Valley Voice Issue 101 (21 September, 2017)

Volume XXXVII No. 18 • 21 September, 2017

www.ourvalleyvoice.com

Silence Breaks at TRMC as DA Takes Interest

The district attorney’s office is interviewing those associated with the hospital. One high-ranking employee is likely to jump ship, and a doctor has an interview coming up with the district attorney’s office.

Dave Adalian

Heath Care Conglomerate Associates (HCCA) is starting to crack.

The once lockstep silence from employees at the company overseeing dayto-day operations at Tulare Regional Medical Center (TRMC) is breaking as it becomes apparent HCCA’s days in charge are numbered.

Rumors are flying, the District Attorney seems to be taking an interest, and if that weren’t enough, an attorney for HCCA promised in court this week a third newly elected new board member for Tulare Local Health Care District (TLHCD) will be seated before the month’s end.

But it’s already too late for HCCA to avoid the interest of the DA’s office.

DA Investigation Ongoing

Dr. Frank Macaluso, a one-time member of the Medical Executive

Tulare County No Longer #1 in Agriculture

Committee (MEC) at Tulare Regional who resigned his position, says he and the DA will be talking about issues relating to operations at TRMC at a meeting scheduled for this week at the DA’s request. While he doesn’t know what investigators wish to ask him, he believes it is not related to the disputed replacement of the former MEC, and perhaps not to any issues already being discussed publicly.

“I have a meeting with the DA’s office on Wednesday. They want to talk to me about Tulare, about the whole situation with HCCA,” Macaluso said.

“I don’t know what they want to talk to me about. I think they’re investigating HCCA that doesn’t have anything to do with the other stuff.”

However, testimony Macaluso gave during litigation against HCCA and TLHCD on behalf of the former MEC indicates the doctors staffing the

HCCA continued on 16 »

Alberto Aguilar was sworn in Tuesday to a position on the Tulare Public Cemetery District’s board. Brendon Alexander/Valley Voice

Three Resign from Tulare Public Cemetery Board Tulare Public Cemetery District will soon have a brand new board. Longtime board member Patricia Colson submitted her letter of resignation on September 8 and Phil Vandegrift reportedly handed in his resignation to the Tulare County Board of Supervisors on September 11.

Antonia Chavez resigned a few

AGRICULTURE continued on 11 »

days after the contentious July 12 board meeting.

“When you do something you should enjoy it. But Caring Cause and the two new board members are the most disrespectful people I have ever met.”

CEMETERY continued on 13 »

Tulare City Council Clashes Continue Dave Adalian

Catherine Doe The numbers are in, and possibly for the first time in history, Kern County is number one in the nation in agriculture production. Kern County’s total gross production for 2016 was $7.18 billion.

Tulare County came in 2nd with $6.37 billion and Fresno County came in third with $6.18 billion.

For its sheer land mass, Fresno County has been the undisputed king of agriculture. But because of the drought, Tulare County took the crown for the last three years.

Now it is Kern County’s turn.

Fruit and nut sales saw a one percent increase in Tulare County but it was pistachios that put Kern County over the top for 2016.

According to the Business Journal, “Pistachios are a big crop in Kern County, and after an extremely bad crop in 2015, ‘It just so happened in 2016 we had a bumper crop, while prices were an issue for some crops last year, a huge crop of pistachios offset those declines,” said that county’s Ag Commissioner Glenn Fankhauser.

Catherine Doe

up to 40 years.

There will also be a cap of only $250 that a city can charge to lease the city’s “vertical infrastructure.”

Assembly Member Bill Quirk, a Democrat from Hayward, wrote an opinion in favor of SB649.

He said that passing the bill was critical if California wants to stay at the leading edge of technological innovation, and that the equipment is necessary to power next-generation 5G networks.

“SB 649 will help families and businesses gain access to a technology that will reshape modern life. The 5G

Even when Mayor Carlton Jones doesn’t show up, controversy doesn’t stop for the Tulare City Council. Only this time, it seems it was much ado about nothing.

At the meeting held September 5, Councilman Jose Sigala prompted a discussion on last year’s travel budget for members of the Council. The item, which was to be passed as part of the consent calendar, showed a deficit run

by Jones amounting to some $1,600, and Sigala wanted to know what ramifications, if any, exist for the excess.

“One of the things I have seen is there is a particular deficit for it one of the districts,” Sigala said, “and I wanted to find out what kind of processes were in place to cover that.”

The deficit was in Jones’s District 3, and Sigala was told the gap would be covered using the unused portions of the four remaining members’ budgets, none of whom spent their entire allotment.

“So, as a council member, if I know I have a certain amount of travel bud-

TOWERS continued on 12 »

CLASHES continued on 12 »

“Small cells” could soon pop up closer to your home. Courtesy/Rohanmkth/Wikimedia

California Legislators Take Away Cities’ Ability to Determine Tower Placement Catherine Doe To the chagrin of city managers and mayors throughout California, SB649 passed – allowing telecommunication companies, such as Sprint, AT&T, Verizon and T-Mobile, to install mini cellular antennas in public rights of way and even in your front yard.

According to the League of California Cities (LOCC), which lobbied against the bill, cell antennas will no longer be subject to city or county permits and will be installed in publicly-owned spaces, mostly on utility and light poles and rights of way of streets and parks. The term of the leases can last

2 • Valley Voice

21 September, 2017 FROM THE PUBLISHER’S DESK

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Tony Maldonado, Dave Adalian and I have been hard at the oars now for the better part of two years regarding the doings at Tulare Regional Medical Center (TRMC).

It was with some surprise, then--and no small relish--that, before the 7 September issue, I watched the Chief take sudden umbrage at all the jousting.

At issue was her frustration over an unanswered question: Who is the CEO of the hospital?

We explained that TRMC is governed by the Tulare Local Healthcare District Board (TLHCD) a previous incarnation of which had selected as an alignment partner Healthcare Conglomerate Associates (HCCA).

We explained that the board has a Chairperson, currently Kevin Northcraft, and that HCCA has a CEO, Dr. Benny Benzeevi.

We explained that the hospital, itself, has no CEO. This set the Chief on the warpath.

So she wrote exasperated letters to Tulare County District Attorney Tim Ward, Congressman Devin Nunes, California State Senator Jean Fuller and California State Assemblyman Devon Mathis. Why, she asked, are the people of one of the poorest counties in California left to fend for themselves? And where are our elected representatives?

“Who,” she asked me, “is running the show?”

That’s the $100 million question.

Benzeevi was given carte blanche by the previous board to seek and secure up to $100 million in loans.

But now the new board can’t get sufficient financial information, including audits, from HCCA--which is threatening to sue the board for multiple breaches of its financial obligations. The board, in turn, hasn’t been able to meet in regular session for two months because HCCA’s attorney, Bruce Greene of Baker Hostetler, asserts that, according to California Election Code section 15400, Senovia Gutierrez will not actually be a sitting board member until the board itself declares her to be one.

Gutierrez won in a landslide recall election of Dr. Parmod Kumar and was sworn into office on 25 July.

According to Greene and HCCA, the current board consists of Northcraft, Mike Jamaica, and Richard Torrez, the latter of who sat--chiefly in silence--on the old board.

Through its attorney, Robert Welsh of Baker Hostetler, HCCA promised to Superior Court Judge Melinda Reed on 18 September that it would declare Gutierrez elected at TLHCD’s next regular board meeting scheduled for 27 September.

Until recently Greene has been the attorney for both TLHCD and HCCA. But has he really been? In nearly two years of observation it seems to me that Greene has acted in favor of HCCA and actively against the district’s interests.

Greene, and Baker Hostetler, were terminated by the new board in a special meeting on 9 August.

According to the most recently filed court documents in a motion to force Greene and Torrez to declare Gutierrez, Greene and Baker Hostetler have thus far-as of 13 September--refused to accept the validity of their termination.

Let’s take a look-see at what 15400 actually says: The governing body shall declare elected or nominated to each office voted on at each election under its jurisdiction the person having the highest number of votes for that office, or who was elected or nominated under the exceptions noted in Section 15452. The governing board shall also declare the results of each election under its jurisdiction as to each measure voted on at the election.

In plain language, then, to declare election results is a ministerial obligation the board has to its constituency--and not a mechanism by which it itself certifies the result of an election.

If Gutierrez was, as the law says, a sitting board member upon her election and swearing-in, then Greene would have had no choice but to accept his firing.

How well has he served the board these past two months?

Joseph Oldenbourg

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

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Reporters:

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

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21 September, 2017

Valley Voice • 3

Political Fix The Tulare Way Part II

A lot has happened since my last Political Fix. Lawyers representing the hospital board argued for a temporary restraining order to prevent HCCA from taking out any more loans, power has been shut off in the unfinished hospital tower, and HCCA claims that the Tulare Local Healthcare District owes them more than $8 million dollars.

The hospital district had ten days to pay up.

But more amazing, Tulare County District Attorney Tim Ward finally started defending Tulare voters. He filed suit demanding that Senovia Gutierrez be recognized as a Tulare Regional Medical Center Board member.

Thus far, he is the only local representative to actually come to the people’s defense.

A few weeks ago I got a major bee up my ass about the fact that Tulare residents have been left to defend themselves against a mega millionaire who was taking over their hospital. So I called the Tulare County District Attorney Tim Ward, State Senator Jean Fuller, Congressman Devin Nunes and State Assemblyman Devon Mathis to complain.

I then followed up with a letter.

State Senator Jean Fuller sent a pretty awesome response with how she will help the district and I forwarded it to the new hospital board members. She might also have already requested a state audit of the hospital.

I then called Assistant District Attorney Dave Alavezos. He just could not have been more empathetic. He would say things such as “Wow, I hear ya” and “I certainly do commiserate.”

As mad as I was that my conversation didn’t result in a response from the DA’s office, I couldn’t bring myself to rake him over the coals in my column because Mr. Alavezos had been so sweet.

Boy I’m glad I didn’t.

A few days after the paper hit the stands the DA filed a case in Tulare County Superior Court against Richard Torrez and HCCA compelling them to recognize new board member Senovia Gutierrez. There was even a threat that Mr. Torrez could be removed from office if he didn’t.

The suit said the board should have declared Ms. Gutierrez a director at its

Catherine Doe

first regularly scheduled meeting on July 26 and that the announcement of her election was “not a matter for a vote, or even discussion, it is merely an acknowledgment of an established fact.”

The suit went on to articulate what the public has been yelling about for month--that the duty of the DA is to “encompass the preservation of the democratic process and the protection of the constitutional rights of the Citizens of Tulare County.”

The DA is even getting the California Attorney General involved.

So while I was bemoaning to Mr. Alavezos, who could say nothing, how the residents of the poorest county in California were being ignored, the DA’s office was days away from filing their suit.

Unfortunately, Hon. Melinda Reed decided against the DA’s suit, but now the citizens can stop screaming as if in a dust speck in Whoville, “We’re here, we’re here, we’re here!”

I didn’t get the same satisfaction in the aftermath of my column from Assemblyman Devon Mathis.

The day my column came out I got an animated phone call from his Chief of Staff, Sam Cannon. He wanted to meet as soon as possible. I wished Mr. Cannon had called before the paper went to print, but, ok.

I suggested 1pm the next day at the new coffee shop, Tazz, in front of SunCrest Bank.

“Deal,” he said.

Then he canceled.

Neither were Citizens for Hospital Accountability too impressed with the response from Congressman Devin Nunes. The chief of staff responded to my letter saying that Mr. Nunes is a Federal officer not a local representative.

A member of Citizens for Hospital Accountability responded, “The problem with Congressman Nunes’ reply is that misuse of Medicare or Medicaid funds is a federal issue....nice deflection.

And, if the FBI can get involved as a federal agency...his office can too.”

A Not-So-Crazy Conspiracy Theory

Since Voice writer Dave Adalian first broke the Tulare Hospital story in March of 2016 it has been suspected that Benny Benzeevi had a plan – to try and purchase the hospital for pennies on the dol-

lars by purposely causing the hospital to go bankrupt.

This conspiracy theory was put to rest because we have been told that state law requires the sale of the hospital be approved by the voters.

But does it?

The state law is ambiguous. It says that if the district sells the hospital to a corporation it must be put to a vote. The law says nothing about if the district sells the hospital to an individual.

Also, we have learned a thing or two about how Dr. Benzeevi interprets the law. How is it that Senovia Gutierrez, who won with 80% of the vote, has not taken her seat as a board member?

Would it be that much more difficult for Dr. Benzeevi and his lawyers to do an end run around the state law on purchasing the hospital?

Mr. Adalian brought up the fact that cities and school districts sell public land all the time. All they have to do is declare it as “surplus.”

“Look what happened with Hidden Valley Park in Hanford,” he said.

I also suspect that Dr. Benzeevi was conducting an inventory of the assets of the hospital for more than just securing a loan. I think he was taking an inventory of the assets as is necessary to do in preparation to getting an appraisal of the hospital.

“I have recently been informed by employees of the District that HCCA and its agents have been taking inventory of personal property and equipment belonging to the District,” Hospital board member Michael Jamaica stated.

HCCA has put the district on notice that if they don’t pony up $8,176,749.25 within 10 days, the district will be in default of HCCA’s Management Services Agreement signed by the previous board.

Dr. Benzeevi may not only get the hospital for pennies on the dollar but the district may actually end up owing him money.

Pretty sweet deal.

A Little Unsolicited Advice

It was with a great sense of panic in early August that I read it was the first day of school. Did I forget something? Then I realized, after 27 years, I no longer had any school-aged children. My youngest, Mercedes, is now attending COS. So after packing thousands of

lunches, sewing dozens of Halloween costumes, wiping 100’s of noses and stuffing as many Christmas stockings, I thought I might have a few words of wisdom on raising children.

An easy answer for parents would be to shrink wrap their child, with an extra layer of plastic wrap below the waist, and then never let them out of the house until they are 25. But that might not go over well with the grandparents, so here goes.

Food – Joseph and I never liked the idea of children eating sugary cereal for breakfast. We always had a few varieties available so the kids wouldn’t gorge themselves as adults out of a sense of deprivation, but we convinced them that Fruit Loops were a dessert only to be eaten after dinner.

We lost a little credibility when our two oldest came home from a sleep over, eyes bulging, saying, “Tom and Willy ate Cocoa Puffs for breakfast!” But parents should get a good ten year run in before the kids discover the truth.

IPhones – Never should a toddler or young child be given Mom’s phone to keep them quiet during dinner. Going out to eat is exciting enough for children and they should not be distracted from the experience with electronic devises. Kids need to be listening and participating in the dinner conversation or sit quietly.

It’s time to give your child a smart phone when all of their friends are communicating through text and Snapchat otherwise they will be alienated. But the parent sets the password.

Driver’s License –California has made getting a license at 16 extremely difficult which is a very good thing.

Teaching five teenagers how to drive was the most terrifying experience of my life.

We let each kid fight their own battles, especially when it came to the DMV, and only Mercedes, our youngest and most cautious, was successful in getting her license at 16. The others were 18 or older.

Travel and work – When a child reaches high school, it’s not a time to take that promotion or buy that vacation home about which you have always dreamed. Little kids need to know that a parent will come home. Teenagers need their parents home. If possible at least

POLITICAL FIX continued on 12 »

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4 • Valley Voice

21 September, 2017

Dreamers Look for Hope Following Rescission of DACA Nancy Vigran On September 5, President Trump rescinded DACA – the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, established through an Obama executive order in 2012. DACA allowed undocumented children of immigrants to remain in the country for a two-year period of time. DACA recipients have since been allowed to have their status renewed at two-year intervals.

Also referred to as Dreamers, named after the DREAM Act (Development, Relief and Education for Minors) introduced in 2001 but never passed, the rescission of DACA means that anyone whose DACA has run out, could be deported to the country of their birth.

During his statement, Trump gave congress six months to pass a new bill to recognize these Dreamers and DACA recipients, before the program would be terminated. No one with DACA documentation is to be deported . . . yet.

There are more than 800,000 DACA recipients in the US. Approximately 200,000 of those are in California, and 47,000 are in Congressman David Valadao’s (CA-21) district which includes Kings County as well as parts of Tulare, Kern and Fresno counties.

Valadao Backs Dreamers

Since beginning to serve in Congress in 2014, Valadao has remained dedicated to repairing the broken immigration system of the US, he has said. His personal connection to immigration, combined with the serious impact policy change will have on his constituents, have pro-

vided Valadao with a deep understanding of the issue, especially as it relates to agriculture and our guest worker program.

Recently, Congressman Valadao has thrown his support toward four various bills dealing in some fashion with Dreamers. One is bill HR 1468, the Recognizing America’s Children Act (RAC), which “authorizes the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to cancel the removal of, and adjusts the status for a five-year period of, an alien who meets certain requirements.”

This bill was co-sponsored by 32 Republicans and 1 Democrat. HR 1468 has been referred to the Subcommittee on Counterterrorism and Intelligence.

Another, HR 60, is the Encourage New Legalized Immigrants to Start Training Act (ENLIST). This bill “authorizes the enlistment in the Armed Forces for certain undocumented immigrants who are otherwise qualified for enlistment and provides a way for the undocumented immigrants to be lawfully admitted to the US for permanent residence by reason of their honorable service and sacrifice in the US military.”

This bill was co-sponsored by 105 Republicans and 106 Democrats. It has been referred to the House Committee on Armed Services.

The most recent bill Valadao has co-sponsored is HR 3440 – The DREAM Act of 2017, which has four Republican co-sponsors along with 196 Democratic co-sponsors.

If passed, this bill would allow young people to earn lawful permanent residence, and eventually citizenship, if they: • Are longtime residents who

California Senator Kamala Harris (center) met with DACA recipients including COS student Jessica Macias Mercado (second from left), to hear their stories. Courtesy/Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights

came to the US as children; • Graduate from high school or obtain a GED; • Pursue higher education, work lawfully for at least three years, or serve in the military; • Pass security and law enforcement background checks and pay a reasonable application fee; • Demonstrate proficiency in the English language and a knowledge of United States history; and • Have not committed a felony or other serious crimes and do not pose a threat to our country.

The bill has been referred to the Congressional Subcommittee on Immigration and Border Security.

Proper Legislation for Dreamers

Valadao has long been in support of finding a pathway for Dreamers to obtain citizenship, he said. And while he is supportive of them, he also feels that the president did the right thing by rescinding DACA, adding that it is up to Congress and the Senate to come up with a proper law for the president to eventually sign.

“Obama didn’t do it the right way,” he said. “The president doesn’t have the right to make that decision. Trump said, ‘It’s your [Congress’] project to fix this.’”

“The Central Valley is strong in agriculture,” he said. “We rely on immigrant labor. They bring their kids.”

Congress has “failed” to implement a reliable system for these children, he added.

“I’d like to fix that,” he said. “And, so that we don’t have to do this again.”

The VISA system needs to be fixed and the borders to need to be secured, he added. He also cited that securing the boarders does not only affect people, but invasive species of insect life, that could devastate crops as well.

“Most reasonable people think that

keeping the border secure is important,” he said.

Today, he said, he feels that HR3440 has the best chance of being passed.

He added that he hopes that something can be attached with regard to agriculture labor, as well.

It has been reported by various national news outlets that, following a dinner at the White House last week, Congressional Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi and Senatorial Minority Leader Chuck Schumer said an agreement was made between them and the President regarding DACA legislation and border security.

Valadao commented, while he was not in attendance and not privy to the conversation, the President was probably not thinking of HR-3440 – but, Pelosi could have been. Following the Pelosi-Schumer announcement, the President did say that while positive discussion was made, there was no deal as of yet.

As for the six-month deadline, “I think there is a real chance,” Valadao said, that some legislation could be passed in favor of DACA recipients.

Meanwhile, Dreamers are once again on defense - demanding their rights.

One Visalia DACA Recipient Continues to Speaks Up

Jessica Macias Mercado last spoke to the Voice in May. She continues to become more vocal in her quest to protect DACA and Dreamers.

A full-time College of the Sequoias (COS) student, carrying 16 units, Macias Mercado, 21, has lived in the US since the age of one. Her parents are separated, and her father now has dual citizenship and is a US citizen. Her four older siblings were born in the US, and therefore are also US citizens. But, she and her younger brother were born in Mexico. She has just renewed her DACA

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21 September, 2017

Valley Voice • 5

Tulare County Adopts $1.2 Billion 2017/18 Budget Staff Reports The Tulare County Board of Supervisors approved a $1.2 billion fiscally sustainable spending plan recommended by the County Administrative Officer Michael Spata for Fiscal Year 2017/18.

“The budget approved by the Board is one the County can be proud of,” stated Board Chairman Pete Vander Poel.

“We have worked to set aside funds in preparation for the future uncertainties we as a County are bound to face.”

The 2017/18 Recommended Budget reflects a 4.3% increase over last year’s adopted budget, with a $2 million

DREAM

Continued from 4 paperwork and is good for another two years, she said.

Now, “I’m a little confused more than anything,” she said. “I read a lot of articles – I am not sure what he [the President] is trying to say.”

Macias Mercado was one of eight DACA-documented students attending a round-table discussion with Senator Kamala Harris (CA-D) in Los Angeles, the end of August.

“Our DACA young people have been living a lawful life,” Harris said.

“You have all been enrolled in school, in college. DACA recipients have been serving in our military. DACA recipients are working in Fortune 100 companies. This is who the population is. We as a nation should be proud of these young people, for everything we expect you to do.”

During the meeting Macias Mercado said, “I grew up always knowing, ‘you’re undocumented.’ You have to be careful, you can’t do what other kids do, you can’t be out late; you can’t do anything your friends are doing. It is mentally eroding not to be able to be like everyone else.”

After meeting with Harris, Macias Mercado said, “She [Harris] seems very dedicated to getting this [Dreamer Act] done.”

“Maybe I can make a difference,” she said. “Everybody needs to get involved.”

More DACA Students Stand Up

Diego San Luis Ortega, 20, has gotten involved. He, too, is a DACA recipient who attends COS. He was born in Mexico and came to the Central Valley at around the age of 1, where his parents sought work, he said.

His younger brother and sister were both born in the US, and are, therefore, US citizens. He is not.

His parents pushed him to apply for DACA when it was first implemented, and he did.

San Luis Ortega is a graduate of Redwood High School, where he played on the water polo team, served on the Academic Decathlon team, and was involved in robotics.

His current major is history, although he would also like to study counseling and is planning to someday receive a Master’s Degree in each.

He was, at first, hesitant to share his story. But now, considering the possible ending of DACA, feels he needs to stand up for his rights.

“I feel a need to start fighting

increase in General County Reserves.

The proposed strategic funding allocations include: • $1 million for County Economic Development projects.

• Provide funds of $1.5 million for a financial software upgrade.

• Allocating $6.6 million to Capital Projects.

• $1 million for the Tulare County Sheriff’s Property and Evidence Facility.

• $200,000 to be used for a County-wide homelessness program.

• Funds of $1 million for County Parks Development projects.

•

$694,000 for numerous water programs.

“In its broadest sense, this Recommended Budget of $1.2 billion is balanced, fiscally sustainable, and structurally sound,” stated Spata.

“In doing so, the proposed funding allocations address both strategic and operational responsibilities,” he said.

The Fiscal Year 2017/18 Recommended Budget implements the County’s Strategic Business Plan to address strategic and operational opportunities, and responsibilities.

As an example, new building permit value amounted to $197.4 million and

during the past four-years over $790 million in new permit value was conferred on the County through application of strategic management emphasizing fiscal sustainability and economic development.

The Board of Supervisors is responsible for reviewing and approving budgets for all County operating funds, internal service and enterprise funds, County Service Areas, and dependent special districts.

The Board also sits as the Redevelopment Agency and is responsible for those budgets.

back,” he said.

He feels strongly that Dreamers should be allowed to stay in the US, which is their country.

He also feels strongly that the parents of Dreamers should not be held accountable for their adult children.

“They saw that in Mexico, we wouldn’t be able to make it,” he said of his own parents. “They made the ultimate sacrifice and I’m repaying them by being successful. They, too, should be able to become citizens.”

When they moved here, San Luis Ortega’s parents would take any odd jobs they could get. He remembers some days going with them to work, and sometimes

not seeing one or the other of them, when he got home from school, before going to bed.

“It made me who I am, really,” he said.

“We’re [Dreamers] just like everyone else. We’re students, we’re workers, we’re athletes, we’re first responders – we’ve given so much to this nation,” he said.

“We’re going to fight for it.”

He wants to “fight” for the right to stay and achieve citizenship, he said, and he added that he wants to be that voice.

For others, San Luis Ortega suggests that they learn their rights and become unified.

“Find your voice,” he said. “There’s

strength in numbers.”

Senator Harris has also given advice to all DACA recipients on her Facebook page In light of the recent DACA decision, here is some important information regarding what the changes mean for DACA recipients: USCIS is not accepting any new applications for DACA. If you have DACA status, it is still valid until it expires.

Applications for DACA recipients to travel abroad and re-enter the US, also known as advance parole, are no longer accepted. If you travel outside of the United States, you will lose your DACA status.

6 • Valley Voice

21 September, 2017

Agriculture Farm Bureau to Host 8th Annual Bounty of the County Staff Reports For the eighth year in a row, Tulare County Farm Bureau is inviting the community to join us in celebration of Tulare County Agriculture at Bounty of the County on September 29 at the Historic Seven Sycamores Ranch in Ivanhoe.

Guests can enjoy the finest food and beverage made with locally sourced products at the tasting event, 6-9pm.

The country-casual evening will include live music by Take Cover as well as door prizes provided by Farm Bureau and participating local vendors. The popular gun raffle with be back, with three firearms to be given away that night (all federal and state firearm transfer laws apply). Event and raffle tickets are on sale at the office, and gun raffle tickets will be available the night of the event.

“We’re excited to provide the community with an event where they can come out and enjoy samples of fine local food, wine and beer in a casual, country environment,” said Roger Everett, Tulare County Farm Bureau president.

Local farmers, restaurants and businesses will be showcasing their culinary delights at Bounty of the County including All Fired Up! Pizza, Cacciatore Fine Wine and Olive Oil Company and

many more.

The “Best of Bounty” contest will be held again this year, where guests can vote for their favorite dishes exhibited.

Guests can vote for their favorites in the categories of: Most Savory, Best Sweet Treat and Best Fresh Product. Exhibitors will be awarded prizes, recognition and of course bragging rights for being named the “Best of Bounty”.

Tickets are available for $50 pre-sale and $70 at the door. Contact the Tulare County Farm Bureau at 732-8301 or TCFB@tulcofb.org to buy tickets today.

For more information about the event, visit us online at www.tulcofb.org.

Also during Bounty of the County, is the long anticipated drawing for a new DJI Phantom 4 Drone.

All new Agriculture, Business Support Gold Heritage, and Platinum Heritage Members having joined between May 1 and September 29 will be entered in the drawing. The winner will also receive a free consultation from All Drone Solutions in Exeter. A separate prize drawing for a $100 gift card will be held for those that referred a new member to join.

The drone has been sponsored in part by All Drone Solutions. To learn more about the Phantom 4, visit www.

One of the many Bounty of the County participants last year was Naturally Nuts, featuring locally grown walnuts and almonds, as well as olives and olive oil grown and made in Tulare County.

Courtesy/Tulare County Farm Bureau

dji.com/phantom-4, or check out the video on TCFB’s Facebook page, www. facebook.com/TulareCoFarmBureau.

Tickets are available for $50 pre-sale and $70 at the door. Contact the Tulare County Farm Bureau at 732-8301 or TCFB@tulcofb.org to buy tickets today.

For more information about the

event, visit the farm bureau online at www.tulcofb.org.

Tulare County is the top dairy-producing county in the nation.

The Tulare County Farm Bureau represents more than 2,000 family farmers and works to promote and enhance the viability of Tulare County agriculture.

Fair Junior Livestock Auction Total Hits $1.06 Million Staff Reports The Tulare County Fair’s annual Junior Livestock Auction generated gross sales of over $1 million.

The $1,060,590 auction, which took place Saturday and Sunday, drew more animals and the price per pound was up for every breed, noted Pamela Fyock, CEO of the Tulare County Fair.

A highlight of the 2017 auction was the donation of a hog to the Tulare County Fair Foundation by livestock exhibitors Kourtney and Lindsey Beck. The hog was purchased by the Curti family, with additional funding from Brass Ring Amusements, Visalia Ceramic Tile, Gar-

ton Tractor, Inc., Diversified Dairy Solutions and Farm Credit-Visalia, resulting in a donation of $6,160.

“This very generous donation to the Fair Foundation will allow us to continue to improve our livestock area,” noted Foundation board member Geneva Shannon-Orlopp. “Raising and showing livestock is a significant time commitment for these students, and they learn many lessons of life-long value.”

The reserve supreme champion market beef winner was Jenna Schmidt of Central Valley Christian FFA; the reserve supreme champion market lamb winner was Ty Lewis of Waukena 4-H;

the reserve supreme champion market hog winner was Kourtney Beck of St. Aloysius 4-H; the reserve supreme champion market goat was won by Jacquelyn Brooks, of Visalia Technical Early College FFA. “The Junior Livestock Auction is the heart of this Fair because it represents agriculture and continues a nearly 100-year-old tradition of commitment and healthy competition,” Fyock noted. “These kids work very hard and I’m proud of the community for coming forward in such a big way to support their efforts.”

The 2017 fair enjoyed great weather,

an enhanced line-up of free-with-admission entertainment, three nights of motorsports and a gran jaripeo in the grandstands for the Hispanic community.

Community members donated time on two fairgrounds clean-up days and many sponsors contributed services, product and financial resources to ensure another great fair, Fyock added.

“We have been in a rebuilding mode at the Tulare County Fair for the past several years,” Fyock noted. “As we approach our 100th birthday in 2019, we are excited to be able to offer a fair that is bigger, better, cleaner and offers great family entertainment.”

Report: Water Policies Create Uncertain Future for Valley Ag Staff Reports A new Report entitled “The Implications of Agricultural Water for the Central Valley” by Professor Michael Shires warns of impending economic decline in the Central Valley if water supplies continue to decline for farmers in the region. “This report connects the critical role of agriculture in the region,” said Johnny Amaral, Deputy General Manager, External Affairs.

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“It provides elected officials with a picture of the future, where water is available, and agriculture supports the Central Valley and provides food for California and the nation. It also analyzes a potential future where continued reductions in water supplies diminish agriculture as the Central Valley region struggles to find replacement jobs and businesses.”

The Report also reveals that no viable alternative to agriculture has been identified

by those who advocate for the permanent retirement of vast amounts of farmland, thereby reducing demand for water supply.

The theory that irrigated agriculture and associated jobs can be replaced by green jobs and new manufacturing facilities is simply not feasible. Replacing agricultural jobs in Fresno County would require $6.24 billion in solar farm investment annually--a level that is highly unlikely. Likewise, the predominant manufacturing industry in the Central Valley involves food processing,

so any reduction in irrigated agriculture would impact current manufacturing and would chill the region’s ability to attract new manufacturing facilities.

“It is clear from this Report that the future of our region and the well-being of Central Valley residents are inextricably tied to agriculture,” said Johnny Amaral.

The report is available at: http://wwd.ca.gov/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/implications-of-agricultural-water.pdf.

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21 September, 2017

Valley Voice • 7

Agriculture Valley Farmer Gives Back, Funds Eye Clinic in Armenia Staff Reports “I have a policy,” said Luther J. Khachigian. “The more you give, the more you get.”

That has been the 82-year-old businessman’s mantra for as long as he can remember — and it’s more applicable now than ever.

Khachigian, a longtime supporter of the Armenian EyeCare Project (AECP), a California nonprofit aimed at eliminating preventable blindness in Armenia and making eye care accessible to everyone in the country, has underwritten the organization’s upcoming Regional Eye Clinic in Armenia.

The clinic, which will be located in the country’s second-largest city of Gyumri, is part of the EyeCare Project’s biggest program ever to fight blindness in Armenia — Five-for-Five — developing five Regional Eye Clinics in Armenia for $5 million by 2020. The program will provide access to eye care for the two million residents in Armenia who live outside the country’s capital of Yerevan and find it too difficult and too expensive to travel there for care.

“When I heard about the Five-forFive campaign I knew I was going to help in some way and that I would probably sponsor a region,” said Khachigian, who was born and raised in Visalia, California. Khachigian founded one of California’s leading grape and walnut nurser-

ies, Cal Western Nurseries, and has sold millions of plants in his career. He now lives in Cayucos.

The clinic Khachigian is sponsoring will be called the John Ohannes Khachigian AECP Regional Eye Clinic, named after his father, whom he loved and respected very much.

“I adored my father and he was my hero in many ways,” Khachigian said.

An Armenian Genocide survivor, John Khachigian fled Turkey with his mother and brother and ultimately settled in the Central Valley, making a living as a farmer.

The John Ohannes Khachigian AECP Regional Eye Clinic will be the EyeCare Project’s fourth Regional Eye Clinic in Armenia.

All five locations for the clinics were carefully selected by Armenia’s Ministry of Health based on local need and the availability of eye care. The goal of the Regional Eye Clinic System, which aligns with the AECP’s mission, is to provide access to quality, affordable eye care for all Armenians.

This is not the first time Khachigian has supported philanthropic projects in Armenia. The Central Valley farmer also funded a commercial nursery in Armenia through Armenian Technology Group, a Fresno-based nonprofit whose mission is to assist Armenians to become self-sufficient in food production.

Additionally, Khachigian has also

underwritten the cost of three RetCams for the AECP’s Center of Excellence for the Prevention of Childhood Blindness in Yerevan. These valuable pieces of equipment have been integral in identifying an eye disease known as Retinopathy of Prematurity (ROP) in premature infants that can cause blindness if left untreated.

“When I see photos of these little kids in Armenia with their big beautiful brown eyes it puts tears in my eyes,” Khachigian said when asked why he continues to support the AECP. He also stresses the importance of getting more people involved with the organizaLuther Khachigian. tion, particularly fellow growThe Armenian EyeCare Project’s viers like himself who have become successful and want to give back sion for Armenia is a country where no and dramatically improve someone’s life individual is without access to quality eye care; where Armenia’s ophthalmoloin Armenia.

He went on to say, “This is heavy gists are trained to diagnose and treat eye disease at the highest level; and preventduty stuff and there’s not enough of it.”

Thanks to Khachigian’s extremely able causes of blindness are eliminated generous donation and recent spon- through an emphasis on prevention and sorship of the Regional Eye Clinic in early intervention.

For more information about the Gyumri, the AECP is on track to reach Armenian EyeCare Project, you can its goal of developing five Regional Eye Clinics in Armenia by 2020 — with just visit their website at http://eyecareone more clinic in need of sponsorship project.com/. in the town of Yeghegnadzor.

Commentary: Wildfires Show Need for Improved Policies Erin Huston, CFBF

As dozens of wildfires burn across California and other Western states, the pressure ratchets up on Congress to take long-awaited action to reform federal policy on forestry and wildfire prevention.

During the past week, two members of the Trump administration responded to the escalating crisis.

First, Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke announced plans to adopt more-aggressive practices to prevent and combat wildfires on federal land. He promised “robust fuels reduction and pre-suppression techniques,” and directed managers and superintendents of Interior Department units to use the full range of existing authorities to reduce fuels.

Two days later, Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue said wildland fire-suppression costs for the current fiscal year had topped $2 billion, making 2017 the most expensive year on record. He renewed his call for Congress to fix the way it funds U.S. Department of Agriculture fire-suppression activities.

The current, ineffective method is called “fire borrowing.” USDA has to borrow money from the fire-prevention part of the Forest Service budget to pay for fighting existing fires. This could change, if Congress treated wildfires the same as other disasters—such as the hurricanes that have done so much damage in Texas and Florida this summer. Money to respond to those disas-

ters will come from emergency funds, but such funds aren’t available for wildfire response.

Farm Bureau has long advocated for an end to “fire borrowing,” as well as for legislation that accelerates forest restoration and enhances hazardous-fuel reduction. To address some of these goals, we’ve turned our attention to the upcoming rewrite of federal agricultural policy: the 2018 Farm Bill.

A few weeks ago, Farm Bureau hosted a group of timber operators, foresters, private landowners and others involved in forestry, to meet with Rep. Doug LaMalfa, R-Richvale, about forestry issues in the farm bill. For example, those of us in the meeting agreed that the new farm bill should streamline processes the Forest Service uses after a wildfire to remove dead trees more quickly.

Farm bill programs can help in fire prevention, for example by allowing declaration of emergencies due to insect or disease infestations and including removal of dead vegetation as part of reforestation activities. The farm bill can also encourage use of biomass power plants to reduce the fuel load in forests, and direct conservation and research funds toward forest management.

Support for improved forest management has broadened as wildfires have consumed more land. The California Farm Bureau Federation participates in an urban-rural coalition called the California Forest Watershed Alliance, or CAFWA, which brings togeth-

er water districts, local governments, conservation organizations, agricultural and forestry groups. Coalition members include the Association of California Water Agencies, California Forestry Association, Rural County Representatives of California, the Nature Conservancy and CFBF. In a list of recommendations for the 2018 Farm Bill, CAFWA focuses on a comprehensive solution to forest management—including wildfire prevention, suppression and restoration— in order to leave forests more resilient against disease, drought and wildfire.

Among other things, that means more and faster forest thinning, hazardous-fuel removal, creation of firebreaks and other activities.

Our coalition supports projects that accelerate large landscape restoration, and supports expanded Good Neighbor Authority, which helps federal land managers enter into collaborative agreements with state governments to enhance forest management.

Other strategies the farm bill could support include technical assistance for landowners, secure funding for key conservation programs and grant funding to offset the cost of transporting wood to biomass plants.

And, of course, the CAFWA coalition supports an end to “fire borrowing” and a comprehensive solution to address the increasing cost of wildfire suppression.

As you can see, wildfire prevention and forest management represent

a multi-faceted issue—and we need to pay attention to all of those facets in order to achieve the goal of healthy public and private forestland. Some factors that increase wildfire danger, such as long drought, may be beyond our control—but that just means we have to be more active in controlling the factors we can control.

We’ve seen the alternative: Lack of active forest management has created danger and severe economic hardship for Californians who live and work in rural communities.

Wildfires have burned millions of acres, endangered lives, displaced families, ruined wildlife habitat, damaged rural economies and degraded watersheds—among many other awful results. The only good thing that could come from any of this would be if Congress finally acts to end “fire borrowing” and takes other actions to reform forestry policy.

Farm Bureau will do all we can to make sure that happens. As discussions about the 2018 Farm Bill progress, be sure to let your member of Congress know that you support programs that restore balance to our forest and to the way we pay to fight wildfires.

(Erin Huston is a federal policy consultant for the California Farm Bureau Federation. She may be reached at ehuston@cfbf.com.)

This article reprinted with the permission of the California Farm Bureau Federation.,

8 • Valley Voice

21 September, 2017

Judge Denies Attempts to Seat Tulare Hospital Board Member Senovia Gutierrez, Force HCCA to Produce Documents Tony Maldonado

torney General’s office.

Members of the Tulare Local Healthcare District (TLHCD) and the Tulare County District Attorney’s office took their first strike at Healthcare Conglomerate Associates (HCCA) on September 15, culminating in two court hearings — but not much else.

The DA’s office had attempted to force Richard Torrez to declare Senovia Gutierrez a board member, while members of the district’s board attempted to force Healthcare Conglomerate Associates to turn over financial documents, and force HCCA to submit any loan they may be seeking to the board for approval.

Those petitions failed.

On September 18, Hon. Judge Melinda Reed denied them on procedural issues, she stated, and the parties were free to address those issues and re-file their petitions.

The petitions cited “confusing and contradictory authority,” and did not join the district in the action, amongst other issues, she said.

She also revealed that at the same time the district attorney’s office was seeking a writ of mandate to force Torrez to recognize Gutierrez, the DA’s office was seeking a Quo Warranto petition that would seek the same outcome -- forcing Torrez to recognize her -- by threat of removing him from his position.

The Quo Warranto petition would require the consent of the California At-

The district attorney’s office filed petitions on September 13 that would force Torrez to recognize Gutierrez as a board member.

Torrez and Healthcare Conglomerate Associates, the contractor which oversees day-to-day operations at Tulare Regional Medical Center — and Linda Wilbourn, until her resignation from the board — have contended that Elections Code Section 15400 meant Gutierrez couldn’t become a board member until the board declares her one.

Because they contend that Gutierrez isn’t a member of the board, they also claim that two special board meetings held by board members Kevin Northcraft, Mike Jamaica, and Gutierrez were invalid and unlawful.

Torrez and Wilbourn didn’t attend those meetings. They also didn’t attend the board’s most recent regular meeting — Wilbourn resigned and Torrez didn’t appear.

The district attorney’s petition names Torrez as a defendant, with Bruce Greene and his law firm, Baker Hostetler, as respondents. Greene and his firm represent HCCA and Benzeevi.

They also claim to represent TLHCD. “Elections Code 15400 states that the governing body ‘shall’ declare as elected the person having the highest

DA: Recognize Gutierrez

number of votes. This is a ministerial announcement of a fact that has already occurred, not an invitation for the Board to decide who may serve on the Board or when a publicly elected Board Member may assume their lawful duties,” the petition from the district attorney’s office reads.

“In denying and delaying Ms. Gutierrez her seat, the respondents have unlawfully denied Senovia Gutierrez the right to her elected office, as well as subverted the democratic decision of the Citizens of Tulare County,” it continues.

The district attorney’s office also makes a new claim that even though Wilbourn tendered her resignation before the board’s most recent meeting on August 23, stating that she would be resigning at noon, Greene later sent a message claiming that Wilbourn really meant to resign the following day at noon.

“Board Members Linda Wilbourn and Richard Torrez, and their legal counsel, Bruce Greene, further exacerbated the situation by attempting to orchestrate the cancellation of the meeting on August 23, 2017,” the claim reads. “[…] at 4:00pm, Mr. Greene retroactively claimed that Mrs. Wilbourn really intended to resign the next day, which would leave the meeting without a quorum, if one did not count Ms. Gutierrez as a Board Member. This was yet another blatant attempt to deny Ms. Gutierrez her rightful position based on the fiction that the Board must somehow approve her election.”

They’re stating that Torrez and Greene are purposefully blocking Gutierrez from the board.

District: Show Us The Money

New Senior Living Community Coming to Visalia Quail Park at Shannon Ranch will offer exceptional living and health services for active seniors Living Care Lifestyles recently celebrated the groundbreaking of Quail Park at Shannon Ranch, a new senior community in northwest Visalia offering Independent Living, Assisted Living and Memory Care.

To honor the participation of its local partners, Living Care Lifestyles will donate $5,000 each to the Tulare County Deputy Sheriff’s Association and The Visalia Fox Theatre Foundation.

The new facility will open in 2019. Plans for Quail Park at Shannon Ranch call for 120 rooms – with capacity for 140 residents – located at Demaree and Flagstaff Avenue.

The community is expected to employ a staff of approximately 120.

Quail Park at Shannon Ranch’s amenities will include bistro, pub, dining room and private dining options; a pool-fitness-wellness suite and fitness programs; sports den and activity center; 24-seat theater, library and meditation suites, a virtual golf area, outdoor patios on three levels, and trail access to the Shannon Parkway.

About Living Care Lifestyles

Living Care Lifestyles, founded in 1999 and based in Seattle, is the leader and simply the best in senior lifestyles communities. More information is available at www.livingcarelifestyles.com.

Pictured from left to right Denis Bryant, LivingCare Lifestyles, CEO, President;Dena Cochran, Kaweah Delta HCD Vice President of Development; Eric Shannon,Co- Owner QP Shannon Ranch; Bernard te Velde, Co-Owner QP Shannon Ranch; Gary Herbst, Kaweah Delta HCD CEO; Lynn Mirviss, Kaweah Delta HCD Board Member. ©2017 Living Care Lifestyles. All rights reserved.

Shortly thereafter, lawyers with McCormick Barstow, the firm which now represents the district, entered petitions in favor of a proposed temporary restraining order that would prevent HCCA from entering into any contracts on behalf of the district, putting up any assets of the district as collateral, entering into any loans, or settling any lawsuits against the district without a vote of the majority of the board.

The firm also requested an injunction that would force the hospital management company to turn over large amounts of detailed financial data, including payroll reports, financial statements, balance sheets, bank reconciliations, vendor contracts, and accounts payable reports.

Board members Kevin Northcraft, Mike Jamaica, and Senovia Gutierrez had previously voted to rescind HCCA’s authority to seek loans on behalf of the district, but officials with HCCA stated that because Gutierrez hadn’t been recognized by the existing board, such a vote wasn’t official or legal.

A temporary restraining order would have provided an end-run around any disagreement over Gutierrez’ status.

Northcraft and Jamaica both claimed that time is of the essence, and that the hospital management company may currently be seeking to execute a loan, in contravention of their vote.

“I have recently been informed by employees of the District that HCCA and its agents have been taking invento-

ry of personal property and equipment belonging to the District,” Jamaica stated. “I have been informed that HCCA’s apparent purpose for inventorying the District’s property is so that HCCA can obtain a loan in the approximate amount of $100 million, and HCCA intends to use the District’s real and personal property as collateral and security for the loan.”

In both Jamaica’s and Northcraft’s declarations, they state that they were informed by employees of the hospital that HCCA “failed to pay several obligations to hospital vendors, including the hospital’s linen and meal providers, which caused those vendors to discontinue service to the hospital on September 11, 2017,” information which the Voice has also independently received from sources at the hospital.

They also state that they were informed that “the hospital’s supply of saline is dangerously low, and other necessary hospital supplies are also low,” but that no member of hospital management has provided them with any information regarding those issues or others, including a recent confirmation by Southern California Edison that electricity bills for the tower construction project have gone unpaid.

Arguments

On Friday, September 15, attorneys for each side -- Mandy Jeffcoach and Nikole Cunningham from McCormick Barstow, on behalf of the district; Trevor Holly, on behalf of the district attorney’s office; Dennis Mederos, on behalf of Gutierrez; and Robert Welsh, from BakerHostetler, on behalf of Torrez and Greene -- argued their case.

But because Welsh had came to court that day with opposition filings that Reed hadn’t had time to read, she continued the hearing to Monday, September 18. She stated she needed time to read Welsh’s opposing arguments before making a decision.

On the 18th, the same parties appeared, with the new addition of Marshall Grossman, appearing on behalf of HCCA. Grossman represents HCCA and Dr. Benny Benzeevi, the company’s CEO. Reed stated that she wasn’t sure why the district attorney’s office had filed for a writ of mandate to force Torrez to recognize Gutierrez when it had also filed for the Quo Warranto action.

The Quo Warranto process could take months, Holly explained, and a writ of mandate could achieve the same ends much more quickly.

“It is a matter of real urgency,” Holly said.

Reed also stated that the district attorney’s petition had other procedural issues, including not naming the district as a party in the suit, and not clearly citing any authority or precedent on where she could act to force Torrez to recognize Gutierrez.

Mederos also spoke forcefully in defense of the district attorney’s petition to force Gutierrez’ recognition.

Referring to statements that Greene sought independent counsel in coming to the opinion that Gutierrez needed

JUDGE continued on 9 »

21 September, 2017

Valley Voice • 9

Open Arms House Hosts Open House September 14 Brendon Alexander

Approximately 100 people attended the open house of the new Ruth Wood Open Arms House hospice facility in Visalia, which is located at 3234 W Iris Ct. The open house was held September 14.

The Open Arms House is a facility for hospice patients who do not have access to 24/7 care — which connects well with their motto, “Nobody should die alone.” The facility currently has six rooms in total, which by law requires at least one registered nurse.

Carol Nickel, the board president and retired hospice nurse, stated that this facility was built with “God’s Hands.” She also mentioned that this is a non-profit organization.

Merrilyn Brady, a board member,

had said that they are not using the term “hospice care” but instead using the term “end of life” to describe the services the facility provides.

The board is expecting its first inspection of the facility on Monday, September 18th.

This could take up to six hours.

The board is preparing every way they can to make certain that everything is in order for the inspection.

Merrilyn Brady made it clear that they are not partnered with any other facilities, simply because they want to be able to take anybody from anywhere and nobody should be left out. It is the only facility of its kind in the Central Valley.

At the event, Dr. James Fox with the Tulare/Kings County Medical Foundation had presented a check of

Sabrina Jimenez, Merrilyn Brady, Donnie Clark, and Carol Nickel accept a donation from Dr. James Fox of the Tulare/Kings County Medical Foundation. Brendon Alexander/Valley Voice

$13,000 for beds to which the facility can use to care for its patients.

The Open Arms House was found-

ed with help from the Kaweah Delta Hospice Foundation; for more information, visit www.openarms.house.

Quail Park at Shannon Ranch Celebrates Groundbreaking Staff Reports

Living Care Lifestyles and local partners on September 7 celebrated the groundbreaking of Quail Park at Shannon Ranch, a new active senior living community in northwest Visalia. The event kicked off construction of the new community, which will ultimately close a gap in the continuum of services for active senior lifestyles, and raised money for two local nonprofits.

“Our goal is to make sure we are providing our community with what it is looking for – living communities for active seniors,” said Denis Bryant CEO of Living Care Lifestyles.

The event took place at the Quail Park at Shannon Ranch Community’s future site in northwest Visalia, at the intersection of Demaree and Flagstaff.

Seventy community members were in attendance.

To honor the participation of its local partners, Living Care Lifestyles

Judge

Continued from 8 to be recognized by the board before she could be seated, he claimed that the counsel Greene sought wasn’t impartial, because it was the same attorney which acted on Kumar’s behalf in sending a Brown Act violation notice to the board.

“They’ve taken the opinion of the ousted director’s attorney [Michael L. Allan],” Mederos said.

“We showed up [at the last meeting] and the doors were locked,” he said. “We have no indication that the same won’t take place.”

“They just refuse to recognize her,” he said. “We don’t live in Bolivia, we live in the United States of America.”

Welsh stated that wouldn’t be the case -- the plan is to seat Gutierrez at the district’s next meeting on the 27th.

Reed noted that any special meetings of the board would need to be required to be called by three members of the board, and asked Welsh why the process couldn’t be fast-tracked by a special meeting; referring, specifically, to Torrez agreeing to the process of convening one.

“There’s a great deal of distress between the parties,” Welsh said, referring

will make contributions to the Tulare County Deputy Sheriff’s Association and The Visalia Fox Theatre Foundation. Each group will receive a $5,000 donation.

“We were pleased to see the outpouring of community support at the groundbreaking – and to be able to recognize these two organizations for all the great work they do in our community,” Bryant said.

Kaweah Delta Health Care District, Shannon Senior Care, LLC, and BTV Senior Housing, LLC, have partnered with Living Care to open Quail Park at Shannon Ranch.

Quail Park at Shannon Ranch will offer independent and as well as a memory care wing for seniors suffering from Alzheimer’s and/or dementia.

Plans for this project call for 120 rooms with a capacity for 140 residents.

When fully occupied, the community expects to employ approximately 120

to the members of the board.

Holly stressed that the writ and Quo Warranto process are two separate items.

“The writ does not require the permission of the attorney general -- we didn’t file this behind their backs,” he said, stating that the attorney general’s office was aware of the filing for a writ.

After arguments, Reed stated she hadn’t changed her mind, but reiterated she wasn’t denying them the ability to refile.

Reaction

“I’m delighted this part of the saga is over,” Grossman told the Voice after the hearing. “It’s regrettable so much taxpayer money continues to be spent on the district attorney and private attorneys.”

HCCA and Benzeevi have accepted the results of the election, Grossman said. He also stated there was a larger issue in question -- the funding of the legal battles currently in process against HCCA and the district.

“Who is financing the fees and costs of so many private lawyers and the district attorney’s office?” Grossman asked.

“It’s highly unlikely that they are being paid by three newly elected members of the board.”

Quail Park at Shannon Ranch (architect rendering)

staff members.

Quail Park at Shannon Ranch will include a bistro, pub, dining room with private dining options, a pool-fitness-wellness area, sports den and activity center, a 24-seat movie theater, library and meditation areas, a virtual game room, outdoor patios on three levels, and trail access to Shannon Parkway.

Construction will soon begin on the project, with a goal of opening in

early 2019.

Kaweah Delta Health Care District’s capital contribution to the project is being made entirely through the Bettie Quilla Fund at the Kaweah Delta Hospital Foundation. The Bettie Quilla Fund was created through donations by the late Bettie Quilla, the wife of former Visalia Times-Delta publisher Ed Quilla. No additional capital funding is being contributed by Kaweah Delta Health Care District.

Grossman also stated that the recent election campaign had been filled with hate and slanderous comments, and that a full disclosure of the motivations behind those who financed the recent elections would serve as an “antiseptic.”

“We will get to the bottom of it,” he said.

Benzeevi stated that the issue will be resolved on the 27th, at the board’s next meeting.

“As we have seen time and time again, elements within our community continue to perpetuate false narratives about our hospital and cause great harm to our community,” Benzeevi told the Voice. “It is simply unfortunate that these people who claim to be proponents of the hospital continue to spend taxpayers’ money on frivolous and unsubstantiated claims.”

“Our decisions have always been in the best interests of the District and we always follow the rule of law,” he continued. “Unfortunately, we cannot say the same of others.”

The District Attorney’s office released a statement, saying that the office would “continue to defend democracy.”

“We filed the Petition for Writ of Mandate in hopes that the Court would settle the legal question as to what point

in time does an elected board member, following a recall election, assume the powers and responsibilities of office. We did not file on the Board as a whole because they acknowledged the election results at an emergency meeting on August 9, 2017,” Dave Alavezos, Assistant District Attorney, wrote. “The only current board member who has failed to acknowledge those results is Mr. Richard Torres. Given Mr. Torres is the only person who has failed to comply with Election Code 15400 in his capacity as a board member, it is only he who we believe should be ordered to recognize the election results.”

Gutierrez’ attorney, Dennis Mederos, stated that to him, the issue is straightforward -- Gutierrez was elected and sworn in, and complied with the mandated requirements to take her office.

Any interpretation of California Elections Code 15400, which requires the board announce a new board member, as anything other than ministerial is merely an attempt to confuse the public and an attempt to deny Gutierrez her seat on the board, he said.

“The confusion appears to go all the way to the bench, to the judge involved in the case,” he said.

10 • Valley Voice

21 September, 2017

Tulare Hospital In Arrears, HCCA Claims Contract Breach Multiple vendors claim they aren’t being paid fully — including Southern California Edison.

Tony Maldonado The Tulare Local Healthcare District is in breach of its obligations to Healthcare Conglomerate Associates (HCCA), the company has claimed in a recent letter, including upwards of $8 million in money owed to the hospital management company.

HCCA is putting the district on notice: If it doesn’t pony up at least $8,176,749.25 to the company within 10 days, the district will be in default of the agreement.

If the district is in default, that could trigger the agreement’s massive break-up fee, which is at least $8.4 million by itself.

At the same time, Southern California Edison claims that the hospital is in breach of its financial obligations for electric service, and could shut off electric service to the hospital’s tower, potentially impacting construction efforts, and a local doctor has sued the hospital, claiming to be owed payment from April to June of 2017.

Marshall Grossman, the attorney representing HCCA and its CEO, Dr. Benny Benzeevi, states that coughing up the cash may not be enough to get them out of the woods.

That’s because the company is repeating its claims in a prior letter that statements by Kevin Northcraft and Mike Jamaica have caused an impediment to HCCA’s day-to-day operations at the hospital.

“Certain actions resulting in damage and liability to HCCA are not capable of being cured [...] If you consider otherwise, please so state and explain how they may be cured in reply to this letter.”

Broke down into specific categories, the company claims the district owes them: • $5,532,047.79 for “expenses and charges incurred in connection with the Leased Employees” since July 31, 2015, • $2,118,634.60 in funding for operating and non-operating expenses since December 21, 2016, • $526,066.86 in management fee payments since August 1, 2017, • Unspecified amounts in “monthly expenses” incurred by the hospital management firm “on behalf of the District” since August 31, 2017.

The letter doesn’t make clear whether the $5.5m amount includes any amounts that HCCA may have set aside towards the possible purchase of the hospital, a practice authorized under the hospital’s “option agreement.”

Northcraft, elected chairman of the board by Michael Jamaica and Senovia Gutierrez, states it’s the first he’s heard of any issues.

“I haven’t received a phone call, text, email, in-person, anything from HCCA,” Northcraft said. “Except their attorney, arguing that democracy doesn’t

exist for our district.”

Requests for comment from Benzeevi were not returned by publication time.

Northcraft also stated that HCCA should be looking inward, not to the district, for money.

That’s because the Management Services Agreement states that the district is to transfer money in its “Gross Revenue Fund” to the company daily.

“Every dime we have is turned over to HCCA every day,” Northcraft said. “If they’re not generating revenue and they have total control of the hospital, then that’s on them, not us.”

The hospital management firm isn’t the only one looking for cash.

Dr. Jatinder Chopra, a Tulare doctor, has become one of many who have sued the hospital district looking for payment.

He claims that he has not been paid for services rendered to the hospital in April to June of 2017.

Chopra filed suit on August 7, claiming to be owed $29,982 for work at the Tulare Regional Medical Center’s Rural Health Clinic from April to June of 2017, and claims to be owed even more for “encounters after June 30, 2017 at the rate of $57.00 per encounter.”

Additionally, Southern California Edison has stated that the hospital hasn’t paid its bills for electricity usage at the hospital’s beleaguered tower construction project.

“Southern California Edison has

been working with representatives from Tulare District Hospital for months to ensure it can continue with construction of a vacant tower. After many conversations, Tulare District Hospital has refused to pay for electricity usage to the tower. As it does for all similarly situated customers, Southern California Edison on Aug. 29 served a five-business day utility shut-off notice to Tulare District Hospital,” a statement from the electric utility read.

Any move to cut off service to the tower wouldn’t affect those at the main hospital, the statement stressed.

“Should Tulare District Hospital refuse to pay, the resulting shut off will affect only service to the vacant tower.

The medical care of patients will not be impacted. SCE never takes lightly the decision to disconnect any customer.

However, SCE has determined that Tulare District Hospital’s refusal to assume responsibility for its utility account and electrical service to the tower is grounds for disconnection. SCE officials will continue to work with Tulare District Hospital’s executives to try and resolve this issue. So far, a satisfactory resolution has not been reached,” the company stated.

Northcraft told the Voice he hasn’t been put in the loop on any of those talks.

“A lot of people, a lot of employees are at risk due to HCCA’s incompetence,” Northcraft said. “We’re getting no information whatsoever, so any problems are at the foot of HCCA.”

21 September, 2017

Valley Voice • 11

Woodlake Files Countersuit Against Daniel Garabay Catherine Doe

In October of 2015 Daniel Garabay filed suit for wrongful termination from the Woodlake Police Department.

Garibay alleges that his civil rights were violated when the police department conducted an intrusive investigation into his relationship with a woman who had no connection with the department.

Garibay’s lawyers, Maggie Melo and John Sarsfield, allege that he was fired in retaliation for his relationship with the wife of a friend of Woodlake City Manager, Ramon Lara.

Telling a subordinate with whom you can socialize “is a violation of the First Amendment,” Sarsfield said.

For the last two years Woodlake has appealed the case all the way up to the United States Supreme Court.

The Supreme Court refused to hear the case this June.

Woodlake’s response? Sue Garibay.

Agriculture Continued from 1

It was reported that pistachio production in 2016 was 4.5 times higher than in 2015 in Kern.

For three years in a row, Fresno County received no surface water allotments, contributing to its fall to number three in production. Because of the lack

In possible retaliation for their inability to get the case thrown out of court, the city tried to sue Garibay for “declaratory relief.”

On July 24, the City of Woodlake, it’s police chief Mike Marquez and police Lieutenant Jose Aguayo, filed a separate federal lawsuit seeking “declaratory relief ” against Garibay.

“Declaratory relief ” is a request to have a court give an opinion on whether certain conduct is lawful or not.

By filing their own federal lawsuit, Marquez, Aguayo and the City of Woodlake wanted the federal court to declare that there is no constitutional right to engage in an affair.

Garibay is not and has never been married.

Before Melo and Sarsfield filed their response, Woodlake dropped the federal case and changed legal council from Farley Law Firm to Griswold LaSalle, a Hanford law firm.

Garibay’s state suit against Wood-

lake is still ongoing and has been referred to retired Judge Patrick O’Hara for mediation in October.

If a settlement cannot be reached the trial date is set for December 11.

If Woodlake refuses to settle the wrongful termination lawsuit, the city will face some very large legal bills.

Despite several requests by the paper, the city has refused to reveal how much money it has spent defending this case, but one legal expert estimated that had it continued with the federal lawsuit, the bill would likely have been in the $150,000.00 range, if not significantly higher.

Lara told the Visalia Times-Delta, “For now, things are tight,” he stated.

“We have five major projects in the city including water, roads and a community center among others.”

Lara told Valley Voice reporter Nancy Vigran that Woodlake is looking to bolster its balance sheet by passing two sales tax measures.

The council also voted to put on the ballot a cannabis cultivation tax.

“We have always been amenable to go to mediation,” said Melo, but thus far the city has refused.

The city can change its mind when faced with the prospect of its police officers getting deposed under oath.

Woodlake Police Officers’ deposition may prove Garibay’s claim that the City’s “moral clause” is being selectively applied.

He alleges that he is the only officer to have been fired for what the City defines as having an affair, even though he alleges others employed at Woodlake’s Police Department have engaged in the same behavior.

When Melo and Sarsfield were asked if they plan to present evidence to support that Garibay is being singled out they replied, “We expect to. [That] might be why they are fighting so hard.”

of water, farmers have been forced to fallow thousands of acres.

Milk continues to be Tulare County’s number one producer, with a total value of $1,645,572,000. Though impressive, it represents a 4.2% decrease from last year. Milk represents 25.8% of the agriculture production in Tulare County and is one of the main reasons why it lost its number one position to Kern County.

According to the Tulare County Crop and Livestock Report, “The total value of Field Crops production was $520,553,000, a decrease of 36.5% from the previous year. The loss was mostly attributed to a decrease in price per ton and reduced acreage. Fruit and Nut commodities were valued at $3,288,076,000 representing as increase of 1%.

“Tulare County’s agriculture strength is based on the diversity of the

crops produced. The 2016 report covers more than 120 different commodities, 45 of which have a gross value on excess of $1,000,000. Although individual commodities may experience difficulties from year to year, Tulare County continues to produce high-quality crops that provide food and fiber to more than 90 countries throughout the world.”

12 • Valley Voice

Political Fix Continued from 3

one parent should be available every day after 3pm to drive their teenager home from school or carpool for after school activities.

Sex – We kind of fell down on this one. Anyone who thinks they have control over the sex life of their sons is delusional, and just a little less so with their daughters.

I told my sons that their penis would fall off if they have sex. “You know there are a lot more diseases out there than when your father and I were teenagers.”

Pretty soon after the Cocoa Puffs incident they stopped believing me.

To the girls I would say in a hushed voice for dramatic effect, “boys only want one thing.” That worked really well while they were in grade school, not so much in high school.

But being home during their high school years, and not making it easy for them to get their driver’s license, cuts a

Clashes Continued from 1

get, I can go over it because I would probably be safe that the rest of my council members will cover my deficit, is that what I’m hearing?” Sigala asked.

Deficits Not Encouraged

It was what Sigala had heard, City Manager Joe Carlini confirmed.

“We would not encourage that,” he said. “However, how the budget works is if any individual line item goes over, as long as the entire budget doesn’t go over, we kind of step back.”

That answer led Sigala to express concern for the lack of consequences.

“So, there’s no policy, though. It’s an honor system,” he said. “So, basically, we’re told we have X amount of money for travel for the year, and you work hard to stay within that budget, but if you don’t, obviously there’s no consequence, you get covered nonetheless.”

The city attorney, Sigala was told, is reformulating the policy, and it will be up to the Council to decide what the consequence of running over budget should be.

“I want to be as transparent as possible,” Sigala said. “You know, these are taxpayer dollars, and we use them for things like travel and things like that, so I wanted to make sure the public kind of understood what we were discussing.”

More to the Story

It turns out Sigala didn’t have all

Towers

Continued from 1 technology will support smart cities, improve public safety, and provide environmental and economic gains,” said Quirk.

The State Assembly approved the bill September 13 in a 46-16 vote, with a larger than normal number of members -- 17 -- choosing not to vote.

Visalia Assistant Manager Leslie Caviglia and Vice Mayor Bob Link were in Sacramento lobbying against the bill when it passed.

“Cities will have no say on where

21 September, 2017 guy’s chances for a sex life in half. For the girls, throw in sleepovers, encouraged only at your house, complete with pizza and ice scream, and the opportunities for daughters are cut by 90%.

Most importantly, don’t think the easiest child for you to deal with will be the one tied to your apron strings.

One day I woke up and clingy Mercedes had her driver’s license, a job, and a boyfriend, all in that order.

As I sat on our large L shaped couch one fine fall evening, she and her boyfriend strolled into the TV room. He sat in the corner of the couch, and to my utter shock, she fell into his lap and he wrapped his arms around her waist.

He looked over at me like, “She’s mine now, Bitch.” (he didn’t) and I looked over at him like “How dare you touch my five year old daughter.” (I did.)

Risky behavior – We kind of fell down on this one also. My husband and I once got a call at 5:50am from the Assistant Dean of the University of Arizona saying, “your son is alive but….” My husband was on a 9am flight to Phoenix.

And this was our cautious son.

Whereas I kept my girls within sight as children and earshot through high school, this wasn’t possible for the boys.

Boys don’t want to stay in earshot of their mother.

I knew my boys had seriously flirted with danger, but it wasn’t until more than a dozen of us were sandwiched around our dining room table the night before Alex’ funeral and exchanging stories that I heard the details.

I learned what really happened to my 1972 Chevy truck, that Chuck and Alex had to be saved from a rip tide, and that they rock climbed on cliffs hanging over the ocean. And this was all before they turned 14.

I hate to be a Debbie Downer, but after ten years of writing family histories, I found that boys and young men die, mostly because of risky behavior. On my father’s side, my grandfather died in the same hospital, of the same disease, and spent the same amount of days unconscious, as Alex did - exactly 80 years ago.

My great grandmother, Cassie Mal-

loch, lost her only son, and her three sisters lost all of their sons.

Though I think you’ve got the gist, the same happened on my mother’s side, with one dying in Yosemite, of all things, rock climbing.

I’ve struggled with whether I could recommend having children to other women. Love and pain are so risky.

I could have just done what my brother and sister did and get a dog, or heaven forbid a cat.

Was all the worry, loss and sacrifice worth it? I do love to chit-chat with my kids and listen to them open their stockings Christmas morning (my girls still insist on one). I could write a book on advice about child rearing, but I don’t have any advice when it comes to having children or not.

I do know that I will never end up like those poor eight elderly residents in a Florida nursing home that died in the aftermath of Hurricane Irma.

Why? Because Mercedes has said that I’m living with her for the rest of my life. So, I guess it was worth it.

the facts about Jones’s travel or his budget, and Jones wasn’t there to explain.

That prompted Vice Mayor Maritsa Castellanoz to attempt to table the item “in fairness” to Jones and Councilman David Macedo, who was also absent.

Sigala wanted to press on.

“I disagree,” he said. “I made the effort to come to this council meeting.

I know it’s on the books. I’m here. We have a quorum. We have an official council meeting. Unless the city attorney opines differently, this is an issue we can discuss.”

But there were a couple of surprises in store.

After Sigala asked about the nature of Jones’s travel deficit, it was discovered an accounting mistake had been made.

While Jones went over his budget by $1,231, there was another $400 expense that should have been charged to his account -- the amount Jones gave Tulare Emergency Aid to cover utility bills.

It then became clear the deficit in Jones’s travel budget only occurred because of a trip he took to represent the city in Washington, D.C., and he paid for part of that trip himself.

“Not only did (Jones) spend what was left in his budget, he pulled $3,000 of his own personal funds to go on the trip on behalf of the city,” said Councilman Greg Nunley.

Nunley then pointed out the travel budget for the current fiscal year had been doubled for just that reason.

“This is why we upped the amount that each council member gets, so we can cover trips,” he said. “The may-

or is usually going to travel more than anybody.”

Sigala then suggested the travel budget for the mayor be enlarged even further. The Council will address travel budgets again at a future meeting, once the city attorney has completed her research and made her recommendations.

Measure I Oversight Finally Starts

sure I Oversight Committee, and just six applicants responded to City Hall’s request for willing participants.

Several of them were in attendance at the September 5 Council meeting.

While Castellanoz attempted to table the appointments until Jones and Macedo were present, Sigala pushed on, hard.

“What I’d like to do is make my appointment, and you can vote on it, and then we’ll wait until the other (council members) decide to show up on a Council night, and do that,” Sigala said. “I have my appointments, so I don’t think it’s fair for someone to come out tonight (and not have the matter addressed).”

His reasoning seemed to give vent to his frustration over his missing colleagues.

“It’s been agendized, and maybe on a future agenda we’ll put that the council members aren’t going to be there, so maybe you don’t want to show up to the meeting, but other than that, they can’t figure out if someone’s going to be here or not,” Sigala said.

Eventually, two commissioners were appointed to oversee Measure I spending.

Taking the seats are Richard Dituri and Dawn Rowsey. Three other commissioners will be appointed at a future meeting.

The next meeting of the Tulare City Council is scheduled for 7pm on Tuesday, October 3, at the Tulare City Library, 491 North M Street.

they put the transmitters. It could be placed right in front of your house,” said Link.

It was with a tone of disbelief that Caviglia and Link related that Assemblyman Devon Mathis voted in favor of the bill. They said Mathis had personally told them at a regional meeting for the LOCC August 10 in Fresno that he would not vote for SB649.

“It’s an interesting phenomenon,” said Link. “A lot of representatives feel that big companies are more important than their constituents. I am very disappointed.”

Visalia Mayor Warren Gubler said,

“As to Devon, I just believe it’s the lack of core convictions and lack of understanding. Under those circumstances, he’s subject to manipulation by the special interests. After promising local officials that he’d vote against it Devon Mathis voted for it and it passed. “ Caviglia said that 260 cities had rallied against SB649. “Everyone from conservative to liberal to the Teamsters to the AARP came out against this bill,” she said.

Gubler added, “The LOCC opposed this fiasco bill, as did all our Tulare County cities.

The bottom line is that we do not

have effective local representation in Sacramento.”

Governor Jerry Brown has until September 30 to sign or veto the bill.

Cavaglia was hopeful Brown would veto the bill because he was a former mayor of Oakland.

“He understands how important local control is,” she said.

When asked if he had had the opportunity to ask Mathis why he voted yes on SB649 Link said, “I think he is in hiding.”

The Voice reached out to Assemblyman Mathis’ Chief of Staff Sam Cannon but got no response.

Confusion on Committees

Despite that setback, Sigala pushed back again when Castellanoz asked to table another item from the evening’s agenda, appointments to the city’s Measure I Oversight Committee, due to the absence of Jones and Macedo.

Measure I, a voter-approved onehalf percent sales tax, provides funds for city services and maintenance.

The tax has been collected and spent since April of 2006, yet the oversight committee tasked with reviewing audits of the Measure I funds has never been seated.

“Measure I (Oversight Committee) is way long overdue in terms of actually doing its work,” Sigala said. “This was passed back in 2006, and 11 years later, we still don’t have a committee.”

The lack of a similar committee to oversee spending of voter-approved bond funds at the Tulare Local Heath Care District has erupted into an ever-widening controversy surrounding its still incomplete upgrade and expansion.

Five seats are available on the Mea-

21 September, 2017

Briefly…

COMMUNITY IMMIGRATION CONFERENCE, SEPTEMBER 23

College of the Sequoias’ Puente Project, a transfer-readiness program for historically underrepresented students at colleges, is collaborating with various community organizations to host and co-sponsor an Immigration Conference.

The conference will be free to the public and will take place on Saturday, September 23 from 8:30am to 2pm at College of the Sequoias in Visalia.

Participating organizations include the Coalition for Humane Immigration Rights, Central Valley Immigrant Integration Collaborative, Mi Familia Vota, Central California Legal Services and the California Department of Pesticide Regulation, among others.

The following is a working list of planned workshops that will be presented throughout the day: Know the Latest Immigration Policies (Including the Latest on DACA); Know about English as a Second Language (ESL) Classes at COS; Know Your Options for College: AB540 & Dream Act Financial Aid; Know Your Labor Rights: Wage and Hour; Free Legal Consultations; Know Your Environmental Rights: Pesticides & Your Health; Know How to Become a Citizen; Know Your Rights as a Victim of Crime: U Visas and Other Protections.

For the conference, COS Puente Project students will be active organizers. Students are networking with campus clubs to provide food for sale at the event. They will provide free childcare services for the event as well.

For more information, contact Special Projects Coordinator and English Faculty, James Espinoza, jamese@cos. edu, (559) 730-3946.

WEST HILLS COLLEGE LEMOORE TRANSFER FAIR SET FOR SEPTEMBER 26

West Hills College Lemoore will host a Transfer Fair on Sept. 26 for students interested in transferring to a fouryear school, featuring representatives from over 20 universities.

Students will have the opportunity

Cemetery Continued from 1

Chavez also complained that new board member, Vicki Gilson, “crucified me on Caring Cause Facebook” after she missed the August 9 board meeting.

Though Chavez had already resigned, her intention was to publicly announce her resignation at the meeting so it could be posted.

Caring Cause, Gilson and Deal have complained about the district office not announcing when board members resign, allegedly to give them time to recruit their friends. Chavez said that the office manager cannot announce a resignation until the trustee officially resigns at a board meeting or the office gets an official letter from the Tulare County Board of Supervisors.

The day before the August 9 meeting Chavez had an accident at Marshalls and sprained her ankle. She had an early

Valley Voice • 13 to speak with representatives from dozens of universities including California State University, Fresno; UCLA; Humboldt State University; and Fresno Pacific University. The event will run from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. in front of the West Hills College Lemoore Student Union.

“The Transfer Fair is a great opportunity for students to network with representatives from 4-year Universities and become familiar with the admissions process for transfer students,” said Leonel Burgos, Transfer Counselor at WHCL. “As a result, students will be better equipped to navigate through the many opportunities offered in higher education.”

The event is part of a WHCL’s TransferMation Week, a week-long series of workshops on various transfer related topics.

PORTERVILLE YOUTH BASKETBALL LEAGUE

Registration for the Parks & Leisure Services Youth Basketball League has begun. This co-ed league is open to children ages 5- 13 with age determined as of December 1. Practices will begin in November and games will be played in December and January at the Santa Fe School Gymnasium.

The league welcomes all skill levels and develops fundamentals, character and sportsmanship. The goal is to foster a positive, pressure-free environment without putting too much stress on the outcome of the game so your child can enjoy the sport and want to return the following season.

The cost of the league is $46 and includes a team shirt, basketball and participation certificate. There is a $5 discount for volunteer coaches. Skip the lines and save time by registering online or visit the Heritage Center at 256 E. Orange Avenue. Space is limited so early registration is advised.

For more information on the Youth Basketball League or Parks and Leisure Services, call (559) 791-7695 or visit www.ci.porterville.ca.us. Follow Parks and Leisure Services on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook for all of the latest updates.

to a unique and up close look at his Aviation Support Unit including the addition of two new fixed-wing aircraft and multiple Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (drones).

We hope to see you there.

Who: Sheriff Mike Boudreaux What: New planes press conference and open house When: 9 a.m., Wednesday, Sept. 27 Where: Sheriff*s Office at the Porterville Airport, 1725 Hope Dr. RSVP: Teresa Douglass, PIO, at (559) 636-4695 Light refreshments will be served.

the President and became Public Law No: 115-59.

Congressman David Valadao stated, “This is a commonsense approach to ensure our federal government is not contributing to the occurrence of Social Security Number theft and fraud.” He continued, “With bipartisan support from both the House and Senate, we were able to send a practical solution to the President’s desk to become law.”

HAPPY TRAILS RIDING ACADEMY HOSTS ANNUAL ROUND UP FUNDRAISER

Do you know a kindergarten through high school student in the San Joaquin Valley with a passion for drawing? Here’s an opportunity to showcase their work in the 2018 Healthy Air Living Kids’ Calendar!

The deadline for entries is Monday, Oct. 2, 2017 for this annual, bilingual calendar, produced with the artwork and clean-air messages from students illustrating how Valley residents can live healthy air lives. Twenty-thousand copies are printed and distributed free of charge to schools, community groups, healthcare facilities, churches and nonprofit organizations Valley-wide.

Guidelines for creating a winning Healthy Air Living calendar entry: • Paper should be placed sideways, in landscape orientation, so it is 8-1/2 inches high and 11 inches wide • Artwork should be in color.

Produced by paint, pen, crayon, marker, pencil or even computer-generated art. Vivid colors are recommended.

• Artwork should contain a message about how to live a Healthy Air life. Examples of past messages are “Switch off your engine,” “Apague su motor,” “Be cool and carpool when going to school.”

• Bilingual and Spanish-language messages are encouraged.

Fourteen pieces of art will be selected for the calendar. Artists must include their name, address, phone and email contact, age, grade and school on the back of the entry. Please mail art flat, not folded or stapled, to: 2018 Kids Calendar, Valley Air District, 1990 E. Gettysburg Ave., Fresno, CA 93726.

Happy Trails Riding Academy is hosting its 5th annual Round Up fundraiser Friday, October 6, 2017 at the Happy Trails Riding Academy facility located at 2773 E. Oakdale Ave., Tulare at 6:00pm. Your ticket will include a Cowboy BBQ, live music, a wine buy, and riding demonstrations from Happy Trails riders. All proceeds of the event will directly benefit the Happy Trails Riding Academy program.

Tickets are $35 per person and tables of eight can be reserved for $280.

Happy Trails also has sponsorship opportunities available for this event. To reserve your tickets or inquire about sponsorships, please contact the office at (559)688-8685.

If you would like more information, please contact Leslie Gardner at (559)688-8685 or Leslie@WeAreHappyTrails.com.

VALADAO FRAUD PREVENTION LEGISLATION SIGNED INTO LAW

SAVE THE DATE: SHERIFF BOUDREAUX INVITES YOU TO VIEW NEW PLANES

On Friday, September 15, 2017, President Donald J. Trump signed into law Congressman David G. Valadao’s (CA-21) legislation to protect Americans from becoming victims of identity theft.

H.R. 624, the Social Security Number Fraud Prevention Act, which restricts the inclusion of Social Security account numbers on Federal documents sent by mail, was previously passed by both the House and Senate. On September 15, 2017, the legislation was signed by

doctor’s appointment and was going to come late to the board meeting to make her announcement. But her husband, who did attend the meeting, called her and said don’t bother because it was canceled.

“If Vicki hadn’t been so vicious and crucified me I would have explained to her what happened if she had just called me.”

Colson and Gilson were the only two in attendance so the meeting was canceled due to a lack of quorum.

Deal informed the board at the last meeting that he would be out of state in the beginning of August and would miss that meeting. Vandegrift did not give a reason for missing the August 9 meeting but it is suspected by Gilson and Deal that he did not want to hear the complaints from the public as happened at the July 12 meeting. It was anticipated by Gilson and Deal that the August 9 meeting was going to be very well attended.

Receipt of official paperwork on Vandegrift’s resignation has not been confirmed. Gilson and Deal went to Vandegrift’s house on the morning of Tuesday, September 12 to notify him that they were calling a special board meeting to deal with maintenance issues.

Vandegrft allegedly said that he did not need the letter because he had resigned the day before and had already talked to Tulare County Supervisor Pete Vander Poel.

Gilson spoke to Vander Poel the evening of the 12th after the supervisor’s meeting held in Woodlake. Vander Poel said that he had heard nothing concerning Vandegrift’s resignation. According to Gilson, currently no letter of resignation has been filed at the clerk’s office at the board of supervisors.

Vander Poel is the Tulare County Supervisor in charge of accepting resignations, applications, and appointing trustees to the Tulare Public Cemetery Board.

Sheriff Mike Boudreaux invites you

STUDENTS K-12 SUBMIT YOUR ENTRY WITH HEALTHY AIR LIVING MESSAGE

Alberto Aguilar was appointed to Chavez’ seat during the Tulare County Board of Supervisors’ meeting on Tuesday, September 19. He was sworn in after the supervisor’s meeting so that the cemetery board could have a quorum and get some overdue business done.

The Tulare Public Cemetery Board meeting will be September 20 after press time.

Besides many other pressing issues, the board will address grounds maintenance since Perfect Care Landscape Maintenance gave their final notice at the end of August.

Colson’s resignation has been handed into the Board of Supervisors and applications are on file of those who wish to be appointed. Carlene Ringius submitted her application at the beginning of the year when former Trustee Robert Moore resigned, and she is expected to be the next appointee to the cemetery board.

14 • Valley Voice

21 September, 2017

Education Robotics & STEM: The Future in Education, Need Support Now Nancy Vigran While the demand for students educated in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) is increasing, one South Valley school has begun expanding the intellect and imagination of its students through a robotics class and club.

Partnered with College of the Sequoias (COS), the Tulare County Office of Education (TCOE) opened University Prep High School (UPHS), a free public, high-learning school located on the COS campus in 2009. On Fridays, students in any high school grade level at the school can enroll in Josh Curtiss’ robotics class.

By definition, Wikipedia defines robotics as: . . .an interdisciplinary branch of engineering and science that includes mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, computer science, and others. Robotics deals with the design, construction, operation, and use of robots, as well as computer systems for their control, sensory feedback, and information processing.

The mission statement of UPHS states: UPHS Robotics aims to integrate STEM, teamwork, leadership, business, and communication through 21st century learning. We strive to have our team make an impact on our school and the local community.

Our team works to ensure all students at UPHS have an opportunity to learn about STEM beyond the standard classroom. Our ambition is to provide a safe environment for students to make mistakes, ask questions, and learn through experience.

Robotics is Not Just for Guys

The robotics class and club came

about through a basic engineering principles class which grew into more, said Chinnayi Reddy, a junior who serves as manager of the robotics club. Reddy is one of eight girls in the class, which has 20 guys enrolled.

“We do a lot of outreach,” she said of the normally male-dominated field.

“We want to promote it to girls.”

“I’ve always been interested in learning how things work,” she said.

In the engineering class, they would take apart and put computers back together again.

“Ever since I was able, I wanted to know why and how things work,” she added.

During the last school year, the basic engineering class morphed into robotics.

But robotics is expensive. Class members started having to look for sponsors. They also learned how to apply for grant funds.

The team received a grant with FIRST robotics, only given to rookie teams, and got additional help from TCOE grants.

Enough came in that the UPHS Robotics team was able to partake in the Central Valley Regional competition, held in Madera last March.

UPHS earned the Rookie Inspiration Award.

UPHS wants other schools in the South Valley to become more involved with robotics and competitions, Reddy said.

The UPHS team has also begun working with elementary school students.

Sponsorships for other robotic teams in the state have come through Disney, Boeing, Google and Northrop Grumman, to name a few, said Meena Reddy, Chinnayi’s mother.

So far, the UPHS team is the only team from Tulare County to participate

University Prep High School Robotics team earned the Rookie Inspiration Award at the Central Valley Regionals in March of this year, at Madera High School. Courtesy/UPHS

in competitions, the elder Reddy said.

“We want to see if we could spread this to other schools in the county,” she said.

“We want the local businesses to hear about this and help schools in hosting their own teams to compete. It doesn’t have to be just this school, they could help promote this in the schools that their kids attend. This is very much necessary in high schools and they have teams for elementary and middle schools as well.”

Banquet Fundraiser September 30

Meena Reddy is the spearhead for a banquet fundraiser held through the UPHS Parent Support Organization.

TCOE has offered up its conference center for the event, which is scheduled for Saturday, September 30 at 6pm.

Tickets are $75/each with reserved tables available, as well as banquet

sponsorships.

“We do not get much exposure about the scope and importance of robotics in Valley schools,” Meena Reddy said.

“The team is severely underfunded despite looking to the local community for resources, the team worked toward the competition with very limited resources,” she added. “After observing this process last year, I decided to work with the team and the Tulare County Office of Education to host a banquet, in hopes of raising funds the team education in an area that is becoming exceedingly important to the 21st Century.”

She is not the only one who thinks so. “[Science] is more than a school subject, or the periodic table, or the properties of waves. It is an approach to the world, a critical way to understand and explore and engage with the world, and then have the capacity to change that world...” said President Barack Obama in March, 2015.

Edison International Scholarships Awarded to Student-Interns Staff Reports 1900. That’s how many hours Career Technical Education (CTE) students from College of the Sequoias spent as interns with Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) businesses across Tulare and Kings Counties.

Students participated in the Edison International Internship Scholarship program, which supports students in STEM-related majors who complete internship experience in their intended ca-

reer field, under the supervision of a professional in the field. Nineteen students from the Engineering, Computer Information Systems, and Industrial Maintenance programs across all three COS campuses participated.

Arthur Velasquez, an Information Technology major reflected, “I found meeting with a team and working together with the style of direction our supervisors gave us, an excellent experience. With teamwork, we accomplished much more than we originally planned with what we

were going to learn. I have a interest in programming business software now after this internship and have different avenues of exploration for my future career.” Velasquez completed his internship in the Computer Services department at COS. Javier Salazar, an Industrial Maintenance Technology major, interned at California Dairies, Inc. “This experience helped me see the type of work I will be doing with my career,” he said. “Every day I learned something new. It has been a great thing for me.”

Emmanuel (JR) Lopez completed his Engineering Technology internship at Ruiz Foods. Lopez reflected, “I have valued my work experience with my degree working at Ruiz Foods. I believe that each student graduating from school should have an opportunity to an internship to create their motivation, to know strengths and weaknesses in a real life career.” Lopez’ supervisor at Ruiz Foods, Luis Martinez, was equally pleased. “I would like to continue this type of training,” he said. “JR was a well-trained young man.”

Middle Schools To Attend Tobacco Use Prevention Training Staff Reports Students and advisors from 24 Tulare County middle schools will participate in the annual Friday Night Live T.U.P.E. (Tobacco Use Prevention Education) Leadership Training Wednesday, September 20 at the TCOE Doe Avenue Complex (7000 Doe Ave., Visalia).

The schools represented include: La Joya Middle School, Burton Middle School, Rockford School, Alta Vista School, Palo Verde Union School, Waukena Joint Union School, Monson- Sultana Joint Union School, Tip-

ton School, Mulcahy Middle School, St. Aloysius School, Oak Valley Union School, Kings River Union School, Pleasant View School, Willow Glen Elementary, Ridgeview Middle School, Sequoia Union School, Live Oak Middle School, Ivanhoe Elementary, Kohn Elementary, Sundale Union School, Los Tules Middle School, Springville Union School, Woodville Union School, Terra Bella Union School, and Divisadero Middle School.

The event is coordinated by the Friday Night Live (FNL) School liaisons from the CHOICES Prevention

Program of the Tulare County Office of Education.

The FNL T.U.P.E Leadership Training was created to develop young people’s leadership potential.

Students will attend a day full of activities, including leadership development, how to conduct an “ice-breaker,” teambuilding utilizing a 30’ rock-climbing wall, and learning the dangers of hookahs and e-cigarettes.

Students will also have the chance to create videos around topics that impact young people. The videos are developed through a program called “Video Voice,”

which is designed to empower students to document self-identified community needs through a personal interview process.

“Events like the FNL T.U.P.E Leadership Training help train young people to be leaders for positive change,” says Tulare County Superintendent of Schools Jim Vidak.

For more information about the Tulare County Office of Education and its programs, please call Robert Herman, Public Information Officer, at (559) 7336606. For information on this event, call Adam Valencia at (559) 651-0155.

21 September, 2017

Valley Voice • 15

Comments & Letters So…. why did I choose Girl Scouts?

Fifty-seven percent of women in the 115th Congress are Girl Scout alumnae.

Seventy-six percent of current female senators are Girl Scout alumnae. Fifty-two percent of women currently in the House of Representatives are Girl Scout alumnae.

Five of the six current female governors are Girl Scout alumnae. Every female secretary of state in U.S. history was a Girl Scout in their youth. Recognizing that more than half of women in business and almost every female astronaut who has flown in space were Girl Scouts, it’s safe to say the Girl Scout mission of building leaders of courage, confidence and character is being accomplished. As an Olympian, I like to be on the winning team.

Girl Scouts has not only been the winning team for girls since 1912, but continues to be the premier leadership organization for girls.

Girl Scouts build these traits through programs such as our Outdoor Education, STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math), agriculture education and our infamous Girl Scout Cookie program.

The Girl Scout Cookie program gives girls a sense of accomplishment by offering them the opportunity to create their own sales pitch and run their own business as young as 5-years-old. They are able to evaluate what works and what does not work to make effective changes for the following year. However, there is an unfortunate misconception that once girls put on that iconic vest or sash, all they do is sell cookies. With a new school year upon us and parents looking to enroll their children in enriching programs, our council believes it’s vital the community realizes one thing: Girl Scouts is way more than cookies.

The Girl Scout cookie program allows girls to fund their activities, trips and passions throughout the year. Through this fundraiser any girl is able to participate in the Girl Scouting program regardless of her financial background. But cookies are only six weeks of the year – what about the other 46 weeks?

For starters, we know girls love exploring. Girls love innovating and creating, climbing and doing new things that might not be offered in other programs.

That’s one of the many reasons Girl Scouts has released 23 new STEM, and Outdoor badges. Through these badges, Girl Scouts can create algorithms, design robots and racecars, go on environmentally conscious camping trips, collect data in the great outdoors, try their hand at engineering, and so much more. How do we know these programs are an interest to girls?

Simple – we asked them.

At the 2014 Girl Scout National Convention, Girl Scouts stood up in front of their peers, National Girl Scout staff, and Board of Directors and voiced their opinion. Not only were Girl Scouts the motivation behind the new badges, but we witnessed hundreds of girls feel confident enough to speak their mind. Locally, our girls lead robotics teams, participate in BitWise coding classes in Downtown Fresno, explore 3D printing at the CSU Bakersfield Fab Lab, all while finding their passions in fields that women currently only make up 26% of the workforce.

(Source: US Department of Labor) Studies show at age 15, girls lose interest in STEM. Some speculation around the justification for this loss of interest is credited to lack of role models in the field.

(Source: CNN Tech) This becomes clear when six in 10 girls admit they’d feel more confident pursuing a STEM career if they knew men and women were already equally employed in these fields. For Girl Scouts to explore STEM fields surrounded by other girls interested in STEM is, without a doubt, world changing; and Girl Scouts gives them this opportunity.

Through Girl Scouts, local girls not only explore passions and the outdoors, they expand their horizons to include the world. In 2016, 12 Central Valley Girl Scouts traveled to England, France, Switzerland and Italy. In 2017, seven Central Valley Girl Scouts explored Washington D.C. and New York City. In 2018, Girl Scouts will have an opportunity to venture off to Australia and New Zealand.

These are opportunities many people wouldn’t have in a lifetime. Yet, local Girl Scouts are able to immerse themselves in a variety of other cultures – all before they even graduate high school.

However, Girl Scouting isn’t all fun and games. Many girls take pride in giving back to their community. A majority of local Girl Scout Troops use funds raised through the Girl Scout Cookie program to host community service projects throughout the year. High School girls also work to earn their Girl Scout Gold Award, the highest award a Girl Scout can earn. Not only are there local college scholarships available to Gold Award recipients, but Gold Award recipients who join the armed services enter at one rank higher than other recruits. In addition, University research indicates that adding Gold Award to a college application is a critical element in the admissions-decision process.

The Gold awardees from our council have done everything from creating sustainable food producing gardens to creating port pillows for those going through chemotherapy to creating curriculum to study astronomy. These girls become a role model to the girls that follow them and give back to our council in many ways. Our girls have become teachers, astrophysicists, filmmakers, technology experts, forest rangers, farmers, musicians, homemakers, physicians, university administrators, athletic coaches, and political leaders. They are true G.I.R.L’s (Go-getters, Innovators, Risk-takers, Leaders).

So as this new school year kicks off, I encourage parents to consider the benefits of Girl Scouting for their daughters. After 105 years, it’s undeniable that becoming a Girl Scout encourages girls to discover their passions, connect with others, take action within the community and share their discoveries to help make the world a better place.

Sports and my Olympic experience taught me many things. Mostly, how to follow directions from extraordinary trainers, coaches, and mentors. It is through strong female mentors that I found my voice, and that’s exactly what Girl Scouts does. It takes it to the next level. “The purpose of life is to live it, to taste experience to the utmost, to reach out eagerly and without fear for newer and richer experience.” First Lady, Eleanor Roosevelt, Honorary President of the Girl Scouts.

And… that’s why I am a Girl Scout!

Cathy Ferguson, Ed.D, CEO- Girl Scouts of Central California South & Olympic Gold Medalist

Your voice at ourvalleyvoice.com

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I don’t know any of the board members. One thing I do know is that all it takes to “crucify” somebody responsible for the upkeep of the grounds where Tulare residents are laid to rest is pictures. Pictures taken in September 2017 and every month prior that I have went to grieve the loss of my dad in March 2016. That’s a year and a half. I think that’s more than enough time to get it together! I grew up in Tulare. I brag about Tulare. I’ve never been ashamed of Tulare, until now.

Please make me proud again and show some respect for our loved ones. That’s all I ask.

”

— Candi Lander on Three Resign from Tulare Cemetery Board

FINALLY! Too bad it took the DA so long to get on board and do something….. he still has a long way to go to earn my vote in his next election. He needs to start a COMPLETE investigation into HCCA/Benzeevi. Charges should also be looked at against Benzeevi and all the previous members of the hospital board, including Torrez, who facilitated the downfall of TRMC. Each of these fellow board members knew exactly what type of man they were dealing with when that contract was drafted and signed. Torrez and Wilbourn had no problem with “continuing” the perpetration against the citizens of Tulare. They say that actions speak louder than words…..so I wonder if there were any kickbacks that possibly had incentivized the selling out of our hospital.

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— Barbara on Tulare County DA Files to End Hospital Board Impasse

I would like to also let you know that the patients are being surved meals by Sysco, however, the Cafeteria s closed for 2 weeks while they “Reorganize”.

This all came about yesterday, 9/11 at 3pm when we were all told that the previous company in charge of Dietary was packing and leaving at 5pm. Management knew about this days ago but failed to tell staff.

Linen services were in short supply, we ran out of clean linen. No saline bags to restock we were out. We had to scavenger for this and other medical supplies.

And why is this happening? Because of HCCA total lack of fiscal and moral responsibility. I believe the patients, community, and employees deserve better.

Benzeevi has clearly violated his own contract and obligations for this hospital.

So Dr. Benzeevi, here it is from employees, just pack up and leave. You are not owed a single thing. You have put us in financial ruin, morale is at an all time low, good staff are quitting and leaving, ER Md’s have not been paid now in 12 days +, medical equipment is on COD pay basis. You have broken the law by CMS standards.

Shall I go on? You sir need to just leave and go ruin Southern Inyo, or how about going with your brother Iddo, you both sound a lot alike. For all you out there reading this, look up Iddo Benzeevi, he is a So Cal businessman and has similar ways making his way in business by smooth talking others. Just do your research.

IF this continues, the staff here currently will be conducting a one day strike.

If you do not resign in the next 3 weeks, this will happen. Just move on. Resign with whatever dignity you have left.

To the community, we will fight for you on the inside, but you all need to come together and get this done to make it right TOGETHER!!!!

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— TRMC Employee 91 on Tulare Hospital In Arrears

What a farce, this just shows how far HCCA is willing to go to hide what is becoming so obvious. They don’t want anyone in the books of TRMC. Who really wants it to stay hidden is Kumar.

We are in the process of losing one of only 3 hospitals in our county and all of our elected officials have a deafening silence. Pete Vanderpoel ought to be ashamed but he believes HCCA and Kumar can actually fix this. What he fails to recognize is that they caused it and no amount of tax-payer money is going to fix their poor leadership. Bigger question has Pete benefitted from either of these two.

Reed’s ruling is just so ridiculous. Her ruling just further helps the demise of TRMC and perpetuates the theft of public funds.

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— Truth16 on Judge Denies Attempts to Seat Senovia Gutierrez Just a little info: as a insider letting public know. Housekeeping, maint., food service were once again outsourced last week. The companies were not getting paid. So, HCCA hired them as on Monday. The linens company has not been paid so all linens were pulled, scrubs were pulled out. and the cafeteria has been closed only serving patients for 2 weeks. We are circling the drain people. And they want a loan that they can never pay back. And probably abuse anyway.

What’s wrong with our local laws and the people that need to enforce them?

How much has to happen before this is put to rest. HCCA is burning this community hospital

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— Still mad.. on More Of The Same for Tulare Healthcare District

USE YOUR VOICE

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

16 • Valley Voice

HCCA

Continued from 1 replacement MEC knew there would be repercussions to their actions.

“There is going to be this lawyer and this lawyer, and you know they are going to have all sorts of lawyers in here,” he said during his testimony. “You’ve got, you know, basically I brought up these—you are going to have so many lawyers in this place, you guys won’t know what is going to happen.”

He also told of his fear money earmarked for completion of TRMC’s expansion would be consumed by attorney’s fees, and perhaps the DA’s office wishes to discuss that. Or, it could be the ongoing battle to seat newly elected replacement TLHCD board member Senovia Gutierrez.

“The will of the public is still being denied as far as the board members still being in there,” Macaluso said, adding that he was reluctant to speculate further until after his meeting with the DA.

HCCA Employees Jumping Ship

HCCA’s former VP of marketing Kathleen Johnson has already left the company, and it seems others may soon follow. Another high-placed employ-

21 September, 2017 ee, speaking anonymously, said they will leave HCCA within the month, and that individual is already seeking a new job.

“I’d be willing to talk to the DA, if they should call,” the current HCCA employee said.

The employee was unwilling to talk further, fearing reprisal, but is willing to go on the record after resigning.

According to the source, HCCA also did all it could to bind its employees hands and shut their mouths.

“I signed at least 25 NDAs (non-disclosure agreements),” the source said.

Samantha Phillips-Bland, HCCA’s VP for ambulatory care services, reached out to newly elected board member Kevin Northcraft via her Facebook account, asking for a meeting with TLHCD board members Northcraft and Michael Jamaica, both of whom ran with the intent of ending HCCA’s association with TLHCD. Phillips-Bland said she is willing to talk further with members of the TLHCD Board and the DA’s office, though the latter has not contacted her.

“Obviously, as everybody does, we have some concerns,” she said of HCCA’s current executive employees.

“Should the DA call me in, certainly they have every right to request an interview.”

Phillips-Bland said she remains willing to answer questions from the

TLHCD Board and the DA. She has not decided whether she will stay at HCCA. “I think those are personal decisions that will be made at the right time,” she said.

Mystery Money

Meanwhile, an unusual inventory has rumors flying at TRMC. Within the last month, “a lot of suits” have been on campus at the Tulare Hospital, and an outside group was brought in to perform an inventory of the hospital’s assets, according to staff members. Those curious about the identity of the inventory team were unable to find out who had hired them and why the inventory was being performed.

While third parties performing inventory counts is not in itself out of the ordinary, the context has raised many eyebrows. Recently, several employees have reported being told of a possible $100 million outside investment in HCCA and TRMC. They described the attitude of HCCA executives as “gleeful.” They passed the information to the press, they said, because any potential investor “should know what they’re getting into.”

City Council Considers Audit Request

The Tulare City Council, which

last month found itself embroiled in the spill-over from controversy at TLHCD when it addressed limiting the hospital board’s use of the Council Chambers at the Tulare City Library, may ask for a state-level audit of the Hospital District.

During the absence of Mayor Carlton Jones and Councilman David Macedo at the September 5 Council meeting, Councilman Jose Sigala asked the Council to consider contacting the chairman of the State Audit Committee and requesting an audit of both bond spending at TLHCD and of its current operations.

The issue was placed on the agenda for the September 19 meeting.

Both Jones and Vice Mayor Marissa Castellanoz received campaign contributions from HCCA and its CEO Dr. Yorai “Benny” Benzeevi.

That, however, may soon not be necessary. During a court appearance last week, an attorney for HCCA promised the company would no longer challenge the legality of the election of Segovia Gutierrez to the TLHCD Board of Directors. Gutierrez was elected in a recent recall election that removed former TLHCD director Dr. Parmod Kumar.

Gutierrez, the attorney told the presiding judge, would be seated at the Hospital District’s next board meeting on September 27. It remains to be seen if HCCA will honor its word.

Valley Scene

21 September, 2017

Visalia Rotary Announces First Showcase 2017

Jamie Boley stated her exhibition is “about the land I live in.” Courtesy/Arts Visalia

The Rotary Club of Visalia will hold its first Showcase fundraiser event, featuring pianist and entertainer Tim Buie, at the Wyndham Hotel on Friday, Nov. 10.

Showcase will raise funds through the dinner-dance, a silent auction and door prizes, with all proceeds going to benefit community causes and organizations ranging from The Rotary Respite House and high school scholarships, to clean drinking water, the eradication of polio, the Ruth Wood Hospice House and more.

“Rotary’s international mission is to work together to find solutions to community problems, provide humanitarian aid and promote goodwill and peace,” explained Rotary Club of Visalia president Jon Pree. “With this fundraiser,

people who are not Rotarians can help us build a stronger community while enjoying a great evening of music, comedy and dance.”

Entertainer Tim Buie has been performing around the world for over 30 years. He plays and sings jazz, rock, classical, country, oldies, blue grass and more, and frequently supports fundraisers for causes such as tsunami relief, the Blind Children’s Fund and the American Alzheimers Foundation.

Showcase 2017 begins at 5:30pm.

Tickets are $50 per person before Oct. 5 and $60 thereafter. To purchase online, visit visaliarotaryclub.com. For additional information, contact Paul Hurley at 7403677 or email paulhurley@gmail.com.

Arts Visalia to Host Jamie Boley, Reception Oct. 6 Staff Reports

In October 2017, Arts Visalia is pleased to host Jamie Boley’s exhibition entitled Standing in the Gap of the Here and In-Between. The works on view for this exhibition were also a part of Jamie’s senior thesis in CSU Fresno’s Graduate show.

The purpose of her exhibition is to use her deeply felt connection with the landscape to signify a sense of longing that will bridge the gaps between reality and representation. Thus through her paintings, she wishes to shatter a false reality, acknowledge the sacred, and recognize her sense of loss, in the land

where she stands, in the gap of the here and in-between.

Jamie states, “The exhibition is about the land I live in, and also what lies beyond it.”

She drove through different parts of the San Joaquin Valley to places that eventually became memories of a landscape in her mind.

Standing in the gap is about doing what is right, but feeling overwhelmed at the same time. These works are about the land filtered through her memory, and how she struggled with what was happening around her, interpreted through her work.

ARTS VISALIA continued on B7 »

2017 Fatima Celebration to Be Held Sep. 30, Oct. 1 Staff Reports

The 71st annual celebration honoring Our Lady of Fatima will be held September 30th and October 1st This year however is a special year commemorating the 100th anniversary of ur Blessed Mother’s apparition to the Sheppard children in Fatima Portugal, which began in 1917 May thru October, with the message to mankind to pray for world peace, the message continues.

Beginning Monday September 25th through Friday September 29th at 7pm, Rosary and Mass will be held at St. Aloysius Church.

Saturday September 30th at 8pm The Candlelight Procession will go from St. Aloysius to the Tulare Divino Espirito Santo (TDES) hall, where the presentation of past presidents, past queens, and the crowning of the 2017 queen and her attendants will take

place, followed by a presentation of traditional folkloric dancers from students of the three Tulare High Schools, followed by a dance until midnight. Music provided by DJ Tony Nunes.

Sunday October 1st the annual parade with local queens, their Attendants and courts and many participating delegations from cities throughout California, also the Tulare Union, Tulare Western and Tulare Mission Oak High School Bands along with the Portuguese Band will provide the music.

The parade will leave TDES at 10am and proceed to St. Aloysius Church to participate at 11:15am mass, then will return to TDES where the traditional sopa lunch will be in progress, followed by a large auction sale, bazaar, game and food booths. All proceeds go to St. Aloysius School.

At 8:30pm the Grand March with queens, attendants, courts and escorts

FATIMA continued on B7 »

Bowlero will feature food items like this five item pizza cake, 5lb Behemoth Burgers, XXL Pretzels and Monster Cookie Melts. Courtesy/Bowlero

Bowlero Visalia Grand Opening September 23 Bowlmor AMF, the world leader in bowling entertainment, has announced the opening of Bowlero Visalia, the hippest, new bowling destination in Tulare.

Formerly AMF Visalia Lanes, the new Bowlero Visalia offers a new spin on one of the country’s favorite pastimes, combining bowling, arcade games, and a delicious menu of creative American eats.

Be Bowled and Join the Party

Bowlero invites everyone in the community to “Be Bowled” and celebrate the grand opening of its new Visalia location on Saturday, September 23rd, with free bowling and arcade games.

RSVP now at https://www.bowlero. com/events/visalia-grand-opening.

Located at 1740 W. Caldwell Ave., the completely renovated venue features 40 lanes of blacklight bowling, trendy laneside loungers, and high-definition video walls. Bowlero Visalia is filled with over 19 games to thrill guests of all ages.

Creative design is key to every Bowlero—and the brand’s Visalia lo-

Staff Reports

cation proves to be no exception. From its refurbished bar and lounge to its private event rooms and kids’ party areas, the new venue boasts a retro charm and provides the ideal backdrop for every occasion, from birthday parties and private events to unforgettable corporate outings.

Unique Eats for Every Occasion

Local foodies will relish in Bowlero Visalia’s “Go Crazy” menu—an inventive lineup of eats that includes the colossal Party Pretzel and Bowlero’s signature Behemoth Burger—a 5-lb, 14-inch-round party burger named one of America’s top burgers by USA Today.

On the sweeter side of things, Bowlero will offer its tasty Monster Cookie Melt—a warm, jumbo chocolate chip cookie that’s topped with vanilla ice cream, chocolate sauce, and delicious whipped cream.

Sports fans will enjoy Bowlero’s allnew sports bar, which includes huge

BOWLERO continued on B7 »

21September,2017

B2 • Valley Voice

Chamber To Host East African Safari Adventure Slideshow Staff Reports The Chamber invites you to come and learn about the group tour “East African Safari Adventure” leaving May 17, 2018 and returning May 29, 2018.

A slide show presentation will be held October 4, 2017 at 12pm at Buckman-Mitchell located at 500 N. Santa Fe. East African Safari is a thirteen day tour including 32 meals, round trip airfare from Fresno, transportation to the Fresno Airport and an experienced Safari Guide. The cost of the tour is $6,474 per person (double occupancy).

Get ready for the adventure of a lifetime, a safari across two African countries. Experience elephants, giraffes, wildebeests, rhinos, and other animals you’ve only seen on TV or in the zoos.

From the United States you will fly into Nairobi Kenya. After an overnight stay, the group will drive to Lake Nakuru and the Rift Valley view point and end the day with a safari tour in Lake Nakuru National Park.

Travelers will have the opportunity to visit the Masai Mara National Reserve for a visit at the Tipilikwani Camp before touring the Mara game reserve home to the black maned lion, elephants, Cape buffalo, cheetahs and many other amazing animals.

Travelers will visit a traditional Maasai Manyatta (village) and experience the culture of this world-famous community.

The tour group will leave Kenya and travel to Tanzania via the Isebania & Sirari boarder where assistance will be provided for the immigration procedures.

The world famous Serengeti National Park covers an area of 5700 miles and is Tanzania’s oldest park and one of the world’s last great wildlife refuges. Travelers will get the chance to experience the Ngorongoro Conservation Area with a stop at the Olduvai Gorge in route to accommodations at Ngorongoro Crater.

Near the end of the tour travelers will make their way to Tarangire National Park which is host to the greatest con-

centration of wildlife outside the Serengeti ecosystem.

The trip will end with tours of Amboseli National Park where there are more than 400 species of birds, flora and fauna, which makes this a bird lovers paradise.

Travelers will depart from Nairobi back to the United States taking memories and photographs of the special moments and unforgettable experiences.

For more information about the Chamber travel program go to www. visaliachamber.org/travel.

FoodLink of Tulare County to Hold Food Day Event Oct. 28th Staff Reports Every October, Americans will attend thousands of events across the country to celebrate Food Day – an experience to enjoy real food and to influence change towards improved food policies. Food Link of Tulare County will be holding their Annual Food Day Event on October 28, 2017, at 611 2nd St., Exeter, from 10am to 1pm.

According to the Food Day’s official website, Food Day is “a day to resolve to make changes in our own diets and to take action to solve food-related problems in our communities at the local, state, and national level.”

FoodLink of Tulare County will host a multitude of activities during their Food Day Event.

“We will host a cooking and art contest,” Nicole Celaya, Community Food

Security and System Development Director, said. “We will have a volunteer fair, entertainment, free lunch, food samples, garden workshop, and Nutrition on the Go Market.”

Food Day was started by the Center for Science in the Public Interest in 1975.

The event only lasted two years, ending in 1977, but 36-years later, in 2011, Food Day was reborn and has moved forward successfully. According to foodday.org, the

event is driven “…by a diverse coalition of food movement leaders and organizations, including student leaders, public offices, school districts, and local organizers.”

FoodLink of Tulare County is dedicated to bringing food and nutritional equity to all the residents of Tulare County. For more details about FoodLink of Tulare County’s October 28th Food Day Event, call 559-651-3663, or go to www. foodlinktc.org

Coming to the Hanford Fox Theatre Dave Mason Band Tickets still available!

Fri., Sept. 22 @ 8 pm $35 - $65

The Marshall Tucker Band

New date announced!

Friday Oct. 27 @ 8 pm $25 - $45

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

Silent Movies

Hand-crank Projection!

Phantom of the Opera - Sat. Oct. 21 @ 7:30 pm $10/adults; $5/military, seniors, students Children 12 & under - free!

$5 Movies

Bonnie & Clyde - Wednesday, Sept. 27 @ 7 pm Frankenstein/The Wolf Man - Wed. Oct. 4 @ 6 pm

(559) 584-7823

www.foxhanford.com

21 September, 2017

Valley Voice • B3

College of the Sequoias Announces Hall of Fame Inductees Staff Reports

The College of the Sequoias is inducting four new Hall of Fame members on Thursday, October 5th : Jennifer Conn Shirk, Richard Doepker, Kerry Hydash and Charlie Pitigliano.

The induction ceremony and dinner will be held from 5:30pm to 9pm in the Dr. Thomas S. Porter Field House on the COS Visalia campus.

The public is invited. Tickets to attend the dinner and induction ceremony are $50 and may be purchased online at COS.edu/Foundation or by phone by calling 559.730.3861.

Inducting an individual into the COS Hall of Fame is one of the highest awards COS can present to alumni. It is reserved for those that have made significant accomplishments to the betterment of the school, the community and society in general. The contributions take many forms, but always reflect positively on the college. Each honoree has uniquely met these criteria.

2017 Inductees

Jennifer Conn Shirk

Jennifer graduated from COS in 1977 with an AA Degree in Communications.

At COS she was active in student government and journalism while working at the COS Library.

Jennifer was Student Body President her first year at COS. She enjoyed writing and initially planned to have a career in Journalism but along the way she decided that becoming a lawyer would be more lucrative but still enjoyed writing.

Jennifer continued her education at UC Berkeley and graduated with a BA in Political Science in 1980. She went on to graduate in 1986 from the University of San Diego with a Juris Doctorate.

After college, she worked for three years in the hotel industry and had a wonderful opportunity to travel and meet people from all over the world.

In 1986, Jennifer began practicing law in Visalia.

As an attorney Jennifer got involved in the Bar Association’s Law Day program and created a similar program to provide free legal services to family law clients, similar to what the Self Help Center does today.

In 2007, Jennifer became a Superior Court Judge.

Jennifer finished her first book in December 2016 about a lawyer who gets shot during a family law court proceedings, and ishe s almost finished with her second, about a respected judge whose youthful indiscretions are coming back to haunt him.

Richard (Dick) Doepker, inducted posthumously:

Dick attended COS 1955-1957 was a pitcher for COS when they won the 1957 California State Baseball Championship.

After COS, Dick was recruited

by Pete Biden to attend Fresno State as one of their pitchers. During the summer Dick would return to Canada and play baseball for Moose Jaw and Saskatoon in the Western Canadian Baseball League.

Dick graduated from Fresno State where he earned a Master’s Degree in History. After graduating from Fresno State, Dick played with the Pittsburgh Pirates organization from 1959 – 1964.

Dick returned to Visalia to begin his teaching career at Mt. Whitney High School for 13 years where he was also a coach, counselor and dean.

In 1979 he began working as the first principal of Golden West High School for a tenure of 17 years.

He finished his career in education by working for Chapman University as

Print replica edition at issuu.com/ourvalleyvoice

More than 40 years in Downtown Visalia

an advisor for many of his former students from Mt. Whitney and Golden West High Schools.

Dick received several awards and honors including; having the Golden West Baseball field named after him in 1996; induction into the 1996 Visalia Unified School District Education Hall of Fame; induction into the 2009 Golden West Laureates; induction into the 2009 Fresno State University Baseball Hall of Fame; and induction into the 2012 Saskatchewan Baseball Hall of Fame.

Kerry Hydash

Kerry attended COS 1994-1996.

She then transferred to University of California, Santa Barbara and graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Economics with an emphasis in Accounting.

After graduating from University of California, Santa Barbara Kerry moved to San Francisco to begin her professional career.

Kerry later continued her education at California State University, Fresno where she earned her Master’s in Public Administration.

Kerry is actively involved in the community and serves on several boards and committees; she is a past chair for the Visalia Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors and serves on their Government Affairs committee.

She is on the board of the local Workforce Investment Board serving as Chair and serves on the Community Campus Steering committee for A.T. Still University.

Kerry also serves on the boards of the California Primary Care Association serving as Vice Speaker, Clinic Mutual Insurance Company serving as Vice Chair, Central Valley Health Network serving as Secretary, National Center for Farmworker Health, and is on the advisory committee for the In-

sure the Uninsured Project.

Additionally, she serves on the Ag Worker Health, Legislative, and Rural Health committees for the National Association of Community Health Centers.

In 2016, Kerry co-founded a 501(c)(4) organization, Central California Partnership for Health and currently serves as their board Secretary. In 2012, Kerry completed the Blue Shield of California Foundation’s Clinic Leadership Institute.

Kerry’s past involvements have also included chairing the Health Care Sector committee for the local Workforce Investment Board and serving on the Tulare County Symphony board.

Charlie Pitigliano

Charlie attended COS from 19681970. Currently, he is a partner in Pitigliano Farm Services, Inc., in Pixley, with his wife Nancy and their sons, Michael, Josh & Dominic.

Charlie and is family are farming the same ground that his grandfather started with in the early 1920’s with his three sons as partners.

Charlie is a member of Sons of Italy, Roma Lodge for 40 years and served as their President in 2005-2009.

He is very active in the farming community and has served on many boards and advisory groups; Ranches/ Cotton Oil Board, Tulare River Gin Board, Cotton Incorporated Board, Cal Bean Board, Farm Services Agency Committee, Knights of Columbus, World Ag Expo Board & Volunteer Chair, Tulare County Mosquito Abatement Board, JSS Almond Board, Semi Tropic Almond Co-op Board, Tulare Union High School Farm Advisory Committee, and COS Farm Advisory Committee.

In many of these boards Charlie has served as president or chair.

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Calendar SEPTEMBER

September 22: Crush Party - an Evening of Wine and Hors d’Oeuvres 6-9pm - Brought to you by the Tulare Chamber of Commerce and COS Foundation at the COS Tulare College Center, Building B, 4999 E. Bardsley Ave. Wine Tree opportunity drawing. Tickets, $50, available through the Tulare Chamber office or www.tularechamber.org

September 21: Lady of Guadalupe Section Opening at Visalia Cemetery 7am - Raising of the flag, pledge of allegiance and moment of silence, followed by a one-mile walk on the paved roads inside the cemetery then, blessing of the new section at The Lady of Guadalupe statue just west of the Pavilion. For those not September 22 - 24: Visalia Home participating in the walk, seating Expo will be available in the Pavilion.

Friday: 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Saturday: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

September 21: COS Training Sunday: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m Resource Center Offers Sexual Harassment Training The 16th annual Visalia Home 2-4pm - The College of the Sequoias EXPO returns to the Visalia ConTraining Resource Center is offering vention Center on Friday, Septemsexual harassment training. Cali- ber 22 through Sunday, September fornia employers with 50 or more 24. Sporting a newly remodeled employees are required by state law logo, this year’s show has new fea(AB1825) to provide their supervi- tures, handy products, expert sersors with two hours of sexual harass- vices, D-I-Y workshops, kids’ acment prevention training every two tivities, great food, and more! We years (newly hired or promoted su- believe you will find the Home pervisors are required to receive this EXPO to be the perfect place to get training within six months of hire or inspirational ideas, compare quotes, promotion). and “test drive” innovative products This workshop fulfills the training re- that will enhance your indoor and quirements of AB1825 by providing outdoor lifestyle. participants with legal definitions September 23: Special Olympics of the terms harassment, discrim- Chili Cook-Off ination, and retaliation; examples 10am - 4pm - The Special Olymof harassment, discrimination, and pics Chili Cook-Off is back! We retaliation; what employers and su- are currently looking for chili judgpervisors are required to do to create es, vendor booths, and chili teams. a harassment-free work; what em- For more information, contact Dee ployers and supervisors are required Fricks at kingscounty@sonc.org or to do in response to harassment and call (559) 696-1941. discrimination complaints; what employers and supervisors are re- September 23: Rosa Brothers 5th quired to do to prevent retaliation. Anniversary Celebration 10am - 2pm - Rosa Brothers Milk Participants will receive a certificate Company marks its fifth year with an that verifies they attended the train- anniversary celebration at the Rosa ing.

Brothers Milk Company Creamery For questions or to register, please Store, 2400 South K Street in Tuvisit our website at www.cos.edu/ lare. There’s something for everyone trainingcenter . You may also reach at the party, as festivities will include the Training Resource Center at an Open House, $1 ice cream cones, milk and ice cream samples, free car(559) 688-3130. icature drawings, and a petting pen.

September 22: 21st Annual PubA Farmers Market with tasting oplic Safety Appreciation Luncheon portunities will be onsite to show11:30am - 1:30pm - The Hanford case the local products featured in Chamber of Commerce will honthe Creamery. or and recognize various officers and individuals from Hanford Po- September 23: Teen Tabletop lice, Hanford Fire, Lemoore Police, Gaming American Ambulance, California 2pm - Teens! Join our group of teen Highway Patrol, and various Kings tabletop gamers and choose from County offices. Tickets $20 are an array of great party and tabletop available through the chamber of- board games, including Dungeons fice, (559) 582-0483. No tickets & Dragons, Pandemic, Gloom, Exploding Kittens, Betrayal at House will be available at the door.

on the Hill, Apples to Apples, and much more! Gamers of all levels ages 13-19 are welcomed for some friendly competition! Snacks served--never game on an empty stomach! Meet in the Visalia Branch Library Blue Room.

September 25: A Night at the 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 auction; Great times and new friends.

September 23: Visalia Parks and Tickets are a $50.00 donation, and Recreation Foundation Presents are available at the Tulare Public LiFromage Frolic 5-10pm - Grilled cheese cookoff be- brary Genealogy Department and at tween local restaurant and amateur Rosa’s Trattoria and Bar. chefs at Garden Street Plaza. The September 25: EUHS Silent Aucpublic is the judge! Tazzaria will be tion defending their title of “Best Grilled The Exeter Union High School Cheese in Visalia.” Tickets are $20 Music Boosters is holding a Silent in advance and $25 at the gate. “Af- Auction at a special Hurricane Reter hours” admission, after cookoff, lief Concert the music students are to enjoy Run4Cover and purchase giving on Monday September 25th. beverages at a cost of $10. For more All proceeds from the night (coninformation and tickets, contact cert, silent auction, bake sale, etc.)

Carol Hoppert Hays, Visalia Parks will go to victims of Hurricane Irma & Recreation, (559) 713-4599, and Hurricane Harvey, including (559) 936-4400, carolhhays@gmail. some high schools that lost their encom tire music room (instruments, muSeptember 24 - 30: Porterville City Library Celebrates Banned Books Week, 2017 Banned Books Week is an annual event celebrating the freedom to read. It highlights the value of free and open access to information.

Banned Books Week brings together the entire book community — librarians, booksellers, publishers, journalists, teachers, and readers — in shared support of the freedom to seek and express ideas, even those some consider unorthodox or unpopular.

sic, uniforms, etc.).

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 its own shame”- decide for yourself during Banned Books Week.

M. Flanigan, elder law attorney, will be the guest speaker.

September 26: West Hills College Lemoore Transfer Fair 10am - 1pm - Students will have the opportunity to speak with representatives from dozens of universities including California State University, Fresno; UCLA; Humboldt State University; and Fresno Pacific University. The event will be held in front of the West Hills College Lemoore Student Union. The event is part of a WHCL’s TransferMation Week, a week-long series of workshops on various transfer related Experience the true meaning of topics. freedom of choice with the Porter- September 28: Learn About Long ville City Library as they celebrate Term Care Benefits for Veterans Banned Books Week. Stand up 6-7:30pm One little-known benefit against censorship by checking out for veterans and their families is the a formerly banned or challenged Aid and Attendance benefit. This book. A display of current and past benefit can be used for care in an banned or challenged books will be assisted living facility or for care at available. Ask a library staff member home. Quail Park on Cypress will be with a Banned Books Week pin for hosting a workshop on Long Term assistance.

Care Benefits for Veterans. Philip

Quail Park on Cypress is located at 4520 W. Cypress Ave. in Visalia. For additional information or to RSVP call (559) 624-3502. Refreshments For more information on services will be served. and programs, visit the Porterville September 28: Teen Book Club at City Library at 41 W. Thurman the Visalia Branch Library Ave., call (559) 784-0177 or check 4pm - In honor of Banned Books out www.portervillelibrary.org and Week, during which we celebrate www.facebook.com/portervilleli- our freedom to read, teens will meet brary. to discuss the book The Perks of Be-

ing a Wallflower, which has been on the America Library Association’s Top 10 most challenged books list numerous times in the past decade.

The book’s author, Stephen Chbosky, has said “The entire book is a blueprint for survival. It’s for people who have been through terrible things and need hope and support.”

It’s an important book, and why it has been banned so many times is an important conversation starter.

We will also watch the film version of the book. Teens are encouraged to call (559) 713-2731 to reserve a copy of the book. Even teens who haven’t quite finished the book are welcome at the meeting - although we can’t promise there won’t be spoilers! Snacks will be served, and registration is not required to join the club. Book copies are limited, however, so we encourage you to call to reserve your copy early! For more information and news about teen services at our Tulare County Libraries, please visit http://www. tclteens.org/ 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. 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.

September 30: 2017 Moo Mile Run/Walk 7:30-10am - Fundraiser for Meals on Wheels Program at Tulare Senior Center. Mooooove your feet down the Moo Mile Course and help us raise funds for the Tulare Meals on Wheels Program. Every participant will receive a “goodie bag” and T shirt. The first Male and Female Moo Mile Finisher will receive an exclusive “2017 Champion” Moo Mile T shirt! To be held at Zumwalt Park, Tulare Ave. & M Street. For more information, call Tulare Parks

& Recreation, (559) 684-4310.

September 30: Visalia High School Annual Picnic Reunion 11am - For classes 1948 thru 1954.

Students from VHUS are invited to this year’s picnic at Mooney Grove.

The event will take place at arbors 14, 15 and 16.

Downtown Visalia Restaraunts while you stroll down the beautiful streets of Downtown! Beer and Wine Tasting will also be available for guests 21+! Tickets are $40 and are avilable online at http://downtownvisalia. com/explore/event-overview/tasteof-downtown-visalia/ or at our office Mon-Fri from 8-5pm! For more information, call (559) 732-7737.

Attendees are reminded to bring their own table service and beverage plus a main dish, dessert, or salad. October 6: Valley Oak SPCA’s 8th Recall events and remember high Annual Wine & Wags Gala and Auction school events.

6pm - You are invited to attend at September 30: Wings Over the the Visalia Wyndham Hotel where Valley you will enjoy a delightful evening 9am - 2pm - Condors R/C Club of wine and food tasting, live and siWings Over the Valley, presented lent auctions. Tickets are limited, so

by Team AmVets and Toys for Tots snap up your tickets early! Discount - Remote controlled model aircraft applies to table sponsors with one or show at the International Agri-Cen- more reserved tables of 10. ter. Donate a new $5 unwrapped toy, or a $5 bill. See R/C flying Enjoy a delightful evening of wine demonstrations, airplanes, helicop- tasting, delectable hors d’oeuvres ters, drones, cars and trucks. Static from local restaurants and particidisplays. Bleacher seating or bring pate in live and silent auctions inyour own chairs. Food and drink cluding trips, spa packages, wine available. Admission and parking tasting parties, wine gift baskets, - free. All R/C modelers invited - original artwork, jewelry and more.

A cash bar will also be available.

AMA required - 2.4GHZ only.

Proceeds from this event support September 30: Kol Nidre, Erev our No-Kill, non-profit animal resYom Kippur Service 6:30pm - at Congregation Beit cue mission which enables us to resShalom, 115 E. Paseo Ave, Visalia. cue more homeless animals and ofFor children and learners. RSVP at fer a variety of programs, resources and treatments for pets in our com(559) 308-1333. munity. Event attendees must be 21 September 30: CASA Light of years of age or older. For additional Hope information and questions, please 6-11pm - A fundraising event to contact Abby Dean at adean@vospsupport volunteer advocacy for ca.org the abused and neglected children of Kings County at the West Hills October 6: Sukkot Harvest Festicampus in Lemoore. Silent and Live val & Meal Auction, live entertainment from 7pm - For children and families, at Run4Cover. Tickets are $100 and Congregation Beit Shalom, 115 E. can be purchased at our CASA Of- Paseo Ave, Visalia. Adults $12, children free. fice (559) 587-9908.

October 7: Food Truck Fest at September 30: Legends of COS Lemoore Cemetery Walk 9am or 10:30am - A living histo- The College of the Sequoias Founry presentation of local citizens of dation presents their first annuthe past. Tickets available at the al Food Truck Fest benefitting the Mooney Museum or the Lemoore COS Theatre Arts Department. SatChamber of Commerce. $12/ticket. urday, October 7, 2017 from 11 am All proceeds go toward museum im- to 5 pm in the COS Quad. provements. Groups are limited in 15 food trucks, including Quesadilla size - pre-purchase tickets.

Gorilla, Meltdown Bistro, All Fired Up Pizza, Kerrib Flava, 4 Seasons Handy Market BBQ, Jay’s Specialty Ice Cream, Kettle Queen, Big Kahuna Shaved Ice, Tony’s Pizza, Twisted October 3: 24th Annual Taste of Bean, Lumpia Forever and more!

Downtown Visalia

OCTOBER

5-8:30pm - Taste delicious dish- Activities include a climbing wall, es prepared by 25 of your favorite train rides, face painting, photo

booth, bounce house, arts & retail booths, beer tasting featuring Brewbakers and Tioga Sequoia Brewery, and of course FOOD TRUCKS! The first 250 people at the beer tasting will receive a commemorative beer tasting mug and gift bag!

Parking and admission are free. For more information contact 559-2882603 or check out our FB page at facebook.com/costheatrefoodtruckfest October 7: Harvest 5K Run & 3K Walk 8am - The Lifestyle Center The Visalia Runners & Kaweah Delta Health Care District, are teaming up to host another successful Harvest Run event. Proceeds raised through donations and registration fees stay right here in our home community. The Visalia Runners and Kaweah Delta Health Care District work side by side with Sequoia Regional Cancer Center to gather the names of families who are currently undergoing cancer treatment so we can provide Christmas gifts to their children who may otherwise have less during this Holiday Season. All participants signed up before September 25 are guaranteed an event shirt. Please sign up at Visaliarunners.org or Kaweahdelta. org. Paper registration are available at The Lifestyles Center front desk.

For more information you can call Michael at (559) 799-0550 or email to eventinfo@visaliarunners.org October 7: Alta Peak Chapter Native Plant Sale 10am - 3pm - Choose from over 100 different types of hard-to-find California native plants! While California’s native plants have graced gardens worldwide for over a century, few of the landscapes designed for our state’s gardens reflect the natural splendor for which California is famous.

By gardening with native plants, you can bring the beauty of California into your own landscape while also receiving numerous benefits. In a garden environment, native plants do best with some attention and care, but require less water, fertilizer, pruning, less or no pesticide, and less time to maintain than do many common garden plants. Three Rivers Arts Center - Go east on HWY 198, turn left at Anne Lang’s Emporium. Look for first building on the left on North Fork Drive.

21September,2017

B6 • Valley Voice

Three Teachers Awarded by Office of Education Tulare County Office of Education

On the evening of September 21, three Tulare County educators will enjoy a special night with family, friends and colleagues celebrating their unique talents and accomplishments.

The evening’s honors are part of the annual teacher recognition partnership with the Central California Chinese Cultural Center.

Known as the Confucius’ Birthday/ Educators of the Year Awards, the program celebrates three teachers on the birthday of Confucius – an occasion Chinese people around the world often use to recognize exemplary teachers.

“This year’s winners go above and beyond to support the students they serve,” said Tulare County Superintendent of Schools Jim Vidak. “What makes the winners so special is that their expectations are high and they are creative in accessing resources to see that their students succeed.”

The winners in the elementary, middle and high school categories are:

Yesenia Martinez, Transitional Kindergarten Teacher Woodville Union School

Mrs. Martinez has the only class of transitional kindergarten (TK) students at Woodville Union School near Porterville. The district has entrusted the veteran teacher with its youngest learners for good reason.

“Mrs. Martinez has a passion for her profession and is a true professional who is highly respected by her peers,” said Woodville Superintendent Jesse Navarro. “Her devotion to her students is unmeasurable.

Mrs. Martinez is not only responsible for laying the academic foundation for her students – most of whom are four years old – but also helping to develop their social and emotional skills.

“In addition to academics, we focus on getting them used to the structure of the school setting – learning to share, listen and work together as a class.”

Mrs. Martinez has a class of 24 students; 13 of them are English language learners.

Mrs. Martinez has been a teacher for Woodville Union School District since 2001. Her own academic journey included graduating from California State University, Bakersfield in 2000 and receiving her teaching credential in 2002.

Since that time, she has also earned a Master of Arts Degree in Education with a concentration in Multicultural Education.

Yesenia Martinez will admit that she is a competitive person.

“I don’t like to hear that my students can’t be expected to do or learn certain things,” she said with a smile.

She has established the ambitious academic goal that her students will be reading at level four by the end of the school year.

Her standard is the same as kindergarten teachers working with students one year older.

In addition to her TK teaching assignment, Mrs. Martinez dedicates her time to Woodville’s after school migrant intervention classes, as well as a variety of activities geared toward motivating all Woodville students.

She is a key player in the success of many noontime activities, the school’s “Night at the Museum” and the annual Cinco de Mayo celebration. During the summer, she served as a teacher for the Tulare County Migrant Education Program home base labor camps in Ducor.

Joel Muller, Sixth-Grade Teacher Columbine School

Teacher, coach, theater director, academic activities facilitator and yearbook advisor – Joel Muller wears many hats at Columbine School.

Mr. Muller has taught at Columbine School for 17 years. For the last five years, he has been the small school’s sixthgrade teacher.

“I absolutely love the sixth-grade curriculum,” said Mr. Muller, who teaches all subjects. “Of course, it’s the year students get to go to SCICON, but we also study ancient civilizations, which exposes them to the world of the past. I also enjoy that students are showing greater independence as learners, but at times need my guidance.”

In addition to his classroom respon-

sibilities, Joel Muller is a busy coach.

Mr. Muller coaches Columbine’s A boys teams in football, soccer and basketball, and assists with the A baseball team.

He also coaches the school’s track team.

“He teaches skills in all of these sports by demonstrating and having students actively participate,” said Columbine Superintendent Tim Jones. “His players learn excellent techniques which enhance their athletic abilities.”

Each year, Mr. Muller teams with fifth-grade teacher Mrs. Taylor to present The Naughty Little Kids of Christmas, a play he and Mrs. Taylor co-wrote.

The play has become a popular event with parents and a positive experience for Columbine students developing their self-confidence and oral language skills with an audience.

Mr. Muller also coaches Columbine’s Odyssey of the Mind team as a noontime activity.

His teams frequently place first or second at the regional level. At the state level last year, his team placed tenth. Mr. Muller also supervised Columbine’s yearbook club the last two years.

Student participation has escalated, with seventh and eighth graders helping with the book’s design and photography.

“Not all students want to be great athletes,” he said. “By offering them other academic and enrichment activities, we ensure that they are engaged and developing as well-rounded learners,” said Mr. Muller.

Jodi Fortney, Teacher, Severely Handicapped Tulare County Office of Education

Jodi Fortney grew up in Visalia, attended Redwood High School and graduated from the University of Calgary with a Bachelor of Commerce degree.

Although education may not have been Mrs. Fortney’s first choice for a career, she fell in love with the idea after spending six weeks student teaching in a special needs classroom.

In 1987, she joined the Tulare County Office of Education (TCOE) Special Services Division and has been inspiring students, families, and peer educators

ever since.

“Enthusiastic, energetic, compassionate, loving, hopeful, creative, and nurturing are all words that come to mind when I think of Jodi,” said TCOE Assistant Superintendent of Special Services Tammy Bradford.

During the last 30 years of her career, Jody Fortney has taught students with special needs from pre-school through high school. She has been a teacher at Mt. Whitney High School in Visalia since 1999.

In addition to her passion for the classroom, Mrs. Fortney has inspired teachers around the state with her approach to adapting and delivering curriculum.

Three years ago, she was given the opportunity to work with the California Department of Education, and National Center and State Collaborative on how to teach students with significant cognitive disabilities.

As a result of her involvement, she was selected to be a part of a field test through the University of North Carolina, Charlotte. The findings from that study supported the belief that students with significant intellectual disabilities were tremendously successful in learning grade-level material. Due to these significant findings, Mrs. Fortney was invited to present her experience at a national conference in Washington, D.C. With the use of a variety of visual response strategies and teaching modalities, Jodi’s students are interacting and answering questions to novels such as “To Kill a Mockingbird” and “The Pearl” – once again proving that with high expectations, great things can be accomplished.

At Mt. Whitney, Mrs. Fortney’s students are an integral part of campus culture.

“What makes this school so special is that we are part of the family,” said Mrs. Fortney. “There is a unique and longstanding partnership between the teachers, general education students and the kids in my classroom.”

Each year, dozens of general education students apply to be aides in her classroom.

“From this experience, I know we have had several former Mt. Whitney students decide to pursue careers in special education,” she added.

For more information about the Confucius Birthday/Educators of the Year Awards, call Marlene Moreno at (559) 733-6302.

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21 September, 2017

Valley Voice • B7

Rosa Brothers Milk Company Celebrates Fifth Anniversary Kathleen Johnson

Rosa Brothers Milk Company marks its fifth year with an anniversary celebration on Saturday, September 23, from 10am to 2pm, at the Rosa Brothers Milk Company Creamery Store, 2400 South K Street in Tulare.

There’s something for everyone at the party, as festivities will include an Open House, $1 ice cream cones, milk and ice cream samples, free caricature drawings, and a petting pen.

A Farmers Market with tasting opportunities will be onsite to showcase the local products featured in the Creamery.

One of the many products available to sample at the anniversary celebration will be Rosa Brothers’ newest prod-

uct, Cold Brew Coffee Milk, created in collaboration with Lanna Coffee Co. of Fresno.

This delicious, sweet combination of milk and Lanna Coffee Co.’s cold brew won second place in the People’s Choice Award at this year’s Fresno Food Expo.

“We are excited to celebrate this milestone with our community, our customers and our retail store partners, as they have played a huge role in our success these past five years,” states Noel Rosa, President of Rosa Brothers MIlk Company. “We look forward to building on that success as we continue to provide the freshest, highest quality products to our community and beyond in the years to come.”

ABOUT ROSA BROTHERS MILK COMPANY Noel and Rolland Rosa, third generation dairy farmers, began production of their milk and ice cream in September 2012 with a handful of stores selling their products.

The Rosa Brothers have remained true to their local roots while ensuring the freshest and highest quality milk and ice cream products. Today, Rosa Brothers products can be found in over 500 loca-

tions up and down the state of California.

Rosa Brothers’ glass bottled milk is offered in a variety of flavors as well as lactose free options.

Additional products include 14 decadent flavors of super premium ice cream, half and half, heavy cream and Egg Nog, a seasonal favorite that makes its annual appearance during the holidays.

Rosa Brothers MIlk Company Creamery Store hours are 9am to 7pm Monday-Saturday.

For more information, please visit RosaBrothers.com or call (559) 6852500. For information on where to purchase Rosa Brothers products, click on the “Where to Buy” button at RosaBrothers.com.

Fresno Airport Cautions Regarding Family Imposter Scam Staff Reports

Fresno Yosemite International Airport has been advised of a Family Emergency Imposter Scam involving scammers posing as a relative or friend contacting individuals by telephone urging them to wire money immediately for help with an emergency situation.

Scammers pose as a relative or friend claiming they are being held by authorities at the Fresno Airport Yosemite Airport and are in need of a money wire to authorize their release.

According to the Federal Trade Commission, the goal of Family Emergency Imposter Scams is to trick people

in to sending money before they realize it is a scam.

To make the story seem legitimate, another individual may join the call claiming to be an authority figure such as a lawyer or other official.

If someone calls or sends a message claiming to be a relative or friend in need of money to help their situation, the Federal Trade Commission advises:

• Resist the urge to act immediately, no matter how dramatic the story is.

• Verify the person’s identity by asking questions that a stranger couldn’t possibly answer.

Oktoberfest Celebrates Vendors Staff Reports On Friday, September 29th the Visalia Chamber of Commerce will host Oktoberfest 2017 at Vossler Farms Pumpkin Patch in Visalia. This annual community festival will feature food, beer and wine tastings, local vendors and live music.

Oktoberfest provides businesses with awesome exposure and the opportunity to expand their reach and brand recognition to a large audience. This year Oktoberfest will feature more than 35 local food/beer/ wine and business vendors including: A&W Drive In, Bird Street Brewing, Brewbakers, Bueno Beverage, Cricket Wireless, Downtown Rookies, Eagle Mountain Casino, Empire Supply Co., Inc, Epic Print and Promo, Executives Association of Tulare County, Farmer’s Fury Winery, Firestone Walker Brewing Company, Kaweah Brewing, KJUG 106.7, Left of Center/Sue Sa’s Creative Catering Lipsense, 105.1 the Blaze, M. Green and Company, Mache, Marriott Hotel, Ol-

Fatima

Continued from B1 followed by a dance until midnight.

Music by DJ Tony Nunes.

The 2017 queen is Avery Caetano, daughter of Rick & Christina Garcia and Richard Caetano.

Avery is 14 years of age and attends Tulare Union High School.

Her attendants are: • Makaela Maciel, daughter

ive Garden, Recovery Credit Repair, Roller Towne, Sadie Mae’s, Sequoia Brewing Co., Sequoia Cigar Company, SMD Lighting, Tachi Palace Hotel & Casino, The Café, The Patio Place, The Planing Mill Artisan Pizzeria, The Source LGBT+Center, Valley Wide Beverage, Visalia Mall, Vossler Farms, Wyndham Visalia Businesses interested in sponsoring Oktoberfest will receive exhibition space, tickets and recognition during the event.

Sponsorship information can be found at www.visaliachamber.org/oktoberfest or by calling the Visalia Chamber of Commerce at 559-734-5876.

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. Mezcal and Motel Drive will be performing live throughout the evening.

Tickets can be purchased online at https://tinyurl.com/OKTFest17.

of Mario & Heather Maciel.

Makaela is 15 years of age and attends Tulare Union High School.

• Caryngten Tigner, daughter of Mark Tigner & Dina Correia Caryngten is 15 years of age and attends Tulare Union High School.

The celebration officers are David Macedo, president; Danny Tristao, vice-president; Joey Vieira, secretary; and Doug Souza, treasurer.

• Call a phone number for the family member or friend that is known to be genuine.

• Check the story out with someone else in the family or circle of friends, even if told to keep it a secret.

• Do not wire money — or send a check or money order by overnight delivery or courier.

• Report possible fraud at ftc. gov/complaint or by calling 1-877-FTC-HELP (1877-382-4357).

• Report possible fraud to local law enforcement authorities.

Fresno Yosemite International Air-

Arts Visalia Continued from B1

Jamie photographs her subjects before she paints them.

She doesn’t wish to paint a photograph but rather use the camera as a tool that links the documentation of a place and retain its entity.

Jamie Boley currently resides in Visalia, CA. She studied at CSU Fresno where she graduated with bachelor and master degrees in Art. Jamie has been granted many prestigious awards and honors by CSU Fresno as well as the Chicago Art Institute.

She is an artist who focuses on a deeper place and pours her heart and soul into her works through the landscapes she paints as a metaphor for the despair over what she faces in life’s circumstances, as she sees herself as a dry and thirsty land.

This exhibition runs from October 4th through 27th. The opening reception will be held on Friday, October

Bowlero Continued from B1

flat-screen TVs and a captivating design that invites guests to mix, mingle, and indulge in the venue’s specialty cocktails, like the Mad Mai Tai, Old-School Moscow Mule, or the Dunk Tank—a fishbowl cocktail that’s perfect for sharing with friends.

The ideal destination for date night, family night, birthday parties, and cor-

port currently offers Valley passengers daily non-stop flights to Dallas, Denver, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Phoenix, Portland, Salt Lake City, San Diego, San Francisco, Seattle, and Guadalajara, Mexico on domestic and international carriers.

Fresno Yosemite International Airport is a municipally owned entity operating as a self-supporting enterprise.

No City of Fresno general funds are used to operate Fresno Yosemite International Airport or Fresno Chandler Executive Airport.

Like the airport at facebook.com/ FresnoYosemiteInternational or follow on Twitter @FresnoAirport .

6th, from 6pm to 8pm and is sponsored in part by Bueno Beverage and Pita Kabob. Artist talk with Jamie Boley will be on Saturday, October 7th at 2pm at the gallery to discuss her works.

This November, the gallery will be showing work by a number of students from Sequoia High School.

Sequoia High School offers a fresh start to students in an accepting and non-threatening atmosphere, as well as success in earning a living through vocational and career preparation.

This exhibition will offer collaboration with students who feel misrepresented and suppressed in society.

Art classes for children and adults are ongoing at Arts Visalia.

Please download registration forms from our website artsvisalia.org, or stop in and pick up the fall schedule at the gallery!

For more information and class descriptions, please go to artsvisalia.org, dial 559-739-0905 or visit the gallery, 214 East Oak Avenue, Visalia, California 93291. porate get-togethers, Bowlero provides total entertainment for every occasion.

Bowlero Visalia is located at 1740 W. Caldwell Ave. and will be open Mondays from 10am to 10pm, Tuesdays from 4pm to 12am, Wednesdays from 12pm to 11pm, Thursdays from 4pm to 10pm, Fridays from 4pm to 1am, Saturdays from 10pm to 1am, and Sundays from 10am to 11pm. For lane availability, reservations, or to plan a party or corporate event, please call (559) 625-2100.

21 September, 2017

Valley Voice • B8

Visalian Captures Women’s 65-69 Title in Championship Staff Reports Missy LeStrange, 62, of Visalia, California captured the world championship title in the women’s 65-69 age-group at the 2017 ICY HOT® IRONMAN® 70.3® World Championship triathlon in Chattanooga, Tennessee on Saturday, September 9.

LeStrange completed the IRONMAN 70.3 World Championship in 6:17:35 (swim: 34:58; bike: 3:19:39; run: 2:14:13), beating out the top athletes in her age group in a race that featured competitors from 48 U.S. states and 90 countries, regions and territories from around the world.

The race encompassed a 1.2-mile (1.9 km) swim in the Tennessee River, followed by a 56-mile (90 km) bicycle ride through Lookout Mountain and into downtown Chattanooga, capped with a 13.1-mile (21 km) run through Downtown Chattanooga along the Tennessee Riverwalk and Riverfront Parkway, finishing at Ross’s landing.

The 2017 ICY HOT IRONMAN 70.3 World Championship saw approximately 4,500 competitors registered to toe the line – the event’s largest-ever athlete field for an IRONMAN or IRONMAN 70.3 event – with participants ranging in age from 18 to 86.

The world championship event is the culmination of over 100 global events in the IRONMAN 70.3 series where more than 185,000 age-group athletes vied for slots to the ICY HOT IRONMAN 70.3 World Championship.

For more information and complete results on the 2017 ICY HOT IRON-

MAN 70.3 World Championship, visit www.ironman.com/worldchampionship70.3.

About the IRONMAN 70.3 World Championship

In 2006 the inaugural IRONMAN 70.3 World Championship was held in Clearwater, Florida becoming another test for the world’s elite triathletes. Since that auspicious beginning, the IRONMAN 70.3 World Championship has grown in stature and popularity moving first to Henderson, Nevada in 2011, where athletes encountered a more challenging terrain and then to Mont-Tremblant, Quebec—its first stop on the new “global rotation” for the championship.

The event reached European soil for the first time ever in 2015, with Zell am See, Austria, hosting an epic and memorable event.

In 2016, the race moved from the mountains to the beaches of the Sunshine Coast in Queensland, Australia.

This year, the event will return to the United States, taking place in Chattanooga, Tennessee and will become a two-day race for the first time.

More than 185,000 athletes participated in a season of qualifying races for the championship, a series which consists of over 100 events in locations such as Australia, Brazil, China, Germany, South Africa and Switzerland. Approximately 4,500 athletes from around the world were registered to compete in this prestigious race.

Participants in the ICY HOT® IRONMAN 70.3 World Championship

ranged in age from 18 to 85-plus, and represented over 90 countries, territories and regions.

In 2018, the event reaches the African continent for the first time and will be hosted in Nelson Mandela Bay in South Africa. The race will then move to Nice, France for 2019.

About IRONMAN

A Wanda Sports Holdings company, IRONMAN operates a global portfolio of events that includes the IRONMAN® Triathlon Series, the IRONMAN® 70.3® Triathlon Series, 5150™ Triathlon Series, the Rock n’ Roll Marathon Series®, Iron Girl®, IRONKIDS®, International Triathlon Union World Triathlon Series races, road cycling events including the UCI Missy Lestrange. Courtesy/Ironman Velothon Majors Series, platform in the world. mountain bike races including the Absa Since the inception of the IRONCape Epic, premier marathons including MAN® brand in 1978, athletes have provthe Standard Chartered Singapore Maraen that ANYTHING IS POSSIBLE® by thon and other multisport races. crossing finish lines at the world’s most IRONMAN’s events, together with challenging endurance races. all other Wanda Sports Holdings events, Beginning as a single race, IRONprovide more than a million participants MAN has grown to become a global senannually the benefits of endurance sports sation with more than 200 events across through the company’s vast offerings.

50 countries. For more information, visit The iconic IRONMAN® Series of www.ironman.com. events is the largest participation sports