSVP at 559-901-1974 ists, students will walk away with a or royjkendall@hotmail.com better understanding of how to cre- September 11 - 21: Porterville Corporate Games ate a successful work of art! premier busiLee is a classically trained, award Porterville’s winning artist with over eight years ness-to-business, nine day sports of teaching experience. She’s taught tournament, allows companies to workshops for numerous prestigious compete against one another in a art academies throughout Califor- variety of fun and exciting events. nia in addition to running her for- Company teams earn points that mer atelier in Southern California accumulate towards winning the for seven years. Her students have Corporate Cup. Business-to-busigone on to have solo exhibitions, ness team competition; ultimate win awards and receive scholarships team-building experience; a chance to top art academies throughout the to engage in the community; an investment in human resources.

USA and abroad.

Participants must be 16 years or oldThe workshop is $85 and all sup- er, must work for the organization plies will be provided. Please bring full-time or part-time; or must be a lunch, as the workshop will go active members of the church, serthrough lunchtime. vice club or agency. Spouses of qualified players and retired employees September 9: Hope Recognition are eligible at the discretion of each 2017 Awards 11am - 1pm - Tulare & Kings organization. For more informa-

tion call, (559) 782-7521 or email, weiser and lots of great BBQ and agraybehl@ci.porterville.ca.us. other vendors serving up delicious September 14: Valley Oak Garden goodies. We are excited to have Paula Harris & Beast of Blues, Deja Blues Club Gutter Gardening 9:30am - The Valley Oak Garden and Juke House Dogs performing Club meets at the Tulare Historical on the Hanford Chrysler Stage! ReMuseum with a program on “How member admission is free, so invite to Plant, Grow and Care for Dahl- your friends to come to downtown ia Flowers” by Ed Matheny, retired Hanford for a fabulous evening of teacher and gardener. Matheny Blues! taught in the Tulare City School District for 34 years. He has enjoyed gardening all of his adult life - more recently, easy gardening. He started raising Dahlias in 2011 and now has more than 100 varieties. He has shown at the Big Fresno Fair since 2013, having won sweepstakes every year since 2014.

For more information, contact Terry Brazil, (559) 686-2074.

No pets, bottles, cans or ice chests allowed. For additional information contact Main Street Hanford at (559) 582-9457.

September 16: 11th Annual Sierra View Foundation Gala - Puttin’ on the Ritz 5:30-11pm - Join the Sierra View Foundation for their black-tie fundraising event. All proceeds from the 11th Annual Sierra View Foundation Gala benefit the service lines of Sierra View Medical Center. Held at the Porterville Fairgrounds, 2700 Teapot Dome Ave. RSVP, (559) 788-6124 or foundation@sierraview.com.

September 15: 20th Annual Chile Verde Classic Golf Tournament 8am - registration; 9am - tee off at Valley Oak Golf Course. $125/person; $500/4-player team. For more information, call the Tulare-Kings Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, September 16: Beekeeping & (559) 734-6020.

Honeymaking, a Rosh HaShana Class for Children of all Ages September 16: Critter Creek Wildlife Station Fall Open House 6pm - Given by Beekeeper Darren 11am - 2pm - The Open House will of Kingsburg Honey. Learn about: be unguided, so the pace is leisurely the lifecycle of bees, beekeeping as a and there are more opportunities to hobby, honey making -- and a hontake pictures. Volunteers will be on ey tasting! Located at Congregation hand to answer any questions that Beit Shalom, 115 E. Paseo Ave., you have and to share stories about Visalia, Ca. 93291. RSVP at (559) some of permanent residents. Come 308-1333. Adults $5, children free. and watch the Alligator feeding at Dessert to follow.

12:30pm. Visit the gift shop with gifts ranging from children’s toys to fine art. Gate will close at 1:30pm to allow enough time to tour. Entrance is by donation and tour takes 1 ½ hours. Field parking is free. A picnic area is available, so bring a lunch.

Country Store has refreshments for sale next door. Critter Creek is located at 36710 Sand Creek Road in Squaw Valley. Call (559) 338-2415 for more information or visit www. crittercreek.org September 16: Blues & Roots Festival 5:30-10pm - The 17th Annual Downtown Hanford Blues and Roots Festival will be held under the stars in the beautiful Civic Park.

Make sure you bring your dancing shoes as well as your blankets or lawn chairs for a spectacular evening of Blues in downtown Hanford.

September 17: Reptile Ron Animal Presentations 1 & 3pm - Learn About exotic wildlife at Reptile Rons educational and entertaining show. Meet the animals up-close, learn about them and have fun at Hanford Carnegie Museum and Tourist Information Center, 109 E. 8th Street.

Reptile Ron takes you on an educational and entertaining trip around the world with his menagerie of animals. His hands on presentations are fun and exciting. Ron explains about each animal, where it lives, what it eats, and talks about some of the myths some animals have about them. His shows include reptiles, amphibians, arachnids, and birds.

Admission: In Advance: $3; Day Of: $5; Museum Members: Free. For more information: (559) 584-1367 or (559) 482-4255.

There will be our traditional beer September 18-24: Our Lady of and wine garden sponsored by Bud- Fatima Celebration

Monday-Friday 7pm - Rosary prayed each evening at St. Mary’s, 608 N. Church in Visalia. Saturday, 7pm - Living Rosary followed by fellowship and refreshments. 8:30 prayer vigil. Sunday, 9:30am all day events starting with parade followed by morning mass, BBQ dinner and carnival.

Resource Center Offers Sexual Harassment Training 2-4pm - The College of the Sequoias Training Resource Center is offering sexual harassment training. California employers with 50 or more employees are required by state law (AB1825) to provide their supervisors with two hours of sexual harassment prevention training every two September 19: Healing Hearts years (newly hired or promoted suWalk with the Cops 7am - Raise the flag, Pledge of Al- pervisors are required to receive this legiance and a moment of silence training within six months of hire or prior to walk at the Visalia Public promotion).

Cemetery, 1300 W. Goshen. Meet This workshop fulfills the training reat the Veteran’s Memorial Wall, in- quirements of AB1825 by providing side the front gate on the left. Walk participants with legal definitions will consist of a one-mile loop on of the terms harassment, discrimthe paved roads inside the ceme- ination, and retaliation; examples tery. Conversation and coffee will of harassment, discrimination, and follow in the cemetery chapel. Heal- retaliation; what employers and suing Hearts Walks meet every Tues- pervisors are required to do to create day and Thursday. For more infor- a harassment-free work; what emmation, call the cemetery office at ployers and supervisors are required (559) 734-6181. to do in response to harassment and September 19: League of Women discrimination complaints; what employers and supervisors are reVoters Meeting 11:45am - The League of Women quired to do to prevent retaliation.

Voters of Tulare County will meet in Left of Center, 699 W.Center, Visalia The program is “Health Care for All - Options and Impacts” The speaker will be Kieth Ensminger from Merced. Mr. Ensminger is a board member of Small Business California. Responsibility for health care reform is moving to the individual states. How can California establish an equitable universal system? A luncheon will be served for $15 (including tax and tip). Reservations are required by contacting Phoebet8@att.net or calling 7325061 by Sept 15.

are currently looking for chili judges, vendor booths, and chili teams.

For more information, contact Dee Fricks at kingscounty@sonc.org or call (559) 696-1941.

Library, Where Books Come to Life!

5:30-8:30pm - Experience Books and authors like never before! There will be: Specialty foods, wine and beer; Interactive exhibits; Silent aucSeptember 23: Visalia Parks and tion; Great times and new friends.

Recreation Foundation Presents Tickets are a $50.00 donation, and Fromage Frolic 5-10pm - Grilled cheese cookoff be- are available at the Tulare Public Litween local restaurant and amateur brary Genealogy Department and at chefs at Garden Street Plaza. The Rosa’s Trattoria and Bar. public is the judge! Tazzaria will be September 28: Learn About Long defending their title of “Best Grilled Term Care Benefits for Veterans Cheese in Visalia.” Tickets are $20 6-7:30pm One little-known benefit in advance and $25 at the gate. “Af- for veterans and their families is the ter hours” admission, after cookoff, Aid and Attendance benefit. This to enjoy Run4Cover and purchase benefit can be used for care in an beverages at a cost of $10. For more assisted living facility or for care at information and tickets, contact home. Quail Park on Cypress will be Carol Hoppert Hays, Visalia Parks hosting a workshop on Long Term & Recreation, (559) 713-4599, Care Benefits for Veterans. Philip (559) 936-4400, carolhhays@gmail. M. Flanigan, elder law attorney, will com be the guest speaker.

September 24 - 30: Porterville City Quail Park on Cypress is located at Library Celebrates Banned Books 4520 W. Cypress Ave. in Visalia. For Week, 2017 additional information or to RSVP Banned Books Week is an annu- call (559) 624-3502. Refreshments al event celebrating the freedom to will be served.

Participants will receive a certificate read. It highlights the value of free that verifies they attended the train- and open access to information. ing.

Banned Books Week brings togethFor questions or to register, please er the entire book community — visit our website at www.cos.edu/ librarians, booksellers, publishers, trainingcenter . You may also reach journalists, teachers, and readers — the Training Resource Center at in shared support of the freedom to (559) 688-3130. seek and express ideas, even those some consider unorthodox or unSeptember 22: 21st Annual Public Safety Appreciation Luncheon popular.

11:30am - 1:30pm - The Hanford Chamber of Commerce will honor and recognize various officers and individuals from Hanford Police, Hanford Fire, Lemoore Police, American Ambulance, California September 20: Erev Rosh HaSha- Highway Patrol, and various Kings na Service County offices. Tickets $20 are 6:30pm - at Congregation Beit Sha- available through the chamber oflom, 115 E. Paseo Ave, Visalia. For fice, (559) 582-0483. No tickets children and learners. Taschlich fol- will be available at the door. lows at Blain Park stream. RSVP at September 22: Crush Party - an (559) 308-1333.

Evening of Wine and Hors d’OeuSeptember 21: Lady of Guadavres lupe Section Opening at Visalia 6-9pm - Brought to you by the TuCemetery lare Chamber of Commerce and 7am - Raising of the flag, pledge of COS Foundation at the COS Tulare allegiance and moment of silence, College Center, Building B, 4999 E. followed by a one-mile walk on the Bardsley Ave. Wine Tree opportunipaved roads inside the cemetery. ty drawing. Tickets, $50, available Then, blessing of the new section at through the Tulare Chamber office The Lady of Guadalupe statue just or www.tularechamber.org west of the Pavilion. For those not participating in the walk, seating September 23: Special Olympics Chili Cook-Off will be available in the Pavilion.

10am - 4pm - The Special OlymSeptember 21: COS Training pics Chili Cook-Off is back! We

Experience the true meaning of freedom of choice with the Porterville City Library as they celebrate Banned Books Week. Stand up against censorship by checking out a formerly banned or challenged book. A display of current and past banned or challenged books will be available. Ask a library staff member with a Banned Books Week pin for assistance.

September 29: Oktoberfest 2017 5:30-9:30pm - The Visalia Chamber of Commerce will hold Oktoberfest at Vossler Farms Pumpkin Patch.

This annual community festival will feature food tastings, local vendors, and live music. General admission tickets are $40 (advance purchase) or $50 the day of the event. Ticket admission includes live entertainment, food and a mug for beer and wine tasting. Cigars, and event t-shirts will be available for purchase during the event. Businesses interested in sponsorship opportunities should contact the Visalia Chamber of Commerce. Sponsorship packages include tickets, booth space and recognition during the event. Tickets can be purchased online at https:// tinyurl.com/OKTFest17. For more information, call the Visalia Chamber at (559)734-5876 or go to www. visaliachamber.org/oktoberfest.

To ban or not to ban, that is the question. Oscar Wilde once said “the books that the world calls immoral are books that show the world September 30: 2017 Moo Mile its own shame”- decide for yourself Run/Walk 7:30-10am - Fundraiser for Meals during Banned Books Week. on Wheels Program at Tulare Senior For more information on services Center. Mooooove your feet down and programs, visit the Porterville the Moo Mile Course and help us City Library at 41 W. Thurman raise funds for the Tulare Meals on Ave., call (559) 784-0177 or check Wheels Program. Every participant out www.portervillelibrary.org and will receive a “goodie bag” and T www.facebook.com/portervilleli- shirt. At Zumwalt Park, Tulare Ave. brary. & M Street. For more information, call (559) 684-4310.

September 25: A Night at the

7 September, 2017

B6 • Valley Voice

What is a Shofar?

Removal is a yearly process that involves a serious undertaking of soul A shofar is literally the horn from searching: a spiritual review. In Hebrew, a kosher animal, usually a ram. It is this is called a cheshbon ha nefesh, an cleaned and the marrow removed. Now accounting of the soul. For a period of it becomes an ancient instrument and a 10 days between Rosh HaShanah (head Jewish religious object. of the year) and the holiday of Yom This is the time of year that the Sho- Kippur (Day of Atonement) a person far is blown. The blasts signify that the is commanded by God in the Torah to King (God, Creator look inward. of the world) is The Torah coming. It reminds commands the us that the blasts Shofar to be blown from the Shofar in an abbreviated were heard when fashion for 30 days God descended prior to the High on Mount Sinai Holy Days. and gave us the This begins the Torah. (Law) process of rousing It reminds us of the sleeping souls the near sacrifice of to remember God Isaac who was saved A shofar is the horn from a kosher animal and reconnect with -- usually a ram. Courtesy/Zachi Evenor when God showed the way of Torah Abraham a ram to bring as an offering. which contain God’s laws. For a month, Although God wanted a committment the Shofar is blown like this: 1 long from Abraham. . . Jews never practice blast, 3 medium blasts, 9 staccato blast, human sacrifice. then 1 more long blast.

The loud piercing sound of the The sound is loud, sharp, enlivenShofar humbles us and fills us with awe ing and staying asleep is not an option. before God. Its call brings together the That’s the point. Day by day for 30 days Jewish people who are scattered to all we are blasted awake! We need to return corners of the Earth. It is so piercing, it to God’s path. . . the way of the comcan revive the dead. mandments and God’s Torah. We know Those that are spiritually asleep are we have fallen short of God’s laws. We partially dead. What can we do about have left God. God is waiting. this numbness or lack of being spirituWe must think about repairing our ally alive? God is the answer (the juice). relationships: with out families, with We must find a way to spiritually re- our friends, with our co-workers, emcharge and reconnect. Judaism is the ployees, and students. With God. original and most ancient method. This Repair is possible. Return is possisequence: prayer, repentance, & charity ble. The Torah teaches and gives us the -- temper God’s decree. It’s life or death: way. Go to Synagogue. Hear the Shofar we choose. blown. How to remove sin? Prayer, reThe Jewish High Holy Days of pentance, and charity.

Rosh HaShanah and Yom Kippur begin On Yom Kippur we also fast for 25 on the evening of September 20th. Yom hours. On Rosh HaShanah the world Kippur (Day of Atonement) begins on was created.

September 30th at sundown.

Every year God gives us another The central commandment (mitz- year, another chance. This year is 5777. vah) during Rosh HaShanah is to hear Soon it will be (God willing) 5778. We the shofar being blown. Why? Because too can receive another chance. We can these Jewish holidays are the means by remove our sin. which Jewish people remove sins.

We can wipe the slate clean through We have to do this ourselves. Jews the rituals of the High Holy Days. are not “born in sin” and we do not have We can remove sin from our souls in “original sin”. Our babies are born with this most original and ancient of ways. a pure soul that is God’s contribution in We are called by the blast from the creation of a human life. the Shofar.

It’s only after the age of maturity We are called to prayer, repentance, is reached - - 13, that a person’s con- and charity - - whose fulfillment allows scious choices may bring in sin to the God to write us in the Book of Life. . . person’s soul. or not. Choose wisely.

Cynthia Fischer

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Kings Art

and similar facilities in Washington, Oregon, California, and Arizona. They were then moved to one of 10 hastily Continued from B1 built relocation centers. architect, contractor, carpenters, electriBy November, 1942 the relocation cians, plumbers, masonry contractors, was complete. The war ended in 1945, landscapers, and many others.

Manzanar was closed and the JapaIt was through their efforts and the nese American’s housed there were sent financial donations of over $12,000, home to rebuild their lives. from the community, that the Center Henry Sugimoto graduated from opened to great fanfare in 1960.

Hanford High School in 1924, attendThe work ed UC Berkein this exhibley, the Califorit represents a nia College of small sampling Arts & Crafts, from the many and the Acadlocal artists who emie Colaroshave exhibited si in Paris. their work at the In 1932 he Center over the had a one-man past 25 years. show at the CalFor some of us, ifornia Palace it will be a viof the Legion sual walk down of Honor in memory lane.

San Francisco, We are and eventualall extremely married Suly thankful for sie Tagawa and all who helped moved back made the Kings to Hanford.

Art Center a Fo l l o w i n g reality and to Executive Order China Alley, by Larry Heinze. Courtesy/Kings Art those who con- Center 9066, in 1942, tinue to support he was removed the goals of our Center. with his wife and daughter to the PiBruce Kane, Executive Director nedale Assembly Center and the Jerome John Robinson, Guest Curator Relocation Center.

After arriving in camp, Sugimoto Internment 1942: The Art of Hen- began painting on sheets, pillowcases ry Sugimoto and other scrap materials, hiding his Japan’s attack on Pearl Harbor De- early work from Administrators because cember 7, 1941, let the United States he feared his critical depictions of camp into World War II and radically changed life would be confiscated. the lives of 120,000 men, women, and However, after receiving encourchildren of Japanese ancestry living in agement from WPA officials he began the United States. to paint openly, creating 100 oil paintThe attack intensified racial preju- ings, watercolors and sketches during dices and led to fear of potential sabo- his confinement. tage and espionage by Japanese AmerUpon his release in 1945 he brieficans among some in government, ly returned to San Francisco to reclaim military, news media, and public. about 100 paintings, but found that In February, 1942, President Roo- they had been auctioned off while he sevelt signed Executive Order 9066 au- was in camp. He failed to reclaim the thorizing the Secretary of War to estab- proceeds from the sales and relocated lish military areas and to remove from to New York City. those areas anyone who might threaten Sugimoto continued to participate the war effort. in various exhibitions, including a 1960 Without due process, the govern- show of the Society of Washington ment gave everyone of Japanese ances- Printmakers at the Smithsonian Institry living on the West Coast, only days tute and in 1962 his work appeared at to decide what to do with their homes, the New York Galerie Internationale. farms, businesses, and other possesIn 1972 two murals he had created sions. Most left possessions with friends at Topaz were highlighted in “Month or religious groups. of Waiting,” an exhibit of art work from Some abandoned their property. the camps.

They did not know where they were goHe then began to create new wooding or for how long. block prints exploring camp themes Each family was assigned an iden- and became involved in the redress tification number and loaded into cars, movement and continued to work until buses, trucks, and trains, taking only his death in 1990. what they could carry. Japanese AmerUpon his death much of his work icans were transported under military was donated to the Kings Art Center by guard to 17 temporary assembly cen- his family and it become central to our ters located at racetracks, fairgrounds, permanent collection.

Wine & Beer Tasting At

Redwood Wine Room

Totem Market & Gifts Breakfast - Lunch - Dinner

J&J Cellars - Kelsey See Canyon Vineyards

(559) 561-4463 45186 Sierra Drive, Three Rivers

7 September, 2017

Valley Voice • B7

Night Ranger, RaeLynn, and 70ft. Flag Pole at Fair Staff Reports

Night Ranger will bring its 35th anniversary concert tour to the Tulare County Fair on opening night, Wednesday, Sept. 13.

Budweiser Stage concerts begin at 8 p.m. and are free with gate admission.

Additionally, the Ohio Players will be featured on Friday, Sept. 15; Queen Nation on Saturday, Sept. 16; and Tower of Power on Sunday, Sept. 17.

Night Ranger has sold more than 17 million albums worldwide, including albums that reached multi-platinum and gold album status, and has performed over 3,000 live shows. The band’s hits have included “Sister Christian,” “Don’t Tell Me You Love Me,” and “(You Can Still) Rock in America.” The band was also one of the first big “video” bands, with more than 10 number one videos on MTV. Additionally, RaeLynn will appear at the Tulare County Fair’s Budweiser Stage on Thursday, Sept. 14, touring to support her debut album Wildhorse.

Wildhorse landed within the Top 10 on Billboard’s all-genre album sales chart

and debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard Country Albums Chart.

Opening for RaeLynn is Williams and Ree – The Indian and the White Guy, a music and comedy duo. The two have earned a CMA vocal duo nomination and have been on numerous country television shows and tour extensively throughout North America.

The Tulare County Fair, Sept. 13-17, offers a week of entertainment for the family, free with gate admission, including jugglers and drummers, educational activities for children, live local entertainment, an exotic animal display and petting zoo, along with a three-night motor sports spectacular, the new High School Madness school spirit competition and more.

Thanks to a generous donation by the Tulare Rotary Club, the fair will also feature a 70-foot-tall flag pole to display the U.S. flag.

“We have been wanting a flag pole that will allow the flag to be seen from all over the fairgrounds, and this pole allows us to do that,” said Pamela Fyock, CEO of the Tulare County Fair. “We appreciate this partnership with the Tulare Ro-

tary Club.”

The Rotary Club chose to underwrite the project to show support for local veterans and to support donors of the 9/11 blood drive that the club organizes each year, explained Rotarian Donnette Silva Carter, CEO of the Tulare Chamber of Commerce.

The Fair gives gate admission tickets to blood donors, Fyock noted.

“We are proud to honor our nation and our veterans with this display of the flag, and Rotarians made it possible. We are very grateful.”

New this year is the Ramos Brothers Circus, a traditional big-top circus offering fun for the whole family, along with a ventriloquist, a magician, Charlie the Veloci-Raptor and Gypsy Time Travelers storytellers.

Carnival wristbands sell for $20 each prior to Sept. 12, and $30 during Fair week. A FastPass upgrade is available for $15, allowing wristband-holders to go to the front of the line for all carnival rides.

The carnival will feature over 30 rides include two huge rides, the Big Splash and the Oympic Bobsled. Carnival wrist-

bands sell for $20 each prior to Sept. 12, and $30 during Fair week. A FastPass upgrade is available for $15, allowing wristband-holders to go to the front of the line for all carnival rides.

Additionally, the ever-popular corn dog-eating contest, sponsored by Milo’s Corn Dogs, will be held at 5 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 16, at the Eagle Mountain Stage. The first-place winner wins $500; second and third place winners win $200 and $100 respectively. Entry is $10 per person in advance; $15 per entry after Wednesday, Sept. 13. Forms are available at tcfair.org.

And pie-lovers haven’t been left out, either. They have five minutes to eat as much pie as they can on Sunday, Sept. 17, for a chance to win two meet-and-greet tickets and reserved seating at the Tower of Power concert that evening. The contest, open to adults 18 and older, begins at 5 p.m. at the Eagle Mountain Stage.

For details on contests, call 686-4707 or email Tina Novoa, tnovoa@tcfair.org.

Visit www.tcfair.org for ongoing updates to the schedule of events or call the fairgrounds office at 686-4707.

7 September, 2017

Valley Voice • B8

Monarchs and Milkweeds Marcia Goldstein, Master Gardener Sometimes environmental problems seem overwhelming, but there is one thing we can all do that will actually make a difference to the survival of a species.

Monarch butterflies are finding their habitat threatened and their numbers decreasing, because they depend on Asclepias or milkweed plants.

In fact, the Monarch butterfly is sometimes called the “milkweed butterfly,” because its caterpillars exclusively eat the stems, leaves and flower buds of the plant.

Without milkweeds, there would be no Monarchs! The butterflies themselves sip nectar from milkweeds as well as other plants. Let’s discover what species of milkweed grow in the Central Valley and our foothills and how you can successfully plant them in your garden.

We are lucky to have five species native to our area: 1. California Milkweed (Asclepias californicus) with violet flowers and almost white-gray fuzzy foliage 2. Monarch or Indian Milkweed (A. eriocarpa) whose pink flowers emit a waxy odor 3. Narrow-Leaf Milkweed (A. fascicularis) has white flowers and readily reseeds itself 4. Showy Milkweed (A. speciosa) whose “antique rose” colored flowers are positioned together so they look like exploding fireworks

A monarch butterfly on a showy milkweed plant. Courtesy/US Fish & Wildlife Service

5. Woolly Milkweed (A. vestita) with white flowers is native to the eastern edge of the Valley.

Another milkweed found in northern California, but which also grows in the Central Valley, is Colorful Purple Milkweed (A. cordifolia).

This particular variety has burgundy-colored buds and heart-shaped, purple-tinged leaves.

Milkweeds are not picky. They thrive in our hot, dry climate. They will be most happy when planted in full sun and they are drought tolerant.

They are also deciduous, thereby protecting themselves from very cold weather. If you choose to remove the attractive dry flower stalks, you may want to leave a plant marker so you don’t disturb them with garden activities after they “disappear” in the winter.

New shoots don’t usually emerge until April or May. Don’t worry about soils. Milkweeds are adaptable, but most prefer heavy soil.

However, you will find them in rocky soil and they can even tolerate alkalinity.

Narrow-Leaf Milkweed copes easily with the Valley’s clay soil and its seasonal flooding.

Milkweeds can be purchased from nurseries that carry native plants.

Sometimes, seeds are available for free from organizations working to save the monarchs.

But, if you have a friend or neighbor with milkweeds in their gardens or see them along the roadside, you can propagate your own.

You can take softwood cuttings or plant seed from January through June.

The seeds should be collected when the pods are dry and buried in the soil about

¼ of an inch to protect them from birds.

The seeds require cold to germinate, so if you choose to collect the seeds and sow them in the spring, be sure to store them in your refrigerator.

Just put them in a moist paper towel, then into a plastic bag and leave them in the refrigerator for 3-6 weeks before you plant.

Check them periodically to see whether the seeds are starting to germinate. You can also make divisions of the plant from January through March. The caterpillars of the Monarch eat the leaves of the milkweed plant, so be sure not to spray them. The plant will recover.

Although milkweed is not often thought of as a landscape plant, it can be lovely in a garden.

Plant it in mixed borders, meadow gardens, or habitat gardens.

In a drought tolerant garden, you might plant it among boulders or with one of the sages (Salvia), California fuchsia (Epilobium) or a native buckwheat (Eriogonum).

Showy Milkweed is particularly effective when combined with masses of deer grass (Muhlenbergia), needle grasses (Nassella), or other tall, native grasses.

Now sit back and wait for the butterflies to come.

Even if you only add one or two plants, you will feel good about having helped the monarchs who depend entirely on milkweeds, and who are losing their habitat in California as well as along the rest of their migration routes.

Plus, you will have the joy of observing these gorgeous butterflies in your own garden.