Valley Voice Issue 114 (5 April, 2018)

Valley Voice

Turbulence plagues Tulare PD, City Council

Cemetery moving ahead in Tulare CATHERINE DOE

catherine@ourvalleyvoice.com

There was an unfamiliar sound coming from the Tulare Public Cemetery District meeting: the sound of laughter.

Between the public taking one last opportunity to get old complaints off its chest, and the occasional joke coming from the normally stoic Trustee Alberto Aguilar, Tulare Public Cemetery District got its groove back.

Xavier Avila, the newest board member, acknowledged that there was a lot of hurt over the events of the last year, but was confident that the March 21 meeting would be pivotal and said that the new board was “all on the same page.”

Chairperson Vicki Gilson started the meeting by outlining how much the district has accomplished even with only a skeleton crew.

The district office now has internet, is preparing to buy new software such as Quick Books and Plot box, and has increased office hours to 8am – 5pm. The board is also working out the details and pricing of offering Saturday services.

With the help of county counsel, attending conferences, and personal research, the board has produced

CEMETERY continued on 12 »

Tulare hospital board votes to settle with HCCA TONY MALDONADO

tony@ourvalleyvoice.com

Some legal woes of the Tulare Local Healthcare District could soon be resolved, after the district’s board of directors voted to settle lawsuits with Healthcare Conglomerate Associates (HCCA).

HCCA, the management company which formerly oversaw operations of the district’s Tulare Regional Medical Center, was involved in two cases with the district: one legal action filed by HCCA in Los Angeles Superior Court, and another filed by the district in the Bankruptcy Court for the Eastern District of California.

The board’s 3-2 vote -- Xavier Avila, Stephen Harrell, and Mike Jamaica, voting in favor; Kevin Northcraft and Senovia Gutierrez dissenting -- on Wednesday night settles both of those cases.

“All of the board wanted to say that we heard the community tonight and for the past several months very loud and clear -- that we need to fulfill the primary mission to get our hospital open as quickly as possible, and that is first and foremost in the action that was taken tonight,” Northcraft said. “It’s not without risk, but we do feel we are on a path to reopening our hospital, and to have a successful community hospital back in our

CEMETERY continued on 10 »

Volume XXXVIII No. 7 5 April, 2018 ourvalleyvoice.com

NANCY VIGRAN

nandy@ourvalleyvoice.com

employees about his lack of caseload while at the TCDA and his current priorities. One angry Ward employee marched out the door while declaring Darby a liar.

Assistant TCDA Dave Alavezos stood in for Ward, who had a previous engagement.

While Alavezos answered questions, Xavier Avila, a Tulare Regional Healthcare District Board member, asked him where his boss was.

“I don’t know that he is campaign-

It has been a turbulent few weeks for the City of Tulare with citizens questioning their choice in electing council members and the city’s training of its police force.

During the April 3 city council meeting public comment period, many had something to say, and each had only three minutes to comment.

Patrick Isherwood, a Tulare resident, expressed concerns about actions and community perceptions regarding transparency and follow-up through the Sunshine Laws. His family has lived in Tulare since 1857 and he, personally, has served on many boards and commissions, he said.

“As a commissioner, I have attained training on the Ralph M. Brown Act California Government Code 54950, and the Bagley Keene Act and other civil rights legislation. The sections’ preamble has a coveted meaning as it states it is the public policy of this state that public agencies exist to aid in the conduct of the people’s business and the proceedings of public agencies be conducted openly so that the public may

SIGNS continued on 13 »

TURBULENCE continued on 8 »

Matt Darby, a candidate for the office of Tulare County District Attorney, and David Alavezos, standing in for Tim Ward, the current DA. Catherine Doe/Valley Voice

Tulare County DA candidate forum gets heated CATHERINE DOE

catherine@ourvalleyvoice.com

T

he atmosphere was testy during a candidates’ forum put on by the Central Valley Tea Party March 15 for the Tulare County District Attorney (TCDA) race.

Tulare County District Attorney Tim Ward is being challenged by Kings County Deputy District Attorney Matt Darby. The contest will be decided during the June primary.

When Darby was taking questions he was yelled down by Ward

AAUW book sale marks 52 years in Visalia DAVE ADALIAN

dave@ourvalleyvoice.com

B

ibliophiles of Tulare County owe Sandy Parmelly a deep debt of gratitude.

When the American Association of University Women’s Semi-Annual Book Sale begins April 18 at the Sequoia Mall in Visalia, it will mark the 14th year Parmelly has overseen sorting of the tens of thousands of books collected, boxed, stacked, sorted then sold at rock-bottom prices to an eager reading public. The sale runs through April 23. Price tags top out at $3.

“If Sandy quits on us, we’re done!” said Jan Johnson, who shares the Book Sale chair duties with Parmelly.

The Sorting Faithful Parmelly plays down the importance of her role a bit.

“I’m stuck in Visalia a couple of times a week, so I got the honor of holding onto the key to the storage,” she said.

Johnson, who oversees the business end of the Book Sale, sees more in Parmelly’s volunteers, who gather once each week to cull the literary runts, then group them by genre in a disused citrus cold storage on a dusty side road in Exeter.

“The ladies are so faithful,” Johnson said.

The sorting space--donated for AAUW’s use by Sequoia Orange Packing--will be extra busy in the run-up to the sale, and early buyers will enjoy a wider range of titles.

“We have within the last three

Members of the Sequoia-Visalia American Association of University Women sort books in a disused cold-storage warehouse at Sequoia Orange Packing in Exeter in preparation for the Semi-Annual Book Sale April 18-23. 2018 marks 52 years for the AAUW’s Book Sale. AAUW will also sponsor a candidates forum on April 30. Dave Adalian/Valley Voice

weeks, we got several large donations,” Parmelly said, “so that right now we have a lot of work for everyone.”

The Education of Young Ladies

Members of the Sequoia-Visalia AAUW have sold used books since some time in 1965--or perhaps 1966, as history does not record an exact date beyond the fiscal year--then used the proceeds to fund higher education for local students.

“As far as who benefits from the

sales, aside from the readers of Visalia, are COS students going onto four-year universities,” said Parmelly. “The rest of the money goes for a program that’s called Expanding Your Horizons for elementary girls who go to a training camp at COS.” AAUW scholarships to COS students seeking to further their schooling are available to both women and men. Men are also welcome to join AAUW, provided they are college graduates.

Part of the proceeds from the

BOOK SALE continued on 10 »

5 April, 2018 Valley Voice

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FROM THE PUBLISHER'S DESK

Along Came Jones I plopped down in my easy chair and turned on Channel 3 A manager called Salty Joe was a chasin’ Chief Hensley He trapped him in paid admin and said with an awful thrill, “Now, I’m not allowed to say anything, But I can fire you at will!”

And then he was told to (and then) He got the paper (and then) He signed the darned thing (and then, and then!)

And then along came Jones Carlton Jones Joke playa’ Jones Joke Mayor Jones Along came that big bully Jones Commercial came on, so I got up to get myself a beer You should’ve seen what was goin’ on, at least what I could hear Down in the city hall chamber, the citizens sat mute While the council looked the other way And sat on its patoot And then they sat there (and then) They sat there (and then) They let the hospital close (and then, and then!)

And then along came Jones Carlton Jones Joke playa’ Jones Joke Mayor Jones Along came that big bully Jones I got so bugged I turned it off and chose another action But there was the same old city hall with a fresh set of redactions The city attorney was striking things on her own say-so She said, “The way things go in Tulare now, All we need is Tu-Curly and Tu-Moe.” And then she grabbed it (and then) She marked it up (and then) She gave it to the newspaper (and then) All the readers saw it (and then, and then!)

And then along came Jones Carlton Jones Joke playa’ Jones Joke Mayor Jones Along came that big bully Jones Yes--of course I’ve made a naked mockery of Tulare Mayor Carlton Jones. It was too easy--although not ev-

eryone at this paper appreciates it. But I thought the good people of Tulare could use a touch of comic relief. The not-so-good are getting exactly what they deserve. Tulare has been in dire straits for some time now, and, with Jones at the helm, it appears to me he’s actually steering for the rocks.

E frustratio, comoedia.

In the song I’ve appropriated, Jones comes to the rescue. He’s a hero.

Clearly, Tulare’s mayor is not--at least, not in office. Mayor Jones might come to the rescue as a firefighter--and in that capacity be heroic--but his term of office has been catastrophic.

To be fair, Tulare’s troubles don’t solely rest on his shoulders.

The city council is a case study in dysfunction. The police department seems to be flailing. The public cemetery district only recently is emerging from years of mismanagement. The public hospital is--if voluntarily and temporarily--closed. If I lived in Tulare I’d move.

And if I lived there and couldn’t move, I’d focus on the upcoming city council election. I believe two seats are in play--enough, at least, to effect a reshuffling.

Because Carlton Jones should not be mayor anymore. He’s at the epicenter of too much nonsense.

As mayor, Jones runs the city council. Ever been to one of its meetings?

As mayor, Jones oversaw City Manager Joe Carlini’s firing of Police Chief Wes Hensley--and then Carlini’s firing in turn. All of this after Hensley had been on six months of fully paid administrative leave. The next time Mayor Jones complains about budget constraints just watch his nose grow. And now, apparently, Hensley has been denied a hearing to clear the air or secure a retirement package. We’re talking about someone who has served with the Tulare PD for something on the order of 27 years. We’re also talking about a mayor who sat on his hands while his city’s hospital was in extremis.

Maybe the song should be called “Along Went Jones.”

Here’s a link to original–and better–version https://www.youtube.com/ watch?v=eFyr49TwuiI Joseph Oldenbourg

Valley Voice

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Publisher/Editor:

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Valley Voice 5 April, 2018

POLITICAL FIX Vote Early and Vote Often

During the March 15 Tulare County District Attorney (DA)Forum the moderator, Dennis Smith, talked about a strange happening during his campaign for Tulare County Supervisor.

In 2016, he competed against seven highly qualified candidates for District 1, where the top two candidates from the June primary proceeded to the general election.

Mr. Smith came in first by 65 votes over Strathmore native Kyuler Crocker, who came in second.

On election night, November 8, Mr. Smith was leading by 200 votes.

But for each update his lead shrank until Mr. Crocker took over the lead and won by only 295 votes.

After the election, Mr. Smith went to the Tulare County Registrar of Voters and purchased a disc that contained all the public information concerning who voted in the election.

Mr. Smith put the data on a Microsoft Excel program and discovered something shocking. Someone had voted twice in the primary, and it didn’t look like a mistake.

He took a print out of his data to the Registrar’s office and showed manager Ann Turner what he had found.

Ms. Turner agreed the data indicated the person voted twice, retrieved the two ballots, and compared their signatures.

And sure enough they matched.

Mr. Smith brought it up at the forum to ask David Alavezos, the Assistant DA, if this was a matter for his office. It ends up that voting irregularities are handled by the California Secretary of State.

When the forum ended I pressured Mr. Smith to tell me who voted twice.

You could tell by his face that he was still surprised, but the voter was Patricia Crocker – Tulare County Supervisor Kuyler Cocker’s mother.

Hmm, I wonder who she voted for?

The data indicated that Ms. Crocker had two active voter registrations, one under Patty the Democrat, and the other under Patricia the Republican.

The result being she ended up with two ballots, which I doubt was her intention, but she still could have restrained from using both of them.

As soon as Ms. Turner discovered the two active registrations she red tagged Ms. Crocker’s earlier registration, meaning if she tried to do it again her second vote would not count.

I spoke with Emily Oliveira at the Registrars’ office to get an update on the investigation. She said the Tulare County Registrar’s office normally sends about 30 - 50 cases every election, along with all the other counties, to the Secretary of State office. Given that there are 58 counties, it takes the Secretary’s office a long time to evaluate each case.

“There are one or two major reasons people vote twice,” she said. “One is when elderly voters get their ballot early, mail it in, then forget they voted and ask the registrar for another ballot.”

This would not be the case with Ms. Crocker. Not only is she not elderly, she is an elected official herself.

Ms. Crocker is currently a trustee of the Strathmore Elementary School Board and has been re-elected several times. She is familiar with the election process and all the paperwork that needs to be filled out during an election and after an individual takes office.

It could have been an innocent mistake that Ms. Crocker voted twice.

But it’s just too coincidental that on top of being an elected official she is also the winner’s mother.

And I do not believe in coincidences.

Ms. Oliveira has not heard back from the Secretary of State office and didn’t expect them to specifically address Ms. Crocker’s case.

Did Dolores Huerta lose the 21st Congressional District for Democrats?

California has 53 seats in the House of Representatives, and all of them are up for re-election this November. There are 115 Democrats running for those seats, but most of the Democrats are concentrated in Republican-held districts with the goal to flip them from red to blue.

Rep. Devin Nunes (CA22) has never had a serious challenger since he was first elected in 2002, but now is facing three viable Democrats. Rep. Kevin McCarthy (CA23) is facing four Democrats and Rep. Jeff Denham (CA10) is facing 6 Democrats.

How many Democrats is Rep. David Valadao (CA21) facing?

One – barely.

After running an anemic campaign, Emilio Huerta withdrew with barely enough time for the Democrats to find a replacement. Now Mr. Huerta has been replaced by an equally week candidate, entrepreneur TJ Cox, who switched races at the last minute from CA10 to CA 21.

How is it possible that in the most vulnerable Republican Congressional District in California there is only one weak Democratic challenger?

Did labor organizer Dolores Huerta lose the 21st District for Democrats for the 2018 election?

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.”

Mr. Huerta protested Ms. Wire’s article, but political insiders have since confirmed Ms. Wire’s reporting.

Mr. Huerta did not give a reason for withdrawing from the race, but because of his mother’s alleged actions, Rep. Valadao almost went unchallenged.

In a normal election that wouldn’t be surprising for a popular hometown boy such as Rep. Valadao. In 2010 Rep. Nunes ran unopposed.

But in a year when women, students, Hispanics, Blacks, Dreamers, and many other groups have been protesting Donald Trump’s Presidency, it’s almost incomprehensible that a California Republican go unchallenged.

It was rumored that Mr. Huerta left the race because of a lack of campaign cash. But Mr. Cox isn’t rolling in money either, with only $280,000 to Mr. Valadao’s million.

In addition, when Mr. Cox’ ran against George Radanovich (CA 19) in 2006 he nearly ran out of cash with campaign debts totaling nearly $435,000.

To sum it up, the Democratic challenger for CA 21 went from Mr. Huerta, a Hispanic, middle aged man, with little cash and a poorly run campaign who doesn’t live in the district, to Mr. Cox, a White, middle-aged man, with little cash and a poorly run campaign who also doesn’t live in the district.

But there is more According to a 2006 article written

3 a column by CATHERINE DOE — catherine@ourvalleyvoice.com

by Jim Robinson from the FlashReport, “Terrance J. (“T.J.”) Cox, was sued for fraud in Texas before moving to California four years ago (2002)….. According to court records filed by Atkins Production Services, Inc. in Tarrant County, Texas, Cox ‘manipulated and cooked the books of his companies to fraudulently sell the businesses and fraudulently obtain an inflated price for the businesses.’

In addition to Cox, others named in the August 1, 2002 suit were T.J. Cox, Inc. and The Framing Solution, two companies owned by Cox while living in Texas. The suit… charged that Cox falsified records when he told the new owner his businesses were profitable and debt free.”

According to the Mercury News Cox was sued again in 2007 when his real estate firm sold a Fresno storage unit property to A-American Self Storage, a storage chain. “A-American later discovered leaks and other problems in the roof that led to water damage in the facility and filed for arbitration against Cox’s company.”

The arbitrator found that Cox knew about the roof problems at the time of the sale and ordered CMSS to pay A-American more than $1.3 million for breach of contractual warranty.

In 2015, Mr. Cox’ lawyers sued him for not paying his legal bills, and a judge ordered him to pay more than $49,000, including interest, according to Fresno County court records.

Also according to the Mercury News, “Cox and his wife, Kathleen, were also hit with an IRS tax lien last year for $48,362 in unpaid income tax, county records show.”

After Mr. Huerta won unanimous support from the California Democratic Central Committee before he withdrew from the race, the Cook Political Report, Sabato’s Crystal Ball, and Inside Elections all rate the clearly Democrat-leaning District 21 as likely going Republican.

I think that’s likely too.

Justin Mendes Has a Change of Heart

In June of 2017, Hanford Councilmember Justin Mendes announced he would not be seeking re-election in 2018. Mendes was elected to represent District E in 2014 and was Mayor of Hanford in 2016.

His reasons were that he was spending too much time with city council duties and that it was taking away from time with his young family.

Fast forward to March 2018, and Mr. Mendes announced that he is running for the 32nd Assembly District against Assemblyman Rudy Salas.

Mr. Mendes told the Hanford Sentinel that “now his young boys are a little bit older (one is nearly 4 years old and the other is 1 year old), he and his wife are getting a little more sleep than they used to, and he believes he’s ready to take on this responsibility.”

I have a newsflash for Mr. Mendes: In no universe are four-year-old and one-year-old boys considered “older.”

Also, the duties of an assembly member will keep him away from his family for most of the month while in Sacramento, versus the weekly meetings and occasional duties of a Hanford Council member.

POLITICAL FIX continued on 12 »

20 HR/DAY ARCO AMPM TRUCK STOP, CALDWELL AVENUE/ WEST STREET

PUBLIC PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING ON PROPOSED DEVELOPMENT MONDAY, 9 APRIL, 7 p.m.

CONVENTION CENTER 303 EAST ACEQUIA AVE., VISALIA

Please attend this critical Planning Commission meeting with your family and neighbors, to oppose the proposed development. The Commission will vote on the project: this is your chance to show your opposition to this development.

Our numbers will make a critical difference.

Please show this flyer to your neighbors and friends.

Information, including project details and our critical analysis: Oppose.arco@gmail.com Paid for by -

Oppose ARCO AM/PM Steering Committee

5 April, 2018 Valley Voice

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Neighbors ready for fight against goliath AM/PM

DAVE ADALIAN

dave@ourvalleyvoice.com

Neighbors fighting to block the construction of what could eventually become the city’s largest gas station will be legion when they finally take their case before the Visalia Planning Commission on Monday, April 9.

The public hearing is scheduled for 7pm, and will be held at the Visalia Convention Center, 303 E. Acequia Avenue, to accommodate what could be a huge crowd of citizens.

Girding Their Loins

Those leading the fight to keep their neighborhood as quaint as possible are enlisting as many allies as they can. As the meeting date approaches, the group is also canvassing homes surrounding the corner of Caldwell Avenue and West Street where the gas station could be constructed in an effort to both educate residents and to get them in the seats next Monday night.

Robin Hernandez--who leads the fight against the Chandi Group’s plan to bring a 20-hour-a-day ARCO AM/PM to her neighborhood--has called the fight “a David-and-Goliath story for sure.” The group she leads, Oppose ARCO, is looking to enlist some giants on its own side.

Already the group has played host to Mayor Warren Gubler, who is seeking election to the State Assembly in November, and more recently welcomed Councilman Bob Link to its weekly meeting. The group made sure the councilman understood they feel as if they’re fighting a war for their homes.

“We’re seeing this as if an atom bomb is being dropped on us,” Hernandez told Link.

Promised Groceries, Restaurants

Hernandez and the others fighting the coming of AM/PM say they were assured the land on the southeast corner of Caldwell and West would be used to provide services neighbors need, such as a grocery store and family-style restaurants.

Chandi Group, in the extensive documentation provided to the city, claims the neighborhood needs the services it will provide: fuel, a drivethrough restaurant, a convenience store and car wash. Oppose ARCO disagrees with that assessment.

Visalia City Councilman Bob Link, right, meets with members of Oppose ARCO, who are fighting construction of the city’s biggest gas station at Caldwell Avenue and West Street. The Planning Commission will review the project in a public hearing at 7 p.m. Monday, April 9 at the Visalia Convention Center. Dave Adalian/Valley Voice

“There are already 19 places to buy alcohol within a mile of there,” Hernandez said, pointing out Fresno’s city code apparently outdoes Visalia’s in this regard. “This wouldn’t be allowed in Fresno.”

There is a much smaller gas station and convenience mart already on the corner, two car washes within a mile, and, much to the chagrin of those fighting further development, a Jack-in-the-Box restaurant a few hundred yards from the site of the proposed ARCO. It sits across the street from a large church and neighboring funeral parlor.

The AM/PM, they say, is completely out of step with the nature of the 50 or so other small businesses that line that stretch of Caldwell.

“This one belongs out on (Highway) 99,” Hernandez said. “Caldwell and 99 would be a great spot for something this massive.”

The Caldwell AM/PM will be smaller than a similar business currently being constructed in Visalia’s industrial park. The site on Caldwell is surrounded by homes on three sides.

Long List of Concerns

Noise, light pollution, more

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semi-trailer trucks and alcohol saturation of south Visalia are the obvious complaints stacked against the plan Chandi Group means to execute. There are more, however, and they are subtle.

“This property will have in access of 30,000 gallons of fuel in its tanks,” Hernandez said. “There’s a home 192 feet from there.”

Not only will the fuel present the possibility contamination of the groundwater underneath property between two of the city’s natural creeks and next to the neighborhood drinking-water wells--and the less likely possibility of a massive explosion--it may also make it impossible for homeowners living within 300 feet to insure their mortgages with the FHA, the country’s largest mortgage backer.

Additionally, Oppose ARCO says it has information Chandi Group plans to sell fuel to fleet vehicles at the site. They may also install showers to serve the numerous truck drivers who service the several large box stores near Caldwell’s intersection with Mooney Boulevard a mile or so to the west, opponents say.

AM/PM Documents Flawed

As the Oppose ARCO group learned how massive the high-density gas station complex was to be, a realization of the changes coming to their neighborhood overwhelmed them.

“We went from being concerned to being horrified,” Hernandez told Link.

In preparation for their plea to the Planning Commission to stop

the AM/PM’s construction, the group has studied the more than 140 pages Chandi Group submitted for the city’s review. They say the documents are riddled with errors, inaccuracies and omissions. To demonstrate the true impact, they’ve consulted civic engineering firms and done their own lighting, sound and traffic studies.

Dr. Bernard Cooker, another neighbor fighting the coming of ARCO, has been particularly outspoken in his criticism of Chandi Group’s work.

“They couldn’t even get the acreage right,” Cooker said. “It tells you how we regard this process.”

City Council Could Intervene Some members of Oppose ARCO feel staff at the Planning Department has been too cozy with the Chandi Group, giving them too much leeway so far regarding the accuracy of the planning documents. Councilman Link disagrees, however.

“I don’t think they’re buying into the Chandi Group,” Link said.

“The point that is (Chandi Group) is a developer who’s come in and is doing a development that fits within the zoning of that particular zoning.

The staff has no ability to turn down the project.”

The Planning Commission can reject it, and has already asked for improved documentation.

“The Planning Commission said there are things that are lacking in this report,” Link said. “It needs to go back to the person who is doing the project.”

AM/PM continued on 5 »

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Valley Voice 5 April, 2018

Nearly 500 local water board seats uncontested STAFF REPORTS In the southern San Joaquin Valley, 87% of local water board members hold uncontested seats, according to a report released today by Community Water Center. These public, democratically-elected boards shape water management in a region where hundreds of thousands of residents lack reliable access to safe and affordable water.

When only one candidate runs for a local water board seat, the election does not take place. In Fresno, Kern, Kings, and Tulare counties, 75 of 109 local water boards studied have not held a single election in the last four years.

“These local water boards are foun-

dational in the fight for safe and affordable water,” said Susana De Anda, co-founder and co-director of Community Water Center. “That they’re uncontested speaks to an opportunity to reshape local democracy in this state.”

The first-of-its-kind report, titled “Untapped Opportunity: Local Water Board Elections and the Fight for Water Justice,” studied a range of special districts that provide drinking water to residents, as well as non-drinking water to farms, dairies, and other entities in the four Valley counties. Beyond water provision, these boards set water rates, fund infrastructure projects, and shape plans for long-term local and regional sustainability.

Across the state, more than one million residents are exposed to unsafe drinking water each year. A disproportionate number live in the southern San Joaquin Valley, where the 109 local water boards operate.

The creation of a new Safe and Affordable Drinking Water Fund is a prerequisite to building healthy local water systems, but the report also demonstrates tremendous opportunity to compliment this historic campaign with increased democratic participation in local water governance.

The report makes three key recommendations: • Create local water board leadership pathways and invest

Respiratory viruses on the rise in Tulare County STAFF REPORTS Multiple respiratory viruses are causing potentially serious illness in young children and adults with chronic conditions. Tulare County Public Health Branch strongly encourages community members take preventative measures to prevent respiratory infections such as rhinovirus, coronavirus, RSV, and human metapneumovirus.

Preventative measures to avoid respiratory infections include: • Wash your hands often with soap and water • Use a tissue to cover your mouth when coughing or sneezing; avoid using your hands, but if you do, immediately wash or use antibacterial cleanser to help prevent germs from spreading.

• Avoid touching your eyes,

nose, and mouth.

Avoid contact with sick individuals • If you experience illness, stay home 24-48 hours after symptoms resolve, unless you are seeking medical care • Use all medications, prescribed and over-the-counter, as instructed • There are no vaccines for these respiratory viruses; however, the influenza vaccine is still available Seek emergency medical care when you see signs of serious illness, such as: • Shortness of breath, difficulty breathing, abdominal pain, dizziness, confusion, vomiting, and dehydration • Hyperventilation or difficulty breathing, vomiting, dehydra•

Valadao, House Pass FY18 Omnibus STAFF REPORTS U.S. Congressman David G. Valadao (CA-21) voted in support of legislation to provide all discretionary funding for the federal government for the 2018 fiscal year on March 22.

H.R. 1625, the Consolidated Appropriations Act, contains $1.3 trillion in funding for all twelve annual Appropriations bills. After voting in favor of the legislation, Congressman David G. Valadao (CA-21) released the following statement: “The House Appropriations Committee has put in hundreds of hours of work crafting, amending, and considering these funding provisions.

“The legislation makes important investments in our military, ensuring our troops have the tools and resources to safely complete their mission and protect our homeland while fully funding a 2.4% pay raise for our troops.

“Equally as important, the Omnibus increases and protects funding for criti-

AM/PM

continued from 4 When the commissioners consider neighbors’ objections to the project, they may require changes or place restrictions on what Chandi Group may do at the site.

“You make good, valuable reasons why the problems of getting in and out of that facility with the tank trucks. That’s something that the Planning Commission can say, ‘This has to be changed,’” Link said. “You may find that this may end up go-

cal programs my constituents rely on. The bill raises funding for Impact Aid by $86 million, provides $2.3 billion in new funding to help keep our schools safe, rebuilds America’s crumbling infrastructure with an additional $21.2 billion investment, and boosts funding for the National Institutes of Health by $3 billion to work towards curing life-threatening conditions and diseases such as cancer and Alzheimer’s.”

Additional provisions inserted by Congressman Valadao include a temporary ELD exemption for livestock haulers, twenty additional F-35 aircraft ($10.2 billion), and provisions from his legislation, H.R. 3890, the Making Rural America Count Act, which ensures rural communities with high incarcerated prison populations are eligible for Rural Development Grants administered through the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

H.R. 1625, the Consolidated Appropriations Act passed on Thursday, March 22, 2018 by a vote of 408 to 0.

ing back to (Chandi Group) to make some changes.”

What the Planning Commission will do remains to be seen, Link told those fighting Chandi Group’s plan.

“I don’t know what the Planning Commission will decide,” he said.

Either side will have the chance to appeal the Planning Commission’s final decision, which may or may not come at the April 9 meeting. No matter what happens, Link thinks the matter won’t end there.

“I think this will end up in front of the Council,” he said.

tion, lethargy, irritability, restlessness, or bluish skin color, especially in children • Infants may experience a decreased appetite and dehydration, bluish color, fast or irregular breathing, irritability, or excessive sleepiness.

• Any infant under three months of age with a temperature over 100.4 should be evaluated by a physician immediately • Symptoms that seem to resolve, but return with fever or worse cough With serious illness from respiratory infection, supportive care with fluids and oxygen may be important; however, respiratory infections do not respond to influenza antiviral medi-

5

in trainings for potential and current water board leaders; • Advance public understanding of local water boards’ roles and responsibilities; and • Continue research on representation and accountability in elected seats that shape the Human Right to Water.

“Water is life,” said Pedro Ramirez, of the California Labor Federation.

“This research adds critical perspective to the growing calls for civic engagement at the local level. These water boards are the most local form of government, and the communities they represent need accountable and representative leaders.”

cation. Symptoms of other respiratory viruses may be quite similar to influenza. Laboratory testing can often identify whether the infection is from influenza or another respiratory virus.

Influenza symptoms include: • Fever • Cough • Muscle aches • Sore throat • Chills • Headache Influenza A and B virus infections continue to affect community members in Tulare County. Individuals with influenza, particularly those with risk factors such as pregnancy, diabetes, heart disease, asthma, kidney disease, and children age five and younger, should talk to their health care providers about antiviral medication.

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5 April, 2018 Valley Voice

6

AGRICULTURE

Calendar Art winners recognized on National Ag Day STAFF REPORTS Winners of the 2018 Calendar Art Contest hosted by Tulare County Farm Bureau (TCFB) with sponsorship from the Tulare County Office of Education were honored with a special presentation during a Board of Supervisors meeting on National Ag Day, Tuesday, March 20.

Over 800 Tulare County students from 39 schools submitted entries for TCFB’s annual art contest by the February 15 deadline.

The goal of the contest is to promote awareness about agriculture in Tulare County and the importance of an abundant and healthy food supply.

The students were asked to submit original artwork depicting this year’s theme, “Tulare County Agriculture…Growing Good Things.”

All entries were judged by a panel of representatives from the TCFB’s Education Committee. Winning artwork was chosen based on the agricultural content, originality, neatness and reproducibility.

Overall winner Joshua Talingo Garcia, an 11th grader from Orosi High School, is no stranger to the contest. He was the 2017 November winner and the 2016 back cover winner.

This year, his artwork is featured on the cover of the calendar and he received a $50 cash award. Additional student artists, listed below, re-

ceived a $25 prize and their artwork is featured inside the calendar as monthly winners.

Each year, the 12-month calendar (April through March) is printed and distributed to schools throughout the county and is available to the public at no cost.

For a copy of the 2018-2019 TCFB Agricultural Art Calendar, please contact the Tulare County Farm Bureau at 732-8301. The Joshua Talingo Garcia, an 11th Grader at Orosi High School, created the artwork that won a spot on the cover of the calendar. culmination of Courtesy/Tulare County Farm Bureau TCFB’s art contest tary School • September Mylee is one way the organization cele• April - Christian Carlos, 11th Primm, 8th Grade, La Joya brates National Ag Day. Grade, Orosi High School Middle School Winners: • May - Mia Machado, 3rd • October - Phoenix Datig, 2nd • Cover Winner - Joshua TalinGrade, Sequoia Union EleGrade, Three Rivers Elemengo Garcia, 11th Grade, Orosi mentary School tary School High School • June - Julie Castillo, 8th • November - Anthony Tamayo, • January - Michelle Park, Grade, Alpine Vista School 11th Grade, Orosi High School 6th Grade, Hurley Elemen• July - Adyson Hensley, 5th • December - Eveny Leon, 2nd tary School Grade, Rockford ElemenGrade, G.L. Snowden Elemen• February - Fernando Garcia, tary School tary School 12th Grade, Orosi High School • August - Hannah Shackel• Back Cover - Branson Camp• March - Ashley Carrion, ford, 6th Grade, Golden Oak bell, 8th Grade, La Joya 6th Grade, Tipton ElemenElementary School Middle School

Alternative Manure Management Program applications open STAFF REPORTS The California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) will begin accepting applications for the Alternative Manure Management Program (AMMP). The application period is targeted to open at the end of March.

The AMMP is one of two programs designed by CDFA to reduce overall greenhouse gas emissions. The program will provide $19-33 million dollars in grants to California dairy and livestock operators to implement non-digester manure management practices that reduce their methane emissions. (In the last round each

grant could be up to $750,000).

Earth First Living, a California educational non-profit organization, under a grant from the CDFA, is holding four free Technical Assistance Workshops. These workshops, which are free of charge, will provide technical assistance with the application process. At the two-hour workshop, participants will learn about the application process, scoring and how to submit the application through the online application tool, the Financial Assistance Application Submittal Tool (FAAST).

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Complete details and registration available at www.ManureSolutions.org .

This free of charge Technical Assistance workshop is being offered on the following dates and times: • Thursday, April 12 12:30 – 2:30 pm. Repeated at: 3:30 – 5:30 pm.

• Friday, April 13 12:30 – 2:30 pm. Repeated at: 3:30 – 5:30 pm.

For complete details and registra-

tion visit www.ManureSolutions.org – Space is limited to 15 people at each of the four workshops at the Tulare County Library located at 200 W. Oak Avenue in Visalia.

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

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

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

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

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Valley Voice 5 April, 2018

7

AGRICULTURE

UC Riverside program aids in citrus disease fight CHRISTINE SOUZA, CFBF At war with the Asian citrus psyllid since it was found in San Diego County in 2008, California citrus growers and packers have had unprecedented success in slowing the spread of the tree-killing bacteria the psyllid can carry. People in the citrus business say part of that success relates to the testing and distribution of clean citrus plant material through the University of California, Riverside.

The Citrus Clonal Protection Program at UC Riverside tests clonal material to ensure that citrus varieties introduced into California remain free of pathogens.

Joel Nelsen, president of California Citrus Mutual, said he believes work such as that done by the program has helped defend California citrus from the tree-killing bacterial disease huanglongbing or HLB, also called citrus greening.

Although it was first detected in residential citrus trees in Southern California in 2012, HLB has not yet been found in the state’s commercial citrus groves.

In Florida, Nelsen said, spread of the Asian citrus psyllid and HLB led to the loss of 70 percent of commercial citrus production.

“Florida is the barometer,” he said.

“If you contrast that with what we’re doing, our commercial industry is still alive and vibrant 10 years after the discovery of the psyllid.”

He described the Citrus Clonal Protection Program as “a vetting program to determine if certain rootstocks and/ or certain varieties can produce successfully in California without carrying this disease.”

Program director and plant pathologist Georgios Vidalakis said he recognizes that a decade of fighting the psyllid and HLB is wearing on citrus growers.

“I tell them, ‘Please hang on, because in California, you are already making history,’” he said. “We are the only place that we’ve got the disease and we’ve got the insect for the last 10

years, and we don’t have an HLB epidemic in our commercial citrus.”

Vidalakis said diagnostic research at the program’s Citrus Diagnostic & Research Laboratory tests about 20,000 samples of citrus material annually.

“The motto of the National Clean Plant Network is, ‘start clean, stay clean.’ If you don’t start clean, the financial investment to produce high-quality fruit for the consumer ends up at great risk,” Vidalakis said.

He said diagnostic technology has “increased dramatically” the number of samples tested, leading to the near disappearance of a specific type of pathogen called a viroid.

The program was established in 1956 as the Citrus Variety Improvement Program and is a cooperative program among the university, California Department of Food and Agriculture, U.S. Department of Agriculture and California’s $3.3 billion citrus sector.

Before citrus budwood can enter the U.S., it must go through the USDA National Germplasm Inspection Station in Beltsville, Md. After inspection, material is forwarded to UC Riverside under a special permit, where it is tested for pathogens.

“The general category of pathogens that we are looking for is graft-transmissible pathogens of citrus,” Vidalakis said. “Without coming from a program like this, 95 percent of the time, the material will have one or more pathogens in it.”

If researchers find citrus budwood contains pathogens, the material moves through therapy and diagnostics at the nearby Rubidoux Quarantine Facility in Riverside, off campus.

Once the budwood receives a “clean bill of health” from that facility, Vidalakis said, the program’s registered budwood source trees move to the UC Lindcove Research and Extension Center in Exeter. There, 400 clean citrus varieties are available to California nurseries that are licensed to propagate trees, as well as to growers, researchers and citrus enthusiasts.

Eight years ago, the state’s cit-

Greg Greer, manager of the Rubidoux Citrus Quarantine Facilities for the University of California, Riverside, checks on citrus samples stored in an incubator. The facility works with the on-campus Citrus Clonal Protection Program to assure citrus budwood remains free of pathogens. Photo/Christine Souza

rus business initiated legislation to create assessments in order to invest in addressing the psyllid and HLB. Nelsen said the sector started with a $15 million program, which increased to more than $25 million—including federal support—because of the expansion of the psyllid.

“We now have a budget of $40 million to do a number of things: educate the homeowner, trap, treat where appropriate and find HLB, which means a lot of lab analysis and sampling,” Nelsen said. “This program has just gotten larger as we continue to fight and suppress the population of Asian citrus psyllid.”

To aid in the fight, the California Citrus Research Foundation and UC Riverside plan to open a new, $8 million Biosafety Laboratory Level 3 facility in Riverside this spring, for testing of infectious materials—needed to conduct research on HLB bacteria. It would be the second BSL3 lab in the state, along with one at UC Davis.

Riverside County Agricultural Commissioner Ruben Arroyo said HLB has been confined so far to residential citrus trees in Los Angeles, Orange and Riverside counties. Because of psyllid finds in a number of citrus-growing counties, state and federal quarantines have been established to help

prevent the spread of the insect and to try to keep the disease out of the state’s commercial groves.

“We’re doing everything that we can possibly do to prevent the spread of the psyllid and the disease,” Arroyo said. “If we continue to try to prevent the movement, hopefully by that time, the research will have caught up and identified a rootstock that is disease-tolerant but still gives a good-tasting piece of fruit.”

Riverside County citrus grower John Gless has property inside a psyllid quarantine area. Being in a quarantine zone, he said, involves an added treatment prior to harvest and requires added measures, such as packing fruit inside the quarantine zone.

“We’re going to have to learn to live with (the psyllid), but we are putting up a good fight as an industry,” Gless said.

For his farm, Gless said he plans to plant new acres of citrus and “keep thinking positively,” adding, “If we can get some resistant rootstocks, that’s going to be the key to the future.”

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

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

Citrus Mutual statement on Chinese tariffs STAFF REPORTS California Citrus Mutual (CCM) President Joel Nelsen issued the following statement regarding the Chinese Government’s announcement that it will impose a 15% tariff increase on U.S. fruits and vegetables including California citrus as a retaliatory counter to President Donald Trump’s new tariffs on steel and aluminum.

“The decision by the Chinese government to levy exorbitant tariff increases on U.S. produce will sure-

ly have a direct impact on California citrus producers. Maintaining access to foreign markets and having the ability to compete in a global market place are critical to the success of the citrus industry. The retaliatory tariffs imposed by China hinders our ability to be competitive by increasing costs for Chinese consumers, an important market for California citrus. Family farmers in our industry will suffer from the economic fallout unless we can find alternative markets for California’s navel and Valencia oranges

and lemons.

“While our Administration focuses on those business sectors requiring attention, the Chinese Administration has chosen to expand the discussion to include the agricultural industry.

In fact, the Chinese indicated last week in a statement that constructive talks could alleviate the real issues, yet insufficient time was given to accomplish that objective. Now Chinese consumers and California citrus producers are innocent parties to a trade debate.”

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TULARE

continued from 1 remain informed. . . What concerns me is watching certain proceedings in city council meetings, I question that such acknowledgement to the public process is not being followed through.”

He commented on, as an example, the fact that Councilman Jose Sigala had, at previous council meetings, asked for “explanations regarding protocol, procedures and simple point of order to the city attorney in open meetings that were not responded to.”

When, however, he was ignored, Isherwood said, “it leads me, to put it bluntly, what the Hell is going on?”

He is left to read and speculate on newspaper reports. His point is, he said, “the public is being left with too many perceptions. I support my fellow Tulareans who are just wanting the conversation to be had.”

Tulare resident Stephen Harrell chose to comment regarding the firing of Tulare Police Chief Wes Hensley, who served 683 days as chief, he said. Harrell, a former Tulare Police Department captain, stated that “unless things had changed,” department heads should be evaluated at least once if not twice a year. He did not know, he said, whether Hensley had ever had an evaluation with a city manager.

Harrell quoted from Hensley’s termination letter – “You are being dismissed to further the goals of this Organization, due to a loss of confidence in your ability to lead the Police Department in a manner that is consistent with the goals of this Organization; having management style that is incompatible with this Organization’s/ Administration’s goals and the philosophies of leadership upon which they are based.”

“The purpose of an evaluation,” Harrell continued, “is to inform an employee whether they are deficient in some areas or if they excel in areas. . .

It would be interesting to know what Chief Hensley’s evaluation was in 2016.”

If there were any problems, at that time, it should have been noted by the city manager, Harrell continued. It is his contention that the chief had not been informed of any possible problems until immediately prior to his being placed on administrative leave.

Harrell also quoted from a letter to Hensley’s attorney, Michael Lampe, from the city’s attorney, Heather Phillips, on the 27th of March – “. . .your prior threat to ‘embarrass the City. . .’

“This city does not need help embarrassing itself, this council takes care of that and continues to embarrass the city – this city is known throughout the state and even on the East Coast.”

“Your evaluation will be conducted at the ballot box at the next election,” he concluded.

Firing of the Chief

Chief Hensley was fired on March 20. He had been on paid administrative leave for nearly six months, and was under investigation as directed by the city manager. However, his firing was not attributed to the investigation, but to the aforementioned paragraph quoted by Harrell.

The Voice, through a public information request, asked the city for a copy of any reference manual or printed copy of the organization or administration’s goals and philosophies.

In a response from the city’s assistant attorney, Sarah Tobais, she said – “The City has completed a search for responsive records and did not locate any, as there is no reference manual or printed copy of the organization or administra-

tion’s goals and philosophies as referThe Association has taken no posienced in your request.” tion concerning the legal dispute between Hensley, and his attorney, Michael Chief Hensley and the City of Tulare.”

Lampe, have been fighting his being Lampe said, he feels Phillips and placed on leave, and subsequently his the city owe Hensley an apology. termination. Hensley was terminated As the Voice has reported, Lampe by the city manager, Joe Carlini, who hopes to prove in a public appeal hearhimself was fired by city council later ing is a list of items including just what the same evening. was the initial cause of Hensley’s being The city personnel action form placed on administrative leave and dealing with Hensley’s termination that, while denied by the actual Notice noted the former chief would be of Termination, that reasoning came paid through March 20th, the day of into play with Hensley’s termination. his termination.

Lampe also You are just going to spoke It was signed by at the April make things up? Just 3 council meeting Carlini and Janice Avila, the city’s let your lawyer go out on behalf of Henshuman resources ley. He addressed to the press and say director, and datthe misquotation ed March 20. things that are com- of the CPCA by PhilThe personnel lips, saying the city pletely false? Is this action form with attorney has taken how you treat a man it to a new level. regard to Carlini’s being terminatHis question, who wore a badge for ed was signed by he said, was, “Is this city for 27 years? this the best you Mayor Carlton Jones, and Avila as Michael Lampe, attorney for Wes can do? You are well. Noted on this Hensley, on false statements aljust going to make form was his pay legedly made by Heather Phillips, things up? Just let through March Tulare’s city attorney your lawyer go out 20th, but also a sevto the press and erance package of nine months, total- say things that are completely false? Is ing $129,000+, an agreement made in this how you treat a man who wore a his original contract as city manager badge for this city for 27 years?” last June. This action form was actually Lampe said the city attorney designed on March 21. clined to apologize to Hensley. He suggested that at least three members of A possible appeal hearing the council at a special meeting could Lampe has requested a public instruct the city attorney to apologize appeal hearing; one which Phillips, and further to give Hensley the public wants to deny. Each attorney has spent hearing he deserves. He suggested one time bartering since March 20 - argu- of two local retired judges to oversee ing the matter through emails, and cit- the hearing.

“

ing assundried similar incidents and court findings.

Reasoning for termination Another local media outlet The “real” reasoning for Hensley’s reported – being placed on leave on September “Hensley will be provided an appeal 27, 2017 has been speculated upon, in accordance with what ‘the law pro- since that day. According to a letter vides for.’ Hensley’s reinstatement as po- from Lampe to Phillips, Carlini had lice chief will not be a possible outcome, told Hensley to look into the receipt she said.” of a dinner Mayor This city does not Phillips was Carlton Jones had need help embarquoted as further paid for with a city stating credit card. The rassing itself, this “’The California receipt indicated council takes care of a meal for three Police Chiefs Association and all releat Cattlemen’s that and continues vant case law have Restaurant in Selto embarrass the city ma, with Corp. been consulted to – this city is known ensure that the city James Kelly, who is following proper throughout the state is also the presiprocedure in this dent of the Tulare and even on the East Police case,’ Phillips said.

Officer’s ‘An administrative Union, plus one.

Coast. appeal does not According to mean a full eviden- Stephen Harrell, a Tulare resident the letter, Lampe tiary hearing. That and Tulare Local Healthcare Dishas sources, othis only available to trict board member, speaking at er than Hensley, persons with vested the Tulare City Council meeting who were aware of property rights in the situation and their continued employment.’” heard a conversation between Carlini Lampe, questioning her com- and Hensley. ments, called upon the California “I have the f*****g Mayor commitPolice Chiefs Association (CPCA), him- ting fraud with the city credit card, what self, steering the association’s exec- is next?” was a quote by Carlini within utive director and legal representa- the letter. tive to the article. Upon review, James According to various sources, Touchdown, CPCA legal representa- Carlini later told Hensley to back off tive, balked. from looking into the incident.

He wrote a letter to the article’s auThe mayor’s wife had come in and thor and copied it to Lampe. The letter reimbursed the city for the dinner. At said, in part, – this point, it is still unclear as to who “I am writing this e-mail to you be- the mayor had paid for other than cause your article incorrectly asserts that himself. Jones has also been quoted as the California Police Chiefs Association, having said, “So I bought my family dinand specifically both I and the Executive ner. What’s the big deal?”

Director for the Association, have purportIf it was a legitimate city expense, edly ‘confirmed’ that it is the Association’s as the mayor implied, then why was position that Chief Hensley is entitled to the city reimbursed by his wife? a ‘limited liberty interest administrative Lampe also stated – appeal hearing.’ Please be advised that “Mayor Jones has repeatedly made this statement is incorrect. The Associa- public statements that he knows to be tion has ‘confirmed’ no such position with false, designed to negatively impact my Ms. Phillips. client’s reputation, and violate both his

“

privacy and due process rights” And, “Shortly after Mr. Carlini fired Chief Hensley, and before he was fired as city manager later that day, Carlini admitted that he was being pressured to fire the chief.”

For the potential hearing, Lampe would like to call a minimum of 18 witnesses including all city council members and numerous city employees including police department officers and staff, and the former city manager.

Councilman Jose Sigala said he intends to ask the city to place a discussion on the use of city credit cards by councilmembers on a future council agenda.

“We need to be refreshed on policy,” he said, “and so the public can understand. I understand the need for it [a city credit card].” Although, Sigala said he refrains from using one.

Sigala also expressed concern with regard to the difference between the two possible statements made

by Carlini.

“What concerns me is we have two vastly different versions of what Joe Carlini said regarding the use [by the mayor] of the [city] credit card,” he said.

Tulare Capt. Fred Ynclan and Lt. Jerod Boatman were also placed on paid administrative leave, on the first week of November last year, and have also been under investigation. Despite Hensley’s termination, Ynclan and Boatman remain on leave. A public information request made on March 22 by the Voice, as to whether the investigation with regard to any or all three officers is still ongoing, has not yet been answered. To date, Ynclan and Boatman remain on paid administrative leave.

With regard to managing the city, on March 20, the city council named Community Services Director Rob Hunt as interim city manager, in a 4-0 vote with Councilman Jose Sigala absent. Six days later in a special meeting, Hunt was pulled and replaced by the city’s fire chief, Willard Epps in a 3-2 vote. Why the switch was made has not been made public.

TPD officer-related shooting

On March 12, two Tulare Police Officers were involved in the shooting of a suspect, who died from his injuries.

The man, Jontell Reedom, a Tulare resident, was reportedly assaulting a bus driver, who had just gotten off work.

Officers responded to a 911 call and a fight ensued.

Reedom ran following fighting one officer, TPD Interim Chief Barry Jones said at the time. A second officer intervened and used a Taser, which was “ineffective,” Jones said during a television interview. One officer used a baton, while another used pepper spray.

Reedom “obtained control of the baton and that’s when shots were fired.”

Some citizens have been vocal in denouncing the department, claiming officers are not properly trained and were using unnecessary force.

One of the officer’s suffered from a broken nose and other bruises; the other received several cuts and bruises.

The two officers were placed on paid administrative leave during an investigation performed by the Tulare County Sheriff’s Department.

The TPD is also performing an internal investigation to assure there are no policy violations, Jones said. One officer has 10 years law enforcement experience; the other three years.

Reedom did have mental health issues, the family declaring he was schizophrenic.

Valley Voice 5 April, 2018

9

Law enforcement backs Warren Gubler for Assembly District 26 STAFF REPORTS Warren Gubler announced today his most recent endorsements by the highest levels of law enforcement in the 26th Assembly District.

The Professional Law Enforcement Managers Association of Tulare County (PLEMA) has released its unanimous endorsement of Gubler.

In March, the Tulare County Chiefs Association, comprised of police chiefs and the leadership of law enforcement throughout the county, announced its endorsement of Gubler.

“As law enforcement professionals, we are constantly mindful of the safety and welfare of the citizens in Tulare County,” said PLEMA President

Ty Stelow, a Tulare County sheriff’s lieutenant.

“As mayor of Visalia, you (Gubler) have strengthened and supported the public safety department through fiscal responsibility, leadership and policies that kept criminals off the streets.

Based on your actions and public service, you have exhibited your dedication to building safer communities and true leadership that is desperately needed in the state capital.“ “I am extremely pleased and honored to receive the endorsements of both of these outstanding Tulare County law enforcement agencies,” said Gubler. “Having the support law enforcement’s leadership throughout the entire county shows they have

confidence in me to work with them in keeping our communities safe.”

These key endorsements join Tulare County Sheriff Mike Boudreaux, Inyo County Sheriff Bill Lutze and Tulare County District Attorney Tim Ward in supporting Gubler for Assembly District 26 and further Gubler’s momentum going into the June 5 primary.

“Warren Gubler’s experience, commitment and communication skills will serve the 26th District as an engaged and informed representative. We need representation in Sacramento with the intellect to address the issues facing law enforcement, particularly in our rural communities,” said Sheriff Lutze.

Gubler said his primary reason for running for the Assembly seat is that “we have had ineffective representation in Sacramento with our current assemblyman,” and promises that once elected, he will stay firmly planted in the district.

In November 2009, Gubler was elected to the Visalia City Council, was Visalia’s vice mayor from 2013 to 2016 and has been mayor of Visalia since 2016.

For additional information or to learn more about Warren Gubler, go to GublerForAssembly.com, email Warren@GublerForAssembly.com, or call Warren at (559) 788-7733.

Marc Landy to speak on the challenges of free government STAFF REPORTS Professor Marc Landy, one of the most influential political scientists of the last 30 years, will give a public lecture at 7:00 PM on Thursday April 5th at the College of the Sequoias in Ponderosa Hall.

The title of his talk is “Free Government and Its Challenges.” The event is open to the public, free of charge, and presented as part of the Cultural Historical Awareness Program (CHAP) by the COS College Republicans.

Following Landy’s lecture, College

of the Sequoias history professor Stephen Tootle will moderate a question and answer session with the audience.

Landy is currently the Edward and Louise Peterson Professor of American History and Government at Ashland University and Professor of Political Science at Boston College.

With Sidney Milkis, he is the author of Presidential Greatness (2000) and a textbook, American Government: Enduring Principles, Critical Choices, now in its third edition (2014).

He is an author of The Environmental Protection Agency From Nixon

to Clinton: Asking the Wrong Questions (1994), with Stephen Thomas.

He is an editor of Creating Competitive Markets: The Politics and Economics of Regulatory Reform (2007); Seeking the Center: Politics and Policymaking at the New Century (2001); and The New Politics of Public Policy (1995).

His recent articles include: “Terror and the Executive,” National Affairs, Spring 2010; EPA and Nanotechnology: The Need for a Grand Bargain?, in Christopher J. Bosso, ed., Governing Uncertainty: Environmental Regulation in the Age of Nanotechnology

(Washington DC: RFF Press, 2010); (Sidney Milkis, co-author), The Presidency in the Eye of the Storm, The Presidency and the Political System, Ninth Edition (2010); “Mega-Disasters and Federalism,” Public Administration Review, Vol. 68, Issue 6, October 2008; and “Great Presidents are Agents of Democratic Change,” in Richard Ellis and Michael Nelson, eds., Debating the Presidency, CQ Press, 2006.

Dr. Landy received his B.A. from Oberlin College and his Ph.D. in Government from Harvard University.

Park Service seeking comment on cell tower at Wuksachi Village STAFF REPORTS The National Park Service (NPS) is initiating public scoping on a proposal by Verizon Wireless to install a wireless communications facility near Wuksachi Village in Sequoia National Park. The NPS is required by the Telecommunications Act of 1996 to consider all applications for the installation of cellular equipment on NPS lands.

Verizon Wireless is proposing to construct a 138-foot cellular tower west of Wuksachi Village to achieve

a coverage objective that includes a portion of the Generals Highway, the Wuksachi Village area, the Lodgepole Area, and the Wolverton Area. Antennas would be directed, as much as possible, away from the wilderness.

The proposed tower would be located in an established utility site west of Wuksachi Village at the end of an existing paved access road, which provides access to existing above-ground water storage tanks. No improvements to the access road would be necessary for either construction activities or

subsequent maintenance of the new telecommunications facility.

Sequoia National Park is overseeing the preparation of an environmental assessment for this project, and is interested in any public concerns and issues the public may have concerning the proposal.

To obtain supplemental information about the proposed project, or to provide comments, please visit the NPS Planning, Environment and Public Comment (PEPC) website at https://parkplanning.nps.gov/Wuk-

Rep. David Valadao faces lawsuits over family dairy STAFF REPORTS The Triple V Dairy and Calf Ranch located in Tulare is facing bankruptcy for the second time. Rep. David Valadao (R-CA21) has been named in both suits.

In November Rabobank filed a civil suit against Triple V Dairy and Calf Ranch for defaulting on additional loans.

The dairy owes $2.3 million for feed/herd loans including interest accrued approaching nearly $2.7 million, according to a lawsuit filed by Rabobank. In addition, the dairy business owes $5.9 million on herd growth loans which also includes more than $65 thousand in accrued interest.

A second lawsuit has now been filed in San Joaquin County against the dairy by Lawley’s Inc., an animal nutrition company operating out of Stockton.

The lawsuit accuses Triple V of breaking an oral agreement to pay for nutrition and immunization products it bought on credit between March 2017 and January 2018. The farm’s owners failed to disclose the business was in “dire financial circumstances” due to its defaulted loans, according to

the lawsuit.

According to the most recent 2016 disclosure report, Congressman David Valadao holds between $1 million and $5 million in stakes as a general partner in the dairy Triple V Dairy operates on 640 acres owned by Western Milling LLC, an animal feed company located in Goshen. Western Milling acquired the property under the dairy following a bankruptcy filed by Alvin Souza Jr. Dairies in 2012.

Western Milling was not named in the lawsuit against Triple V. Starting in 2018 orders through Lawley’s expanded serving Triple V businesses in New Mexico, Washington, and California. The lawsuit says Frank Garcia, owner of Triple V, was solely responsible for all orders.

The lawsuit states that Lawley’s salesman, who has been close friends with Triple V Dairy owners for more than 15 years, repeatedly asked Garcia to fill out the credit application for Lawley’s but he never did.

A million dollars worth of product was allegedly delivered but never paid for by Triple V Dairy.

In a comment by Lawley’s sales-

man he said, “I’ve known Frank Garcia for many years, I didn’t at the time have any reason to think he was misleading our company. I feel like a lot of dairyman are struggling and doing the best they can.”

Triple V Dairy was founded in 2009 by Frank Garcia, and his wife Lisa. Valadao is named as a defendant in the two suits against Triple V Dairy because he is a partner in the dairy along with his brother. The three-term congressman is also a partner in a separate Hanford dairy run by his family, Valadao Dairy, which is not named in the lawsuits.

Anna Vetter, Communications Director for Valadao said that he is not a managing partner in Triple V and is not involved in the farm’s day-to-day operations.

California Dairy business in general is facing hard financial times.

Europe has increased its milk production yet there has been a decrease in demand from several big international buyers, which has led to drop in the price of milk.

At the same time, increasing labor costs have made dairy farms more difficult to operate.

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SETTLEMENT continued from 1

community.”

Board members did not take action on other closed session items, including a long-running lawsuit against the district by the hospital’s former Medical Executive Committee, or a lawsuit against Celtic Leasing, which provided funds to HCCA for a leaseback of certain hospital assets.

The board also deferred any action on a potential sale and leaseback of the Evolutions Gym. Currently, HCCA holds a deed of trust against the gym’s land, including the undeveloped land adjacent to the gym.

Both board members and the board’s attorneys declined to elaborate on the terms of any potential settlement.

“The board is unable to go into specifics of the terms of the settlement agreement at this time, but will do so as appropriate,” an attorney for the hospital read after closed session.

Public Reaction to Settlement, Leaseback Agenda Items

Public reaction to the addition of a potential settlement to the meeting’s agenda; and, separately, the potential sale and leaseback of Evolutions, was mixed.

Jennifer Burcham, a Tulare resident, said that she was confused after seeing the items on the agenda, noting that the board hadn’t previously discussed them in public.

“There is now an item placed on a closed session agenda where an action will probably be taken and the citi-

zens don’t know what it’s about, what Joseph Soares, a Tulare attorney, is going on, or how it might affect supported the board’s consideration them and this community,” she said. of the agreement.

Alberto Aguilar, a former mem“In a good settlement agreement, ber of the hospital’s bond oversight there’s no winner, there’s no loser,” he committee, recommended the is- said. “I think I can say one thing for sue of the leaseback be discussed in sure -- that you should vote on one isopen section. sue only, and that issue is will that setHe claimed that it would be ille- tlement agreement get your hospital gal for the board to discuss the sale of opened sooner.” the building and its subsequent leaseback in closed session.

Financial Update “If the board enters into an agreeDan Heckathorne, the hospital’s ment regarding the sale of Evoluinterim CFO, said that by filing multions, and that individual knows that tiple supplemental program reports, the transaction was done in an illethe district is able to bring in upgal manner, he can have it voided. So wards of $1.5m. can any member “Most of these of the public,” I think I can say one represent reports Aguilar said. thing for sure — that that were required He cited Secto be filed with Meyou should vote on tion 32106 of the di-Cal and previCalifornia Health one issue only, and ously had not been and Safety Code, filed,” he said. that issue is will that which states that Heckathorne a district’s board settlement told the board that of directors could agreement get your some reports datnot call a closed ing as far back as hospital opened meeting to discuss 2014 -previously “the sale, conversooner. unfiled -were sent sion, contract for to the state for reJoseph Soares, a Tulare attorney, management, or imbursement. speaking in public comment on leasing of any disThose retrict health care a potential settlement between i m b u r s e m e n t s, facility or the as- HCCA and the Tulare Local while helpful, sets thereof, to Healthcare District. won’t help the disany for-profit or trict survive the nonprofit entity, agency, association, months to come. organization, governmental body, Responding to a question from person, partnership, corporation, or the audience regarding the district’s other district.” cash position, Heckathorne said that Later in the night, the board’s it’s nearly reached a breaking point. attorneys rebutted those claims -“Starting next week, we’re projectstating that Brown Act provisions ed to be in the hole $166,000, the folallowing the board to meet in closed lowing week $367,000, the following session overruled that section of the week $116,000; then we have a positive California Health and Safety Code. number, then we come back into the hole $118,000, in the hole the following week $529,000, in the hole the following week $204,000, we go up the next week, and then we come back to only $383,000,” he said.

“The point being is, as I think it was well said -- we’re out of cash. Even with the IGTs and so forth, we’re out of cash,” he said. “And so, we’re working to get some supplemental infusions as quickly as we can.”

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book sales, Johnson explained, also help fund Tech Trek, a week-long seminar for middle-school girls held on-campus at Cal State Fresno. Topics for the gathering center on science, technology, engineering and mathematics, with a goal of increasing female participation in those fields of study and work.

History of Service

Providing educational opportunities to local students is far from the extent of AAUW’s work in and around Visalia, though it is where the good works of the members began.

The club started in 1926, and by 1927 it had established a loan fund for college-bound locals. It was a decade later, in 1937, the AAUW hosted the first in a long-running series of community forums, and when WWII broke out the AAUW sponsored Hospitality House for area servicemen.

1949 saw the first scholarship for a College of Sequoias student moving on to a four-year university, and in 1950 it became an annual program of giving, which now awards dozens of scholarships each year. The Book Sale would become the primary funding source in 1965.

Additionally, as of March 22, the hospital has a grand total of $33m in accounts payable, including approximately $8.5m claimed by HCCA. That’s split up between $6m in post-bankruptcy debt and $27.4m in pre-bankruptcy debt. The district filed bankruptcy on September 30, Heckathorne noted, so some post-bankruptcy debt was accrued before control of the hospital was taken back by the district.

“There are accounts payable out there for still running the hospital between October 1 and November 22,” he said.

An audit by the State of California continues as well, Heckathorne told the board.

He estimated that the auditors were only “10 to 15” percent done, and said auditors continued to visit regularly to inspect files and conduct interviews.

RFP Tabled

During the meeting, an attempt to solicit proposals for long-term hospital management partners was put on ice after significant debate by the board.

Northcraft, the board’s chairman, suggested that hospital staff begin a request for proposals process so that the public would be confident in any future arrangement.

“We want to assure the public that we’ve done our due diligence,” Northcraft said.

Avila, with Harrell seconding, motioned to table the idea until the next meeting.

The other board members disagreed with the idea, believing that the move could signal to Community Medical Center, the hospital’s preferred partner, that the board was not confident in their services; or, alternatively, that the process could slow down a reopening of the hospital.

“We’re out of time,” Avila said.

“They’re ready to come on board,” Jamaica said. “For the short term it’s best for us to go with them right now.”

The motion to table the discussion until the next meeting passed 4-1, with Northcraft being the lone dissenting vote.

Along the way, AAUW members have sponsored art shows that inspired the creation of the Tulare County Art League, sponsored the first four productions of what would become the Visalia Community Players, and lent its efforts to improving Visalia’s street signage, putting PBS on the air, and getting City Hall to hire animal control officers.

Candidates Forum

AAUW is also a regular co-sponsor of candidate forums during local election cycles. The next forum--featuring candidates for the 22nd Congressional District and the 26th State Assembly District--is 6:30pm Monday, April 30 at the Tulare County Office of Education, 6200 S. Mooney Boulevard.

“One of our goals is to keep our community informed,” said AAUW co-president Nancy Adalian.

The night will include meet-andgreets with candidates for Tulare County District Attorney, Sheriff-Coroner, Assessor-Clerk-Recorder and Auditor-Controller-Treasurer-Tax Collector. Co-sponsors for the night includes the Tulare County League of Women Voters.

For more information about the book sales, candidates forums, AAUW’s other activities and joining, visit visaliasequoia-ca.aauw.net.

Valley Voice 5 April, 2018

11

Local law enforcement associations side with Darby for DA STAFF REPORTS As the Tulare County District Attorney race continues to approach the June 5th election date, Matt Darby continues to receive the support of the men and women of law enforcement.

To date, Darby has received endorsements from: • Tulare County Deputy Sheriffs’ Association • Lindsay Police Officers’ Association

•

Exeter Police Officers’ Association • Farmersville Police Officers’ Association • Woodlake Police Officers’ Association • Tulare County Professional Firefighters’ Association Ret. Chief Bush recently commented on Darby’s Facebook page, “When the line level troops that do the work day in and day out are endorsing

someone other than the incumbent people should be taking notice.”

The Tulare County Deputy Sheriffs’ Association also expressed on Darby’s Facebook page they were, “Proud to be with our brothers and sisters… in supporting Matt Darby for Tulare County District Attorney!”

Darby has also received endorsements from: • Ret. Assistant Chief District Attorney Investigator

• • • • •

Rick Logan Ret. Assistant District Attorney, Don Gallian Ret. Judge Howard Broadman Former Tulare County District Attorney, Will Richmond Ret. Exeter Police Chief Cliff Bush Tulare County Healthcare District Board Member, Xavier Avila

Republican gubernatorial candidate Allen visits Tulare BRENDON ALEXANDER Assemblyman Travis Allen, Republican candidate for governor, paid a visit to the Tulare International Agri-Center to a crowd of 300 plus fired up Republicans on Sunday, March 18.

Discussing everything from lowering taxes to getting tougher on crime and prosecuting corrupt politicians, Assemblyman Allen joked about California Democrats and even discribed his Republican opponent John Cox as “Clown from Chicago.”

Assemblyman Allen is the only candidate who voted for President Trump and believes Republicans can win the governor’s seat considering Republicans won the presidency.

Pro-Trump groups attended the event such as “Bikers for Trump” and “Women for Trump” in full support of Travis Allen for governor.

Assemblyman Allen is a vocal supporter of gun rights and has received support from the National Rifle Association.

Allen emphasized his five-point

plan. First, is to cut taxes. California has the highest income tax in the United States at 13.3 percent.

Second, get tough on crime by repealing AB109, Proposition 57, and Proposition 47.

Allen wants to send a message to criminals, “If you do the crime, you will serve the time.”

Assemblyman Allen also wants to reform our education system as we are 26th in the United States and 44th in pre-k-12, he stated.

His fourth goal is to fix California roads. California’s roads/highways ranked 44th in the United States and the traffic is ranked worst in the nation.

Lastly, Assemblyman Allen’s fifth plan is to complete the California state water project.

His plan is to create more water storage in Northern California, the Central Valley, and Southern California for efficient collection and storage of rainfall.

Travis Allen spoke at the Tulare International Agri-Center on March 18, describing his plans if he is elected Governor of California. Brendon Alexander/Valley Voice

5 April, 2018 Valley Voice

12

CEMETERY continued from 1

an employee handbook, by-laws, and office policy and procedures. The District’s banking procedures have now been secured and the district is preparing to issue its own paychecks instead of using Tulare County’s services.

The staff also put together a map of the optimal locations for memorial benches. The board had been unable to approve any of the recent bench requests because of a lack of policy and concern that the benches were taking over the cemetery.

Finally, the board decided to look into hiring another security company and also changing the broker who handles its endowment fund. They currently use Morgan Stanley and lost $6000 on the value of their fund last year.

In terms of finances, Gilson put the cemetery’s budget from July to February on a display board and illustrated it experienced a deficit of $52,000. She explained that the board has a plan on turning these numbers around.

Avila said that firing Stay Green, the former maintenance company, was the right decision because it was too expensive. Aguilar agreed, saying that the district cannot continue spending more money than it brings in.

During a previous meeting, the board voted to do the ground’s maintenance in-house and hire a District Manager. Those decisions took a step forward when the board accepted a bid from the company Grasshopper to buy 3 new lawn mowers that included a full warranty and maintenance plan.

After the regular meeting, the board went into closed session and hired Julian Puente, formerly from the Hanford Cemetery, as its new manager. Along with Puente the board also hired another fulltime grounds maintenance worker. Everyone agreed that the keystone to a successful in-house

POLITICAL FIX continued from 3

While Mr. Mendes was an engaged and effective council member, those sitting in the audience saw his tenure on the dais as merely a stepping stone to higher office. So, while it may have been a surprise to Mr. Mendes, few Hanfordites were taken by surprise by his announcement to run for the assembly.

e

Th

maintenance plan was a qualified District Manager.

The new equipment was delivered March 23 and Puente’s first day was March 26.

Both are reported to be hard at work.

Avila said that with someone qualified at the helm the board won’t have to get involved in the day-to -day business of running the cemetery.

He said the board is looking forward to just hiring and firing personnel and approving budgets like Vicki Gilson, chairperson of the Tulare Public Cemetery District, speaks at a March 21 board meeting. Catherine Doe/Valley Voice a normal board. munity for coming out and giving California has a cremation rate of Aguilar wanted to again recog- their input.

62% while this area has stayed steady nize Carlene Ringuis for working as “I’ve been calling on this district at 30% t0 35%. the cemetery’s volunteer office man- since 1980. That’s a long time. I’ve seen He also said that as Tulare returns ager from September 12 to October the cemetery prosper and I’ve seen to being a well run cemetery they 26. He said that she stepped up to the the cemetery sag a little bit. I don’t will attract customers from other plate when the former office manager, mean to be mean but I think part of communities.

Marilyn Correia, surreptitiously quit. that was Marilyn, part of that was Offering Saturday services could Ringuis was subsequently ap- Steve, more Steve than Marilyn. That’s increase revenue and Lewis suggested pointed to the cemetery board my personal opinion and I’m going to customers need more choices when it in January. stick with it.” comes to vaults.

A View from the Outside

Board members have visited other cemetery districts to get new ideas and advice on how to run Tulare’s.

While at the Madera Public District Cemetery, Gilson and Aguilar met Mel Lewis from Consultant Cemeteries 101 and invited him to give a presentation during their monthly meeting.

Lewis has been in the cemetery business for 45 years. He said that he has gone to a lot of board meetings and he gave a lot of credit to the com-

And he found a platform.

Leading up to his announcement after the March 6 city council meeting, Mr. Mendes told a story about how he recently found out that a registered sex offender lived next door to his son’s home day-care.

According to the Hanford Sentinel, “Georgia Hall, the day-care provider, said every place she called, including the Hanford Police Department, Senator Andy Vidak’s office and Salas’ office,

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He pointed out that this cemetery is going through a complete restart but that the new board can make a difference when it comes to increasing the cemetery’s revenue.

Right now the cemetery has a caseload of 350 burials a year and there are strategies to raise that number.

Lewis explained that the reality is that more people are choosing cremation which brings in less revenue than a traditional burial, but that the Central Valley has not been as greatly affected by this trend.

The vault is put into the ground before the casket so the grave does not collapse.

Lewis also supported the board’s decision to hire a district manager over a basic office manager and was completely behind the decision to go in-house on the grounds maintenance.

“These folks have made a decision to quit kicking themselves in the shin and move the cemetery forward,” said Lewis.

said they would look into the matter.”

Mr. Mendes also paid a visit to Mr. Salas’ office and said he was unresponsive to the day-care’s concerns.

Mr. Salas disagrees with Mr. Mendes’ statement, saying he has “been fully engaged in exploring every legal avenue. If none exists, we will change the law,” according to the Sentinel.

State Senator Andy Vidak (R-Hanford) quickly responded to the news and announced he is amending his Senate Bill 1143 to prevent sex offenders from secretly moving in next door to schools, parks, and child care centers.

Mr. Salas has held his assembly seat since 2012, roundly beating his Republican challengers every time.

During the 2016 election he won by 30 points.

But Mr. Mendes has worked for Rep David Valadao (CA 21) for four years, with the last year as his District Director. He is considered one of the

more qualified Republican candidates in Kings County, probably right behind Mr. Valadao.

Mr. Mendes will also have the advantage of piggy backing on Mr. Valadao’s fundraising prowess. He already has a fundraiser scheduled at the Hanford Fox Theater for April 17 for $125 a ticket.

Or you could buy a sponsorship from between $1000 and $4,400.

The 32nd Assembly District closely mirrors the 21st Congressional District.

Both encompass all of Kings County and the Kern County communities of Arvin, Delano, Lamont, McFarland, Shafter, Wasco and part of the city of Bakersfield.

I doubt Mr. Salas is going to walk away from this election with a 30 point win. If the Republicans have any chance at flipping a Democrat held assembly seat this is it.

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Valley Voice 5 April, 2018

DA FORUM

caseload and found that he had done “shoddy work.”

Dennis Smith, the forum’s modcontinued from 1 erator, asked Alavezos about the reing, but I believe that he is at Connie lationship between the Grand Jury Conway’s event, but I can’t be sure,” and the DA’s office. Alavezos said that said Alavezos. the DA’s office can issue subpoenas, “Perfect,” said Avila, “where all the but can only take on cases where the establishment and money is at, and Grand Jury has found criminal activity. where all the donors are at. I don’t In reference to Dr. Benny Benknow maybe there’s not, or maybe zeevi’s mismanagement of the Tulare there is more money there.”

Hospital, Alavezos said that the Grand Jury looked into the hospital but that Darby did “shoddy work,” it did not report anything criminal.

Avila told Alavezos that he does Alavezos says Alavezos started his presentation a good job litigating the comments relating a detailed story about his concerning his boss but said, “you are upbringing and young adult life. Like missing the point” about the hospital.

“This was so a lawyer giving big and no one was his closing arguThis was so big and paying attention, ment in front of a no one was paying and there were jury, he explained people with voices attention, and there why Tulare Counbut they weren’t ty voters should were people with heard.” Avila exelect the person voices, but they plained that just with the most experience. weren’t getting heard. because there was no written record Alavezos relatThere were people of mismanageed that when he who said we tried, but ment of the hoswas 19 his father that that fell off of a roof, nobody listened to us. pital, does not exonerbreaking every rib ate Ward from not on one side of his Xavier Avila, a member of the taking action. body -- leaving him Tulare Local Healthcare District “There were in charge of the board, on perceived inaction people who said family business. regarding mismanagement of the we tried but noThe busi- district and its hospital. body listened to ness suffered because he did not have the experience us. And it’s just like he is not here tonight and Matt Darby is. Because the of his dad.

He said that is what is going to money is over there, and the money happen to Tulare County if they vote was put in his (Ward’s) pocket not to listen to those voices,” said Avila. for Darby.

Avila felt that if Ward had lisAvila questioned Alavezos on the value of experience when it came tened to the people who knew that Benzeevi was mismanaging the hosto politics.

“What we are seeing in this town pital that maybe the hospital would (Tulare) is, you can have experience, still be open. you can have a doctor manage a hospital, but if you aren’t pure of heart or Darby wants to be seen as don’t have a thirst for justice, your exa Servant-Leader perience doesn’t mean anything.”

Darby let the audience know that, Alavezos said that because of unlike his opponent, he is a local and Ward’s supervisorial experience he feels passionately about Tulare Counhas created a district attorney’s ofty because “it’s the very fabric of who I fice that has less waste but is more am as a person.” efficient.

Darby’s grandparents moved to One of the first things Ward did Tulare County as farm laborers and when taking office, he said, was form his father grew up in the Woodville the Violence Against Children Unit, a labor camp. He said he is proud of Human Trafficking Force, and created his heritage and the fact that he was a Victim Advocate able to go to law Division. He said I honestly felt that school because his Ward’s office has grandfather, with when Tim came up also been responjust a 6th grade sible for prosecutwith Crimes Against education, didn’t ing 81 gang memChildren Team it was have the same bers and getting nothing but a political opportunity.

213 pounds of It was because meth, 19 pounds ploy. He didn’t have he wanted to help of cocaine, and 12 anything to run on [in people and make pounds of heroin a difference in off the streets.

2014], so he came up their lives that Darby has Darby became a with that position. I claimed while prosecutor. He has told Tim Ward that campaigning that practiced law for he left the TCDA’s it was a misuse of 12 years, 9 in at the office because TCDA and 3 with resources, because he didn’t believe the Kings County in Ward’s leadthe units working on District Attorney. ership abilities, He said he wants those crimes were but Alavezos isn’t to bring back a doing a good job. buying it. sense of safety and He said Dar- Matt Darby, a candidate for Tulare pride that existed by left because he in the communiCounty District Attorney was demoted to a ty when he was a less prestigious dichild growing up in Porterville. vision, claiming that Darby dismissed Darby is a believer in the broken a case against a defendant -- who was windows theory, saying, “I do believe already on trial in a separate case -if we tolerate smaller crimes, that without consulting the Assistant Disbegets larger and larger crimes.” He trict Attorney or talking to the victim, pointed out that the growing probviolating office policy. lems of graffiti and shopping carts are Alavezos said that when Darby causing a blight on the county which left the TCDA he had to take Darby’s adds to the level of crime.

“

“

13 As far as his opponent, Darby use of resources because the units believes that Ward could have done working on those crimes were doing more to prevent the Tulare hospital a good job.” from closing.

That prompted a group of Ward He said that the Tulare County employees to challenge Darby’s exGrand Jury finished its report two perience and judgment, asking him years ago, documenting Dr. Benzeevi’s how many times he had been to trial, mismanagement of public funds “and how long he held certain positions, yet my opponent did not step in.” and how many cases each unit is “And I truly believe that was a bad now carrying. decision, a deciEach time he sion that warrants tried to answer Alavezos related that change at the DA’s he was interruptoffice,” said Darby. when he was 19, his father ed and told that “It’s easy to fell off of a roof, breaking they already knew go after the gang every rib on one side of his the answers. bangers. It is easy The woman to go after the body — leaving him in charge who replaced Dardrug dealers. But of the family business. The by on the TCDA’s it’s hard to go after business suffered because narcotics unit the business man said that Darby he did not have the experi- was missing the in a suit and tie….

It’s hard to go af- ence of his dad. point. She was opter people with He said that is what is posed to Darby’s money, privilege going to happen to Tulare suggestion of reand power.” ducing the special Darby remind- County if they vote for Darby. units. She said ed the audience that they were that Ward accepted $21,000 from Dr. making strides against crimes against Benzeevi and believes that is why his children, putting 37% more abusers opponent did not start an investiga- behind bars. tion against him.

At one point, while Darby was deDarby said that once he is DA he scribing the DA’s office atmosphere would pursue cases based on their during the 2014 campaign, a Ward merits and not by who is involved. supporter stood up and said “that’s “There should not be a for sale sign on a lie, it’s all a lie” and stormed out the office,” he said. Darby then called of the room. on his opponent to take the $21,000 Another Ward supporter yelled and donate it back to the hospital. out that Ward was democratically “That would be the right thing to elected in 2014. “There was an election do,” he said. and people spoke,” she said.

According to Darby, the last time a Darby responded, “Tim Ward Tulare County DA was democratically would not have won the election if he elected was in 1978. He said that since had not been appointed.” that time DAs have resigned midterm, At this point Dennis Smith, hand-picked their successors, and the moderator, chimed in, “Let’s then had them rubberstamped by the break it up.”

Tulare County Board of Supervisors.

Avila commented about the conDarby said that he is tired of the tentious exchange how interesting good ‘ol boy’s system and promises to it was that, out of the average Tulare serve out his term so the next DA can citizenry, there was an entire table of be elected without the advantage of a Ward supporters while Ward himself perceived incumbency. was absent.

His three priorities--if elected-“Maybe we should just go over to would be gangs, narcotics and home- where Tim is now and let the normal lessness. In terms of gangs, Darby citizens participate,” said Avila. intends to double the size of prosecuAudience members complained tors working on those cases. how Ward supporters were making a For narcotics, he wants to split the “joke out of the whole thing.” . effort into a North County Division When peace resumed Darby and a South County Division to im- was asked what made him qualified prove the conviction rate. to be TCDA. He said that criminals who would Darby said he had several oppornormally go to state prisons are now tunities to apply for supervisorial pobeing sent to local jails if they have no sitions while working with Ward but prior convictions. said, “Quite frankly, I did not want to Darby was challenged by the be a supervisor in his administration.” audience on how he would double But while working for Kings Counthe gang unit and still go after the ty District Attorney, Darby has been low-level crimes that plague some put in charge of the office for weeks neighborhoods while keeping within at a time. his budget.

Darby sees himself as a serHe said that he would reevalu- vant-leader in regards to his job and ate all current positions to see which to his church. ones were producing.

Besides his many years being “I honestly felt that when Tim prosecutor, he has put many hours came up with Crimes Against Chil- into volunteering as a trial buddy in dren Team it was nothing but a polit- his office or as a board member of ical ploy. He didn’t have anything to his church. run on (in 2014) so he came up with Darby sees himself as a natural that position.” leader “and I think that’s how people “I told Tim Ward that it was a mis- will see me.”

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5 April, 2018 Valley Voice

14

EDUCATION

Your involvement in Visalia Unified schools matters TODD OTO, VUSD SUPERINTENDENT There are many ways for parents to get involved in committee work that supports and provides guidance for individual schools.

Many of these opportunities are very familiar to folks that have had kids attend our schools.

One of the best opportunities for parents to lead efforts to support schools and school-based programs is through PTAs and booster groups.

Some of the best-known ways that parents can engage in school governance include school site councils and English learner advisories.

Parent insight is very important to some of our program evaluation processes, including our high school accreditation committees.

These examples are just a few of the many ways that parents and the community can become involved.

What you may not know is that we have some very important oversight committees for the District that are also a great way for community members to provide strategic guidance to our organization.

Spring is a time for strategic planning at the district level, and we have three committees that frequently have need for membership and community input.

VUSD Superintendent’s Property Advisory Committee

This is a formal advisory that is mandated by California Education Code.

The Property Advisory is an appointed body composed of between seven and eleven members who are charged with advising the Board of Trustees in the development of districtwide policies and procedures governing the use or disposition of school buildings or space in school buildings which is not needed for school purposes.

With a growing school district that reflects a growing community, the Superintendent’s Property Advisory Committee is a critically important group.

The Superintendent’s Property Advisory Committee meets on the first

Thursday of March, June, September and December at 4:00 p.m. at the Visalia Unified District Office, located at 5000 W. Cypress Avenue.

VUSD Facilities Advisory Committee

This is an advisory that assists with evaluating District facilities of all kinds.

Our school district has 41 schools and a number of departments located in buildings across the community, so this committee is an important source of stakeholder input regarding new construction and sources of funding.

There is no formal membership for this committee, and the community is welcome to attend any meeting.

The Facilities Advisory Committee meets on the fourth Thursday of the month October through June at 4:00 p.m. at the Visalia Unified District Office, located at 5000 W. Cypress Avenue.

VUSD Finance Advisory Committee

This is an advisory that is intended

to maintain transparency regarding District budget and finance.

Staff provides information and answers questions so that the public may monitor, analyze and understand District budgets.

The Committee reviews financial audits as well as processes for initiating and repaying debt issued by the local community through general obligation bonds and certificates of participation issued by the district to fund building projects.

The Finance Advisory Committee meets the first Tuesday of every other month starting with February at 4:00 pm at the Visalia Unified District Office, located at 5000 W. Cypress Avenue.

These are important committees for Visalia Unified.

The public is invited to attend any of these meetings to be informed, participate in monitoring and provide guidance to the District.

If you have any questions about these committees or getting involved in Visalia Unified, please contact my office by phone at 559-730-7522 or by email at toto@vusd.org.

West Hills College Coalinga Career and Job Fair set for April 11 STAFF REPORTS West Hills College Coalinga, along with the City of Coalinga; Fresno Regional Workforce Development Board’s Workforce Connection and All Youth One System; Fresno County Department of Social Services; TRiO; and CalWORKs will be presenting a career and job fair in Coalinga on April 11 from 10 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.

The fair, which will be held in the

West Hills College Coalinga Gymnasium at 300 Cherry Lane, is open to the public and will feature employers from a wide variety of career fields such as truck driving, education, agriculture and law enforcement.

“The Career and Job Fair this year has a large range of careers with the opportunity for job seekers to speak to employers and put a face with the resume,” said Claudia Call, Business Account Specialist for Workforce Con-

nection and the fair’s organizer. “In many cases, they may get the opportunity to be interviewed on the spot.”

Employers present will include Coalinga State Hospital, West Hills College, California Department of Fish and Game, Coalinga-Huron Unified School District, Harris Ranch, the California Department of Corrections and more.

Fair attendees are encouraged to dress professionally and bring copies

TCOE Annual Scicon Barbecue to be held on April 15 STAFF REPORTS The 58th annual SCICON Barbecue and Wildflower Festival will be held Sunday, April 15.

The event is an opportunity for families and individuals of all ages to tour and enjoy the SCICON campus.

The festivities will begin at 11:00 a.m. and last until 4:00 p.m.

The SCICON staff will be on hand to lead wildflower walks and nature hikes. The SCICON planetarium, observatory and museum of natural history will be open all day, and wildlife shows will be presented in the SCICON

raptor center. Resource agencies, including Sequoia National Forest, California Department of Forestry & Fire Protection (CAL FIRE) and Tulare County Conservation Corps, will provide educational displays and activities.

“Smokey the Bear” and special activities just for children will also be available. Families visiting the SCICON Tree Nursery can receive a free seedling and learn about worm composting. Student entertainment will be continuous throughout the day. All visitors will receive a commemorative wildflower poster by local Springville artist, Frances Pyles. This year’s poster

featuring the beautiful “Wild Iris” is suitable for framing.

Two thousand pounds of beef will simmer underground for 24 hours and will be served with the famous SCICON barbecue sauce as part of the lunch available.

Meal ticket donations are $15.00 for adults, $10.00 for seniors (60 and over) and $5.00 for children (12 and under.) All proceeds from the meal will go to the “Friends of SCICON” to benefit the SCICON program. There is no charge to participate in the day’s activities.

“We appreciate the Friends of

of their resume.

For more information, visit http://tinyurl.com/whcjobfair or contact Claudia Call at 559-934-2153 or 559-908-0692 or email claudiacall@ whccd.edu.

Business and organizations can currently register to be vendors at the fair. Register today at https:// www.eventbrite.com/e/coalinga-career-job-fair-vendorexhibitor-registration-tickets-43958102869

SCICON for coordinating this important event and for the support they provide the SCICON program,” says County Superintendent of Schools Jim Vidak. “We look forward to welcoming friends – old and new – to SCICON.” The SCICON Barbecue and Wildflower Festival is sponsored by Tulare County Office of Education and the Friends of SCICON. For more information on the SCICON Barbecue, please call (559) 539-2642 or visit www.tcoe. org/SCICON/News.shtm. For a map to the SCICON campus, visit www.tcoe. org/SciconMap.

West Hills College District wins marketing awards STAFF REPORTS The National Council on Marketing and Public Relations (NCMPR) has singled out West Hills Community College District for its marketing work during the past year with nine regional marketing awards and one national award.

WHCCD was honored at the 2018 NCMPR National Conference in Las Vegas, Nevada from March 18 to March 20.

“At the conference, West Hills stood out and was acknowledged for

producing quality marketing collateral that stands head-to-head with some of the largest districts and colleges in the nation,” said Amber Myrick, Director of Marketing, Communications and Public Information for the West Hills Community College District. “It is truly an honor to represent the West Hills marketing department and I am proud to lead such a resourceful, innovative team.”

At the national, Paragon awards dinner, WHCCD was recognized with its first ever national award: a bronze NCMPR Paragon award for Govern-

ment Relations or Community Relations Campaign.

The award, which was selected from dozens of entries submitted across the country, was for the department’s work around the expansion of the North District Center in Firebaugh.

WHCCD marketing was also recognized with nine regional awards as part of the NCMPR Medallion awards, which draws from entries submitted by colleges in five western states— California, Arizona, Nevada, Utah and Hawaii.

The regional awards included four

first place awards, four second place awards and one third place.

The first place gold medallions were awarded for radio advertisements, outdoor media, communication success story, and special event or fundraising campaign.

Silver, second place awards were won for best invitation, social media marketing campaign, and for best magazine in recognition of West Hills Magazine.

WHCCD earned the bronze, third place award for best television/video advertisement.

Valley Voice 5 April, 2018

15

VOICES & OPINIONS

Veteran’s Corner

Meeting California’s strict earthquake standards

College fee waiver program

GARY HERBST, KDHCD

SCOTT HOLWELL

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

Here is an update on our efforts to bring the Mineral King Wing of Kaweah Delta Medical Center into compliance with strict earthquake standards so that beyond 2030, we can continue to use it to provide our community with acute inpatient care. Upon the recommendation of our newly formed Hospital of the Future Committee, a diverse group of 20 community members, our Board of Directors voted unanimously on March 26 to enter into an agreement with KPFF, a nationally-renowned structural engineering firm. The structural engineering firm will further study the Mineral King Wing with the hope that we can construct a scale-model for testing against a simulated earthquake. If the model remained intact or withstood little damage, the Office of Statewide Health Planning and Development (OSHPD) would likely allow us to continue using the Mineral King Wing for acute inpatient care by reclas-

sifying our current SPC-2 seismic designation to a special state earthquake performance category known as SPC-4D. However, there are many things that must happen before we can advance in this process.

First, we will need to meet with key OSHPD representatives to confirm that OSHPD will in fact accept a scale-model of our Mineral King Wing for seismic testing and reclassification to SPC-4D. Beyond that, and prior to construction of a model, our structural engineers would begin studying our Mineral King Wing – gathering actual samples of its soil, its concrete, its steel and other materials – so that the model would be a true representation of it. If at any point there was an indication that this scale-model would not withstand the earthquake simulation, we would cease this process.

This model could take an estimated two years to build and test. It is estimated to cost up to $1.3 million to construct. Additionally, it could cost

us tens to hundreds of millions of more dollars to bring the Mineral King Wing up to applicable building codes that are required to meet the state’s required non-structural earthquake performance standards. This includes updating things such as anchoring equipment, piping, wiring, etc. There is another option to qualify for SPC-4D, which includes building several large concrete walls to reinforce our Mineral King Wing to withstand an earthquake.

We need to study this option to further determine if it would be feasible.

Again, I thank our “Hospital of the Future” Committee for its unanimous recommendation to the board to study reclassification to SPC-4D. The Committee continues its work to determine whether we would qualify for any legislative relief to the state’s earthquake requirements and on a plan to replace the hospital if all other efforts fail. I will keep you posted as we learn more.

Gary Herbst is Chief Executive Officer of Kaweah Delta Health Care District.

Gubler “there at all times to support the community” MARY JO EASTES I would like to share a bit about Warren Gubler, who is running for State Assembly District 26. He is a solid person, a responsible citizen and a kind representative of the people.

Warren Gubler is currently mayor of Visalia and has been on the City Council since 2009. He has been an advocate for all things good in Visalia.

He has seen the need for adult activity

and was helpful in getting designated pickleball courts in Visalia. I have watched him at council meetings and he leads with respect for each council member and tries to pull the best out all issues.

He has also been involved in many events that showcase Downtown Visalia, such as the Visalia Waiters Race (when asked, he has swept the street or been a judge) and also participates in the St. Patrick’s Day Parade. He is

Vote Darby for change on June 5th LINDA MENDEZ DARBY I am Matt’s wife. Up to this point, I have not commented on public social media posts because I did not want to open up my family and myself to any more negative written and verbal attacks than we already have. However, I have come to realize that I have been bullied into silence!

Tulare County Residents, it’s time for change! What you have before you

“

is a man who has seen a desperate need for restoration of integrity in our community. He has chosen to use his talents and experience to fight for YOU! Rather than look around and say, “Someone needs to do something!”, Matt said, “I need to do something! I cannot just sit by and watch.” Matt has stepped into the political ring to fight for all of us! You now have a choice.

Do you want to continue down the same path, or are you ready for posi-

There has been no investigation completed on the Reedom case. Until that time, all is speculation. I, however, think that someone who is high, takes an officers baton, is not brought down by two taser shots and mace, beat the officer with said baton causing broken bones, is the person at fault. You folks with the BLM movement, would rather both cops had been beaten to death than the perpetrator killed.

— Tularevava on Hensley firing remains controversial, attorneys fight in correspondence

“

”

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just there at all times to support the community he represents.

In his business life as an attorney, I have had the opportunity to see how he handles conflict and resolves issues in a way that represents his client in the best manner possible.

Please consider Warren Gubler as your choice for Assembly. Let’s all get out and make a difference in this year’s election by casting your VOTE!

tive change? YOU will decide what the future of our community holds by voting on June 5th.

If you are ready for change, back him up! Get in there and support him!

He is willing to put himself out there to restore public confidence in our local judicial system. We as a family are willing and honored to serve you. Vote #DarbyforDA on June 5th!

The commentary above was posted on Facebook.

Perhaps you also “think” that civil disobedience” (a constitutional right) is also a reason for the police to shoot to kill. It is my understanding that Reedom had a history of a mental health disorders wherein he more than likely wasn’t capable at that moment in time to react in the way you and the policemen thought he should. Officers should be trained and required to try de-escalation first.

— Barbara on Hensley firing remains controversial, attorneys fight in correspondence

There was essentially no money left in the hospital – the receivables that were being reported weren’t there, another inept action by HCCA. Financials aren’t adding up and that puts question on the last audit. Then you have the contract that would have to be litigated to have it tossed out or definitely portions of it. The contract language was horrible for the District. That means ongoing legal fees. The entire time we have a closed hospital with no money.

It is definitely time to recognize we were extremely duped, analyze how it happened and then vow to start standing up to this type of action in the future.

— Deanne Martin-Soares on Tulare to settle HCCA lawsuits

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“

”

California offers many benefits to California veterans. Eligibility requirements differ; some require a service-connected (S/C) disability rating, while others don’t. One of the most used benefits is the California College Fee Waiver Program.

The California College Fee Waiver Program benefits the spouse and children of U.S. veterans. Students meeting the eligibility criteria may get their college tuition fees waived if they attend a California Community College, a California State University, or University of California campus.

This benefit can be used in conjunction with other available grants, scholarships, student loans, etc.

To be eligible for the most widely-used plan, a child must have a parent who is deceased from a S/C disability or is a disabled veteran (0% or more S/C disabled), and must earn less than $12,752.00 per year. This is student income, NOT parent income.

Applicants to the program must submit proof of income, such as a tax return from the previous year. If the student had no income, a statement to that effect can be obtained from either the Franchise Tax Board at 800852-5711, or the IRS at 800-829-1040.

There is NO AGE LIMIT for this section of the program!

Additionally, a spouse or child (up to age 27) can receive a waiver if the veteran is S/C deceased or rated 100% S/C disabled. There is no income limit for a spouse or children of S/C deceased or 100% S/C disabled veterans under this section of the program.

Certain dependency documents may also need to be provided in order to establish relationship to the veteran. You can pickup an application at the Kings County Veterans Service office. We can assist with completing the application, and file it with the California Department of Veterans Affairs.

There are many state and federal benefits and programs available to veterans and their dependents. To find out if you are eligible for any of these benefits, visit or call our office.

We can and will assist you in completing all required application forms.

You can also get information on the web from the Kings County Veterans Service Office website at www.countyofkings.com/vets.

Scott Holwell, retired Navy Master Chief Petty Officer, is the Veterans Service Officer for Kings County. Send your questions to the Veterans Service Office, 1400 W. Lacey Blvd, Hanford, CA 93230; call 852-2669; or e-mail scott.holwell@ co.kings.ca.us.

I don’t know about personnel assignments and the details of the cases mentioned. Nor do I care. What I do care about is that Ward blew off the event after confirming with us that he would be there. I also care that he appears to be OK with taking money (and a lot of it) from HCCA. And now, thanks to the VV, it appears he taking money from candidate Dr. Thus (running for the supervisors) when there is a serious question as to whether the other good doctor has fudged on his residency and voting papers. Nothing from Ward at all. Perhaps Ward’s minions can explain why their boss appears to be so comfortable taking tainted money.

— Aardvark Ratnick on Tulare County DA Forum

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16

Valley Voice

5 April, 2018

New curriculum reinforces kindness, safety curriculum was impressed that the Frog Street curriculum integrated conThis school year, students served scious discipline – a tool that helps to

by Early Childhood Education’s 20 create learning environments where Child Development Centers are ben- children will know they are safe and efiting from a new curriculum which loved. From this foundation of safety features a strong social emotional de- and love, we’ve seen how our children velopment component. Early Child- are learning to solve problems, manhood Education (ECE) adopted the new age their emotions, and take responsicurriculum created by Frog Street and bility for their actions.” implemented it throughout the counEach morning in centers across ty at the beginning of the school year. the county, children join a new greet“One of the major factors in choos- ing circle, which includes four coming the Frog Street pre-k curriculum ponents to promote self-regulation. was its focus on promoting self-regula- Children “unite” through activities detion skills in young children,” said ECE signed to develop a sense of belonging Administrator Julie Berk. “The com- with their school family. Next, children mittee that reviewed all the potential “calm” through deep breathing and stretching activities to help them manage any stress. Following the calming activities, children “connect” through appropriate touch and eye contact interactions as part of social engagement exercises.

Finally, children “commit” to take responsibility for their actions and keep the classroom safe.

At the Senaida Garcia Center in Visalia, children talk with their teacher about the commitments they will make each day – commitCarla Mateus, center supervisor, reports that ECE staff are seeing substanments such as ustial advances by children managing their emotions, solving problems and taking responsibility for their actions since the program implement the Frog ing “kind words,” using “helping Street curriculum. Courtesy/TCOE

TULARE COUNTY OFFICE OF ED.

Children at the Senaida Garcia Child Development Center in Visalia pose by the Kindness Tree, which is part of the new curriculum adopted by Early Childhood Education (ECE) to encourage social emotional development. Courtesy/TCOE

hands,” communicating with words and not physical actions – a commitment Frog Street calls “using your big voice.” Children can also commit to “listening to other people’s big voices.”

“During their daily interactions, we are teaching children to ask ‘May I play with that toy?’ instead of taking it away from another child,” said Carla Mateus, Senaida Garcia center supervisor. “This is just one example of ‘using our big voice.’”

With the new curriculum, positive reinforcement is integrated throughout the day. Utilizing the classroom Kindness Tree, teachers give children a paper heart as evidence that they are keeping their commitments. Teachers have children post their hearts on the tree and then share examples of the acts of kindness they have observed. At the conclusion of the day, the children

reflect on the commitments that they have kept and take their hearts home to share with their family.

Ms. Mateus reports that the curriculum has made a significant difference with several students. “Through our daily commitment exercises and Kindness Tree activities, we’ve seen one boy in particular make great gains in developing the social skills to interact with other children in very positive ways.”

In addition to the social emotional component, the Frog Street curriculum contains the language, literacy, mathematics, science, physical skills, and creative arts learning experiences required by the federal Head Start program to help students prepare for success in elementary school.

For more information about ECE programs, contact Julie Berk at (559) 651-3022.

MEDICARE 101 I N F O R M AT I O N A L SEMINAR Sponsored by Key Medical Group and Kaweah Delta Health Care District

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Call (559) 802-1990

Use Code 2402 when calling to be entered into an opportunity drawing to receive a free gift.

DATES TO CHOOSE FROM:

APRIL 12, 19, AND 26 MAY 17 & 24

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page B7

ourvalleyvoice.com

“Bye Bye Birdie” comes to El Diamante Theater April 19-21

tions involving hundreds of students.

The impact of this program on the The musical that kicked off the Tu- confidence and performance abilities lare County Office of Tulare County of Education Thestudents has been atre Company’s immeasurable.” string of successBye Bye Birdful productions is ie is the story of a returning to the rock-and-roll singstage this month. er, Conrad Birdie, Bye Bye Birdie, the called to duty in Broadway musical the army and its inspired by rockeffect on a group and-roll idol Elvis of teenagers in Presley’s army a small town in draft in SeptemOhio. Before Conber 1957, is being rad deploys overbrought back 20 seas, promoters years after the have created a founding of the contest for him to venerable young deliver “one last people’s theatre kiss” to an adoring program. “It’s refan, Kim MacAfee markable to look Logan Lancaster stars as Conrad Birdie of Sweet Apple, back at the suc- in the classic Broadway musical Bye Bye Ohio. Conrad is cess of the Theatre Birdie, a Theatre Company production being played by Company,” said at the El Diamante High School theater Logan Lancaster Tulare County Su- April 19-21. Courtesy/TCOE of Eleanor Roosperintendent of evelt Community Schools Jim Vidak. “What began with Learning Center, while Jessica Peters, our first production of Bye Bye Birdie in 1998, grew to include 50 producBIRDIE continued on B7 »

TULARE COUNTY OFFICE OF ED.

Members of the Dinuba High School trade construction class, (l-r) Ignacio Ramos, Chris Saucedo, Jesus Diaz, and Anthony Valdez, built a dog house for the Habitat for Humanity Bird House (and ToTo Too) Auction. Some class members also built and painted birdhouses for the auction. Courtesy/William Olinger

Bird House Auction expands to include homes for dogs on April 6 NANCY VIGRAN In April for the past 12 years, Habitat for Humanity of Tulare/Kings Counties has welcomed spring with a birdhouse auction.

“Everybody deserves an affordable home,” is part of their mission, so they extended that out to wildlife and now, well, it’s going to the dogs, too.

It was a committee decision, said Deanna Saldana, Habitat’s local chapter resource development director, to expand the auction to include dog houses.

“After 12 years, we thought we might look at something else we can auction off,” she said.

The Bird House auction traditionally has had live bird house auctioned off, as well as some by silent auction, where other items include gift baskets donated by businesses and individuals from the local community. Many artists have repeatedly donated to the auction, often trying to outdo their own creations from the previous year. This year, some have donated both a bird house and a dog house.

Also this year, some high school students have stepped up to the cause with their own dog house creations. Dinuba High School’s trade construction class is one such group.

BIRD HOUSE continued on B6 »

Three Rivers set to host 45th annual JazzAffair DAVE ADALIAN The Dixieland sound of the Big Easy is coming home to Three Rivers for a long spring weekend.

The canyons and hills of Kaweah River country will echo again with the sounds of New Orleans-style Dixieland jazz April 13-15, as the 45th annual Sierra Traditional Jazz Club’s JazzAffair 2018 rambles, rolls and high steps its way into town.

Jazz Jumps Friday

The rhythms pick up Friday afternoon, swings all day Saturday and stretches long into Sunday afternoon at a trio of venues among the oaks, pines and rocky hillsides. Three Rivers’ own High Sierra Jazz Band headlines the festival, joined by acts from around the world. Notables include Cornet Chop Suey, the Sonny Leland House Party and Dixie Dominus.

“They just knock you down,” says event organizer Stan Johnson of this year’s lineup.

Pianos and banjos will bang out chord-filled rhythms while clarinets and horns celebrate the melodies

starting at 2:45 Friday afternoon, as High Sierra opens the show at the Three Rivers Lions Roping Arena. At the same moment, Cornet Chop Suey starts doing its thing at St. Anthony’s Retreat, and the stylings of the Blue Street Jazz Band will fill the Three Rivers Memorial Building.

In all, half a dozen bands--including the Grand Dominion Jazz Band, and Tom Rigney with Flambeau--will perform all weekend long during a rotation schedule that will see every band perform at each of the three venues. A shuttle is available to take attendees between sites.

The weekend ends with a final performance from High Sierra at 3:45 Sunday afternoon at the Roping Arena.

Old-Time Jazz ‘Festival’

The music won’t be the only throwback to a bygone age. Johnson says JazzAffair 2018 harkens to the early days of jazz in Three Rivers, when locals came together to start a club to support the local boys in the band.

“As the band traveled around to

JAZZAFFAIR continued on B7 »

Pat Jansen as Vera and Leeni Mitchell as Nana in Nana’s Naughty Knickers.

“Nana’s Naughty Knickers” opens at Ice House Theater on April 13 NANCY HOLLEY Looking for a night of laughs and fast paced antics? Then the Visalia Players’ production of Nana’s Naughty Knickers which opens at the Ice House on Friday, April 13 is just the ticket!

Imagine you are an aspiring law student planning to spend the summer in New York with your favorite grandmother. You are excited to be in New York and with her when suddenly the inadvertent press of a button reveals a closet full of lingerie – certainly too many items to be personal.

Continuing investigation exposes additional caches of filmy articles ob-

viously for sale. Nana confesses that after retiring from her career with Maiden Form, she was bored and decided to go into business. The only industry she knows is lingerie so making a line of products for seniors was an obvious choice.

As if her illegal sales from a rent controlled apartment weren’t enough, the plot continues with erroneously delivered packages. How could UPS possibly confuse packages from Saucy Lips with packages from Saucy Slips?

Which company is Nana’s? Come to the Ice House and find out.

The cast contains new and famil-

KNICKERS continued on B7 »

5 April, 2018 Valley Voice

B2

Book Notes

Religious Literacy: What Every American Needs to Know—And Doesn’t NEWELL BRINGHURST newellgb@hotmail.com

Essential reading for those interested in the role of religion in American life is Religious Literacy: What Every American Need to Know— And Doesn’t by Stephen Prothero.

Through the pages of his evocative study, Prothero, a professor of religion at Boston University, laments over the paradoxical fact that “Americans are both deeply religious and profoundly ignorant about religion.”

The volume is divided into three main sections. Part I lays out the problem that America is a nation of religious illiterates. Some 75% of the nation’s adults believe the Bible teaches that “God helps those who help themselves.” More than 10 percent think that Joan of Arc was Noah’s wife. Just one half of all Americans can name even one of the four Gospels of the New Testament.

And fewer than half can identify Genesis as the first book of the Old Testament. Even more alarming, professed evangelical Christians are only slightly more knowledgeable than their non-evangelical

counterparts.

Part II, addressing the historical origins of this deficiency, is divided into two subsections.

The first, “Eden (What We Once Knew)” provides an historical overview of Anglo-American education back to the seventeenth century Puritans, whose New England Primer set the pattern for teaching children the basic contents of the Bible. Subsequent generations were similarly informed through Noah Webster’s Speller, McGuffey’s Readers, and pious schoolbooks published throughout the eighteenth century into the early nineteenth.

The second subsection, “The Fall

(How We Forgot),” as the title suggests, describes the emergence of Religious illiteracy, set into motion during the early nineteenth century by a number of developments.

Among these was the demise of Puritanism and subsequent emergence of the Second Great Awakening. This latter movement deemphasized doctrinal differences between different denominations while affirming emotional manifestations of faith over religious knowledge as essential for individual salvation.

Part III “The Proposal” offers suggestions for reclaiming religious literacy. Both one’s family and church

can contribute to this process. But the author frames the problem as a civic issue, provocatively proposing that religion be taught as an “objective academic discipline…in public schools.”

Sensitive to the controversial nature of this suggestion he asserts that “teaching about religion—as distinct from preaching religion—is not prohibited by the First Amendment’s ban on the ‘establishment of religion.’”

Also contained in Prothero’s spritely-written volume is an “A Dictionary of Religious Literacy”—an extensive alphabetical list of terms and concepts dealing with religion in all its forms. The author concludes his work with a “Religious Literacy Quiz” along with answers, inviting readers to test their own knowledge.

In essence, Religious Literacy: What Every American Needs to Know— And Doesn’t, is worth possessing, both as an informative history and valuable reference work.

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

Dwight Yoakam LIVE IN CONCERT Sunday, April 22 @ 7pm

HANFORD FOX THEATRE TICKETS ON SALE NOW AT THE HANFORD FOX BOX OFFICE $59, $69, $79

DWIGHT YOAKAM VIP MEET AND GREET EXPERIENCE also available, visit PHOTO CREDIT: www.hanfordfox.com for more info.

EMILY JOYCE On Facebook at facebook.com/ourvalleyvoice

Print replica edition at issuu.com/ourvalleyvoice

Valley Voice 5 April, 2018

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Tulare County Library Book Festival featuring author Tim Z. Hernandez STAFF REPORTS On Saturday, April 14, 2018 at 11am, the Tulare County Library Book Festival features the Library’s Book to Action author Tim Z. Hernandez. A Tulare County native and award winning author, Mr. Hernandez comes home to share with us his work and his most recent book All They Will Call You, the story of the 28 Mexican farm workers who died in a horrific plane crash. They were in the process of being deported to Mexico by the U.S. government when they died in the crash, along with others. Mr. Hernandez was inspired by American folk singer Woody Guthrie’s protest song “Plane Wreck of Los Gatos (Deportee)” about how the media reports called the 28 only ‘deportees’, leaving them nameless.

All They Will Call You is one of two featured titles in the Library’s Book to Action book clubs. In March Tulare County Library featured actress Diane Guerrero’s book In the Country That I Love. When she was 14 years old, her parents, who were undocumented, were taken for deportation while she was at school. The book tells how she

overcame many obstacles to become the extraordinary woman she is today.

Join one of these book clubs in April with Hernandez’s book by picking up a free copy today at one of these locations and attending the book club on one of the following dates: • Visalia — T h u r s d a y, April 5, 2018 at 6pm • Dinuba — T h u r s d a y, April 19, 2018 at 4pm • Exeter — T h u r s d a y, April 28, 2018 at 7pm Book to Action is a program through the California Center for the Book that combines book clubs and community action. In addition to reading the book and participating in discussions, members will be asked to

assist with workshops on the path to citizenship offered by the US Immigration and Citizenship Service (USCIS) at seven Library Branch locations, including Dinuba, Farmersville, Strathmore, Lindsay, Woodlake, Exeter, and Earlimart.

Contact your local branch for more information.

California Center for the Book is a program of the California Library Association, supported in whole or in part by the U.S. Institute of Museum and Library Services under the provisions of the Library Services and Technology Act, administered in California by the State Librarian.

The Tulare County Library Book Festival is held on Saturday, April 14, 2018 from 10-3 pm at the Visalia Branch

at 200 W Oak Ave. The Festival is a partnership with Leadership Visalia, Tulare County Library Foundation, and the Library, sponsored by First Five Tulare County, ImagineU, and Kiwanis West Visalia.

The Tulare County Library serves all the citizens of Tulare County with locations in 17 communities, four book machines, two adult literacy centers, and online at www.tularecountylibrary.org. Like the Library on Facebook www.facebook.com/tularecountylibrary or follow on Twitter twitter.com/TulareCountyLib. The Tulare County Library Foundation, a 501(c)3, helps ensure the success of the Library with financial support through community fundraising, including working toward a million dollar endowment to ensure regular funding for the future.

Leadership Visalia is a program of the Visalia Chamber of Commerce. The program is offered as a service to our participants and the broader Visalia community as an investment to ensure effective leadership in our workplaces, community organizations, and civic institutions.

Lindsay’s Orange Blossom Festival theme is “Driven to be the Best” STAFF REPORTS Lindsay celebrates the onset of spring as the scent of orange blossoms fill the air in the city’s 86th annual Orange Blossom Festival, April 7-14.

This year’s theme is Driven to be the Best and starts off with the Queen Coronation on Saturday, April 7 on the City Hall Lawn, at 5:30pm.

This year’s queen is Mariana Gutierrez. Gutierrez is a Lindsay High grad, who recently graduated from Cal State University, Monterey Bay with a bachelor degree in kinesiology.

Her goal is to become a pre-diabetes/diabetes wellness coach in the local community.

The queen’s court includes Ikonkar Khalsa, Nicole Rocha and Audrey Bradford. The queen and her court have a

full week of activities planned, including visiting local council and school board meetings, and the Bank of the Sierra reception on Thursday, April 12, followed by a weekend full of events.

This year’s honored couple are Starr and Yonok Warson. Starr Warson is a Lindsay native.

The couple met while Starr was on a vacation in Miami where Yonok was working toward a nursing degree.

They married, and returned to Lindsay in the mid-90’s and opened a law practice, and have been active in the community ever since.

The main festival events take place on Saturday, April 14 kicking off with the Legacy Scholarship Foundation Fun Run, a 5K/10K starting at 7am from the high school campus. The Tour de Danish Bike Ride begins at 9:30am pre-

Wine & Beer Tasting At

Redwood Wine Room

Totem Market & Gifts Breakfast - Lunch - Dinner

J&J Cellars - Kelsey See Canyon Vineyards

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

ceding the parade as an opening event.

The Sequoia-Visalia Kiwanis and Svenhardt’s Swedish Bakery are the ride’s organizers where mid-way through the race, riders are offered as many Danish as they wish to eat – however, they are penalized five minutes for each one they consume. The ride is a 25-mile timed ride.

The parade follows the cyclists and are to follow the Driven to be the Best theme beginning at 10am.

Meanwhile at Lindsay City Park, bakeoff entries should be dropped off between 11am-12pm. Categories include cookies, cakes and bread – oranges or orange flavoring must be included. The 5th Annual Bangers Horseshoe Tournament also takes place in the park along with music, vendors and family fun, all day long.

For more information, email lindsayobf@gmail.com, or call (559) 333-1020.

Calendar

5 April, 2018 Valley Voice

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April 6: 13th Annual Birdhouse (and Toto Too) Auction 6pm - We encourage you to join Habitat as a sponsor or guest for the 13th Annual Birdhouse (and Toto Too) Auction. Enjoy wine-tasting and great food from dozens of local restaurants in an evening full of flavor, entertainment, and incredible artistic creations.

There is another twist this year…we are adding dog houses to the auction! The funds from this fun and unique event support Habitat for Humanity’s programs throughout Tulare & Kings Counties.

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

April 6-15: Harvey at the Barn Theater April 6, 7, 13, 14, 20 & 21 (Friday & Saturday evenings); April 8, & 15 (Sunday matinees) - Elwood P. Dowd insists on including his friend Harvey in all of his sister Veta’s social gatherings. Trouble is, Harvey is an imaginary six-and-a-half-foot-tall rabbit. To avoid future embarrassment for her family - and especially for her daughter, Myrtle Mae - Veta decides to have Elwood committed to a sanitarium. At the sanitarium, a frantic Veta explains to the staff that her years of living with Elwood’s hallucination have caused her to see Harvey also, and so the doctors mistakenly commit her instead of her mild-mannered brother. Written by Mary Chase; Directed by Bob Merzoian.

The Barn Theater is located at 42 S. Plano St. in Porterville. For more information, visit barntheater.porterville.com April 7 - Blue Ridge Discover Day 9am - 2pm - Blue Oak Ranch Discovery Day comes back around the first Saturday of the month with Spring Wildflower Walks, free lunch, and a chance for community volunteers to help with restoration planting of native species. Offered through Sequoia Riverlands Trust.

Located in Springville. For more information, visit www.sequoiariverlandstrust.org or call (559) 738-0211.

April 7 - Tulare Garden Festival 10am - 2pm - Presented by UC Master Gardeners. Presentations - Gardening with herbs, Container gardening with drip irrigation, and Growing succulents.

Scavenger hunt and educational activities for children. Held at the Tulare City Library, 475 North M St. April 7 - Cars at the Park Tulare’s Annual Car Show held in Zumwalt Park featuring food, music and fun, as well as cars. Put on by Team AmVets and benefits veterans’ programs. For more information, email sharon@teamamvets.org, or call (559) 827-3494.

April 7 - Ikebana Show (Japanese Flower Arrangement Show) 2-4:30pm - Presented by the Ohara School of Ikebana at Palm United Methodist Church, 438 W. Tulare Street in Dinuba. Boutique by United Methodist Women. Benefits Community Youth Ministries, Open Gate.

April 8 - First Congregational Church 12-3pm - You are cordially invited to help the First Congregational Church wish Natalie Chamberlain in the next chapter of her life. The church will celebrate her tenure after church. Come and enjoy finger foods and say goodbye to Natalie.

RSVP by dialing 559-686-5528 and ucctulare@yahoo.com April 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.

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

April 12: Mensa Meeting Local members of Mensa, the international high IQ society, will meet at Panera Bread, 4103 S. Mooney Blvd., Visalia, on Thursday, April 12, at 5:30 p.m., for coffee, bagels, sandwiches and conversation.

Prospective members encouraged to attend. For more info, call (559) 280-9774.

April 12, 13: Alternative Manure Management Program (AMMP) Workshops 12:30-2:30pm, 3:30-5:30pm — The AMMP is one of two programs designed by CDFA to reduce overall greenhouse gas emissions. The program will provide $19-33 million dollars in grants to California dairy and livestock operators to implement non-digester manure management practices that reduce their methane emissions. (In the last round each grant could be up to $750,000).

Earth First Living, a California educational non-profit organization, under a grant from the CDFA, is holding four free Technical Assistance Workshops. These workshops, which are free of charge, will provide technical assistance with the application process. At the two-hour workshop, participants will learn about the application process, scoring and how to submit the application through the online application tool, the Financial Assistance Application Submittal Tool (FAAST).

For complete details and registration visit www.ManureSolutions. org – Space is limited to 15 people at each of the four workshops at

the Tulare County Library located at 200 W. Oak Avenue in Visalia.

April 13-15: Best of the Valley Quilt Show The Show is held at McDermont Field House 365 N. Sweet Briar in Lindsay. More than 200 quilts that will be shown, including a class for 18 and under, and one for 80 and over.

This show is supported by the different quilt guilds/clubs in the valley.

April 13-29 - Nana’s Naughty Knickers April 13, 14, 20, 21, 27, 28 @ 7:30pm, April 15, 22, 29 @ 2pm - Written by Katherine DiSavino and directed

by Belva Peden, Nana’s Naughty Knickers reveals Bridget and her grandmother are about to become roommates. However, what Bridget saw as a unique opportunity to stay with her favorite Nana in New York for the summer quickly turns into an experience she’ll never forget. It seems her sweet grandma is running an illegal boutique from her apartment, selling handmade naughty knickers to every senior citizen in the five borough area!

Will Bridget be able to handle all the excitement? Presented at the Ice House Theatre, 410 E. Race Ave. in Visalia.

April 14: Tulare County Library Book Festival 10am - 3pm - Featuring author Tim Z Hernandez, All They Will Call You - Books, food trucks, live music, authors at 200 W. Oak St. in Visalia.

April 14: Valley Oak SPCA’s 27th Annual Walk a Dog a Thon 9am - 12pm - Registration is now open for the 27th Annual Walk A Dog A Thon at Mooney Grove Park.

This is one of our biggest fundraisers of the year and we hope to see you there to support our no-kill animal rescue mission! Register online at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/ valley-oak-spca-27th-annual-walka-dog-a-thon-tickets-41876638152 (Kids 12 years and under are free).

Registration fee includes participation in the walk for you and one leashed pet, an event tee-shirt, a hot dog, chips and a drink.

April 14: 5th Annual Play a Round “Fore” Hunger Golf Tournament 10:30am - check-in, registration; 12:30pm - shotgun start. Four person scramble. For more information contact Ken, (559) 779-7759 or Debbie, (559) 686-3693.

April 14: 45th Anniversary Car Show 11am - 2pm at Casa Grande Senior Care, 347 E. Walnut in Visalia.

April 14: Kids Night Out at the Garden 5:30-8:30pm - Children, 3-10, are invited for some crafts, games and garden fun at the Children’s Storybook Garden & Museum. Certified teachers will help the kids, while their parents take some time away.

Snacks and crafts will be provided.

Space is limited and pre-registration is required. Cost is $4/child and $2/additional for members; $8/child and $4/additional for non-members per hour. Reservations (252) 269-0005.

April 15: 58th annual SCICON Barbecue and Wildflower Festival 11am - 4pm - The event is an opportunity for families and individuals of all ages to tour and enjoy the SCICON campus. The SCICON staff will be on hand to lead wildflower walks and nature hikes. The SCICON planetarium, observatory and museum of natural history will be open all day, and wildlife shows will be presented in the SCICON raptor center. Two thousand pounds of beef will simmer underground for 24 hours and will be served with the famous SCICON barbecue sauce as part of the lunch available.

Meal ticket donations are $15.00 for adults, $10.00 for seniors (60 and over) and $5.00 for children (12 and under.) All proceeds from the meal will go to the “Friends of SCICON” to benefit the SCICON program. There is no charge to participate in the day’s activities. For more information on the SCICON Barbecue, call (559) 539-2642 or visit www.tcoe. org/SCICON/News.shtm. For a map to the SCICON campus, visit www. tcoe.org/SciconMap. April 21: Unlock the Spiritual World of Dreams 1-3pm - The workshop is family friendly and no charge to the public. It is sponsored as a community service by Eckankar, Path of Spiritual Freedom, that offers many spiritual tools and techniques on how to interpret and understand your dream life. Held at the Visalia Branch Library, 200 West Oak. April 21: “Mindful Caregiving of the Dying: De-bunking myths about Hospice” 2pm — Part of the Inspirational Talk series at the Center for Spiritual Living, will be presented by hospice nurse Laurie Burkhart at the Center, 117 S. Locust, Visalia. Participants will leave the talk with hospice admit paperwork, a concept map outlining the hospice team roles, and a list of websites and reference material. 559 625-2441 April 21: Pencil Drawing Workshop 9am - 3pm - Took a previous drawing workshop from Jana and want more? Every workshop is another opportunity to perfect and work on your drawing skills and great for beginners. This workshop is for all levels. The materials will be provided for the workshop. If you have your own you’d like to bring, other supplies are welcome.Instructor: Jana Botkin. Tuition: $75.00. For more information: visit www.artsvisalia. org or call (559) 739-0905.

April 21: Fred Davis Dinner, featuring Insurance Commissioner Dave Jones 6-10pm — Please join us at the 2nd Annual Fred Davis Dinner featuring keynote speaker California Insurance Commissioner Dave Jones, a fearless fighter for health care and insurance justice—and a candidate for Attorney General. Saturday, April 21, 6-10 pm at the Visalia Lamp Lighter Inn, 3000 W. Mineral King.

Tickets $75; students with ID $40.

Sponsorships available. For tickets call the Tulare County Democratic office at (559) 754-0566 or order

Valley Voice 5 April, 2018 online secure.actblue.com/donate/ freddavis2018.

April 22: Visalia Rusty Roots Show 8am - 3pm - This is the 6th year of the Visalia Rusty Roots Show and we are so excited to announce we have over 130 vendors selling the most amazing goods! Items such as Antiques, Clever Upcycle, Repurposed, Vintage, Crafts, Shabby chic, Art, Junk, New and Old, Food and so much more! We are also proud to announce that we have our first vendor coming all the way from England yes just over the pond bringing the most amazing finds.

April 22: “Beethoven’s 9th” 3pm — The Sequoia Symphony ends its season with Beethoven’s magnificent “Symphony No. 9” at a new time and place. Because of the large choir required for this concert, it will be performed Sunday, April 22 at L.J. Williams Theatre in Visalia. 559 732-8600 or http://www. sequoiasymphonyorchestra.com April 30: League of Women Voters Candidates Forum On April 30 League is co-sponsoring a Candidates Forum for Congressional District 22 and Assembly District 26 with ACT for Women and Girls, AAUW, Visalia Times Delta, Visalia Chamber of Commerce, Tulare Chamber of Commerce, Tulare County Board of Realtors, Tulare

B5 County Farm Bureau and LULAC of the San Joaquin Valley. The Forum will be held at TCOE at 6200 S. Mooney Blvd, 6:30 to 9:00 p.m.

May 1: Date to Create 6-8pm - Date to Create is a one-of-akind workshop focused on the seven elements of art and principles of design. Each quarterly held workshop allows a group to be creative together for a fun-filled night of mingling with friends and family while creating fine art pieces for any occasion while learning the art fundamentals. Instructor: Gabbi Barnes. Tuirition: $30. For more information: visit www.artsvisalia. org or call (559) 739-0905.

May 2, 9, 16, 23: Arts Visalia Ceramics Class 6:30-8:30pm - Learn the methods of ceramics in this adult oriented class for beginners. Instructor: Chris Lopez. Tuition: $105. For more information: visit www.artsvisalia. org or call (559) 739-0905.

May 5: Visalia’s 9th Annual Kentucky Derby Party for Foodlink 1-5pm - Mint Juleps, anyone? Join us at the races to support Foodlink at the 9th Annual Kentucky Derby Party! Enjoy an afternoon of Southern hospitality including ample appetizers, refreshing libations, bluegrass band, “betting” on the horses, cigars, Fancy Hat and Bow Tie Competition, live auction, and much

more at the Visalia Country Club.

Ladies, wear your fanciest hats and Fellas, dress dapper! $60 a ticket.includes food, complimentary adult beverage & entertainment, and a $30 donation to Foodlink for Tulare County, Inc. On May 5th tickets will increase to $75 at the door. Must be 21 to attend.Tickets available through https://www.eventbrite.com/e/ kentucky-derby-party-benefitting-foodlink-of-tulare-county-tickets-42642239085 May 5 - 12: Annual Orchid Sale Fundraiser 12-5:30pm - Drop by Arts Visalia’s gallery during these special hours to purchase orchids! Starting Saturday, May 5th through Saturday, May 12th, or until we run out. Orchids are $25 each and can be delivered to a business upon request. Arts Visalia is located at 214 E. Oak St. in Visalia. For more information, call (559) 739-0905.

Mondays: National Alliance on Mental Illness, 5:45pm Education Meeting: 7pm Support Group St. Paul’s Anglican Church, Visalia, 120 N. Hall, Corner of Center and Hall. For more information call: (559) 627-1306 Mondays: Bridge Club, 9:30am2pm 210 W Center Street Visalia. Admis-

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.

Provided by Tulare Senior Services Volunteers at Tulare Senior Community Center. Must be 18 years and older to play. Cost: 1st Half of Bingo is $1.25 per card, 2nd Half of Bingo is $1 per card.

This program is led by a senior The Tulare Senior Center is locat- volunteers. ed at 201 N F St, Tulare, and avail- 12:30pm — Card Games able by telephone at 559-685-2330. Various card games are played.

Lunch is served daily at 11:30am; Everyone is welcome! FREE! Tareservations MUST be made by bles and chairs are provided in 12:30 PM the business day before classroom or dining room. by calling (559) 685-2330. $3 do- Tulare Senior Center, Tuesnation is requested. days: April 10, 17, 24, 2018

sion is free. For additional information call: Joan Dinwiddie, (559) 7320855 Mondays: Knitters, 10am12:30pm 210 W Center Street Visalia.

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

3rd Monday, Monthly: Tulare Republican Women Federated (TRWF), 5pm Apple Annie’s in Tulare - no meeting in July or August.

Tuesdays: Barmageddon Trivia Thunderdome, 9pm-1am Challenge your friends to the ultimate trivia throwdown. Earn some bragging rights in categories ranging from Saturday morning cartoons, classic video games, and pop culture films. Free sign ups at 9:30pm.

Tuesdays and Thursdays, 7am Healing Hearts Walks Walk a 1 mile loop on the paved roads inside the Visalia Cemetery after raising of the flag, pledge of allegiance and moment of silence.No charge or sign up.

Free coffee after walk. Meet at the Veteran’s Memorial Wall. For more information call 734-6181.

2nd Tuesday, Monthly: Yappy

This class offered by Tulare Senior Recreation will help you organize your memories and write down stories about them.

You’ll be leaving a written legacy for your loved ones to cherish for many generations to come. $5 per month per student.

FREE Blood Pressure Screening! Sponsored by Tulare Adult School and Tulare Nursing & Rehabilitation. Everyone is welcome!

1 - 2pm — Tai Chi – for Health & Wellness 10:30 - 11:15am — Ex-Chair-Cise Everyone is welcome! This rec- This special 6-week course ofreation activity is FREE. The fered by Tulare Senior Recreclassroom is set up with tables ation will be held on Thursdays, and chairs and exercise sup- next session is January 11-February 15, 2018. $25 for 6 week plies is provided. course.

12:30pm — Card Games Various card games are played. 2-3:30pm — Caregiver Support Everyone is welcome! FREE! Ta- Group Session bles and chairs are provided in Group sessions are led by a Valley Caregiver Resource counselAt the time of publication, 9-11:30am; 12:30-4pm — Open classroom or dining room. or. This activity is FREE. the Visalia Senior Center Paint schedule was not available Participants must bring own 12:30 – 3:30pm — Community Bin- Tulare Senior Center, Fridays: painting supplies. $2 per per- go April 6, 13, 20, 27, 2018 Tulare Senior Center, Monson.

Provided by Tulare Senior Ser8:30 - 11am — Table Tennis days: April 9, 16, 23, 30, 2018 vices Volunteers at Tulare Senior This is a FREE Tulare Senior Rec8-11 AM — Abuse in Later Life Vic- 1:30 - 4pm — Mah Jong Tiles tim Advocate Participants must bring own Community Center. Must be 18 reation activity! years and older to play. Cost: 1st For an appointment, ask for Al- Tiles.

9:30 – 11am — Wii Bowling berto Robles, Victim Advocate, Tulare Senior Center, Wednes- Half of Bingo is $1.25 per card, It is FREE to participate! Experi2nd Half of Bingo is $1 per card.

559-732-7371. ence is NOT REQUIRED! days: April 11, 18, 25, 2018 This programs is led by a senior 9-11:30am — Open Paint 9:30-10:30 AM - Bible Study 10:30 - 11:15am — Ex-Chair-Cise volunteers.

Participants must bring own Everyone is welcome! This is a Everyone is welcome! This recpainting supplies. $2 per per- FREE recreational activity. The 1 - 4pm — HICAP – Health Insur- reation activity is FREE. son. classroom is set up with tables ance & Counseling Advocacy Pro12:30pm — Card Games and chairs. This class is led by a gram (third Wednesday only) 10-11:30am — Live Music Only by Appointment, MUST Various card games are played. senior volunteer.

Enjoy listening to or dancing to Everyone is welcome! FREE! Tacall 559-623-0199. great live County Western Mu- 9:30 - 10:30am — Crocheting bles and chairs are provided in sic by Ken Bridges, Senior Vol- The crochet is donated by the Tulare Senior Center, Thurs- classroom or dining room. days: April 5, 12, 19, 26, 2018 unteer. hospital and others.

7-10pm — Senior Dance 12:30 – 3:30pm — Community Bin- 10-11am — Blood Pressure Screen- 10am - 12pm — Down Memory Anyone 18 years and older. Fee: Lane (Writing Class) go ing

5 April, 2018 Valley Voice

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Arts Visalia hosting quilt show this month Debbie Van Fossen, of Visalia, will be the Featured Artist.

Van Fossen loves to enhance traditional quilt patterns with her exceptional, meticulous machine quilting. Her attention to detail will delight one and all, as well as her penchant for adding “bling.”

A large vendor mall is available for a varied shopping experience. From

STAFF REPORTS The Best of the Valley Quilt Show will open its doors to the public for the 23rd time, April 13-15.

Held at the McDermont Field House, show hours are 10-5 on Friday and Saturday, and 10-4 on Sunday. Admission is $10/day or $15 for a three-day pass.

Best of the Valley Quilt Show is renowned for its incredible display of exceptional quilt making. Entries come from around the Valley, as well as throughout California and beyond.

A juried and judged show, this year’s judges are Andi Perejda and Linda Rasmussen, both from California.

This year, 205 quilts will be competing for more than $4000 in award money.

fabric to machines, to jewelry, clothing, home décor, yarn, baskets, notions and embellishments, vendors will have what the avid quilter/fiber artist is looking for.

Lest you think that Best of the Valley appeals only to quilters, it is more than just a showing of quilts. It is also a fiber Art Show.

The Doll Emmas, a guild of doll makers, will host

an exhibit of over 100 of their elaborate hand-crafted dolls.

One of the traveling trunks from Studio Art Quilt Associates will also be appearing at Best of the Valley.

A treasure trove of 50 tiny quilts, these pieces of art prove that just about any and every technique is now being used in quilt making.

There is something for everyone at Best of the Valley Quilt Show.

There will be on-site food, and free local parking with a free shuttle to and from McDermont Field House.

The venue is handicapped accessible, and group discounts are available.

For more information, call Suzanne at (559) 936-2204 or visit www.botvquilts.com.

Call for entries for Tulare Palette Club Show through April 13 STAFF REPORTS

‘Gone Fishing’, a pastel by Sylvia Foreman. Courtesy/Tulare Palette Club

Coming to the $5 Movies Saturday AM Cartoons Saturday, April 7 @ 10 am Classic Saturday morning cartoons with a bowl of cereal!

Friday the 13th Part 2 Friday, April 13 @ 7pm

Up In Smoke Friday, April 20 @ 7pm Purple Rain Saturday, April 21 @ 7 pm

La Bamba Saturday, May 12 @ 7 pm (559) 584-7823

www.foxhanford.com

The Tulare Palette Club’s Annual Spring Art Show opens at the Heritage Art Gallery in the Tulare Historical Museum on Saturday, April 14. Entries will be accepted on Friday, April 13 by 5pm. Entry is open to anyone within Tulare County, with a limit of two entries per person.

This year’s featured artist is Sylvia Foreman of Tulare, a longtime member of the Palette Club. Foreman generally works in pastels.

The exhibit is expected to draw some 50 artists with 80+ entries. Entries are to be “anything that will fit into a frame,” including oils, watercolor, pastels, mixed media and computer art.

The show will be judged with first

Bird House Continued from B1

Instructor William Olinger, had shown an interest in his class getting involved in a house-building project. However, the involvement for those under 18 is limited, Saldana said. She mentioned the auction addition of dog houses, which of course, is a much smaller scale, but, Olinger and some of his students jumped at the chance.

“I had heard that Habitat did have high school chapters,” Olinger said.

“But, Tulare [County] had not done it – yet.”

He understood the potential liabilities of minors being involved. His classes have been involved in working with other groups in landscaping, and installing sprinklers, etc.

In their regular class discipline, his class had built dog houses in the past.

The project was a perfect fit for his students. Excited about the project and the auction, some students also built and painted six bird houses as well. The kids are of mixed grade levels, from 9th through 12th.

“They do like to do things and like making things with their hands,” Olinger said. “It was a cool way to explain what Habitat does.”

Similarly, the Harmony Magnet Academy in Strathmore got involved too.

“Dennis Townsend, an architect in Porterville sits on our school’s advisory board,” said Erik Santos, engineering department instructor. “He sent us the flyer inviting us to make something for the auction. I have a class that works on various projects and decided it would be fun for the students to work on.”

The Civil Engineering and Architec-

through fourth place, and honorable mention awards given in each category.

Best of Show will earn $100 in prize money; the Popular Vote will earn $50. Voting for the Popular Vote will take place through the life of the exhibit and will be awarded at the close of the show.

The Artists’ Reception will take place on Friday, April 20 from 5-7pm, and is open to the public and free of charge.

The show will run through May 20. Admission to Heritage Art Gallery exhibitions is always free.

The Tulare Historical Museum is located at 444 W. Tulare Ave. in Tulare. For more information regarding the show, contact Spring Art Show chairpersons, Gladys Tweedy, (559) 688-7033, or Bethany Phillips, (559) 359-2837. ture class of 20 juniors and seniors had designed Habitat for Humanity homes as a project in the fall semester, he said. “They were all very familiar with the idea and philosophy of Habitat for Humanity. So, when they learned they would be making something to benefit the local chapter, they were excited.”

The flyer asked constructors to use as much recycled material as possible for the project, so the class started with a used shipping crate.

“The crate was just sitting around in pieces. So we designed from that parameter,” Santos said. “Paints were all brought in from student homes from various projects. Wooden siding strips, plywood roof and 2x4s were all left over from other projects here at school. They only thing we purchased was the roof shingles. So we are proud that this fits the Habitat for Humanity theme.”

These dog houses are huge, Saldana said. “Two Great Danes could fit in one.”

In past year, bird houses have brought anywhere from $250 - $900 during the live auction, she said. Last year the auction grossed more than $46,000. The inclusion of dog houses should bring more.

“When you send it out to the creative world, you never know what you’re going to get,” she said.

The 13th Annual Birdhouse (and ToTo Too) Auction takes place Friday, April 6 at the Wyndham Hotel in Visalia. Doors open at 6pm. Funds from the event support Habitat for Humanity’s programs throughout Tulare & Kings Counties. The fundraiser includes wine-tasting and great food from dozens of local restaurants in an evening full of flavor, entertainment, and incredible artistic creations.

Tickets are $100 and may be purchased at www.hfhtkc.org/birdhouse-auction/ or call (559) 734-4040.

Valley Voice 5 April, 2018

Rawhide announce Victory Insurance Program STAFF REPORTS The Visalia Rawhide and Allstate Agent Rick Kunkleman are guaranteeing Rawhide wins in 2018: at least on Wednesdays.

Purchasing a ticket to a Wednesday home game will now mean that fans are also purchasing Victory Insurance from Kunkleman for that contest.

If the Rawhide should fall during that game, all fans in attendance will receive a free ticket to the next Rawhide Wednesday home game. Fans will able to claim their Victory Insurance tickets at Kunkleman’s Allstate offices located at 2439 W. Whitendale Avenue in Visalia beginning the day after the game.

“We think this is a fun way to ‘insure’ our fans will win, even if the team should fall that day,” said Rawhide General Manager Jennifer (Pendergraft) Reynolds. “Our “Win-Win Wednesday” home games are now truly a WinWin for everyone, as all fans will win a free ticket to the next Wednesday home game whether the Rawhide win or lose.”

The promotion marks the first

time in Minor League Baseball history that a team is guaranteeing victory. Rawhide Wednesday wins have given fans free tickets to the next Wednesday game since the 2015 season, when the Rawhide won nine of their 11 Wednesday home contests.

This season will mark the first when fans who come to the ballpark and stay for the entire game will win a free ticket, no matter the outcome.

“It’s important to be covered in all facets, whether it be your life, vehicles, home, place of business, or your favorite baseball team,” said Kunkleman. “We are sure Rawhide fans will agree that Victory Insurance is a good way to show just how important it is to protect against loss.”

Kunkleman has resided in Visalia for over 50 years and has owned his Allstate Insurance Agency for over 20 years. His commitment to serving his valued customers has rated him in the

top 8 percent in the nation of agency owners with Allstate. Rick is passionate about doing what is the absolute best for his customers and his dedication and care to them is shown when they need him the most: when Mayhem happens. He also serves as a member of the Visalia Sunset Rotary Club, supports the Visalia Rescue Mission and

Collision of Vision Art Show Jazzaffair now accepting submissions Continued from B1 STAFF REPORTS West Hills College Lemoore’s annual Collision of Vision Art Show will be held on April 26 and is encouraging submissions of artwork from both students and community members.

Collision of Vision will accept two-dimensional and three-dimensional works including paintings, drawings, digital art and sculptures.

The community is welcome to submit from April 9 to April 13.

The event, sponsored by the West Hills College Lemoore Arts and Letters Department, in collaboration with the WHCL Department of Hospitality and Management, SPLAAT Art Club, and other WHCL clubs features a gallery of art ranging from paintings to sculptures, live entertainment including music and poet-

ry readings and food.

“I think it is important to bring awareness about our thriving art community on campus and the talented artists we have in our own area,” said event coordinator and WHCL instructor Kristen Kennedy.

“This event is significant it that it provides an opportunity for students and artists to showcase their artwork. In addition, it will provide an opportunity for students to talk with artists outside the academic environment and provide a real world exhibition experience for the students.”

Collision of Vision will be held from 4:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at West Hills College Lemoore, in the Building 800’s Art Lab. Submit to Kristen Kennedy or David Brooks at kristenkennedy@whccd.edu or davidbrooks@whccd.edu

Knickers

much doubt what she’s interested in displaying!

The cast is completed by landlord Gil Schmidt (Donny Graham) who wants Nana out of her rent controlled apartment and Clair (Robin Hoffman) who adds a bit of surprise at the end.

Co-directors Belva and David Peden are new directors at the Ice House, but are veteran directors from community theatre in Oklahoma.

The cast and directors agree that the play is a wonderful spoof full of fun and energy that will have you rolling in the aisles. By the end of the evening your sides will be aching. Come out and enjoy the gaiety.

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

Nana’s Naughty Knickers runs for three weekends at the Ice House Theatre at Race and Santa Fe in Visalia.

Evening performances are at 7:30pm on 4/13, 4/14, 4/20, 4/21, 4/27, and 4/28, and matinees are at 2:00pm on 4/15, 4/22, and 4/29. To purchase tickets go to the Visalia Players’ website at www. visaliaplayers.org, their Facebook page “Visalia Community Players”, or call 734-3900.

Continued from B1

iar faces for Ice House regulars. Nana and her best friend and neighbor Vera are ably portrayed by Leeni Mitchell and Pat Jansen respectively. Mitchell noted, “Nana is kooky. Not your typical grandmother or -- maybe she is! She and Bridget are very close – more like siblings.”

“Nana and Vera are two little old ladies looking for trouble,” quipped Jansen. “Vera is Nana’s sidekick – sarcastic and off the cuff. I saw this play in Cambria and knew I had to do this part because it’s me.”

The granddaughter Bridget (Samantha Jones) and policeman Tom (Bailey Beach) are the love interest.

Beach noted, “Tom is head over heels in love with Bridget. Maybe that’s why he does not pick up on what is going on in the apartment. He’s oblivious.”

The slip up (no pun intended) between Saucy Lips and Saucy Slips introduces Heather Van Dupree (Jenifer Bellin) to the hilarity. “She dreams of being a model. She sees an opportunity and goes for it,” says Bellin. Not

other places to what I’m calling ‘festivals,’ they thought they could do it here,” Johnson said. “It started very small--the school gym, the White Horse Restaurant. They were all over.”

Each band will play seven sets, and special guests will sit in from time to time.

When the Sierra Traditional Jazz Club began, the band’s monthly performances were one of the biggest thing going in Three Rivers.

“They’d get 250 people. It would be huge,” Johnson said. “You joined the club and you got to come for free.

It wasn’t very much to join. They started having potlucks. Sometimes one of the restaurants would cater it.”

Making New Musicians

JazzAffair isn’t just big entertainment. It’s also a big fundraiser for the Sierra Traditional Jazz Club, as well as the Three Rivers Lions Club, local middle-school students, and budding area musicians. All of it is done with volunteer labor.

“We send kids to jazz camps. We have a kid going to Berkeley,” Johnson said. Any profit the club earns go toward making musicians. “The left over funds have been allocated to scholarships. It’s a big challenge.”

Besides providing their Roping Arena, the Lions Club provides drinks and food at all three venues. Seventh-graders from Three Rivers Union School serve breakfast, lunch and

Birdie

Continued from B1 a freshman at Redwood High School, plays Kim MacAfee.

Bye Bye Birdie is being directed

by Theatre Company choreographer Nicole Zweifel. “One of the big challenges this year is that a huge class of students who had been involved with TCOE almost their entire school career has graduated,” she said. “While losing all of that maturity and experience is, of course, a challenge, it has opened the doors to meet many new students and allow others to rise up into leadership roles. I’m especially proud of Ab-

B7

CASA of Tulare County, and is partnering with the Rawhide in their Rawhide Readers Book Giveaways this season.

The Rawhide will open their season on at home April 5th against the Rancho Cucamonga Quakes. For tickets and more information, please visit RawhideBaseball.com.

dinner at the school’s cafeteria, with the proceeds paying for their annual eighth-grade trip.

Those who won’t attend the festival can still bid on silent auction items and buy raffle tickets at the Roping Arena, and get an earful of jazz for their good effort, Johnson said.

Volunteers Keep Jazz Alive

Three Rivers’ weekend of jazz is unusual for its longevity. Many other longtime festivals have disappeared and that, says Johnson, has helped JazzAffair keep going, as more aficionados now make their way here. The other factor is JazzAffair’s unpaid staff.

“One of the things that’s helped us is a number of big festivals like ours have dropped off the map,” Johnson said. “The thing that’s different is we’re all volunteers. If we had to take a salary, we just couldn’t operate.”

Big donors also contribute, but the mainstays are the festival and the roster of club members. The club would like to see its ranks grow, and is offering half-price tickets to those who pay the $50-per-couple cost of joining up. Membership includes four performances of the High Sierra Jazz Band annually. Individual memberships are $35 each, and include the 50%-off offer.

Badges for the three-day JazzAffair are $100 (or $50 for membership, plus $50 per pass), with additional passes for $50. Tickets to the Lions Recognition Dinner at 5pm Thursday, April 12, are $15. Admission is free for children 12 or younger.

For more information, call (559) 561-1621 or visit jazzaffair.info. bigail Cordeniz, a senior, who has participated with TCOE since she was six years old. She has really set a great example to the younger students during this transition time of what it means to come to rehearsal memorized and prepared to move forward each and every week.”

The Theatre Company will offer four performances of Bye Bye Birdie at the El Diamante Theater at 5100 W. Whitendale Ave. in Visalia. Evening performances will begin at 6:30pm on April 19, 20 and 21. A 2pm matinee will be held on Saturday, April 21. Tickets will be available April 3 at the Mooney Boulevard and Doe Avenue complexes for $10 per person. For information, call the Theatre Company at (559) 651-1482.

B8

Valley Voice

5 April, 2018

Colorful, drought-tolerant perennials UCCE TULARE/KINGS COUNTIES MASTER GARDENER PROGRAM Wouldn’t it be great to have plants that only have to be planted once and bloom for a long time? If you choose well, there are many perennials that can fill the bill here in the Central Valley. There are perennials that bloom almost all year long, are untroubled by pests and diseases, and add fresh flower form and substance to your garden.

But what exactly is a perennial?

In California, it’s complicated. What are called perennials in California are plants that live longer than annuals, but are not as sturdy or woody as shrubs. Many gardening books call them “herbaceous” perennials, reflecting how the plants behave during cold weather: they die to the ground each winter and come back (produce new growth) each spring. Be sure to seek western sources for information on perennials because eastern varieties may not thrive here in our hot summers or without winter chill. Local nurseries can provide information on California natives and drought tolerant plants and are displaying many perennials right now.

If you’re looking for a short perennial that blooms almost year round, consider Scabiosa ‘Butterfly Blue.’ It grows only a foot tall, has round flowers that resemble a pincushion, and are very attractive to butterflies. To keep them blooming, cut off spent flowers down to the next joint, where you will see new flowers coming. If they get away from you, you can cut

Gaillardia ‘Goblin’ is one option for a beautiful, colorful garden. Photograph by Mike Peel (www.mikepeel.net).

off the entire bloom stalk, fertilize, and let them send up new blooms. Scabiosa will spread through runners which will root and create more plants.

A hot colored perennial that could also replace annuals in flower production is Gaillardia ‘Goblin.’ Daisy-like flowers with a red center and red petals tipped in yellow provide a near yearround show on this compact foot-tall plant. Other varieties tend to sprawl across the ground and hence “blanket flower” is its nickname. Again, deadhead to extend the bloom.

A slightly taller plant at 18 inches is Achillea ‘Moonshine’ which has silver foliage and pale yellow flat-topped flowers. Another good Achillea is ‘Coronation Gold,’ which grows to 3 feet and has bright yellow flowers. Achillea millefoliums are also good bloomers but they sometimes need some support staking and can spread a little

too freely!

A few other plants to try are: Echinacea or coneflower grows to 3 feet with pink or white daisy-like flowers.

Penstemons and salvias are also lovely long blooming perennials in Valley gardens and they do best with less water. The hummingbirds will love you if you plant them!

In time you will need to divide your perennial, digging it up and dividing it into several fresh new plants to replant in your garden. Close inspection reveals perennials are actually composed of many tiny plants growing in a clump together. By separating them and planting them in newly amended soil, you give your plants a fresh start and multiply them at the same time.

Perennials can be planted in fall or spring. These plants will be in place a long time and require a good rich soil to perform best. Dig up the area and

add several inches of compost or other soil amendment and a handful of fertilizer. To keep your plants blooming as long as possible, study how they bloom. Cutting off spent flowers at the base or along the bloom stalk should force other buds to open. Some plants, like Shasta daisies and salvias, grow fresh new foliage at the base of the plant when the old foliage starts to look too ragged. Cut back to the fresh growth, fertilize, and you have a rejuvenated plant. Plants like penstemons can also be cut back to encourage a flush of new blooms. Through deadheading and cutting back, you can keep your perennials in bloom a long time and enjoy their show through many seasons.

Purchasing plants and supplies: At the nursery, choose the plants that will form the foundation, the color bursts, the textures, the diversity, and the unifying elements to your beds. The more you mix, the less formal the effect. The more you match, the more formal the effect.

We suggest that you choose plants carefully for our summers in the valley and foothills. Try to select plants that have matching irrigation requirements and try to select drought tolerant and water thrifty plants. There are many perennial herbs and flowers adapted to our Mediterranean climate that are underutilized and are being showcased in nurseries right now. Every plant we talked about today is pretty thrifty on water use requirements, yet they provide an abundance of bloom and interest.