Valley Voice Issue 109 (19 January, 2018)

Valley Voice

Volume XXXVIII No. 2 18 January, 2018 ourvalleyvoice.com

New management, Tulare County Supervisors Investigator hired in Hensley elect Worthley as chair for 2018 rebranding, at STEVE PASTIS McDermont leave case steve@ourvalleyvoice.com

NANCY VIGRAN

nancy@ourvalleyvoice.com

It’s been three-and-a-half months since Tulare’s top cop, Chief Wes Hensley, was placed on administrative leave. He still knows little to nothing more than he did on September 27, the day he received notice.

He and his attorney, Michael Lampe, are tired of the slow response and/or a lack of correspondence they have seen from the city.

In a letter from Lampe to the city attorney, Heather Phillips, dated December 14, Lampe insisted the issue of an investigation for the reasoning behind the chief’s leave be placed in the Tulare City Council’s hands, however, without the aid of the mayor.

“I am asking that this request be placed on the City Council Agenda for its next regularly scheduled meeting. Chief Hensley hereby waives any privacy rights with respect to this agenda item.

“As we have previously advised, we will insist that any administrative hearing, whether conducted by the City Council or an independent

The Tulare County Board of Supervisors started the business of the new year with the election of a chairman and vice chairman for 2018.

Steven Worthley was elected chairman, and Kuyler Crocker was elected vice chairman. Both were elected unanimously, 5-0, a voting trend that continued through the meeting.

Worthley, who has previously served as chairman several times, is starting his 20th and final year on the board.

After the meeting, he said there is still some unfinished county business he intends to address this year.

Interest on pension bonds for retired county employees is at 7.25%, but he said the cost could be reduced to almost 4% with refinancing.

Worthley wants to evaluate public safety in Tulare County, and deal with the increased expenses of staffing the new prisons being built in the county.

He also wants to look at improving the appearance of county buildings.

“We’ve done a lot inside our buildings, but we need to look at our buildings from the outside,” he said, suggesting improvements such as landscaping.

HENSLEY continued on 9 »

NANCY VIGRAN

nancy@ourvalleyvoice.com

I

Being their first meeting of 2018, the supervisors had a long list of appointments to make. They also voted to extend the designation of the Arts Consortium as the official arts council of Tulare County. (See related article in Scene.)

The most important business, however, affected the quality of water in the communities of Seville and Yettem, and the development of affordable housing in Goshen.

Water service in Seville has 75 active connections, with customers paying the current rate of $60. There are 65 active connections in Yettem, with customers paying a $58 rate. For their money, Seville residents have a water system described in the presentation by county engineer Ross Miller as “an-

f it weren’t for Clint Ashcraft, Daici Avilla and Alfredo Velasco, Lindsay’s McDermont Field House might well have closed at the beginning of the year. Renovated from an old packing house starting in 2006, the facility opened during the recession – and has yet to see a profit.

Avilla and Velasco have been employed by the city to work at McDermont since its opening in 2008. Ashcraft began his employment with the city in 2006, during the planning and development stages of the facility.

With a vision for what could work, and what has not, the trio formed McDermont Venture last November, and took on a five-year lease of the facility.

If they had not stepped forward, “we would have had to have some serious discussions regarding closing it down,” said Lindsay Mayor Pam Kimball. “That was something we didn’t want to have to do.”

The city remains dedicated to the McDermont vision, but could no longer warrant the expense of keep-

SUPERVISORS continued on 4 »

MCDERMONT continued on 10 »

In Other Business

Four enter race Tulare Mayor Jones, former friend spar in court for District D in CATHERINE DOE Hanford recall catherine@ourvalleyvoice.com

CATHERINE DOE

catherine@ourvalleyvoice.com

Hanford residents in District D will decide on January 23 whether or not they want to replace Council Member Francisco Ramirez with a fresh face.

Elected as young, energetic force in 2014, Ramirez beat out incumbent Lou Martinez by a commanding 15 points. Now Martinez is vying to replace Ramirez, who is now seen by his detractors as an ineffective council member.

If the recall is successful the residents have four candidates from which to choose. Two candidates, Shelly Barker and Paula Massey were profiled in the Valley Voice in the November 2 issue.

Since that time, two more candidates have filed papers, former Hanford Mayor Lou Martinez and business woman Diane Sharp.

Sharp – I Want a More Transparent Government

Sharp has been endorsed by both the Kings County Republican Party and the Kings County Libertarian Party (KCLP.) The KCLP looks for candidates who believe in small, fiscally responsible government, will put the historic buildings to good use, liven up downtown, and bring in businesses without using local taxes for “corporate welfare or handouts.”

After interviewing the four

HANFORD continued on 8 »

On September 22, 2017, a Tulare County Superior Court judge declared a mistrial in a previously undisclosed case involving Tulare Mayor Carlton Jones and a former friend of his.

Jones’ former friend was tried by a jury for violating a Criminal Restraining Order (CRO) prohibiting him from coming within 100 yards of Mayor Jones and his wife. The Voice is not printing the Defendant’s name because he is not a public figure and because of the sensitivity of the case.

The case was prosecuted by the Tulare County District Attorney’s office.

A CRO falls in the category of a court order and those types of violations are rarely heard in front of a jury.

“Violations of court orders happen thousands of times,” said Assistant District Attorney, Dave Alavezos. But in this case Alavezos said the Defendant was also on probation for vandalism and pled “not guilty” during his CRO hearing, even though the Defendant clearly violated the CRO. “If someone is not going to take responsibility, we don’t just say ‘that’s OK.’ The District Attorney’s office needs to do something,” said Alavezos.

During the trial the Defendant explained the circumstances behind his violating the CRO, but was not allowed to discuss the emotionally charged reasons behind the restraining order being filed in the first place.

Six witnesses took the stand during the day- long trial.

The following morning the jury was unable to come to a unanimous decision and the court declared a

mistrial.

The vote was 11 not guilty and 1 guilty.

Criminal cases in California require the jury to reach a unanimous decision for a verdict of innocence or guilt.

Violation of the CRO

The restraining order was filed in June of 2016 and the Defendant violated it four months later.

According to the Tulare Carlton Jones and his wife, Cindi. Catherine Doe/Valley Voice in order to get to the parking lot.

Police report, on October 8, 2016, the Defendant’s son and the Joneses’ daughter were both participating CRO Violation Not in a soccer game at a Tulare elementary Reported for a Week school. Tulare Officer Banuelos states In an interesting twist, the Joneses in his report that sometime during did not report the violation of the CRO the game the Defendant walked past the day it happened.

Mr. and Mrs. Jones. According to the Mrs. Jones called the Tulare Police Joneses he came within three to five Department more than two weeks feet, which was a violation of the CRO. later, on October 25, to report the inThe Defendant stated to Banuelos, cident. According to the transcript according to the report, that he was of the conversation, the dispatcher 10 – 20 feet away from the Joneses and asked why she didn’t call on October was headed to the parking lot to get 8, the date of the incident. She said his keys. He told Officer Banuelos that that her husband told her their lawyer he did not deliberately walk towards said “there was no longer a restrainthe Joneses and was aware of the coning order.” sequences of violating the CRO. She then told the dispatcher that Mr. Jones told Officer Banuelos she went down to the courthouse herthat the soccer game was located at a self and got another copy of the relarge field and that the defendant destraining order and discovered that it liberately walked across the field in was in fact still current and she wanttheir direction. ed it reported.

According to an anonymous source close to the Defendant’s famiThe Incident Leading to ly, the Defendant did not deliberately walk towards the Joneses but needed the Trial and CRO to get his keys and didn’t want to walk The September 2017 trial and all the way around the fenced off field

JONES continued on 9 »

18 January, 2018 Valley Voice

2

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Not just anyone can be an athlete. You have to be agile. Athletic.

Similarly, not just anyone can be an intellectual. You have to be intelligent.

You have to qualify for most things in life.

But anyone can be a politician.

Take Tulare Mayor Carlton Jones. Please. It doesn’t get much more comical or petty than his being in office. Has he rolled up his sleeves and strived for the improvement of his city?

Ha! He sat on his hands--or maybe held them out, palms up--while the whole sorry saga of Tulare’s hospital implosion unfolded. He co-signed a letter to the California Medical Association telling them to stay out of the hospital’s Medical Executive Committee controversy. He tried to deny the new hospital district board access to what he termed “his” chambers.

Meaning the Tulare City Council chambers. And he bad-mouthed the hospital board’s regular meetings as “going pretty negative.” Of course, he’s never attended one.

Mind you, he has said--repeatedly--that, as mayor, he’s not at all involved with the hospital. The city’s sole hospital, a public entity, and possibly Tulare’s largest single employer. Not involved!

Carlton Jones is a blackguard.

So was the entirety of the old hospital board--politicians to a one. Blackguards, and now beyond any legal consequence for the chaos they enabled.

Until now I’ve never understood the compulsion to tar and feather someone.

And now it turns out, apparently, that anyone at all--any citizen--can be President of the United States.

This is simultaneously terrifying and deeply democratic.

I can’t shake the image of a garage band trying to learn to play its instruments. Or in the present case, possibly, a punk band that has dispensed with learning properly at all.

Donald Trump is a punk president--and, orange Johnny Rotten hairstyle notwithstanding, I don’t intend that to be derogatory.

If the presidency is an instrument one learns to play, Trump so far has steadfastly--perhaps gleefully--refused. I seem to remember he campaigned on this theme--something which was so attractive to all those who considered Washington to be “broken.”

I agree with “broken.”

Still, President Rotten is not the solution. And that was derogatory. And maybe I should reverse the words: Rotten President.

Perhaps, even, Racist President. It’s arguable, going so far back as 1973.

But the takeaway here is that if I were asked--and despite my gut feeling that he is--I would have to say I don’t know if Trump is a racist. Neither does the national news media, which currently is discussing the topic. How bad is it that there is even any question that the ostensible “Leader of the Free World” is a racist?

Ostensible because I’m unsure he’s so much as in control of himself.

Drain-the-Swamp President? The only swamp that’s draining is his own administration, which is seeing departure after departure.

Obstructionist President?

Lying President?

Money Laundering President?

Philanderer President?

How about Groper President? I’m sure we can shake hands on that one.

Put ‘er there.

— Joseph Oldenbourg

Valley Voice

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Valley Voice 18 January, 2018

POLITICAL FIX IS TULARE COUNTY PART OF TRUMP’S BASE?

The Black Caucus, and a segment of the population, feels that Pres.

Trump doesn’t understand acceptable decorum or the level of respect the office of the president holds.

To put their sentiments in context, imagine if Governor Jerry Brown was having a meeting in the State Capitol concerning the drought and said, “Why should we give those shithole counties water?

Then we have Tulare and Kings County. Why should they get our water?

Why shouldn’t we give more water to San Diego?”

To be honest, we all know people who have called Tulare and Kings Counties shithole counties (my husband.) It doesn’t mean the name caller thinks the same about the people

On January 11, President Trump met with Democratic and Republican Senators about Immigration Reform. During the meeting he said, “Haiti? Why do we want people from Haiti here?” Then they got Africa.

‘Why do we want these people from all these shithole countries here?

“We should have more people from places like Norway.”

Most people, including everyone in Africa, the Caribbean, and Central America, were shocked.

The reaction from one African country was that Pres. Trump’s statements are “really, really derogatory” and “hugely offensive.” The African Union has demanded an apology.

Pres. Trump, on the other hand, was reported as taking a victory lap around the White House that evening.

Why? Because he and his staff said his statements, which the White House denies, appeal to Trump’s base.

Are Tulare and Kings Counties part of Pres.

Trump’s base?

Unlike the rest of Californians, who overwhelmingly voted for Hilary Clinton, Pres.

Trump won by 10 points in Tulare County and Devon Mathis and Amy Dickinson-Cambell. Catherine Doe/Valley Voice by 13 points in Kings County.

I asked Amy Dickinson-Campbell, who live here. It means someone livan Iraq War Vet and diehard Trump ing here is frustrated that they can’t fan, if the president’s statements find a decent book store or see Academy Award hopefuls such as “Call had any effect in Tulare County.

Ms. Dickinson-Campbell showed Me by Your Name” while “Baby Boss” up at a political forum in 2016 with and “Geostorm” linger in the thea “’Hilary for Prison” t-shirt, so I felt aters for months.

Pres. Trump lamenting the fact she had her finger on the pulse of that more Norwegians don’t immithe local Trump community.

She said it was a mixed bag. grate to the United States doesn’t “Some people don’t care and some bolster his “I’m not a racist” argupeople don’t think he said it.” When ment. Nor does it showcase his I asked her if she felt he lost any sup- deep understanding of the geopoport over the last few weeks she said, litical differences between the two countries.

“No, I don’t think so.”

Norway was ranked the happiShe added, “It’s just a big nothest country in the world in 2017. The ing burger.”

United States was ranked 14th, ironShe said that most people she ically behind a Central American talks to just don’t care because the country, Costa Rica. president “ends up being right anyIn Norway, college is free. Everyway, like he was with tax reform.” one gets free healthcare and moms She said the feeling here is, “Just get 46 weeks paid maternity leave. let the man do his job.”

To be honest, we all know some- Gun ownership is one of the highest nd one (my husband) who has called in the world, which should make 2 one or two undeveloped countries Amendment chest pounders happy.

But while the United States has shitholes. It doesn’t mean the name about 33,000 gun deaths a year, Norcaller thinks that the people who live in those countries are inferior. way has 400. Norwegians have acIt means, for example, those coun- tually left the United States because ties’ streets flood at the suggestion it can be such a dangerous place to of rain or that the smell of sewage raise children.

The United Nations named Norwafts through the air on a warm way as the best country in the world afternoon. to live in for the 12th year in a row, The Congressional Black Caucus had to say this about Pres. Trump, and also named Norway as the most “We respect the president’s office prosperous country in the world.

Why? Because Norway does what even if he doesn’t.”

3 a column by CATHERINE DOE — catherine@ourvalleyvoice.com Pres. Trump hates--the government takes care of its citizens. Norway is a socialist country and its people some of the most hard working and industrious in the world despite government “handouts.”

To quote the Twitter feed from one Norwegian with the same decorum as Pres. Trump.

“Why would we move to a country with a shithole President?”

To be honest, we all know people who have said the same (my husband.)

IT’S COMPLICATED

Maya Angelou’s advice was, “When someone shows you who they are, believe them.”

This refrain has been repeated about President Donald Trump since before the election. It made me think of my own extended family.

What if the person showing you who they really are is your own sister? In the complicated, messy world of sibling relationships, should we heed Ms. Angelou’s advice?

A typical example of my sister “showing who she is” was during a family trip.

Then 40, she brought along her old and visibly scratched gameboy.

My two oldest sons, Chuck and Alex, had just received as a gift the same gameboy and shared one unit between them.

When the trip ended my sister “accidently” took my sons’ gameboy, and the boys soon discovered hers didn’t work.

She wouldn’t mail it back, so when she planned to visit six months later, I implored her to bring the boys’ gameboy. It wasn’t something at the time we could afford to replace. She did bring their gameboy when she came to my house for dinner. But when she saw the condition of hers, she refused to give the boys’ unit back.

In light of the fact that they no longer owned a gameboy, Chuck and Alex ran upstairs to get all of their games and gave them to my sister.

They then stood behind her dining room chair, and excitedly watched over her shoulder as she played their games, just as excited as when they watched each other play those few weeks they owned one.

She left that evening with my boys’ gameboy - and their games.

Chuck and Alex were seven and eight years old.

I don’t know if I was more upset about my sister keeping their toy or how quickly my boys rolled over to my sister’s demand.

As young mother I still wasn’t prone to stand up to my siblings, so I didn’t say anything either. It was an uncomfortable flashback to my relationship with my sister and brother when I was my sons’ age.

Sibling relationships are complicated. While I have almost nothing in common with my sister in terms of our personalities, she is the most closely related person to me in the world. We look like each other, our builds are similar, and we share a few idiosyncrasies.

I can see her when I look in the mirror, and I can see my brother when I look at my youngest son, Manny.

My brother, sister and I know pieces about each other that no one else knows, not even our parents. Before my brother hit adolescence, those long evenings while my parents had their nightcaps and watched T.V., were spent playing on the other side of the house, out of earshot.

A long hall connected our bedrooms and we used it as a sports arena to play hours of dodge ball hiding the detritus along the way. We turned off the lights in my bedroom and put a towel under the door to make it completely black and played Dark Tag. I had two beds in my room and we would roll around on them while listening to music. My brother would wheel in his record payer and put on our favorite album, Beethoven’s Ode to Joy. We knew each others’ habits, had secrets, and were the keepers of our childhoods. So when my siblings die a part of me will die with them.

But maybe that has already happened.

I was the youngest by several years and a doormat. As we grew the gulf between us became larger.

As young adults, while most people were raising a family, my brother and sister spent their time on their own pursuits and their money on themselves.

It’s like we lived on different planets.

“America first means America alone” is another statement swirling around Pres. Trump.

Always looking after number one might yield the same result for my brother and sister – alone.

My siblings haven’t talked to me or their nieces and nephews in four years. They quit talking to us when my dad and stepmom kicked us out of our home.

The reasons are not as complicated as deciphering sibling relationships.

They were bought off.

My brother and sister are not too fond of each other and I wonder if they have reflected on what it is going to be like after our parents pass away. Who has their power of attorney if they become disabled? Who are they going to call from the hospital if they break their hip? Where are they going to spend Christmas?

Alex was too sensitive for this world and drank himself to death after we told him we definitely have to leave our home. While my son struggled with depression, had repeated mental break downs, and then finally died, my brother and sister sat on their hands.

Martin Luther King said, “You will not remember the words of your enemies but will remember the silence of your friends.”

I agree. Silence is complicity and I have to admit the ugly truth that since my son passed away, I’m at peace with my current relationship with my siblings.

But should I be at peace?

Elections and climate change, legislators and access to healthcare, national politics and home politics, the leader of the free word and the people most closely related to you.

We are all connected.

So when is it time to call it quits?

18 January, 2018 Valley Voice

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Nunes losing local support?

DAVE ADALIAN

dave@ourvalleyvoice.com

Poll numbers for Rep. Devin Nunes (R-Tulare) are dropping quickly as constituents from both sides of the political aisle grow increasingly upset at the lack of access to their congressman.

Close Race Early

A survey of voters by the firm Public Policy Polling released Tuesday by the campaign to elect Democratic challenger Andrew Janz shows any candidate going up against Nunes has an almost even chance of beating the incumbent. The poll gives Nunes 50% of the vote, with 45% of the vote going to any unnamed Democrat that runs against him. Because the poll has a 4.1% margin of error, Nunes advantage could be as little as 1% or less.

“I’m more determined than ever to retire him in 2018,” Janz said.

The last time Nunes was reelected, his margin of victory over his Democratic opponent was 20 points. With the election still nearly six months in the future, Nunes support has already eroded by 25%.

Nunes is particularly at risk with independent voters, 61% of whom already plan to vote against him.

Nearly half of independents who might support him change their minds when presented with news reports of Nunes actions regarding the Trump-Russia investigation.

“This poll shows what I knew to be true when I announced last April,” Janz said. “Devin Nunes is vulnerable for a challenge this year due to his ethical missteps and complete dedication to protecting the president instead of serving the people of the Valley.”

Closed-Door Policy

At least one voter Nunes has been able to count on in the past is upset with the way the congressman is conducting business these days.

Amy Dickinson-Campbell, a Navy veteran who advocates for the rights of other veterans, was upset when she was met with a locked door when she made a recent visit to Nunes’s Visalia office.

“I was a little taken aback when they (Nunes’s staff) argued with me over the intercom,” she said.

She made it inside, using her status as a veteran to gain access.

“They answered the door for me, but I told them, ‘I stood the watch, I think you can answer the door for me,’” Dickinson-Campbell said. “I’m a veteran, and I advocate for other veterans. I was helping a veteran get a discharge upgrade.”

Limited Access

Dickinson-Campbell says Nunes’s staff told her they no longer allow visits to his office because of security concerns.

“I told them I would spread the word for them,” she said. “They said it’s for their own safety.”

What they didn’t tell Dickinson-Campbell is the policy resulted from the threat staff felt from constituents who dropped in unannounced to see Nunes and his staff members. When a group of clergy came without an appointment in September, Nunes’s office called the Visalia Police Department to have them removed.

“That’s weird,” she said. “I thought it was because he was on these (House of Representatives) committees.”

Others aren’t as privileged.

“Our friends, they came in after us, but apparently on their way in some

people said, ‘Good luck, they (Nunes staff) never answer the door,’” Dickinson-Campbell said. “That’s just what the people in the hallway and building say.”

As a veteran, Dickinson-Campbell says she really isn’t impressed with the supposed threat posed by unannounced visits from constituents. “‘I already did my time in the crucible with bomb threats. You can open the door,’” she said she told Nunes’s staff. “They really had no where to go with that.”

also works directly for Nunes, issued a statement.

“The Committee is working to develop well-supported findings that will help protect the 2018 elections against hacking and other potential disruptions by foreign powers,” Langer wrote. “The Democrats, by contrast, are insisting on a ridiculous, endless investigation for public relations purposes, in order to distract from their inability to provide evidence for the wild arguments they’ve been making to the media all year.”

Possible Obstructions

Locals Confused, Upset

Meanwhile, on the national front Nunes continues to draw fire for his actions in the House probe into alleged illegal Russian involvement in the 2016 US presidential elections.

The latest round of criticism includes comments from former White House Council John Dean, who served President Richard Nixon during the Watergate Scandal. Dean, in an interview with Politico, said he believes Nunes may be guilty of obstruction of justice for his interference with the House Intel Committee’s Trump-Russia investigation.

Nunes is chair of that committee.

According to Politico and many other national media news outlets, a group of Republicans headed by Nunes has been meeting “secretly” in an effort to discredit the FBI and the Department of Justice. That, says Dean, strips them of immunity they would normally enjoy.

“Members of Congress in both the House and Senate have tried to use the speech and debate clause to protect themselves from everything from bribery to taking care of constituents with the executive branch, and been shown that clause is not that broad,” Dean told Politico. “I think they’re on dangerous ground.”

Rep. Adam Schiff, the ranking Democrat on the House Intel Committee, told CNN last week that Nunes is blocking subpoenas for dozens of witnesses who have information about the meeting at Trump Tower between representatives of the Russian government and members of the Trump transition team.

Among the witnesses Nunes has refused to call is the president’s daughter Ivanka, as well as Donald Trump Jr. “The chairman has a different agenda,” Schiff told the PBS News Hour.

While Nunes has not responded to repeated requests for an interview from the Valley Voice, his House Intel Committee spokesman Jack Langer, who

Dickinson-Campbell, the local veterans advocate, isn’t sure what to make of Nunes’ recent behavior. To many locals, the Trump-Russia comings and goings are seen as a national issue that keeps Nunes from taking care of their business.

“Honestly, I don’t know what to think of him,” Dickinson-Campbell said.

“I get the impression he doesn’t care what we think. He’ll do whatever it takes to keep him in office.”

While she likes what she’s seen of Nunes’ work on water rights, Dickinson-Campbell has no idea where her congressman stands on other important issues.

“I don’t know where he stands on things personally, because he doesn’t talk to us. That’s not helpful,” she said.

“He hasn’t really done anything that’s really impressed me.”

SUPERVISORS

sors approved the plans at this meeting, which include advertising for bids for the first phase of the project. Following the bidding and awarding of the contract, construction is expected to begin in June and be completed by the end of the year.

“There are so many positives coming out of this project,” said Worthley.

“It will be locally controlled and the county will be out of it.”

Supervisor Pete Vander Poel described it as a “model-type project.”

Supervisors also approved a memorandum of understanding with SelfHelp Enterprises and the Tulare County Association of Governments for improvements at Sequoia Commons, an affordable housing complex in Goshen. A total of 215 housing units are planned along Riggin Avenue featuring sidewalks and bike lanes, along with fixed-rate bus service.

According to the report submitted

by Michael Spata, county administrative officer, the memorandum “is not a commitment of funding for the project.” The county’s main responsibility would be providing general oversight.

continued from 1

tiquated” and “substandard,” with “water quality challenges, currently under ‘boil notice.’” There are also reoccurring outages. Worthley reported that some of the current pipes have been in service since 1918.

The water in Yettem has nitrates.

Neither community has water meters, so those who use water responsibly are charged the same as those who overuse it.

A partnership of state, county and community organizations is looking to fix those problems with the Seville and Yettem Water System Project, a plan that will first provide a new water distribution system with smart meters and fire hydrants in Seville, and then connect a pipeline between Yettem and Seville, and build a new well in Yettem.

An application for funding from the Water Resources Control Board had previously been submitted and “up to $5 million has been authorized,” according to the presentation. Supervi-

Candidates Forum February 15

Those who want more information on the candidates seeking the 22nd District congressional seat will have a chance to hear them speak on Valley issues at a public forum at 7pm on February 15 at Reedley College, 995 N. Reed Avenue in Reedley.

Hosted by a range of local political groups, including the Visalia-based South Valley Civics, organizers have extended invitations to candidates from all parties, including Republicans, Democrats and Libertarians.

It is unknown if Nunes will participate. He has not attended a local open forum in more than a year.

South Valley Civics is also holding monthly vigils outside Nunes’ Visalia office at the corner of Church and Main streets. This month’s Nunes Watch Rally is set for 11:30am Tuesday, January 23.

Valley Voice 18 January, 2018

5

Tulare hospital sues HCCA, claiming financial misappropriation TONY MALDONADO

tony@ourvalleyvoice.com

Healthcare Conglomerate Associates (HCCA) executed a $3m sale and leaseback of some Tulare Local Healthcare District assets in August of 2017, depositing the proceeds into its own accounts instead of the district’s, according to allegations in a new lawsuit filed by the district.

The 22-page filing contains a laundry list of allegations against the company, which previously managed the Tulare Regional Medical Center until its contract to do so was rejected by the district in United States Bankruptcy Court.

The district’s attorneys also allege the company presented false financials to the district’s Board of Directors, withheld other records, transferred the district’s assets, and misappropriated bond proceeds.

$3m Leaseback

“In order to secure the proceeds, HCCA wrongfully and without the District’s authorization, sold District assets to a Celtic Leasing under a leaseback arrangement,” the district claims.

The arrangement saddled the district with an $80,000 per month payment for an arrangement that, it claims, only benefited HCCA -- an obligation it can’t exit out of, unless it wants to lose the assets sold off.

The $3m was allegedly received from Celtic and deposited into an account controlled by Tulare Asset Management on August 31. Public documents show HCCA’s CEO, Dr. Benny Benzeevi, listed as the Tulare Asset Management’s “manager,” and his home ad-

dress as the company’s mailing address.

The district states that any loans or leaseback arrangements -- to say nothing of transfers to HCCA or other companies -- were unauthorized: hospital board members Kevin Northcraft, Mike Jamaica, and Senovia Gutierrez voted on July 27, 2017 to remove any authority the prior board gave for the company to pursue and execute loans under the district’s name.

HCCA -- and its attorney, Bruce Greene, who also represented the district -- declared during the same time period that Gutierrez wasn’t a legitimate board member, stating that the board must declare her as one during a meeting.

Former board members Linda Wilbourn and Richard Torrez backed Greene’s interpretation.

The sole reason for the protracted challenge to Gutierrez’ legitimacy, the district claims, was to execute loans under the authority previously given to the company by the prior board.

“On information and belief, HCCA asserted this meritless legal argument regarding Ms. Gutierrez for the sole purpose of securing loan money,” the filing states, “and/or sales proceeds at the District’s expense and for HCCA’s sole benefit.”

The Evolutions Deed

One day before the hospital district filed for Chapter 9 bankruptcy, HCCA filed a “Deed of Trust and Assignment of Rents” against Evolutions, a Tulare gym owned by the district, and a parcel of property adjacent to it.

The deed was stated to secure promissory notes and loans made by HCCA to

the district, totalling $10,223,950.05.

Copies of the notes and accompanying “requests for funds” were provided to the Visalia Times-Delta in September 2017. None of those notes were signed by members of the board, but under the former contract, the company was allowed to loan money to the district even without the board’s consent.

The district, however, claims that HCCA hasn’t provided copies of those notes to them -- and that the notes referred to in the deed are “fraudulent and void.”

HCCA did, however, provided a copy of a “request for funds” and its associated promissory note in court documents last year. But those documents weren’t provided to the Times-Delta in the same form as provided to the court.

The December 21 “request for funds” provided to the court had a handwritten note from Kumar, while the copy provided to the local news outlet didn’t.

“The District is unable to advance the funds at this time,” Kumar’s note on the request read. “Parmod Kumar MD, 12.2016, Vice Chairman of Board.”

Both requests are for the same amount, $1,064,729.80, but the copy provided to the Times-Delta had Benzeevi’s signature digitized and stated the funds were for “operating expenses.”

The copy with Kumar’s signature stated the funds were needed to “meet the payroll due and payable to the personnel working in the District’s hospital.”

Additionally, the associated promissory note provided in court documents featured signatures from Benzeevi, Kumar, and Alan Germany, HCCA’s Chief

Financial Officer. The copy provided to the Times-Delta only included Benzeevi.

“Artificially Inflating the District’s Books”

The district additionally claims that HCCA “artificially inflat[ed] the District’s books and reflect[ed] monies that were no longer held in the District’s accounts” to disguise “improper transfers of money out of the District’s accounts.”

HCCA also transferred medical equipment to Southern Inyo Healthcare District’s Southern Inyo Hospital and misappropriated medical supplies, the lawsuit alleges.

Those allegations mirror those made by the Southern Inyo district in October 2017.

The Southern Inyo district claimed that HCCA presented “incomplete or inaccurate financial reports” and extended “fictitious loans.”

At one point, the company allegedly failed to make a required “intergovernmental transfer” payment, which government entities match two-for-one.

Because of the lost profit, the Southern Inyo district claims it was forced to pull money from a line of credit extended

by Benzeevi’s financing company, Vi Healthcare Finance, to cover operating expenses.

Tulare’s latest suit references Southern Inyo’s allegations -- but those allegations were later retracted by Southern Inyo in an agreement with HCCA to ensure the company’s speedy exit from the Southern Inyo Hospital.

In those documents, the Southern Inyo district claims Tulare may owe them upwards of $418,000.

18 January, 2018 Valley Voice

6

AGRICULTURE

Wine vs. Beer Showdown in Hanford February 1 KINGS COUNTY FARM BUREAU The Wine vs. Beer Showdown, Kings County Farm Bureau’s largest annual fundraiser, is coming up on Thursday, Feb. 1.

This popular event gives guests the opportunity to enjoy samples from California wineries, breweries and local restaurants while catching up with friends and raising money to support Farm Bureau programs.

Wine vs. Beer Showdown is expected to draw a sold-out crowd and as many as 30 vendors serving up their tastiest food and drink.

Silkwood Wines, Cacciatore Fine Wines, Farmer’s Fury, Ramos Torres Winery and Plan B Wine Cellars will be amongst the wineries pouring, and 559 Beer, Firestone Walker and Bird Street Brewing Company will be serving up specialty craft beer.

Raven’s Deli, Tacos Jalisco and Geta Xpress are just a few of the restau-

rants that will be serving samples of their signature dishes, and Fagundes Old World Cheese and Dairy Goddess Farms will be tempting guests with a variety of cheeses.

Rosa Brothers Milk Company will be passing out ice cream samples, Rebekah’s Espresso will serve non-alcoholic beverages, and A.S. Danielson’s will have a nachos fountain and a chocolate fountain.

While enjoying a diverse selection of food and beverages, guests will have the opportunity to bid on a host of silent auction items, an important part

of the event’s fundraising aspect.

Wine vs. Beer Showdown, which began 13 years ago, raises money to support local farmers through educational programs, training classes, industry workshops, political activism and community involvement.

Farm Day, which gives 2,400 Kings County third graders a hands-on lesson in agriculture, livestock and farm equipment, is one of the many Farm Bureau-sponsored programs that this event helps support.

“Wine vs. Beer Showdown is our largest annual fundraiser,” said Ex-

ecutive Director Dusty Ference. “The money raised by this event allows us to continue advocating for local agriculture and providing the programs and services that local farmers have come to rely on.”

Wine vs. Beer Showdown is being held at the Hanford Civic Auditorium on Thursday, Feb. 1 at 5:30 p.m.

Tickets are $50 each, and can be purchased online at kcfb.org, from any Farm Bureau board member, or at the office, located at 870 Greenfield Ave. in Hanford. For more information, please call the Farm Bureau office at 584-3557.

About Kings County Farm Bureau

Kings County Farm Bureau is a non-profit advocacy organization that represents approximately 800 members of the agricultural community. More information is available at www.kcfb.org.

Farmers may see electricity service from new entities CHRISTINE SOUZA, CFBF When it comes to procuring power for electric service, significant changes occurring in local communities throughout the state may affect agricultural customers in California.

The changes stem from a program known as Community Choice Aggregation, which allows cities and counties to buy power on behalf of their residents from non-utility suppliers, although existing utilities would continue to deliver the power to customers.

Karen Norene Mills, California Farm Bureau Federation associate counsel and director of public utilities, said local Community Choice Aggregators, or CCAs, frequently take the form of a public agency controlled by representatives of the local community.

The CCAs are managed locally, but the power used is most often produced outside of the local community, Mills said.

Currently, at least eight CCAs operate in locations including Humboldt, Mendocino, Sonoma and Napa counties, with more in various stages of formation across the state.

Proponents of the CCA model describe the program as a way for local governments to leverage their demand to achieve lower electricity prices and to control the type of electricity purchased, such as a greater percentage of renewable energy than offered by the incumbent utility.

A key issue, Mills said, is how customers who stay with the incumbent utility are affected—an issue that continues to be debated. CCAs provide service on an opt-out basis, meaning that if a customer does not want to be served by the CCA, the customer must

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affirmatively make that choice.

Whether agricultural ratepayers stand to benefit from automatic enrollment into a local CCA must be determined on a case-by-case basis, Mills said.

The CCAs typically provide a general estimate of potential cost savings to customers based on the price paid for the generation portion of the bill, but generation represents only one part of electricity service, along with distribution and transmission services.

“Because different rate schedules and usage patterns affect how much the generation piece factors into overall costs, it can be a tricky determination,” Mills said, “especially for many agricultural customers whose usage varies from year to year. Agricultural customers who have multiple accounts may face an additional challenge in assessing the impact of a different generation cost.”

Rather than purchase power, under this new model, investor-owned utilities such as Pacific Gas & Electric Co., San Diego Gas and Electric Co. and Southern California Edison would deliver power for the CCAs—but would also provide meter-reading, billing, maintenance and outage-response services.

Agricultural business owner and Salinas city councilman Steve McShane said he supports the CCA model.

“This is a new concept, a new way of doing business,” McShane said.

“Some of it is environmentally based, but my orientation as a businessman and a producer in California is it’s got to make sense and if it doesn’t, you are not going to have everybody jumping on board.”

McShane serves on the policy board for Monterey Bay Community

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Power, a CCA for Monterey, San Benito and Santa Cruz counties, which anticipates serving electricity to customers this spring.

Though the idea of cheaper electricity rates and green energy is appealing, Monterey County Farm Bureau Executive Director Norm Groot said he’s concerned about a potential downside.

“There is strong fear that the pressure for new alternative-energy facilities will put pressure on farmland conversion in the Salinas Valley, as there will not be enough renewable energy available to satisfy the mandate,” Groot said.

Mendocino County Farm Bureau Executive Director Devon Jones said Mendocino County agreed to use a CCA called Sonoma Clean Power as its energy provider for residents in unincorporated areas of the county, and for the cities of Willits, Fort Bragg and Point Arena.

Though the time period to opt out of the CCA closed last year, “most of the members that I have spoken with are concerned about overall costs to their operations and opted to stay with PG&E,” Jones said, adding that farmers’ questions focused on time-ofuse rates, net metering aggregation, solar buyback and standby charges.

Mills encouraged agricultural ratepayers to pay attention to any materials they receive about potential CCA creation, because customers will be automatically enrolled in the CCA unless they opt out.

Those wanting to opt out of the CCA program must submit an opt-out request directly to the CCA. Customers who choose to opt out in the 60 days before or after the start of service may return at any time. If

a customer misses the opt-out enrollment period, the customer must pay a termination fee per account if they want to be served by the incumbent utility. That fee is typically $25 per account (meter) for agricultural customers.

The California Public Utilities Commission continues to monitor adoption of CCAs, with two proceedings on the program now underway.

The CPUC may act on a draft resolution this month that would implement a registration process for CCAs and implement a review process to ensure accuracy of energy forecasts by CCAs. In addition, the commission has opened a proceeding to examine allocation of long-term energy costs to customers, which include examination of how to calculate a formula called the Power Charge Indifference Adjustment. The charge intends to ensure the customers who remain with the incumbent utility, rather than joining a CCA, don’t ultimately assume long-term financial obligations the utility incurs on behalf of now-departed customers. The charge for 2018 ranges between approximately 1 cent and 2.5 cents per kilowatt-hour for agricultural customers.

The California Community Choice Association maintains a website at cal-cca.org/.

For information on community choice aggregation please see these webpages from PG&E and Southern California Edison.

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

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

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Valley Voice 18 January, 2018

7

AGRICULTURE

Walnut business readies to handle, sell larger crops CHRISTINE SOUZA, CFBF To prepare for a greater supply of walnuts in coming years, people in the walnut business say they are investing in infrastructure and marketing to sustain future production and grow demand for the crop.

Walnut grower and processor Mike Andersen of Andersen & Sons Shelling in Vina, which processed more than 70 million pounds of shelled and in-shell walnuts last year, said the walnut sector needs to invest in infrastructure such as cold storage.

Andersen, who sells conventional and organic walnuts, has updated the company’s shelling facility to comply with new federal Food Safety Modernization Act requirements, and has separate storage rooms for improved traceability. Other updates include modernized equipment to increase efficiency and reduce employment costs.

“We put a big emphasis on the future. With the larger crops coming, we have to create more storage, and that’s a big capital expenditure,” said Andersen, who is constructing a second, 18,000 square-foot cold-storage facility for walnuts. “The problem with walnuts is we receive every single pound during a 45-day period, and then have to sit on them for up to 12 months.”

California growers have added 70,000 bearing acres of walnuts in the last 10 years. From about 365,000 acres, growers harvested about 615,000 tons of walnuts in 2017, slightly less than what was projected, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

“As we look to the future, we know that we have more product coming.

We’re excited about the potential and

of course, having more product to sell, we need to have more homes for that product,” said Michelle McNeil Connelly, chief executive officer of the California Walnut Commission.

Connelly said the commission has increased investments in marketing, including a new logo, web design and advertising campaign to boost demand for California walnuts.

“We wanted to have a new logo that the consumer recognizes and hopefully will see at the point of purchase,” Connelly said. “We tested the logo with consumers and the key takeaway is it adds value and makes customers want to purchase walnuts.”

Close to 65 percent of the state’s walnuts are exported.

The top export markets consist of Germany, Turkey and China. Though there has always been a big push to increase exports, Connelly said, more work can be done in the domestic market.

“We really wanted to focus on how we can build additional volume through the domestic channels. Our household penetration rate is low; we have a lot of upside opportunity,” she said.

For domestic customers and industrial and food service users, the commission plans to showcase the versatility of walnuts and work on new product development, with Connelly pointing to potential in several segments of the market.

“We’re doing some special work with the chocolate sector and confections, and also spreads and sauces.

We’re trying to get people to think about walnuts in new and unique ways,” she said.

Andersen and others said they believe these efforts by the commission will increase demand for California walnuts, especially as people seek them out to take advantage of health benefits.

“The domestic market is the largest shelled market in the world,” Andersen said. “You have people who are snacking on walnuts for their health, and the younger generation simply wants a high-protein, healthy snack.”

As the commission works to increase markets for walnuts, growers said they hope the investments will lead to improved prices. For the 2017 crop, the grower price was about $1.30 per pound, a 30 percent increase from the previous year, Andersen said, but down from record prices paid during 2012-14.

Yolo County walnut grower Ryan Lang, who sells walnuts to Andersen, said some who choose to sell walnuts quickly during harvest and accept a price that is lower than market value negatively affect the price for others selling throughout the year.

“This does affect the market and is what’s been keeping the sustained downward pressure on the walnut price,” Lang said. “They are underselling it.”

Shermain Hardesty, extension economist in the Department of Agricultural and Resource Economics at the University of California, Davis, said spreading sales during the year “was the traditional marketing practice, so you can spread your risk. It improves price stability for growers in particular.”

“The strategy has always been to have a level sales volume, but of course

shortly after harvest they are shipping out products. At that point, there is a big surge (in sales), but there is still a considerable amount of volume left to sell,” Hardesty said.

Sutter County walnut grower Brian Fedora, who operates a custom harvesting, hulling and drying operation, said, “Walnut growers are price takers, like most of agriculture, letting the chips fall where they may. It’s all who you know, it is all where you market your product, and not locking yourself up in a long-term contract.”

When the walnut price spiked to $1.80 a pound in 2013, Fedora said, it was due to an improving world economy, the opening of new markets and increased demand.

“It was a perfect storm and prices went crazy,” he said. “Once prices came back down to earth, people started scrambling. Handlers were trying to survive, and therefore we saw some fluctuation in prices.”

At the California Walnut Commission, Connelly said, the mission is “to increase demand for walnuts and if we increase demand for walnuts, we sell more walnuts and that results, in theory, in higher grower returns. We are trying to continue to grow new markets and new segments.

“If we are successful at doing that, it will result ultimately in a higher grower return, and that is good for everybody,” she said.

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

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

Commentary: Perdue outlines USDA accomplishments, goals SONNY PERDUE, US AGRICULTURE SEC. (Editor’s note: U.S. Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue addressed the American Farm Bureau Federation Annual Convention in Nashville, Tenn., last week. Following are excerpts of his remarks.)

We know that the USDA and the American Farm Bureau Federation have had a great relationship, and it’s absolutely one that we want to continue.

Trade is a key to rural and farm prosperity. Canada and Mexico continue to be major partners in U.S. exports, so successful completion and improvement of the NAFTA negotiations remains a top priority of this administration. But to get a deal, we need all sides to seriously roll up their sleeves and get to work.

We, the United States, have put a number of proposals on the table to modernize NAFTA and, critically for agriculture, to address key sectors left out of that original agreement, specifically dairy and poultry tariffs in Canada.

Now, we want to ask our partners in the north to step up and engage in meaningful conversation so we can get the deal done, for them and for you.

I have great faith in President Trump’s skills as a negotiator, and I’m quite confident that he will strike the best deal possible for the United States, and that we will have a fair NAFTA agreement that works well for our economy, including the agricultural sector.

Let me share with you the truth about my first eight months in office.

We have already built a record of suc-

cess in the Trump administration and at the United States Department of Agriculture.

First and foremost, we wanted to reorient USDA with a focus on you, the producers, our customers. So we got to work and reorganized our department.

We unveiled a newly named undersecretary for farm production and conservation, for a newly constituted mission area. What we did was take things that face the customer and put them together, locating our domestic agricultural programs in one place, with a common focus on the areas where you, the farmers, have the most interaction with USDA. We’ve made trade a priority with the creation of the first-ever undersecretary for trade and agricultural affairs.

We have scored victories in a matter of just a few months. After 13 years, American beef is back in China.

We signed a protocol to allow exports of U.S. rice to China for the first time ever. The European Union eased regulations on citrus exports. American chipping potatoes are back in Japan.

South Korea has lifted its ban on imports of U.S. poultry.

Following President Trump’s directive, USDA has begun rolling back excessive, onerous government regulations that have stood in your way. The president made it a two-for-one deal: For every new regulation instituted, we had to get rid of two old ones. Well, administration-wide, we did better than that.

President Trump has cut out 22 regulations for every one new one that has come on the books. I think chief

among the regulations the president targeted was that hated waters of the U.S. rule, which you all worked on for so many years.

At USDA, we’ve done our part in lifting the millstone of regulatory burden.

We’ve already identified 27 final rules for 2018 that will save over $56 million annually, and friends, we are just getting started.

We know there must be rules and regulations that you encounter on a daily basis in your operations that are harmful and unproductive and an impediment to your productivity.

We want you to bring them to our attention, so we can take a look at those and see if there’s something we can do about bringing you some relief.

So you can see, demonstrably through actions and not mere words, that this president and his entire administration have made rural America a priority.

On the day I took my oath of office, President Trump signed an executive order creating the Interagency Task Force on Agriculture and Rural Prosperity, and he asked me to chair that task force.

You know that the overall economy is booming again, and for that we’re thankful and optimistic, but anyone who lives in what used to be called “flyover country” knows that rural America has not exactly kept pace.

Formed out of 22 Cabinet departments and federal agencies, the task force enthusiastically embraced the challenges before it, to understand the issues that keep rural America from thriving, to develop a set of solutions to

address those issues and to tear down the walls among, within, between levels of government that inhibit that growth.

I have traveled to over 30 states, listening to the people of American agriculture about what’s working and what’s not. It was clear people believe folks in Washington, D.C., had stopped listening to rural America over the years. In short, we found a real hunger from citizens who just wanted to be heard. Rural Americans were tired of slogans, lip service and benign or purposeful neglect.

The result is a report that identifies legislative, regulatory and policy changes to promote agriculture, economic development, job growth, infrastructure improvements, technological innovation, energy security and quality of life in rural America.

We envision a rural America with world-class resources, tools and support to build a robust, sustainable community for generations to come.

The report contains over 100 practical, actionable recommendations in five key areas: e-connectivity, quality of life, rural workforce, technology and economic development.

I’m humbled to be here with you to serve as your secretary of agriculture. For me, this is not a job, it’s a mission. We touch the lives of all Americans and countless others around the world. I leave you with the words of our new motto at USDA: Do right and feed everyone.

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

18 January, 2018 Valley Voice

8

HANFORD continued from 1

candidates the KCLP “enthusiastically endorsed” Sharp.

Both party endorsers chose someone with proven business chops.

Sharp stated in her candidate profile, “I have built budgets, am able to understand complex public budgets and am not afraid to ask probing questions as necessary. The budget tells the story in numbers of the actions, goals, culture and aspirations of any entity.

Smarts aren’t everything, but they come in handy in jobs that require extensive reading and comprehension.

To hold City management accountable, City Council members need to know their stuff.”

Sharp believes in cutting red tape for those who want to start businesses and special zoning for the downtown. So she was disappointed when Ramirez voted to allow movie theaters outside the downtown retail zone.

“I think downtown is the front door to our community and has special challenges but also special opportunities – so it’s OK to have different rules for downtown,” said Sharp.

As far as having a conflict of interest similar to Council Member Sue Sorenson’s, Sharp acknowledges that she has a partial ownership in downtown properties and in District D. “I’ve read the conflict of interest rules and am very aware of them. My goal is to follow the law.”

Sharp said that she is a big transparency hawk and that was a huge motivating factor for her jumping in the race. She revealed that Hanford is currently being sued by Transparent California for not supplying salary data to

the organization. She said that she believes a settlement is in the works but that in the meantime the city is racking up legal bills.

She said, “We are basically spending taxpayers’ money to keep information away from the taxpayers.”

According to Transparent California’s website it is “dedicated to providing accurate, comprehensive and easily searchable information on the compensation of public employees in California.”

“Sunshine is one of the best things you can bring to government,” said Sharp.

Sharp did not work on the recall campaign but agrees with the effort.

Neither Martinez nor Sharp believes that Ramirez has been an effective council member.

Lou Martinez – I Believe the City has Left Us out of the Process

Martinez says it’s upsetting to know that the city council doesn’t ask its citizens when it comes to important decisions. Such examples he gave were the council’s decision to tear down Hanford’s iconic water towers and Hanford’s art deco fire station.

“I live two blocks away from the water towers,” he said. “Don’t you think I should have been informed earlier?”

While campaigning Martinez walked his district. He found the consensus to be that the towers should not be torn down but rather preserved and painted with one saying “Hanford” on it like other cities have done.

Back in March of 2017 the city council voted to designate the property on which the towers are located as surplus. The property has since been

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auctioned off and the buyers will be demolishing the towers as a condition of the sale.

The city council approved of the sale December 19, but Martinez says that the residents of District D did not receive adequate notice nor were they consulted.

Sharp agrees with Martinez about the council’s lack of listening to its constituents stating: “Putting the firehouse demolition contract on the December 19 City Council consent calendar indicates the City doesn’t want to take into consideration the strong feelings many in Hanford have about our public historic buildings. The City needs to be more mindful and responsive to its citizens.”

In regards to the downtown, Martinez would like to see it to return to how it used to be, energetic and lively.

He said that the council has had some discussion with the business district and community “but that is all it has been, is talk.”

“There’s a lot of talking and studies that don’t go anywhere,” he said.

Martinez says the reason he is running for city council is that he feels that the city government does not respond to the community or respect what it wants.

“There are five council members but 55 thousand other residents who have opinions too,” Martinez said.

Martinez did not initiate the recall effort but he did file the Petition for Recall at city hall. When asked why he thinks he lost to Ramirez in 2014 he said he wasn’t very enthusiastic about running that year and did not do any campaigning.

Currently, Martinez feels that “any option is better than what we have now.”

Martinez supports the recall because he feels Ramirez “takes credit for things he has nothing to do with.”

“He is self-promoting. When he does show up for events it is to promote himself. He isn’t there for the community,” said Martinez.

Why is the City Council Still Talking about Hidden Valley Park?

There is one issue about which all candidates agree.

All four candidates are passionate about Hanford not selling the undeveloped half of Hidden Valley Park.

“I don’t know who they are taking their direction from, but it’s frustrating that they are not listening to Hanford’s citizens,” said Martinez. He said the powers that be seem to have their own ideas about what to do “with a piece of property that was set aside as park space.”

Sharp said that it appears from the data that Hanford doesn’t have enough park space for its population.

She believes that parks are important to a healthy community and that it is a city’s financial priority to spend mon-

ey on parks.

“2700 people signed a petition within just a few weeks in support of Hidden Valley Park. That’s very persuasive to me,” said Sharp. “So why are we still talking about Hidden Valley Park?”

Paula Massey said that she would love to see something like Fresno’s Woodward Park in Hanford.

“Woodward is a popular city asset with a bird sanctuary and Japanese Garden that attracts visitors from all over the Valley,” she said.

Barker agrees, saying that it seems that the people of Hanford have clearly “spoken with an obvious passion for preservation.”

“I would like to see the Hidden Valley Park put on the upcoming November [2018 general election] ballot. Honestly, in my opinion, a lot more needs to be left up to the citizens who pay taxes here.”

“Who is making the decisions about Hanford,” asked Martinez.

“People who leave town at 5:00? It shouldn’t be that way.”

Basis for Recall

Grounds to initiate a recall against Ramirez were his alleged violations of campaign finance and a Kings County Grand Jury report that found irregularities in Ramirez’ campaign material.

Ramirez acknowledged that the grand jury report was true and apologized for the unintentional false information in his campaign materials.

The Fair Political Practices Commission’s (FPPC) investigation has not yet been concluded, even though the case has been open for almost two and a half years. According to Jay Wierenga, FPPC Communications Director, most cases are concluded within 180 days but he would not disclose why Ramirez’ investigation was taking so long.

Ramirez’ official response to the recall when filed in May of 2017 was, “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.”

With the recall days away Ramirez said, “I’m ready to stay or go. They are spending so much money to recall me.

At the end of the day I made a lot of progress for our community but if it’s going to stay corrupted - I am out.”

Where and When to Vote

Two polling places will be available to the residents of District D, the First Presbyterian Church, 340 N. Irwin Street and the Latin American Assembly of God, 700 S. Harris Street. Polls will be open from 8 – 8 on Tuesday January 23.

Absentee ballots were mailed out January 2. For those who want to vote now, you can go to the Kings County Elections Department, building 7, 1400 W. Lacey Blvd. Monday – Friday between 8am - 5pm.

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Valley Voice 18 January, 2018

HENSLEY continued from 1

hearing officer, be held in public, as Chief Hensley has nothing to hide.”

The reasoning behind leaving the city’s mayor, Carlton Jones, out of the picture, was due to Jones’ comments made through social media and during radio interviews, Lampe said.

Mayor Jones is part of the problem, Lampe wrote in his letter.

Lampe cited several episodes including that of a Facebook post made

by Jones, “crossed the line.”

The post appears to be a screenshot of AO’s comments from the Voice website.

“Are you aware that chief ran an internal affairs investigation into what was said at a union meeting? A conversation which he and everyone else knew was privileged. The goal, simply to teach the union president a lesson. The result was unfounded but the stress it caused the union president sent the message.”

“This statement is completely false, and the mayor knows it is false,” Lampe said in his letter. “The investigation that he refers to was actually an investigation into the mayor’s improper, and possibly illegal, use of a city-issued credit card.

“The mayor’s statement is not only false, in constitutes an outrageous violation of Chief Hensley’s rights under both the Peace Officers Bill of Rights and the City of Tulare’s personnel rules.”

A response, dated December 18, and sent via electronic mail to Lampe

by Phillips, she stated: “Your most recent letter makes much of statements that you attribute to Mayor Jones, via social media. However, even a cursory review of the posting that you provided as an ‘exhibit’ to your letter, reveals that the statements were not made by Mr. Jones. The statement was apparently made by an unnamed TPD officer in

JONES

continued from 1 Criminal Restraining Order was the result of an event that took place two years earlier at Evolutions Gym. According to a Tulare Police Report, on September 10, 2015, Mayor Jones’ wife, Cindi Jones, discovered after her work out that the passenger side tires on her husband’s car were flat.

The tow truck driver advised Jones that the tires had been punctured by a sharp object.

Ms. Jones reported the incident to the Tulare Police Department.

Tulare Police Officer Garcia went to Evolutions to view the surveillance footage of the gym’s parking lot and saw a male bend down on the passenger side then walk away.

The Evolutions worker recognized the man and gave Officer Garcia the man’s name, phone number and address.

Before going to the Defendant’s house, Garcia went to Mayor Jones’ Tulare home with the identity of the man who allegedly punctured his tires.

Jones said that he and the man used to hang out and that he also knew the man’s wife.

He told Garcia that he believed the incident “fruited from a prior person-

9 response to an online article posted by the Valley Voice.”

Lampe has said that it does not matter where the statement originated – he feels the mayor’s conduct of reposting the statement is an error in judgement.

In his response dated December 22, Lampe wrote: “Please review my December 14 correspondence carefully. Contrary to your representation, I never attributed the actual statement to Mayor Jones. My concern was that the mayor, in what has become a series of negative comments made by him in his weekly radio address, had now elevated his attack by posting the libelous remark on his Facebook page.

“The Facebook page belongs to the mayor, and he is responsible for its content. The posting of the statement was not made by a third party.

The post clearly indicates that ‘Carlton Jones’ added two new photos, one being the cell phone ‘screen shot’ of the defamatory material, and the other being the advertisement for the Battle of the Badges All-Star Game.

“That fact that the libelous statement was authored by someone else (in this case “Anonymous Officer” in the comments section of Valley Voice), is irrelevant. If a defendant reprints or circulates a libelous writing, it has the same effect as the original publication.”

Investigation remains out of council’s hands

In her letter, Phillips further stated: “As you may be aware, Council member Sigala requested an update be placed on the agenda for the December 19, 2017 meeting. I have declined said request and will continue to decline to involve members of Council in personnel matters in a manner that could violate Mr. Hensley’s rights to confidentiality, jeopar-

al matter.”

“He (Jones) wanted the investigation to be suspended and advised he would handle the matter civilly.”

Garcia recommended the case be closed.

Mayor Jones Changes His Mind

More than a month later, on October 20, 2015, Mr. Jones went back to the Tulare Police Department with an estimate to fix additional damage to his car.

Besides the cost of the tires, Jones presented to Officer Cervantes an estimate of $1638.65 to fix two dents and a broken tail light.

Jones said that the damage did not occur on the same date as the incident at Evolutions, but occurred over the last few months. He believed that his former friend was also responsible for the body damage to his vehicle.

Jones showed Cervantes a dent behind the passenger side door, on the trunk, and a broken tail light.

Cervantes reviewed the Evolutions surveillance video again and observed the defendant bend down twice by the tires in question but did not see the man hit the vehicle or break the tail light.

Officer Cervantes asked Jones if he was now willing to prosecute for the

On Facebook at facebook.com/ourvalleyvoice

dize the investigation, or violate the City’s personnel procedures.”

Here, Lampe’s response is that he, “barely knows where to begin.”

Lampe has shared with the press, with permission of his client, the December correspondence between himself and Phillips, which was copied to city council members. Lampe reviews some items he feels crucial to his client’s case and for which he feels he has had little to no response.

Tulare’s slow response

“The attached correspondence was sent to the Tulare City Attorney 25 days ago,” Lampe said. “To date, we have received no response.

“On December 18, the Tulare City Attorney made the following representation to my office: “‘Since the time that Mr. Hensley was placed on leave, additional information has continued to come to light that requires investigation. Additional information relating to each and every one of the numerous allegations now being investigated will be provided to Mr. Hensley, when appropriate and as required by law.’

“The following day, on December 19, the City Attorney was quoted in the Visalia Times-Delta as having said, “an out-of-the-area investigator will be hired to handle the investigation, but no one has been appointed.”

On January 12, Lampe said he was told by a news reporter that an investigator had recently been hired.

“To date, we have heard nothing from the City confirming the appointment of an investigator.”

An investigator has been hired

While the city manager, Joe Carlini, has confirmed to the Voice that an investigator has been hired and a contract signed – he said he could not provide the name of the investigator, as he did not know it.

vandalism.

“I’d like to whoop his ass,” Jones replied -- but added that his wife wanted things done right.

Officer Cervantes asked Jones why he believed that his former friend would vandalize his car.

According to the police report, Jones told the officer that his friend recently was caught having an affair.

Jones stated that as a form of retaliation his friend’s wife said she had an affair with him.

Officer Cervantes then went to the Defendant’s home to get a statement.

Cervantes asked the Defendant “if there was something going on” between him and Jones that that would explain why they were not getting along.

“That dude is dirty, does things to people and their families that he shouldn’t,” the Defendant responded.

When asked to explain, the Defendant told Cervantes that “due to the circumstances, and the people involved in fear of retaliation, he could not elaborate.”

A source close to the Defendant told the Voice that the Defendant punctured Mayor Jones’ tires after finding out Jones was having an affair with his wife.

The source was frustrated that Jones’ affair was not allowed as evi-

Carlini did state that the same investigator is hired not only for Hensley’s investigation, but for that of Capt. Fred Ynclan and Lt. Jerod Boatman, who were placed on leave the first week of November – although apparently each command staff member is on leave for different reasons, Carlini has said. The investigation is scheduled to start “sometime with the next week or so,” he added.

It is not clear just how long the investigation may take or how much it may cost. What is clear is that the city is spending around $37,000 per month for Hensley, Ynclan and Boatman to be on leave.

Lampe is still insisting the matter be taken over by the city council.

“We renew our request that the City Council, sans Mr. Jones, take control of this so-called investigation under §16 of the City Charter. This is a decision to be made by the council, without the participation of either you or Mr. Jones. I hope that the council does so, for the good of the City of Tulare.”

But, he also added that Chief Hensley does hope that an investigation begins soon.

“Chief Hensley hopes that an investigator has, in fact, finally been hired,” Lampe said. “Chief Hensley will cooperate fully with the investigation, which we believe will allow Chief Hensley to resume his duties to the citizens of Tulare.”

None of the investigation matters were on the January 16 city council agenda. However, for the third time in the past five council meetings, a Public Employee Performance Evaluation of the City Manager was scheduled during closed session. When asked why a performance evaluation has come up so much recently, Carlini replied, “they [council] just wanted to give updates and some guidance.

That’s good – I’m learning, too.”

dence during the trial. He also insinuated that it was the Joneses that requested the restraining order and not the court.

After Mayor Jones’ second visit to the Tulare Police Department, the District Attorney’s office charged the Defendant on March 5, 2016 with “Vandalism Under $400 Damage.”

At the hearing on June 8, 2016, the Defendant was ordered to pay restitution to the Joneses for the tires and was put on probation for vandalism.

Also at that hearing, either the court or Mr. and Mrs. Jones filed a Criminal Restraining Order against the Defendant.

The restraining order prohibited the Defendant from coming within 100 yards of Mr. and Mrs. Jones for three years.

“It’s crazy that Carlton Jones was able to get a restraining order against a man whose wife he was having an affair with,” one source close to the Defendant’s family said.

The restraining order is still active and valid for another year and a half.

The source close to the Defendant’s family reported that the Defendant and his wife have since reconciled.

The Voice made requests to Jones for comment, but those requests were not returned by publiction time.

Print replica edition at issuu.com/ourvalleyvoice

18 January, 2018 Valley Voice

10

MCDERMONT continued from 1

ing it open.

The three had largely been the management team prior to the formation of their company and their subsequent lease agreement. The hope is that through management by an outside company, somethings can be handled differently than while being run through the regulations of the city itself.

Last year, the city put out feelers looking for potential buyers or leasers for the fitness center, sports complex and fun zone.

“The way this facility has gone, in terms of numbers, it is very unlikely that someone would want to come in and take it over,” Ashcraft said. “It looks like just a big money pit and it has been for the city.

“It prompted a discussion, that we, as a fallback solution if nobody else comes in and wants this . . . that we would create something together and make it happen. And that is pretty much what’s happened – we have the qualifications to run it, so we’re pooling our resources to put it altogether.”

From city to independent management

It’s a big shift for a fairly young management team, ranging in age from late 20s to late 30s.

For one thing, there is no longer a guarantee of their salaries. In fact, they are now responsible for the rest of the staff, as well as liability insurance and more. The rent is based upon how well the facility does, a percentage of the profits, and is not due until the end of each year. If McDermont Venture does not make money, it will not pay rent.

Nerve-wracking to be sure.

“We have our days,” Ashcraft said.

“We take turns having our days. Daici is probably the most consistent – she’s like, ‘we’re going to do this.’

“We’re pretty committed. We have invested a lot into getting ourselves set up correctly.

“There are lots of things that we want to do. But, it Is all going to be driven by how we do with trying to turn revenues around. The first thing we are going to do is just come through and clean things up – give everything a nice coat of paint – just get back to the way things used to be and try to build it up that way.”

As far as management, all three will make decisions together, but each is filling their own niche.

Avilla has been the financial manager for the facility, and will remain in that position as secretary and trea-

McDermont Venture partners Clint Ashcraft, Daici Avilla and Alfredo Velasco have signed a five-year lease to manage Lindsay’s McDermont Field House facility. There is a renewal option, and also a purchase-option in the lease. Nancy Vigran/Valley Voice

surer. McDermont Venture has hired a payroll company, which also provides legal support services.

They have also have hired their own accountant and attorney.

“It’s really about surrounding yourselves with the right people,” Ashcraft said. “We know how to run McDermont – we know what does and doesn’t work, and we’re excited about eliminating some of the political pressures that come in from running it through the city, and, some of the restrictions.”

Ashcraft has been serving as director, but his focus is shifting a bit into being the one responsible for bringing people into the facility. He also is filling in for a gap on the maintenance staff. Velasquez is most responsible for the day-to-day operations.

All for one, one for all

“One thing we are really excited about is making this an employee-owned company – that’s what we are, we are employees, we work here,” Ashcraft said. “But, we want every employee tied to how we do things. If we are successful, we want every employee to be successful with us.”

For example, when the facility was managed under the city, employees could not receive tips – it is a natural environment for tipping, Ashcraft said, and now employees may accept them. The facility is also looking at commission-based sales for all employees.

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The overall goal, Ashcraft said, is to get the income up to where the group can start purchasing the business – the facility and equipment.

Some entities included in membership remain part of the city, such as the swimming pool and the golf course. As such, McDermont now pays the city for each membership usage of those facilities.

Outside fitness consultants and trainers remain partnered with the facility, as in the past.

The management staff has been able to make some changes in the past few months, prior to actually taking over with the lease. Some layoffs were necessary and inevitable, Ashcraft said. But due to the those decisions, the facility is way better off during the first half of its fiscal year, then it has ever been before, he said.

“The pricing structure has changed somewhat– memberships have been changing and evolving, but mostly we have learned how to save money,” he said.

The three commend the entire McDermont staff for stepping up and going beyond their normal work parameters.

They also say there is no way they could be in the position they are in without the aid of their families.

For the city, while it may or may not receive rent, it no longer is out any finances in support of McDermont.

It still receives tax benefits because the facility is still bringing in people from outside the area and helping booster other local businesses as well.

Rental of areas within McDermont are still available, for sporting events, parties, concerts and more. Another benefit of independent management is that decisions can be made much more quickly. Before, the city had to sign off for many events, usage and pricing. Now it is up to McDermont Venture. There is now a lot more flexibility.

And, the goal is to fill the place up – every day, Ashcraft said – school field trips, corporate team-building, birthday parties, chamber events, and, of course, everyday membership.

“McDermont is awesome, but it can be better. There are lots of places where we can add things and revitalize things. There’s a bowling alley that we haven’t used in a long time, and the light-space floor. We have our interactive Squeeze, a talking orange, that we hope to get active again.

“I’m really hoping we get our zip

line back. That was a huge attraction, but it’s going to require some alterations. Now, OSHA inspects it, so it’s going to take a little bit of time, but we’re really hoping to get that back and operating.”

Rebranding – it’s a family affair

“One of the other things we are trying to do, is rebrand ourselves,” Velasquez said. “We still want to keep McDermont as who we are, because it has been such a part of the history. But, we want to change it a little bit – we want to send a different message – so we are becoming McDermont X. “We feel that McDermont Field House didn’t really reflect who we were, the “X” stands for extreme family fun. We want to make sure that people know this is a family place where people are going to come, be active and just have a good time.”

Avilla said that she sees McDermont as where she is supposed to be.

“This is kind of where I belong.” She started as a cashier and worked her way up. She cannot imagine working in a different position.

The key is to draw not only local Tulare County residents, but visitors as well, the management team said. They want McDermont to become a worldwide attraction – a “must stop” on the way to the Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks.

“We want to support them as much as possible,” Mayor Kimball said. “We’re very optimistic that the new management can do things that we, as a city, could not.”

“We want to work hard and give it our all,” Velasquez said.

The McDermont Fitness Center is open Monday-Friday from 5am-10pm; Saturdays from 6am-9pm and Sundays, Noon-8pm. Some of the sporting activities are available after school weekdays. And, the fun zone attractions are open Fridays from 4-9pm and Saturdays, Noon-8pm.

For more information, call (559) 562-3326.

Valley Voice 18 January, 2018

11

VOICES & OPINIONS Use your voice by commenting at ourvalleyvoice.com or email editor@ourvalleyvoice.com

“ “

— JessConlin on Opponent claims Nunes obstruction

Title 8 of the US code is up for debate on interpretation and hopefully will someday be heard by the Supreme Court,you can correct me but I can’t think of any other country that allows citizenship if you birth a baby in their country. I’m not a farmer nor rich, however let’s stop the jealousy of being rich, do you want the rich farmers to leave California or leave this area? How do you think that would work out economically for the valley. Sorry If Dacca kids know no other country, that’s not the problem of the hard taxed Americans who struggle to keep food on the table for their own families, don’t blame Americans who just want the law followed apparently the Dacca parents have no problem breaking the law, laws are to be followed not to be bent for votes, go break the law in Mexico see where that gets you. Why would you want lawbreakers entering your country what values do lawbreaking parents teach their children.

— Stop it already on Devin Nunes Facing Local Protests

“

Here is something that people should look at.

“

— Barbara on Devin Nunes Facing Local Protests

“

”

The DA is bought and paid for. He took thousands from the HCCA types. Not surprisingly, nothing has been done despite the obvious. The DA is only interested in 1 thing-enriching is campaign accounts. That’s why I am voting for Matt Darby for DA.

I truly believe we are all complacent in this mess. So much turmoil at our hospital made people apathetic to what was going on. It was constantly something! Sadly we turned a blind eye. Now we are trying to clean up this mess! Please please do not be apathetic now. If you know something, tell it!!! Theses people are all dishonest ( or just plain stupid) and they gave Kumar and Benzeevy the ability to rape this community financially. Shame on all of them, yes….but please if you know something communicate with the authorities that are FINALLY paying attention(even though they did take campaign funds)!!!

— LindaMaloy on Tulare hospital sues HCCA

“

”“

”

”

If that’s all true Barb then why don’t they become US citizens?

If Nunes doen’t take care of the farmers and the farms go away, were will all the illegal immigrants who work at them go? Nunes is what this district needs, he is not going anywhere, he will be re-elected — I’m not Barbara on Devin Nunes Facing Local Protests

”“

— Commander Queeg on Tulare hospital sues HCCA

“

Nunes has a long history of not being concerned or interested about the people of his district. Why should he be since he is constantly reassured by these wealthy farmers around here who all got together and “bought and paid” for him to be their go to person in Washington DC that as long as he caters to their wishes and needs they will continue to subsidize his reelections. To date that has always worked for him as the majority of people in this district do not bother to get out and vote and those that do usually vote the status quo. I certainly hope that the tide is changing on that score.

”

Its hard to believe the community is suffering without that poor excuse for a hospital. Any capable talented employees have long departed for real jobs. A few hangers on have gotten jobs with the new administration pulling weeds and otherwise wasting the taxpayers money doing as little as possible. The doctors in town and clinics have picked up the slack. Theres a decent new xray and imaging lab, new pharmacies, etc. Most sane people have been going to Kaweah Delta for years anyway. No one is dying unnecessarily in surgery and the ER anymore !

— Enuf already on Tulare hospital sues HCCA

Citizenship by Being Born in the United States: In most situations, any child that is born in the United States or one of its territories will automatically receive American citizenship.

However, children born to diplomats and other recognized government officials from foreign countries will not receive U.S. citizenship if born on American soil. See Title 8 of the U.S. Code. If you were born in the U.S., your U.S. citizenship will last your entire life unless you make an affirmative action to give it up, like filing an oath.

DACA’s may not be considered legal citizens but so many have been here most of their entire lives, knowing no other country, raised as Americans, educated as Amercians, working and paying taxes as Americans, some serving honorably in the U.S. military and some even dying for America, being friends and making friends with fellow American students and neighbors.

They live, love, and die just like so many Americans. Just as you and I do as Americans.

If Ms Miller is in a position that has access to information and equipment, and her Husband is a Board Member, this presents a conflict of intereat.

Mr. Miller is in a position of authority and has the ability to hire and fire with the rest of the Board. Therefore, you have a conflict because you have family working and conflict to conduct business/HR issues are present.

It would seem that this is where an investigation by the State since this is a district should take place to determine if there are laws/policies in place for this type of conflict.

— EMT7761 on Exeter ambulance employee threatens suit

“

“ ”

Congressman Nunes needs to be working for the people of California, not acting as a stooge for Trump and Putin.

Absolutely shameful behavior.

”

Look at the list on the court papers there are a few which are criminal. I am sure or hopeful that the DA is looking at all of this. I commend the board for digging thru this pile of disgust. And because of this. Our hospital is in limbo. Obviously we had poor or no management for many years. With CRMC coming in, I hope it will be a great turn around. Let’s all hope we can hang on. Let’s hope CRMC is still with us!

— Cat on Tulare hospital sues HCCA

”

Refer to the article Tulare Board Backs Audit. There is a long list of names of those who had knowledge or were directly involved in the misappropriation of the district’s funds since 2009. Truth will prevail and we must continue to support our Board and our hospital.

— Still Wondering on Tulare hospital sues HCCA

”

Most of the Bond money, if not all was spent prior to Benzeevi. So yes, an audit of bond money is important to assure it was spent on what it was intended for, the tower. If you are speaking to a general audit, I thought one was done late and filed. As stated at Board meetings last year, it was reported that less than 3 % of total operating expenses were Public District funds from taxes which means that almost all revenue was from patient care billing, which they struggled with because the computer system couldn’t get bills out the door.

How about publishing the contract with the new management group. What are they getting paid, considering they have been on the job for 3 months and the hospital is still closed?

— EH on Tulare Hospital Board Backs Bond Audit

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12

18 January, 2018

Lindsay joins fight for charter city rights DAVE ADALIAN

dave@ourvalleyvoice.com

T

he Lindsay City Council is joining a fight to protect the rights of California’s charter cities.

At its final meeting of last year, Lindsay’s governing body voted 4-1 to pen a letter supporting the city of Arcadia’s fight against the California Voter Participation Rights Act (CVPRA). The new law, which went into effect at the start of the year, requires local governing bodies to synchronize their elections with statewide elections in June and November. Opponents say the CVPRA will slow down elections and make them more costly, and it impinges on the right to self-govern at the local level.

Maintaining Autonomy

Lindsay--like most cities in Kings and Tulare counties--has a charter defining how city business may be conducted, including setting dates for elections. While Lindsay already holds its city council elections in concurrence with general elections, a handful of charter cities do not, and they’ve decided to make what could be a costly stand against what they say is an erosion of rights.

“It’s not necessarily a big issue for us, the city of Lindsay,” said Mayor Pam Kimball. “It’s a request to support other charter cities in the efforts to maintain local control and to have your charter mean something, and the state can’t tell you what you have to change in the charter.”

Lindsay City Manager Bill Zigler says the new hoops the CVPRA asks local authorities to jump through is part of a larger effort by the state to strip away at regional self-control.

“If the Senate bill is approved, you

will have some of your charter city rights eroded,” Zigler said. “That’s what it boils down to is you have control right now, you have a lot of local control as a charter city. We’ve seen a move afoot in Sacramento. They have been eroding rights of charter cities.”

Forced Changes and Support

While Zigler referred to the CVPRA as pending, it was signed into law by Gov. Jerry Brown in September of 2015, and its provisions went into effect at the start of 2018. Charter cities that are not already compliant have until November of 2022 to change their election cycle to match that of the state. Most have chosen to comply rather than fight a costly legal battle, but at least three, Arcadia in Northern California, and Redondo Beach and Signal Hill in the Los Angeles area are going to challenge the new requirements.

Mayor Kimball says the fight is a matter of principle.

“Also, the sentiment (is) that if there’s an issue with something like elections that could be brought before the city, the city council, that locally they could decide whether this is something that should be changed or not,” she said, “rather than having it go to the courts, having that expense of things going to the courts, and an outside judge deciding how things should be done in our cities.”

The letter from the Lindsay City Council merely supports Arcadia’s effort, and does not put Lindsay directly into the fight.

“We’re not heading this thing up,” Kimball said. “We just had a request from Arcadia, who has their regular elections as part of their charter on off-cycle years. So, it’s a big deal for them, and

they’re just requesting other charter cities send a letter of support on it.”

‘Great Arguments on Both Sides’

Almost everyone supports the idea behind the CVPRA, which is intended to increase turnout for elections on local issues. Historically, more voters turn out when a big issue or office, such as a presidential election, are also on the ticket.

CVPRA aims to capitalize on that trend, but some think it goes too far.

“I think for our standpoint, the only dog that we have in the fight is we are proposing that we retain local control.

We’re not arguing the concept,” Zigler said. “We want to have as many people come out and vote as is possible, but where do you draw the line in the sand relating to local control when you’re a charter city?”

Lindsay will not have to change the way it does business, as the city already holds its regular elections in sync with the state.

“There are other charter cities that do not, and the concern from the state is that you have an under-representation coming out for these special elections, because you’re not electing the president or a senator or something,” Zigler said. “So, there are great arguments on both sides.”

Problems for Cities

Lindsay City Attorney Mario Zamora says the new law remains untested and will until a city holds a regular election off-cycle and the outcome is contested in court. That creates a pitfall for local governments, who may find themselves defending the outcome of an otherwise legal vote at great cost to taxpayers.

“It creates a problem for cities, because the only way for you to test this is

Valley Voice

to do it, for (an issue) to pass, and then for somebody to challenge it later and say the first election that you had had decreased turnout, so you should not have had the second election,” Zamora said. “It’s not defined what significantly reduced turnout is, so we’re left guessing. ” The text of the law states: “Voter turnout for a regularly scheduled election in a political subdivision is at least 25% less than the average voter turnout within that political subdivision for the previous four statewide general elections.”

“Ultimately, the problem is with it being poorly worded,” Zamora said.

‘Not a Big Deal’

The issue of syncing local elections to statewide ones to increase turnout isn’t a hotly contested issue in itself, but the infringement on local rights is, and that’s what concerns Lindsay City Hall.

“You look at it on face value and you say, ‘Well, what’s wrong with this? It’s not a big deal,’” Zigler said. “It’s not a big deal. It’s really about local control, and whether or not it’s something you want to fight for in this case.”

Councilman Brian Watson says the CVRPA has a laudable goal, but is fundamentally flawed. The issue, he says, will ultimately have to be decided in a courtroom, and that was the intention of those who wrote the law.

“The idea of the continued erosion of the ability of us to manage our cities the way that we see fit is alarming,” Watson said. “That this is more than likely going to be tested in court is more than problematic, and you have unelected individuals doing the job of elected officials in the courtroom setting, and that’s just in my estimation not the way this is all set up and designed to be.”

VALLEYSCENE 18 January, 2018

GET READY FOR CHINESE NEW YEAR Celebration to be held February 17 in Visalia

on B7

ourvalleyvoice.com

Boys of Broadway to play Ice House through February NANCY HOLLEY Boys of Broadway, a revue of the songs of leading men through the years, opened Friday, January 12, at the Ice House Theatre in Visalia.

The Visalia Players first show of 2018 is light-hearted entertainment at its best, written and directed by Leeni Mitchell. Mitchell’s ability to produce musical hits is well known to Ice House regulars.

The centerpiece of Boys of Broadway is the bantering repartee between two grand dames of the theatre as they reminisce about their leading men and jab each other about talents they may no longer have. For the grand dames, Mitchell has chosen two very talented women who have entertained our community over the years: Marla Alberstein and Susan Mathews.

The leading men are portrayed by a six talented actor/singers with a wide age range from 15 to . . . let’s just say older! The youngest performer is Michael Pena, a Dinuba High School sophomore, who loves being on stage.

“All my problems go away. I get to sing one of my personal favorites “I Believe” from The Book of Mormon.

On the other end of the spectrum is Jim Luke. Luke has been involved in theatre in the area for more years than he cares to remember. Recently retired, Luke is glad to be involved in Mitchell’s show. “I have known her a long time, and she is an amazing human being.” Luke is featured as Nicely Nicely from Guys and Dolls and Henry Higgins from My Fair Lady.

Other icons of Broadway are por-

BROADWAY continued on B6 »

Steven Lin.

Sequoia Symphony performing ‘The Planets’ on January 20 DONNA OROZCO

Left to right: Michael Pena, Auggie Hernandez, Marla Alberstein, and Mason Garcia in “Tom, Dick, or Harry” from Kiss Me Kate. Courtesy/Nancy Holley

Lindsay Community Theater presenting Superheroes Unite STAFF REPORTS The Lindsay Community Theater presents the 2018 Hot Dog Melodrama Theater. The play is entitled Superheroes Unite and is a spoof of all the superhero movies and television shows that are so popular right now. Show dates are January 19, 20, 26, and 27 at 7:30pm and January 20 at 2pm. Prices are $10 for adults and $5 for students.

As a special bonus anyone wearing a superhero costume to the play receives a free hot dog or nacho at the snack bar.

Tickets are available at lindsaycommunitytheater.com or at the box office 45 minutes before curtain.

The story is about a small town with a crime problem that the police force can’t keep up with. The Mayor (Brace Loeffler) and Deputy Mayor (Chris Shepard) decide that what the town needs is a superhero. This does not sit well with the police commissioner (Shane Rangel) or his assistant (Elizabeth Johnson.)

The Mayor decides to hold auditions for a superhero, but since all the really popular superheroes are already taken, Superman, Batman, Flash, etc., the list of candidates is a cut below.

The auditions end up being a cross between America’s Got Talent and the Gong Show, with a little Survivor thrown in for good measure.

The superhero contestants are Curatio, who quotes Shakespeare (Ethan Willett), Allegro, super speedster (Jade Franco), Tempo, who controls time (Gage Phipps), Cannonball, who can turn things to lead (Erik Tyler), Titania, who is super strong (Kiannah Vasquez), Dr. Do-a-lot, clueless animal whisperer (Steve Ross), Cacophony, super loud (Elisa Salinas), Irony Maiden, antagonistic (Alli Smith), Mesmer, mind-reader (John Anthony), The Supplier, has everything you need (Jacci West), Stevie, sidekick of the Ninja (LilyAnn Keeton).

When an evil super-villain (Chris Shepard) and his gang (Benjamin Satko and Meghan Johnson) threaten the town, however, the superheroes unite with the aid of the mysterious Ninja (George Pearce) to save the day, albeit in a somewhat hilarious fashion. This play is suitable for children of all ages.

The Lindsay Community Theater is located at 190 N Elmwood in the heart of downtown Lindsay. For information call 284 2223 or visitlindsaycommunitytheater.com.

“The Planets” is composer Gustav Holst’s most famous piece, with each movement named after a planet of the solar system.

The Sequoia Symphony will kick off its spring season by performing the piece on Saturday, January20 at the Visalia Fox Theatre.

Parts of the piece have been used in many film and advertising soundtracks. Music varies from the terrifying “Mars,” the spiritual “Jupiter” and the strange grandeur of “Saturn.”

Also on the program is Ravel’s “Piano Concert in G major,” which is heavily influenced by jazz (many say it has the feel of Gershwin).

Pianist Steven Lin, a rising star in classical music, returns to perform with the symphony, hot off his debut

in the Off-Broadway production of Mary Shelley’s “Frankenstein” with the Signature Theatre Company.

“It’s a production where they feature mostly solo piano music,” he said.

“I was on stage with all the actors! It was a very exciting time for me because I’ve never done anything like this!”

The concert begins at 7:30pm at the Visalia Fox Theater, but the audience is encouraged to come to music director Bruce Kiesling’s preview at 6:45pm to learn more about the composers and music.

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 www. sequoiasymphonyorchestra.com.

Urban art is featured at Visalia Taste the Arts, an event organized by the Arts Consortium.

Tulare County Supervisors renew Arts Consortium’s designation STEVE PASTIS

steve@ourvalleyvoice.com

At its first meeting of the new year, the Tulare County Board of Supervisors renewed the Arts Consortium’s designation as the county’s official arts council through 2018.

The organization originally received

this designation in October 2010, and it has been renewed as needed ever since.

The Arts Consortium was created as a result of the August 2008 report presented to the city of Visalia by AMS Planning & Research, which rec-

ARTS CONSORTIUM continued on B6 »

18 January, 2018 Valley Voice

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Book Notes

You’re More Powerful Than You Think NEWELL BRINGHURST newellgb@hotmail.com

Relevant given the current political environment is You’re More Powerful Than You Think: A Citizen’s Guide for Making Change Happen

by Eric P. Liu—founder of Citizen’s University and former Deputy Assistant to the President for Domestic Policy.

Liu characterizes his book “an argument about how power works in civic life and a guide for exercising it.” (25) Liu defines power as “the capacity to ensure that others do as you would want them to do.”

(7) Power he further notes “is like fire: inherently neither good nor evil, but deployable for both and thus a phenomenon to understand and master.” (17) In his call for grass roots activism, Liu laments that “the underlying health of [American] civic life today is poor.” characterizing it as “sclerotic…corrupt” and “crony-rigged.” (14,20, 32) All of this has resulted in “relentlessly upward concentration of wealth” in that the share of national income flowing to the top one percent has tripled since 1980. (5) This in turn has led to “creep-

ing public fatalism” resulting in “depressingly low levels of civic participation, knowledge, engagement, and awareness.” Thus the entire political process has been coopted or “subcontracted out to a band of professionals—money people, message people, outreach people.” (9) To reverse this situation, Liu advocates “powerful citizenship” through the exercise of power by “underdogs and challengers, not top dogs and incumbents.”

His volume is meant “for people who want to be change agents, not defenders of the status quo.”

The author further notes such change “can emanate from the left or from the right. In many cases it will scramble the lines between left and right.” (11) In promoting the exercise of grass roots power Liu suggests three main strategies. The first is to work outside the existing system, thereby “changing the game.”

Recently utilizing this approach were Donald Trump and Bernie Sanders, both of whom bypassed the existing GOP and Democratic establishments in their respective presidential campaigns. (82) A second strategy is to ex-

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pand the public’s sense of what’s possible or to “change the story.”

The ongoing Black Lives Matter movement employed this tactic in promoting its agenda.

(119-121) A final tactic is “to think and act in networks” whereby “power is amplified…exponentially.” (153).

Occupy Wall Street successfully used this strategy in its evolution from a handful of activists protesting at a small park in lower Manhattan into a national movement occupying “plazas and power spaces” in American cities from coast to coast. (174) In general Liu urges “radical inclusion” as the remedy for the current civic malaise, asserting that “the system is healthiest and most robust when power emerges from the bottom up and middle out, not the top down.” (50) This all-too-brief review cannot do justice to Eric Liu’s complex and challenging volume, which de-

serves the attention all concerned Americans during this most unsettled period.

Newell G. Bringhurst, a retired professor of History and Political Science, welcomes responses and comments at newellgb@hotmail.com

Valley Voice 18 January, 2018

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Fresno Pacific University offers Scientist writes book on spirituality, signing February 2 Screenagers, for families in the digital age ing other realities.

She increasingly valued creativity Betty Luceigh had a long career and compassion. She studied natuas a scientist, always using scientific ral healing and got out in nature. She proven theories. bought land in After a few years Three Rivers. as a researcher, “Some spiritushe taught organic al people thought chemistry at UCLA. science was ‘heartThen at age 39, less.’ And vice vershe had what she sa. So keeping the calls an extraortwo separated was dinary vision of survival.” the Light of BeauBut eventualty, which marked ly she realized the a dramatic shift awe in the compliin her spiritual cated structures of awareness. chemistry.

She has writ“I thought, ten a book “Is It how can anything Beautiful?” about this complex even her journey to be here? I saw the blend science and Beauty in it.” spirituality, and Today she will discuss the hopes her book book and hold a Betty Luceigh. Courtesy/Donna Orozco can be helpful in book signing at healing divisions the Brandon-Mitchell Gallery during in the world. the First Friday art walk on February 2 She asks, “How can we go from difrom 5-8pm. vision to unification? What must we Luceigh earned her PhD in organic transcend in order to transform?” chemistry at Stanford University. She The Brandon-Mitchell Gallery is lowas all about facts, testing by scientif- cated in the Center for Spiritual Living, ic method.

117 S. Locust, Visalia.

“I had a mindset of rational Also on display at the gallery are thinking,” she said. “But things like photographs by members of the Visa‘goodness’ don’t have a molecular lia Photography Group. form to them.”

For information, call 625-2441 or After her vision, she started explor- www.cslvisalia.org.

DONNA OROZCO

STAFF REPORTS Matt Gehrett sees the issue of families and personal technology as an educator and a parent—how the same mobile devices that open us to a universe of knowledge isolate us from the people and the world around us.

Having been there himself, Gehrett, Ed.D., director of the M.A. in educational technology program at Fresno Pacific University, is inspired to help others. One way is Screenagers: Growing Up in the Digital Age, a documentary film that will be shown at FPU campuses in Merced, Fresno, Visalia and Bakersfield January-April. Each free screening will include a discussion between audience members and Gehrett and Melanie Lewis, director of the FPU M.A. in teacher librarian services program. Space is limited, so please register at FPU.edu/screenagers.

“As a father of a 20-year-old, 18-yearold and a 16-year-old, I have faced the challenges of the cell phone and the distractions that it has added to 21st-century family life,” Gehrett said.

Setting family guidelines is helpful and has led to conversations on proper use and life balance. “Yet, even with consequences and conversations, the cell phone continues to be a 21st-century parenting challenge that is not for the faint at heart,” Gehrett said.

Sometimes parents have their own struggles. “When a cell phone is introduced into any of our lives, not just our teens, it can become a distraction and

keep us from life-giving relationships,” Gehrett said.

But these technologies are not going away. “My best advice is to keep up the good fight of modeling balance, proper use and encouraging our teenagers to develop positive habits,” Gehrett said. “And we need to start the conversation early, even before the teen years.”

Check out the Screenagers trailer at youtube.com/watch?v=LQx2X0BXgZg See the film at: • 9:00 a.m. Saturday, January 20, FPU Bakersfield Campus, 11000 River Run Blvd., Suite 200, Bakersfield • 9:00 a.m. Saturday, February 24, FPU Visalia Campus, 245 N. Plaza Dr., Visalia • 9:00 a.m. Saturday, March 24, FPU Merced Campus, 105 W. El Portal Dr., Merced • 9:00 a.m. Saturday, April 14, FPU Main Campus, 1717 S. Chestnut Ave., Fresno Fresno Pacific University is the Valley’s only accredited Christian university, connecting every student’s untapped potential with unlimited opportunity for professional, personal and ethical growth. FPU offers undergraduate, graduate and seminary programs that stress solid academic preparation and a strong ethical foundation to more than 4,000 traditional and adult students on the main campus in southeast Fresno and regional campuses in North Fresno, Visalia, Bakersfield and Merced as well as online.

Calendar

18 January, 2018 Valley Voice

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January 20: American Civil Liberties Union Election Celebration 1:30pm — Please join the Tulare County Chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union this Saturday, January 20, for our annual Election Celebration, at which our new Board of Directors will be impaneled. We have a wonderful guest speaker from the Northern California ACLU who will provide a history of the ACLU and a lively discussion on current issues that affect all U.S. citizens regarding their civil rights. The event will be held from 1:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. at the Visalia Friends Meeting House, 17208 Avenue 296, Visalia, CA. Food and refreshments will be served.

January 20: The Planets - Sequoia Symphony Orchestra 7:30pm - Ravel: Piano Concerto in G major (Steven Lin, piano); Holst: The Planets January turns our attention skyward, specifically to the Roman gods and goddesses who inspired the names of the planets. Back by popular demand, Holst’s The Planets is a true tour de force, a delightful trip through the solar system. Concert at the Visalia Fox Theatre, 300 W. Main St. in Visalia. For more information, visit www.sequoiasymphonyorchestra.com January 20-21: Tule Gem and Mineral Show 10am - Large variety of gems, jewelry, rocks, lapidary supplies, and demonstrations.

This year there will be free Teacher Materials-stop at the Wheel of Fortune/Fossil Painting Table to get your packet. Please share this with your friends!

Free admission! Free parking!

Free door prizes every 30 minutes! Fun for all ages! Exeter Memorial Building, 324 N. Kaweah.

For more information, visit www.tulegem.com January 26: Tulare Chamber Annual Awards & Installation Banquet 6pm - Held at the International Agri-Center Heritage Complex.

Tickets $65. For more information, (559) 686-1547 or visit www. tularechamber.org.

January 30: Informational Meeting Travel Tour to China 5:30pm - Beijing - Shanghai - The Temple of Heaven, Tian An Men Square - The Forbidden City, The Great Wall - And More Great Sites.

The meeting will be held at the Tulare Chamber of Commerce Trade Room - 220 East Tulare Ave. in Tulare.

February 2-18: Jam Jar Sonnets at the Barn Theater February 2, 3, 9, 10, 16 & 17 @ 7:30pm; February 4, 11 & 18 @ 2:30pm - Though Charles has outgrown his panic attacks and inability to speak after his father’s death, he is still haunted by the memory of Amanda, the childhood friend who helped him conquer his insecurities. As children, the two formed an intimate bond through poetry, and Charles still regrets losing touch when Amanda was moved away.

When Charles, now a revered professor in psychology, finds one of Amanda’s poems on the back of a jam jar label (hence the title Jam Jar Sonnets), he is determined to overcome his personal barriers in an effort to find the girl who understood him when no one else could. Tickets $15/ adults; $10/students. The Barn Theater is located at 42 S. Plano St. in Porterville.

February 4: Moscow Festival Ballet Presents Cinderella 1pm - A fairy godmother, an evil stepmother, a charming prince and two wicked stepsisters all come to life on stage when Moscow Festival Ballet presents the classic rags-to-riches story of Cinderella. Set to Prokofiev’s exquisite score, this timeless ballet fosters belief of a world where fairy tales really do come true!

At the Visalia Fox Theatre. Tickets: $42-66. www.foxvisalia.org The Moscow Festival Ballet was founded in 1989 by former Bolshoi Ballet star Sergei Radchenko, who appeared in principal roles alongside such legends as Maya Plitsetskaya and Maris Liepa. Radchenko sought to realize his vision of a company that would fuse the utmost classical elements of the illustrious Bolshoi and Maryinsky Ballet companies.

February 10: Movie Night: The Music of John Williams 7:30pm - Sequoia Symphony presents its traditional film music concert turning its attention to the best of the best: John Williams. His greatest music, new and old, will anchor what has become our most popular program. Tickets $22-45; at the Visalia Fox Theatre. www.foxvisalia. org February 13-15: World Ag Expo 9am - 5pm Tuesday & Wednesday; 9am - 4pm Thursday. World Ag Expo is the world’s largest annual agricultural exposition. More than 1,500 exhibitors display the latest in farm equipment, communications and technology on 2.6 million square feet of exhibit

space. Free seminars focus on a variety of topics important to dairy producers, farmers, ranchers and agribusiness professionals. World Ag Expo is a can’t miss show for anyone in ag. Admission: $15. International Agri-Center, 4500 South Laspina Street, Tulare.

February 17: Metalachi 8pm - On a hot summer night in Veracruz Mexico circa 1982, Consuela Espinoza stumbled out of her dilapidated shanty and into Rock N Roll history. What began as an innocent night of snorting horse tranquilizers in a hotel room with seven members of the village jai alai team went on to produce the greatest metal band to ever live. Tickets $23. At the Visalia Fox Theatre. www.foxvisalia.org February 18: Wine & Dine in Support of Habitat for Humanity 5pm - Karl Merten, chef and owner of Café 225, is hosting a fundraising dinner to support Habitat for Humanity. We are thrilled to have Claudio Basei, winemaker for Cacciatore Fine Wine, joining us for this event.

Guests will learn about the winemaking process and taste the results with wine provided by Cacciatore Fine Wines. Join Habitat for Humanity at Café 225, 225 W. Main St. Visalia, for a wonderful evening of great food, great wine and a great cause! Proceeds to benefit Habitat for Humanity of Tulare/Kings Counties.

Tickets: $85 each and available for purchase on line at www.hfhtkc.org For more information contact Deanna at (559) 734-4040 ext 106, or email info@hfhtkc. org.

February 23-24: 14th Annual Valley Adult Day Services Rock-A-Thon 6pm - Noon - The Rock-a-thon is a fundraising event to support the people in our community who have Alzheimer’s disease or other related forms of dementia, and the families that take care of them. Each Team’s Challenge is to be this year’s “Most Money Raised,” team winner. For more information, call (559) 783-9815 and speak with Kayla or Valerie.

February 24: West Hills College Coalinga Rodeo Dinner 6pm - West Hills College Coalinga Rodeo Boosters are now selling tickets for their annual dinner fundraiser. The prime rib dinner is at the Coalinga Elks Lodge. Social hour begins at 6 p.m. and dinner at 7 p.m. Tickets are $50, with all proceeds benefiting the WHCC rodeo team and scholarships for rodeo team members. Annually, the Rodeo Boosters awards over $30,000 in scholarships to rodeo students.

In addition to dinner, there will

also be live and silent auctions and a prize drawing. To purchase tickets or for more information, contact Justin Hampton at (559) 908-6406 or justin.hampton@ whccd.edu.

March 3: Spring Blossom Vendor Fair 10am - 4pm - Over 40 vendors at the Visalia Veterans Memorial Building, 609 W Center St. in Visalia.

March 22: 10th Annual Leadership Visalia Golf Tournament 8am - Shotgun Start at Valley Oaks Golf Course. For more information, call (559) 734-5876.

Through March 31: TCOE Student Art Exhibition The annual Student Art Exhibition is on display in the lobby of the TCOE Administration Building at 6200 South Mooney Boulevard in Visalia.

From January 22 through February 23, visitors will be treated to artwork from schools in Tulare County districts A-P. In March, pieces selected as “Best of Show” from the November-December and January-February exhibitions will be displayed. A public open house honoring the “Best of Show” student artists will be held 5:00 - 7:00 p.m. on March 1 in the lobby.

April 6: 13th Annual Birdhouse (and Toto Too) Auction 6pm - We encourage you to join Habitat as a sponsor or guest for the 13th Annual Birdhouse (and Toto Too) Auction. Enjoy wine-tasting and great food from dozens of local restaurants in an evening full of flavor, entertainment, and incredible artistic creations. There is another twist this year…we are adding dog houses to the auction! The funds from this fun and unique event support Habitat for Humanity’s programs throughout Tulare & Kings Counties.

Tickets are $100 each or a table of 8 for $800. Other sponsorship opportunities are available online at www.hfhtkc.org, or call Habitat for Humanity at (559) 734-4040 ext 106 for more information.

Mondays: National Alliance on Mental Illness, 5:45pm Education Meeting: 7pm Support Group St. Paul’s Anglican Church, Visalia, 120 N. Hall, Corner of Center and Hall. For more information call: (559) 627-1306 Mondays: Bridge Club, 9:30am-2pm 210 W Center Street Visalia. Admission is free. For additional information call: Joan Dinwiddie, (559) 732-0855 Mondays: Knitters, 10am12:30pm 210 W Center Street Visalia.

Valley Voice 18 January, 2018

B5

Everyone is welcome.

legiance and moment of silence.

from 6-8pm.

Counseling Clinic.

Mondays: Monday Karaoke at Barmageddon, 9pm-1am Karaoke Jockey Miss Sammi will be hosting from 9pm - 1am. No Cover.

No charge or sign up. Free coffee after walk. Meet at the Veteran’s Memorial Wall. For more information call 734-6181.

1st Thursday Monthly through October: Diabetes Support Group, 5:30-7pm Kaweah Delta Health Care District offers a free diabetes support group through October from on the first Thursday of the month at the Kaweah Delta Chronic Disease Management Center, 325 Willis St., Visalia.

1st and 3rd Thursdays, Monthly: Central Valley Tea Party Meetings, 6pm 819 West Visalia Road, Farmersville.

Tuesdays: Barmageddon Trivia Thunderdome, 9pm-1am Challenge your friends to the ultimate trivia throwdown. Earn some bragging rights in categories ranging from Saturday morning cartoons, classic video games, and pop culture films.

Free sign ups at 9:30pm.

Tuesdays and Thursdays, 7am Healing Hearts Walks Walk a 1 mile loop on the paved roads inside the cemetery after raising of the flag, pledge of al-

2nd Tuesday, Monthly: Yappy Hour, 5-9pm Well-mannered, leashed pets are welcome on the patio at the Planing Mill Artisan Pizzeria, 514 East Main Street, Suite A, in Visalia.

A portion of the proceeds is donated to the Valley Oak SPCA. For more information, call (559) 6511111.

Wednesdays: Barmageddon Game Night Come blow off some steam at our game night. Happy hour

Information: (559) 624-2416.

1st Thursday, Monthly: Veterans Support Group, 5:30-7pm Free support group for global war on terrorism & post 9-11 (Veterans Only) at the Tulare Public Library, 475 North M Street in Tulare. Facilitated by: Dr. Lance Zimmerman, PhD of Veterans

Senior Calendar The Visalia Senior Center is located at 310 N Locust, Visalia, and available by telephone at 559-713-4381. Lunch is served daily at 12pm; reservations are required by 11am the day before by dialing (559) 713-4481.

January 19 & 26 8:30 - 11am — Table Tennis Come with a partner and have a fun game of Table Tennis in a welllit and spacious area. This is a FREE Tulare Senior Recreation activity!

The Tulare Senior Center is located at 201 N F St, Tulare, and available by telephone at 559-685-2330. Lunch is served daily at 11:30am; reservations MUST be made by 12:30 PM the business day before by calling (559) 685-2330. $3 donation is requested.

9:30 – 11am — Wii Bowling Join this Friday Fun Tulare Senior Recreation activity enjoyed by many. It is FREE to participate! Experience is NOT REQUIRED!

Visalia Senior Center, Thursdays: January 18, 25 10am - 12pm — Chess Club 11am — Darts 11am — Brain Teasers 1 - 4pm — Penny Bingo Tulare Senior Center, Thursdays: January 18, 25 10am - 12pm — Down Memory Lane (Writing Class) This class offered by Tulare Senior Recreation will help you organize your memories and write down stories about them. You’ll be leaving a written legacy for your loved ones to cherish for many generations to come. $5 per month per student.

1 - 2pm — Tai Chi – for Health & Wellness This special 6-week course offered

by Tulare Senior Recreation will be held on Thursdays, next session is January 11-February 15, 2018. $25 for 6 week course.

2-3:30pm — Caregiver Support Group Session Group sessions are led by a Valley Caregiver Resource counselor. This activity is FREE. Visalia Senior Center, Fridays: January 5, 12, 19 & 26 10 - 10:45am — Fun Fitness (only on 5th and 18th) 11am — Darts 11am — Brain Teasers 1 - 4pm — Penny Bingo Tulare Senior Center, Fridays:

10:30 - 11:15am — Ex-Chair-Cise Everyone is welcome! This recreation activity is FREE. Enjoy exercising in a very well-lit classroom with heating or air conditioning.

The classroom is set up with tables and chairs and exercise supplies is provided.

12:30pm — Card Games Various card games are played. Everyone is welcome! FREE! Tables and chairs are provided in classroom or dining room.

7-10pm — Senior Dance Anyone 18 years and older. Fee: $8 per person - Dance to Live Country Western music. Bring Potluck style foods to share.

Visalia Senior Center, Saturdays: January 20, 27 9am — Gadabouts (only on 6th) 12:00 - 4:15pm — Senior Pride Bingo Visalia Senior Center, Sundays January 21, 28 1 - 4pm — Contract Bridge Visalia Senior Center, Mondays: January 22 & 29 10:30am — Volunteer Bureau (only on 8th) 11am — Corn Hole 1 - 4pm — Pinochle 1 - 4pm — Tables Tennis Tulare Senior Center, Mondays: January 22 & 29 8-11 AM — Abuse in Later Life Victim Advocate For an appointment, ask for Alberto Robles, Victim Advocate, 559-7327371. The free services are offered every Monday, 8-11 am at Tulare Se-

nior Center.

9-11:30am — Open Paint Enjoy a very well-lit classroom with heating or air conditioning. The classroom is set up with tables and chairs. Participants must bring own painting supplies. $2 per person.

10-11:30am — Live Music Provided by the City of Tulare Senior Recreation Volunteer Program. FREE! Enjoy listening to or dancing to great live County Western Music by Ken Bridges, Senior Volunteer.

12:30 – 3:30pm — Community Bingo Provided by Tulare Senior Services Volunteers at Tulare Senior Community Center. Must be 18 years and older to play. Cost: 1st Half of Bingo is $1.25 per card, 2nd Half of Bingo is $1 per card. This program is led by a senior volunteers.

12:30pm — Card Games Various card games are played. Everyone is welcome! FREE! Tables and chairs are provided in classroom or dining room.

Visalia Senior Center, Tuesdays: January 23, 30 11am — Darts 1 - 4pm — Penny Bingo 10am - 1pm – Health Insurance & Counseling Advocacy Program (only on 23rd) Tulare Senior Center, Tuesdays: January 23, & 30 9-11:30am; 12:30-4pm — Open Paint Enjoy a very well-lit classroom with heating or air conditioning. The classroom is set up with tables and chairs. Participants must bring own painting supplies. $2 per person.

1:30 - 4pm — Mah Jong Tiles Participants must bring own Tiles.

Mah Jong is a tile-based game that originated in China. It is commonly played by four players. Mah Jong is a game of skill, strategy and calculation and involves a degree of chance.

3rd Thursday Monthly through October: Diabetes Support Group, 5:30-7pm Kaweah Delta Health Care District offers a free diabetes support group through October on the third Thursday of the month at 200 E. Sierra Ave., Woodlake.

Information: (559) 624-2416.

3rd Thursday, Monthly: Gathering At the Oval, 12:30-1pm Lifting up the needs and concerns of Visalia through individual prayer and meditation Visalia Senior Center, Wednesdays: January 24, & 31 10am — Family Services (17th only) 12 - 3pm — Poker 12:45pm - 4pm — Contract Bridge Tulare Senior Center, Wednesdays: January 24, & 31 9:30 - 10:30am — Bible Study Everyone is welcome! This is a FREE recreational activity. Enjoy studying in a very well-lit classroom with heating or air conditioning. The classroom is set up with tables and chairs. This class is led by a senior volunteer.

9:30 - 10:30am — Crocheting The crochet is donated by the hospital and others. The crochet group makes infant and adult sized hats.

They are donated to the hospital/ clinics for cancer patients. This class is led by a senior volunteer.

10-11am — Blood Pressure Screening FREE Blood Pressure Screening!

Sponsored by Tulare Adult School and Tulare Nursing & Rehabilitation. Everyone is welcome!

10:30 - 11:15am — Ex-Chair-Cise Everyone is welcome! This recreation activity is FREE. Enjoy exercising in a very well-lit classroom with heating or air conditioning.

The classroom is set up with tables and chairs and exercise supplies is provided.

12:30pm — Card Games Various card games are played. Everyone is welcome! FREE! Tables and chairs are provided in classroom or dining room.

12:30 – 3:30pm — Community Bingo Provided by Tulare Senior Services Volunteers at Tulare Senior Community Center. Must be 18 years and older to play. Cost: 1st Half of Bingo is $1.25 per card, 2nd Half of Bingo is $1 per card. This programs is led by a senior volunteers.

1 - 4pm — HICAP – Health Insurance & Counseling Advocacy Program Only by Appointment, MUST call 559-623-0199. HICAP provides FREE, confidential counseling and community education for California Medicare beneficiaries, their representatives, and people who will soon be eligible for Medicare.

18 January, 2018 Valley Voice

B6

Sequoia National Park seeks public comment on contact station STAFF REPORTS

The National Park Service (NPS) is initiating public scoping on a proposal to replace a dilapidated wilderness visitor contact station (ranger station) located at the Bearpaw High Sierra Camp in Sequoia National Park.

The current ranger station serves as a base for wilderness operations and management along the High Sierra Trail. Bearpaw High Sierra Camp is a concessioner-operated overnight camp within a designated potential wilderness addition.

If approved, the project would take place in early fall of 2018, after the Bearpaw High Sierra Camp has closed for the season.

This project is designed to replace a failing structure with one that is more sustainable and compatible with the period of significance for the Bearpaw High Sierra Camp Historic District, which was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on April 21, 2016.

The current ranger station, a 480 square foot ‘A-frame’ would be deconstructed and removed from the park

with materials being recycled to the extent practicable.

The current cabin has been determined to be a non-contributing structure in the Determination of Eligibility for the Bearpaw High Sierra Camp Historic District.

The proposed new ranger station would be constructed of traditional log walls with a 12/12 pitched conventional roof, in order to blend in with other historical structures in the area, and be designed to be animal proof and low maintenance with secure and adequate storage.

The project would include built-in storage cabinets to accommodate equipment and necessary supplies for ranger activities. Solar panels, wiring, battery, inverter, and two lamps would be replaced as part of project.

Replacement would involve offsite construction of the ranger station walls and roof. The ranger station would then be disassembled, then transported via stock and/or helicopter to the project site at Bearpaw.

Park staff would then reassemble the cabin onsite on the same founda-

tion that supported the previous ranger station.

This project is part of the implementation of the Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks Wilderness Stewardship Plan, approved in 2015. The High Sierra Camp is most commonly accessed via the popular High Sierra Trail and is 11 miles from the trailhead at Crescent Meadow.

Sequoia National Park is interested in any public concerns, potential issues, or opportunities related to this proposed project. After analyzing comments received during scoping, the park will determine the level of analysis needed.

To obtain supplemental information about the proposed project, please visit the NPS Planning, Environment and Public Comment (PEPC) website at: https://parkplanning.nps.gov/ SEKI_Bearpaw If you have any specific questions regarding this proposal, please contact Nancy Hendricks, Environmental Protection Specialist, at (559) 565-3102.

All written comments about this project must be transmitted, postmarked, or hand-delivered by Febru-

ary 10, 2018.

Before including your address, phone number, e-mail address, or other personal identifying information in your comment, you should be aware that your entire comment - including your personal identifying information - may be made publicly available at any time. While you can ask us in your comment to withhold your personal identifying information from public review, we cannot guarantee that we will be able to do so.

To respond electronically, comments may be submitted via the PEPC website at: https://parkplanning.nps. gov/SEKI_Bearpaw Written comments may be sent via mail or hand-deliver to: Superintendent Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks Attn: Bearpaw Visitor Contact Station Project 47050 Generals Highway Three Rivers, CA 93271 Written comments may also be faxed to (559) 565-4202.

BROADWAY

Garza explained, “If something doesn’t work, we can just change it.

We don’t have to worry about sticking to a script.” Mitchell confessed that as a writer, “you are never satisfied.

You always want to make one more change. At some point, you just have to leave it!”

The Players are grateful to Wendy Little Properties as show sponsor for Boys of Broadway and the following Season Sponsors: Family Healthcare Network, Graham & Associates, Lansdowne, Inc., and Martin Enterprises.

Boys of Broadway runs for another three weekends at the Ice House Theatre at Race and Santa Fe in Visalia. Evening performances are at 7:30pm on 1/19, 1/20, 1/26, 1/27, 2/2, and 2/3, and matinees are at 2pm on 1/21, 1/28, and 2/4.

To purchase tickets go to the Visalia Players’ website at www.visaliaplayers.org, their Facebook page “Visalia Community Players”, or call 734-3900.

continued from B1

South Valley Artists Studio Tour registration closes January 31 STAFF REPORTS

Artist registration for the biennial South Valley Artists’ Studio Tour is now open. Show and sell your art in the comfort of your own creative space on April 14 and 15, 2018.

Provide our community with the opportunity to further understand the value of your art through demonstrations, insights into your individual creative processes, and a behind the scenes look at the different phases or facets of your work. The SVAST allows you to answer questions and make more personalized relationships with prospective clients.

Don’t have a studio space of your

own? Feel free to combine your creative forces and show space with other artists. All artists must register separately before January 31st in order to be included in our printed promotional materials.

Artist Registration is available by heading to https://www.eventbrite. com/e/south-valley-artists-studiotour-tickets-39779539674?aff=es2&mc_ cid=faf508b62f&mc_eid=4bf5ef2b73 for $50.

Tickets can be purchased by heading to https://www.eventbrite. com/e/south-valley-artists-studio-tour-attendee-registration-tickets-40914188439 for $15.

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trayed by Mason Garcia, Sergio Garza, Auggie Hernandez, and Art Simon.

Garcia and Simon were most recently seen in Buddy: The Buddy Holly Story. Hernandez and Garza have appeared in numerous Visalia Players productions including Little Shop of Horrors and The Rocky Horror Show.

Mitchell denotes her good fortune in obtaining co-musical directors: Gail Conn and Brent Iden and choreographer Leiana Petlewski.

The singing and dancing is supported by musicians: Ann Aakre, piano, Eleizer Sotillo, violin, and Susi Youngs, percussion. On certain numbers, Hernandez displays his additional talents on flute and saxophone.

Cast members noted that it has been challenging and invigorating to be part of an evolving entertainment project.

ARTS CONSORTIUM continued from B1

ommended having someone coordinate the arts in the city. The city hired Caroline Koontz to head the effort and the result became the Arts Consortium, which is currently led by Ampelio Mejia Perez, project director, and Joan Constable, operations director.

The Arts Consortium works to connect artists with organizations and the community. It showcases artists at events such as the South Valley Artists’ Studio Tour, First Friday Art Crawl, Visalia Opera Company, Tulare County Theatre Boosters, The Urbanists Collective and the Spanspek Music Festival.

The largest event organized by the Arts Consortium is Visalia Taste the Arts, an annual arts street fair in downtown Visalia with booths showcasing local artists, musicians, culinary artists and authors.

The Arts Consortium continues to look for ways to expand the arts in Tulare County.

“We’ve been working with different start-ups,” said Perez, who talked about Veritas Arts Studio in Lindsay, which is looking to provide art education for the community and for

at-risk youth, and ILOVEARTBRO, a weekly art market and concert at the Cellar Door in Visalia that presents art for sale to the public with no fees to artists.

“They have a guaranteed crowd of 200 to 300 people,” he said.

“In Porterville, Academia Juvenil de Arte y Cultura also works with atrisk groups and they plan annual Cinco de Mayo and Christmas parades,” said Perez. “Three Rivers has a first Saturday of the month art tour. We provide printing services and manage their finances. We provide them with a nonprofit umbrella.”

The Arts Consortium also works with The No Stigma Speakers Bureau of Tulare County.

“We give them space to plan and practice their presentations,” said Perez. “They also use our computers and video equipment.”

The Arts Consortium is not active everywhere it wants to be, however.

The organization is looking for local contacts to help establish programs in Dinuba, Earlimart and Woodlake.

For more information about arts programs and events in Tulare County, including how to get involved, contact the Arts Consortium at hello@ artsconsortium.org or (559) 802-3266, or visit artsconsortium.org.

Valley Voice 18 January, 2018

Registration open for free upcoming diabetes class series STAFF REPORTS

In February and March, Kaweah Delta Community Outreach in collaboration with Health Net, will offer an ongoing series of free diabetes classes in Visalia.

The series is free and registration is now open by calling 559-624-2415.

The free six-week diabetes education class will take place from 10am to 11:30am on Tuesdays at the Health Net Community Solutions Center located at 2121 N. Dinuba Blvd. Ste. E, Visalia.

Classes will be taught by Candy Silva, a Community Health Worker and member of the Kaweah Delta Commu-

B7

nity Outreach Department. The class schedule is as follows: 1. January 30: Session 1 - Understanding Diabetes 2. February 6: Session 2 - Nutrition for People With Diabetes 3. February 13: Session 2 - Nutrition for People With Diabetes Continued 4. February 20: Session 3 - Medications and Physical Activity 5. February 27: Session 4 - Staying Well With Diabetes 6. March 6: Session 5 - Managing Stress, Depression and Diabetes

Chinese New Year fair to be held First 5 Tulare County opens up in Visalia on February 17 $300,000 request for proposals STAFF REPORTS

Celebrate Visalia Annual Chinese New Year Fair 2018, Year of the Dog! Sponsored by Center for Integrated Medicine and the Asian Cultural Society on Saturday, February 17, 2:00 4pm at 816 W. Oak Avenue in Visalia.

Bring your friends and family to this educational and cultural--and free--program. Activities at this year’s program include the following; Chinese Wishing Trees, Lion Dance (children 12 years and under), Children’s Art Activity Booth (Chinese kite coloring, Chinese horoscope calendar, lantern making, dragon face decoration), Trays of Unity (Auspicious foods for the New Year Blessing), Confucius Box of Knowledge, Chopstick PickingUp- Beans Contest (Awards for 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Place), Tricky Tray Raffles, Tea Tasting, Rescue Dog Vendors, Food Vendors, Interactive Chinese Medicine booth (Choose your acupuncture point, herb, nutritional food), Dog Photo Booth (Chinese photo props will be provides), Chinese Folk Music, Dragon Parade (if time permits), plus many more.

While some booths are No Charge, others require the purchase of Activity Tickets to participate, prices range from $2.00 - $5.00 each. A Promotional Gift will be given for purchase $30.00 or more in Activity Tickets!

ACS (Asian Cultural Society) was established in 2003 by Dr. Kwong, co-founder, owner and physician of Traditional Chinese Medicine at Center for Integrated Medicine (CIM) located in Visalia. ACS was established as a subsidiary to CIM. The initial intent with ACS was to provide cultural workshops to CIM intern doctors, staff and patients. As years passed ACS has included the public in its cultur-

al programs, therefore ACS became a community-based non-profit organization.

One of the major annual events hosted by ACS is Visalia’s Chinese New Year. This celebration event is popular and benefits the communities of Central California, especially Tulare County in the following ways, • Participants acquire appreciation, knowledge and understanding of the Chinese culture referring to Chinese Nationals (China), over-seas Chinese (UK, Latin America, Australia, Canada and other parts of Asia ) as well as Chinese Americans, Taiwan and Singapore.

• Recognition and service to the Chinese/ Asian community.

• Preserve the common interests of the South Valley’s Chinese community.

• Foster a friendship and camaraderie between Chinese and people of all backgrounds.

ACS in the past had some assistance from Visalia Community Arts Grant; unfortunately, this year is different. Dr. Kwong greatly appreciates your participation at this event. All proceeds will go to off-set the cost of this program. Without local support, quality cultural and educational programs like this would not have been possible.

Celebrate the themes of Luck, Prosperity, Luck, Happiness and Good Fortune.

Gung Hei Faat Choy! (To wish you prosperity). Shen Tai Geen Hong! (To wish you good health), Shen Neen Fat Lok (To wish you a happy new year).

Please wear something red to the event. Call 625-4246 for more information. www.facebook.com/cim.fans

STAFF REPORTS

To further fulfill its mission to enhance the early development of Tulare County’s children, the First 5 Tulare County Commission has released a Request for Proposals (RFP). The RFP includes a total of $300,000 for onetime capital projects. Direct services will NOT be funded under this program. Sole proprietors are not eligible to apply.

A Question and Answer Webinar to orient applicants will be held January 17, 2018 - at 2pm. This is not mandatory.

The Commission seeks proposals from organizations that serve Tulare County’s pregnant women and children zero through five years of age. The RFP includes application guidance.

The Capital Project Grant program provides funding to purchase items with a value greater than $5,000 or to fund building renovation or construction projects which promote enhanced mental and physical health among children or ensure that children are ready for school and families are able to promote their children’s development. Capital projects require a 20 percent match.

Beginning on January 12, 2018, applications can be downloaded at www.first5tc.org, or copies obtained by contacting the First 5 Commission office located at 200 N. Santa Fe Street, Visalia, CA 93292. Proposals are due at noon on February 16, 2018, and projects will commence on July 1, 2018.

For questions, e-mail info@ first5tc.org. Final day to submit questions is January 26, 2018.

Neurologist now full time at Visalia Medical Clinic STAFF REPORTS

Neurologist Rohini Joshi, MD, is now seeing patients full time at Visalia Medical Clinic.

Dr. Joshi has been seeing patients part-time at Visalia Medical Clinic and at Adventist Health Central Valley Specialty Clinic in Hanford for the past 12 years.

“I’m really excited about being available to see patients full time at VMC,” Dr. Joshi said. “There is such shortage of neurologists in the area, and I have come to greatly appreciate the comradery at VMC. Plus I now live in Visalia, so it’s very convenient.”

Dr. Joshi works with fellow neurologist Zoltan Mocsary, MD, at VMC and focuses on health issues such as migraines (including the use of Botox to relieve the pain of chronic migraines), memory loss, multiple sclerosis, epilepsy and Parkinson’s.

Dr. Joshi completed medical school at Pune University in India. She served her internship at San Joaquin General Hospital, completed her residency at UC Davis Medical Center and her fellowship at Kaiser Permanente Los Angeles.

She is a member of the American Academy of Neurology.

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18 January, 2018

B8

Valley Voice

Love to Wear Red event to focus on hearts in Tulare on February 3 TONY MALDONADO

tony@ourvalleyvoice.com

Wear red, network, and help make a difference -- that’s the plan for those who attend the second annual Love to Wear Red for Women event, hosted by the Tulare Hospital Foundation and Tulare Soroptimists.

Tickets for the event, held February 3 at the Heritage Complex in Tulare, are $40.

The event starts at 10:30am and ends at 1:30pm.

This year, the event will feature three “heart ambassadors” -women who have had battles with heart disease or heart conditions who will share their experiences with the event’s attendees.

Lubelia Mattos, Susan Warren and 11-year-old Annalyce Fisher are this year’s ambassadors.

Each has a different story to tell -- Fisher, for example, was born with a congenital heart defect and operated on when she was only a week and a half old; later, she received a heart transplant when she was six years old.

Heart disease is the leading cause of death for women in the United States -- and Jan Smith, the

executive director of the Tulare Hospital Foundation, stated that the goal of the event, more than anything else, is to raise awareness of heart issues for women, including the fact that women have different signs of a heart attack.

While the event will still include a fashion show and women’s boutique, it will also include educational sessions, including sessions on eating heart-healthy, CPR education, and spotting the signs of heart disease.

“We hope the community really comes together and enjoys the event,” Smith said.

Proceeds from the event help the Tulare Hospital Foundation, the Tulare Soroptimists, and the American Heart Association.

Tickets are going quickly -- to purchase tickets, or learn how to sponsor the event, call the Tulare Hospital Foundation at 685-3438.

Current sponsors include Dr. Shashi Sharma, Barbara Harrell, Altura Health, Dr. Abraham Betre, and others.

For more information and updates, visit the event’s Facebook page at https://www.facebook. com/Love2WR/.

Lubelia Mattos, Susan Warren and 11-year-old Annalyce Fisher are the Love to Wear Red Heart Ambassadors.

Phone: 559.685.3800 1425 E. Prosperity Avenue, Tulare CA 93274 #EVOStrong Find us on Facebook!