Valley Voice Issue 112 (5 March, 2018)

TULARE STUDENT WINS

SPELLING BEE

THE DAIRY SHOW IS BACK

PAGE 10

TULARE NOON KIWANIS PAGE 6

INSIDE VALLEY SCENE

NAME FARMERS OF THE YEAR

Valley Voice

Transparency, civility lacking in Tulare

Nunes’ opposition gaining ground

NANCY VIGRAN

nancy@ourvalleyvoice.com

In recent months, some Tulare citizens have been questioning the transparency, or lack thereof, from the city directed by the city attorney, Heather Phillips, an attorney and partner with Goyette & Associates in the firm’s Labor and Employment Division, as well as her ability to serve as the city’s attorney.

As previously reported by the Valley Voice, on January 31 of this year Ben Brubaker filed a law suit in superior court, requesting, among other things, “For a declaration that the City has not complied with the January 16, 2018, Public Records Act (PRA) request, and that the requested documents should be produced forthwith.”

That request followed his PRA asking for a copy of the contract between the city and an unnamed investigator hired to investigate the city’s police chief, Wes Hensley, along with police Cpt. Fred Ynclan and Lt. Jerod Boatman, who were all placed on paid administrative leave last year. Per Sarah Tobais, another attorney who works for Goyette & Associates and serves as the city’s assistant attorney, the request was denied.

TULARE continued on 9 »

Volume XXXVIII No. 5 1 March, 2018 ourvalleyvoice.com

DAVE ADALIAN

dave@ourvalleyvoice.com

The Ramirez family, Tania, Guillermina and Leonicio, were the first family from the county area of East Porterville to connect into the City of Porterville water system in August 2016. Courtesy/Self-Help Enterprises

Water now flowing to 750+ homes in East Porterville

NANCY VIGRAN

nancy@ourvalleyvoice.com

During the recent multi-year drought, the wells of some 300 homes and properties in East Porterville went dry. Last month saw the completion of Phase 2 of a county, state and city project connecting more than 750 homes from the area, east of Porterville city limits, along with some others in and around the city, to the city’s water supply.

With wells drying up, county residents began running out of water.

Governor Jerry Brown declared a state

A growing number of Rep. Devin Nunes’ (R-Tulare) constituents want him to know they are not happy with the way he’s doing his job.

And while they’re upset about the way Nunes has handled the House Intelligence Committee’s investigation of collusion between the Trump campaign and Russian agents, the unrest goes far deeper and touches on many other issues.

Dressed in Black

of emergency, allowing the state’s Department of Water Resources (DWR) to allocate much needed funding to help with the situation. With the aid of Self Help Enterprises, temporary non-potable water tanks were set up and filled on a regular basis, and drinking water was delivered to the residents.

And, while it seemed to get off on rather a rocky start, city and county officials came together with a new well, which has been added to the Porterville water system to balance the addition of

Carol Finney, a Visalia teacher who joined about 50 other protesters in front of Nunes’ downtown Visalia office last week, had a laundry list of things she and and the congressman don’t see eye-to-eye on.

“I’m here because I’m not happy with Nunes, but I’m also very upset over the EPA,” she said. “I’m very upset that they’re going to be drilling off the coast of California.”

At 11:30 in the morning on the third Tuesday of each month, members of South Valley Civics gather for their Nunes Watch Rally at the corner

WATER continued on 7 »

NUNES continued on 12 »

Public asks two Tulare Cemetery board members to resign CATHERINE DOE

catherine@ourvalleyvoice.com

Former Tulare Public Cemetery District employee Christine Silva addresses the district’s Board of Trustees. Catherine Doe/Valley Voice

Turmoil has yet again gripped the Tulare Public Cemetery District’s Board of Trustees.

Members of Caring Cause, a citizens’ group dissatisfied with the district’s leadership and maintenance of its cemeteries, and other members of the public created a standing-room-only crowd at the district’s February 21 meeting.

The crowd wanted trustees Vicki Gilson and Alberto Aguilar to resign; Gilson threatened several times to end the meeting amidst insults, expletives, and boos.

Despite the contentious atmosphere, Gilson appeared to maintain her composure and ensured that all members of the public who wanted to speak got their three minutes. The board also worked through its regular agenda items and moved the meeting forward despite the commotion.

For the time being, the hemorrhaging of staff and board members from the cemetery district has stopped — as Gilson and Aguilar gave no indication they would resign.

Without their resignation, there’s

not much the public can do.

“There are only two ways to remove a board member,” Tulare County Supervisor Pete Vander Poel said. “Both require court involvement.”

Those two scenarios involve either criminal activity or if the trustee does not qualify to be on the board.

There are currently four board members, with the fifth seat expected to be appointed to Xavier Avila by the Tulare County Board of Supervisors February 27. Avila also sits on the Tulare Local Healthcare District’s Board of Directors.

Public Comment

Christina Silva, a former office assistant, started public comment off with a sarcastic riff.

“The first thing I want to say is good morning to my lover,” she said, looking at Trustee Phil Deal.

Most of the room let out chuckles — as many in attendance were aware of malicious gossip that Silva and Deal were having an affair when Silva worked for the district.

Silva’s one question to the board was simple.

CEMETERY continued on 8 »

1 March, 2018 Valley Voice

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FROM THE PUBLISHER'S DESK

The Wolf In the Woods? You’re Probably Voting For Him Another school shooting.

After Sandy Hook--after the mass murder of first-graders--I thought that at long last something, anything, might be attempted by our esteemed Congress to stem the epidemic of gun violence.

It turns out I’m a babe in the woods.

And the wolf in the woods? You’re probably voting for him.

It would be perfectly sensible to carry a firearm if you found yourself in the woods. Especially if there were wolves.

But on a school campus? Not so much.

And the woods are a perfectly sensible place for wolves. But in Congress?

Not so much.

Is it going to require some maniacal gunman to somehow actually burst into the House or Senate chamber and shower the place with lead--like a school massacre--before Congress pays more than lip service to ending gun violence?

Or would Congress, in the case of our maniacal gunman, just maintain the swaybacked Republican logic that representatives should arm themselves-like teachers, potentially--by carrying guns into their chambers?

I am past outraged by all the egregious Congressional “thoughts and prayers,” as always, in the aftermath of one of these ghastly episodes. Substitute “Abbott and Costello.” That’d be about as heartfelt as “thoughts and prayers.”

I’m very sorry, ma’am, to confirm that your six-year-old son, Lance, is not among the survivors. Our thoughts and prayers are with you. Now, can you tell me who’s on first?

With apologies to Joe DiMaggio and Paul Simon, who our nation turns its lonely eyes to is Congress.

“Just one word…plastics.”

What we have now is a plastic Congress. Not plastic in the sense of its industrial meaning, a “malleable synthetic material,” which could actually be a good thing, but more in a derogatory late mid-century sense meaning “phony.”

But wait, it gets worse. Not only does Congress ignore us--it heists our collective credit card.

Congress is magnificently adept at running up taxpayer debt--Put it on the plastic!--with one hand, while, with the other hand palm-up, collecting all manner of contributions behind its back.

Here’s where it becomes so difficult for Congress to act against gun violence.

It’s not that the Second Amendment remains a particularly thorny legal knot. Between 1791 and 2008 it may have been debated whether the amendment should pertain to individual or state-militia--rights, but in 2008 the Supreme

Court (District of Columbia v Heller) voted 5-4 to overturn a handgun ban in the nation’s capital.

According to The Guardian: “The conservative justice Antonin Scalia wrote the opinion in narrow but unprecedented terms: for the first time in the country’s history, the supreme court explicitly affirmed an individual’s right to keep a weapon at home for self-defense.”

Whatever your own take on the language of the Second Amendment--“A well regulated militia, being necessary to the security of a free state, the right of the people to keep and bear arms, shall not be infringed”--the clause is settled law.

The difficulty Congress has with changing gun law is not legal, but financial.

Don’t take my word for it. The Fresno Bee saved me some legwork: Here’s a…look at the hearts and prayers of the [Tulare and Kings County] member$ of the California congre$$ional delegation, via the campaign money they’ve accepted from gun right$ organization$, led by the National Rifle A$$ociation. The Center for Responsive Politics compiled the data, as of the end of 2017: • Kevin McCarthy, R-Bakersfield: $86,850 • David Valadao, R-Hanford, $49,200 • Devin Nunes, R-Tulare, $37,450 These men should apologize to their constituents, and the nation at large, return the loot and promise never again to accept their 30 pieces of silver. If they don’t, you should vote them out.

Here’s the link to the Center for Responsive Politics: https://www.opensecrets.org/industries/summary.php…

To put this into perspective--again from the Center for Responsive Politics--in 2016 the NRA spent $265 in favor of Hillary Clinton; of course, it spent $19,756,081 against her. It also spent $11,438,118 in support of the Orange Horror while not spending so much as a dime against him. That’s a single special interest group shunting $31,194,149 toward one candidate.

And we’re worried about Russian meddling in our presidential election?

Who needs Russians while the NRA remains in the ascendant?

Still, with all this filthy lucre in our politics--blood money in our politicians’ pockets--I am also worried that, until the millennials finally vote en masse, gun violence will, ironically, remain a part of campus life.

Joseph Oldenbourg

Valley Voice

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

The Voice strives for accuracy in reporting.

Commentary or corrections regarding errors of fact in our printed, online, or social media content can be sent to the email and mailing address listed below.

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Publisher/Editor:

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tony@ourvalleyvoice.com — 559-799-4100

Valley Voice 1 March, 2018

POLITICAL FIX MOVING TO THE LEFT An Analysis by Ruben Macareno

California Democrats met in San Diego this past weekend to endorse candidates running for the US Senate, Congress, 120 state legislative seats, and eight statewide positions starting with the governor.

The gathering of 3,500 delegates was to give clarity to Democratic voters across the state as to who are the party’s preferred candidates for office. But some will argue what was achieved instead was the appearance of an obvious change of the guard and a current disconnect between party activists and the everyday Democratic voters.

The surprise of the convention was that the very popular sitting US Senator Diane Feinstein was denied a state party endorsement along with three of the top statewide positions, including Governor, Lt. Governor and Attorney General. The 60% threshold of delegates’ votes that the party rules state must be achieved for endorsement were not met for those positions.

Feinstein’s inability to get the endorsement signifies the party is moving much more to the left at a much faster pace than anticipated.

It is moving from traditional and established Democrats to a new wave of younger and much more progressive activists and ideologies.

However it also demonstrates a current disconnect. The most notable is Feinstein’s race against a younger and much more progressive opponent, State Senator Kevin de Leon. The most recent Public Policy Institute of California (PPIC) poll among likely voters found Feinstein ahead by 30 points—46% to 17%--over de Leon and that he was largely unknown to the general public.

Yet, at the convention the Democratic faithful gave de Leon a 57% to 34% victory in delegate votes for the endorsement. Although de Leon’s gap was sizable over Feinstein’s, it was not enough for a party endorsement.

There were a few other congressional and state house seats that were not endorsed as well, including the 14th State Senate race here in the Valley, an office for which I am running.

The current transition of the party pits the traditional wing against the progressive. It is best illustrated in the race for the 14th State Senate seat currently held by Republican Senator Andy Vidak, who is being challenged by three Democrats. I bowed out of the opportunity to be endorsed, citing the flawed process and our beleaguered intra-party politics at the national, state and local levels.

It’s not about the candidates but the political bosses’ agendas as to why I decided to forgo the process. In the race for the 14th State Senate seat, the current, progressive, and younger party regional director is assisting Melissa Hurtado of Sanger. My other opponent, Abigail Solis of Earlimart, is being assisted by the older, more traditional, and established past regional director.

Ultimately neither won the endorsement, which was a victory of sorts for me because I didn’t have to pay thousands of dollars in fees and expenses, and it leaves me in equal standing with my opponents within the district’s Democratic base.

In a nationally high profile race between candidates seeking to oust Congressman Devin Nunes three formidable Democrats have emerged.

Fresno County prosecutor Andrew Janz, formerly of Visalia, was endorsed over his two opponents Francisco “Rico” Franco and Bobby Bliatout.

However there was drama as well in that seat’s nominating process, as Bliatout made the claim that a full list of delegates was kept from him by the regional director as he realized the party favored Janz. The claim that he did not receive the full list was confirmed for various organizational reasons and a challenge was presented. Janz survived the challenge and ultimately received the endorsement.

Another surprise to many, and notable point of disconnect, was for the race for Governor. Lt. Governor Gavin Newsom and former Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa are in a dead heat for office according to several statewide polls. Yet Villaraigosa fell to last place in delegate balloting with 9% behind Newsom at 39%, California Treasurer John Chiang at 30% and former State Superintendent of Public Instruction Delaine Eastin with 20%.

Villaraigosa has been rapidly gaining on Newsom in the polls as he has been visiting many communities usually not frequented by statewide candidates such as Farmersville, Shafter, Wasco and other such locations. The PPIC polls numbers put Newsom at 23%, Villaraigosa 22%, Chiang 9% and Eastin 4%.

Local candidates who received endorsements: Tulare City Councilman Jose Sigala for Assembly District (AD) 26, Incumbent Joaquin Arambula AD 31, Incumbent Rudy Salas AD 32, Attorney Emilio Huerta for Congressional District (CD) 21, Incumbent Jim Costa CD 16. All ran unopposed.

MORE POLITICAL DISCONNECT

California is home to 39 Democratic congressional seats and 14 Republican. Ten of those Republican seats are considered to be vulnerable and seven of those districts fell to Hillary Clinton in 2016.

The California Democratic Party is wrangling to flip all of them.

Of those seven, Congressman David Valadao’s district 21 fared the worst, losing to Ms. Clinton by double digits.

The 21st Congressional District is 45.6% Democrats, 28.3% Republican--and 71% Hispanic.

Ms. Clinton received 54.7% of the vote compared to Trump’s 39.3%.

So how do Democrats manage to lose this district?

And they lose it badly. In 2014 Democrat Amanda Renteria lost 57.8% to 42.2%. In 2016, Democrat Emilio Huerta lost to Mr. Valadao 56.7 to 43.3%. Both had strong resumes and Mr. Huerta had enviable name recognition.

Let’s start with Mr. Huerta Mr. Huerta is challenging Mr. Valadao again in 2018. He has $112,023 on hand in campaign contributions to Mr. Valadao’s $862,980. Mr. Huerta doesn’t live in the district and, looking at his outdated website, it doesn’t seem that he has a campaign office either.

Maybe that’s why Cook Political Report, Sabato’s Crystal Ball, and Inside Elections all rate the clearly Democrat

3 a column by CATHERINE DOE — catherine@ourvalleyvoice.com District 21 as likely going Republican.

But there is more.

His mom, famous labor organizer Dolores Huerta, is being accused of working behind the scenes to make sure the only Democrat on the ballot is her son.

According to Sara Wire of the Los Angeles Times, “Elected officials, local activists and other congressional sources said Huerta is having pointed conversations to try to make sure her son, Emilio Huerta, is the only Democrat challenging Republican Rep. David Valadao. A local lawyer, he lost badly to Valadao in 2016.”

Mr. Huerta responded on his Facebook page, “Wire conveniently fails to identify any of these purported elected officials thereby calling into question her veracity and her failure to disclose her unabashed support for Republican David Valadao.”

But Mr. Huerta did not address the irregularity of a lone Democrat running in a district that could easily flip - this, in a year when Democrats are averaging half a dozen or so candidates to run against vulnerable California Republicans.

A few days ago, Huerta wrote a self-congratulatory post about how the California Democratic Party endorsed him by 97% for District 21. “We were uncontested at the convention and received unanimous approval.”

Gee, maybe that was because he was the only Democrat on the ballot.

In response to the article about his mother, a supporter said on Mr. Huerta’s Facebook page, “The LA Times article did make a good suggestion for your up-coming campaign to publicize more with Twitter, Facebook, and social media. Fundraising will be a major concern and crucial issue here. The article says Valadao has already raised over 1 million dollars.”

Mr. Huerta responded, “i thought we were doing enough. But your [sic] right, doesn’t hurt to do more to generate interest in the race.”

Yea, wouldn’t hurt.

Now let’s talk about Amanda Renteria, a candidate for Governor.

Having a Woodlake native enter the governor’s race was pretty exciting for about 30 seconds. Then flashbacks surfaced from her 2014 Congressional campaign against Mr. Valadao, and my enthusiasm waned.

In a message to Ms. Renteria’s campaign in January 2014 I wrote, “I sent an email from your website last week. Does anyone respond to those?”

I found myself writing the same in February of this year, “Is this a working email? Whoever gets this email could you please confirm receipt. Or has Ms. Renteria dropped her bid for governor?

At least I’m not alone.

Politico reported, “In the days since filing, Renteria made no campaign announcement, and she is not returning reporters’ calls. She’s raised no money and has no apparent political apparatus — a bizarre campaign opening more characteristic of a fringe candidate than a political professional.”

In 2014 I asked her campaign manager, Emily Nowlin, for Ms. Renteria’s platform positions on key issues. The response was, “Right now, our campaign is focusing on our biography so that voters can get to know Amanda’s story.”

Though I care not about Ms. Rent-

eria’s “story,” it’s more than I received this year.

In the Fresno Bee, Rory Appleton reported Ms. Renteria as saying that she was “excited for people to see a different type of campaigning.”

On that description I’d have to agree.

June is the new November While hanging around some old farmers they said, after reading the Tulare County Farm Bureau Newspaper, that it was the best paper in the county. I read February’s issue, and if it weren’t just once a month, I would almost agree. In fact, Patricia Stever Blattler--Executive Director of the Farm Bureau-- wrote the article I wanted to write about the upcoming dates. So I interspersed parts of her article into mine.

2018 holds the promise of two main elections here in Tulare County, a primary election on June 5 and a general election on November 6, plus Tulare and Lindsay have special elections specific to elected offices in their communities.

Voters who think they are too busy to vote in the June primary need to realize that the results could change the entire political landscape.

Will we see Congressman Devin Nunes participate in a forum or conduct a town hall? If the vote in June is within five points we will.

Will Assemblyman Devon Mathis survive the primary? Though it’s extremely difficult to unseat an incumbent, Mr. Mathis has lost most of

POLITICAL FIX continued on 8 »

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Three Republicans want your vote for Assembly District 26 CATHERINE DOE

catherine@ourvalleyvoice.com

The Central Valley Tea Party hosted a forum February 15 for the Republican candidates running for Assembly District 26.

Visalia Mayor Warren Gubler, Cattleman Jack Lavers, and incumbent Devon Mathis laid out their arguments why constituents should vote for them.

Tulare City Councilmember Jose Sigala, a Democrat also running for the seat, was not invited to the forum.

The candidates agreed on all the traditional Republican talking points, so voters will be left with choosing their next assembly member based on experience and character. Each candidate voiced his opposition to new taxes, High-Speed Rail, Sanctuary Cities, Cap and Trade, and they supported the repeal of the new gas tax.

They also agreed that the state retirement system, CALPERS, was untenable and will bankrupt the smaller California communities.

As each candidate made a 10-minute presentation and answered audience questions, the other two were sequestered in separate room so they wouldn’t hear the other’s responses.

Lavers kicked off the forum by saying that politicians in Sacramento are going to do what they want, and vote how they want, and not listen to the constituents.

“But they need to represent us and that’s why I’m in this race,” he said.

Lavers’ family has a long history of cattle ranching in Glennville, Kern County. He is married with a young

daughter, Reagan, who is named after President Ronald Reagan. He is an American of Mexican decent and said that his grandfather was a Reagan Democrat.

Lavers has done lobbying for the Cattleman’s Association on his own dime for 10 years in Sacramento and Washington DC. He said he did it as a concerned tax payer, family man and to fight against taxes and over regulation.

Two years ago Lavers was approached by the Cattleman’s Association and Tulare County farmers to run against Mathis but said that he didn’t have time and he didn’t “want to be in that cesspool.” His supporters said afterwards that he really should have run “because Rudy was not the best candidate” and asked him to reconsider for 2018.

“I was very upset after the (Mathis’) Cap and Trade vote,” he said.

Then Lavers did a Google Search on Mathis’ opponent, Gubler, and did not like what he saw, “so I said yes.”

Gubler was second up and described how he has been successful professionally, personally and politically.

“Success begets success. It’s time to put someone in Sacramento who has been successful with their family, profession, and in governmental service.”

He has been married for 36 years and has five children, two grandchildren and one on the way. As a business owner he knows what it’s like to sign the front and back of a check.

Gubler pointed out that when he first ran for the Visalia City Council he roundly beat two other candidates

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From left: Warren Gubler, Jack Lavers, and Devon Mathis. Catherine Doe/Valley Voice

and has been mayor since 2016.

Some of his accomplishments while on the city council include the construction of a $140 million waste water plant that will meet California’s highest cleanliness standards for recycled water. Gubler added that his council raised the rainy day fund to $14.6 million and that Visalia has become the safest city in the San Joaquin Valley.

An audience member from Visalia asked Gubler about homelessness and if he thinks the lack of affordable housing was the cause. Gubler said that the coast and cities have affordable housing problems, not the Valley.

He does not think that housing is the cause but rather the difficulty of the homeless to find employment.

He said that he and the Visalia City Council have wrestled with the home-

less problem for years.

In 2017 Gubler started a homeless jobs program that puts the homeless to work picking up trash around the city and cleaning up graffiti. Three groups of people have gone through the program and 16 people have found full-time employment. Gubler is hoping to increase those numbers.

Mathis’ vote on Cap and Trade and the Telecommunications Bill upset a lot of Tulare County representatives and prompted Gubler to jump into the race.

“I have the most endorsements here from Tulare County and Inyo and that shows what is going on with the incumbent,” said Gubler. Almost all of the Republican elected officials endorsed Mathis in 2016 but switched

REPUBLICANS continued on 7 »

Valley Voice 1 March, 2018

Tulare hospital to reopen its forensic lab services STAFF REPORTS Tulare Local Healthcare District reopened its Mineral King Laboratory on Monday, February 26.

Mineral King Lab was closed on Oct. 28, 2017 by Healthcare Conglomerate Associates, the district’s former management partner.

While the district’s board voted in October to voluntarily suspend its acute care license — which covers the operation of the Tulare Regional Medical Center — the Mineral King Lab’s services are not covered under that li-

cense and can be reopened.

Efforts still continue to reopen the hospital and its clinics the hospital’s lab, separate from the Mineral King Lab, will not reopen Monday.

“I’ve been running all over the county to get customers back,” said Matt Chapman, operations manager of the lab which does forensic alcohol and drug testing for law enforcement.

Chapman said all law enforcement in Tulare County, including probation, utilized the Tulare lab prior to its closing. Today, those agencies have to send their samples to a lab in Clovis.

“We serve mostly law enforcement and other hospitals,” Chapman said, adding Sierra View Medical Center has already indicated it was coming back to Mineral King.

The lab is a full-service toxicology laboratory doing complete employment and industrial drug testing for pre-employment screening and on the job injuries. Its services include: Laboratory tests, collection of specimens, medical review officer services and record keeping.

The lab draws and then test samples and it’s a seven-day, 24-

5

hour service.

Chapman said the lab will begin with six employees, only two less than it had when it was closed. He hopes to bring that staffing up to eight in the near future.

All of those being hired previously worked at the hospital.

Chapman stressed the lab is still licensed by the Drug Enforcement Agency. Dr. Gary Walter continues to be the medical director for the facility.

For more information, call 559-685-3456.

Kaweah Delta Community Advisory Committee chairs named ed below by committee:

STAFF REPORTS A former city manager, a retired Tulare County judge and the vice president of a bank have been elected to chair Kaweah Delta’s three new Community Advisory Committees. The Committees are charged with generating ideas about how to better serve our community’s healthcare needs.

The Committees, which are each comprised of 20 community members and two Kaweah Delta employees, elected Committee chairs and backup chairs at their last monthly meetings.

Initially, Kaweah Delta employees ran the committee meetings until members felt they had enough information to vote on who they wanted to co-lead the groups. Chairs and backup chairs will run their individual Committee meetings and work with staff on developing agendas and topics for their members.

Chairs and backup chairs are list-

Community Relations Committee

Chair: Mike Olmos, Retired Visalia City Manager Backup Chair: Joti Kaur, VP/Manager, Union Bank, Hanford

Healthcare for Today & Tomorrow

Chair: Lloyd Hicks, Retired Tulare County Judge Backup Chair: Larry Gonzales, Retired, California Endowment

Hospital of the Future

Chair: Bill Kitchen, Senior Vice President/Center Manager, Citizens Business Bank Backup Chair: Samantha Mendoza, Marketing Representative, Acclaim Credit Technologies Gary Herbst, Kaweah Delta’s Chief Executive Officer, said Committee members are enthusiastically offering

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feedback to help. The goal of creating the Committees was to better engage with and listen to the community with the intent to continually improve services. “We are listening to what our Committee members have to say and already that has proven helpful. We expect that to continue,” he said Kaweah Delta’s volunteer Committees are formed around three key issues: Community Relations: This Committee will seek to enhance local partnerships between Kaweah Delta and the community and build better community relationships.

Healthcare for Today and Tomorrow: This Committee will provide ideas about how Kaweah Delta will meet future community healthcare needs and what can be done to start addressing those needs now.

The Hospital of the Future: This Committee will study Kaweah Delta growth, buildings, technology

and other facilities and will work with Kaweah Delta staff on a plan to meet the community’s future healthcare needs.

Committee rosters are posted online at www.kaweahdelta.org/CAC. Anyone interested in serving on a Committee should visit www.kaweahdelta.org/CAC to apply. Applications will be submitted on an ongoing basis for Committee positions. If a position becomes vacant, applicants who have submitted applications will be contacted prior to consideration and review.

Kaweah Delta is a publicly-owned community healthcare organization that provides comprehensive health services to the greater Visalia region and Tulare County. With over 5,000 dedicated medical professionals and employees, Kaweah Delta is committed to meeting the community’s health through preventive services and specialized health centers and clinics.

1 March, 2018 Valley Voice

6

AGRICULTURE

Corky & Doug Anderson to receive “Farmers of the Year” award STAFF REPORTS The Kiwanis Club of Tulare will present its 58th Farmer of the Year award to Corky and Doug Anderson.

The award luncheon will be held Tuesday, March 20, 2018 at 12:00 pm at the Heritage Complex in Tulare. Tickets are available for $25 in advance from Kiwanis Club members and various businesses in Tulare, tickets will be $30 at the door.

This year’s honorees are brothers, Corky and Doug Anderson. Corky and Doug were raised near Waukena, outside of Tulare where their father and grandfather were also farmers. At age 13, Corky and a cousin started hauling hay for local farms and by 14 his business was successful enough to put a payment down on a new car. Corky began doing specialty work in sugar beets, and then in cotton and grain.

Doug also knew he was destined for the life a farmer, and wanted to be the third generation to farm their home place west of Tulare.

Corky moved to Orland for a time where he leased land and farmed row crops. He was a leader in the pistachio industry, creating a partnership in 1968 to form Pioneer Nursery, which specialized in selling pistachio rootstock they developed that was resistant to a

devastating fungal disease called Verticillium wilt. The nursery was moved to Delano, and in 1982 Corky and his partner pioneered a new combination of rootstock naming it Pioneer Gold.

Corky has been a member of the Western Pistachio Association since its beginning in 1989, served as Vice-Chair and Secretary/Treasurer, and numerous committees. He has served on the California Pistachio Commission, and Marketing Chairman from 1984-1989.

A tireless advocate for the industry on government relations, tariff and trade, marketing, public relations, board governance and leadership. He has been instrumental in fundraising for the Pistachio Political Action Committee, one of the most successful agricultural PACs. Doug started farming full time in 1972, with his father Hank, who at the time had 3,000 acres of row crops in Lost Hills and 640 acres west of Tulare.

Hank Anderson passed in 1980 and Doug took over the full operation, and brought his sister Debi and brother Corky into the picture in 1997 forming AMA Pistachio Farming and AMA Properties. Doug also co-founded Precision Ag Spraying. He served as a volunteer for the Waukena Fire Department for 10 years. He has volunteered for 20 years for the Hank Anderson Memorial

Corky Anderson seated (yellow top) and brother Doug Anderson seated (blue shirt) are pictured with their wives at The Depot Restaurant when surprised with the announcement by members of the Noon Kiwanis Club of Tulare’s Ag Committee. Courtesy/Tulare Noon Kiwanis Club

Golf Tournament, which benefits local schools and hospitals.

In the 1990s Doug also acquired his real estate license, and established his own agency in 2005. He has been involved in APA, PGI, and WPA. In 2008 he along with other growers formed the Horizon Co-Op to market their pistachios. Doug is member of the downtown Tulare Association and a member of the Tulare Chamber

of Commerce, Elks Lodge, and Roma Lodge. Doug also possesses a pilot’s license he acquired in 1976 and enjoys volunteering at the Farm Show from time to time and for his church.

Tickets are available at Farm Credit West, Garton Tractor and Machado Hay in Tulare. For information contact Celeste Moore, event chair at (559) 280-1481.

Young California farmers, ranchers earn recognition CFBF, Canadian STAFF REPORTS Service to community and Farm Bureau earned awards for participants in the California Young Farmers and Ranchers program, and a student from Fresno State University won the national Collegiate Discussion Meet, during the annual American Farm Bureau Federation YF&R conference in Reno.

California Young Farmers and Ranchers earned three national awards related to food donations through the Harvest for All program—a partnership with Feeding America, the nation’s largest domestic hunger-relief organization.

California earned first place in the number of volunteer hours donated, at more than 10,000 hours; placed second in the number of pounds of food donated, at 15 million pounds; and was among three national winners of the Most Innovative Award. That SALES, SERVICE, RENTAL AG EQUIPMENT & TRUCK REPAIR

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Tim Truax of Turlock, who majors in agricultural education at Fresno State, emerged as the winner of the national Collegiate Discussion Meet, which simulates a committee meeting with active participation and discussion. As national winner, Truax earned a $2,200 prize sponsored by the CSH Foundation.

The California YF&R Committee also distributed statewide awards during the Reno conference.

San Joaquin Farm Bureau member Katie Veenstra of Escalon received the Star YF&R Award, which recognizes an outstanding young farmer or rancher

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The Kern County YF&R Committee earned the YF&R Committee of the Year Award for its activities during 2017.

Composed of 50 members, the committee volunteered at many Farm Bureau and agricultural events. It raised money for people in need, such as for local food banks and the homeless, spent volunteer hours gleaning and developed the partnership with the Kern County Fair for food donations.

The Farm Bureau Young Farmers and Ranchers program works with active agriculturists between the ages of 18 and 35 who are involved in production, business and many other areas of agriculture. For more information, see www.cfbf.com/ young-farmers-ranchers.

The California Farm Bureau Federation works to protect family farms and ranches on behalf of nearly 40,000 members statewide and as part of a nationwide network of more than 5.5 million Farm Bureau members.

Produce Association highlight NAFTA

STAFF REPORTS The North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) has created a vital trading relationship for both Canadian and Californian agricultural and food businesses.

At a Feb. 22 trade panel discussion hosted by the Canadian consulate, both the California Farm Bureau Federation (CFBF) and the Canadian Produce Marketing Association (CPMA) reiterated their support for NAFTA and emphasized the importance of integrated supply chains across the continent.

The trading relationship between California and Canada remains strong with $6.3 billion USD in agricultural trade in 2016, including $4.1 billion worth of California agricultural exports to Canada.

The CFBF and CPMA will continue to work with negotiators and legislators on both sides of the border to ensure a successful and reciprocal agreement for industry.

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Valley Voice 1 March, 2018

WATER

continued from 1 new users to the city’s water systems.

Two additional city wells are currently under development along with an additional tank, according to Porterville City Manager John Lollis.

Phase 1 of the East Porterville Water Supply Project began in January, 2016 with the construction of pipes connecting some of the homes to the city – there was no cost to participating homeowners. Hookups were prioritized on a first to signup, first-served basis. Roughly some 300 households were hooked in

by March, 2017.

In Phase 2, another 450 homes have been hooked in – some of which had not run dry on their private wells, but opted for the free hook-in option, while available. Approximately 1,100 property owners were invited to participate.

Some of these are still getting hooked in before funding runs out.

The total cost of the project has been approximately $70 million, and has been paid for through grant funding from the DWR emergency funds, Lollis said.

Early on, as water became a major problem in the area, Self-Help Enterprises offered to step in offering its help.

“If we can do anything, we’d like to

REPUBLICANS continued from 4

camp when Gubler announced his candidacy.

“You should ask them why,” he said.

Assemblyman Devon Mathis needed no introduction and started out with a homily of why Republicans have to work with Democrats if they expect to get anything done in Sacramento. Though it had the feeling of a public scolding, he had the rapt attention of his audience.

“In politics what do we hear all of the time? Those Democrats, it’s their fault. It’s us versus them, right? Is it their fault if we do not talk to them and get engaged? Or is it our fault for not having the guts to sit down and talk to them?

“So I think this campaign today is a campaign based on theology, based on what is the mindset of the elected.

What do you want from us? My promise since 2014 has been to put people over politics not to do the bidding of the (Republican) Central Committee.

It is to work with my locals and figure out what is the best thing to do.

“I made a promise to be part of the tough decisions that were being had whether I liked them or not. And there are a lot of conversations that I do not what to touch with a 10-foot pole, but it’s my job to. That’s what you elected me to do. You did not elect me to point my finger and say lets blame them. Because if we continue to blame the other side in hopes that life for us will get better, we will lose every day of the week.”

Mathis pointed out that Democrats make up approximately twothirds of the legislature and hold the governorship.

Mathis, who received a Purple Heart in the Iraq War, said that he didn’t go to war to blame it on the other guy but to protect our freedoms.

“I’m not a child,” he said. “I have kids at home and I deal with this every day.

‘It was him, no it was him’. Is that what we want out of the people who are elected? Is that what you guys want?”

“I guess we will find out in June.”

He finished his introduction with a nod to the criticism he has received

7 do it,” Jessi Snyder, Self-Help’s community development manager said the non-profit offered.

Because of Self-Help’s contacts through its construction business helping low-income families, as well as potential home owners making their dreams become realities, coming up with contractors to perform the public works-related construction for water infrastructure and individual hookups was a natural fit. Also, Self-Help can more easily enter private property than city, county Workmen hook up the last home in Phase 2 of the East Porterville Water Supply Project in early February. The total number of homes hooked into or state personnel, the system through phases 1 and 2 total more than 750. Courtesy/Self-Help Snyder said.

Enterprises “Because of the Training (CSET), which helped provide emergency, we were able to just conindividual meter setups for households. tract out,” she said. The process of going Once these matters were in place, out to bid was not required, as time was the DWR was able to move forward with critical. Work was done in coordination contracting for the big infrastructure, with Community Services Employment about his performance in Sacramento.

“Life isn’t easy. Politics is even worse. I’ve learned a lot of hard lessons, a lot of hard lessons, about being in office, about responsibilities, about talking with people--that I need to do better. I’m going to continue to learn because that’s life, you don’t ever stop learning.”

Mathis’ first question from the audience concerned Cap and Trade, a complicated piece of legislation that forces industry to pay for the pollution it produces and pay for alternative resources for power.

Mathis said that without renegotiating Cap and Trade the State Water Board would have become judge, jury, and executioner.

“I don’t like it, but there is that reality I was talking about blaming the other side.”

Mathis said he was asked to negotiate Cap and Trade by the major Central Valley agriculture interests such as Land o Lakes, Citrus Mutual, the dairy businesses and the Farm Bureau. He said there were multiple versions of the legislation, but that the Republicans were successful in killing the most progressive version.

In relation to Cap and Trade, Lavers elaborated on the problems farmers and dairies have had with the State Water Board. “The State Water Board is nuts. Plain and simple they do not give a damn. He related how Central Valley farmers got cease and desist letters from the board and were levied a $30-million-a- year water tax. The elevated level of nitrates and arsenic in well water prompted the letter.

He said that there is no evidence that the pollutants come from agriculture or dairies and that the water board should not be penalizing them.

Cattlemen faced a similar bill that would have forced them to cut grazing by 50%. Lavers said he and other cattlemen stood up and fought back, making their case in Bishop, Chico and San Luis Obispo until the bill was pulled back.

Just like with the new gas tax, lLavers said that the legislators have to have a spine. He said that Republicans are too willing to compromise and get very little back in return.

“Pretty damn soon we will have

she said, which included some 15 miles with big pipes.

One catch for homeowners, especially those who still had their own well water, is that they had to agree to give up those old, personal wells, to hook into the city system. Those wells were and continue to be destroyed and removed by Self Help.

There are still approximately 80 homes budgeted to receive hookups into the system, 26 of which still have temporary water tanks. With an abundance of rainfall in the 2016-17 season, the governor declared the drought emergency over in April 2017. An exception was made for some San Joaquin Valley communities where there were still dry wells. Financing for new wells and water issues in those areas was to continue for 15 months, which means funding will run out in June.

There are still about 250 homeowners who have asked for assistance, Snyder said. The funding will also run out for the temporary tank service.

“We’re running out of time,” she said, “and not everyone will be taken care of and applications are still trickling in. Those who do not receive funding by the June deadline, will have to take care of their water issues on their own, unless additional allocations are made or a new state drought emergency is declared.”

ADDITIONAL FORUMS

The following are candidate forums to be held before the June primary. Many are organized by the League of Women’ Voters Tulare County (LWV) or with their help.

More details will be included in our next issue and in their newsletter.

March 15 at 6 pm — Tulare County District Attorney candidates’ forum at the Masonic Lodge at 135 W Tulare Ave, Tulare. Incumbent district attorney Tim Ward and Assistant Kings County District Attorney Matt Darby will each have ten minutes to introduce themselves, then answer audience questions.

Organized by the Central Valley Tea Party.

April 11 — Candidates’ Forum for Congressional District 22 in Lindsay. Time and place TBA April 21 — Candidates’ Forum for Assembly District 26 and Tulare Co. Supervisor District 5, in Porterville; Time and place TBA. Organized by the Tulare Co. Candidates Forum Coalition and LWV. April 30 — Candidates’ Forum, at Tulare Co. Office of Education; Organized by the LWVTC May 3 — Candidates’ Forum for Senate Dist. 14 and Tulare Co. Supervisor District 4, in Orosi; organized by the Tulare Co. Candidates Forum Coalition that includes the LWVTC. Additionally, the League of Women Voters will meet Tuesday, February 20 at Left of Center, 699 W. Center at 11:45 a.m. Lunch will be served for $15.00 (including tax and tip).

The meeting will continue the group’s study of “Making Democracy Work - Locally”, and recently appointed Visalia City Manager Randy Groom, will present the program “Vision for Visalia”. Groom has served in local government in the County most of his career.

The public is welcome. Reservations are required by contacting phoebet8@ att.net or calling 732-5061. nothing left to negotiate with,” he said.

If he is sent to Sacramento, Lavers said, he will go to their doors and scream and yell because that is what he was doing for free for the last 10 years. “If we stand up together and we fight we can have some victories.”

Mathis admitted that voting yes on Cap and Trade was political suicide but insisted that Republicans did not negotiate everything away.

“Knowing we would get attacked back home, it would have been very easy to vote no. I damn near guarantee that I would not have two opponents running against me. But it would have screwed the economy.”

Mathis said that he chose the local economy over the party line. “What is the party line? Is it what the (Central) Committee says it is? Is it what the people says it is?

“At the end of the day I represent the people,” said Mathis.

Gubler said that he understands why some organizations would have asked for Mathis’ help on Cap and

Trade, but that the problem was that Mathis changed his vote.

“The important thing is that the incumbent said he would vote ‘no’ but then voted ‘yes.’”

Gubler pointed out that Mathis did the same thing with the Telecom bill that would have allowed companies such as Verizon to put its cell antennas wherever they wanted without city approval.

Mathis told his constituents that he would vote no. Then when it landed on the Assembly floor he voted yes.

Mathis’ motto since 2014 has been “people over politics” but Gubler said that he “would suggest it is really special interests over people.”

Gubler revealed that, unlike Mathis, who has received most of his campaign money from Sacramento, he has received most of his donations from the 26th District.

“When you go to bed at night you will know that I will have your back. I will listen to my constituents and I will keep my word.”

1 March, 2018 Valley Voice

8

POLITICAL FIX continued from 3

his endorsements and angered the Republican base in Tulare and Inyo Counties.

The June election will also decide who will be Tulare County District Attorney because there are only two candidates, Tim Ward and Matt Darby.

For the June 5 Primary the first day to vote by mail is May 7. The last day to register will be May 21, and the last day to mail your ballot will be May 29. Candidates must file nomination

CEMETERY continued from 1

“I would like to know why I was fired,” she asked.

In a painful post on Caring Cause’s Facebook, Silva recounted the details surrounding her dismissal and laid out why she felt she was unjustly fired

by Gilson.

The post was subsequently taken down by Caring Cause after Gilson threatened to sue for libel.

Ginger Thorton, the mother of another fired employee, was also upset with Gilson.

Thorton said that Gilson threatened Stay Green, the former maintenance company, that it would lose its contract if it did not fire her son, Ken Thorton.

Stay Green did fire Thorton, but the company lost its contract anyway soon after.

Silva was fired the same day that Gilson allegedly told Stay Green to fire Thorton, which was January 17th. Coincidently, that was the same day that Gilson replaced Deal as chairperson of the board.

Tulare resident Linda Maloy simply asked for Gilson and Aguilar to resign.

“I’m really tired of all this BS,” she said, “so I’m going to ask for your resignation, Ms. Gilson, and yours, Mr. Aguilar.”

Her request was “seconded” six or seven times while the audience clapped.

Colleen Day was the only person in attendance to stand up for Aguilar and Gilson.

“It seems that everyone is out to get Vicki and Alberto,” Day said, “because what I’ve heard about, it seems everybody has a little bitchy problem and it all seems to come from one person, from the person who runs [Caring Cause].”

To which the crowd responded by saying, “you’re wrong.”

“Give them a chance to do something. You are doing the best you can. I am proud of you,” Day said.

documents with the County Registrar of Voters office before 5pm on March 9. If an incumbent chooses not to run again, then an additional extension of one week is allowed for new candidates to file, ending March 14.

Tulare County Board of Supervisors District 4 and 5 nomination period will be extended to March 14 as Supervisors Steve Worthley and Mike Ennis are not defending their seats.

Count on a clown car full of candidates because nine individuals ran for District 1 in 2016 when Allen Ishida retired to run for Governor.

In the November 6 general mid-

term elections, all 435 seats in the United States House of Representatives and 33 of the 100 seats in the United States Senate will be contested. Thirty-nine state and territorial governorships and numerous other state and local elections will also be contested, including California’s governorship.

The 2018 state elections will impact the redistricting that will follow the 2020 United States Census, as many states task governors and state legislators with drawing new boundaries for state legislative and Congressional districts.

Other races to watch are the Tulare County Superintendent of Schools, with four candidates, and State Senate District 14, which has four candidates. Sen. Andy Vidak is the incumbent. The Tulare County Sheriff is up for election but Sheriff Mike Boudreaux is uncontested.

Ms. Stever Blattler ended by saying, “Being informed is critical to having a voice in local issues that impact your farm, ranch, or business…..

If you would like to encourage Farm Bureau to help educate voters about a specific race or office, please send me an email, I’d appreciate the feedback.”

The public started clapping when Day said she had to leave the meeting for work and Gilson threatened to clear the room if the public was not respectful.

Vicki Gordon, also a Tulare resident, directed her anger at Aguilar for allegedly “running off” two knowledgeable and qualified board members, Bill Postlewaite and Richard Johnson.

Both men resigned from the cemetery board soon after being appointed

by Supervisor Vander Poel.

She was also upset at the current condition of the cemetery.

Gordon felt that after “five years of dirt and weeds,” the cemetery was finally looking better under Stay Green’s care.

Gilson closed public comment and started the regular meeting with Elaine Hollingsworth, founder of Caring Cause.

Hollingsworth asked to be put on the agenda in order to discuss the day-to -day operation of the cemetery.

Hollingsworth supported the public comments saying, “On behalf of Caring Cause we respectfully request that you, Mrs. Gilson, and you, Mr. Aguilar, resign to let qualified board members serve on this board that will take it to heart and serve cemetery’s best interests.”

Hollingsworth said that the “tension, friction and animosity” is what drove away former board members Postlewaite and Johnson.

“There is so much back biting that two fine gentleman resigned,” she said.

Holligsworth also said her group agrees with the complaints already voiced during public comment, but her main concern was the condition of the grounds.

“It was one step forward and then we took two steps back.” Holliingswoth was especially angry that the board fired Stay Green without a backup plan saying that the grounds now look “deplorable.”

Gilson pointed out that Stay Green had only been gone since January 31, or three weeks.

Though it may take months to fully implement, the board plans to bring

maintenance in-house.

The cemetery will need to make huge capital investments in equipment and hire qualified personnel, starting with a grounds manager.

“You think it’s cheaper in-house, but it is screwing your employees,” Ken Thorton, a former employee, said.

He felt that now the maintenance workers will have to do four times the work for the same pay.

Aguilar said that he spoke to the employees about terminating Stay Green’s contract and they said they could definitely do the job.

Deal interjected, saying that the employees had told him that they could not do the burials and also be responsible for the maintenance of the grounds.

Hollingsworth said that she was still concerned that a budget had not yet been calculated for doing maintenance in-house and it may not be cost effective.

Aguilar said that the district cannot sustain the cost of Stay Green if it ends up spending more than the district brings in.

He said that Stay Green not only charged $19,300 a month for maintaining the grounds but that the company was billing the district an extra $3000 – $5000 a month for services that were supposed to already be included in their contract.

A representative from Stay Green who attended the meeting said the extra services were not covered in the contract.

Gilson and Aguilar said that they were.

Avila agreed with Aguilar’s financial opinion.

“My thought is you cannot spend more than what comes in. I believe a complete assessment is in order, Income vs Expense,” he stated on Caring Cause.

Hollingsworth last item to discuss was Gilson’s handling of the mistakes made concerning the burial of Trenity Monsibais.

She felt that Gilson did not keep the rest of the board informed of the problem and that her lack of compassion brought bad publicity to the cemetery.

“Isn’t this supposed to be handled by the office manager,” Hollingsworth asked Gilson.

Gilson responded that Hollingsworth was correct.

Since September 2017, the Tulare Public Cemetery has not had a functional office staff, leaving board members to fill in the gaps and incur severe public criticism. Problems persist as it appears the current office manager struggles

with her responsibilities, requiring continued board intervention.

Lack of competent staffing began years ago, prompting Gilson to try and remedy the lack of maintenance when she was first appointed to the board mid 2017.

At different times, all four board members have been pulled into the day -to-day operations due to the mess left behind by the husband and wife management team, Marilyn Correia and Steve Cunningmham, who surreptitiously left the district the first week of September.

Correia and Cunningham have since been accused of embezzling district funds.

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Aguilar reported that a qualified prospect had been found to be the new grounds manager and it was decided to arrange for an interview.

The board decided to get the future manager’s opinion on lawn maintenance equipment before accepting one of the four bids received.

The board also voted to create a policy on memorial benches and to get bids on a new software program to keep track of where guests are buried.

Additionally, now that the district office finally has internet, the board has made a commitment to post its agendas and meetings online to make them more accessible to the public.

One of the last items on the agenda was encouraging public input and welcoming volunteers.

Hollingsworth said that Caring Cause’s goals were to hold another flower drive so all the gravesites have flowers. She is also looking into starting an endowment fund to help the cemetery with repairs and wants to walk with members of the board to identify sinking graves and get them repaired.

Gilson commended those members of the public who have tended to their loved ones graves, and sometimes even the neighboring graves during the drought and the last years of mismanagement.

She said that the board has visited other cemeteries in Selma, Madera and Hanford to get new ideas.

“We are making a plan, making it uniform and going forward and we invite everyone,” she said. “It’s going to be teamwork to maintain the cemetery.”

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Valley Voice 1 March, 2018

9

TULARE

doing business as Fairfield Inns and a closed session report, “Mayor Jones It has not yet received an answer; Suites, Mahendra Patel. Patel’s LLC for- reported that the Council directed the city does have 10 days to comply. merly operated the Fairfield Inn and him to secure an Interim City Attorney It is also not known whether payment continued from 1 Suites, and is being sued for failure by Tuesday, April 4, 2017, City Council on those previously unpaid invoices It can be noted that the Voice subto report and pay more than one-half meeting.” has been made. mitted a similar PRA for a copy of the million dollars in city Transient OccuPhillips was first presented as staff contract, and was also denied. pancy Tax from June, 2014 – Septem- attorney at a regular council meeting Potential Civility Code It is up to the city’s attorney(s) to ber 30, 2016. on April 4.

Councilman Sigala has repeatedly interpret the Brown Act as it deems Filed by David Hale and his asked other council members to supappropriate; the public can, of course, There’s nothing to Fike of Fike & Borapartner, Martin port a civility policy regarding their dispute that interpretation. A court nian on behalf of Koczanowicz (who interactions with and toward other report. Now all you date for Brubaker’s case is set for Tuesthe city on March had previously citizens within the community. He has day, June 12. bad news clowns can resigned for per6, 2017, the case also asked for the city attorney and This is not the only issue questionwas transferred sonal reasons), manager to work on the issue. just go home. ing the city attorney’s competency to shortly thereafter served the city “Currently there is a policy for in Carlton Jones, Tulare mayor, to serve in a municipal legal position. to Phillips. under a contract the work place,” he said, “but, should members of the public waiting for The case has with Koczanowicz we be accountable [for actions] with Rumors or facts? been dragging on a closed session report, according & Hale, with no the general public? I feel strongly, we “I have heard rumors, but have despite numerous to video. monthly rate, but need to set a good example and hold no actual facts,” said Shea Gowin, attempts at suban hourly rate of ourselves accountable.” a former Tulare City Council mem- poenaing Tulare $160/hr. for non-litAccording to the city manager and It’s embarassing. ber. Gowin also attends most council Lodging Associigation services, attorney, they are working on it, he meetings, records them, and publish- ates, but there has Either we confirm and $190/hr. for added. He wants to see it on the agenes live streams on her personal Face- been no entry of his leadership, or we lead attorney and da, and soon. book page. default nor proof $170/hr. for other One example of a lack of civility don’t.

“I have heard council members of service to Patel. attorneys involved might be a comment by Mayor Jones on the dais comment about things N u m e r o u s Jose Sigala, Tulare councilman, in a litigation case. to Gowin and a few others patiently not getting done by the city attorney,” case statement on the remarks made by Carlton In comparison waiting for the end of the closed sesshe added. conferences have Jones, Tulare’s mayor. to other Tulare sion meeting on February 22.

For example, the council learned been called by County city attorGowin said she wanted to wait and of the Brubaker case not through city Phillips, although she did not always ney fees and agreements the $30,000 hear if there was any closed session restaff, but through the Voice’s report. participate. Monetary sanctions have may seem a bit high, especially for an port. There wasn’t.

Councilman Jose Sigala has made been proposed against Phillips, by attorney with no previous municipal “There’s nothing to report. Now all various requests, including his own Judge Melinda Reed, who is over- experience. you bad news clowns can just leave,” interest in just what the investigation seeing the case, in the amounts of In Porterville, a city just slightly Jones said, according to Gowin and a into the police staff is costing the city. $250 and $500. smaller in population with an esti- video recording of the event.

Another long-standing request by SiThis case was last itemized on mated 59,000 residents versus Tulare’s “He really said that,” Gowin verigala is for a “civility policy” for city a closed session agenda on October estimated 63,000, the contract with fied, and added that at least three othcouncil members.

17, 2017.

McCormick, Kabot, Jenner & Lew, with er people heard it as well.

Those requests, to date, remain Julia Lew being the city attorney, does Perhaps, this falls under the alunanswered. not have a set monthly rate, but rather ready in place -- workplace policy -City Attorney contracts Furthermore, several months an hourly rate of $170/hr. for attorney rather than a civility or conduct code and costs back, Councilman David Macedo rework and $75/hr. for work performed Unlike other department heads, by law clerks or paralegals. For the of the future. quested an evaluation of the city atSigala said he didn’t hear it at the torney. Items regarding evaluations the city attorney – like the city man- fiscal year of July 2016 to June 2017, time, but admitted the video recordof the city attorney and the city man- ager – is contracted by the city coun- Porterville spent just under $190,000 ing does verify it. ager appeared on numerous agendas cil. The Goyette & Associates contract in legal fees. That firm has decades of “It’s embarrassing,” he said. dating back to November, 2017 and Au- was approved by council in a closed serving in municipal capacities, havSigala would also like to see a resession meeting on June 6, 2017, with ing long-served Exeter, as well. gust, 2017 respectively. organization of At the most recent city council Phillips being the representative Visalia, nearly the council placed There’s a group of peo- on the city council meeting, on February 22, evaluations counselor, following the resignation double the size of of David Hale. for both were again on the closed sesTulare, has two law ple that may not like agenda as soon as Terms of the agreement include a firms on contract sion agenda. possible, he said. our city attorney and monthly base payment of $30,000 for with the city. A conAt that meetThe mayor is apgeneral law, labor tract with Peltzer ing, the city are making things up. pointed by council I have heard and litigation ser- & Richardson for manager was She’s not holding any- to a two-year term. council members on vices, and Council basic city attorney told he could go was appointhad voted 4-1 for services is signed thing up. There’s always Jones home – he was the dais comment ed in late 2016. Siher approval. not brought into at $42,000/month something to do. gala is not sure he about things not The hiring of for a long list of closed session. should fulfill the Phillips, and the services, with a Greg Nunley, Tulare councilman, getting done by the Phillips, the city whole term. firm, was sold $160/hr. rate for on the performance of Heather attorney, howevcity attorney.

Individuals to fellow coun- special er, was asked into services. Phillips, the Tulare City Attorney. have called out the cil members as a Herr, Pedersen & closed session. No Shea Gowin, Tulare resident and mayor’s actions one-stop-shop ser- Berglund are contracted to handle outcome was re- former council member, on the and posts on social media with accuvices-all by May- Personnel & Employment services at ported following performance of Heather Phillips, sations of being argumentative with, or Carlton Jones, $6,000/month and $160/hr. for attorthe closed session the Tulare City Attorney. bullying and demeaning citizens. so the city would ney time; $110/hr. for paralegal services of the meeting.

“Either we confirm his leadership, not need to hire other firms for other involving litigation matters.

Councilman Greg Nunley denies or we don’t,” Sigala said. problems with the city attorney’s types of legal work, according to Siga“I understand this council has its la. Sigala said he had bought into that performance.

Another sign of a lack of problems” Nunley said, commenting “I requested a report from ev- and voted to hire the firm. that any group does.

The city is locked into paying transparency? ery department, and city hall several Nunley is not active in social Since signing of the formal conweeks ago, asking what the city attor- $360,000 per year regardless of how media, he said, commenting that it ney was holding them up on - from all much or how little the firm works for tract, Goyette & Associates has billed doesn’t seem proper. department heads, citywide. It was a the city in the agreed facets of law. the city on a monthly basis its flat fee “I understand that some of us That is while the contract remains via- of $30,000. short list.” shouldn’t be on social media,” he said.

There has been no delineation of “There’s a group of people that ble – it can, at any time, be terminated “Everyone in Tulare needs to work may not like our city attorney and are for any reason, or no reason, accord- hours spent, which department work together – we need to support council, making things up. She’s not holding ing to the contract. For legal work out- has been performed for, nor by which the city and staff,” he added. “There anything up. There’s always some- side the realm of the specified general attorney work has been performed. will always be differing opinions.” thing to do,” he said, “We all have to- law, labor and litigation, the city pays Copies of these billings were obtained Mayor Jones hung up on this redo lists. That’s the 100% honest truth, $190/hr. for senior attorneys, $170/hr. by the Voice through a PRA request on porter when trying to reach him for for junior attorneys and $125/hr. for February 8.

I believe. comment.

A pattern of this is emergThe invoices for November, 2017 And, Joe [city manager], was on the work of paralegals and law clerks. ing, as it has happened before.

Phillips worked for the city in the through February, 2018 were not top of it and I got it [the report].”

“Mayor Jones, this is Nancy with months prior to the contract, being stamped with approval to pay by the Valley Voice, please don’t hang up.” hired as an interim attorney, by the the city manager, as previous invoicOne city lawsuit He did. mayor, following a special closed ses- es had been.

Another issue is an almost yearA second call was placed to him, sion council meeting on March 31.

As of February 8, they had not long civil law suit by the city against and a message left on voicemail asking According to the meeting minutes of been paid.

Tulare Lodging Associations, an LLC for comment.

Having received information the He has not responded. As of the city may have recently received itemdate of publication, neither Vice Mayor ized billings in response to city reMaritsa Castellanoz nor Councilman quests, the Voice submitted a second Macedo have responded for comment.

PRA as on February 22.

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Recycle this paper... read it again!

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1 March, 2018 Valley Voice

10

EDUCATION

CattleWomen share Ag education with elementary students STAFF REPORTS On Feb. 26, members of the Tulare County CattleWomen (TCCW) held an educational beef and dairy workshop at The Catholic School of Visalia’s George McCann Memorial Campus (GMC) in downtown Visalia.

A total of 57 students in first, second and third grade participated in the one-hour event, which featured an in-depth look at beef by-products and how cattle are a good caretakers of the land – serving as firefighters, gardeners and recyclers.

Students learned how each ingredient in their cheeseburger – everything from the beef patty to the cheese, bun and vegetables – was produced.

They also found out how beef is a good source of zinc, iron and protein (ZIP).

In the dairy rotation, students were treated to video of life on a dairy, as well as the process of how milk

starts at the source and then ends up in the grocery store.

Presenters included TCCW Past President Claudia Guthrie, TCCW Secretary Beth Baxley, and current or former TCCW board members Shari Tarbell and Kelli Toledo, as well as Tessa Hall of Curtimade Dairy Inc. Following the three 15-minute stations, students were treated to cheese, donated by the Land ‘O Lakes Tulare plant, ice cream bars, gummy cheeseburgers, Angus scene placemats, dairy cow headbands and pencils with cheeseburger erasers.

A coloring contest was held for each grade level with beef and dairy coloring pages completed ahead of the workshop.

Winners were recognized judged by members of the TCCW. Each teacher was given a kit of resource materials with brochures

George McCann Memorial Campus second grader Lane Toledo went over beef breeders with fellow students, prior to receiving cheese, ice cream, pencils and dairy cow headbands during the visit by the Tulare County Cattlewomen. Courtesy/TCCW

about beef and dairy, as well as donations of notepads, pencils, bumper stickers, coloring books and more for each student.

Materials were donated by the American Angus Association, the California Beef Council and the California Milk Advisory Board.

Tulare student wins County Spelling Championship STAFF REPORTS

2018 Spelling Champions include second place student Hannah Cooper, winner Jaskarn Singh and third place student Saksham Narwal. Courtesy/TC Office of Education

The 19th Annual Tulare County Spelling Championship was held February 21 with 232 spellers from grades four through eight competing for the title of 2018 Tulare County Spelling Champion and to advance to the Scripps National Spelling Bee in National Harbor, Maryland the end of May. The winner was Jaskarn Singh, an eighth-grade student from Alpine Vista School in Tulare. Second place was awarded to Hannah Cooper, a seventh

grader from Classical Conversations, and third place to Saksham Narwal, a seventh grader from Live Oak Middle School in Tulare.

Singh won in the 19th round. Students represented 116 public and private schools throughout the county.

The competition lasted six-plus hours.

Singh’s words were: periscope, triumvirate, quisling, erudite, tertiary, dachshund, novillero, lokshen, Meiji, springerle, escargot, uitlander, scherzo, pfeffernuss, tanha, barukhzy, weissnightwo, preposterous and vamplate.

Fourth annual Tulare County STEM Expo set for March 10 STAFF REPORTS On Saturday, March 10, the community is invited to celebrate everything about science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) at the annual STEM Expo – one of the largest family science festivals in the Central Valley.

The Tulare County Office of Education (TCOE) Planetarium & Science Center will host the event, which will feature live STEM demonstrations and activities throughout the day. This free event is held in an “open house” format.

The STEM Expo provides students with fun, engaging activities to build knowledge about STEM, including the

e

Th

annual Science & Engineering Fair; hands-on robotics coding; a green screen for video projects; an electronic game station; a Cardboard Challenge area for families to imagine and build using cardboard; and a makerspace, where participants can build smartphone speakers, paper rockets and circuits out of ordinary materials.

This year, several art-based activities have also been added.

Throughout the day, the TCOE Planetarium will show back-to-back presentations of its popular program, “Two Small Pieces of Glass: The Amazing Telescope,” utilizing its recently upgraded projec-

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The program traces the history of the telescope and the advances that have been made since the time of Newton and Galileo.

The STEM Expo will also feature a variety of community booths and local food trucks.

Students will bring their science projects to compete for top prizes and the chance to advance to the California State Science Fair in Los Angeles, April 23-24.

Over 60 science projects have been registered in six competition categories: Life Science; Earth and Space Science;

Physical Science – Chemistry; Physical Science – Physics; Engineering and Mathematics; and Behavioral and Social Sciences. “The STEM Expo is designed to engage students and families in learning about many of the educational and career opportunities in science, technology, engineering and mathematics,” said TCOE’s Jared Marr, a STEM staff development/curriculum specialist.

For more information on participating in the STEM Expo as an exhibitor or vendor, call Paula Terrill at (559) 651-0565.

For more information, visit tcoe.org/ STEMExpo, or call Robert Herman, Public Information Officer at (559) 733-6606.

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Valley Voice 1 March, 2018

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

Former TCDA: Darby will provide ‘new era’ WILL RICHMOND The elected District Attorney is the top law enforcement officer and head prosecutor in Tulare County. Now is the time to elect a District Attorney who understands and values these tenets. I am proud to endorse Matt Darby for Tulare County District Attorney in 2018.

I received my undergraduate degree from Stanford and attended Hastings Law School. I first moved to Tulare County in 1969. I was a proud resident of Visalia, Lemon Cove, and Exeter. I had the privilege of serving the good citizens of Tulare County as the Elected District Attorney from 1978 to 1987.

I eventually left the Tulare County District Attorney’s Office to prosecute environmental crimes from 1989 to 2010. Interestingly, this position overlapped the two terms I served as the Elected District Attorney in Alpine County, from 2003 to 2010.

I am also the last Tulare County

District Attorney who was originally put in office by a vote of the people. My three successors in office, including the current incumbent, all got their jobs through political appointment. A pattern of political patronage stifles democracy and government accountability. It’s high time it came to an end in Tulare County.

Because I served as the elected District Attorney, I know firsthand how important it is for the elected District Attorney to remain active as a litigating prosecutor. Additionally, I understand the required assignments of this post, and the fine balance that is required of the elected District Attorney in order to effectively guide a productive and thriving office. An elected District Attorney that is dedicated to both administrative and litigation duties will make Tulare County a safer place for all to live.

Undoubtedly, a strong leader with this approach will improve working relationships within the District Attorney’s

Office, law enforcement, the court system, the defense bar, and other justice partners. Without question Matt Darby understands the importance and value of this model.

Matt will provide the citizens of Tulare County with a new era. Matt is a leader who builds relationships. Matt is a leader who prosecutes. His desire and ability to lead from the front will make him a champion for the citizens of Tulare County. It is time that the cycle of politically appointed District Attorneys comes to an end. I encourage you to not only vote and endorse Matt but, encourage your co-workers, friends, and family to do the same. A vote for Matt Darby for District Attorney in 2018 is a vote for the future and safety of Tulare County.

Will Richmond Elected Tulare County District Attorney (1978-1987) Elected Alpine County District Attorney (2003-2010)

‘Matt will exercise better judgment than Ward.’

HOWARD R. BROADMAN The District Attorney is the chief law enforcement officer of Tulare County. All criminal investigations coming from the Tulare County Sheriff and local police departments end up at one place—the District Attorney. The District Attorney makes the final decision to file criminal charges and is responsible for prosecuting cases in Court. Therefore, it’s imperative that the District Attorney possess good judgment. I am a retired Judge, serving Tulare County from 1986 through 1999, and I continue to be fully employed as a Private Judge. I’m in the business of making decisions. I am a Judge. It is what I do.

You can make a good decision by voting Matt Darby to be Tulare County District Attorney on June 5, 2018. I was and still am outraged by the lack of good judgment shown by Ward. As examples, here are three instances by Ward. He accepted a $21,000 campaign contribution from Dr. Benny Benzeevi

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M.D., the CEO of HCCA (the Tulare District Hospital controversy). Why would the District Attorney accept such a contribution and why did Dr. Benzeevi make it? I think we know. I am very tired of our elected officials not just saying: “I made a mistake. What was I thinking?”

Bad judgment followed by bad judgement. I had previously supported Ward.

I made a mistake, I didn’t know he had such bad judgment.

News articles suggest Ward is now investigating the hospital matter. This “investigation” began only after intense public outcry and an impending election with Matt’s decision to run for District Attorney.

Matt will also make sure to protect your constitutional rights. In 2013, Kahmen “Omar” Saleh, a businessman from Porterville was charged, by Ward, with two counts of murder and special circumstances of double homicide, making Mr. Saleh eligible for the death penalty. Mr. Saleh shot two robbers in self-defense after they stole $44,000 and

were backing their getaway truck at him. It took a jury only a few minutes to acquit, a message that Tim Ward exercised bad judgment to file charges against an innocent man who was appropriately exercising his 2nd Amendment right.

Matt will bring back experienced prosecutors and trial attorneys to the Tulare County District Attorney’s Office.

Under Ward, Tulare County has lost more than 100 years of prosecutorial experience.

Matt will exercise better judgment than Ward. It is really that simple. When you are as powerful as the District Attorney you need to have excellent judgment. Matt has that judgment, Ward has shown a lack of it.

I have set forth only three of many examples. Please join me in using your good judgment and vote Matt Darby for Tulare County District Attorney on June 5, 2018.

Judge Howard R. Broadman (Ret.)

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They basically pawned all the hospital’s stuff. Where is the $3 mil? The hospital wants to buy it back from Celtic. With What?

— Enuf on Tulare hospital sues to exit loan arrangement

It seems like it is time to sue the previous board for lack of financial duty to the district. Kumar was the kingpin and he has made out like a bandit. Created his empire off the hospital’s dime in more way’s than one.

Valley Voice thank you for your excellent coverage. Everything you have laid out makes it so easy to follow. You truly deserve an award for true journalism.

Did Benny and Germany put up District assets for this loan that were purchased with bond money? Is that legal? So much for due diligence by Celtic, they should be ashamed of themselves. All it would have taken was a quick google search at the time and they could have read of the corruption that was going on.

Hang in their board we know if anyone can pull this off all of you can.

— Truth16 on Tulare hospital sues to exit loan arrangement

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11

Reyes conflicted in council, chamber JOHN DURAN In my opinion the option of a “RECUSAL” when it comes to an Elected Official having a conflict of interest as per the Fair Practices Commission, Political Reform Act, and Government Code is a disservice to the public.

As early as mid-January I learned that Porterville City Council, Councilman Monte Reyes had accepted the position as Chief Executive Officer of the Porterville Chamber of Commerce. The Chamber, from what I understand has received $35,000.00 of taxpayer monies yearly since 2006 to sponsor events and a Monthly Morning Coffee get-together for local businessmen/women.

The majority of residents seem to disapprove of this wasteful spending, and many feel that Councilman Reyes “can not serve to masters”.

On February 1, 2018 I sent a Letter of Intent to Mayor Milt Stowe and Vice Mayor Brian Ward, advising them of my intent, concerns and a response time of February 9th to avoid further action.

As always the Council chose to ignore and address the issue. I therefore, filed a Complaint with the FPPC requesting an investigation, and I already assumed that it would be denied, due to the fact that Councilman Reyes has yet to break any laws.

Beyond the cord of a conflict of interest, the problem that I attach to the argument is that of “equal representation”.

I don’t feel that an Elected Officer/ Public Servant fully stands to represent the people who elected him/her to do just that, represent them/us/me, instead of representing other personal interest.

I certainly see this as a Constitutional Issue and a civil rights violation, and I am currently seeking legal advise. Here’s my final take, “when an elected representative can not cast a vote, (by way of recusal), in my interest as my elected representative, this individual is not acting in my best interest, but instead, he/she is silencing my voice as a citizen”.

I VOTED for COUNCILMAN REYES to be my voice before the City. I sincerely hope Councilman Reyes rethinks his position, and fulfills his obligations as a representative of the people, I don’t know if Councilman Reyes would recuse himself from making a decision to produce the Chambers financial records, regarding how the Chamber has used the monies the Council has awarded the Chamber since 2006.

It looks like the District Board gave Benny the authority to do what he saw fit. It sounds like the bankruptcy judge would have to decide if Senovia was a board member when Benny acted. I cant imagine a bankruptcy judge wanting to wade into that mess. This could go on a long time. The interim CEO and his entourage of rehired employees along with the multiple lawyers will now feed off the public tax trough just as Benny has done so successfully. Has the Board given any thoughts to selling the hospital and relieving our citizens of this tax burden? It is hard to see light at the end of this tunnel.

— Enuf on Tulare hospital sues to exit loan arrangement

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If and when this hospital opens….you want to hit the ground running as soon and fast as possible. Hence, the need for nurses maintenance housekeepers, X-ray tech, lab supervisors, clinical staff, education, HR, respiratory, fiance, and IT already in place and set to go. Seem like you, Perpetualcrisis, and other critics need to take the time and patience and do some handson research on the whys and wherefores. Perhaps you may be right but from my perspective you are wrong. Those buildings and grounds are huge and this is not a small clinic that needs to be maintained not to mention all these high caliber machines that MUST be fully maintained in order to run at capacity from day one once the hospital opens.

— Barbara on Tulare hospital sues to exit loan arrangement

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Valley Voice

1 March, 2018

NUNES

continued from 1 of Church and Main streets in downtown Visalia, outside Nunes’ local office. In February, following the death of 17 people during a shooting at a Florida high school, the protesters came dressed in black, and there were more of them than ever before.

There were also many more issues on their minds. They especially want Nunes to know his handling of the Trump-Russia investigation still matters to them.

“This is all about the Trump nonsense,” said Finney. “And it’s about the killing last Wednesday. I think there was a shooting this morning. I haven’t been able to find out because it’s a daily occurrence practically, and I’m tired of hearing that guns are more important than children.”

No Access

Protester Betsy Gaudette-Cross, also a teacher from Visalia, said her main frustration with Nunes is his lack of availability to discuss issues.

“He will not listen to us,” she said.

“I called his office. I emailed him, and I have requested a one-on-one.”

A sign posted outside the door to Nunes’ Visalia office tells visitors they will not be admitted to the congressman’s office without a confirmed appointment. Staff simply ignores requests for those appointments, Gaudette-Cross says.

She also wants Nunes to know she’s not a radical, and she takes issue with his treatment of dissenters as a fringe element to be ignored. Previ-

ously, Nunes’ staff labeled South Valley Civics as a left-wing extremist organization.

“You know I’m not a mob or I’m not a paid protester or anything,” Gaudette-Cross said. “I just have a lot of concern about the way he is handling things and how he is not representing my views or a lot of people who I know.”

Nunes Sighting

When Nunes made a brief appearance last month at the International Ag Farm Equipment Show in Tulare, local press treated it almost as if Bigfoot had been spotted. I Saw Devin Nunes at World Ag Expo. Did You? read the headline on GV Wire’s story. Nunes, they reported, had breakfast with the VIPs, posed for some photos, said hello to Tulare Mayor Carlton Jones, then left without talking to the members of the press.

However, Nunes isn’t completely unavailable to the press.

Last Sunday, Nunes had plenty of time to sit down for a lengthy interview with Full Measure, a right-leaning weekly news program broadcast to select markets. In the segment, Nunes claimed the House Intel Committee investigation is ending and no evidence of collusion between the Trump campaign and Russian agents had been found.

“Well, we have a Russian Investigation going on whether or not there was collusion between any campaign and the Russians. That’s coming to a close,” Nunes said. “We’ve never had any evidence of collusion between the Trump campaign and the Russians.”

Despite that assertion by Nunes,

more than a dozen indictments have been issued by Special Prosecutor Robert Mueller, along with evidence that appears to show such collusion did take place.

Prisoner Nunes?

During the Full Measure interview, Nunes also admitted there was no indication members of the Obama administration leaked the names of individuals unmasked in classified intelligence reports.

“We have no evidence, that they leaked this information, OK?” Nunes said.

Nunes has claimed such leaks were facilitated by the FBI and the Department of Justice to aid Democrats.

His admission there is no evidence of such illegal cooperation, said former Democratic presidential candidate Howard Dean, could land Nunes a prison sentence for his attempts to stymie the ongoing investigation by the FBI and Department of Justice.

“The House Intelligence Committee is no longer a functional or reasonable, thoughtful committee,” Dean told MSNBC. “I think the chairman (Nunes) is going to go to jail, actually, eventually.”

Nunes News Network

To counter negative press coverage, Nunes’ office has started its own news service, The California Republican.

The website, which features coverage favorable to Nunes and the GOP is just another way the congressman is attempting to evade talking about issues important to them, his detractors say.

“He’s never here and the only place

you can find his opinions are on KMJ and Fox News, and his own new little network,” Finney said.

Even more concerning is Nunes’ use of alternative news outlets to protect his political allies.

“He’s been saying there’s no collusion for a year, and surprise, there is,” she said.

Nunes’ reluctance to examine the behavior Trump and his associates is not shared by all members of his party. Senate Intel Chair Richard Burr has made efforts to publicly distance himself from Nunes. Burr has said the, “unmasking thing was all created by Devin Nunes,” and he’s avoided being associated with the Nunes Memo.

“It’s Devin’s memo, so you need to ask him what it means,” Burr told CNN.

Pressure Mounting

With local protests continuing to grow in size, the political pressure against Nunes is also growing.

At its state convention in San Diego last month, the California Democratic Party voted to back the campaign of Andrew Janz. The move means financial and logistical support for the campaign, something the state party has long been reluctant to provide in a district seen as a GOP stronghold.

“The only way we can protect the integrity of the Mueller investigation is to take back the House of Representatives, and that fight runs through California and right through my district,” Janz told KQED during the convention.

Following the release of the Nunes Memo, the Janz campaign had its best fundraising day yet, gathering $164,000.

VALLEYSCENE 1 March, 2018

CONTROL SNAILS, SLUGS IN YOUR GARDEN

page B8

ourvalleyvoice.com

“Mothers and Sons” to open March 2 at Ice House NANCY HOLLEY

Joana Gonzalez. Courtesy/Sequoia Symphony

Sequoia Symphony performs Latino concert DONNA OROZCO Each year the Sequoia Symphony likes to perform a concert with a Latin influence, and the March 10 concert will feature music by one of Spain’s most important composers and a symphonic suite by a Mexican composer.

“Nights in the Gardens of Spain”

by Spanish composer Manuel de Falla imagines a warm evening featuring folk music of Andalusia, where Falla was born. Because Andalusia forms the southernmost region of Spain, it was a crossroads of many cultures and thus yielded a rich and exotic musical style.

Guest pianist for the piece is Joana Gonzalez, a South Florida native of Hispanic descent. She was awarded first place in the New World Symphony’s Side by Side competition, which allowed her to play for the New World Symphony’s founder, Michael Tilson Thomas.

“La Noches de los Mayas” (The Night of the Mayas) by Mexican composer Silvestre Revueltas was composed for a film of the same name in 1939. The orchestral suite from the film evokes the spirit of the early Mayas and includes unique ethnic instruments including bongos, congas, tom-toms, rattles, guiro (a notched gourd), conch shell and tumkul (log drum).

The concert begins at 7:30 p.m. at the Visalia Fox Theater, but the audience is encouraged to come to music director Bruce Kiesling’s preview at 6:45 p.m. 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 7328600 or go to www.sequoiasymphonyorchestra.com.

Arts Visalia to exhibit Silver Light: Fifty Photographs STAFF REPORTS This month Arts Visalia is pleased to exhibit Randall Ranger.

Ranger is a black-and -white film photographer. In this exhibition, entitled Silver Light: Fifty Photographs, Ranger focuses on photography as the search for exciting light revealing form, texture, and shape.

Ranger states, “When I’m photographing, the last thing I need is a camera. I wander about with my eyes and mind, free of preconceived ideas.

My best photographs summon me, demanding their creation.”

Ranger’s interest in photography began in high school with a couple of basic photography classes. He became more involved in photography in the 1980s.

After finding 35mm and medium format lacking, in 1993, Ranger began to use a large format view camera which proved to be the best tool for his work.

“View cameras require quiet deliberation which, for me, results in superior photographs.”

His films and fine prints are taken and developed transitionally in his own darkroom, which today, is a hard commodity to find in the field of photography.

The exhibition runs from February 28th to March 30th. The opening reception will be held on First Friday, March 2nd, from 6pm to 8pm and is sponsored in part by Bueno Beverage, Jack & Charlie’s, the Vintage Press

ARTS VISALIA continued on B7 »

“Mothers and Sons,” which opens Friday, March 2, at the Ice House Theatre in Visalia, is a story about family in the 21st century.

As noted by Director Peg Collins, “Families are single mothers and children, single fathers, same sex couples, interracial couples, grandparents, foster parents, siblings raising siblings, step parents, and nuclear families.”

Unfortunately, Katharine Gerard (Debra Hansen) is emotionally stuck in a nuclear family world. She never felt loved by her parents or her husband.

When her son Andre was born, she lavished her hopes, dreams, and love in him.

No -- not in him, but rather in her vision of him. She never acknowledged Andre as the person he was.

When Andre has a relationship with Cal Porter (Christopher Volkerts),

Katharine is furious. She wants nothing more to do with him. Even when he is diagnosed with AIDS and subsequently dies, she refuses to see him or to attend the funeral.

Fast forward to the present – Cal is married and has a family: his husband Will of 8 years and Will’s son Bud. Cal finds a diary of Andre’s and sends it to Katharine.

It never occurred to Cal that she might suddenly appear at his home.

“She is angry that her son was taken away by a gay lover and then taken away byAIDS. She wants revenge!” explains Hansen.

Travis Hauert portrays Cal’s husband, Will Ogden.

“Cal and Katharine are reliving the past. I’m a father and a husband trying to stay in the present, knowing each moment is precious. You can’t

PLAY continued on B3 »

Seated left to right: Debra Hansen and Luciano Noguera; Standing left to right: Travis Hauert and Christopher Volkerts.

‘Woodies in the Valley’ returns to Visalia STAFF REPORTS When was the last time you saw an old car wrapped in real wood that was the definition of fun and excitement of the 1940’s and 1950’s? Did you grab your cell phone to capture a picture?

Or did you gawk in amazement how cool these woodies were? Or have you ever even seen an old woodie?

The Central Valley Woodie Club will be sponsoring its 12th annual “Woodies in the Valley,” an all-woodies car show on Saturday, March 10, 2018 from 8:30am until 1:30pm on the front lawn of Visalia’s Redwood High School.

There you can see and photograph the woodies, as well as talk with woodie owners – who love to share and talk about them. Attending the show is free of charge.

For Wayne Yada, president of the Central Valley Woodie Club, the 12th annual “Woodies in the Valley” event is a hands-on experience.

In addition to heading up the annual event here in Visalia, Yada drives

his modified 1950 Ford woodie all over.

He regularly attends woodie shows up and down the state as well as cross-country. He recently completed a 4300-mile road trip with his wooden car which included attending the National Woodie Club’s show in Dearborn, MI. “Although there are some exceptions,” says Yada, most all woodie club members are in the woodie hobby for the fun and camaraderie – not for awards. The cars are merely the common denominator that brings us all together. Yes, we DO have a few awards – but they are merely token/appreciation awards. There are no white gloves used by our judges!”

These cars are to drive! After all, woodies were developed not to be set on a pedestal displayed as an historical piece, but to be put to use as workhorses.

The first woodie was in fact a literal interpretation of that sentiment

WOODIES continued on B7 »

1 March, 2018 Valley Voice

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West Hills College Coalinga rodeo set for March 8, 9 STAFF REPORTS

“Eye” by Joshua Talingo Garcia, 11th Grade - Orosi High School

“Best of Show” student art exhibition open March 1-29; open house March 1

and members of the public are invited to the reception which is being held from 5 to 7pm. This year, a panel of judges selected 230 paintings, drawings and sculptures from 46 Tulare County schools for the Best of Show Exhibition.

“The annual art exhibition involves students from kindergarten through high school,” says Tulare County Superintendent of Schools Jim Vidak. “It is a wonderful program that celebrates artistic potential in all ages.”

For more information about the exhibition, contact Robert Herman, public information officer, at (559) 733-6606.

STAFF REPORTS The annual Best of Show Student Art Exhibition is being held in the lobby of the Tulare County Office of Education Administration Building and Conference Center at 6200 S. Mooney Blvd. in Visalia. The artwork can be viewed Monday through Friday from 8am until 5pm through March 29. Pieces in the exhibition were selected from two larger showings of Tulare County student artwork held earlier this year.

An open house honoring the students selected for the Best of Show Art Exhibition will be held on Thursday, March 1. Student artists, their families

Coming to the Hanford Fox Theater $5 Movies

The Lion King Saturday, March 3 @ 2 pm

Silent Comedies

W/Dean Mora on the Mighty Wurlitzer Saturday, March 10 @ 7:30 pm Tickets: $10 The Big Lebowski Saturday Mar. 24 @ 7 pm

Saturday AM Experience Saturday, April 7 @ 10 am Friday the 13th Part 2 Friday, April 13 @ 7pm

Up In Smoke Friday, April 20 @ 7pm (559) 584-7823

www.foxhanford.com

Spring is coming and that means it’s rodeo time in Coalinga.

On March 8 and 9, West Hills College Coalinga’s rodeo arena will host competitors from 11 teams from across California and Nevada for its annual spring rodeo.

The WHCC men and women’s rodeo teams will face off against some of the best teams in the West Coast Region of the National Intercollegiate Rodeo Association in nine different events ranging from bronc riding to barrel racing.

“We’ve had a strong year so far and are looking forward to hopefully keeping the momentum going at our home event,” said Rodeo Coach Justin Hampton.

A rodeo performance will be held on March 8 at 6:30pm. On March 9, a slack round will be held at 9 a.m. and a championship final round at 6:30pm.

The annual West Hills College Coalinga Calf Dressing will also be held on the 9th, with staff and student teams competing for championship buckles.

Admission is $8 for adults, $5 for students 17 and under, and free for WHCC students with ASB cards and children under 10. The concession stand will be open, with sales benefit-

ting the WHCC Rodeo Boosters.

WHCC is competing against a wide variety of college competitors from schools including Cal Poly SLO, Fresno State, Cuesta College, Feather River College, Lassen College, UNLV, UNR, Western Nevada College, UC Davis, Clovis Community College and College of the Sequoias.

Following the beginning of the 2017-2018 rodeo season in September and a competition at Feather River, West Hills College’s women’s team is ranked second in the West Coast Region and the men’s team is ranked fifth.

WHCC’s Abigayle Hampton is the current women’s all-around region leader while WHCC’s Justin Rowell leads in bull riding and Robert Hirdes leads in tie down roping. Hampton is also the current leader in breakaway roping. WHCC’s Brushton Minton leads is the current leader in steer wrestling regionally.

The rodeo arena is at 518 W. Gale Ave. in Coalinga. For more information, visit westhillscollege.com or call Coach Justin Hampton at (559) 934-2702.

Valley Voice 1 March, 2018

Kiwanis Club of Downtown Visalia celebrates 95 years of service

Hands in the Community to host 5th annual golf tournament STAFF REPORTS Hands in the Community would like you to join them for their 5th Annual Golf Tournament.

This event takes place Friday, April 27, 2018, from 10:30am - 6:30 pm at Ridge Creek Dinuba Golf Club.

Teams of four play for $550.00 which includes both lunch, dinner, and entry into the event’s raffle.

Online payments can be made at http://bit.ly/hnc5thannualgolftournament and selecting golf under fund.

There are business sponsorship opportunities available as well.

This event’s other activities, like the raffle, have outstanding prizes.

For example, a Hole-In-One contest, where someone has the opportunity to win a Wildcat XX 2018!

For more information about this event, please call 559-625-3822 ext. 100.

Hands in the Community Executive Director Lester Moon states,

Play

Continued from B1 guarantee the future and you can’t change the past.” Hauert continued, “Will is threatened by Katharine because she is bringing up the past and making my husband relive happy times with a previous lover.”

When asked about his role as Bud, Luciano Noguera joyfully stated, “Bud is the happiest person on the stage.

Otherwise, it is memories and some are very sad.”

Noguera’s youthful exuberance and excitement about being in the play are contagious.

The cast and the director emphasize the universality of the story.

“The play is a deeply compassion-

“This is our most impactful event of the year raising a lot of money for the community and is a lot of fun.”

Hands in the Community’s (HNC) mission is to provide low income and disabled women, children, men and senior citizens in Tulare and Kings counties that are in need of a broad offering of options for services through our volunteer base.

Last year, HNC partnered with over 400 businesses, many service clubs and 56 churches throughout Tulare/Kings County and lower Fresno County to provide services to those who are less fortunate through more than 1,100 volunteers with everything from rides, fixing electrical, plumbing, building fences/handicapped ramps, painting homes, cleaning yards, and other handyman jobs.

We also have had students from Fresno State, Fresno Pacific, University of Phoenix, COS, SJVC, Reedley College, Milan Institute, along with several local high schools ate and touching look at the transformative nature of forgiveness and the evolving definition of family,” clarified Collins.

Hauert added, “This is not a gay story. It is a story about family, about love, forgiveness, and moving on.

The Players are grateful to Season Sponsors: Family Healthcare Network, Graham & Associates, Lansdowne, Inc., and Martin Enterprises.

Mothers and Sons runs for three weekends at the Ice House Theatre at Race and Santa Fe in Visalia. Evening performances are at 7:30 p.m. on 3/2, 3/3, 3/9, 3/10, 3/16, and 3/17, and matinees are at 2pm on 3/4, 3/11, and 3/18.

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

STAFF REPORTS The Kiwanis Club of Visalia Downtown is reasserting its tradition of service and marking 95 years of volunteerism and commitment to the city with a celebration and Open House at 210, a gathering place located at 210 W. Center Street, Visalia on March 20 from 7pm to 9pm.

It’s free to anyone who wants to know more about Kiwanis and all are welcome.

Guest speaker Terry Ommen, a local historian, will present a look at the era surrounding 1923, when the club was originally chartered, just eight years after Kiwanis International was created.

While the goals of service and volunteering remain the same, the eras are certainly different.

1923 Visalia looked a bit different than it does today with some residents listening to their very first radio and the automobile just beginning to take hold. 95 years later, though, the club’s activities continue to focus on supporting the youth of Visalia: • At Linwood Elementary School for example, the “Terrific Kids” program gives awards and certificates every month to students from all grade levels who exemplify good citizenship and good school work.

• Two high school seniors from Visalia’s five high schools are awarded scholarships from the club every year.

• Ten high school students are given gifts and certificates in recognition of their accomplishments upon graduation.

• The Sports Award program honors outstanding young athletes in three separate luncheon ceremonies each year in lesser recognized sports like water polo, wrestling and swimming.

• Our gaming club uses a grant from the city to teach board games to young children emphasizing critical thinking, strategy and good sportsmanship.

Bill Balsley, a member of the

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Downtown club’s board of directors, has been a been a member since 1990.

“I’ve got friends that I’ve had for 27 years and we’ve been involved in what Kiwains calls altruistic service as givers for all that time. For me, it’s about friendship, service and building a better community,” Balsley said.

“It’s reaching out to the younger people in our community and where I try to aim my target is right there.

I like to think that leadership is convincing people to do something that they already want to do,” he said.

“Giving back to the community just makes it a better place to live.”

A long tradition of service infuses the Kiwanis Club Downtown with new energy as it seeks more members dedicated to helping kids.

“We want to recruit members who want to support the youth of Visalia. They’re our future,” said John Cowherd, club treasurer. “If we grow the club, then our goals of supporting youth in the city will grow along with us and that remains our most important focus,” he said.

The Kiwanis Club of Visalia Downtown welcomes new members who want to serve the youth of their community. For more information, contact Don Storer, club president or join a weekly meeting on Tuesdays at noon at Cafe 225, located at 225 W. Main Street in Visalia.

About Kiwanis International

Founded in 1915, Kiwanis International is a global organization of clubs and members dedicated to serving the children of the world.

Kiwanis and its family of clubs, including Circle K International for university students, Key Club for students age 14–18, Builders Club for students age 11–14, K-Kids for students age 6–12 and Aktion Club for adults living with disabilities, annually dedicate more than 18.5 million service hours to strengthen communities and serve children.

The Kiwanis International family comprises more than 702,000 adult and youth members in more than 79 countries and geographic areas. Visit www.kiwanis.org for more information.

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Calendar

1 March, 2018 Valley Voice

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Now 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 Blvd. in Visalia. Now 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 5-7pm on March 1 in the lobby.

Now - March 30: Silver Light: Fifty Photographs by Randall Ranger Solo Exhibition March 2, 6-8pm - Arts Visalia is pleased to exhibit Randall Ranger.

Ranger is a black and white film photographer. The opening reception will be held during First Friday.

Arts Visalia will host an Artist Talk on Saturday, March 3 at 2pm. For more information, visit artsvisalia. org, call (559) 739-0905 or visit us at the gallery at 214 East Oak Avenue in Visalia.

March 1-31: We’re Excited About Spring Reading program and Easter Bunny photos at the Porterville City Library. The reading program is for all ages and runs March 1- 31. When signing up, you will receive a reading log and bookmark. For every five hours of reading accomplished, you can redeem your reading log for an entry into their fabulous raffle.

March 20 11am-1pm; 4-5:30pm; March 22 3-5pm (by appointment for special needs children); March 24 10am-12pm; March 29 3-5pm - The Easter Bunny will also be hopping over for single or group photo opportunities. A 4x6 photo print will be provided for free if you bring an unopened, unused school supply (one picture per family). You may also use your own camera. The donated items will be delivered to children in the community.

For more information on services and programs, visit the Porterville City Library at 41 W. Thurman Ave., call (559) 784-0177, or check out www.portervillelibrary.org Now - March 18: Too Soon for Daisies Fridays & Saturdays 7:30pm; Sundays 2pm - Kings Players presents this dark and poignant comedy about three somewhat eccentric but determined women who have been cast off by society but aren’t quite ready to be put out to pasture.

Written by William Dinner and William Morum; directed by Cyndie Maxwell. The production takes place at the Temple Theatre, 514 E. Visalia St. in Hanford. For ticket and more information, visit www.kingsplayers.net or call (559) 584-7241.

March 2-18: Mothers and Sons, a Drama by Terance McNally Fridays & Saturdays 7:30pm; Sun-

days 2pm - The talented cast includes Debra Hansen, Chris Volkerts, Travis Havert, and Luciano Noguero. The Ice House Theater is located at 410 E. Race Ave., at the corner of Santa Fe and Race, in Visalia. To redeem season tickets or purchase tickets, visit www.visaliaplayers.org or call (559) 734-3900.

March 2: “Poetry of Color” 5-8pm — “Poetry of Color” is an art and poetry show by Betty Berk that will open during the First Friday Art Walk from 5-8 p.m. on March 2 at the Brandon-Mitchell Gallery, 117 S. Locust, Visalia. Berk, who is inspired to paint by classical music, will read some of her poems, and several pianists—including Berk—will be playing classical music during the show. 559 625-2441 or www.cslvisalia.org.

March 3: Spring Blossom Vendor Fair 10am - 4pm - Over 40 vendors at the Visalia Veterans Memorial Building, 609 W Center St. in Visalia March 3: Rawhide Annual Job Fair 9-11am - The Visalia Rawhide will holds its annual job fair at Rawhide Park, 300 N. Giddings in Visalia. Positions will be available in a variety of areas, including concessions, food preparation, retail, and ushering.

For a head start in applying, job seekers are encouraged to pre-register at RawhideBaseball.com. To pre-register, complete the application on the homepage and return to the ticket office on Giddings St. Applicants may also scan and email applications to jerry@rawhidebaseball.com. Job seekers are encouraged to come to the job fair prepared with a copy of the completed application and their resume.

March 3: Denim & Diamonds Shine up yer fancy boots, bring on the bling ‘n get ready for another great party. The VTECH Scholarship Foundation invites you to promote your business or organization by decorating a table! Leave a comment below if you are interested in supporting this worthwhile event!!

(We provide the tablecloth, black napkins, dishes and glassware - you provide the centerpiece, promotional items and “bling”!) Event takes place at the International Agri Center. Tickets $40/person. Must be 21 to attend. Tickets on sale now at the VTECH school office or by calling, (559) 280-9375.

March 3 & 4: 27th Annual The Civil War, a Living History 1 & 3:30pm on Saturday; 12pm on Sunday - Presented by the Civil Re-enactment Society in Mooney Grove Park. For more information, email Roger Alexander @ joea@ ci.clovis.ca.us or Charles Henry @ mystonewall@aol.com March 3 & 4: 27th Annual The Civil War, a Living History 1 & 3:30pm on Saturday; 12pm on Sunday - Presented by the Civil

Re-enactment Society in Mooney Grove Park. For more information, email Roger Alexander @ joea@ ci.clovis.ca.us or Charles Henry @ mystonewall@aol.com March 7, 14, 21 & 28: Arts Visalia Class Still-Life Painting for Beginners 6:30-8:30pm - Instructor: Brianna Lee. Tuition: $85. www.artsvisalia. org or (559) 739-0905.

March 8: Visalia Talks & Wine 4:30-7:30pm - Join us for the second Visalia Talks & Wine!!! We are incorporating empowerment through ideas and community. Each speaker has been hand picked and is of and from the community. There will be expert speakers talking about Communication, Innovation and Technology. There will also be a great wine selection available. Held at the Cellar Door, 101 W. Main St. in Visalia.

March 8-10: Assistance League Visalia Rummage Sale 7am - Help Make a difference in the lives of Tulare County Children, when you donate​​items for sale or make a purchase. Sale at​​700 E. Mineral King Ave. in Visalia (just west of the corner of Burke and Mineral King). To donate items for sale call 559-737-1907 or email ​ assistanceleaguevisalia@alvisalia.org​if you need items to be picked up. You may also drop off donations at the above location Feb 28 - Mar 2. Each year Assistance League provides new clothes to more than 500 students for school. With each donation and purchase at our Rummage Sale, we can help more students. Assistance League Visalia is a nonprofit 501(c) (3) organization. All donations are​ tax deductible. For more information about the organization visit www.assistanceleague.org/visalia March 8: Mensa Meeting 5:30pm - Members of the local Mensa society will meet at Panera Bread, 4103 S. Mooney Blvd. in Visalia, for coffee, bagels, sandwiches and conversation. Prospective members encouraged to attend. For more information, call (559) 280-9774.

March 10: Porterville Fishing Derby 9-11am - Young anglers, ages 2-15 years old, are invited to enter the competition to showcase their skills and enjoy some outdoor fun at Murray Park. Trophies will be awarded to the top three children in the two age divisions and special recognition will go to the angler with the biggest fish of the day.

Participants must be able to reel in their own fish and provide their own rod and bait. Wristbands can be purchased in advance for $3 at the Heritage Center, 256 E. Orange Ave. There will be no event day wristband sales. For more information, call the Heritage Center at 7917695.

March 15: Tulare Beer Bus Crawl 6pm - Kaweah Brewing, local craft brewer, along with the best-of-thebest in craft brewers up and down the Central Valley and from the coast, will be joining together to “help” you sample some of the great

craft beers and ales this part of the country has to offer. But that’s not all! Absolute Comfort Limousine will help you travel in style aboard one of their buses as you sample brews in downtown, then take a ride out to Kaweah Brewing’s tasting room. $30/person. Tickets and more information www.tularedowntown.com.

March 16: Fresno Pacific University Symphonic Band 7:30 p.m. — Fresno Pacific University Symphonic Band with bands from Firebaugh High School Band and Fresno City College, Butler Church, 4884 E. Butler Ave., Fresno. $5, payable at the door, free to the FPU community. 559-453-2267, music@ fresno.edu, events.fresno.edu/ March 17: Victorian Afternoon Tea 2pm - Tickets for the Children’s Storybook Garden & Museum Victorian Afternoon Tea are now on sale.

Purchase them at the Garden, or by phone: Stephanie 559-904-6795 or Judy 559-341-4845, or from Friends of the Garden. Tickets are $35.00 each. The Tea will be held at the Hanford Civic Auditorium.

March 18: Visalia Buddhist Church Spring Sukiyaki Dinner 12-5pm - Eat in or take out Items to be served: Chicken Teriyaki, Beef Sukiyaki, Fried Rice, Salad, Cookie at the Visalia Buddhist Church 514 E. Center Ave. in Visalia. Tickets $15.

March 20: Tulare Kiwanis to Honor Corky & Doug Anderson Farmer of the Year Award 12pm - The Kiwanis Club of Tulare will present its 58th Farmer of the Year award to Corky and Doug Anderson. The award luncheon will be held at the Heritage Complex in Tulare. Tickets are available for $25 in advance from Kiwanis Club members and various businesses in Tulare, tickets will be $30 at the door.

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

March 24: Fresno Pacific University’s San Joaquin Chorale “Choral Spectacular” 7pm — with select high school choirs, Paul Shaghoian Memorial Concert Hall, 2770 E. International Ave., Fresno. $10, payable at the door. 559-453-2267, music@fresno. edu, events.fresno.edu/ March 24: Controlling the Image and its Meaning Photography Workshop 9am - 3pm - A brief discussion about manual settings and exposure control on DSLRs followed by a brief photo walk around Arts Visalia to experiment with these ideas ending with discussion of the results and how emotion and information are conveyed visually. Limited to 15 students of any level.

This workshop is for all levels of photographers.

Each student should bring their own DSLR camera, memory card, and fresh batteries to take pictures.

All other materials needed will be

1 March, 2018

STUDENT LIFE DAIRY SHOW Valley Voice

Showing dairy cattle is a growing community

NANCY VIGRAN

Jacob Fernandes exhibits one of his Holstein cows. Courtesy/Fernandes Family

The impact that showing dairy has had on me

JACOB FERNANDES

As far back as I can remember, showing dairy cattle, and owning a herd of Holstein dairy cattle has been a dream of mine.

Being born into a large dairy-owning family with six uncles and two aunts, all involved in the dairy business, and more than 25 cousins, all involved in showing - my involvement in showing was inevitable.

As young as eight, I would help

ourvalleyvoice.com

out in the show barn, washing my cousins’ animals, doing barn duty, and feeding and watering the cattle.

I couldn’t wait until fourth grade when I would finally start my dairy showing journey.

When I was in fourth grade, I was ecstatic when I got my first heifer, Chewy, from the Airoso 100th anniversary cattle sale.

My dad bought her in partnership with another person, and I was so excited to show her. In my first

IMPACT continued on C7 »

Last year there were a dozen or so children meeting once or twice a week at High Roller Dairy on the outskirts of Hanford. This year there are 20 kids along with parents, grandparents, aunts and uncles, and cousins helping prepare a small herd of dairy calves, heifers and cows for the Western Classic Dairy Show. You don’t really have to be family – once you visit the dairy community once, you are no longer an outsider, rather a family member.

“All the kids have a great time,” said Monica Mendes, who with her husband, Joe, own High Roller Dairy.

Their daughter, Caitlin, and son, Blake, are young dairy exhibitors.

“They have a great time learning about agriculture and cows.”

Nephews and nieces of the Mendes are also involved as well as children of other Hanford and Tulare kids.

Eight-year-old Fernando Valadao lives on a dairy and enjoys training and showing cows.

“I like it, when my cow isn’t stubborn,” he said.

Yes, Black Beauty, as he calls his calf, can be stubborn, not wanting to learn to lead. Otherwise, she is easy to work with, he said.

Valadao’s cousin, Madeline Valadao, 11, is experiencing her first year as an exhibitor. While the animals are not new to her, as she is growing up on a dairy, the show arena is.

“I’ve always wanted to [show], but haven’t had a lot of time,” she said.

Her new-found friend, Summer Perriera, is helping her out. Parriera, also 11, has been showing for a few years learning from her parents, grandparents, cousins and friends.

She is showing multiple animals this year, so the family is helping to prepare them.

“It’s fun,” she said. “Whenever I show, I feel happy. This is my hobby.”

Her hobby, and perhaps a future profession.

She helps Valadao with some of the little nuances in helping a cow to look good. For example, Valadao’s cow tends to tilt her head when being lead – Perriera gave her some tips to correct that.

And, if Perriera doesn’t have the answers, “I can always ask my dad,” Valadao said.

Her dad is Congressman David Valadao (CA-21). Growing up the congressman worked on the family dairy – he didn’t get involved too much with extra-curricular school activities, but he was an FFA member and did exhibit dairy cattle. He traveled to the Cow Palace and did have one cow make it to the State Fair, he said.

“It’s fun for them,” he said, referring to his three children. “It’s their first time – they’re not used to it.”

It is also the first time for his wife, Terra. But, the family is getting into it and plans are for the kids to join 4-H and FFA. They also plan to show at the Kings County Fair, a couple of months after the Western Classic show.

SHOWING continued on C5 »

Organizers refused to see an end to local junior dairy exhibiting LAUREN EVANGELO The South San Joaquin Holstein Association is excited to once again be hosting the Western Classic Junior Dairy Show the first weekend in March at the Kings Fairgrounds in Hanford!

2018 marks the 7th year of this show, which began in 2012 after the State of California cut funding to California Fairs and the Great Western Livestock Show in Tulare, CA was canceled.

Great Western included a junior dairy cattle show at the Tulare Fairgrounds, the first weekend in March for many years. It was a great event hosting young dairy exhibitors from up and down California.

Not wanting to sit back and witness another event for juniors be cut back or lost, the South San Joaquin Holstein Club decided to establish a similar event so juniors could continue to enjoy the same opportunities that many of its members enjoyed growing up.

Club members Greg Silva, Matthew and myself, Anthony Souza and Joey Airoso, along with the help of additional SSJHA Holsteins members and dairy cattle enthusiasts, is the reason there is a show today.

The show is privately funded, and

we would like to give a special thanks Showmanship and 135 Judging Con- from the exhibitors, parents, leaders of all the business throughout the test Participants in the dairy judging and people in our community is humstate that have stepped up to help contest on Saturday morning. bling and rewarding. In an industry make this show a reality.

For the second year in a row, we are that is often filled with negative talk, In addition to monetary dona- setting up another barn to accommo- this show is an excellent remindtions, this show would not be possible date additional cattle and exhibitors. er that our future is bright! Let the without several volunteers who spend The positive response we receive show begin… countless hours helping everything come together. It is truly an example that there is still so much good in this world.

The show has continued to grow and gain popularity throughout the entire state since its beginning and has more than exceeded expectations.

At the 6th Annual Western Classic in 2017, the number of cattle and exhibitors has nearly doubled since we started the show 6 years ago. A total of 319 head of cattle were exhibited with divisions including Registered and Grade Holsteins, and Registered and Grade Any Other Breed. We had more than 190 exhibitors Matthew Evangelo, Lauren Evangelo and Greg Silva teamed up with others from the South San Joaquin Holstein Club to start the Western Classic Junior Dairy Show seven years ago and continue to with 160 exhibiting in organize the show each year. Courtesy/Western Classic Dairy Show

1 March, 2018 Valley Voice

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SHOW SCHEDULE Saturday, March 3 8:00 am: Dairy Judging Contest begins 10:45 am: Group picture with all exhibitors in Show Ring 11:00 am: Dairy Showmanship, followed by AOB Heifer Classes Sunday, March 4 9:00 am: Holstein Heifer Classes 12:00pm: ALL Cow classes (Holstein & AOB alternating) Spectators are welcome both days

March 3rd & Kings County F Hanford

ivision 100 ivision 200 ivision 300 ivision 400

Registered Holsteins Registered All Other Breeds Grade Holsteins Grade All Other Breeds

ntry Fee: 15.00 per entry on/before February 23rd 50.00 per entry after February 23rd

ease Note: Substitutions will be allowed.

lasses: Winter Calf Born after12/1/17 Fall Calf 9/1/17-11/30/17 Summer Calf 6/1/17-8/31/17 Spring Yearling 3/1/17-5/31/17 Winter Yearling 12/1/16-2/28/17 KRONE Fall Yearling 9/1/16-11/30/16 Junior Champion Reserve Junior Champion BestUnfresh of luck at theJr. Western Classic 2 Yr OldShow 3/1/16-8/31/16 Good luck at the fruit growers supply company Western 0 Dry Cow Classic Show!

1 Juniorwww.FruitGrowers.com 2 Yr Old 3/1/16-8/31/16 (559) 686-0054 Orange Cove Woodlake Porterville 626-4629 2 Senior 2564-3525 Yr Old 781-4050 9/1/15-2/28/16 3 Junior 3 Yr Old 3/1/15-8/31/15

1. The W exhib 2018 an ex the ye 2. In Reg regist exhib 3. All Ho Regis regist to be Divis 4. All Jer Amer show Eligib certif certif anima certif certif certif

Last year the show attracted more than 300 head of registered and grade dairy cattle, exhibited by 190+ junior exhibitors. Exhibitor ages are 5-21 and they come from all areas of the Central Valley, and as far south as Escondido and as far north as Petaluma. Courtesy/Western Classic Dairy Show.

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Showing dairy cows into the future RODNEY PAULO

I am Rodney Paulo, dairy program specialist for All-West Select Sires. I’m also a partner in Paulo-Bro Dairy and a coach, advisor and supporter of all things youth related.

The “show bug” bit me at an early age, perhaps 5 or 6 years old, while I watched my older siblings and adults show at various levels of competition such as local, state and national shows.

What is the “show bug” you ask?

Well, some may consider it somewhat of a psychiatric disorder or an addiction.

Symptoms cause a passion for competing and a desire to own or breed the most perfect cow or heifer possible.

The affliction can lead to a yearning to compete and learn all we can about selecting the desired traits it takes to be competitive.

This knowledge can be attained through various judging competitions in 4-H, FFA or at the Collegiate levels.

Some go on as an official judge at many of the local, state, national or world caliber shows. This has become my passion as well.

Today, one might ask about the relevance of showing or judging due to the many genetic selection tools made available through genomic testing.

I don’t believe we have to come down on one side of the fence or the other when it comes to showing or the more commercial genomic approach.

My view from atop the fence is quite spectacular. In fact, you can simply think of both as a means to achieve the goals and objectives of a breeding philosophy.

Some people want to breed for a cow that can win a show, others may desire to chase the ever-moving goal line that is high genomic test numbers.

There are others who may choose to pursue a combination of both or maybe neither. That’s what’s great about breeding dairy cattle everyone can appreciate the “to each his own” approach to getting to their desired results.

The challenge of breeding generation after generation of cows that are profitable and scored at least Very Good 85 is what keeps me interested and motivated. I use an “all of the above” strategy when it comes to tools used for selecting the genetics I want to add into our herd.

I am of a very strong belief that there will always be a place in the industry for shows such as the Western Classic Dairy Show - a premier junior division dairy show that brings all kinds of industry people together through sponsorship, cattle sales, volunteerism and the competitors themselves.

The feeling of camaraderie of like-minded individuals coming together to share a passion will keep new young folks coming into the industry and also keep the need for some older reputable folks to teach and lead the youth along the way.

As for the kind of cattle we consider desirable and those that we will select for showing? I believe that will contin-

Eva Van Dyk won Supreme Champion Showmanship at last year’s Tulare County Fair under Judge Rodney Paulo. Van Dyk was from Tulare, but her family recently moved to Wisconsin. Courtesy/Rodney Paulo

ue to evolve over time with the help of genomics and proven cow families that have stood the test of time.

These will continue to be the standard tools of the trade for years to come.

The term “balance cow” will be more prominent as the desire to have a more moderately-sized, yet still pretty cow that is profitable, will be the standard going forward.

Gone are the days of the excessively oversized cow, or heifer, that is not efficient on the modern dairy facility.

My hope is that Junior Division participants in Showmanship will continue to garner more attention and respect.

I often tell people, “you can’t buy a blue ribbon in showmanship that has to be earned.”

It starts with the selection of a show-worthy animal of course, but only those willing to put in the hours of hard work by properly feeding, training and caring for the animal, along with having complete knowledge of her, will place well in this competition.

The gratification you feel when you do place well in this class is like no other.

Sadly not everyone can be first place so it also can be a learning experience for those that want to do better next time.

The desire to accomplish a goal such as this builds character and these responsibilities will help them in whatever career or life passion they may strive for.

My final thoughts would be to remember there is no single right, or wrong, way. Just follow your passion

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even if the path varies a little from time to time.

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the actual journey itself is the most gratifying thing about your quest for excellence. An added bonus is the friendships you make during this time, they will be lifelong treasures.

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1 March, 2018 Valley Voice

C4

Above - Summer Perriera and Madeline Valadao have become fast friends while working together with their animals. Nancy Vigran/ Valley Voice Right - This is Kalob Rebelo’s first experience around cows, show here, with his calf, Brownie.

Nancy Vigran/Valley Voice

Above - Derrek Rebelo just finished bathing his Jersey calf, Val, in preparing for the show. He will also be exhibiting his Holstein heifer, Molly. Nancy Vigran/ Valley Voice

Getting ready for the Western Classic

Exhibitor Fernando Valadao enjoys working with his Holstein calf, Black Beauty, in preparation for the show.

Nancy Vigran/Valley Voice Above - Training calves and heifers to walk on a lead is often not easy and they may even lie down to enhance their stubbornness. Nancy Vigran/Valley Voice Below - There are some 20 kids, not all shown here, involved in preparing their animals at High Roller Dairy for the Western Classic Dairy Show and upcoming 2018 fairs. Courtesy Danielle Perriera

Valley Voice 1 March, 2018

C5

Judging cows on their looks STAFF REPORTS

There are many things to consider when choosing a good cow – choosing the top cow in the show ring, as by her appearance, which includes calves to mature cows.

Having a herd evaluated through linear classification is another, although similar as judgement is applied here. According to Holstein Association USA Linear classification is a program

performed by Holstein Association USA (and other breed organizations, for their respective breeds).

Trained professionals, called “classifiers,” travel to farms around the country who wish to have their cattle “classified.”

On the farm, they evaluate individual animals’ physical conformation, compared to breed ideals, and assign each part of the body a score of 1 to 50.

After each part is scored, the clas-

sifier also assigns a final score, between 50 and 97, falling into one of five categories: • Excellent (90-97 points) • Very Good (85-89 points) • Good Plus (80-84 points) • Good (75-79 points) • Fair (65-74 points) • Poor (50-64 points) The classification program provides dairy producers with an unbiased evaluation of their animals’ physical conformation, and can be

used to assist in making breeding decisions, as well as for marketing.

With both show animals and animals who receive high classification scores, animals which conform to physical ideals are more valuable than animals with less correct physical conformation.

These systems reward animals which possess the physical structure to lead long, productive lives and produce large volumes of high quality

Reminiscent to his high school days, Congressman David Valadao help’s bath his son’s cow in preparing for the Western Classic Dairy Show. Nancy Vigran/Valley Voice

Everyone wants to help - when Lucca Bruno was trying bathe his heifer, Val, his sister, Gabriella and younger brother, Matteo, wanted to help. Courtesy/Danielle Perriera

Showing

kept in special pens at the dairy for a few months leading up to the show.

They are fed specific diets to their show string status along with their various ages. The Silvas, cousins to the Mendes, spend a lot of time at the dairy – Marc Anthony actually works their now – and he and his brother and sisters can be found cleaning out the pens and providing fresh bedding.

Most Saturdays, and sometimes Sundays or during the week, exhibitors and their families practice walking the show string, brushing the animals, bathing them, and analyzing what else needs to be done. The weekend just prior to showing the clippers come out for a final cleanup.

Some of the animals will remain

Continued from C1

Tularean Kalob Rebelo, 8, is having his first experience at showing as well. His calf, Brownie, a Jersey, was chosen for him and it’s a good fit.

He is somewhat afraid of the larger animals, he said, but not of Brownie.

Although, he has concerns about appearing in the show ring.

“I’m nervous,” he said, “There will be a lot of people.”

And, “What if she goes too fast?

She might drag me.”

His mother, Bethany Rebelo, showed dairy in 4-H for 10 years.

“It teaches responsibility and

discipline,” she said.

Derrek Rebelo, 12, will be showing two animals this year – a Jersey named Val, and his Holstein, Molly.

He enjoys all aspects of preparing and showing, he said, and he generally just enjoys being around his cows.

He prefers to show Holsteins, he said, “they don’t stop and lay down.”

With the growing group of kids, there are more animals too, said Danielle Parriera, Summer’s mom, and organizer of the High Roller show group. This year, they will be taking between 25-30 animals to the Western Classic show.

“It takes team work,” she said.

“Without a little help from everybody, it wouldn’t get done.”

The calves, heifers and cows are

at the dairy until the Kings County Fair in June. Others, especially those belonging to Tulare County kids, may be moved closer to home for housing through to the Tulare County Fair in September.

It’s a close-knit group of kids and family that makes this show group happen and there are others around the Valley, as well. Maybe it isn’t really about winning, but about participating. With show groups, such as that at High Roller Dairy, growing, so are the entries at dairy shows with 190 exhibitors showing more than 300 heads of cattle at Western Classic last year. The final entry count for this year’s show is expected show continued growth.

We’re expanding our Student Life sections. Watch for our Grads section in June; Music in the early fall; and 4-H Week in October.

We want to hear your stories e-mail nancy@ourvalleyvoice.com For advertising info, call: (559) 623-5398

C6

Western Classic 2017 show results

1 March, 2018 Valley Voice

Last year’s Intermediate Showmanship winners include First Place - Grace Wilbur of Tulare (right), Second Place - Billy Marche from Ceres and Third Place - Kylie Konyn of Escondido. Courtesy/Western Classic Dairy Show.

2017 Senior Showmanship winners include First Place – Michael Neves of Hilmar (right), Second Place – Cort Rowley of Visalia and Third Place – Nicole Sanders of Hilmar. Courtesy/Western Classic Dairy Show.

Held March 4 and 5, 2017 at the Kings County Fairgrounds in Hanford, the Western Classic Junior Dairy Show had a total of 319 head shown by 191 exhibitors for Judge Jennifer Thomas from Cable, Ohio.

Divisions included Registered and Grade Holsteins, and Registered and Grade AOB. Results included many local winners including and exhibitors from up and down the state.

hibited by Delanie Fernandes, Tulare, CA Reserve Junior Champion: 1st Place Spring Yearling, Blue Diamond Parker Gia-ET; exhibited by Elise & Elisabeth Regusci Grand & Senior Champion - 1st Place 5 Year Old – Hazelcrest Governor Molly; exhibited by Nicole Sanders, Hilmar, CA Reserve Grand & Reserve Senior Champion - 1st Place Aged Cow – Den-Jo Celebrity Flo; exhibited by Nicole Sanders, Hilmar, CA

Hazelcrest Governor Molly; exhibited by Nicole Sanders, Hilmar, CA

Division 300 – Grade Holsteins

Novice Division (22 Participates) 1st Place: Ryan Mattingly Jr., Fresno, CA 2nd Place: Marc Anthony Silva, Hanford, CA 3rd Place: Kiara Konyn, Escondido, CA

Show Summary: 130 Registered Holsteins 56 Grade Holsteins 85 Registered AOB 48 Grade AOB 160 Showmanship Participants includes PeeWee Total Animals Shown: 319 191 Exhibitors

Division 100 Registered Holsteins

Junior Champion: 1st Place Spring Yearling, No-Limit Archrival Libby; exhibited by Mitchell Coleman, Hilmar, CA Reserve Junior Champion – 1st Place Summer Calf, Legacy-Ranch Solomon 16513; exhibited by Luke Fernandes, Tulare, CA Grand & Senior Champion - 1st Place Registered Holstein 5 Year Old Cow – MS T & R-Azevedo Rush-Delight; exhibited

by Aidan Azevedo, Hilmar, CA Reserve Grand & Reserve Senior Champion – 1st Place Sr. 3 Year Old – FernOak Meridian 24606-TW; exhibited by Delanie Fernandes, Tulare, CA

Division 200 – Registered AOB

Junior Champion: 1st Place Winter Yearling, Ourway Response Paradise; ex-

Junior Champion: 1st Place Winter Calf; exhibited by Frankie Borba, Modesto, CA Reserve Junior Champion: 1st Place Spring Yearling; exhibited by Blake Garcia, Tulare, CA Senior & Grand Champion: 1st Place 5 Year Old; exhibited by Elijah Pacheco, Modesto, CA Reserve Senior & Grand Champion: 1st Place Senior 2 Year Old; exhibited by Peyton Fernandes, Tulare, CA

Division 400 – Grade AOB

Junior Champion: 1st Place Spring Yearling; exhibited by Dylan Garcia, Tulare, CA Reserve Junior Champion: 1st Place Summer Calf; exhibited by Kestin Martin, Tulare, CA Senior & Grand Champion: 1st Place Junior 3 Year Old; exhibited by Aidan Azevedo, Hilmar, CA Reserve Senior & Grand Champion: 1st Place Senior 3 Year Old; exhibited by Blake Garcia, Tulare, CA

2017 Western Classic Supreme Champion

1st Place Registered AOB 5 Year Old –

2017 Western Classic Reserve Supreme Champion

1st Place Registered Holstein 5 Year Old Cow – MS T & R-Azevedo Rush-Delight; exhibited by Aidan Azevedo, Hilmar, CA

Division 500 – Showmanship

Junior Division (30 Participates) 1st Place: Kyleigh Forster, Bakersfield, CA 2nd Place: Mason Mendes, Hanford, CA 3rd Place: Jon Michael Silva, Hanford, CA Intermediate Division (37 Participates) 1st Place: Grace Wilber, Tulare, CA 2nd Place: Billy Marchy, Ceres, CA 3rd Place: Kylie Konyn, Escondido, CA Senior Division (42 Participates) 1st Place: Michael Neves, Hilmar, CA 2nd Place: Cort Rowley, Visalia, CA 3rd Place: Nicole Sanders, Hilmar, CA

Judging Contest – FFA

Overall High Team 1st Place: Tulare A (Team Members: Evan Freitas, Abbi Prins, Grace Wilber & Dax Sousa) 2nd Place: Modesto #1 (Team Members: Aspen Silva, Sierra Omlin, Blake Brasil & Brock Esquivel)

3rd Place: Denair (Team Members: Joey Freitas, Carson Haringa, Ryan Haringa & Chase Pritt) 4th Place: Immanuel (Team Members: Lantz Adams, Drew Vogt, Ashleigh Sorensen & Melanie Krahn) 5th Place: Turlock Blue (Team Members: Robert Marchy, Elizabethe Neves, Cayden Weese, & Luke Reis) FFA Overall High Individual 1st Place: Grace Wilbur, Tulare A 2nd Place: Walter Borba, Los Banos 3rd Place: Dax Sousa, Tulare A 4th Place: Jacob Nunes, Central Valley Ceres 5th Place: Aspen Silva, Modesto

Judging Contest – 4-H

Overall High Team 1st Place: SLO Edna Diamonds (Team Members: Jonah Gravel, Amber Quick, Daphne Hummel & Tobin Gravel) 2nd Place: Sacred Heart (Team Members: Hartley Silva, Shianne Omlin, Avery Oliveira & Sara Drumonde) 3rd Place: Alview Dairyland Blue (Team Members: Rachel Mancebo, Logan Silveria, Zoe Bitter & Dias Goncalves) 4th Place: 56 Ranchers (Team Members: Kylie Konyn, Kiara Konyn, Connor Correia, & Evie Reidman) 5th Place: Kings Harvest #2 (Team Members: Juilana Silva, Cristiana Silva, Caitlin Mendes & Summer Pereira) 4-H Overall High Individual 1st Place: Shianne Omlin – Sacred Heart 2nd Place: Tobin Gravel – SLO Edna Diamonds 3rd Place: Rachel Mancebo - Alview Dairyland Blue 4th Place: Amber Quick - SLO Edna Diamonds 5th Place: Johah Gravel - SLO Edna Diamonds

Western Classic Junior Dairy Show wishes to recognize and thank its 2018 sponsors: Platinum

• • • • • •

A & M Livestock Auction, Inc. All West/Select Sires Farm Credit West IWP Land o’ Lakes Pape Machinery

•

Zenith Agribusiness Solutions

• • • • • • • • •

Gold

Barcellos Farms Boehringer Ingelheim Caruthers District Fair Champi Fencing Danell Custom Harvesting Elanco Animal Health J.D. Heiskell & Co. J.D. Mello Dairy JLG Enterprises, Inc.

• • • • • • • •

Linder Equipment Company Merck Sexing Technologies The Kings Fairgrounds Vander Eyk Dairy Western Milling World Wide Sires, Ltd. Your Legacy Genetics

Silver

• Airosa Dairy • Alltech • Bank of the West • Buckman-Mitchell, Inc. • California Milk Advisory Board • Connor Agriscience • Crown Trophy Petaluma • Diversified Dairy Solutions, LLC

• Evangelho Feed & Seed • Fire-Lake Jerseys • Golden State Farm Credit • Herman Porter & Family • Hilmar Cheese Company • J.C. Lansdowne, Inc. • Kahn, Soares & Conway, LLP • Kings County DHIA • Legacy Ranches • Leprino Foods - East • Mill Creek Vets • Nutrius LLC • Overland Stockyard • Pietersma & Company • River Ranch Farms • Rosa Brothers Milk Company • Semex • Tulare County Farm Bureau • Ultratech Industrial Systems, Inc.

• •

Valley Veterinarians Inc. VSI

Bronze

• Avila Dairy Equipment, Inc. • Bar E Dairy • Best Agri-Marketing, Inc. • Dias Law Firm, Inc. • Ken Melvold Sales & Service • Kings Dairy Supply, Inc. • Livingston Dairy Consulting, Inc. • Netto Ag Inc. • Pacific Ag Insurance • Parreira’s Breeding Service • Tom Dutra • Top di Mark Swiss • provement Association

Valley Voice 1 March, 2018

Impact

Continued from C1 fair, she got first place in her class, and I believed that when she became a cow, she would be awesome.

But, unfortunately, she slipped her hip the following year.While she would live, and is still alive, I could no longer show her.

This is the first lesson showing taught me which I would not forget over the next few years: showing is a high risk, high reward game.

I would persevere getting new animals, and though Chewy has never had any heifer calves, she remains one of my favorite animals in my herd.

I don’t have exactly the best luck when it comes to dairy showing.

That’s what I’ve learned the most from showing.

Some of my animals have had bad health, some genetically, some not, but almost all from uncontrollable circumstances.

Several of my best show animals have died, but I remain showing, never having given up, always growing my herd, from one heifer in fourth grade, to about 10 animals today, despite my trials and tribulations.

I have learned about genetics,

C7 and bulls, and which bulls are the best, among other lessons from this herd growth.

Despite all of these negative lessons, by far the most important lesson I learned from showing is that it’s not all about winning.

While certainly winning a show and getting Supreme Champion is fun, and I’ve done it myself, but the best part of the show is hanging out with your fellow 4-H or FFA members.

I’ve learned that helping these friends out is the most satisfying feeling in the world.

Two years ago, at the Western Classic Dairy Show in Hanford, a young showman’s animal came loose, and dragged him around the ring.

I stepped in and helped him get through it, comforting and helping him out.

The next year, he came to me again, asking me to help him with his animal which acted crazy again.

This was one of the greatest feelings; that someone looked up to me in something.

It was through this experience, that I realized that dairy showing has truly changed my life.

0

Cow expressions

“Don’t have a cow” as defined on the Free Online Dictionary means “to be very worried, upset, or angry about something.” Do cows react strongly?

Perhaps only when they don’t want to do something. On “The Simpsons,” Bart Simpson often says “Don’t have a cow, man!” What he means is “Don’t get all upset about it.”

“Bull-pucky” is polite verbiage for something else, which really means nonsense and a whole lot of it.

“Chew your cud” is an expression used when someone is chewing food loudly and with gusto. Real cud is actually produced during the digestive process of rumination – it is a portion of food that returns to the mouth from the stomach to be chewed for a second time. The expression is also used in reference of thinking slowly and carefully about something – as in to digest the matter.

“Till the cows come home,” refers to the long, slow walk of a herd coming in from their day in the fields to be milked. Cows are not known for their great speed.

“Holy cow” originally referred to institutions or questions that should not be challenged. However, deeper roots of the expression are said to reference the Hindu worship of cows, and the “sacred cow.”

Jacob Fernandes helps promote Tulare 4-H and the dairy industry.

Courtesy/Fernandes family

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1 March, 2018 Valley Voice

C8

The popularity of Holsteins

programs and eligible for genetic evaluations was 24,958 pounds of milk, 920 pounds of butterfat and 710 pounds of protein per year.

Top producing Holsteins milked three times a day have been known to produce over 72,000 pounds of milk in 365 days.

Superior Performance

Holstein dairy cattle dominate this country’s milk production industry.

The reason for their popularity is clear: unexcelled production, greater income over feed costs, unequaled genetic merit, and adaptability to a wide range of environmental conditions.

Added up, this means more profit for the dairy producer who milks Holsteins.

This point becomes even clearer when you consider that nine of every 10 dairy producers currently milk Holsteins.

Twenty-two Million Registered Holsteins®

The Holstein cow is a popular breed and there are more Holsteins than any other breed on dairy farms across the US. According to Holstein Association USA – Holstein cattle are most quickly recognized by their distinctive color markings and outstanding milk production.

Physical Characteristics

Holsteins are large, stylish animals

with color patterns of black and white or red and white.

A healthy Holstein calf weighs 90 pounds or more at birth.

A mature Holstein cow weighs about 1,500 pounds and stands 58 inches tall at the shoulder.

Holstein heifers can be bred at 13 months of age, when they weigh about 800 pounds.

It is desirable to have Holstein females calve for the first time between

23 and 26 months of age.

Holstein gestation is approximately nine months. While some cows may live considerably longer, the average productive life of a Holstein is approximately four years.

Milk Production

The 2015 average actual production for all U.S. Holstein herds that were enrolled in production-testing

More than 22 million animals are registered in the Holstein Association’s herdbook.

The ancestry of most of these animals can be traced to animals originally imported from the Netherlands.

Holsteins identified with the Association account for nearly 20 percent of all U.S. dairy cattle.

The upper end of this population is looked upon as a source of superior breeding stock, providing genetics for the dairy industry worldwide.

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Valley Voice 1 March, 2018 provided. The student would also need to provide their own lunch, as the class extends through the lunch period. Instructor: Ron Holman. Tuition: $65.

For more information: visit www. artsvisalia.org or call (559) 739-0905.

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

March 24: U Pick Oranges 10am - 2pm - McKellar Family Farms invites you to pick oranges and enjoy a wagon ride tour of our farm.

Orange Picking: $7/person.

Includes orange picking experience and filling 8 lb. bag with oranges to take home. Wagon Rides: $3/person.

Wagon rides will run every hour starting at 10:30am.

McKellar Farms, 32988 RD. 164 in

B5 Ivanhoe - park in Event Parking.

March 27: “The Compasion” 7:30pm — Part of the Fresno Pacific University Pacific Artists Series.

Original composition for instruments and voices by alumnus EJ Hinojosa. Community United Church of Christ, 5550 N. Fresno St., Fresno. $15 general admission, $10 seniors, $5 students and FPU community, including alumni cardholders, payable at the door. 559-453-2267, music@fresno.edu, events.fresno. edu/ March 26-30: Creative Creatures Art Camp 8:30am - 12:30pm - Let your children use their imagination in a fun and artistic way during our Creative Creatures Art Camp. Each day, students will attend three classes in which they will use a variety of artistic media and their imagination to create Creative Creatures. They will

also spend time outside engaging in creative activities, socializing, and having a snack.

Tuition: $75. For more information: visit www.artsvisalia.org or call (559) 739-0905.

Suitable for children ages 5-12. Held at the Kings Art Center, 605 N. Douty in Hanford. $90/student. To sign up: Call 559-584-1065, visit our website at www.kingsartcenter.org, or stop by the office at 605 N. Douty. Seating is limited. Advance payment and registration are required. Members will receive 10% off entry fees. Ask us about the sibling discount.

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.

April 4, 11, 18, 25: Arts Visalia Screen Printing Class 6:30-8:30pm - In these classes, you will be taught the printing technique of transferring ink from mesh onto a substrate, except in areas a stencil is used. Screen printing is considered a stencil method of printmaking and the focus will be on technique and history of this method. Instructor: Jim Johnson.

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.

Senior Calendar The Visalia Senior Center is located at 310 N Locust, Visalia, and available by telephone at 559-7134381. Lunch is served daily at 12pm; reservations are required by 11am the day before by dialing (559) 713-4481. The Visalia Senior Center’s activities schedule was not available at the time of publication.

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.

Tulare Senior Center, Mondays: March 5, 12, 19, 26, 2018 8-11 AM — Abuse in Later Life Victim Advocate For an appointment, ask for Alberto Robles, Victim Advocate, 559-732-7371. The free services are offered every Monday, 8-11 am at Tulare Senior Center.

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.

Tulare Senior Center, Tuesdays: March 6, 13, 20, 27, 2018 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.

Tulare Senior Center, Wednesdays: March 7, 14, 21, 28, 2018 9:30-10:30 AM - 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 10-11:30am — Live Music set up with tables and chairs.

Provided by the City of Tulare This class is led by a senior volSenior Recreation Volunteer unteer.

Program. FREE! Enjoy listening to or dancing to great live Coun- 9:30 - 10:30am — Crocheting ty Western Music by Ken Bridg- The crochet is donated by the hospital and others. The croes, Senior Volunteer. chet group makes infant and 12:30 – 3:30pm — Community Bin- adult sized hats. They are dogo nated to the hospital/clinics for Provided by Tulare Senior Ser- cancer patients. This class is led vices Volunteers at Tulare Senior by a senior volunteer.

Community Center. Must be 18 years and older to play. Cost: 1st 10-11am — Blood Pressure Screen9-11:30am — 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.

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. ing FREE Blood Pressure Screen- $5 per month per student. ing! Sponsored by Tulare Adult 1 - 2pm — Tai Chi – for Health & School and Tulare Nursing & Wellness Rehabilitation. Everyone is wel- This special 6-week course ofcome! fered by Tulare Senior Recreation will be held on Thursdays, 10:30 - 11:15am — Ex-Chair-Cise Everyone is welcome! This rec- next session is January 11-Febreation activity is FREE. Enjoy ruary 15, 2018. $25 for 6 week exercising in a very well-lit class- course. room 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.

2-3:30pm — Caregiver Support Group Session Group sessions are led by a Valley Caregiver Resource counselor. This activity is FREE.

Tulare Senior Center, Fridays: March 2, 9, 16, 23, 30, 2018 8:30 - 11am — Table Tennis Come with a partner and have a fun game of Table Tennis in a 12:30 – 3:30pm — Community Bin- well-lit and spacious area. This go is a FREE Tulare Senior RecreProvided by Tulare Senior Ser- ation activity! vices Volunteers at Tulare Senior 9:30 – 11am — Wii Bowling Community Center. Must be 18 Join this Friday Fun Tulare Seyears and older to play. Cost: 1st nior Recreation activity enHalf of Bingo is $1.25 per card, joyed by many. It is FREE to 2nd Half of Bingo is $1 per card. participate! Experience is NOT This programs is led by a senior REQUIRED! volunteers.

10:30 - 11:15am — Ex-Chair-Cise 1 - 4pm — HICAP – Health InsurEveryone is welcome! This recance & Counseling Advocacy Proreation activity is FREE. Enjoy gram (third Wednesday only) exercising in a very well-lit classOnly by Appointment, MUST call room with heating or air condi559-623-0199. HICAP provides tioning. The classroom is set up FREE, confidential counseling with tables and chairs and exerand community education for cise supplies is provided.

California Medicare beneficiaries, their representatives, and 12:30pm — Card Games people who will soon be eligible Various card games are played.

Everyone is welcome! FREE! Tafor Medicare. bles and chairs are provided in Tulare Senior Center, Thursclassroom or dining room. days: March 1, 8, 15, 22, 29, 2018 7-10pm — Senior Dance 10am - 12pm — Down Memory Anyone 18 years and older. Fee: Lane (Writing Class) $8 per person - Dance to Live This class offered by Tulare SeCountry Western music. Bring nior Recreation will help you Potluck style foods to share.

1 March, 2018 Valley Voice

Literature B6

Book Notes

Woodlake: Images of America NEWELL BRINGHURST newellgb@hotmail.com

Marsha Ingrao, treasurer and website administrator for the San Joaquin Valley Council for the Social Studies brings her expertise to Woodlake—a recently-published volume in the highly acclaimed “Images of America” series.

Ingrao provides an enlightening history of the “rolling [Woodlake] valley encircled in mountains and foothills.”

Her story begins with the first Whites who arrived in 1853. Taking advantage of the region’s fertile land, these early settlers grew wheat and grazed livestock.

By the early 1900s, citrus emerged as the region’s most important agricultural commodity.

Scattered settlements dominated the Woodlake valley during the late 19th century. At the dawn of the 20th century Gilbert Stevenson, a millionaire Los Angeles investor, took the lead in developing a centralized community, earning him the title “Father of Woodlake.”

From the early 1900s until the late 1920s Stevenson oversaw the growth of Woodlake both agriculturally and

in commerce.

He established himself as the region’s most important agribusiness entrepreneur. His mammoth farming operation consisting of 1500 acres was, at the time, “the largest individually owned orange ranch in the world.”

As founder of the Woodlake Township Company, he “funded three downtown buildings, wells, water mains, sewer lines, and 10,000 ornamental trees and shrubs.”

Stevenson also oversaw efforts to develop Woodlake into a major tourist mecca, encouraged by the region’s “natural beauty” specifically, nearby Bravo Lake and the Sierra Nevada Mountains beyond.

But Stevenson’s vision of a “Dream Resort Town” died with the coming of

“tough times” and the Great Depression. Stevenson, himself, “lost his wealth and died penniless…” Thus, Woodlake continued to be primarily dependent on agriculture.

Ingrao discusses other challenges. Woodlake struggled to become an incorporated city—a long-desired goal not reached until 1941, but delayed because the community contained a mere 1,140 citizens as late as 1939. Yet another difficulty following the outbreak of World War II was the lack of an adequate farm labor work force.

Implementation of the Bracero Program in 1942 led to a large influx of Mexican nationals, thereby alleviating this problem.

This, in turn, made for a more diverse population.

Also contributing to the region’s racial mix was the influx of Asian Americans who as early as 1940 represented 11 percent of the town’s population.

Described are the schools, churches, and individuals who contributed to the community’s development.

Also noted are social cultural activities, including the “Valley of the Sun” pageant of the 1920s and the famed Woodlake Parade and Rodeo of more recent times.

Profusely illustrated, the volume’s pictures, strategically placed throughout, tell their own story of the land and the people who settled, worked, and played here during the course of more than 100 years.

In sum, Masha Ingrao’s Woodlake is well worth reading. As such it is an excellent addition to previously published volumes in the “Images of America” series—specifically, Terry L. Omman’s, Visalia: Then and Now, Sesar A. Carreno’s Tulare, and Chris Brewer’s, Southern San Joaquin Valley Scenes.

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

Great Conversations

The Meaning of Survival: Crane’s “The Open Boat” JOSEPH R. TELLER josepht@cos.edu

“Everything happens for a reason.”

So goes the bromide people often use to comfort others. It’s usually meant to assure someone that whatever suffering they’re enduring, it has meaning.

But does everything happen for a reason? Do the events of our lives have meaning? And what follows from our answers to such questions?

These questions lie at the heart of Stephen Crane’s short story, “The Open Boat,” the subject of discussion recently at COS’s Great Books discussion group.

The narrative, inspired by Crane’s experience of shipwreck off the Florida cost in 1897, opens with four men in a ten-foot dinghy, survivors of a ship that has sunk in heavy winter seas. The men—a captain, an oiler, a cook, and a correspondent—struggle to keep their boat afloat in waves that accost them like moving mountains, one after another.

Even worse, they are within sight of land. Every wave threatens to capsize them, and when they broach one crest, behind it rolls another, and then another.

As they approach the coast, the waves become more violent, and it’s clear that if they take their fragile craft in too close, they will swamp and drown in the unforgiving surf. So they wait miles offshore a whole day and night, one man always rowing to keep

them afloat.

Sharks threaten the crew, thumping against the gunwales in the dark.

Each man reflects on the absurdity of his situation: “If I am to be drowned…why, in the name of the seven mad gods who rule the sea, was I allowed to come thus far and contemplate sand and trees?”

How could nature allow them to survive the wreck, but then drown them so close to shore? The narrator gives voice to what the men might be thinking: “When it occurs to a man that Nature does not regard him as important…he at first wishes to throw bricks at the temple, and he hates deeply the fact that there are no bricks and no temples.”

The unbearable situation becomes still worse when they see people on the shore waving at them—happy tourists who think they are fishermen. Ironically, it is this moment in which the men wave frantically for help and no one understands their dire situation that

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marks their greatest loneliness.

And yet, brotherhood forms on the boat. The threat of death forces them to see that in the midst of this vast and meaningless ocean, what matters is how they treat each other.

It is, in fact, what keeps them alive.

The men make a final, desperate attempt to row the dinghy into the breakers in hope of making shore.

The boat capsizes, and the men leap into the waves.

Struggling for their lives, they encourage each other. In the end, they make it to the shore alive—except the oiler, the most rugged and seamanlike of the four.

In the story’s deepest irony, he drowns and ends up face-down in the shallows, his dead face kissing the sand. The narrator leaves us with a telling conclusion: “When it came night, the white waves paced to and fro in the moonlight, and the wind brought the sound of the great sea’s voice to the men on the shore, and they felt they

could then be interpreters.”

What is it they—and we—interpret in this voice? It seems clear that Crane’s survival story is a reflection on existence itself.

What does life mean when we are pummeled by life’s trials? How can we can be surrounded by others in our trials, and yet be so isolated?

And if, as Crane’s text suggests, there is no inherent meaning in “Nature” for us, what do we do with this terrifying possibility in our day-to-day lives? Do we mistreat or hurt others in order to survive?

Perhaps we might; history is full of such examples.

Or, perhaps, one might interpret another meaning in the “sea’s voice”: perhaps in that fragile open boat, thrashed by the unforgiving ocean, we see the importance of human decency and kindness: “A distinction between right and wrong seems absurdly clear to [a person in such a situation]…in this new ignorance of the grave-edge, and he understands that if he were given another opportunity he would mend his conduct and his words.”

Mending our conduct and our words, and distinguishing right and wrong—sound advice for us all, no matter what meaning we find in the sea of life.

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

Print replica edition at issuu.com/ourvalleyvoice

Valley Voice 1 March, 2018

Betty Berk show brings painting, poems, music

B7

are ongoing at Arts Visalia.

There is something for everyone this spring.

If Randall Ranger’s work inspires you to learn about photography, Ron Holman will be teaching an adult class called DSLR Basics and Beyond on Saturday, March 24th.

This particular workshop focuses on learning about the settings of your own camera and other tips for photography basics. Please download registration forms for classes and workshops from our website artsvisalia. org, or stop in and pick up the spring schedule at the gallery!

For more information and class descriptions, please go to artsvisalia. org, call us at 559-739-0905 or visit us at the gallery, 214 East Oak Avenue, Visalia, California 93291.

22 years at Dinuba High School, art became more developed when she began “Art” is much more than a painted studying piano. Now she listens to claslandscape for Betty Berk. Her expres- sical music as she paints. sive, colorful paintings are inspired by “Music takes a feeling and breathes classical music and also bring out the my life stories through song,” she expoetry in her. She will present her art, plained. “Classical music accomplishpoems and music during the First Fri- es this because of its breadth, complexday Art Walk in Downtown Visalia from ity and quality of sound and chords, 5-8pm on March much more so 2 at the Branthan in most othdon-Mitchell Galer types of music lery, located in the which I experience Center for Spiritual as basic. An analLiving, 117 S. Locust. ogy might be that The show inclassical music is cludes her Poetry a full size, modern of Color series. train, while othEach painting iner types of music cludes a poem she are a wooden toy wrote about the train. And many, colors of the color most, of my paintwheel. Berk will “Lakeside” by Betty Berk ings are visual read some of the compositions just poems during the evening. like a symphony.”

“I was out walking my puppy, Pianist Haunnah McKintosh Carthinking about a lecture on the prop- ter, a piano teacher at the Hamilton erties of color I’d been writing up for Piano Studio where Berk takes lesa workshop, when I started to think sons, will be playing classical music about how much more understanding from 6-7pm. of colors can be found by seeing them Betty Berk’s show will be on disin context of their natural places,” play in March and April at the Branshe said. “How hopeful is the green of don-Mitchell Gallery. Besides the renew leaves. How happy is the bright ceptions during the First Friday Art yellow light of the sun. I realized that Walks, the show may also be viewed the colors were vehicles, or symbols, Mondays-Wednesdays from 9:30amthat represented my experiences, feel- 3:30pm by ringing the bell at the door. ings and relationships. The intricacy of It is also open every Sunday after serthe poems developed as they told my vices at 11:30am. life story.”

For more information: www.cslFor Berk, who has taught art for visalia.org.

“You MUST take care of the wood if you want it to last. As a matter of fact, my owner’s manual tells me I should take my woodie to my Ford dealer twice a year for re-varnishing. You can imagine how many people ever actually did that!”

The sands of the hourglass wore away at the shimmering exteriors of the woodies, so it’s only ironic that the sands of the shoreline breathed new life into the style of automobiles.

“The surfers who were looking for something cheap to haul their boards and girlfriends – would pick these deteriorating wooden cars up for 50-100 bucks,” Yada said. “That was in the 60’s, and now it’s some of those same guys and gals that have them again (or still) and continue to love them.”

The woodie now stands not just as an icon of a unique era of automobile design, but as a monument on wheels to the surfing culture as well.

Saturday’s show will have a sampling of most of those remaining icons on display.

This will include those which are original, restored-to-original, hot rod, and other uniquely modified woodies.

Woodies were made by US automakers primarily from 1928-51 (with a few stragglers with only limited real wood trim through about 1953).

The closest you may come to finding a new/newer one are custom creations such as the woodie Smart car you will see at our show, which is a close replica of one done by the famous car customizer George Barris.

Could the cars on display on the lawn of Redwood High School Saturday be among the last?

“It is certainly a concern about what will happen down the road to the woodies – and other cars considered classic today,” said Yada. Continuing, he says, “The next generation doesn’t

DONNA OROZCO

Randall Ranger develops his black-and-white photographs in his own darkroom.

Arts Visalia Continued from B1

Restaurante, the Southern Pacific Depot Restaurant, and Valley PBS’s Articulate with Jim Cotter.

Arts Visalia will also host an Artist Talk on Saturday, March 3rd at 2pm.

Arts Visalia has a beautifully revamped gift shop space. Don’t forget to shop Arts Visalia for all your gift needs and AmazonSmile for all your online needs.

AmazonSmile proudly supports Arts Visalia. Amazon donates 0.5% of the price of eligible AmazonSmile purchases to Arts Visalia. When placing online orders, don’t forget to use your AmazonSmile.

Art classes for children and adults

Woodies Continued from B1

— an engine attached to what was formerly a wooden horse-drawn wagon.

As early automakers utilized primarily steel, any needed wooden bodies would have to be supplied by coach makers or by the customers themselves.

Eventually Henry Ford caught the vision and bought his own forest, so he could build complete cars at Ford plants.

The cars found a purpose in bussing tourists to and from train stations — hence the name “station wagon” — and it was only a matter of time before those tourists were replaced with children on the way to soccer practice.

“What happens is that the wood is subject to the elements,” Yada said.

seem to be nearly as excited about the cars as we were. However, for now we will continue to enjoy the heck out of them, care for them, drive them, and share them as much as possible.”

Only woodies will be on display at the show, but ALL woodie and car enthusiasts are encouraged to attend.

Come, enjoy the woodies, talk to the owners, and share stories with them about these historic wood-adorned vehicles! Even looking at the woodie accessories like picnic baskets and surfboards and noting the clever license plates is entertaining!

Make sure to get this “Woodies in the Valley” weekend on your calendar now!

For the latest info and updates - including pictures and video from previous events – go to the club’s website: www.valleywoodies.com or contact Wayne Yada at info@valleywoodies. com or 559-967-1357.

Valley Voice

1 March, 2018

B8

Controlling snails and slugs in the garden MICHELLE LE STRANGE

UCCE MASTER GARDENER ADVISOR EMERITUS

Snails and slugs are closely related. They both have soft, oblong bodies and produce slime to help them move around. The most obvious difference is that snails have shells. Both are active mostly at night and on dark, cloudy days. On sunny days they can be found in moist, shady spots.

Reducing populations of slugs and snails in the landscape requires persistence. Look for their eggs in the soil about an inch down or under rocks, boards, or plant debris. Eggs resemble small pearls and are laid in masses (sometimes 100). When you find eggs, crush them. Try combining several methods to reduce their numbers and don’t rely solely on pesticide baits.

Hand pick at night

To be effective, handpicking must be done thoroughly and regularly.

Collect nightly until it’s hard to find snails and slugs, and then check once a week. Crush them completely (otherwise they may recover and walk away) or drown them in a pail of soapy water (they’ll survive in plain water).

I usually go snail hunting in the garden with a used cottage cheese container in hand. After I’ve made my rounds I cover the container and throw it in the garbage can. If just picking a few snails I pitch them into the street for cars to crush or I throw them at my wood fence.

A few dead snail/slug bodies left on the soil surface will attract others and

make snail collecting easier, but large piles will breed flies. Instead bury the crushed mollusks 3 or 4 inches underground. This adds nutrients to the soil and avoids fly problems altogether.

early morning. Homemade or commercial pit traps that use beer or yeast mixtures to lure snails and slugs to a drowning death may help, but hand-picking will still be needed.

like rhododendrons, junipers, and heavenly bamboo.

Moisture always makes an area much more attractive to snails and slugs.

Use Barriers

Allow Natural Predators

The UCCE Master Gardeners will be available to answer your gardening questions at the following venues in March: Saturday, March 3, 10am-3pm: Tulare County Museum Main Street Jamboree at Mooney Grove Saturday, March 10, 8:30am10:30am: CA Natives info at Farmer’s Market, Sears Parking Lot, Visalia Saturday, April 7, 10am-2pm: Tulare Garden Festival at Tulare Public Library Thursday, April 12, 8am-Noon: Visalia Sales Yard Swap Meet, Ave. 296 Saturday, April 14, 10am-Noon: Hoffman’s nursery info table in Hanford Saturday, April 21, 11:30am-1pm: Exeter Garden Club, Exeter Memorial Building You can also find us every Saturday from 8am until noon at the Farmer’s Market in the Visalia Sear’s parking lot on Mooney.

For answers to all your home gardening questions, call the Master Gardeners in Tulare County at (559) 684-3325, Tuesdays and Thursdays between 9:30 and 11:30am; or Kings County at (559) 8522736, Thursday Only, 9:30-11:30am; or visit our website to search past articles, find links to UC gardening information, or to email us with your questions: http:// ucanr.edu/sites/UC_Master_Gardeners/ Visit us on Facebook at: https://www. facebook.com/mgtularekings14/

Before placing barriers, hand-pick for a couple of nights. After placing barriers, check for snails and slugs caught inside the barrier.

- Wrap a strip of copper (Surefire Slug/Snail Copper Barrier Tape) around a tree trunk, flower pot, or the wooden sides of garden beds or fences. Snails and slugs are repelled by the unpleasant reaction between their bodies and the copper.

- Cover seedlings with small cages made from plastic or galvanized metal window screen. Push the cages into the soil so snails and slugs can’t squeeze under.

- Cover rows of vegetables with special horticultural fabric (Fast Start Seed Blanket) that lets in light and water but excludes snails and slugs.

- Around plants apply a ring of Slug Stop (coconut oil soap) to repel slugs and snails.

- Barriers of diatomaceous earth, lime, sawdust, ashes, etc. are not as effective, especially when wet and maybe be detrimental to your soil.

Snail Traps Snails and slugs can be trapped under upside-down flower pots, dark colored plastic sheeting, and wooden boards. Place these traps around the garden and collect snails and slugs in

Many common ground beetles kill snails and slugs. Most are large (1 to 2 inches), black, tank like creatures.

They are found in the same moist habitats as their prey, under rocks, boards, leaves, etc.

Use Iron Phosphate Bait

Choose snail baits carefully. Baits containing mesurol kill earthworms and beneficial insects in the soil. Baits containing metaldehyde are highly toxic to children and pets, if ingested.

Baits containing iron phosphate (such as Sluggo or Escar-Go) are safer and less toxic to humans, animals, and the environment, yet effective on snails and slugs.

After eating iron phosphate, snails and slugs stop feeding and die within 3 to 6 days. They often crawl into secluded places, so you may not see dead bodies. Three applications at two week intervals are usually required of any bait product.

Prevention

Snails and slugs find large expanses of ivy and other succulent ground covers particularly attractive, and they also hide in clumps of agapanthus, lilies, daffodils, and iris. They are less attracted to plants with dry hard leaves