Valley Voice Issue 102 (5 October, 2017)

Inside: our latest Student Life section ...this issue, focusing on 4-H Week!

Volume XXXVII No. 19 • 5 October, 2017

www.ourvalleyvoice.com

Tempers Flare Over Hospital at Tulare City Council Dave Adalian There were raised voices, arguments, accusations, lectures and in the end no action as the Tulare City Council debated asking the state to audit the Tulare Local Health Care District.

At issue during the latest meeting on September 19 was whether the Council should send a letter to state representatives asking for an audit of the District by the State Joint Audit Committee. Previously, the Council had decided not to send such a letter, but developments at the Hospital District prompted Councilman Jose Sigala to ask to revisit the issue.

“There’s been a recall election. There’s been a person being debated if she should be on the board or not,” he said. “There’ve been legal challenges, there’s money that’s been spent, there’s money that in my case has been mismanaged, and so there’s a lot of different things that have occurred since the last time.”

Mind Your Own Business

As last time, Sigala encountered strong resistance from his fellow council members, with the Councilman Greg Nunley and Mayor Carlton Jones arguing it was not the Council’s place to become involved in the District’s affairs.

“I think someone needs to step in

and let all the taxpayers know what happened with all the money,” Nunley said.

“I think that’s not part of City Council’s business.”

His concern appeared to be politically motivated bias on the part of auditors from the state.

“If they would come down and set both people in the corners and they would come down and audit the books and tell us all what happened, then I’d be for that,” Nunley said. “But, I don’t think writing a letter is proof that’s going to happen. If you can prove that’s going to happen, I’ll stand behind you on that.”

Jones said he didn’t want to raise hopes by asking for an audit.

“I also believe we give a false hope by telling people that the city of Tulare can write a letter with five signatures on it and it’s going to do something in Sacramento,” he said. “It’s not.”

Mayor Denies Bias

The Mayor then addressed his personal relationship with Dr. Parmod Kumar, who was recently ousted from the District’s Board in a landslide recall election. Jones is involved in an ongoing lawsuit against the District by its former medical staff, yet he said he now supports Senovia Gutierrez, the woman elect-

TULARE continued on 10 »

Tulare Hospital Seeks Bankruptcy Protection Just two days after HCCA CEO tells the TRMC Hospital Board to get a loan or shut their doors, it picks the third option — file for Chapter 9 bankruptcy protection. The hospital continues to operate.

Tony Maldonado

After two days of uncertainty amongst employees of Tulare Regional Medical Center, the Tulare Local Healthcare District’s board voted unanimously to seek Chapter 9 bankruptcy protection.

The district’s board voted Friday, September 29 to seek Chapter 9 bankruptcy protection after reports on Thursday, September 28 that workers at the hospital, employed by management partner Healthcare Conglomerate Associates (HCCA), had gone unpaid.

The move came two days after Dr. Benny Benzeevi, CEO of HCCA, threatened to consider shutting the hospital down if the board didn’t pursue a loan to repay debt to the company and ensure continued operation of the hospital.

At the same meeting, members of the board also announced that Richard Torrez had resigned his seat Wednesday, leaving only Kevin Northcraft, Mike Jamaica, and Senovia Gutierrez as members.

The Chapter 9 proceeding could not only provide the district with some relief from multiple nonpayment lawsuits currently pending against it in county and federal courts, but also potentially invalidate the management company’s controversial agreement with the district and allow it to seek a new management partner.

Finding a new partner -- and ensuring the hospital’s current employees could continue at that new partner -- is a stated goal of Kevin Northcraft, the board’s chairman.

HOSPITAL continued on 11 »

Plans to develop a 17,000-square-foot, 24-hour gas station, car wash and drive-through restaurant have upset local residents, who say the business will spoil the neighborhood. The group says the project will bring crime, noise and pollution to the mostly residential area, and has pledged to fight the plans. Dave Adalian/Valley Voice

Neighbors Vow to Fight 24-Hour Gas Station A group of south Visalia citizens is ready to fight to the bitter end to keep a 17,000-square-foot, 24-hour gas station and car wash out of their neighborhood.

When she attended a Planning Commission meeting last month, Visalia resident Robin Hernandez was surprised to find out the city was just one vote away from recommending Chandi Group, a Coachella Valley-based development company, start construction of a combination 20-hose gas station, car wash and drive-through restaurant with roundthe-clock hours at the northeast corner of Caldwell Avenue and West Street, less than a quarter mile from her home.

Dave Adalian “I was shocked,” Hernandez said.

“It’s a David and Goliath story for sure.”

‘Sneaky Stuff’

She and her husband were at the meeting to hear discussion of another topic before the Commission when she noticed a public hearing on the construction of an Arco station in her neighborhood was also on the night’s agenda.

“I’m saying to my husband, ‘This is terrible!’ I stood up and said, ‘Where are my neighbors? Why weren’t we told

ARCO continued on 12 »

Visalia Mayor Warren Gubler to Run for State Assembly City of Visalia Mayor Warren Gubler Staff Reports has announced his candidacy for CaliforWe cannot watch this incumbent win this nia State Assembly in the 2018 election.

Gubler, a Republican, cites ineffective election by default! With Mr. Mathis in our District 26 seat for anothrepresentation in Sacramento as er term, we could only expect the primary reason for seeking more years of the same in Sacthe Assembly District 26 seat. ramento,” said Gubler.

Gubler stated that AssemAccording to Gubler, the blyman Devon Mathis has bemost recent example of Mathis’ come a “mere tool of the special ineffective leadership came on interests and lobbyists.”

September 14, 2017, regard“With overwhelming ening SB 649, a bill pushed by couragement from my family the telecommunications inand members of our District, dustry designed to take away I have now entered the arena Warren Gubler. local government control over and accept the challenge of unseating an entrenched politician who public right-of-ways. All of the cities in represents special interests and lobbyists. GUBLER continued on 9 »

2 • Valley Voice

5 October, 2017 FROM THE PUBLISHER’S DESK

Keeping Up With The Jones

Carlton Jones should step down as Mayor of Tulare and resign from its city council. It would be the correct--and decent--course of action.

Ask yourself if Jones is a decent individual.

Over the years we at the Valley Voice have received numerous complaints about Jones, most amounting to nothing more than gossip. Gossip because people seem to fear him, and don’t care to substantiate their claims by a willingness to be named for the record.

We can’t, for instance, print the finer points of a lengthy letter we received detailing Jones’ character. It will have to suffice for me to say that the author felt threatened enough by him to have installed security cameras and taken “a gun class and got a CCW.” That’s a license to carry a concealed weapon.

How very charming that the City of Tulare’s mayor inspires such civic-mindedness!

I can, though, substantiate Jones’ 2009 arrest for--and eventual acquittal of--felony spousal abuse.

And I recall reports of the scuffle he had with Derek Thomas at COS during a forum for the 2014 State Assembly election.

See a pattern?

Lest you think these are things of the past, Carlton Jones accosted one of his constituents, Alex Gutierrez, in city council chambers immediately following the regular meeting on 19 September.

I fielded a phone call about the incident from an outraged citizen just now, on 2 October, as I’m writing this.

In Gutierrez’ own words, via Facebook: I approached calmly and very politely asked for clarification when it came to the two letter agenda items.

My clarification stemmed from the unanimous vote by council to send a letter to our federal representatives, who serve in the Congress, in support of DACA. The mayor stated this federal government issue was a city issue because it affects the community.

Now not even 20 minutes before that the mayor himself said that city council had no business sending a similar letter to our state representative in Sacramento about the hospital which is in the heart of the city. That somehow a

letter by council for an audit of millions of dollars of local taxpayer money is 1) not city business and 2) would not do anything anyways. It was pushed to be voted on next council meeting.

Regardless about whether people feel these items should have been on the agenda or not the statements made on each item by him were EXTREMELY interesting, eye-opening and I wanted an explanation as to why the obvious contradiction before the public.

I first spoke to Councilmember Sigala who then asked me to ask the mayor. The mayor, over hearing him say that, asked me what the question was. I didn’t intend to speak to him at all because at that moment the mayor was speaking to Alberto Aguilar who had stood before Council and was questioned at length. So I walk over and looking up at the mayor standing on the dais I asked for the clarification. To my shock he began yelling and insulting me in front of the entire public present at the end of the meeting getting loud.

When I asked him if he was angry because of the contradictions he made on the two agendized letters he began a slow mumbling walk down from the dais, passing the fire chief and other city employees, to get down to me and got in my face. He stuck his finger in between my eyes and started yelling “ you don’t tell me how to vote, you don’t tell me how to think.. you don’t tell me anything!” The entire council chambers went silent.

Before I could tell him you can’t scare away the truth or intimidate people the chief of the fire department grabbed him by the left arm and pulled him up back onto the dais. The look in his eyes was of pure rage and although I couldn’t make out what he was mumbling to me, maybe those closer to him did, I felt he threatened me.

Afterwards I spoke to many present and it was mentioned that a public records request can be made for the video. I plan on doing so and encourage many to do so as well so anyone interested can see what kind of person the may-

JONES continued on 16 »

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

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

Reporters:

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

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5 October, 2017

Valley Voice • 3

Political Fix CAROLE FIRSTMAN SPEAKS AT NETWORKING FOR WOMEN LUNCHEON I met Carole Firstman around 2002 at the Three Rivers Holiday Bazaar. The bazaar marks the beginning of the holiday craft fair season and is usually a glorious fall day in the foothills. I was selling my beaded ornaments and peach jam and she was scurrying to the Three River’s Senior League table that always had antiques for the early bird.

About half an hour later she emerged with her arms full of vintage silver – a coffee pot, trays, silverware, a sugar bowl, and creamers. All were destined to be the final touches of the Visalia Arts Christmas tree to be auctioned off at the Visalia Chamber of Commerce Christmas Tree Auction.

She stopped to chat with me about her inspired decorating ideas and I thought she was sooo cool.

Fifteen years later she only got cooler.

Besides some travel adventures under her belt, Ms. Firstman has a book on the New York Times Best Seller list, Origins of the Universe and What it all Means: A Memoir. The New York Times review simply says “a strangely dazzling memoir.”

Could four words be any more intriguing?

Firstman’s book tells, “the story of her remarkable childhood with an arachnologist father. The book explores the intersection of science, philosophy and our basic human need to sort out difficult familial relationships—and how to care for both elderly parents in their waning years.”

When Laura Florez- McCusker, public relation specialist for Kaweah Delta, invited me to attend the Networking for Women Luncheon to cover Ms. Firstman, I immediately had visions of a Christmas tree with vintage silver hanging on the branches with a thousand twinkling lights.

Then I learned that the theme of Ms. Firstman’s presentation was “How do we care for our aging parents when the relationship has been ‘complicated’ at best?”

I was curious what she had to say.

As the only one in my family to have children and a mother of five, I always assumed that I would be the one to take care of my mom and dad into old age.

And until they hit 83 I did take care of both them, mostly my mom though because my dad has a younger wife.

I am not quite sure what happened, whether it was my step mom driving a wedge between me and my parents, the beginnings of dementia, or maybe both, but neither my mom nor dad have talked to Joseph or myself in three years.

Fortunately, I don’t have to worry about their health because they are both very well off and will have the best care to the end.

But it won’t be the same quality of care that a parent would get from a daughter.

As for Ms. Firstman’s child-parent relationship, she read essays from her book that use storytelling to relate the idiosyncrasies of her mother and father.

Family trips were to Mexico or Death Valley where her father crawled around in the sand looking for scorpions and spiders to enhance the theory of

Catherine Doe

Carole Firstman. Catherine Doe/Valley Voice

evolution, while at home he hung Playboy centerfolds on his office walls. As a young impressionable girl, this was the definition of female beauty.

As a child she thought her father was brilliant. As an adult she realized her father has a form of Asperger’s Syndrome.

Ms Firstman’s mother, 14 years her husband’s junior, grew up in a unique set of circumstances. She was raised in Arkansas in a house with no electricity or running water. Her mother died when she was 10 and her grandfather was a professional criminal. No one in her family believed in school, and I believed this to mean all the way down to elementary school.

But Ms. Firstman’s mother became the first in her family to go to college and even became a professor, teaching at COS for 30 years.

She read her mother’s favorite excerpt in the book about a trip they took to the Amazon in the 1990’s. Her mother loved the book because it was funny and she thought her daughter was such an idiot to go swimming in the Amazon.

She read another essay about when she was a child wanting to watch Charlie’s Angles while her mother defiantly switched the channel to Mutual of Omaha’s Wild Kingdom. None of the ladies at my table were old enough to remember Wild Kingdom, and like Ms. Firstman, I secretly enjoyed the show in all its hokiness.

Ms. Firstman’s mom had just passed away three weeks prior to our luncheon, making reading her mother’s favorite excerpts pretty difficult. She needed the help of her theater buddy, Irene Morse, to read the last line.

“And you are so much more than that,” a refrain her mother would use when referring to Ms Firstman’s fascination with Charlie’s Angles Farah Fawcett.

After Ms. Firstman’s reading she encouraged questions. What are your top travel destinations? Guatemala and France. How long did it take to write your book? Seven years of taking notes and one year 24/7.

The final question was how to take care of parents when the relationship is complicated. She advised the ladies to focus on the higher part of us. Address your parents’ higher consciousness she said. “Not the part of themselves that is grumpy or difficult.”

But no one asked the most important question that Ms. Firstman addresses

in her book, “what it all means.”

I guess we are going to have to read it to find out.

I NEED TO GET THIS OFF MY CHEST

This may not help the situation but here goes. I think the old Tulare Local Healthcare Board of Directors, Sherrie Bell, Laura Gadke, Richard Torres and Parmod Kumar need to pay the $10 million dollar penalty to get rid of Healthcare Conglomerates Association (HCCA.) There, I said it because everyone else is thinking it.

In May of 2014 the old board signed the Management Service Agreement (MSA) between HCCA and the Tulare Regional Medical Center, then kept the agreement a secret for over a year.

This was definitely a dereliction of duty and they should be held accountable.

Or maybe just Ms. Bell should have to pay the fine because she was the chairperson of the board. She could have advised her fellow board members to amend the most egregious parts of the agreement or advise them to not sign it at all.

Or maybe Dr. Kumar should be the one to pay the fine because he made millions of dollars off of Tulare taxpayers.

Can you say “conflict of interests?”

I hate to criticize Ms. Gadke because she is so sweet. I don’t know if Ms. Bell is as sweet because she never returned my calls. Voice writer Dave Adalian did get a callback from Ms. Bell, once.

“She didn’t know it was me. We had a long talk before she figured out who I was. Then she told me I wasn’t who I said I was.”

As for Ms. Gadke, a longtime Tulare resident, I had a couple of very pleasant and educational conversations with her.

It is obvious she only wanted what was best for the hospital and Tulare.

It seems to me that she was talked into running for the hospital board the first time out of civic duty, then had her arm twisted to run the second time when she lost to current trustee Michael Jamaica.

Former Trustee Richard Torrez

sounds like a great guy also, but I hold Ms. Gadke and Mr. Torrez as responsible for the mess facing the hospital as I do Ms. Bell and Dr, Kumar.

Why? Because silence is consent, and Mr. Torrez wins the lottery on that one.

I know members of the community were shouting from the mountain tops to tell Ms. Gadke and Mr. Torrez to rein in HCCA’s power. People all over Tulare, and all over the county, heard their cries.

All they had to do was listen.

What they did is called “willful ignorance” and we have had some doozies throughout world history of what happens when the citizenry refuses to face the truth.

The board not hiring their own lawyer was a dereliction of duty. Signing the MSA was unconscionable. Giving Dr. Benzeevi carte blanche to get any loan he wants without board review is a breach of fiduciary duty. And the list goes on.

Sitting around blaming past board members doesn’t make things better, but they can’t get much worse. The hospital has filed Chapter 9 bankruptcy and is hoping to prove HCCA’s mismanagement to avoid the $10million dollar penalty.

One lawyer told me another way out of the penalty was that if Sherrie Bell admits that she did not read the MSA. Thus, the contract would be void. You can’t represent the district if you don’t read what you are signing.

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4 • Valley Voice

5 October, 2017

Tulare PD Chief on Leave Nancy Vigran Tulare Police Chief Wes Hensley was placed on paid administrative leave as of Wednesday, Sept. 27.

The reasoning is being kept private as an outside investigation gets underway.

“I am not to discuss this,” said Tulare City Manager, Joe Carlini. He added he has been told to refer people with questions to the city’s attorney.

Carlini did confirm that the police chief was the only member of the department placed on leave at this time.

“It is a personnel and confidential matter,” said Heather Phillips, the city’s attorney. “It’s not criminal in nature, but internal.”

Phillips is currently seeking an outside investigator who will be as neutral as possible. She added, that could take some time.

A rumor of Tulare’s mayor, Carlton Jones, having had a meeting with other council members and/or staff outside of city limits, just prior to the Chief being placed on leave, is not true, Phillips said.

“I know of no meeting with the mayor and other council members or city officials,” she said.

Hensley told the Voice that he is not to discuss the issue, as directed by his own attorney.

However, “I have always believed in the process of justice,” he said, “and that it will work out correctly this time.”

Hensley has served Tulare PD since 1991 – 26 years. Prior law enforcement work included service in the Visalia Po-

lice reserves and in the Tulare County Sheriff Department. He took over as Tulare interim chief in the spring-summer of 2015, during the leave of former chief Jerry Breckinridge. Hensley was sworn in as permanent chief following the resignation of Breckinridge due to personnel reasons, in November that year.

The then city manager, Don Dorman said, “His [Hensley’s] longevity with the department and as a captain; he was head and shoulders the choice.”

“He is very innovative and creative in how things are done to get the most out of the department,” Dorman added.

Having served as a Tulare police captain for many years, Hensley has played many roles in developing department policy. Upon his being named chief, he said, he wanted to expand community outreach.

“I would like to see us have more of a presence in community functions,” he said at the time, “and work on creating a dialogue.

Hensley, 54, is about three years away from eligibility for his retirement.

Numerous attempts to reach Mayor Jones have not been returned. Attempts to reach other council members have also gone unanswered, as of print time.

Tulare Police Investigations Captain Barry Jones has been named acting chief for the time being.

“I selected the person with the most time with the department,” Carlini said.

The Tulare Police Department maintains approximately 75 sworn policing positions.

John Jansons

Farmersville Faces Search for New City Manager Farmersville is looking for a new city manager.

John Jansons, who has been with the city for two years, has given his notice.

Jansons is moving on to another city.

It could take up to six months to replace him – an interim city manager will be named, soon.

“We did not want him to go,” said Mayor Paul Boyer of Jansons.

“He’s found a job, I think, that’s good for his career, so it makes sense,” Boyer said. “While he’s been in Farmersville, he’s definitely given it his all.”

Jansons has helped move projects forward that had been started before he started and with some on the city’s wish list. Currently, Farmersville is working

Nancy Vigran on two large road projects – while Visalia Road is being widened to two lanes each direction, Farmersville Blvd. is seeing curb and gutter improvements, including becoming Americans with Disabilities Act compliant. Jansons was active in finding funding sources for the improvements, as well as overseeing the projects.

He also obtained funding for an urban stream project which is set to begin on Deep Creek within the city limits.

The $756,000 project is being funded through State of California Department of Water Resources. The improvements will take place along a 2.9 mile area from

FARMERSVILLE continued on 9 »

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5 October, 2017

Valley Voice • 5

Hanford City Councilman Ramirez to Face Recall Catherine Doe The recall election date for Hanford City Council member Francisco Ramirez has been set for January 23, 2018.

Ramirez was elected in District D in November, 2014.

Hanford City Clerk Jennifer Gomez received the recall petition on August 21 with 1,062 signatures. The recall group needed 853. After verifying 864 signatures she presented the petition to the Hanford City Council on September 19.

The council had between 88 and 125 days to set the election date and opted to wait longer rather than earlier.

The council wanted to give potential replacement candidates time to campaign in the event Ramirez was recalled, and they were concerned about holding an election during the holiday season.

Gomez informed the council that there will be at least one precinct polling station in District D and absentee ballot voting for those who are registered to vote by mail.

Hanford resident Skip Athey served Ramirez the recall papers at the May 16 city council meeting. His reasons were the following: “Hanford Councilman Francisco Ramirez has a long history of supporting his interest over the interests of the community. His corruption and disregard for the law has helped create a culture of mistrust within the community of Hanford culminating in numerous investigations.”

Athey said that Ramirez “knowingly and willfully violated the Campaign Finance requirements by failing to open and maintain a campaign checking account.”

He added that the Kings County Grand Jury found the campaign finance accusations to be true in addition to Ramirez misleading “voters by stating he graduated in 1999 with both a Bachelors and Masters degree.”

Ramirez is steadfast in the defense of his job as council member, “You’d be surprised how many people come up to me at the Hanford Market to give me their support, at least 40 every week.”

ford tax payers will have paid approximately $30,000 to unseat Ramirez nine months early.

What Happens if Ramirez is Recalled?

Gang of Five

Voters will face two questions at the ballot box. The first question will be whether or not they want to recall Ramirez. The second question will be with whom the voter wants to replace Ramirez if he were to be recalled.

If the first question passes with 50 percent plus one, the replacement candidate with the highest number of votes will win the election. The new council member would be sworn at the next council meeting after the results are certified.

Any resident in District D wishing to run can file nomination papers from October 4 through November 9.

It is rumored that former city council member Lou Martinez will be pulling papers to run for Ramirez seat. Martinez filed the recall papers with the city clerk and has been active at the city council meeting for the last several months.

Ramirez beat incumbent Martinez in 2014.

Cost of a Special Election

Hanford Issues, a Facebook page administered by Skip Athey, has complained about the price of the recall.

City Clerk Jennifer Gomez has predicted it will cost the city around $25,000 - $30,000.

Athey has encouraged Ramirez to voluntarily step down from his council seat to save the city money.

Recall proponents, on the other hand, could have chosen to field a candidate in the November 2018 election when Ramirez is up for re-election.

If the recall effort is successful, Han-

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The efforts to oust Ramirez started in the summer of 2015.

During the August 4, 2015 city council meeting, Ramirez was one of three council members who voted to allow movie theaters to operate outside of the downtown area.

Francisco Ramirez, left, and a supporter. Courtesy/Francisco Ramirez The vote allowed theaters to open their doors in the com- fictitious.

The incident led to Curry narrowly mercial zones near 12th Avenue and avoiding having to step down as mayor Lacey Boulevard. after profusely apologizing to the othPrevious to the vote, theaters could only locate in downtown with er city council members and Hanford’s the exception of a movie theater in the residents.

Pannett was outraged by Curry’s Hanford Mall.

Retribution for Ramirez’ vote character assassination of Ramirez and offered to speak to the Kings County came swiftly.

During the next council meeting, Grand Jury, the District Attorney’s OfAugust 18, Mayor Russ Curry asked to fice or local law enforcement to “tell read into the record several letters he had what I know.”

“What I am seeing now is more vireceived from “constituents.” The letters cious attacks,” Pannett told the Sentinel. claimed that Ramirez failed to report campaign contributions during his 2014 “If you don’t vote one way, you’re going run for office, as well as questions about to get wiped out the next day,” “There are certain individuals that Ramirez’s educational background.

The letters were later proven to be HANFORD continued on 9 »

A

6 • Valley Voice

5 October, 2017

Agriculture Countdown to Census: What You Need To Know Staff Reports In just a couple months, farmers and ranchers across the nation will start receiving the 2017 Census of Agriculture.

Producers can mail in their completed census form, or respond online via the improved web questionnaire. The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Agricultural Statistics Service has extensively revised the online questionnaire to make it more convenient for producers.

“The updated online questionnaire is very user-friendly – it can now be used on any electronic device, and can be saved and revisited as the producer’s schedule allows,” said NASS Census and Survey Division Director Barbara Rater. “Responding online saves time and protects data quality. That’s our mission at NASS – to provide timely, accurate, and useful statistics in service to U.S.

agriculture. Better data mean informed decisions, and that’s why it is so important that every producer respond and be represented.”

New time-saving features of the online questionnaire include automatically calculating totals, skipping sections that do not pertain to the operation, and providing drop-down menus of frequent responses. Producers still have one week to try the online questionnaire demo on the census of agriculture website (www. agcensus.usda.gov).

The census website will continue to be updated with new information through the census response deadline of February 5, 2018. One recently added feature is a new video from Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue reminding all producers to respond when they receive their 2017 Census of Agriculture in the mail later this year.

Revisions and additions to the 2017 Census of Agriculture aim to capture a more detailed account of the industry. Producers will see a new question about military veteran status, expanded questions about food marketing practices, and questions about on-farm decision-making to better capture the roles and contributions of beginning farmers, women farmers, and others involved in running the business.

Response to the census of agriculture is required by law under Title 7 USC 2204(g) Public Law 105-113. The same law requires NASS to keep all information confidential, to use the data only for statistical purposes, and only in aggregate form to prevent disclosing the identity of any producer. The time required to complete the questionnaire is estimated at 50 minutes. In October, NASS will make a census preparation

checklist available on the census website to help producers gather necessary information in advance.

Conducted once every five years, the census of agriculture is a complete count of all U.S. farms, ranches, and those who operate them; it is the only source of uniform, comprehensive, and impartial agriculture data for every state and county in the country. Farmers and ranchers, trade associations, government, extension educators, researchers, and many others rely on census of agriculture data when making decisions that shape American agriculture – from creating and funding farm programs to boosting services for communities and the industry. The census of agriculture is a producer’s voice, future, and opportunity.

For more information about the 2017 Census of Agriculture, visit www.agcensus. usda.gov or call (800) 727-9540.

Medfly Quarantine Affects Solano Farms Steve Adler, CFBF After dodging the pest-quarantine bullet for more than a decade, a Mediterranean fruit fly quarantine has been established in an agricultural area of Solano County.

There have been several Medfly quarantines in California in recent years, but they have been located in urban and suburban areas, mainly in Southern California, with minimal impact on agricultural operations.

That all changed a few days ago, when the Solano County agricultural commissioner, in cooperation with the California Department of Food and Agriculture and the U.S. Department of Agriculture, announced discovery of four adult Medflies in insect traps in a suburban area near Fairfield. The finds triggered the quarantine and an extensive survey in the area, including the placement of additional Medfly traps.

The Solano County Medfly finds came in orange, Asian pear and quince trees. Eradication efforts include the release of hundreds of thousands of sterile male Medflies to breed with fertile females, with the aim of preventing another generation of the pests.

CDFA said it considers the Medfly to be “the most important agricultural pest in the world,” in part because it has one of the widest host ranges of any fruit fly pest.

Medflies can damage more than 250 types of fruits and vegetables, which could cause significant impacts to California agricultural exports and backyard gardens.

Damage occurs when the female fly lays eggs inside the fruit; the eggs then SALES, SERVICE, RENTAL AG EQUIPMENT & TRUCK REPAIR

hatch into maggots that tunnel through the flesh of the fruit, making it unfit for consumption.

The last Medfly quarantine in the area occurred 10 years ago in nearby Dixon. As a result of that quarantine, growers in the region suffered more than $1 million in losses when they were unable to ship their commodities out of the immediate area.

The Fairfield quarantine affects growers such as Derrick Lum, who produce crops within the quarantine zone.

Lum said he will feel the financial impact this month when his eight acres of persimmons are ready to be harvested, as well as 13 acres of walnuts.

“The Medfly is having a great effect on me and other growers,” Lum said. “We are under a quarantine now, and the state is handling this. They found the first fly at the end of August, and it raised great concerns among growers in the county.”

Recognizing the risk to his crops after the original fly was detected, Lum took a proactive approach, asking the agricultural commissioner what protocol the state would require to permit him to ship his commodities, should discovery of more flies trigger a quarantine.

The answer was to apply an organic insecticide to the crops four times during a 30-day period. Lum decided to do that, with the first application taking place on Sept. 7 and the final one to be applied this week.

“If I had waited, my crops would be lost because I wouldn’t have been allowed to ship any product until I satisfied the CDFA’s protocol,” he said. “Once I complete the fourth spray, I will be golden and I will be allowed to ship across county lines and abroad.”

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Lum described the Medfly quarantine requirements as an unforeseen, added expense.

“But this is part of my farm crop and commodities that provide income, and I can’t risk losing it,” he said. “We are spending money already all year long, waiting for the fruit to harvest, and we can’t risk losing the crop. That would be a major profit deficit.”

It’s not known how many other Solano County farmers also face Lum’s predicament. Several crops grown in the area had already been harvested prior to the quarantine, including about half of the winegrapes. The quarantine is expected to last until spring, unless more Medflies are trapped, which would result in extending the quarantine.

First found in California in 1975, the Medfly became a more widespread problem in 1980-81, when infestations in both Northern and Southern California led to a concerted eradication program,

which ultimately proved successful.

But repeated small infestations in the Los Angeles Basin prompted CDFA to inaugurate a Mediterranean Fruit Fly Preventive Release Program in 1996. The program conducts ongoing releases of sterile male Medflies in portions of Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside and San Bernardino counties.

The majority of pest finds occur in urban and suburban areas, CDFA said, most commonly when travelers bring fruit and vegetables into the state from infested regions of the world.

The agency encourages people to follow advice given in its “Don’t Pack a Pest” program, which can be found at www. dontpackapest.com.

(Steve Adler is associate editor of Ag Alert. He may be contacted at sadler@ cfbf.com.)

This article republished with the permission of the California Farm Bureau Federation.

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Valley Voice • 7

Agriculture Farmers Assess Federal Proposal for Tax Reform Christine Souza, CFBF With the goal of passing federal tax reform legislation by the end of the year, congressional Republicans and President Trump are moving forward with plans laid out in a framework released last week, which includes lower taxes for businesses and individuals and, analysts say, could likely benefit farmers and ranchers.

The plan, titled the “Unified Framework for Fixing Our Broken Tax Code,” resulted from negotiations between House and Senate leadership and the White House, and reflects the start of efforts to write tax reform legislation to simplify the code with the goal of growing the American economy.

The manager of federal policy for the California Farm Bureau Federation, Josh Rolph, said he believes the proposal “has a lot of good, some bad, and plenty of details left open for debate.” He said agricultural organizations support “a simplified tax code that removes burdensome taxes and helps farmers, ranchers and agricultural businesses succeed, and this tax proposal takes steps toward that objective.”

American Farm Bureau Federation tax specialist Pat Wolff noted that the framework would lower tax rates for incorporated businesses, non-incorporated businesses and for individuals, which “comes at a price, and the price is the loss of credits and other deductions. We don’t know what those losses are going to be yet, and that’s what’s important to pay attention to.”

Significant for farmers and ranchers, the framework calls for repeal of the federal estate tax, which taxes property as it passes from one generation to the next.

The estate tax is currently set at 40 percent above a $5.49 million exemption per spouse.

Ritta Martin of Orland, a sixth-generation rancher who raises goats and assists in a family cattle and sheep ranch, said concerns about the continuing viability of the family ranch are “always lingering in the back of my mind.”

“Many of the new tax reform points seem promising for the future of family farms, farms which don’t have the cash available to cover the high tax burdens without selling considerable land, livestock and/or equipment that is essential for the future viability of the farm,” Martin said.

Though the framework calls for repealing the estate tax as well as the alternative minimum tax, Wolff said it does not specify what would happen to stepped-up basis, which sets the value of land and buildings at what the property was worth when inherited.

“Care has to be taken that Congress doesn’t trade the estate tax for a new capital gains tax that would be created if stepped-up basis is lost,” Wolff said.

Frederic McNairy, a certified public accountant in Sanger whose clients include those with agricultural and food-processing businesses, said he hopes Congress and the administration can agree on changes that truly reform the current tax system.

“I hope in tax reform that they go bold,” McNairy said. “The last reform was in 1986, so for 31 years all they’ve done is add layer upon layer of more complexity. Every year they throw in more layers, and they need to peel the onion because so much of it doesn’t make economic sense.”

He said the estate tax “can be a nightmare” for family farm owners who worry they could have to sell a portion of their property in order to pay the estate taxes.

“I have an ag-related processor (client) who is worried about how he is go-

ing to pass on his business and pay estate taxes at the same time. Payment of the estate taxes may require him selling all or part of the business,” McNairy said.

The framework lays out the following proposed tax reforms: • Creates a new tax rate, capped at 25 percent, for businesses organized as pass-through entities (sole proprietorships, partnerships and S-corporations). Passthrough business income is currently taxed at individual rates that top out at 39.6 percent.

• Sets the corporate tax rate at 20 percent, down from 35 percent.

• Allows businesses to fully and immediately write off business investments for at least five years. This would include fixed assets such as machinery and buildings, but not land.

• Eliminates the deduction for state and local taxes, which would penalize higher-taxed states such as California.

• Includes a partial limitation on the interest deduction for C-corporations. Limitations on the interest deduction for other businesses might be considered.

• Modernizes rules that govern specific industries. The framework does not mention cash accounting or like-kind exchanges.

• Reduces the number of tax brackets for individuals from seven to three: 12, 25 and 35 percent, though the plan is so far silent on qualifying income limits.

• Doubles the standard deduction for couples to $24,000 and for single filers to $12,000.

• Eliminates most itemized deductions, except for home mortgage interest and charitable

contributions. The framework would repeal personal exemptions for dependents, increase the child tax credit and provide a $500 credit for non-child dependents.

Martin, whose husband manages a custom nut harvesting business as a pass-through partnership entity, said navigating through the tax process and determining how each partner will be impacted “is nothing short of complicated.

A new, lower rate for this type of income would be very beneficial and allow for possibly faster growth of the business.”

Timber operator and Tuolumne County Farm Bureau President Shaun Crook said he believes the framework would succeed in growing the economy.

“There are limited details at this point but in general, I see the Republicans’ federal tax plan as a stimulus to the economy, creating more jobs across the board,” Crook said. “If Congress is able to increase the take-home income of Americans, it should create more consumers for almonds and wine and other high-value products that we grow in California.”

American Farm Bureau Federation President Zippy Duvall called comprehensive tax reform “essential to addressing the financial challenges faced by America’s farmers and ranchers.”

“The tax-reform framework is an important step toward a fair and equitable tax system that encourages success, savings, investment and entrepreneurship,” Duvall said.

(Christine Souza is an assistant editor of Ag Alert. She may be contacted at csouza@cfbf.com.)

This article republished with the permission of the California Farm Bureau Federation.

Westlands Releases New Report, Declines WaterFix Staff Reports In September, Westlands Water District released a report that describes alternative economic scenarios for the future of the region. The report details the economic and community benefit of increased water delivery to growers, and conversely the regional impact of continued water supply reductions.

With policies that provide the full amount of water contractually promised to Westlands, California would have over 100,000 additional acres in production, resulting in: • more than 5,000 new jobs, • $561 million increase in economic activity, • increased opportunity for local residents and small business, and • food security for California and the nation.

The report also analyzed the economic and community impact of decreased water supply and the likelihood of replacement jobs if the area’s agricultural based economy were to decline. The Report showed that more than 25,000 jobs would be lost and the region would

experience a decrease of over $3 billion in economic activity.

If agricultural production declines, 80 to 90% of the people impacted by regulatory limitations on water would be Latino families. With the potential for current unemployment rates to double, local government would lose critical revenue needed to fund city and county services such as police and fire.

While some anti-farming activists call for land retirement, the report reveals the difficulty in creating replacement jobs that would fill the void left by reductions in agricultural production.

After reviewing manufacturing trends, the report found no evidence that manufacturing facilities would be built in the region or other industry sectors would relocate to the region to fill the gap.

With no replacement industry, some residents would be forced to find jobs outside of the region, while others could remain and be forced onto state assistance programs.

Additionally, after a thorough analysis by independent consultants and District staff, multiple special board

meetings, and grower workshops, the Westlands Water District Board of Directors voted by a margin of 7 to 1 to not participate in the California WaterFix (CWF).

The District appreciates the efforts of Governor Jerry Brown and his admin-

istration to balance the interests of many.

Indeed, over the last twelve months the State administration worked diligently to define a viable project, but from Westlands’ perspective, the project is not financially viable.

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5 October, 2017

New Board, Employees Take Over at Tulare Cemetery Catherine Doe The guests may be the same but almost everything else is new at the Tulare Public Cemetery.

Three new employee positions are open and three new Board of Trustee members will be installed by the end of October.

Alberto Aguilar was hurriedly sworn in on Tuesday, September 19 when the Tulare County Board of Supervisors approved his appointment to fill Trustee Toni Chavez’ seat. The cemetery district meeting was the next day, on September 20, and the board needed a quorum in order to get back to work after a tumultuous two months.

Two more trustees will be appointed by Supervisor Pete Vander Poel this month, making it five new board members since March. Applications have been submitted by Carlene Ringius, Richard Johnson, and Bill Postlewaite for the two remaining seats whose terms end January 6, 2020.

Patricia Colson resigned September 8 and Phil Vandegrift’s resignation letter was dated September 20. There is a 15day waiting period before the Board of Supervisors can make an appointment to fill seats.

Although Chavez resigned her seat July 12, the vacancy was not posted until almost two months later.

When the cemetery district office was contacted during that time Marilyn Correia said that there were no board vacancies.

Chavez explained that board members must announce their resignation at a meeting before a vacancy is posted. Trustee Phil Vandegrift has never returned after a contentious July 12 board meeting and never announced his resignation.

Three Employees Resign

On arriving at their September 20 board meeting, the trustees were informed that two employees, Marilyn Correia and Steve Cunningham, had resigned and that Jerry Ramos had gone on medical leave.

Approximately half of the agenda had to be tabled because of their unexpected absences.

The three employees’ last day of work was September 8 but their resignations were kept secret for almost two

e

Th

weeks. The Valley Voice was told after correct grave. making several calls to the district office This is the second time someone has that Correia was sick. Board member complained about a loved one being burVicki Gilson was told that Correia and ied in the wrong grave.

Cunningham, who are married, were visRenteria’s father passed away in April iting their grandchildren. of 2016 and the issues of his burial are During public still festering. comment, former “You can’t bully board member Paa bully,” Renteria tricia Colson read said, “to experience Correia and CunMarilyn is to expeOffice Manager F/T General ningham’s resignarience a bully.”

Office Duties, tion letters. Their Renteria said AP, AR, Payroll, HR, letters stated that that Correia tried Telephone, neither Cunningto blame the cemComputer Skills to include ham nor Correia etery’s mistakes on wanted to anRamos’ health isWord & Excel. nounce their resigsues. Renteria and Send Resume to: nation earlier behis family felt that Tulare Public Cemetery cause they had been the district should 900 E Kern St, bullied by Caring have apologized and Tulare CA 93274 Cause and Board not put the blame members Phil Deal on an employee. and Vicki Gilson.

“We weren’t in Correia and Cunningham stated a drive through buying fast food. We exthat they resigned after reading the Val- pected some compassion,” he said. ley Voice article of September 7. They felt When Renteria discovered that his Gilson and Deal violated their right to father was buried in the wrong spot, privacy by discussing with the paper em- the cemetery tried to justify it by claimployee issues. Correia also accused Gilson ing that someone else was in the spot of making threats, saying such things as they chose.

Gilson was going to “straighten me out.”

The cemetery later found the grave Correia felt that the threats and pub- was empty. lic disclosure of employees’ health issues Renteria also complained that while were illegal and should be investigated. his father was being interred, the grounds Board members Deal and Gilson re- keepers dropped his coffin several times. ported to the paper earlier that the three According to Renteria, when the employees in question were physically grounds workers realized that the coffin unable to do their job effectively. Cor- was too big for the crypt, they shoved it reia informed the Voice and members of in anyway damaging the coffin. Renteria the public about Ramos’ severe diabetes said that the family paid approximately and of being hard of hearing and how $5000 for the casket. it affected his work performance. She The coffin was too small for the vault has also discussed with the Voice and the because the Tulare Cemetery District had board her own medical issues and those ordered the wrong one. of her husband’s and how it affected their When Renteria informed Correia ability to do their jobs. what had happened he said that Correia Neither Correia nor Cunningham got angry. But she didn’t get angry about provided a copy of their resignation let- the damage to his father’s casket, but ters to the board and only allowed them rather that Renteria’s family was present to be read aloud at the meeting. during the interment.

Cemetery policy states that attendees must leave the area before the deceMy Father Was Put in the dent is buried.

Wrong Grave When Rentria complained again Mathew Renteria and his cousin about how his family was treated, Corwere unaware of the turmoil that had been happening at the cemetery. They reia offered to dig his father up and were in attendance at the September pay for the damage to his coffin upon meeting to voice their frustration over inspection.

Renteria’s family declined her offer. their loved one being buried in the inInstead the family was reimbursed the $32 difference in burial costs between the larger vault and the smaller one that the cemetery mistakenly ordered.

The district refunded $3000 in July to another family whose mother was buried in the wrong plot.

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Elaine Hollingsworth, founder of Caring Cause, read a statement during public comment. She said that her mission used to be to clean up the cemetery but now that is happening. Her new mission is to help the new board move forward.

Hollingsworth has also filed a Grand Jury report against the former district trustees, “because they have to be held accountable for their actions or lack thereof.”

She stated in the Grand Jury report that there has been a “Total neglect of cemeteries, lack of fiduciary duties by

former Trustees: Patricia Colson, Phil Vandegrift, and Antonia (Toni) Chavez.

Deplorable maintenance of grounds, sinking graves, dead lawn, chipped or broken grave markers, gophers, etc. Concerns also over internal operations and board meetings not being held in compliance with law.”

Another member of the public countered by saying that cemeteries such as Woodlake’s look a lot worse than the Tulare’s. “It may not be 100% but we look pretty good.”

Gene Chavez, Toni Chavez’ husband said, “We owe a thanks of gratitude to former board members Moor, Colson, Vandegrift, Lampe and my wife.” He then read a long list of their accomplishments.

He accused Gilson and Deal of intimidating the grounds workers and causing the former landscaping company to quit. He also accused them of violating the Brown Act, having closed-door meetings, and hiring a new landscaping company without a vote by the board.

He chastised Gilson for being critical of Ramos as he has 30 years experience at the cemetery and she only has 30 days.

Christine Silva then spoke out of frustration that she was attending the meeting “to address the cemetery’s condition not listen to all this in-fighting.”

Tulare Police Department Called

The Tulare Police Department was present during the meeting, causing concern from the public. Deal said that the police were there to keep the peace because “there have been incidences and that is all I can say.”

Deal was not at liberty to say what incidences occurred as to not interfere with the investigation.

The Agenda

After more than an hour Deal closed public comment and started on the agenda.

Many of the items such as approving the last meeting’s minutes, the grounds report, bids from cell phone companies, and a financial report were tabled until the next meeting.

As for the financial report, it was decided to order a forensic audit on the books because the current board has found many discrepancies. Gilson then dispelled rumors that the district was bankrupt and assured the public that all employees would be paid.

The board elected Deal as the Chair and Aguilar as the Vice Chair.

The board then ratified the hiring of a new landscaping company. The company will be providing a crew of four people five days a week to landscape, apply herbicide, and perform other duties. Gilson said that the former grounds maintenance company only did the “mow, blow and glow” twice a week for $15,000 a month.

The new company is $19,300 a month, but according to Gilson, provides a much wider scope of services.

Aguilar said that he was working on getting by-laws for the board and an employee handbook for the employees to give the district continuity.

The next regular Tulare Public Cemetery District Board meeting is Wednesday, October 18 at the district office on Kern Avenue at 9am.

5 October, 2017

Valley Voice • 9

Hanford Continued from 5

are throwing these allegations at me just because I’m not allowing them to pull my strings and be their puppet,” Ramirez said, responding to the letters.

According to Ramirez there are five individuals that are the backbone of the recall. Those individuals, he claims, are Lou Martinez, Skip Athey, Dan Escobar, Bob Ramos and Dan Chin. All have been involved in filing complaints, writing letters and speaking against Ramirez at the city council meetings.

Ironically, four of these people helped get Ramirez elected.

Immediately after the movie theater vote, Escobar filed a Fair Political Practices Committee (FPPC) complaint against Ramirez. Simultaneously, an allegedly different member of the group of five filed a complaint with the Kings County Grand Jury.

Among many other accusations in his FPPC complaint, Escobar accused Ramirez of raising $3000 for his city council campaign without reporting it. All candidates are required to open a campaign bank account and create a campaign committee if they raise more than $1000.

On August 15, 2015 the Fair Political Practices Commission sent Ramirez

Gubler

Continued from 1 Tulare County, as well as 300 cities across California, were opposed to the bill and Mathis on August 10, 2017, publicly stated that he’d be voting “no”.

However, on September 14, Mathis voted yes on SB649.”

Stunned that Mathis had again broken his word, Gubler made the decision to challenge Mathis in the 2018 election.

Adding fuel to the fire for local Republicans, Mathis voted in July to extend the state’s Cap-and-Trade program. The Legislative Analyst’s office estimates that gas prices could increase as much as 63 cents a gallon by 2021 in California.

“It has become painfully obvious that the support for Mr. Mathis has eroded as he has failed to keep his promises to the local electorate,” said Gubler.

Gubler also pointed out that the bulk of Mathis contributors are from out of the area or interests groups that have nothing

Farmersville Continued from 4

Walnut Ave. on the north to Ash St. on the south, within city limits. It will improve the Deep Creek waterway, as well as provide a walking trail along its banks.

Jansons has also become quite active in the community, Boyer said, helping with community events such as the Vet-

a letter saying, “The enforcement division of the fair Political Commission has initiated an investigation into whether you violated the Political Reform Act’s campaign disclosure provisions in connection with your 2014 Hanford City Council election.”

According to Jay Wierenga, FPPC Communications Director, the investigation is ongoing even after two years.

Although most cases are concluded within 180 days, he would not disclose why Ramirez’ investigation was taking so long.

Ramirez says that Dan Chin and Dan Escobar were his campaign managers and set him up.

In a video posted on Facebook and the website hanfordlies.com, Ramirez details his claim that Chin and Escobar filed faulty campaign finance paperwork, stating that Ramirez raised less than $1000. Ramirez alleges that Chin and Escobar apparently raised much more campaign money than they told him.

According to Ramirez, Chin and Escobar prepared the fraudulent paperwork not reporting the $3000 and had Ramirez sign it.

Both Chin and Escobar deny being part of Ramirez’ campaign.

Over the last 18 months, along with the FPPC investigation, a string of letters, an investigation by Griswold-LaSalle, and another grand jury complaint in

November 2016 against Ramirez have been filed or submitted to the city council. Most have demanded the censure and/or resignation of Ramirez.

The February 2016 investigation of Council Member Justin Mendes and Ramirez by Griswold-LaSalle and commissioned by Curry found no misconduct by either member.

That investigation costs the city $11,000.

to do with our district.

“I want my contributors to see that I have some skin in this game with my initial contribution.” Gubler has already contributed the first $50,000 to his campaign “in order to prime the pump.”

Gulber said he wanted to get a jump start “to keep up with the Sacramento special interest money flowing to the incumbent, in addition to local fund raising which our team is doing, I have my own check book and I’m not afraid to use it.”

Gubler was born in Exeter and grew up in Porterville where he graduated from Porterviille High School in 1975. He lettered in cross-country, basketball and track, played the trumpet for Buck Shaffer’s marching band and Fabulous Studio Band, and was senior class president. . He earned his Eagle Scout rank at age 14.

After high school, Gubler attended one year of junior college, then served as a Mormon missionary for two years in Okinawa and Japan, where he became fluent in Japanese.

Coming home Gubler put himself

through college working various jobs, including as a paperboy for the Porterville Recorder After junior college he transferred to Brigham Young University, where he obtained a degree in Government, and attended law school there. During law school he married his sweetheart Alisa and they have five children and two grandchildren.

Gubler started as an associate in 1983 with the Visalia law firm of Hurlbutt, Clevenger, Long & Vortmann, working his way up to senior partner. When that firm dissolved in 2001, Warren started the law firm now known as Gubler & Abbott LLP. Gubler was elected to the Visalia City Council In November 2009 and has been mayor of Visalia since 2016. During his eight years on the Council, Gubler and the council have had a long list of accomplishments including: • Planned and built the Visalia Water Conservation Plant upgrade, the largest public works

project in Visalia history, $130 million upgrade, to be dedicated Fall 2017 • Planned and built the Visalia Emergency Communications Center • Balanced the city budget each year since 2009 • Instituted work program for homeless (Environmental Cleanup Opportunities ECO) 2017 Gubler said he and his wife are grateful to be part of the Tulare County community, and look forward to giving back even more by serving in the California State Assembly.

“I perfectly understand that I am the underdog in this race and that the Sacramento special interests will fund my opponent,” said Gubler. “However, I also understand the deep frustration and dissatisfaction which our local citizens have felt with our lack of a voice in Sacramento, and as such, I now take up the challenge. We deserve better!”

eran’s Day parade, and joining Kiwanis.

Not only will council miss him, but the community will as well.

During a recent city council meeting, when Jansons announced he would be leaving, “a couple of ladies had tears in their eyes,” Boyer said.

Jansons has been extremely helpful for the city in managing its budget.

While council makes final decisions, Jansons has towed the line on expenditures

and aided in seeing how to potentially add to the coffers for future anticipated and unanticipated needs.

Recently, Farmersville voted to go to metered water rates, and residents will see a slight increase in their rates. The city has placed a measure on the November ballot for a ½ cent sales tax increase and council is considering allowing a commercial cannabis growing business within the city that could come with

taxation dollars – that taxation is also on the November ballot.

The city was considering possible interim management during a council meeting October 3. Council was also to discuss the intended search for Jansons’ replacement.

He’s going to be hard to replace, Boyer said. “He’s definitely left the city better than when he came.”

Ramirez Campaign Has Started

Ramirez posted a video on his Facebook after the recall was certified countering the allegations against him and has vowed to fight “tooth and nail” to keep his seat.

Former city council member Gary Pannett has joined the fight as Ramirez’ campaign manager.

“I have seen the corruption first hand and I want to help you take it down,” Pannett told Ramirez.

Ramirez said after being served, “Thank you to all the citizens who support me. If it wasn’t for you I wouldn’t keep doing what I do. There are some individuals that don’t even live in our district that want me out of office because I’m not a part of the good old boys club. When you elected me I promised to change things and not be part of the status quo.”

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Besides the anger over Ramirez votes concerning downtown, he also believes there is a racial component. He stated on his Facebook: “Enough is enough! I have tried not to make this a race issue, a rich or poor issue or a religious issue, but the people that are doing this recall are simply racist! They don’t like my district because they think my district is poor and uneducated. They have called the Caucasians the African Americans and the Hispanics in my district lower class. These individuals have had so much power in Hanford for so long. That’s why there hadn’t been any new development on the south side because ‘they don’t want it.’”

Ramirez says that the fact he fights for development on the poorer south side angers his recall proponents. He said the southside doesn’t get the attention it deserves and he has been trying to change that.

“There has been nearly no development here in the last 25 years.”

Ramirez is also incredulous about how the recall proponents recruited 1062 signatures in District D. In 2014, a total of 1029 people voted in that district, 33 less than who signed the recall petition, 586 of whom cast a ballot for Ramirez.

“I have no idea who the 1062 signatories are,” he said.

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10 • Valley Voice

Tulare

Continued from 1 ed in Kumar’s place who was forced to wait three months after the election to take her seat.

“Everyone knows Dr. Kumar was a dear friend of mine, and I supported him.

He lost the election that night,” Jones said. “I still support my friend, and I support Senovia Gutierrez as the new leader of the hospital, and that’s automatic.”

Jones said the state is too busy to concern itself with possibly misspent voter-approved bond funds intended for the construction of the still unfinished expansion at Tulare Regional Medical Center. He also said problems at the hospital have been ongoing for more than a decade, meaning there is no reason to act now. Hospital business, he said, was not something the City Council should address.

“We have our own responsibilities here, as a council,” Jones said. “If I wanted to run the hospital, I would have ran for the hospital board.”

Problems and Unmet Promises

Tulare, Jones said, has too many problems of its own to become involved in hospital business. He also attacked Sigala for turning their attention to the District when he had yet to fulfill promises he made during his campaign.

“We have tons of our own money, and own problems, and own department issues, and big issues that we can’t ignore to deal with these issues,” Jones said. “You talk about the promises we made early in the campaign. The alleys on the west side aren’t fixed. We don’t have a bank on the west side. Those are the promises you made when you ran, and now it’s ‘I’m sending letters to Sacramento’ on issues that have nothing to do with your Council responsibilities.”

Sigala, however, said an audit is necessary to protect taxpayers.

“We as elected officials have fiduciary responsibility not only to our own city, but the people we represent,” he said.

“All of you pay for that as taxpayers of Tulare, so we do have a responsibility to speak out.”

He also pointed out the historic impact of similar letters to counter Jones’s assertion asking for an audit would be a mere gesture.

“If we took the attitude that letters would not make a difference, we wouldn’t have civil rights gains, we wouldn’t have immigration gains,” Sigala said. “We wouldn’t have a lot of things where people took the time to write letters and take positions. I think this is an opportunity for our city to step up, to be leaders, to say we care about Tulare residents.”

Show Me the Money

Seemingly in response to Jones’s mind-your-own-business attitude, Nunley expressed support for Sigala’s desire to ask for help from the state.

“I also agree with (Sigala) a little bit, and (we need to) take a stance as a council that somebody needs to come down in here and straighten things out,” Nunley said. “It’s getting really ugly and really, really bad. There’s a lot of money missing, in my opinion. There’s a hospital tower that’s not finished; $85 million in taxpayer money, somebody needs to tell us what happened to it.”

Tulare residents, he said, have a

5 October, 2017 strong desire to know what happened to the bond funds they approved, as well as the right.

“I’m sure everyone in this room is curious what happened to that money,” Nunley said. “Who’s not curious what happened to $85 million? Raise your hand. I don’t see one hand out there.”

Jones denied the issue was Council business.

“I would tell them that if you came here to this dais to find out what happened to the $85 million of hospital’s money, you’re at the wrong meeting,” he said.

Taking a Stand

Nunley concurred that the issue should mainly be dealt with by the newly elected hospital directors, however he doubted penning such a request could be harmful.

“I agree with you 100 percent, but I’m willing to take a stand,” Nunley said.

“The letter’s not going to hurt. I’m willing to back this letter to go to Sacramento.”

The Council then voted 3-1, with Sigala dissenting, to table their discussion until the full council was present. Councilman David Macedo was absent. He also missed the previous meeting. Sigala, as he did during the last meeting, objected to waiting.

“I just don’t see why we need that fifth person,” he said.

Jones, speaking in support of Councilwoman Maritsa Castellanoz who suggested waiting, said should they decide to send an audit request, the full weight of the Council would add to its credibility.

He also said the delay would allow Gutierrez to finally take her seat. She was seated at a meeting of the District Board on September 27.

Yet, there was still desire to act.

“Something needs to happen,” Nunley said.

‘Worse Than You Can Possibly Think’

It was only after the Council reached its decision to wait it allowed the public to speak on the topic. Alberto Aguilar, a former member of the Hospital District’s Bond Oversight Committee (BOC), told the Council of his struggle to get information about how the bond money was spent during his two months on the BOC. He also told them about millions of dollars of missing equipment and other discrepancies.

“I can tell you for a fact that there is a lot of money that was misspent,” Aguilar said. “This is a lot worse than you can possibly think.”

He also described the frustration he met with when trying to get State Assemblyman Devon Mathis to request an audit. Mathis, he said, has financial ties to the company that runs Tulare Local Health Care District (TLHCD) and its CEO Dr. Yorai “Benny” Benzeevi, that prevent the Assemblyman from acting.

Aguilar twice hand-delivered requests for an audit to Mathis’s office, including full documentation of his accusations, he said.

“When he (Mathis) did respond to me and we met face-to-face, his response to me was he couldn’t do it because he owed Dr. Benzeevi a favor,” Aguilar said.

“If you take a look at the (Fair Political Practices Commission) Form 460, you will see how much money was contributed to Devon Mathis.”

According to Votesmart.org, Mathis received $7,700 from HCCA, as well as $9,000 from the Tulare County Medical

Society, $8,400 from the Doctors Company, $5,200 from the California Society of Industrial Medicine and Surgery, $3,000 from the California Medical Society, $3,000 from the Magnolia Health Corporation and $2,000 from Health Net Incorporated.

Still Not Convinced

Despite Aguilar’s testimony, in which he cited his long publicly-available documentation of the perhaps illegal spending at TLHCD, Nunley still hesitated. He wished to avoid, he said, drawing the Council into the controversy.

“I have no reason to doubt you, but I have no proof to believe you. I hope that makes sense, and I don’t mean to insult you,” Nunley said. “I think everyone in this room would like to see that, but what I don’t want to see is the hospital business, the divisiveness, come into this room from the hospital overflow, pull us into the problem.”

The Council, Aguilar countered, had already put itself in the middle of the debate.

“Well, it seems to me, if I recall correctly,” he said, “all five members of the City Council, excluding yourself and Jose, went ahead and wrote a letter for the hospital, did you not?”

Nunley angrily denied it.

“OK, you’re wrong,” he said. “That is irrelevant.”

Jones, who along with Castellanoz, Councilman David Macedo and former council members Craig Vejvoda and Shea Gowin signed a letter to the California Medical Association (CMA) supporting the removal of the Medical Executive Committee at Tulare Regional, said the two letters dealt with different issues. The current letter, Jones said, addresses the BOC’s failure to do its job, and he placed part of that blame on Aguilar, who was on the BOC for just two months.

“You were part of the Bond Oversight Committee, so you’re pretty much just as much to blame as what happened to $85 million as the hospital,” the Mayor said. “You were in charge of watching $85 and what happened to it.”

He also denied signing the letter on behalf of TLHCD to the CMA. “What you don’t know and what you shouldn’t accuse me of is writing a letter for the hospital, ‘cause I’ve never done that,” Jones said.

Nunley then began asking Aguilar pointed questions about construction operations, saying Aguilar lacked basic knowledge. He chastised the BOC for failing to do work it was never given the opportunity to do by HCCA and the TLHCD Board. The meeting then broke down entirely into an open argument, with all sides talking over each other.

Eventually, the city attorney intervened, reminding the Council it had strayed from the topic for discussion listed on the meeting’s agenda. Public comment then continued, with former TLHCD Board candidate Jesse Salcido warning the Council away from the topic. He compared the up to $55 million in misspent funds to a minor error on a bank statement.

“Don’t write the letter,” he said.

“Wash your hands of it.”

Dreamers Get Letter of Support

Despite putting off asking for an audit until the entire Council was present, those present at the September 19 meeting did not hesitate to pen Council sup-

port for the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals Act (DACA) in a letter that will be sent to local state and federal representatives. DACA, or the so-called Dreamers Act, allows children of undocumented workers residing in the US to avoid deportation. The program is being ended by the Trump administration.

“I’m going to be honest: I don’t think it’s going to make that big of a difference.

But, it will show me and our immigrant community that you guys care,” Jessica Macias Malcado, a beneficiary of DACA, told the Council. “It’s going to show everyone who’s not here tonight that you do (care), as well. It’s not just about whether it will make a difference; it’s about making a difference at home, because that’s the most important thing.”

The council members present voted 4-0 to sign the DACA support letter.

“This issue is definitely Tulare business,” Mayor Jones said.

Measure I Oversight In Place

The contention over the TLHCD audit letter was not the first heated debate of the evening. The Council started the night with a series of overdue appointments to the Bond Oversight Committee for Measure I, a half-percent sales tax to improve city services passed more than a decade ago, as well as to the Planning Commission and the Board of Public Utilities (BPU). The Measure I BOC has never been seated.

Dispute began when Jones appointed Chris Soria to the BPU to replace Erica Cubas, Sigala’s selected appointment to the BPU, who had resigned. Sigala claimed he and Jones had agreed to let each council members select a member from their own district to ensure diversity, and that Jones was violating it.

“I believe at this point the Board of Public Utilities is diverse,” Sigala said. “If we appoint someone who’s not from Council District 1, I think we go backwards.”

The City Charter gives the mayor the job of choosing candidates for appointment.

“I hear what you’re saying. (This is) probably a conversation we should have had a little earlier. We’re not going to change the Charter right now,” Jones said. “I hope that you find some consolation in knowing that the person that I am recommending is not only from that district, but you would probably have to be there for 40 years to match his time in that district, so I think we’re going to be just fine when it comes to representation.”

The comment seemed to anger Sigala.

“Don’t tell me there wasn’t a deal,” he said. “There was a deal when we did an initial appointment. ... You came out in the newspaper. I campaigned on it; you campaigned on it. We got beat up by the newspapers for changing the BPU.” Soria was added to the BPU by a 3-1 vote, with Sigala dissending. The Council also appointed Joshua Cox, 24, to the Planning Commission, as well as Maria Grijalva and Nic Ferreira to the Measure I BOC. A fifth member of the Measure I BOC was to be appointed by the Council at its meeting October 3. At that meeting, the Council was also to begin the process of reorganizing the Planning Commission.

The next meeting of the Tulare City Council is 7pm Tuesday, October 17 at the Tulare Public Library and Council Chambers, 491 N. M Street.

5 October, 2017

Hospital Continued from 1

“We will be looking for an interim [partner] and a more formal process for a longer term relationship,” Northcraft said. “And we’re certainly looking for people that can come in with instant credibility and begin to restore the quality.”

Finances Unclear

The company’s contract with the healthcare district — signed by prior board members — gives the company wide control over day-to-day operations and includes provisions sweeping the healthcare district’s bank accounts nightly into ones controlled by the company.

That’s been a perpetual thorn in the side for Northcraft and Jamaica, who told the public Friday they’d been continually seeking financial information on their district without success.

At one point, an attorney for the district even made a public plea to employees to provide the board with information on the district’s finances.

“If you have information regarding the banking institutions, the bank branch of the district, authorized signatories on the accounts, authorized signatories on those accounts, any information whether insurance is being paid, the status of any utility shut-off notices, status of payments by HCCA for employees’ health insurance, any information regarding the status of the server implementation, accounts payable, accounts receivable,” Niki Cunningham, an attorney with McCormick Barstow representing the board, asked the public. “If anyone has information regarding that -- please present that to the board.”

Northcraft had previously made requests for reports of accounts payable as far back as January of 2017, without response. Nothing changed at the Friday meeting — while Benzeevi was unable to attend due to the Yom Kippur holiday.

Alan Germany, HCCA’s Chief Financial Officer, was also absent, even though he was at the hospital that morning to speak to staff.

Without data, the board was forced to file bankruptcy largely blind to any creditors that could exist, though Northcraft did state that the hospital is in arrears to the City of Tulare for water services, in addition to Southern California Edison.

Chapter 9 – The Pros and Cons

The board hired the Walter Wilhelm Law Group based in Fresno to assist in the hospital’s bankruptcy proceedings.

Riley Walter, an attorney with the group, spoke to the board and the public on the differences between Chapter 9 bankruptcy, a category only available to government entities, and other forms of bankruptcy.

“What’s important to you, as a community, is that your board remains in control,” Walter said. “Unlike a Chapter 11, where virtually every single action has to be approved by the court, that’s not the way it works in Chapter 9, so your board remains in place and your board remains in control.”

Walter also noted that a Chapter 9 filing would give the hospital district an automatic stay against any lawsuits that could be filed — giving the district a “breathing spell.”

Valley Voice • 11 That automatic stay took effect September 30, according to a court filing made available to the Voice.

The Chapter 9 filing would also allow the district to potentially recover some “inappropriate payments, or excessive payments, or payments made without appropriate consideration,” Walter said.

But a bankruptcy filing wasn’t an easy out, Walter said.

“You essentially are hitting that pause button and you’re having to restructure and start over,” he said.

In the contract signed by the district with HCCA, however, the district agreed to not reject the HCCA contracts

“

The Tulare Local Healthcare District Board of Directors at a September 29, 2017 emergency board meeting. Tony Maldonado/Valley Voice

Both water and electric have asked [the California Department of Public Health] if they have permission to shut off those for nonpayment. The state, fortunately, said you do not have permission.

”

Kevin Northcraft, TLHCD Board President and to designate HCCA as a “vendor supplier that is critical to the District’s business and obtain a critical vendor order” that would provide preferred status to HCCA’s pre-petition claims.

The Tip Of The Unpaid Iceberg?

“Both water and electric have asked [the California Department of Public Health] if they have permission to shut off those for nonpayment,” Northcraft said. “The state, fortunately, said you do not have permission.”

“We’ve asked since January for accounts payable information, and had we received that, we would have had some understanding of what was happening and what was going down,” Northcraft said. “But this is a created emergency, certainly, by the operator of our hospital.”

The financial crisis comes as a complete 180 degree turn from statements as recent as March, when a promotional pamphlet by HCCA stated that the hospital had been profitable for 35 consecutive months, and that the findings were backed by multiple audits and credit upgrades.

The district’s bankruptcy filing, made electronically on Saturday, September 30, does include a list of the district’s largest 20 unsecured creditors, but also states that the list “is subject to revision as additional information is made available.”

Those unsecured creditors include: • Medline, a healthcare supply vendor, for $200,000, • Roche, a laboratory supply vendor, for $143,754, • Southern California Edison, for $139,706, • Toshiba America, for cath lab service and repair, for $100,000, • TechScript Inc, a medical transcription firm, for $72,000,

“

• Cardinal Health, a pharmaceutical supplier which the district previously took out a loan to repay, for $42,000.

Deanne Martin-Soares, a former board member and member of Citizens for Hospital Accountability, stated that the problems started as soon as HCCA came through the doors of the hospital.

“18 months ago, there were lawsuits already happening with your billing company,” Martin-Soares said, referring to a lawsuit against the hospital from Firstsource Solutions. “This is a pattern of not paying the bills.”

That list may come to include Crothall Healthcare and Morrison Healthcare, companies which Germany acknowledged the hospital owed money to. The companies previously handled housekeeping and dietary services at the hospital before leaving for nonpayment.

“Crothall and Morrison made the decision on September 8, on a Friday morning at 8:30 — they brought all their employees in and said ‘okay, we’re terminating you,’” Germany told the public at the hospital board’s Wednesday, September 27 meeting. “That really put patient care very much in jeopardy.”

Germany stated that although officials had made a $600,000 payment to the company in August to “get them to try to stop these sort of actions,” and he claims the company is demanding an additional $1.1 million. He also stated that HCCA had hired on the housekeeping staff previously employed by the companies.

A statement from a spokesperson with Crothall and Morrison states that negotiations went on for nearly a year.

“We had been working in good faith with Tulare and its management firm for more than a year so they could make past due payments current. After a third Past-Due notice last week, Tulare made it clear they no longer intended to make

So one thing that we’ve done in terms of what, you know, potential what we hope that will happen, before the discussion at the Board meeting last night that’s been publicized, we have provided the Board with a lot of information about some loans that we have found out about and have been presented to us.

”

Alan Germany, HCCA CFO, to employees wanting information on their unpaid paychecks. Northcraft later claimed the statement was false, and that the board hadn’t been given information; the checks have since been paid.

us whole, so we regrettably removed all of our services from the hospital, which was in accordance with our agreement,” the spokesperson stated. “The impacted associates were informed of the change, and we are relocating several of them and working to place others in similar roles at company accounts in nearby locations.”

One thing is for sure: the hospital’s cash on hand has significantly diminished. At the Wednesday, September 27 meeting, Germany stated the cash on hand was at a new low of $2,089,000 while its accounts payable was at $26,690,000.

Employees Went Unpaid

Not all of the hospital’s employees were paid on Thursday, September 28, their regular pay day. It wasn’t the first time the company couldn’t make payroll in a timely fashion, but the widespread nature appeared to be the straw that broke the camel’s back for many.

On Wednesday, the day before, Benzeevi gave the hospital’s board two choices at the board’s meeting: let us seek a loan to keep the hospital afloat, or we may have to shut it down.

“HCCA provided substantial revolving funding to the hospital over the years, to a cumulative total of $14m, not to mention that HCCA has not been paid its fees for several months,” he stated at the meeting. “But in light of the light of the current destructive political environment, HCCA will not continue to do so.”

“The rescission of our ability to borrow money will mean immediate consideration of plans to close the hospital,” Benzeevi said. “The choice is yours.”

The board chose to revoke HCCA’s authority to seek and execute any loans.

Administrators with HCCA called all-hands meetings Thursday night and the following morning and told employees that the fate of their paychecks, and the hospital, rested with the board — stating that a loan was needed to ensure the hospital’s continued operation. Press reports spread Thursday, and a video of Thursday’s meeting leaked to local media.

In that video, Germany stated the future of the hospital was in the board’s hands, and that the employees’ paychecks ultimately depended upon when HCCA received payment from the district. He stated that the rest of the employees without paychecks could have had to wait until “maybe Tuesday or Wednesday.”

“So one thing that we’ve done in terms of what, you know, potential what we hope that will happen, before the discussion at the Board meeting last night

HOSPITAL continued on 12 »

12 • Valley Voice

Hospital Continued from 11

that’s been publicized, we have provided the Board with a lot of information about some loans that we have found out about and have been presented to us,” Germany told employees Thursday night. “So, if that happens, if the Board approves, which we fully anticipate, they’ll approve those loans. It’s really in the board’s hands now.”

One anonymous employee told the Voice that at the all-hands meeting the following morning, Benzeevi claimed the company had been reaching out to the boards for “months and months” to pursue a loan without a response, and shifted blame for the crisis to the hospital’s board.

In the room the meeting was being held in, the board members’ phone numbers were written on a chalkboard.

But Northcraft said nothing was in the board’s hands, because they weren’t given any information.

“As late as Wednesday night, they prepared an agenda — did not list any loans on that agenda, did not ask for any action items, did not present any

Arco

Continued from 1 about this?’,” Hernandez said. “I said, ‘I’m going to knock on doors and tell people.’ I don’t like this sneaky stuff.”

City Project Planner Paul Bernal said Hernandez wasn’t notified of the hearing because she and her husband live outside the 300-foot radius within which the city must notify residents of a pending public hearing. Hernandez, he said, wasn’t the only one upset they had no notice of the hearing.

“I’ve talked to numerous people,” Bernal said. “When this goes back into public hearing, and we don’t have a date because it hasn’t been resubmitted, but they’ll all be noticed.”

Bernal said anyone who wishes to be notified when the public hearing date of continuation is set may contact him at 713-4364.

‘Madder, More Determined’

True to her word, Hernandez has begun rallying the neighborhood to fight against this perceived intrusion. So far, she has more than a dozen people attending regular weekly meetings at her home, and the group has already gathered hundreds of signatures opposing the plan.

When she discovered no one knew about the impending construction, it made her more ready to fight.

“I couldn’t find one person who knew about that Arco station, and that made me even madder and more determined,” she said. “I don’t know what one old lady can do, but I’m going to do what I can.”

What the group intends is to fight what they believe to be a plan that violates many of the city’s construction, pollution, noise and other ordinances. The past behavior of the Chandi Group may give them hope their pleas will not fall on deaf ears.

Last April, Chandi abandoned plans to construct a similar complex in La Quinta when faced with overwhelming opposition by residents there, according

5 October, 2017

“

We’re not getting paid, we’re here for our community, we’re here for our patients regardless. We’re scared, we’re concerned — we were told today that if we don’t get paid, it’s because you guys didn’t fund our paycheck.

”

An HCCA employee information about a loan,” Northcraft said. “They did not mention — this was Wednesday night — that they could not make payroll the following day on Thursday.”

The company ended up paying the rest of its employees Friday, September 29, even though the board didn’t approve a loan.

The Public Speaks

During the meeting’s public comment section, Deanne-Martin Soares stated that the hospital’s cash problems were bound to happen.

“When you have a CEO that is making $268,000 a month, and he’s making $20,000 a month to oversee the emergency room, and then you have on top of that Alan Germany — that we know for sure he’s making $39,000 a month, but actually reports we’re receiving is it’s more like $49,000 a month, plus

to reporting by the Desert Sun.

Chandi Faced Protests

Those opposed to Chandi’s plans for a third Visalia Arco AM/PM mini-mart hope Chandi Group is still gun-shy. The company and its owner faced ongoing protests last year, even after changing the La Quinta plans, and it may want to avoid similar trouble here.

According to the Desert Sun, Chandi Group became the focus of anti-Trump protesters after it was learned company CEO Nacchattar Chandi donated $500,000 to a PAC supporting candidates including President Donald Trump.

The company faced additional backlash when it became public knowledge $41,000 had been donated to two Coachella City Council candidates by Chandi and a PAC he funds.

Eventually, Susana Chandi, the company’s COO and wife of Nacchattar Chandi, threatened to end a $10.1 million development if the city did not act to end the protests, the Desert Sun reported, depriving the city of the $160,000 in annual sales tax income it would generate.

Chandi Group did not respond to a request for an interview.

Arco Doesn’t Fit

Hernandez says she isn’t opposed to another gas station in town, but building it at Caldwell and West doesn’t fit the character of the neighborhood.

“I want it built in accordance with the neighborhood and the other 45 businesses that are already there,” she said.

None of the other businesses in the two-block area between Santa Fe Street and West are open around the clock, except the new fast-food drive-through that sprung up at the southwest corner of Caldwell and Court Street.

The restaurant’s new neighbors were caught flatfooted when its construction was carried out in just under a month.

“The Jack in the Box was a real surprise,” Hernandez said.

Hernandez believes the city should do more to make citizens aware of up-

an $8,000 per month expense report,” Martin-Soares said. “You need to do the math on that. This little hospital — I sat on the board, I know what it brings in revenue. There is no way this hospital can support those kind of salaries.”

The $268,000 per month figure is HCCA’s management fee, however, and not a direct payment to Benzeevi.

One employee described confusion after employees learned of the threat to shut down the hospital and went unpaid.

“We’re not getting paid, we’re here for our community, we’re here for our patients regardless. We’re scared, we’re concerned — we were told today that if we don’t get paid, it’s because you guys didn’t fund our paycheck. That’s why we’re confused,” one woman, an employee, stated. “We’re just there for the patients, and it’s really, really hard. And we don’t know what’s true or not true — we don’t know what’s coming or going.”

coming construction plans. It was CalWater’s diligence in notifying neighbors of its construction plans that drew her to the Planning Commission meeting originally.

“The Water Company notified us,” she said. “The city could have.”

Plans Versus Reality

Hernandez and those who are joining the fight say the plans Arco submitted and which Bernal recommended for approval are filled with errors and inconsistencies.

As presented, the construction plan would violate noise, lighting, and pollution codes, they say. The plans also make statements the group says are false, including reporting high noise levels that do not reflect actual background noise.

Plans submitted by Chandi claim 10 airliners fly over the intersection each hour.

“That was a typo on their part,” Bernal said. “It really references the car noise.”

The plan also asserts West Street has the same carrying capacity as Caldwell Avenue.

“West Street (south of Caldwell) is a defined collector,” Bernal said. “I wouldn’t say it has the same capacity.”

West Street north of Caldwell certainly doesn’t. That stretch of road, which ends at Mt. View Elementary School, is just two lanes, one of which is partially blocked by an oak tree planter near the intersection with Whitendale Avenue.

The road has already seen increased traffic when West was extended south of Caldwell.

“Our report analyzed the project itself, the zoning and the uses,” Bernal said. “I think we addressed the 24-hour issue briefly. They were so far from that discussion, because of the discussion of the noise.”

Zoning Confusion

When it was originally constructed, the Prince Market, a gas station and convenience store at the northeast corner of West and Caldwell, wished to build a car wash. The city, however, denied the

Another employee stated that hospital officials had laid the blame on the board.

“When we were at the forum this morning, all the blame was being shoved over to you guys, saying that you guys were the reason why we did not get our paychecks,” another employee, named Melissa, said at the Friday board meeting. “Right now, none of us in this auditorium knows who to believe anymore.”

Another employee said that supplies were dwindling.

“We are in dire straits. It seems as though it’s constantly — and especially in the last few months — we have gone down to limited supplies, whether it be linen, whether it be IV supplies, whether it be life-saving material such as blood,” Tom Woodland, an employee at the hospital, said. “The bottom line is this: if this hospital closes, and working in EMS for ten years, your lives are at risk.

Bottom line.”

“We need to get this straight, we are running out of supplies, we are in constant need of equipment, and miraculously every time the state shows up — oh my gosh, there it is, there’s some equipment for us,” Woodland continued.

request, which it now seems ready to approve across the street. Those working against the Arco plan feel this is an inconsistency that needs to be explained.

“That is a different zoning regulation,” Bernal said. “Streets do act as physical barriers. In this instance, the (Arco) project site is a mixed-use designation.”

Residents who must live with the new Arco if it is constructed do not believe Caldwell Avenue will provide enough of a barrier to prevent a change in the nature of their neighborhood. Just a few blocks away from the proposed site, at the corner of Court Street and Walnut Avenue where 7-11 and Walgreen’s Pharmacy are open 24 hours a day, transients gather regularly throughout the night. A 24-hour business with open bathrooms, cigarettes, alcohol and cheap, ready food will draw similar gatherings, residents fear.

The city, Bernal said, is aware it has a problem, and it’s not just limited to a few neighborhoods.

“I think that citywide that’s kind of been an issue,” he said. “There have been a lot of council work sessions on the homeless and transients.”

What Are They Thinking?

Meanwhile, Hernandez is still trying to figure out why the city would allow the project to go forward.

“I wanted to find out what they’re thinking,” she said. “I’m just trying to learn on the fly here.”

The group, she said, wants to stick to substance, but finds itself frustrated by red-tape-filled procedure.

“We don’t want to be emotional,” she said. “We don’t want to be all over the place.”

Yet uncertainty about when the public hearing on Arco will continue is making the group nervous and suspicious, both of the developers and of City Hall.

“We don’t know when this is coming up on the agenda,” Hernandez said.

“That’s another thing that makes it hard.”

Anyone wishing to contact Hernandez and her group may contact them at oppose.arco@gmail.com.

5 October, 2017

Valley Voice • 13

Counties Begin Fiscal Year With Increased Balanced Budgets Nancy Vigran In September, the Tulare County Board of Supervisors approved a $1.2 billion fiscally sustainable spending plan.

It reflects a 4.3% increase over last year’s adopted budget.

In a press release, County Administrative Officer Michael Spata said, “In its broadest sense, this Recommended Budget of $1.2 billion is balanced, fiscally sustainable, and structurally sound.

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

Likewise, earlier in summer, the Kings County Board of Supervisors approved its 2017-18 budget. The budget’s total expenditures and financing sources are listed at $332.61 million, up 3.5% over last year.

Both budgets were approved as county administrative officers presented their proposals.

Kings County

“We’re pretty status quo in all areas except labor,” said Kings County Board Chairman Craig Pedersen. The county had not performed a salary survey for many years, he said, and had recently ordered one, comparing other agencies

Briefly…

WOODLAKE & FARMERSVILLE SPECIAL ELECTION

Tulare County Registrar of Voters, Michelle Baldwin, is reminding all Woodlake and Farmersville residents that there will be an election on Tuesday, November 7, 2017 in both cities to consider approving two measures for each city regarding a general use tax and a commercial business cannabis tax.

• The last day to register to vote for this election is Monday, October 23, 2017.

• Voter registration cards are available at locations throughout Tulare County. To obtain a mail-in registration card, please call (559) 624-7300 or 1-800345-VOTE, a free hotline. If you prefer, you can also register online at: www.sos.ca.gov.

• Vote by Mail ballots will become available beginning Monday, October 9, 2017.

• Tuesday, October 31, 2017 is the last day the Registrar of Voters Office may receive Vote

by Mail ballot requests through the mail. Otherwise, after November 1, 2017, voters may come to the Elections Office located at Government Plaza, 5951 S. Mooney Blvd., Visalia, to request a Vote by Mail ballot in person.

• Tulare County residents that will be sworn in as a United States Citizen by a Federal Judge after Monday, October 23, 2017, but no later than the close of polls on Election Day, may register and vote at the Tulare County Registrar of Voters Office. You will be required to show your Naturalization Certificate at the

similar in size and demographics.

All department heads were notified as to results concerning their departments, and were able to work out their own negotiations with employees. Most notable is an increase in retirement costs, according to Kings County CAO Larry Spikes, to which Pedersen concurred.

“The cost of retirement has been underperforming,” he said, “so our costs will go up in the near future.”

“The employees have been very good,” Pedersen added, indicating the county’s receipt of get backs during tight financing periods.

The county approved a $900,000 increase for its fire department for staffing purposes. It anticipates a federal grant to further aid in an increase allotting two-person manned stations, countywide.

In the past, the county has been quite dependent upon volunteers. With an increase in insurance coverage for those volunteers and the amount of training time required, 100 hours each year, the number of volunteers has dwindled Pedersen said.

The cost of healthcare and services remains a continuing question. While the county tends to be politically conservative, the passage of a “repeal and time of registration.

REP. VALADAO TO HOST SENIOR CITIZEN WORKSHOP

Congressman David G. Valadao (CA-21) will host a Senior Citizen Workshop from 9-11am on Saturday, October 14, at the Selma Senior Center, 2301 Selma Street, Selma.

The event will provide local seniors and their families with information on how to take advantage of available resources and programs in the Central Valley. Experts from Valley Caregiver Resource Center will be present to share critical information about health insurance, nursing facilities, prescription drugs, and special events throughout our community. Important resources will also be available to caregivers.

The event is free and open to the public. For more information about the event or to RSVP, please contact Congressman Valadao’s Hanford Office at (559) 582-5526.

EIGHTH ANNUAL HEALTHY VISALIA FESTIVAL SET FOR OCT. 14 AT RIVERWAY SPORTS PARK

The Healthy Visalia Committee is pleased to announce that its 8th Annual “Healthy Visalia Festival,” on Saturday, October 14, will be kicked off by Gary Herbst, the new Chief Executive Officer of Kaweah Delta Health Care District.

This free community/family event will take place from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Special Events Promenade area of Riverway Sports Park. The family-friendly event, whose theme is family fitness, will begin with local entertainment featuring demonstrations including Strong by Zumba, a Jazzie Hip Hop group, Teen Idol finalists, Miss Tulare County, family activities, bounce houses and lots of prizes.

Also featured will be helpful local

replace” bill, as some that congress has recently introduced, would be devastating for the county, Pedersen said.

The total health appropriation is up $2.6 million to a total $39.2 million this year, most of which lies within Behavioral Health with a $2 million increase over last year. Spikes attributes that increase to the ongoing implementation of additional programs funded by the Mental Health Services Act All-in-all the Kings County budget is economically sound – having survived the economic downturn and slow rebound during the recent past. It is rebounding, and the county is trying to once again save for a rainy day.

However, another economic downturn would be pretty tough, Pedersen said.

Tulare County

Tulare County’s budget growth is in part due to additional social service dollars, said the county’s supervisor chairman, Pete Vander Poel. There are a lot of residents in need and there are challenges in changing that.

Outreach has increased, “making sure there’s no area that’s not covered,” he said.

For example, $200,000 has been alresource/informational booths and free health screenings provided by Family HealthCare Network and the Tulare County Health & Human Services Agency at no cost to the community.

Walgreens will provide free flu shots to the first 50 people. Additionally, Kaweah Delta Therapy Specialists will provide a free Balance/Fall Prevention/Home Safety clinic. Mark your calendar to bring your friends and family to this great wellness event!

For more information about this upcoming event call Freddy Arias at 713-4885 or Alma Torres-Nguyen at 624-2416.

SHERIFF’S SMARTWATER CSI PROGRAM A SUCCESS

SmartWater CSI product was detected in the first known case connecting thieves to the actual crime in Tulare County.

Two suspects were arrested early Friday morning in Tulare for attempting to steal a locomotive train horn valued at approximately $1,000.

SmartWater product was detected on one of the suspects following a collaboration between the Tulare County Sheriff’s Office Agricultural Crimes Unit and the Union Pacific Railroad with assistance from the Tulare Police Department.

Not seen by the naked eye, SmartWater CSI is a silent invisible witness that helps prevent agricultural crimes.

This mineral based liquid has a unique one in a billion code and connects stolen property back to its rightful owner.

Sheriff Mike Boudreaux introduced SmartWater CSI at a press conference in January at the International Agri-Center. He encourages agricultural partners throughout Tulare County to sign up for this product to help deter thefts and solve crimes.

So far, more than 300 parties have registered and applied specific SmartWater product to their properties.

None of them have suffered losses.

located for a countywide homelessness program. And, with ongoing water issues, close to $700,000 has been allocated for various water programs.

Like Kings County, Tulare County is also seeing the costs of retirement going up – 2.7%, Vander Poel said.

Tulare County sees a lot of strength in its ownership of facilities for its functions. The recent purchase of the former Cigna Building, located on Akers in Visalia, to house the fire and sheriff departments, as well the dispatch center, is a prime example. There is room for the county to earn from leasing added space.

However, an important fact for Vander Poel, he said, is to not hurt the county’s municipalities in the meantime.

County Fire had been leasing from the City of Farmersville – pulling out could have left a big hole in that city’s income. However, the county is again leasing that building as a training location for its Health and Human Services agency.

Tulare County’s budget is sound, and the county is seeing growth. The reserves are good, Vander Poel said. The county has received an A+ credit rating.

“Not all counties receive that,” Vander Poel said. “Tulare County has a lot to be proud of.”

LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS TO MEET OCTOBER 17

The League of Women Voters will meet Tuesday, October 17, in Left of Center, 699 W. Center at 11:45 a.m..

The program is “Operations at the Tulare County Elections Office”.

The speaker will be Michelle Baldwin, Registrar of Voters.

Ms. Baldwin is the new Registrar since March 2017. In August she submitted a new reorganization of the office to the Board of Supervisors.

After a study of the Registrar Office, there have been many changes since the last election.

Come and meet the Registrar of Voters. A luncheon will be served for $15 (including tax and tip). Reservations are required by contacting phoebet8@att. net or calling 732-5061 by October 13

BILLY BEDIVERE IN THE QUEST FOR THE DRAGON QUEEN WINS 2017 INDIEREADER DISCOVERY AWARD FOR YOUNG ADULTS

Recently, CJ Lyons, New York Times and USA Today bestselling indie author of twenty-one novels announced the winners of the 2017 annual IndieReader Discovery Awards (IRDAs) at BookExpo America (BEA), a major trade show in New York City. BILLY BEDIVERE IN THE QUEST FOR THE DRAGON QUEEN by Alan Sproles, a Visalia author, won in the Young Adults category.

IndieReader launched the IRDAs in order to help worthy indie authors get the attention of top indie professionals, with the goal of reaching more readers.

Noted Amy Edelman, founder of IR, “The books that won the IRDAs this year are not just great indie books; they are great books, period. We hope that our efforts via the IRDAs insure that they receive attention from the people who matter most. Potential readers.”

14 • Valley Voice

5 October, 2017

Education Achievement Program Provides Students Behavioral Supports Staff Reports Coco and Pixie stand tethered to a post on the J-Bar Ranch near Ivanhoe.

While the ponies and other horses at the ranch may look forward to meeting a new group of students who will brush them and perhaps offer them a treat, they will soon be playing a much more profound role in the lives of the young people approaching them. Most of students have little, if any, experience with horses.

Some are timid as they approach the ponies, but within minutes of the introduction – and with a little instruction from J-Bar staff members – students are leading them confidently around the arena.

The students visiting the J-Bar Ranch, which is an experiential learning center operated by Dr. Jan Loveless and her husband Sid, are from a new program created by the Tulare County Office of Education’s Special Services division.

Known as the Alternative Achievement Program (AAP), the program is an extension of the division’s Behavioral Health Services.

The partnership between J-Bar Ranh and AAP is one of many components of the program designed to build students’ self-esteem and behavioral coping skills.

Each week this year, AAP students will visit J-Bar Ranch to learn more about the horses and to learn about their own abilities to care for themselves and other creatures. What began as an introduction to the horses and a brief walk around the

arena will eventually lead to riding for most students.

The AAP is the third step on a continuum of behavioral health services provided by Special Services. When a student’s needs exceed the services provided in one of Special Services’ 18 countywide Intervention Resource Classrooms (IRC) and they require a higher level of care, AAP is considered. AAP serves students in grades 7-12 who are receiving special education services and would benefit from a sitebased, highly structured, therapeutically-enriched educational program. “Our vision for AAP is to provide students with an alternative learning environment that has mental health services embedded with their core academic curriculum,” said Tammy Bradford, assistant superintendent of Special Services. “Through extensive therapy and behavioral supports, we’re seeing students build the necessary skills to eventually transition back to their general education site.”

AAP began as a pilot program last year and moved to a school campus in southeast Visalia this fall. The program is led by Shane Farmer, a program specialist who had experience as an IRC facilitator. Meade Williams is the school’s mental health clinician, teacher, and program specialist. The program has nearly a one-to-one ratio of students and trained behavioral specialists. “Therapy is provided throughout the day in group and individual settings,” said Mr. Farmer. “If a student is struggling behaviorally in

The Alternative Achievement Program (AAP) has partnered with J-Bar Ranch to help students build self-esteem and coping skills while working with horses. Sid Loveless of J-Bar Ranch explains to AAP student Valentin how to properly lead a horse. Courtesy/Tulare County Office of Education

class, one of the staff can immediately pull them out for a quick support session to help them reflect on their actions and what they could do better in the future.”

The new AAP site provides students with instructional and counseling classrooms, and space for outdoor activities, including gardening. The garden, which serves as both an extension of the school’s science classes and a therapeutic tool, was funded by grants from the Tulare County Office of Education Foundation and the Tulare County Farm Bureau.

AAP students begin each day with a half-hour “mindfulness” session. The student-led exercise, facilitated by Jason Quijada, a rehabilitation management specialist, may include elements of yoga, deep breathing, stretching, or an analysis of music or video art as a way to focus on feelings and thoughts.

Following the mindfulness session, AAP students participate in grade level curriculum for math, science, English Language Arts and a computer/electives course, which can include gardening.

If needed, a credit recovery program is available. Each month, AAP staff meet with representatives from the students’ districts to update them on their progress. “Our goal is to help them develop

the coping skills tools to sustain their success at AAP and hopefully back at their district school,” said Ms. Bradford.

“The initial success of AAP is due to its enthusiastic, caring and qualified staff,” said Tulare County Superintendent of Schools Jim Vidak. “Their dedication, coupled with the support of parents and district personnel, has translated into some early and amazing gains for the students they serve.”

At the conclusion of the day, students gather in the Honor Room for a closing circle. Each student is expected to answer these questions: Who deserves a compliment today and why?; What did you do well today?; and What is one goal you want to set for tomorrow? “Regardless of any challenges we’ve had previously, we always come together in a circle to support one another and end the day on a positive note,” said Mr. Farmer. Like the garden that stands in front of the small school, students are growing socially and emotionally in remarkable ways within an environment of care, discipline and consistency.

For more information on the Alternative Achievement Program, contact Tammy Bradford at (559) 730-2910, extension 5120.

COS Presents Screening of James Baldwin Documentary College of the Sequoias’ Cultural Historical Awareness Program (CHAP) presents a screening of the digitally remastered documentary film, James Baldwin: The Price of the Ticket, Thursday, October 12, at 6:30 p.m. in the Visalia campus Ponderosa Lecture Hall. The event is free and open to the public, parking will be free during the event.

Filmmakers Karen Thorsen and Douglas Dempsey will present the film about the American writer and civil rights activist. COS Professor Jaime Moore will moderate the discussion about the film and life of Baldwin.

Baldwin (1924-1987), who explored issues of race, sexuality, class and the power of protest, is as relevant today as ever.

He spent a great deal of his life abroad, but remained a quintessentially American writer. In numerous essays, novels, plays and public speeches, the eloquent voice of

Staff Reports Baldwin spoke of the pain and struggle of black Americans and the saving power of brotherhood.

Thorsen (writer/producer/director) began as a writer. After graduating from Vassar College, with a year at the Sorbonne in Paris, she was an editor for Simon & Schuster, a journalist for LIFE Magazine, and a foreign correspondent for TIME. Screenwriting followed, then directing.

Dempsey (writer/producer/director) is an award-winning communicator in multiple worlds: documentaries, feature films and museum media. As a student at the University of Pennsylvania, his original focus on anthropology morphed into a passion for film. His first job was for an educational film company in Princeton; he now writes, produces, shoots and edits.

5 October, 2017

Valley Voice • 15

Comments & Letters

Your voice at ourvalleyvoice.com

Chlorpyrifos Danger Every family with young infants and every young woman with plans of pregnancy must read the article “Poison Fruit. . .”, by Sharon Lerner, dated January 14, 2017. Recently our attention has centered on our daughter’s youngest who struggles with autism and ADHD, as do 1 in 68 other US children. In these disorders “nerves fire off repeatedly without being shut down” because the enzyme cholinesterase is blocked from breaking down neurotransmitters.

Research teams at UC Berkeley and Davis, Columbia and Mt Sinai identified pregnant women, especially in the second trimester, exposed to organophospate pesticides such as chlorpyrifos were more susceptible to fetal neurodevelopmental disorders, and that children are “more vulnerable to these factors during the 1st & 2nd years” of life. Chlorpyrifos pesticide was shown to block cholinesterase function, thus causing”IQ defi-

cits and attention, memory and motor problems in children”. Annually tons of chlorpyrifos pesticide treats crops such as corn, soybeans, walnuts, apples, oranges, peaches, spinach, and more. We serve these foods at the dinner table, pack in our children’s lunch, and breathe it in.

Under the Food Quality Protection Act (FQPA), EPA must ensure that all pesticides used on food must “meet stringent safety standards”. November, 2016 an EPA report “accepted with certainty the independent sciences and evidence connecting chlorpyrifos to disorders in children”. According to the report, “1and 2- year old children risk exposures from food alone that are 14,000 % above the level the agency now thinks is safe.”

So why did EPA this last March refute the research and extend the study another five years?

Kathy Falconer

USE YOUR VOICE

“

But when you tell all your employees that you have no money and then an hour later its mysteriously found.

It’s clear hcca is simply attempting to Blackmail the community. So they can have the taxpayers take out more loans that they can then mismanage and fill their pockets with… – SAD!

“

Why don’t you use your real name? Don’t you dare ever accuse me or any of the hard working staff of TRMC of killing people.

I am just ashamed of the behavior of some of you. Honestly, it’s dispicable.

We are here for the community, and if you don’t like working at TRMC , then LEAVE.

”

— Teresa on Employees Unpaid, Supplies Scarce at Tulare Hospital

The current Board must approve a loan, the same loan the previous Board approved. That or close the hospital. Then the question becomes, will they use those funds to keep the hospital operating, or use it to buy out HCCA? If they use it to buy out HCCA, they will need to go back and get another loan to keep the hospital operating. All the sudden you’ve spent more then the bond HCCA tried to get last year. Brilliant, just brilliant. All you lemmings who followed these new board members to this point own this…. Stand up proud and own it… Good work.

”

Will the employees figure this out? Or do they continue to buy into the lies that have been told to them, including that the board was given information about loans that are available. No loans for HCCA, they have milked all assets and more money is not going to make them able to run the hospital.

”

“

If the DISTRICT isn’t bringing in revenue because there’s hardly any patients because of all the sabotage, then how can they make payroll? I’ve had people in the community tell us staff that their doctors tell them NOT to go to Tulare. It’s shameful! Unethical!

Is the CEO of Kaweah Delta personally responsible for paying payroll out of his pocket if the Kaweah District doesn’t have $$ . NO!

”

— Teresa on Emergency Board Meeting After Fiscal Spiral

“

We are very thankful to the community and the staff for your supports of TRMC in this very difficult time. Late Mr. Montion always told us that one third of Tulare people go to Visalia for health care and one quarter of Visalia patient come to Tulare.

TRMC is important that talented people do not need to drive far to work. TRMC provides emergency care for the community. TRMC has always been an alternative to a good hospital in Visalia. TRMC can not be like Stanford Medical Center that solves most complicated medical problems. Nonetheless, TRMC once provided same quality care for many common medical problems and procedures like pneumonia, chronic lung diseases, ulcers, appendectomies, gall bladder surgeries, childbirths and others. Most important, TRMC is the symbol for local young generation to choose medicine as their career path.

— Just LookingIn on Tulare Hospital Board Chair Responds to Chaos

Chief Justice John Roberts in June this year said “I wish you bad luck”. Yes, we already have the bad luck. He also said “And whether you benefit from them or not will depend upon your ability to see the message in your misfortunes.”

I’m not brainwashed. I’m trying to stay positive for our hospital. I’ve never waivered on where I stand. I am a loyal employee for our Tulare hospital, which we need for our community. I stay because I care for my patients. I didn’t become a nurse for the paycheck. I showed up on Friday to serve my patients, even though I didn’t know when I’d get paid. I’ve never compromised the care of ANY patient I’ve cared for. If anyone wants to challenge that , or post ridiculous accusations hiding behind social media , that’s cowardly. I will talk to anyone FACE TO FACE any day of the week. You know where I work.

We all have our strengths and flaws. If you look at flaws of people, you will find dead-ends everywhere and nowhere to escape. If you look at the strength of people, you will see opportunities everywhere.

”

— Teresa on Emergency Board Meeting After Fiscal Spiral

“

It is evident that with the paying of all the employees today that they were used to attempt to get more money for HCCA from the board. Couldn’t be paid yesterday but all of sudden they are all paid today.

This is extremely painful but recognize the truth of why this is the way it is.

Freedom of speech is one thing, but the hate and accusations people say on social media is ridiculous.

“

”

— Inside the beast on Tulare Hospital Board Chair Responds to Chaos

— Deanne Martin-Soares on Emergency Board Meeting After Fiscal Spiral

I just saw this post “TRMC Employee” if you truly are. I am!

I’ve been a nurse 12 years and dedicate my life to helping people . Not one red mark anywhere on my license with BRN or any other institution I’ve worked in.

“

1 hour later, the finance department Magics the money out of thin air. And suddenly they have the 1.2 million to pay everybody.

The real truth is this, the prior board was corrupt, hcca is corrupt. This is simply a form of blackmail abusing the employees threatening not to pay them threatening to close the hospital transferring patients out in the middle of the night.

This whole situation was clearly manufactured by hcca in order to encourage employees in the community to pressure the board.

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

“

HCCA told all employees that HCCA had use all it’s money, and that the board hadn’t transferred the need money to fund the employees. We are then told the payroll for the staff is about 1.2 million.

Yes, we all got screwed by HCCA, but lets not keep trying to place blame. We have to move forward in order to succeed. We can sit here and argue about who did what and when, but that does nothing to save our hospital. We need solutions, we need to garner support, and we need to pull up our boot straps.

The definition of insanity is doing the same thing again and again and expecting different results. We’ve been arguing and arguing but presenting no solutions, or even attempting to move forward. Let’s stop the insanity.

”

— KD on TRMC Chapter 9 Bankruptcy

Dr. Parmod Kumar has flaws that are well-published. I will always respect his dedication to his patients. He builds his practice by working long hours, prompt service to patients’ needs, and willingness to take difficult emergency patients while other gastroenterologists turn away.

The tried and proven way to build patient base is to provide services to non-funded and under-funded patients. When you treat these patients right, other well-funded patients will follow. In the long run, it is the good service the got paid well. And we all know by now, paying big money does not always receive good service. We need to treat our existing patients very well. They are the ticket to our future success.

Quote Mr. Motion again, “circle our wagons”. We need to build our future on our strengths and cover our flaws. When we band together like Roman army, we can be successful like them.

”

— Samuel Kuo, MD on TRMC Chapter 9 Bankruptcy

16 • Valley Voice

5 October, 2017

Networking for Women Searching For New Members Networking for Women, the first formal networking organization for women in Tulare County, is in search of new members.

NFW welcomes individuals who are actively pursuing career goals and provides the following membership benefits: • Professional advancement through a strong network of business contacts and education.

• Recognition of the contributions that businesswomen have made and continue to make in Tulare County.

• An avenue through which professional and businesswomen can share companionship, encouragement and support.

NFW hosts a monthly luncheon on

the fourth Thursday of each month along with socials throughout the year, a book club, and other networking exercises.

Members pay annual dues and monthly luncheon costs. The organization is overseen by a board made up of volunteers from the general membership.

The 2017 board includes: Hollis Elliott Fernandez, Betsy Murphy, Sue McCallister, Beth Bruegman, Karin Bennett, Chelsea Herman, Jennifer Reynolds, Natalie Mata, Jessica Cavale and Laura Florez-McCusker.

Prospective members who would like to join NFW, can visit networkingforwomen.org.

For more information on Networking for Women, call 559-280-9374 or visit networkingforwomen.org.

Jones

This short video, sans sound, can now be viewed on the Valley Voice’s Facebook page.

According to Gutierrez, Jones--from the dais--called him stupid for not understanding the difference between the two letters.

Gutierrez responded by asking if the mayor was upset about what Gutierrez referred to as “a very obvious contradiction.”

“That’s when he backed his whole body up,” Gutierrez said, “and, I promise you, his eyes were filled with rage. He then comes all the way down the dais and gets into my face.

“His finger was literally between my eyes.

“It almost looked like he was going to push me, and the fire chief saved him, grabbed him by the left arm and pulled

Continued from 2 or is. I wonder if any others have had to deal with him in similar experience?

The short answer? Yes. But you can’t believe everything you read on Facebook, so I interviewed Gutierrez.

“He just got right in your face,” I asked, “and was doing this [pointing inappropriately too closely] and was all puffed-up and pissed off?”

“Yes,” Gutierrez said. “Yes to all that.”

Gutierrez said he filed a public records request for chamber surveillance between nine and ten o’clock, the hour when the incident occurred.

him back onto the dais, where the police chief was, where the city manager was.

The whole council was still sort of there.

“Mind you, the whole council chamber is quiet at this point because he’s been screaming his head off. I see the city treasurer, I see the city community developer, I see the city engineer all in the corner, staring, and it was really awkward.

“When he went up to the dais, after the fire chief had pulled him away, he told me that I better be careful. And I asked him for clarification. ‘What do you mean, be careful?’ And he said, ‘You’ll see.’”

Sterling behavior in a mayor, right?

The man sits on a dais--by definition a place of elevation--and as such has a responsibility to speak with an even tone to his constituents.

That he should descend from it to

menace one of them is beyond the pale-even if it’s after the meeting. I guarantee you that he never would have done so if Gutierrez were seven feet tall.

Carlton Jones is a bully.

But don’t take my word for it. Ask Alex Gutierrez. Ask Alberto Aguilar, who was there, and who I also interviewed.

Ask the numerous letter writers about him.

Ask the concerned citizen who phoned me.

Ask the city officials who were present at the time. Ask around.

I tried to ask Fire Chief Epps. But my calls to him went unreturned.

It’s up to you, Tulareans, to tolerate this--or not. I don’t have a horse in this race and I don’t care who your mayor is.

But you should.

Student Life 4-H Week

5 October, 2017

National 4-H Week, October 1-7, 2018 Rochelle Mederos, Tulare County 4-H Program Rep More than 6 million young people across the country will celebrate National 4-H Week, an annual celebration of 4-H during the first full week of October. During National 4-H Week, 4-H will showcase the great things that 4-H offers young people and highlights the incredible 4-H youth in the community who work each day to make a positive impact on the community.

The National 4-H Week theme for 2017 is #TrueLeaders. 4-H members and alumni are encouraged to post pictures on social media using the #TrueLeader and #Ca4HGrown. We look forward to seeing your posts.

In the Tulare County 4-H Youth Development program we have approximately 850 youth members ages 5-19 years old, and 275 adult volunteer leaders that comprise our 15 Community Clubs, an Afterschool Club, a Hi 4-H Club (for middle and high school-aged members), and an Overnight Summer Camping program. During National 4-H Week, each club celebrates in different ways, some examples are: setting up 4-H displays in store windows and at

schools, wearing 4-H shirts/sweatshirts to school, and having club celebrations.

At the National level, 4-H has created 4-H National Youth Science Day, October 4, with Incredible Wearables, where participants will build their own wearable fitness tracker. Resource kits are available from the 4-H Mall and many clubs and counties sponsor events for youth to come and participate in the STEM related lesson and have a great time celebrating National 4-H Week.

Another way that National 4-H Week is celebrated is through the partnership with Tractor Supply Co and their Paper Clover Drive. Community members can donate at checkout at their local Tractor Supply Co. stores and help send kids in their local county and state to 4-H Camp and other 4-H Leadership experiences. Tulare County has three local Tractor Supply Co. stores in Dinuba, Tulare, and Porterville that participate in this event. Local 4-H members are often there during the Paper Clover Drive showcasing their projects and having bake sales. Stop by and check them out!

In Tulare County, this National 4-H Week, we are proud to celebrate the #TrueLeaders and #Ca4HGrown that make our community great!

The Mid Valley Arts & Crafts group met at Color Me Mine where members were able to tour the store and then also pick out projects and paint them. Courtesy/Mid Valley 4-H.

Mid Valley 4-H Shows Interest in a Diversity of Projects Nancy Vigran While not a particularly large club, Mid Valley 4-H members are involved in many different projects. The club has several new members this year, and they, too, add different interests and more projects.

During its first meeting of the year in September, club members were determining just what and how many projects they could take on.

Ten-year-old Kelsey raised a steer project last year. She will again this year.

Her family is in the cattle business.

“I love it,” she said of her project choice.

She “loved making it grow and

making it friendly,” she said of her Angus-cross steer, Boomer.

She learned, she said, “how to have patience with him; how to set him up and walk him.”

She will soon be looking for another calf to raise for the coming year.

Jillian, age 9, joined Mid Valley last year. She participated in cupcake decorating and photography. This year she is the club’s Healthy Living officer, and club reporter.

She originally joined because, “My mom and dad had the idea first.” This year, “I wanted to do it again – to keep myself busy,” she said.

4-H was a way to get her out and

MIDVALLEY continued on C6 »

New Foothill 4-Hers along with returning members receive safety training before they start taking target practice. Nancy Vigran/Valley Voice

Foothill 4-H Excels in Archery Formerly known as Tulare 4-H, a small group of archery enthusiasts have moved their meeting location and changed their name to Foothill 4-H. At a Saturday meeting in the country between Lindsay and Exeter, the last day of September, some old and new 4-H member unanimously renamed their club. The Tulare 4-H leader quit the club last year, and Brandy Moss-Dobbs stepped in with the help of a few other parents. Since members lived between Woodlake and Lindsay, and the Lewis family property was available for archery practice, the new name was a must.

Nancy Vigran Moss-Dobbs had been considering moving out of state, but the need for a 4-H leader, along with her children’s activity in the club, convinced the family to stay. They live in Woodlake and daughter, Elizabeth, is active in high school FFA as well as 4-H. “It [archery] is going to be an in for her,” she said. “Colleges are starting to recognize archery.”

“She’s really blossomed. She’s very athletic and very much into Ag.”

FOOTHILL continued on C4 »

Elbow Creek 4-H Members Vying for National Invitational The Elbow Creek 4-H Trap Shooting Team was the first California Shooting Sports team to compete in the 4-H National Shooting Sports Invitational, back in 2012. This year, members of the Visalia team would like to also compete.

Three Elbow Creek 4-H members have applied to attend the 2018 National Shooting Sports Invitational, again to be held in Nebraska. There are now members from other clubs within the state who would like to attend, enlarging the competition to represent California.

The Elbow Creek three are anxiously awaiting to see if they will get the call.

In 2012, the Shooting Sports Invitational was held in Grand Island, Nebraska. More than 600 4-H members from

Staff Reports 33 states competed in nine events at the five-day competition.

The Shotgun Team had a great learning and growth experience. The team shot Sporting Clays, Skeet and Trap. The shotgun event had teams from 26 states. Overall the team finished 21st, with Adam Muller the team’s top shooter finishing 21st in Trap, and 72nd overall.

If selected, members of the Elbow Creek team will be organizing fundraisers and looking for sponsors to help them get there. For more information, contact JoWayne Lyons, Elbow Creek 4-H leader, (559) 936-3704.

Members of the 2012 California delegation at the National 4-H Shooting Sports Invitational.

They were all from Elbow Creek 4-H in Visalia, and were the first competitors to the event from California. Courtesy/Elbow Creek 4-H.

5 October, 2017

C2 • Valley Voice

Volunteers Are a Key Part of 4-H Reprinted from University of California, 4-H Youth Development Program Adult volunteers must be 18 years or older. A volunteer cannot simultaneously be a 4-H member.

Chaperones must be at least 21 years of age or older.

Potential volunteers must submit a 4-H Adult Volunteer Interest Survey, complete the 4-H adult volunteer application process in 4hOnline, complete the required volunteer training in eXtension, submit fee payment to club leader, and complete a live-scan clearance with the Department of Justice.

4-H YDP Volunteers are appointed by the County Director.

The decision to appoint or not appoint a volunteer (whether initially or upon renewal) rests with the County Director, in consultation with appropriate 4-H staff.

All appointments are made for the best interest of the 4-H Youth Development Program and 4-H members.

As a volunteer, you will play an important role in the development of young people, helping them to identify their spark and develop the skills and positive outcomes that lead to thriving. Below are the steps to becoming a volunteer.

We look forward to working with you as a valuable asset to the 4-H Youth Development Program.

Please contact your local county 4-H Office for questions.

4-H Adult Volunteer Initial Appointment Process

1. Fill out the 4-H Adult Volunteer Interest Survey online at: https:// ucanr.edu/survey/survey.cfm?surveynumber=20728 2. One-on-one interview may be required (will be notified by county-based staff or volunteer).

3. Submit 4-H adult volunteer

application process online at: https:// ca.4honline.com. Create a profile, enter all required information, and submit. 4hOnline adult status will show as pending.

4. Complete required “California New Volunteer Training” in eXtension* (go to https://campus.extension.org/enrol/index.php?id=1406). a. Orientation (60 min) b. Foundations of Positive Youth Development (20 min) c. Toward an Interculturally Connected 4-H (60 min) d. Abuse Risk Management for Volunteers (15 min) 5. (*Note: Once adult status is pending in 4hOnline, an email will be sent from 4hOnline with instructions to take the required trainings in eXtension along with the county password. Check your junk or spam folder if this email is not in your inbox. If needed, the password can be requested by clicking on this link: http://ucanr.edu/survey/survey.cfm?surveynumber=20474).

6. Complete any additional trainings required by your county.

7. Submit fee payment to the Club Leader/Organizational Unit Volunteer.

8. Complete live-scan criminal records check with the State Department of Justice. Forms can be obtained online at: http://ucanr.edu/sites/4-H_Tulare/ files/264550.pdf 9. The application is reviewed by the county director a. If approved notification of your 4-H adult volunteer appointment will be sent from 4hOnline. If no email address is available a letter will be sent by mail from the county director. b. If there are any limitations on the appointment a subsequent letter will be sent from the county director. c. If not approved a letter will be sent to the applicant from the county director.

It is the customary practice of 4-H, nationally, to not give the full names of members in photo captions. Adhering to this policy, the Valley Voice will only provide first names in captions. We, also, will try to avoid giving full names in articles, if the same member is also in a photo. The exception will be when a member has written an article for Student Life - 4-H Week.

- Nancy Vigran, Section Editor

4-H Youth Development Program Enrollment Procedures Reprinted from the Tulare County 4-H website.

4-H YDP Youth Enrollment Procedures

All 4-H youth (ages 5-19) must enroll annually (July 1 through June 30).

Enrollment is conducted by the 4-H Club and County 4-H Office.

Please contact your club leader for more information about meeting dates and times. Projects offered vary by club from year to year based upon adult volunteer availability.

Enrollment for the 2017-2018 4-H Youth Development Program in Tulare County and Kings County will be conducted using the 4hOnline enrollment system https://ca.4honline.com.

4hOnline is a web-based system used to enroll youth and accept applications for adults in the California 4-H Youth Development Program.

Eligibility:

Primary Members (also called Cloverbuds or Mini-members) – Must be 5 years old by December 31 of the program year.

Primary members cannot enroll in large animal projects. Youth enrolling or turning nine after December 31 must participate as a Primary Member until the end of the program year (June 30).

4-H Members – Must be 9 years old by December 31 of the program year and may continue in the program until the end of the calendar year (December 31) in which they become 19 years of age.

Tulare County 4-H Enrollment Steps:

Choose a Club. Access the list of 4-H Clubs in Tulare County - http:// ucanr.edu/sites/4-H_Tulare/Join/4-H_ Clubs_in__Tulare_County/ or 4-H Clubs in Kings County 0 http://cekings. ucanr.edu/Kings_County_4-H_Pro-

gram/CLUB/and a find a club. You will have to choose a minimum of one club or camp when you sign up.

Contact the Club. Contact the Club Leader for the club you are interested in joining to let them know you are signing up.

They will be collecting the 4-H program fees and also can give you more information about the club and types of projects they offer.

Choose a Project. Your club leader can let you know what projects are open for enrollment.

You can choose the projects and activities that sound interesting to you.

Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) - http://4h. ucanr.edu/Projects/STEM/: agriculture and life sciences, family and consumer resource management, environmental education, technology, engineering.

Citizenship and Service Learning http://4h.ucanr.edu/Projects/Citizenship/: civic awareness, community service, service-learning, leadership & speaking, global citizenship.

Healthy Living - http://4h.ucanr. edu/Projects/HealthyLiving/: nutrition, physical health, safety, mental health.

Leadership - http://4h.ucanr.edu/ Projects/Leadership/: club officer roles, presentations, leadership conferences and trainings.

Sign up in 4hOnline. Members are grouped by Family in the 4hOnline system.

Therefore, if you or another immediate family member have been previously enrolled in 4-H, you already have a Family Profile in the 4hOnline system.

Renewing members must re-enroll yearly by December 31st.If you are under 18, please have a parent or guardian enter the information.

Submit program fees. Submit your program fees payment to your Club Leader.

The youth member enrollment fee for 2017-2018 is $46.

Valley Voice Student Life 2018 These sections are SO popular with our readers We think we’ll plan more for next year. ●Music, Bands & Choirs ● FFA ●Western Dairy ● Scouting ● 4-H

If you have editorial ideas - let us know!

If you’d like to help support these sections,

while attracting attention to your business - let us know!

Contact: Nancy, section editor - nancy@ourvalleyvoice.com

5 October, 2017

Valley Voice • C3

4-H Projects Inside and Outside of the Box

Elbow Creek 4-H members, Payton (left) and Jamee (right), working on bags for Tulare County Fair Veterans Quilts of Honor. Photos/Tulare County 4-H

Some might think that 4-H is representative only of the Ag community. It may have started out that way. A gentleman named B. Graham is said to have started the program in Clark County, Ohio in 1902. The first club traces back to two names The Tomato Club or the Corn Growing Club.

According to history, “when Congress created the Cooperative Extension Service in the USDA in 1914, it included boys’ and girls’ club work.” These soon became known as 4-H clubs; the four H’s standing for head, heart, hands, and health. A 4-H club is a comprised of five or more youngsters, guided by one or more adult volunteer leaders.

Now, 4-H is much more than just Ag-related projects, although there continues to be an agricultural theme, especially in the Central Valley. However, club members may have no interest in agriculture and still become active.

For example – a lesser known area is Civic Engagement which includes projects of citizenship, domestic exchanges, economics & marketing, International exchanges, service learning and community pride & community service.

In leadership, members learn about leadership for an individual, group and organization. They build their own leadership skills through public speaking, project management, communication, organization, and negotiation.

More common projects lie in the area of Communications & Expressive

Arts which includes Beginning 4-H, Primary Members, arts, crafts & hobbies, communications, cultural arts, graphic arts, leathercraft, photography, scrapbooking, sign language and record keeping. Beginning 4-H is for first-year members in the 4th – 6th grades. Primary Members is for children from age 5 to those in Beginning 4-H. Health is also popular especially in the areas of food preservation and cake decorating. Likewise Consumer & Family Sciences including clothing & textiles and fashion revue are in demand.

Technology & Engineering has some of the most popular projects including a variety of shooting sports, computers & internet, aerospace & rocketry, and automotive.

Members can learn the care and maintenance of ATV’s and dirt bikes, as well as safety practices in another project. This may include the planning and implementation of an excursion. Information on California ATV age and safety laws may be found at http://groups. ucanr.org/ehs/files/34244.pdf. The National 4-H ATV Safety Curriculum is available at http://www.atv-youth.org/ In Electricity & Electronics members can learn the fundamental of electricity and its application as a source of energy and power. They may also learn to build and maintain electronics of varying complexity.

Plant Science projects offered include vegetable gardens & crops, indoor

Kings County 4-H Council Drive Thru Fundraiser November 1 Wednesday, November 1st UCCE Office-680 N. Campus Dr. 4:00—6:00 pm Price: $25.00

3rd place: $25!

Let’s make this a record event for ticket sales! This meal is a bargain!

Whole, cooked, ready to eat Tri-tip with 6 large rolls.

All 4-H families are asked to sell barbecue tickets.

The proceeds support the Kings County 4-H Council which sponsors county events, awards and so much more.

This is the only fundraiser sponsored by the Council.

Tickets are available from your Community Club Leader or the UCCE Office.

Please make checks payable to: Kings County 4-H Council.

The top 3 tickets sellers will be awarded a prize!

1st place: $75, 2nd place: $50 and

Help is Needed:

Adult help is needed to wrap and package the tri-tip and rolls in the afternoon and supervise the youth. Youth are needed to pass out the meals to those picking up the meal. Everyone’s help is needed to set up and clean up.

Sweet Shop:

4-H members are asked to contribute baked goodies to sell at the Sweet Shop. Please label the baked items with the member’s first name and club, also note if the goodies contain nuts.

Tickets counts are due to the UCCE Office by Oct. 20th!

& mini gardens, and sugarbeets.

Environmental Ed and Earth Sciences offers outdoor adventure, camping, and wildlife.

And, then there are the animal projects – these include pets and small animals, dogs, cats and exotic birds. Also available are therapeutic animals, guide dogs & service animals, and veterinary science. But, do not forget the farm animals, which there is a project for most, if not all, and even bees.

All of these projects and more are offered in Tulare and Kings Counties.

Many are offered by individual clubs; others may be countywide projects such as dogs, and horse & ponies in each county. A countywide llama project has begun in Tulare County, and Pygmy Goats is a countywide project in Kings.

In some instances, 4-H members

can cross county or even state lines for a project. According to 4-H rules: 4-H members may participate in projects offered by a neighboring club, county or state if the primary club does not offer the 4-H project a member is interested in. The community 4-H club and project adult volunteers in both clubs and 4-H Youth Development Program (YDP) staff in all counties and states involved must approve the participation.

It is the responsibility of the 4-H member and their parent/guardian to acquire the signatures of the home and host community 4-H club and project adult volunteers. The completed request/agreement form must be returned to the home county 4-H office for verification and approval. The county 4-H YDP will contact the host county 4-H staff for approval.

5 October, 2017

C4 • Valley Voice

My Love of Archery Grace Lewis When I grow up I want to do great things in my life. I would watch my dad do archery all the time, so I wanted to do that, too. I also wanted to do archery after watching the movie, Brave, so I signed up. I work very hard practicing archery. It has taken me a long time to get it, but I am still learning.

Archery is the best sport to me. I am thinking about also joining the Lindsay

Swim Team to build up strength in my arms. Another reason I wanted to do archery is because I watched people doing archery on TV and it looked fun. It is!

I was doing archery with Tulare 4-H, it was a good year, but the leader quit. So, Brandy stepped up to lead us.

We needed property to practice on, so my Dad and Mom said we could have it at our house.

That is why I love archery.

Members of Foothill 4-H excel in archery, though they are adaptable and open to other projects.

Nancy Vigran/Valley Voice

Foothill 4-H member Grace begins shooting practice, while new members start learning about archery. Nancy Vigran/Valley Voice

Foothills

a silver belt buckle. She is not the only good shooter in the club, however.

Wade, 13, has been shooting for a little over a year, he said. During club shooting, he was able to make some good shots at his target.

He started with a training bow, which his dad got for him. But he now uses a compound bow with a variety of gadgets – he calls it his tactical bow.

He enjoys archery over other shooting sports, he said, “I don’t like the quick recoil [from guns]. I love archery.”

Twelve-year-old Grace has been in 4-H for four years. She, too, loves archery and switched clubs because of it.

She first fell for archery by watching her dad shoot. Then she saw the movie, Brave.

Continued from C1

The family lives within city limits and does not work in the Ag industry. James, Moss-Dobbs’ son, is also into archery.

“I didn’t want to take over [as club leader],” she said, “but, I realized we could make a difference with so many kids.”

The kids may be from their apartment complex, the city of Woodlake, or anywhere else.

Elizabeth, 15, is the president of Foothill 4-H this year. She has been shooting with the bow and arrow for about six years, she said.

“My mom wanted me to do 4-H,”

she said. “Some of the kids were doing archery and it sounded fun. It is – I love shooting, in general.”

As club president, and a senior member of the club, Elizabeth looks after other members somewhat like a mother hen. She teaches archery safety, which comes first, she said, and helps out wherever needed.

“Some of the kids look up to me,” she said. “I am proud to teach them.”

Elizabeth is a good shot. But, in order to go hunting with her uncle, she must be able to “pull” 50 pounds in draw weight with her bow. Right now, she is at 47 pounds, she said.

She enters in three or four competitions each year, and won first place at the Porterville Fair last year, earning her

Have a great 4-H Week!

“I knew I’ve just got to do that,” she said.

The small club is welcoming new members, and while there is an obvious current focus on archery, the club is open to any projects California 4-H offers – they are adaptable, Moss-Dobbs said.

In fact, this year the club is starting food preservation and shotgun.

Elizabeth is also involved in photography projects. Grace has done arts & crafts in the past. She said she’s considering getting into a swine project in future.

The club is currently comprised of five families with about 9-10 members.

They would welcome more and need more adults to lead a variety of projects.

For more information, contact Brandy Moss-Dobbs, (805) 709-2013.

Celebrating our future with 4-H Week!

fruit growers supply company Serving the Agricultural Communities since 1907

www.FruitGrowers.com Orange Cove 626-4629 46031 Road 124

Woodlake 564-3525

Porterville 781-4050

131 South Blair Rd. 934 W. Scranton Ave.

TULARE COUNTY 4-H NEWS

(559) 686-0054 www.gartontractor.com

4780 South K Street Tulare, CA 93275

Recycle this paper Elbow Creek 4-H Club Pancake Breakfast

5 October, 2017

Valley Voice • C5

Exeter 4-H Club Welcomes New Members

Exeter 4-H members enjoying the Porterville Fair. Courtesy/Exeter 4-H.

Club Reporters Chloe Kaiser and Shelbey Breshears Do you want a messy, fun, exciting adventure? Then join Exeter 4-H Club,

we have it!

You can join Exeter 4-H and learn things like speaking in public, leadership skills, cooking, gardening, bee keeping, and animal care just to name a few!

Want to show at the Fair? We do that too.

Club meetings are at 7pm the second Tuesday of the month at the Miller-Dofflemyer Building in Exeter, CA.

An Old, Large, Active Club - Elbow Creek 4-H JoWayne Lyons, Elbow Creek Leader

The Elbow Creek 4-H Club, located north of Visalia, is one of the oldest 4-H Clubs in Tulare County. We have an enrollment of 70-80 members and offer an array of projects from: arts/crafts, foods, clothing, cake decorating, photography, archery, sheep, swine, dairy cattle, horse, dog obedience, rabbits, scrapbooking and shooting sports, both rifle and shotgun.

We do several community service projects throughout the year like: decorate holiday placemats for the elderly at Casa Grande and River Springs, participate in the Visalia Christmas Parade, Blind Baby Foundation Fall Harvest,

World Ag Expo and National 4-H Week with a window display at Roller Towne.

We had over 50 members participate in the recent Tulare County Fair. Our club members also participate throughout the year at countywide events like: County Awards Night, Livestock Judging Field Day, Fashion Revue, Favorite Foods Day, Dale Wimp Rifle Match, County Archery match, Leadership Conferences, Horse Achievement Day and 4-H Fair.

We are a youth development program open to anyone 9-19 years old and any parent is welcome to become a leader/volunteer to help guide our members in their projects. Our meetings are held

the 2nd Monday of every month at 7pm, at the Elbow Creek Hall. To enroll go online to https://ca.4honline.com Our largest fundraiser is our Annual Pancake Breakfast and this year it will be on Saturday, November 4, at the Elbow Creek Hall on Avenue 328 and Road 138. Everyone is welcome. Breakfast will be served from 7-10am and will include pancakes, sausage, scrambled eggs, coffee, milk and orange juice for $5. Proceeds from this fundraiser assists members to attend leadership conferences and 4-H Camp.

For more information on Elbow Creek 4-H, call JoWayne Lyons, (559) 936-3704.

Waukena 4-H

Several Waukena 4-H members: Ryan, Omar, Jay, Nic, Joseph, Caleb, Bailey, Olivia, Delaney and Bridon cleaned club trophies. The event was a Community Service Project for Waukena Elementary School in rural Tulare. In addition, Waukena 4-H makes blankets for the community gift-food baskets at Christmas time and participates in the Corcoran Christmas Parade. Photo/Waukena 4-H

5 October, 2017

C6 • Valley Voice

The 4-H Emerald Star: Opportunity to Serve Community Staff Reports

What is an 4-H Emerald Star?

Many counties in California have an Emerald Star program, which is sponsored by the county 4-H office and/or the county 4-H leaders’ council.

The Emerald Star program is designed for intermediate and senior 4-H members.

In general, the Emerald Star project’s purpose includes: 1. Providing an opportunity for 4-H members to develop projects in their community or in 4-H beyond the club level 2. Improving, creating, and ex-

panding 4-H programs 3. Helping individual 4-H members grow and improve in the areas of organization, leadership, and project planning This program is designed to help youth learn about project planning, organization, and presentation.

Typically, youth develop an action plan for some type of multi-county event. They then organize and facilitate this event. After completion and presentation of their project, they are awarded with the Emerald Star ranking.

Interested in pursuing an Emerald Star project?

Think about doing a 4-H Revolution of Responsibility Service Learning

project as your Emerald Star project!

Members who have completed two years of 4-H and will be at least 13 years of age by December 31, of the current 4-H year are eligible to apply for the Emerald Star Program.

Emerald Star projects must demonstrate the member’s leadership ability, the ability to work with others, and the ability to plan and conduct a successful program of work. The project must have an adult advisor and must provide service to the local 4-H program.

Some ideas for an Emerald Star project could be a county-wide project workshop or field day or some other type of county-wide activity, training local 4-H clubs on selected topics such as presentations, record books, officer training, citizenship, or possibly performing 4-H outeach.

Island 4-H member Anna created hand-sewn pillows as part of her 4H Emerald Star project.

She has been donating them to different doctor’s offices to give to Breast Cancer patients.

The pillows can be used to rest on during chemo, or as a cushion to protect incisions from a seatbelt or other force. Island 4-H is located in Lemoore. Photo/Island 4-H

Midvalley Continued from C1

to put her arts & crafts abilities out into the public eye, her father, Ramir Ramirez said.

While the family lives in Lemoore, they bring Jillian and now her brother, Brayden, age 5, to Kit Carson School in Hanford to attend meetings, because their mother, Jeri, knew the club leader, Cobi Revious.

Jillian hasn’t quite decided which projects she will do this year. Brayden will be involved in Beginning 4-H, and canning & baking.

Newbie Brady, 12, is in his first year with 4-H. “We’re trying to find something he likes,” his mother said.

Brady has decided to participate in small engines and metal working projects.

“They sounded cool,” he said. “I like taking things apart and putting them back together.”

Twelve-year-old Lily is in her fourth year of 4-H and mostly participates in sewing and cooking.

She is vice president of Mid Valley this year, and has served as club president in the past. Her sewing entries in various contests have won her numerous awards, including a win in the California State Fair Wool Contest in Sacramento.

She also participates in camping and woodworking.

Sewing is indeed her favorite.

“It’s fun, I like doing it,” she said.

“The first year was a challenge.”

Sometimes she follows patterns, other times, she creates her own.

And, she enjoys picking out new fabric. Her great grandmother is the project leader, she said.

While she’s not quite sure while she’s sewing a project, “as soon as I am done, I like it,” she said.

Courtney, currently Mid Valley 4-H president, shown here with Judge Joe Lugo, won Best in Show with her Flemish Giant Rabbit at the 2017 Kings County 4-H Fair. Courtesy/Mid Valley 4-H

Lily’s brother, Austin, age 9, is also involved, quite actively.

He participates in shooting, public speaking, swine, cake decorating, camping, photography, sewing, arts & crafts and electronics.

Club president, Courtney, 12, has also been involved for a few years. She served as vice president last year.

She raised a rabbit project last year and won Best in Show with her Flemish Giant Rabbit at the 2017 Kings County 4-H Fair.

Becoming a bit “bored” with rabbits, she said, she has signed up for a swine project this year.

She has arrangements to house her

pig, which she will get next April. She is not particular of the breed, however, does not want a pink pig, because she doesn’t want it to burn in the sunlight, she said.

In order to be able to sell her project at the fair, she must also participate in showmanship, so she intends to do that as well, she said. Courtney is also involved in camping, her father is the project leader; and cake decorating.

Her favorite cake creation, so far, was one that looked like a watermelon with frosted flowers, she said.

As for camping, it just may be the most fun.

We are pleased to honor our local 4-H students!

302 South F Street, Exeter

www.exetervet.com

“I like camping the most because you get to go hang out with your friends,” she said.

The camping project has taken them quite a few places including the mountains and the beach.

“4-H has helped me with self-assurance,” Courtney said. “I was really shy in early grades – I used to sit by myself.”

Self-assured, Courtney conducted the half-hour first meeting of the year, welcoming new members and conducting club business. The meeting was adjourned with a focus on the new year and new projects ahead.

Lawrence Tractor Celebrates 4-H Week!

Have fun!

Gerald Haggard, DVM (559) 592-5210 We care for dogs, cats, small farm animals and horses!

Proud Mid Valley 4-H member Zoey created her own yellow dress for which she won a Gold Medal at the State Dress Revue in May, 2017.

Lil is wearing her plaid wool coat. She won first place at the California State Fair Wool Contest, netting her a new sewing machine and some new wool fabric. Courtesy/Mid Valley 4-H

Visalia 2530 E. Main St. (559) 734-7406

Tipton 380 N. Burnett Rd. (559) 752-4251

Hanford 9213 E. Third St. (559) 582-9002

5 October, 2017

Valley Voice • C7

Fall Brings Judging Days to Local 4-H

Kings County 4-H Offers Mini Grants Staff Reports

Staff Reports

Kings County 4-H Judging Day Saturday, November 4, 2017 Kings County Fairgrounds 12:30pm Registration begins 1pm Orientation

Pre-register by November 1st. Register at ucanr.edu/survey/survey.cfm?surveynumber=21787 Judging classes will be in the following categories: Livestock, Home Economics and General. Plan to judge all three!

A judging class consists of four items.

The 4-H’er is asked to evaluate and rank the class in order from best to worst.

Points are given on how close the participant comes to matching the placing an expert gives the class.

Participants will also be given the opportunity to give oral reasons for one class per category (3 opportunities to give reasons). Oral reasons enable the participant to explain to a judge why they placed the class the way they did. Points are given for how convincing the rea-sons are.

Even if the class wasn’t placed correctly, if good reasons are given, the points will reflect that.

Giving Reasons for a Judging Contest When you explain your choices in a judging contest, you are “giving reasons�.

Before you can give your rea-sons, you need to have a clear picture of the class in your mind. After judging the class, be sure to make some notes. Giving reasons will be easier after you have studied your notes. Step up to the judge, hand in your card, relax and smile.

Pre-register by November 1st. Register at ucanr.edu/survey/survey.cfm?surveynumber=21787

The Sunnyside Window Display Committee from Prairie Center 4-H in Strathmore designed a display showing what 4-H is all about, for National 4-H week. Courtesy/Tulare County 4-H

Kings County 4-H has received a very generous donation from the J.G. Boswell Company.

Instead of the Leaders Council deciding how the money can best be utilized, Council voted to extend an opportunity to 4-H members and leaders to apply for mini-grants.

If you are interested in applying, please fill out the survey at this link http://ucanr.edu/survey/survey.cfm?surveynumber=19734.

Leaders Council will review the grants and respond accordingly.

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Tulare County 4-H Livestock Judging Day Saturday, November 18 College of the Sequoias, Tulare College Center

Entry information will be available soon, so get your teams ready!

Training resources are available at: ucanr.edu/sites/4�H_Tulare/4�H_ Events/Livestock_Judging_Day/ The 4-H Livestock Judging Day is designed to give 4-H members experience in evaluating different livestock, dairy and horse species, and placing them in correct order of market, breeding and/ or conformation value.

Participants – Must be currently enrolled Tulare County 4-H members, at least 5 years old and up to 19 years old, as of December 31, 2017. Adult participants must be a parent/guardian of a currently enrolled Tulare County 4-H member or a currently enrolled 4-H Adult Volunteer.

Primary (Mini) members and Adults – May participate in the Judging classes. Primary (mini) members and adults CANNOT participate on a team. Individual awards will NOT be given; participation recognition only.

Age Divisions – Each participant may enter only one division. Participants will compete in a division according to their age as of December 31, 2016.

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5 October, 2017

C8 • Valley Voice

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(559) 225-1700

(530) 674-8900

Porterville 65 W. Olive Ave. Porterville CA, 93257

Kingsburg 1580 Draper St. Kingsburg, CA 93631

(559) 306-1300

(559) 802-1070

www.suncrestbank.com

SB-17680 / Farm Bureau Ag Expo / Ag Lending / Full Page / 10.125” x 16”

Valley Scene

5 October, 2017

Symphony Features “Heroes” in October 7 Concert Donna Orozco

The newly-named Sequoia Symphony Orchestra (formerly the Tulare County Symphony) will show off the “heroes” in the season theme “Gods and Heroes” at its first Masterworks concert of the season at 7:30pm on Saturday, Oct. 7 at the Visalia Fox Theatre.

The orches- Jeffrey Biegel. tra will perform music about the legendary lover Don Juan in Strauss’ “Don Juan” and Shakespeare’s doomed lovers in Prokofiev’s “Romeo and Juliet.”

Guest pianist Jeffrey Biegel will solo in Grieg’s well-known “Piano Concerto in A minor.” It is the only concerto composed by Grieg, written when he was only 24, and is one of

the most popular piano concerti ever written, immediately identified by its crashing opening chords.

Biegel is also a composer, arranger and music innovator. His musical prowess is something of a miracle because until the age of 3 he could neither hear nor speak.

Tickets are $22 to $45 at the symphony office, 208 W. Main Street, Suite D, Visalia, downstairs in Montgomery Square. Student prices are $10. Tickets are also available at 732-8600 or go to wwwsequoiasymphonyorchestra.com.

The audience is invited to attend the entertaining pre-concert preview by music director Bruce Kiesling at 6:45pm.

Homegrown Harvest Fun at the 104th Exeter Fall Festival This year’s Exeter Fall Festival will continue many fun traditions from the past 104 years – games, contests, arts & craft, food and entertainment that is guaranteed to be fun for the whole family!

October 1 – 31st Exeter Scarecrow Contest. The Exeter Chamber of Commerce is excited to announce that Scarecrows are Returning to Exeter and will be on display for your viewing pleasure, at participating businesses for the entire month of October. Come to Exeter and vote for your favorite!

Monday, Oct. 9th 6pm Miss Exeter Coronation & Dinner at the Faith Tabernacle Family Center. Advance tickets required, $25 each available at the Chamber office.

Miss Exeter is a personal development and scholarship program open to

Nancy Vigran

high school juniors and seniors. Candidates are judged on community & school service, academics, poise & personality and the sale of raffle tickets as a fundraiser. During this evening, the candidates answer impromptu questions and model in a fun fashion show.

Each candidate is sponsored by a business or organization.

Wednesday, October 11th 4:307pm Pumpkin carving contest and Family Fun Night. Location - Downtown Exeter, Pine and E St. The City of Exeter Community Services sponsors the pumpkin-carving contest; Miss Exeter candidates serve as judges. Immediately following the contest, games & activities geared to children

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The Donner Party: A Family Legacy at the Tulare Historical Museum A&W Celebrating Middle School Jazz Band and Cruise Night Staff Reports

All five Visalia middle school jazz bands will participate in the annual concert in the parking lot of the Mooney Boulevard A&W restaurant on Saturday, October 7.

The concert at 2611 S. Mooney Blvd. begins at 6pm and will feature each jazz band performing for 20 to 30 minutes, along with hot rods at the A&W Cruise Night.

“For about 20 years we have been doing a fundraiser we call Music Money to support our middle school music programs and to honor my dad,” explained Craig Van Horn, owner of eight A & W restaurants in the South Valley.

“We discovered that middle schools have a tough time with fundraising because they’re only at the school for two years and there isn’t the same type of parent and community support system set up as there is at the high schools.”

Music Money is scrip that is sold for $1, with 85 cents going to the school.

Scrip sales will begin on Monday, October 9.

The parking lot concert grew out of the scrip sales as a way to draw greater attention to the middle school jazz bands, Van Horn added.

Attendees are encouraged to bring lawn chairs.

For information, call A&W at 733-4445.

The Tulare City Historical Society and Tulare Historical Museum will present its latest ‘Sundays @ 2’ program on October 15.

Tulare’s own Pat Hillman will offer a fascinating presentation close to her heart, The Donner Party: A Family Legacy. Hillman is the great, great granddaughter of George Donner, the party Captain.

Hillman loves the community of Tulare where she was born nearly Pat Hillman.

90 years ago.

A graduate of Tulare schools and Fresno State University, she served on the Tulare City School Board for 26 years and has been a member of the Tulare County Board of Education for the past 17 years.

She has diverse interests - she is a teacher by profession and was a founding member for the Tulare County Symphony (now known as the Sequoia Symphony), the Tulare City Historical Society, and she

Chris Harrell helped establish the International Visitors Committee at the Farm Show (World Ag Expo).

She also serves on the board of the family business, J.D. Heiskell and Co, founded in Tulare in 1886 by her grandfather Jefferson Davis Heiskell. She and her late husband, Dale, have four grown children.

Join the museum for a riveting program brought to life by one of the actual descendants of the Donner Party. History buffs won’t want to miss this rare opportunity!

The program will be held at 2pm in the Heritage Art Gallery at the Tulare Historical Museum. The program is open to the public and is free of charge.

Admission to the Museum is also free on this day during its hours of operation, 12:30-4pm.

5 October, 2017

B2 • Valley Voice

‘Wild West’ Fall Carnival at Sequoia Union Oct. 7 Staff Reports The Sequoia Union Elementary School Parents Guild invites the community to attend its annual fall carnival, set for 5:30-9pm on Saturday, October 7.

This year’s “Wild West”-themed event will host a variety of attractions for all ages. You can begin the evening by enjoying a delicious homemade deeppit beef dinner, benefitting this year’s 8th grade class trip to San Francisco. Next, the adults can get a jump on holiday shopping as they peruse the vast selection of items available at our silent auction. The silent auction is made possible by the generosity of many of our local business owners and families—you are sure to find something for everyone on your list!

Kids and adults alike will be entertained all night as they work their way through over fifteen different carnival games, including bingo and a photo booth, collecting prizes along the way.

For the adventurous crowd, there will be a mechanical bull ride, hamster ball roll, bounce houses, and obstacle course. Of course, don’t forget dessert! Score some sweet treats at the snow cone or cotton candy booths, or try your luck at the ever-popular cake walk!

The carnival is hosted by a dedicated group of parents and teachers whose only goal is to raise funds for the school’s field trips, band and drama programs, National History Day competitors, and school assemblies. Last year, this event

E X E T E R

raised over $30,000, the most in school history. This year, we hope to set a new record as we continue to offer more opportunities to our students.

Sequoia Union is a kindergarten through eighth grade single-school district in Lemon Cove. Fundraisers such as the fall carnival make it possible for each of our approximately 350 students to expand their learning beyond the traditional classroom. Students travel the state on some of the most enriching field trips possible.

Some destinations include California’s historic missions, the Monterey Bay Aquarium, Hospital Rock and Crystal Cave in Sequoia National Park, a local dairy, SCICON, and a tour of our state Capitol in Sacramento. These trips, along with many others, comprise our revered “Classroom on the Go” program, which for several decades has helped Sequoia Union provide these amazing opportunities for its students.

Dinner tickets are $8 adults and $5 children and can be purchased at the door, or at the Sequoia Union office, beginning October 2nd. Dinner will be served until 8:30 p.m. Entrance to the carnival is free and game tickets cost just a quarter each.

Approximately 600 people attend the fall carnival every year to show their support for Sequoia Union’s students.

For those who would like to make a donation to the carnival, please call (559) 564-2106 or email ptc@sequoiaunion. org. The PTC is a 501 (c)3 organization

C H A M B E R

O F

C O M M E R C E

Harvest Fun sic Live Mu

er Run 4 Co3v0pm

: 11:30am - 1

ARTS & CRAFTS | PARADE | FOOD ANTIQUES & COLLECTIBLES STREET FAIRE NEW FAMILY FUN | CAR SHOW ABC Bookkeeping and Tax Services Inc. | Avedian-Heaton Properties | Hometown Emporium Central Valley Community Bank

Come See & Vote for your Favorite Scarecrow “Homegrown and Out of this World!”

October 1st - 31st Exeter Chamber of Commerce | 101 W. Pine St. | 559-592-2919 | www.ExeterChamber.com

and all donations are 100 percent tax deductible. Business and family sponsorship packages are also available. Please contact the Sequoia Parent’s Guild for more information.

The Sequoia Union Parent’s Guild welcomes the community to this family evening and looks forward to another great year on campus.

5 October, 2017

Valley Voice • B3

Visalia Emergency Aid’s Red Carpet Fundraiser Returns Staff Reports Visalia Emergency Aid’s “Evening on the Red Carpet” returns on Saturday, October 14, after the successful debut in 2016.

The event, to be held from 6 to 10 pm at Giant Chevrolet & Cadillac in Visalia, is a fundraiser for the new Community Pantry, Family Resource Center and Education Center to be built at the current Visalia Emergency Aid site.

An Evening on the Red Carpet will feature dinner catered by Café 225, dancing, live and silent auction and the opportunity to win a car valued at $40,000. Tickets are $75 per person; a reserved table is $1,000.

The fundraising goal is $500,000 and over $200,000 has already been raised, noted executive director Liz Wynn. Major sponsors are Lagomarsino Farms, Family HealthCare Network, the Provident /Salierno Family Foundation, Macy’s Foundation, Visalia Rotary Community Foundation, Tachi Palace

Festival Continued from B1

from 4-15 are set up throughout the downtown area by businesses. Unlimited game passes $3 per child. Included in the games are ring toss, face painting, apple bobbing, petting zoo, etc.

Every child wins a small prize.

Thursday, Oct. 12th, 5:00-6:30 pm Exeter Chamber of Commerce

& Casino and Paloma Development.

Fistolera Construction is providing construction services.

Confirmed celebrities on the red carpet include Miranda Rae Mayo (Chicago Fire), Hank J. Barr (COPS), Brett Prieto (Victory by Submission) Jacob Price (Sand Trap) Caleb Brown (Disney’s Bizardvaark, Mother’s Day) along with guest emcee George Takata, KSEE 24 anchor.

For nearly 80 years, Visalia Emergency Aid Council has been providing food to families with children and seniors, working from an adobe brick and mortar building in north Visalia. That building today has a leaky roof, inadequate storage space, no heating or air conditioning and it doesn’t meet current building codes.

“We have survived the ups and downs of the economy, droughts and freezes because our community and local businesses have a cultural norm of generosity,” Wynn noted. “The people of

Mixer hosted by Bank of the Sierra, Exeter branch, honoring Miss Exeter and Court. The mixer is free and the public is encouraged to attend.

Friday, Oct. 13th, 6:00 pm Lip Sync Contest sponsored by the City of Exeter Community Services Department at Exeter City Park, Chestnut Ave. & E Street. For information call 559-592-5262.

Saturday, Oct. 14th, 7am - 4pm

A rendering of the new Visalia Emergency Aid building.

Visalia care about those who are less fortunate, and these gifts will help us feed the future for another 80 years.”

The nonprofit organization serves 2,100 children every month, along with seniors on fixed incomes. The mission is

to help ensure that no one has to choose between paying rent or buying food, Wynn explained. For further information, call Wynn, 732-0101, or email liz@veac.org. To purchase tickets, visit www.veac.org.

Exeter City Park and Downtown Exeter on E St. 7am - 5 K run, 2-mile walk and pancake breakfast.

9am -4pm - 1st Annual Antiques and Collectables Street Faire on North E St. 10am - Fall Festival parade followed by live entertainment in the park will be all day featuring the ultimate party band Run4Cover from

11:30am – 1:30pm, under the gazebo. There will also have arts & crafts, games, pet adoptions, petting zoo, live reptile show, food and fun for all.

11am - The 11th Annual Car & Bike Show will feature Custom Vehicles, Classic Cars, Hot Rods & Bikes (downtown Exeter on E Street between Chestnut & Pine Street).

Saturday, October 14th 11:30 am – 1:30 pm

Coming to the Hanford Fox Theatre 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 Friday the 13th - Friday, October 13 @ 7 pm The Junglebook (1967)- Saturday, October 21 @ 2 pm Ghostbusters - Saturday, October 28 @ 7pm

(559) 584-7823

www.foxhanford.com

Calendar SEPTEMBER October 6: Valley Oak SPCA’s 8th Annual Wine & Wags Gala and Auction 6pm - You are invited to attend at the Visalia Wyndham Hotel where you will enjoy a delightful evening of wine and food tasting, live and silent auctions. Tickets are limited and this typically sells out, so snap up your tickets early! Discount applies to table sponsors with one or more reserved tables of 10.

Enjoy a delightful evening of wine tasting, delectable hors d’oeuvres from local restaurants and participate in live and silent auctions including trips, spa packages, wine tasting parties, wine gift baskets, original artwork, jewelry and more. A cash bar will also be available.

Proceeds from this event support our No-Kill, non-profit animal rescue mission which enables us to rescue more homeless animals and offer a variety of programs, resources and treatments for pets in our community. Event attendees must be 21 years of age or older. For additional information and questions, please contact Abby Dean at adean@vospca.org October 6: Opening Reception Standing in the Gap of the Here and In-Between 6-8pm - Showcase of Jamie Boley’s works,previously displayed at CSU Fresno’s Graduate show, as part of her senior thesis. 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. Exhibit continues through Oct. 27 at Arts Visalia Visual Arts Center, 214 E. Oak. The gallery hours are 12-5:30, Wednesday Saturday. For more information, call (559) 739-0905 or visit our website at www.artsvisalia.org 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

email: cosfoodtruckfest@gmail.com October 10-13: Paper Plate Owl or check out our FB page at face- Art at Tulare County Libraries book.com/costheatrefoodtruckfest Craft sessions are available at the Alpaugh, Dinuba, Earlimart, Exeter, October 7: Alta District Annual Farmersville, Ivanhoe, Lindsay, LonHarvest Dinner & Auction 5pm - Please join for an evening of don, Orosi, Springville, Strathmore, great food, fellowship and fun. Held Three Rivers, Tipton and Woodlake at the Alta District Historical Society, branch libraries. Times and days vary 289 South K Street in Dinuba. Deep with each location. Call or visit your pit beef dinner. Live and silent auc- local library for more information.

dreaux and District Attorney Tim Ward. Must be 21 and over. NO tickets sold night-of, presale only.

Contact for more info and tickets (559) 731-5693 or (559) 730-0407.

October 13: Paint Nite at the Tulare County Museum 6-8pm - The Tulare County Museum is hosting a Paint Nite event to raise funds for restoration projects. This is a fun way to spend the evening with friends while supporting the Tulare County Museum! You will be guided through a step by step process in painting a beautiful evening mountain scene on canvas by a professional instructor. You don’t have to be an artist to participate, just willing to learn something new and have fun!

tions. Tickets $25; table for 6, $150, October 11: Master Gardener table for 8, $200. For more informa- Training Course Orientation tion, call (559) 591-2144.

3pm - The UC Master Gardeners of Tulare and Kings Counties are October 7: Corcoran Cotton Fesrecruiting! You are invited to an oritival Festivities will kick off with the Ro- entation at the Tulare County Cooptary Pancake Breakfast followed by erative Extension Office. Please call October 7: Alta Peak Chapter Na- the Cotton Parade which will be (559) 684-3343 for more informative Plant Sale held downtown. After the parade, tion, or register online at cetulare.

10am - 3pm - Choose from over 100 all booths and activities will be held ucanr.edu Tickets are $45 and the museum will different types of hard-to-find Cali- at the Recreation Association of October 12, 13, 14, and 15 receive $15 of every ticket purchased. fornia native plants! While Califor- Corcoran.

Ghost Tours at Hanford Carnegie Must be 21 or older to participate. To nia’s native plants have graced gardens Museum purchase tickets visit the museum*s worldwide for over a century, few of This years theme is “Cotton Safari”. The Ghost Tours are $10 per person website at www.tularecountymusethe landscapes designed for our state’s Among some of the activities planned in advance, $15 at the door, and un- um.org or the Tulare County Musegardens reflect the natural splendor for that day will be a carnival and der 5 are free. Groups of 10 or more, um Facebook page at https://www.

Bingo. Bingo will be held in the Kate for which California is famous.

Boswell Senior Center. Pre-sale tick- please call for group discount. Ghost facebook.com/TulareCountyMuseBy gardening with native plants, you ets are available here at the chamber Tours begin at 7pm and will run un- um/ can bring the beauty of California office ($10). Monsanto band will be til 9pm on Thursday and Sunday and October 13, 18, 27: Free Computinto your own landscape while also performing this year for the festival. 10pm on Friday and Saturday. 559- er Classes at the Visalia Branch receiving numerous benefits. In a 584-1367 Library For more information, to purchase garden environment, native plants October 12: “All Things Made The Visalia Branch of the Tulare do best with some attention and tickets or to sign up for a booth space New” Banquet County Library now offers a weekcare, but require less water, fertilizer, contact us at 559-992-4514.

12pm & 6pm - You’re invited! Oc- ly computer class, free of charge, to pruning, less or no pesticide, and less October 7: Tea Tasting Evening tober 12th for lunch or dinner, cele- conduct you through the maze of time to maintain than do many com- Gala: All the Tea in China brating the Visalia Rescue Mission at these technological challenges. mon garden plants. Three Rivers Arts 6pm - Bring your own Asian tea cup the Visalia Convention Center, 303 Center - Go east on HWY 198, turn to sample various types of teas as E. Acequia. Special Guest Speaker: Sessions are for ages 14 and up and left at Anne Lang’s Emporium. Look well as a small lantern or stand-alone Bob Lupton - who will be speaking are held on Wednesdays at 11am and for first building on the left on North candle for evening light. Join us for at both events. Lupton is a Christian Fridays at 2pm in the Visalia Branch Fork Drive.

Moon Cakes and Chinese appetizers, community developer who brings Library’s Computer Lab. Classes cover a variety of topics from basics to October 7: COS Foundation Food cultural performances, and an excel- together communities of resource Microsoft Word II. lent tea workshop to celebrate the with communities of need. He is the Truck Fest 11am - 5pm - The first annual Food Autumn Moon Festival. The follow- author of several books which draw Fourteen seats are available per class, Truck Fest, held in the COS Quad, ing activities will be included in this on his many decades of experience to so sign up as soon as you can. If benefits the COS Theatre Arts De- fundraiser for the Asian Cultural So- improve the quality of the life of the seats are filled, come by anyway for a chance you’ll get a seat. Sign-ups may partment. Activities include a climb- ciety: Learn the differences between poor and disenfranchised. ing wall, train rides, face painting, different types of teas (green, black, Tickets may be purchased by phone, be made over the phone by calling photo booth, bounce house, arts & oolong, etc.); Tea brewing demon- (559) 740-4178, or in-person at (559) 713-2700 or in person at the retail booths, and of course - Food stration and cookware discussion; Simply Chic Boutique on Main St., Visalia Library Computer Lab. ParTrucks! Seventeen food trucks will be Discover the health benefits and me- or by visiting VRM online at https:// ticipants who attend and complete at least four computer classes will reon hand! Beer tasting, from noon to dicinal uses of tea; vrmhope.org/events/2017/10/12/all- ceive a free USB flash drive and cer4pm is featuring Brewbakers Brew- Understand the difference between things-made-new-banquet tificate of achievement. ing Company and Tioga Sequoia store bought tea and high qualiBrewing Company. The first 250 ty loose tea leaves; Tea Comparison October 12: Soroptimist InternaOctober 14: Exeter Fall Festival people at the beer tasting will receive Sheet provided for tea tasting; How is tional of Tulare & Tulare Outlets 7am - 4pm - Exeter City Park and a commemorative beer tasting mug tea used as nutritional medicine and 2nd Annual Wine & Shop Downtown Exeter on E St. 7am - 5K and gift bag. herbal medicine; Door prizes & oth- 5:30-8:30 - Wine tasting, food, run, 2-mile walk and pancake breaklive band, Cigar Bar, silent auction, fast. 9am - 4 pm - 1st Annual AnThe entertainment lineup includes er fun activities! $500 shopping spree and more gifts.

Kids Edition & DYNA, Dancer’s Cost: $25.00 per person in advance Held at the Clock Tower at Bravo tiques and Collectables Street Faire Edge Triple Threats, Bear Ridge ($30.00 @ the door) Location: Visa- Farms in the Tulare Outlets. Tickets: on North E St. 10am - Fall Festival Bluegrass and The Media. Parking lia & Hosted by Asian Cultural Soci- $25; benefiting Human Trafficking parade. and admission are free. For more in- ety. For more information, call (559) Awareness. Speakers that evening will Live entertainment in the park will formation contact (559) 288-2603, 625-4246. be Tulare County Sheriff Mike Bou- be all day featuring the ultimate par-

ty band “Run4Cover” from 11:30am – 1:30pm, under the gazebo. We will also have arts & crafts, games, pet adoptions, petting zoo, live reptile show, food and fun for all. 11am 3pm - The 11th Annual Car & Bike Show will feature Custom Vehicles, Classic Cars, Hot Rods & Bikes (downtown Exeter on E Street between Chestnut & Pine Street). Info. call (559) 592-2919.

October 14: 41st Annual Allensworth State Historic Park Rededication 10am - 4pm - Join the Friends of Allensworth in celebrating the uniqueness of Allensworth, the first African American town in California, founded in August 1908. Celebration includes: history, music, dance, storytelling and poetry. Enjoy arts & crafts and food vendors, plus bike rentals.

For more information, please contact (877)245-6232 or www.friendsofallensworth.org

the free event, which features live entertainment, information booths, games, family and student-oriented activities, and more. Free event for students and parents commemorates Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Special Agent Enrique S. “Kiki” Camarena who served in the military, became a police officer, then an undercover agent with the DEA in Mexico investigating drug cartels, where he was murdered. Camarena declared, “I am only one person, but I want to make a difference.”

local library for more information.

October 21: Mads Tolling Violin Concert 7:30pm - The first concert of the Lindsay 2017-18 concert season is Mads Tolling, a two-time grammy award winning musician. He plays the violin and makes it sing. We are so lucky to have an entertainer of his caliber in the Central Valley. If you love popular tunes, played with a jazzy flair that will make you tap your toe and clap along, this is for you. Tickets for the show are only $20, and if you get a group of 10 together, there is a 25% discount. Call for details, (559) 284-2223. Check him out on youtube to see videos of his music. You may not have heard of him before, but you will always remember his show.

October 28: Grace Lutheran Church Christmas Boutique & Luncheon 10am - 3pm - On the menu is your choice of Weight Watchers Famous Chili, Minestrone Soup, or Chicken Noodle Soup, homemade bread & beverage plus dessert; bread pudding with vanilla sauce. Ticket prices are Adults $8.00 children 10 & under $4.00. This annual event is sponsored by the Lutheran Women’s Missionary League of Grace Lutheran Church, 1111 S. Conyer St, Visalia.

At 9am join the 10th Annual certified 5k run/walk course for all ages at the Park. Participants receive T-shirt, refreshments, random drawings, timing, aid stations, healthy eats, and awards ceremony. Entry fee: $20 for adult, $15 for seniors, $7 for youth.

Register online at: http://tinyurl. com/y9k2md7m For more information, please contact (916)346-4767, October 21: Hands in the Commuor visit www.allensworth5krunwalk. nity, 8th Annual Planting Seeds, org Growing Together October 14: Exeter Fall Festival 11am - 3pm - Pioneer Days in Downtown Porterville, including a Rib Cookoff, Live Shoot-out, and more! Free to attend.

October 17-20: Paper Pumpkin Art at Tulare County Libraries Craft sessions are available at the Alpaugh, Dinuba, Earlimart, Exeter, Farmersville, Ivanhoe, Lindsay, London, Orosi, Springville, Strathmore, Three Rivers, Tipton and Woodlake branch libraries. Times and days vary with each location. Call or visit your local library for more information.

October 18: 8th Annual Red Ribbon Week Celebration 3-6pm - Your Future is Key: Stay Drug Free! Tulare County Health & Human Services Agency and the Tulare County Office of Education are taking a stand against alcohol and drugs during Red Ribbon Week by hosting the 8th Annual Red Ribbon Week Celebration at the Visalia Convention Center. Students and their families are invited to attend

October 27: Visalia Halloween Brewfest 6-9pm - Visalia’s very first Halloween Brewfest: “Diablo Toro Brewfest” located at Rawhide Ballpark, presented by Golden Road Brewing! Beer tastings, DJ, food vendors, & costume contest for a chance to win up to $500! 21 & over only, DD tickets available, tickets go on sale October 1 at www.RawhideBaseball.com & at the Rawhide Ballpark. Tickets are $40 each, or $10 for DD’s.

October 28: Crocker Art Museum Bus Tour 6am - 10pm - The wheelchair accessible bus will depart from the Visalia Convention Center off of E. Acequia Ave. The fee is $70 per person, which includes admission into the museum.

Feel free to bring your own food and drinks for the trip. For more infor6-9pm - You are cordially invited to mation, call (559) 739-0905 or visit join us for our 8th annual “Planting our website at www.artsvisalia.org Seeds, Growing Together” auction This trip is made possible by the partand dinner to benefit Hands in the nership between Arts Visalia and the Community. HNC is a Visalia-based Visalia Art League. nonprofit that provides crisis and referral services to those in need. Our October 30: Taste Treats in Tulare dinner will feature donated items in 27th Annual Restaurant Showcase both a silent and live auction. Tables 6-8:30pm - For the past 26 years, of 8 are available for $550 and spon- “Taste Treats” has been the premiere sorships with advertising are available restaurant showcase event, highlightat $1500 and $2500 levels.Event ing the best of the best, and this year takes place at Visalia Convention will prove to be no different! Ticket purchases include a hosted bar. A Center. live and silent auction will be held Please RSVP by October 9 at Noon during the evening. New location to hncvisalia@gmail.com or call Les- on the grounds of the International ter Moon at (559) 625-3822 exten- Agri-Center... Pavilion “C”. Hosted sion 3.” bar - live and silent auctions. Benefits October 24 - 27: Scary Tic Tac Toe the Tulare Historical Museum. at Tulare County Libraries Mondays: National Alliance on Craft sessions are available at the Al- Mental Illness, 5:45pm Education paugh, Dinuba, Earlimart, Exeter, Meeting: 7pm Support Group Farmersville, Ivanhoe, Lindsay, Lon- St. Paul’s Anglican Church, Visalia, don, Orosi, Springville, Strathmore, 120 N. Hall, Corner of Center and Three Rivers, Tipton and Woodlake Hall. For more information call: branch libraries. Times and days vary (559) 627-1306 with each location. Call or visit your

5 October, 2017

B6 • Valley Voice

Hanford Carnegie Museum to Host Ghost Walks, Events

Rawhide Named Esurance Home Field Advantage Award Winner Staff Reports The Visalia Rawhide, as announced

by Minor League Baseball (MiLB) and Esurance today, have been named winners of the second annual Esurance Home Field Advantage. The Rawhide have been recognized for the second straight year after claiming the award following the 2016 season.

The Esurance Home Field Advantage Award honors the communities who best supported their hometown teams this season. One Minor League Baseball team in each of the 14 leagues has been named a winner of the award, which recognizes teams with the highest percentage of attendance based on ballpark capacity during the 2017 season.

“We’re thrilled to once again be honored with the Esurance Home Field Advantage Award,” said Rawhide General Manager Jennifer (Pendergraft) Reynolds.

“The Visalia community and the Tulare and Kings county communities at large have always shown us tremendous support, and we couldn’t be more thankful for their dedication to the Rawhide and to professional baseball in Visalia. We are looking forward to welcoming everyone back for another summer of fun in 2018.”

Rawhide fans came out consistently in 2017 and set a single season attendance record for the seventh time in the last eight

years. 126,419 fans joined the Rawhide for games during their All-Star Summer, averaging over 1,800 fans per game. Visalia also hosted a sellout crowd of better than 2,500 for the California League AllStar Game on June 20, the first time the event had been held in Visalia for nearly 30 years. Nearly 42 million fans attended Minor League Baseball games across all 14 leagues this year.

“Throughout the 2017 season, Minor League Baseball fans came out in record numbers to support their hometown teams, demonstrating how deeply rooted our teams truly are in their respective communities,” said David Wright, Chief Marketing & Commercial Officer for Minor League Baseball. “The 14 teams that are recipients of this year’s Esurance Home Field Advantage Award and their fans certainly have reason to celebrate. We’ve had another great year of attendance in Minor League Baseball and extend a huge high-five to our fans for their continued support.”

The Visalia Rawhide now are gearing up for the 2018 season, which will be their 72nd at Recreation Park in Visalia. For more information visit Rawhidebaseball. com or call 559-732-4433. You can follow the Rawhide on Twitter (@VisaliaRawhide), Facebook (TheRawhide), Instagram (@visaliarawhide) and Snap Chat (visaliarawhide).

October is full of scares, thrills and blood pumping fun--and the Hanford Carnegie Museum has you covered with scary events and family fun. The Museum is decorated for Halloween for a nice spooky atmosphere. October 12, 13, 14, and 15 will feature Hanford Ghost Walks. Tour Guides will take you through Historic Hanford, where you will visit with ghosts and hear their tales while learning some history of the historic buildings. Some of the buildings this year include The Opera House, Fox Theater and the Artesia Hotel, which of course means new ghosts to talk to. You never know what other shadows of the past you may find on your Tour. Tours last approximately 45 min to an hour.

The Ghost Tours are $10 per person in advance, $15 at the door, and under 5 are free. Groups of 10 or more, please call for group discount. Ghost Tours begin at 7pm and will run until 9pm on Thursday and Sunday and 10pm on Friday and Saturday.

October 26 and 28 be prepared to explore the haunted Hanford Carnegie Museum in the dark from Alice’s Office to the basement. What will be lurking in the dark and around the corners? Come and find out if you dare to be scared!

Tours will begin at 7pm until 11:45pm and last about 30- 45 minutes. Haunted Flashlight Tours are $5 in advance and $8 at the door. You must be at least 16.

What ghosts lurk in the Hanford Carnegie Museum?

Meet with Barry Fitzgerald of Ghost

Staff Reports Hunters International, author, adventurer, paranormal investigator, documentary producer and lecturer as he investigates the Museum with you. You won’t want to miss this! Tickets are $50 each.

October 21 is the Zombie Apocalypse (Ball and Crawl). Beginning at the Historic Hanford Carnegie Museum at 5pm, participants will become the haunted undead crawling the streets of Hanford in a celebration of eerie proportions. Upon returning to the museum there will be an after party. Have a good time dancing the monster mash.

Tickets are $10.

October 22 will bring the annual kids pumpkin carving. Kids will get a thrill out of carving their very own pumpkins. Last year there was such a large turnout that the event had to be extended two days. Tickets are $3 each.

October also features a new display on California Gems and Minerals.

This display will only be around for a short time.

For more information or to purchase tickets to any of our events, please call or visit the Hanford Carnegie Museum, 109 E. 8th Street, Hanford CA 93230, 559-584-1367. The Hanford Carnegie Museum is a non-profit organization that is self-sustaining, needing no subsidies from any government entity. All donations and ticket sales go directly to keeping this beautiful, historic building alive, ghosts and all.

FOOD TRUCK FEST!

Saturday, October 7, 11 am to 5 pm Free College of the Sequoias Fre Parking & e Adm

iss

io n Music by Bear Ridge Blue Grass Band Beer Tasting from Brewbakers & Tioga Sequoia

Beer Tasting: $10 per person. Must be 21 years of age.

All Proceeds benefit the College of the Sequoias Theatre Arts Dept.

● 2245 S. Mooney Visalia Next to Visalia Mall ● 833 W. Henderson Porterville Next to Galaxy Theaters www.spookyhalloweenstore.com Be sure to like us, follow us & tweet us @spookyhallowsto * Per visit, per day.

Cannot be combined with any other coupon or discount - other restrictions may apply.

Climbing Wall $10 per person - Train Rides $3 per person Bounce House, Arts & Crafts, Face Painting & More!

Facebook.com/costheatrefoodtruckfest

Wine & Beer Tasting At

Redwood Wine Room

Totem Market & Gifts Breakfast - Lunch - Dinner

J&J Cellars - Kelsey See Canyon Vineyards

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

5 October, 2017

Valley Voice • B7

Visalia Chamber Launches New EMERGE Entrepreneurship Program

Symphony League to Host “Country Western” Fundraiser Staff Reports The Tulare County Symphony League will hold a fundraising event on Saturday, November 4, 2017 at 6pm featuring contemporary Country Western music highlighting singer-songwriter Brandon Pasion and his band.

His heart-driven lyrics and melodies call back to the timeless storytelling of country music’s glory days, supported by clean, powerful vocals that reveal his jazz roots and impeccable artistry.

Brandon has been the Symphony League’s lead vocalist for the symphony’s annual Christmas concert for the last two years.

The event promises to be a fun and unique evening with a scrumptious barbeque dinner followed by a live auction featuring a beachside cabin weekend, wine trip for eight using Classic Charters with lunch at the Justin Winery, an overnight stay at the Elderberry Inn in Oakhurst, including dinner and breakfast and other exciting items.

The event will be held at the newly

decorated Merryman’s Station, 20898 Avenue 296, Exeter.

For additional information or to make reservations, please use the Symphony office telephone number 732-8600 or the E-mail address, symphonyleague2017@gmail.com.

Proceeds from this event will be used to give financial support to the Symphony Orchestra and the League’s Youth Education and String Scholarship Programs.

The organization provides 100 scholarships given to students of string instruments to offset the cost of private lessons and provide after school violin programs for at-risk youth at Crowley School in Visalia and Roosevelt School in Tulare.

The League has funded classical music education for hundreds of young people over the years and hopes to do so into the future with the generous support of patrons through events like these.

The League invites you to come and join them for a fun-filled “Country Western” evening!

8 Locations!

ExEtEr Dinuba

nEW!

HanforD 2 Locations

tuLarE VisaLia 3 Locations

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

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

First job? Multiple generations of fans and more!

On Thursday, September 21th the Visalia Chamber of Commerce launched Emerge, their newest entrepreneurship program. The Emerge entrepreneurship program was created to give new and future business owners a hands on learning experience. Participants will learn core entrepreneurial skills as they go through the process of taking a business idea from the early stages to a business ready to launch. “Entrepreneurship is vital to the success of a community. Entrepreneurs bring new ideas, generate tax revenue and provide jobs for the local community.” stated Gail Zurek, President/CEO of the Visalia Chamber of Commerce.

Building on the success of previous entrepreneurship programs, Emerge will help entrepreneurs to build a business plan and connect them with local business resources. The program will last six months and will include twelve evening classes held at the College of Sequoias Visalia campus. The Emerge program will consist of a cohort of up to 20 participants who will meet with two instructors and be provided a business mentor.

Each of the 12 classes will focus on a different area of business including; busi-

Staff Reports ness law, accounting, marketing, zoning and ordinances, human resources, insurance, taxes and sales training. During each class session industry experts will speak to the class and provide relevant real world experience and expertise that class members can incorporate into their new business ventures.

Ideally Emerge participants are in the process of, or planning to open a business in the near future, or have recently opened a business and want to better understand best practices and utilize available business resources.

To participate in the Emerge program, participants must complete an application, interview, attend orientation and be 18 years or older. Tuition for the Emerge program is $350.00 dollars.

The deadline to submit applications is November 17, 2017. People can attend individual classes for $50.00 if there is a particular area of business that they are interested in in learning about.

Applications and other materials can be found at www.visaliachamber.org/ emerge or by calling the Visalia Chamber of Commerce at 559-734-5876

5 October, 2017

Valley Voice • B8

Aspire to Inspire: Become a Master Gardener Priscilla Girard, UCCE Master Gardener

When I first moved to Porterville 30-something years ago, I remember driving around looking at different neighborhoods for a home.

I was so impressed with one home’s landscaping and appeal that I kept going back to that area hoping to find a house.

What made it look so welcoming were the colorful blossoms spilling out of the window boxes, the perfectly trimmed low hedges with skirts of bright flowers lining the curved walkway, and beautiful shade trees on the corner lot sheltering lush ferns, impatiens, and coleus.

I became acquainted with the wonderful woman who created this inspiring landscape and she became my go-to source for all my fledgling gardening questions.

Her cheerful and gracious generosity in sharing her wealth of information made me long to be just like her.

I discovered she was a Master Gardener and pledged to follow in her footsteps someday, which I did in 2010.

Master Gardeners are volunteers who share a common goal of educating

the public in research-based home gardening practices, integrated pest management, and sustainable landscape practices in our community.

They are trained by and under the supervision of the University of California Cooperative Extension.

To accomplish these lofty goals, MGs are available to answer questions from the public in Tulare and Kings Counties by conducting office hours at the UC Cooperative Extension, booths at several local Farmers’ Markets, and at special events at local nurseries several times a year.

In addition, MGs offer workshops and demonstrations to the public on rose pruning, fruit tree pruning, composting, and other garden topics.

They serve the community by maintaining the roses at the Tulare County Courthouse and the Ralph Moore Rose Garden, as well as cultivating a new demonstration garden at Hurley School.

MGs mentor teachers and other adults who interact with youth in establishing school and community gardens. Each Master Gardener gives a minimum of 25 hours of volunteer

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time each year and acquires a minimum of 12 hours of continuing education hours annually to remain in the program.

The rewards of serving as a Master Gardener volunteer are numerous and varied.

From the new-found friendships outside of their local community to the fulfillment in sharing knowledge and gardening experiences with others, or to improving one’s own personal gardening repertoire, being a MG creates a sense of purpose in giving back to the community.

Even though she always loved to garden, Nancy Hawkins, current MG Director of Recruitment and Training, joyfully admits, “As a Master Gardener, I now have the knowledge and support to garden properly. I know which plants to use in our area, how to irrigate efficiently, and how to use and dispose of pesticides and fertilizers correctly. But, best of all, I have met a group of people who share my passion and enthusiasm.”

Sue Schieferle, Co-Director of Recruitment and Training, added, “Not only have I expanded my own gar-

dening knowledge, I’ve expanded my circle of friends to include eager plant experts willing to share their insights with the community.”

If you are interested in expanding your gardening knowledge and sharing your horticultural passion with others, the Master Gardener program may be perfect for you.

A new training class will be offered in January of 2018. The weekly classes will be held Wednesday mornings from January through May. If you are interested, contact Sue Gillison, Master Gardener Program Coordinator, at 684-3343 or sgillison@ucanr.edu.

To be considered, you must fill out an on-line application at http://cetulare.ucanr.edu and attend an orientation on October 11, 2017 from 3-4:30 at the Master Gardener Office, 4437 B South Laspina Street, Tulare. More detailed information can be found on the Tulare-Kings County Master Gardener website, at http://ucanr.edu/sites/ uc_master_gardeners/.

Priscilla Girard has been a Master Gardener since 2010 and lives and gardens in Springville.

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