Valley Voice Issue 119 (21 June, 2018)

MORE OF THE SAME JUST SMALLER VALLEY SCENE is now pages 7-10

SMASH MOUTH HEADED page 7

HSR PLAN APPROVED

TO TULARE COUNTY FAIR

PAGE 14

Valley Voice

Volume XXXVIII No. 12 21 June, 2018 ourvalleyvoice.com

TRMC may not open by October, say Kaweah, Community CEOs

Gubler concedes Assembly race to Mathis, Sigala

TONY MALDONADO

council against setting a precedent in removing him.

“If this is all they’ve got to do to get rid of you, they’ll be back,” he told the council.

Jones has been under intense criticism after private Facebook comments he made regarding agriculture were made public in the My Job Depends on Ag Facebook group. At this Tulare City Council meeting -- and the last -council chambers overflowed into the Tulare Public Library as citizens came to make their voices heard; the Voice’s Facebook stream reached a peak of 1,240 simultaneous viewers.

Visalia Mayor Warren Gubler, a Republican candidate for the 26th Assembly District, conceded June 16 in a race that had been too close to call since election night.

“Well folks, it seems we do not have the votes to continue on to the runoff in November. While we are certainly disappointed, I want you to know how grateful I am for those who supported and encouraged me during the campaign. I will keep working for our local citizens in my capacity on the Visalia City Council, and I look forward to exploring new ways to serve in the future,” he stated in a message on his campaign’s Facebook page.

Karen Tellalian, his campaign manager, had been at the Tulare County Registrar of Voters office for over a week watching the count of 20,000 ballots.

On June 14, after the registrar’s office made a big push to get through most of those ballots, Tellalian realized that Gubler was not going to climb his way out of third place.

“We knew it would be nearly impossible with three Republicans in the race …and here we are,” said Telallian.

On election night, Gubler took a two point lead over incumbent Mathis and a 4.5 point lead over Tulare City Councilman Jose Sigala. But by the

TULARE COUNCIL continued on 11 »

GUBLER continued on 14 »

CATHERINE DOE

catherine@ourvalleyvoice.com

tony@ourvalleyvoice.com

Two of the Tulare Local Healthcare District’s potential partners have indicated that the Tulare Regional Medical Center’s reopening in October is unlikely.

RFP responses obtained by the Valley Voice indicate that both the Kaweah Delta Healthcare District and Community Medical Centers would not be prepared to reopen the hospital by October. According to the hospital’s interim CEO, two other entities have not ruled out the possibility of an October reopening.

“I think they’re looking at their schedules and have other priorities,” Kevin Northcraft, the chairman of the Tulare Local Healthcare District board, said.

Both entities have been offering help throughout their process, he said.

The Hospital’s View

“We’re committed to the hospital being in better shape when we reopen than it was when we temporarily suspended. Several things need to be done. But that’s all being scheduled and waiting for funding,” Northcraft said.

Larry Blitz, the hospital’s interim

TRMC continued on 13 »

David Macedo is Tulare’s new mayor. Tony Maldonado/Valley Voice

Tulare changes mayors, cuts legal representation TONY MALDONADO

tony@ourvalleyvoice.com

Tulare’s former mayor, Carlton Jones, opened the June 19 Tulare City Council meeting. Tulare’s new mayor, David Macedo, closed it. By the time the council came back from closed session, its city attorney spot was left vacant.

Both Jones and the City Attorney were voted out unanimously, including votes by Jones himself. The vote does not affect his position as a Tulare City Councilman, and no indication has been given that efforts to recall Jones from the council will slow down.

Before the vote, he warned the

Chris Harrell to run for Tulare Tulare councilman defends developer work, denies favoritism City Council District 4 seat Olympic Team. Other work includes STAFF REPORTS his extensive engagement in the TuChris Harrell, a fourth generation lare Improvement Program and helpTularean, has announced that he plans ing downtown business owners. to seek the District 4 seat on the TuKey among his priorities are relare City Council. The seat is storing civility currently held by long-time to Tulare, ensurCouncilman David Macedo. ing public safety, “I want to bring back smart growth, common sense, honesty and and balancing the realism to the City of Tulare city’s budget. and respect for its local govHarrell said ernment,” Harrell said. “I that it was imperwant to take Tulare forward.” ative elected offiCurrently, he serves as cials act as good the Executive Director and stewards of the Curator of the Tulare Histaxpayers’ dollars. torical Museum, and is well “We always known for his communineed to examine ty service. and re-examine, as Harrell’s experience and Chris Harrell. well as think outcommunity leadership inside the box to find cludes developing fundraisers that the most efficient ways to utilize these have benefited the Tulare Historical dollars, and to live within our means,” Museum, Tulare Teen City, and the U.S.

HARRELL continued on 13 »

NANCY VIGRAN

nancy@ourvalleyvoice.com

While the public comment period was sizzling for 1 ½ hours during the June 5 Tulare City Council meeting, another subject — Tulare City Councilman Greg Nunley’s subdivision — was simmering on the back burner.

At the onset it seemed innocent enough. Any new subdivision agreement, or extension thereof, is brought to council’s agenda whether in the consent calendar or general business, Josh McDonnell, community and economic development director, told the Voice.

Consent calendar item #8 read: “Subject to receipt of certification that required bonding for remaining improvements will remain in place for the duration of the term of the agreement, authorize the City Manager to execute an amendment to the subdivision improvement agreement for the Tesori subdivision reflecting a twelve (12) month time extension from date of Council approval, result-

ing in a new subdivision improvement agreement expiration date of June 5, 2018.”

The Tesori subdivision

The Tesori subdivision is a project undertaken by Greg Nunley, who was elected to city council in 2016, while the project was well underway. He had recused himself from voting on the item, as normally done when a councilmember has a conflict of interest.

Michael Noland, an attorney for the Lagomarsino Group out of Visalia, stepped up alleging a California Government Code 1090 violation for the councilman and the city.

A 1090 violation is that of a “public official acting in his or her official capacity knowingly made or caused to be made a contract in which he or she had a financial interest,” according to PublicCEO. Noland also attempted to raise doubt as to whether the necessary

NUNLEY continued on 12 »

21 June, 2018 Valley Voice

2

FROM THE PUBLISHER'S DESK

End of an Era

In the staff box below is a phrase averring ownership of the Voice as yours. And that’s true, broadly; strictly speaking, however, the paper belongs to the Chief and myself--which means we set policy and pay all the bills.

But the paper has never been profitable. We’ve run it the last five years as a necessary community service--something we’d like to know would continue in the event of our demise or retirement. Some day somebody has to be able inherit this mantle without wasting into catastrophic debt.

As it currently stands, to break even each edition has to raise approximately $7000. That’s $168k annually.

Thus, a restructuring.

We’ll appear with the same frequency, and may even be able to widen our circulation. Valley Scene, however, must be a casualty. Just not entirely. We intend to absorb it, though reduced, into the front section.

The brainchild of our first associate editor, Steve Pastis, we’ve run Scene from, I think, our second issue. It’s been a luxury. True, Scene may have been primarily responsible for our not having to pay the IRS during a few lean years, but this isn’t about our bottom line.

It’s about preparing the paper to be inheritable.

Because the community needs a community newspaper. I mean, where would we be without one? The Visalia Times-Delta can’t be said to be local any longer, and, as a daily, it can’t seem to do the deep dives afforded the Valley Voice. Plus, we’re truly independent. There’s no home office--unless you consider that we operate the paper from our home.

I don’t know if the Visalia Times-Delta is profitable. But it doesn’t necessarily have to be--it’s part of the Gannett portfolio, and it is that portfolio, overarchingly, which has to be profitable. For all I know, the Visalia Times-Delta could fashion a portion of Gannett’s tax write-off strategy.

OK--that’s the sharp end sorted. Now for something completely different.

Yesterday Panther, our black cat (I wanted to name him Lucky) who is senile and, according to various websites, between the human ages of 80 and 95, sloped off to the back yard to expire. All day some demented bird shrieked at and dive bombed him, and between writing this and everything else going on I shooed the bird yonder. This morning Panther staggered into the house on three good legs and proceeded to keel over on the tile.

He’s not dead yet, but I have no doubt we’re watching him go. Mercifully, he does not seem to be suffering--and I can only surmise that the cool tile and our well known voices are a comfort.

It’s the end of another era. I watched him being born in a dresser drawer in our Lemon Cove house 16 years ago.

Panther died while I was listening to public comments at the June 19 Tulare City Council meeting. All day I said my goodbyes to him, and I know he knew he was surrounded by his family.

And now, tonight--finally--a vote on the reorganization of Tulare’s city council. This was Carlton Jones’ last day as Mayor.

After nearly two and a half hours of public comment at the June 19 meeting, Councilman Jose Sigala motioned for a reorganization of the council with David Macedo taking over as mayor.

The question is: Was this arranged in advance?

Because Jones, gobsmackingly, seconded the motion and asked for a vote all in one breath.

Five simultaneous ayes issued from the dais, and Jones’ time as mayor abruptly ended.

Not the end of an era, perhaps, so much as a step in the right direction.

— Joseph Oldenbourg

Valley Voice

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

The Voice strives for accuracy in reporting.

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

The first five copies of this newspaper are free. Subsequent copies are 25 cents per copy without prior arrangement. Please contact us for more information.

Publisher/Editor:

Joseph Oldenbourg

joseph@ourvalleyvoice.com — 559-731-8687

Reporters:

Catherine Doe

catherine@ourvalleyvoice.com — 559-972-7778

Use your voice: send letters, concerns, or corrections to editor@ourvalleyvoice.com PO Box 44064, Lemon Cove, CA 93244

Dave Adalian

dave@ourvalleyvoice.com

Production/Website: Tony Maldonado

tony@ourvalleyvoice.com — 559-799-4100

Valley Voice 21 June, 2018

POLITICAL FIX How’s that Blue Wave Workin’ for Ya?

Remember the Blue Wave that was going to take over Washington D.C. but was dependent on California flipping seven Republican congressional districts?

Well it’s hard to have a Blue Wave if no one shows up. For all the hype and excitement this Primary stirred up, voter turnout was marginal and even worse in Tulare County.

Reports of increased turnout only happened in five counties where everyone received their ballot in the mail.

According to Ruben Macareno, who ran for Assembly District 26 in 2016, 8000 fewer people voted in Tulare County this election than in the last Primary, and I don’t think it was the Republicans who stayed home.

California has 53 seats in the House of Representative and of the 14 seats held by Republicans, seven were targeted by Democrats to be flipped.

Because these are seven very entrenched Republican districts, Democrats were not going for a win, but for second place to get on the November ballot.

That didn’t turn out to be so easy.

So many Democrats ran in six of the seven districts that even coming in second was a battle. Multiple Democrats split the vote, and the fear was that none of them would make it to the General Election. With California’s top two Primary, it could have been two Republicans competing for the House seat.

Though it was close, that didn’t happen. In every congressional district a Republican and Democrat will be facing each other. But that is about as good as it gets for the Democrats.

Only one congressional district looks like it will flip from Republican to Democrat in November.

Two of the targeted seven districts are in the Central Valley, Congressional District 10 held by Jeff Denham, and District 21 held by David Valadao. Both incumbents won by a large margin and will easily win in November.

The remaining five districts are in Southern California. District 49 in Orange and San Diego Counties is the one likely to flip. The district is currently held by Darrell Issa who is retiring thus leaving the seat open. Four Democrats received a combined 51% of the vote on June 5, while the eight Republicans got 47.6%.

The only other district that is considered a toss-up is District 48 held by Dana Rohrabacher, a 15-term incumbent. He has been implicated as colluding with Wikileaks and Russia in the 2016 election and has been challenged, not only by the Democrats, but by his own party. Even though five Republicans ran against him, Mr. Rohrbacher came in first by a wide margin.

If the Democrats still plan on taking the House this November, it’s not going to be by way of California.

What’s Devin’s Beef?

Congressional District 22 represented by Devin Nunes was never seriously part of the list targeted by Democrats, that is, unless a political pundit was in the mood to poke the bear - which seems exceedingly easy to do lately.

Yes, Mr. Nunes has been the most talked about congressman in the country, and everyone who was obsessed with California’s Primary was watching our district. But no pollster or pundit ever predicted Mr. Nunes would lose or

that his long shot, unknown challenger, Andrew Janz , ever had a chance.

Unlike the seven targeted Republican held congressional districts where Ms. Clinton won in 2016, President Trump won by a large margin in District 22, and Mr. Nunes did better than Mr. Trump by 15 points.

The Fresno Bee has endorsed him in every election since he won in 2002, he has raised millions more campaign dollars than Mr. Janz, and he has won every election since 2004 by a margin of 30 points or more.

In fact, Mr. Nunes received more votes this primary than his five challengers combined.

So why is Mr. Nunes so angry?

Mr. Nunes responded to his primary victory by giving a sarcastic “Thank you” to those who criticized him, mainly focusing on the media. In an interview with the Visalia Times-Delta he said, “…. these fake news stories leading up to the primary were nothing but attacks. I enjoyed it. The stronger the attack, the more support we had,” he said.

“The media has no shame. Do they live in ‘The Twilight Zone’? (Democrats) got had.”

Democrats got had by who?

One internal poll conducted by Mr. Janz’ campaign said they were within a five percent margin of error to break even with Mr. Nunes, which is still a long shot. I wrote in my Primary Predictions that Mr. Nunes’ margin of victory would be reduced from his average of 30 points to ten.

Hardly a scathing assessment.

What actually did happen June 5 was that his five challengers came within 15 points of Mr. Nunes. His challengers received approximately 42% of the vote combined and Mr. Nunes received 58%. One of them was a conservative so those votes in the general election will most likely go to Mr. Nunes. Mr. Janz received 32% of the vote.

This all means that Mr. Nunes didn’t do as well as in primaries past, but he is still going to enjoy a decisive win in the General Election.

The goal was for the challengers to pull off a combined 45% to 50% so Mr. Nunes might actually have to campaign and mingle amongst the regular folk.

Seeing as Mr. Nunes works for us, and that we pay his salary, it would be nice to see his face again.

Truth is Stranger than Fiction

I’m still mulling over the term “fake news.”

How many times have you said under your breath, “You can’t make this stuff up?”

That’s a common refrain in the life of a reporter.

I remember sitting at a Tulare Public Cemetery meeting when someone in the audience wanted to know why the cemetery put their loved one in the wrong grave.

I thought this was pretty shocking - until the next meeting when three more grieving families asked the same question, some of whom did not even know where their loved one was buried.

How do you lose four bodies – at a cemetery?

With stories like these who needs fake news? And what newspaper would want to print it?

Congressman Devin Nunes has been obsessing of late over the subject of fake news.

He told the Visalia Times-Delta, “It’s scary what the media will do to create a

3 a column by CATHERINE DOE — catherine@ourvalleyvoice.com massive fake news story,” Mr. Nunes recently put out a searing campaign ad criticizing the Fresno Bee saying, “The Fresno Bee has worked closely with radical left-wing groups to promote fake news stories about me.”

In February he told the Fresno Bee in response to a question about his next Town Hall meeting, “Your paper is a joke to even bring these issues up or raise these issues.

You know – it’s actually sad. I actually feel bad for the people who work at The Bee, because sadly it’s become just a left-wing rag.”

I lived in the Socialist Republic of Berkeley for seven years and know a radical left wing group when I see one, and I assure you there are none here, nor are there any left wing rags.

Who would read them if there were?

Writing a story about lawsuits, voting records, forums, town halls or the Russian investigation is not “radical.”

It’s called journalism.

The Valley Voice has been accused of the same, albeit mostly by the gospel quoting Mayor of Tulare, Carlton Jones.

He said concerning the Valley Voice during a KTIP interview, “I don’t call it a newspaper. I just call it an op-ed. So people can make fake profiles and give their opinion……

They print whatever they want. It couldn’t be further from the truth.”

He continued later in the interview, “my grandma taught me to please three people, my God, my wife, and myself.”

Funny thing though, when his grandma’s words slipped his mind, he almost strangled his wife to death in front of his daughter, stole credit cards, physically threatened a Tulare business woman in her shop, had an affair with a friend’s wife then filed a restraining order against him, and called the Tulare Outlet Mall manager and yelled at him using a string of profanities the likes of which the man had never heard.

Mr. Jones has had his wages garnered, been pursued by bill collectors, gone through foreclosure, and has been involved in multiple lawsuits. He is such a menacing public figure that

several people have told me they fear for their safety.

Of course, Mr. Jones referred to all of this as “fake news.”

For the cherry on top, he recently released a litany of criticisms against the agriculture industry, all the while being mayor of the most productive agricultural region in the world and home to the World Ag Expo.

Then there is President Donald Trump, who made “fake news” a household term.

While paying off porn stars and alienating our closest allies, he has been showering praise on the world’s most brutal dictators from Turkey, China, Russia, and North Korea. (Yes, I know some of them were “elected.”)

Journalists can’t make this stuff up nor would we want to.

I actually have an example of fake news that no one ever called out.

That was when Mr. Mathis’ former Chief of Staff, Sean Doherty, played Joseph Turner of American Families First like a fiddle. Mr. Doherty fed him a story about a night of partying that ended in Mr. Mathis allegedly committing sexual assault. Now that the dust has settled it looks like Mr. Doherty either committed the assault and/or was out for revenge on his former employer because he is a vindictive, bitter man.

Because Mr. Mathis is not as pure as the driven snow, the story was in the realm of possibilities. But there is a huge moral gap between an assemblyman partying and an assemblyman committing sexual assault.

Mr. Turner should have vetted his source just a little before publishing the story on his blog.

The Fresno Bee, Visalia Times-Delta and Valley Voice did reprint Mr. Turner’s blog but by then the allegations were headed to the Sacramento Police and had become a real story.

I do remember Mr. Mathis hiring a special public relations firm to handle the accusations and the Sacramento Police closing the case because of lack of evidence.

What I do not remember is Mr. Mathis crying “fake news.”

2018

Large Business

of the Year

We are proud recipients of the Large Business of the Year Award for 2018. Thank you Visalia Chamber of Commerce!

Our team is honored, grateful and excited to continue serving our community and members! www.tucoemas.org

4

Porterville Freedom Fest set for June 30 STAFF REPORTS Tickets are on sale for the eighth annual Freedom Fest taking place on June 30 at the Porterville Sports Complex. Sponsored by the City of Porterville, Tule River Indian Tribe and Sierra View Medical Center, this community event is sure to be a blast for the entire family.

The festival showcases live musical entertainment, a patriotic aerial performance, a spray zone, an array of local food vendors, and more. The finale to the evening is the spectac-

ular display of fireworks. Bring out your blankets and lawn chairs and enjoy a summer evening with friends and family.

Gates open at 4:00 pm and the festivities kick off at 5:00 pm, with fireworks at 9:00 pm. The cost of admission is per carload; $10 per pass in advance and $15 the day of. There is also a limited amount of preferred parking passes for $20. Passes can be purchased at the Heritage Center, 256 E. Orange Avenue, or Parks and Leisure Services inside City Hall.

Can’t make it to either of the locations to purchase your parking pass before the big event? No problem- there is an online coupon that will allow you to secure the advance sale prices without ever leaving your home. Just check out the City of Porterville’s website, print out the Freedom Fest coupon and present it at the event to receive the discounted prices.

Porterville Transit is also offering free transportation out to the event.

Just hop on the event shuttle departing from the Transit Center located at

Visalia Chamber announces 2018 honorees STAFF REPORTS Each year the Visalia Chamber of Commerce honors those businesses and individuals who consistently go above and beyond to support our community. This year is no exception - dozens of businesses were nominated for these prestigious awards which date back to 1952 when C.T. Buckman received the first Man of the Year award.

This year’s esteemed winners include:

Man of the Year – Sam Logan:

Sam Logan stands out as a very special person who loves Visalia, has a passion to help others, and a willingness to step up to the plate with his time and talents. Sam is a Veteran of the United State Navy serving from 1962 - 1969 in Viet Nam, and is a Life Member of Am Vets Post 26. By trade

ONLY

Sam Logan is a Wealth Management Advisor and has been the Vice President at Merrill Lynch for more than 20 years. He has served on a number of Non-Profit Boards including the Visalia Chamber of Commerce, CASA of Tulare County, United Way of Tulare County, Arts Visalia, Tulare County Symphony League, Hospice of Tulare County and many more.

Woman of the Year – Dena Cochran:

Dena Cochran has been an active member of the Visalia community for more than 3 decades. Since 1985 Dena has been the Vice President of Development at Kaweah Delta Health Care District where she has helped to raise over $58 million for the hospital. Beyond her impact on the community through her work at Kaweah Delta, Dena has served as a member of the Visalia Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors, the Friends of the Fox

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Young Professional of the Year – Cody Stephens:

Cody Stephens is the Co-Founder/Vice President and CFO of Amplify Inc a start-up website development and marketing company. In this role Cody works with both, for-profit and non-profit organizations helping them to build their business and promote their services in an affordable way. Outside of his work with Amplify, Cody has engaged with our community through his membership in the Visalia County Center Rotary Club. He is the Chair of the El Diamante Interact Club and is the founder and current President of the COS Rotaract Club.

Small Business of the Year – Zeeb Commercial Real Estate:

Zeeb Commercial Real Estate has been doing business in Visalia for more than 30 years. The mission of the company is to further enhance the community of Visalia through broad based community support and Economic Development fostered through

21 June, 2018 Valley Voice

61 W. Oak Avenue. Call Porterville Transit for more details at (559) 791-7800.

The Freedom Fest is made possible with the continued support of community partners including the Tule River Indian Tribe, Sierra View Medical Center, Porterville Airport, SM Transit, Porterville Recorder and K-TIP Radio.

For more information on the event, check out the City of Porterville website, call (559) 791-7695 or follow Parks and Leisure Services on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

successful commercial real estate transactions benefitting all parties.

The members of the Zeeb Commercial Real Estate team have held and currently hold positions and volunteer with more than 20 non-profit and community organizations including: Golden State YMC, Live Oak District Boy Scouts, Exeter Boys and Girls Club, Visalia ASA Softball, Mt. Whitney Jazz Band the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, the Tulare County Association of Realtors, Northern California Commercial Association of Realtors and the Commercial Real Estate Women group.

Medium Business of the Year – Best Buy Market IGA Visalia:

Best Buy Market Visalia has been in business for 19 years. During that time Owner Skip Nugent has ensured that the store and its employees actively participate in the community.

The Best Buy Market mission is “nothing small about us, big hearts, and big smiles. Treating customers right 365 days a year”.

Big hearts takes a on a special meaning for the Best Buy Market family. For 16 years Best Buy Market has hosted multiple events and campaigns to raise funds for the Happy Hearts Foundation which raises money for the pediatric unit at Valley Children’s Hospital.

HONOREES continued on 5 »

Valadao releases statement on border child separations STAFF REPORTS U.S. Congressman David G. Valadao (CA-21) released the following statement regarding the “zero tolerance” policy of the Department of Justice, which has forced the separation of children from their parents at the United States – Mexico border: “The substantial increase of minors at our southern border is both a humanitarian and national security crisis. While we must work towards a solution that reduces the occurrence of illegal border crossings, it is unacceptable to separate young children from their parents. This is exactly why passage of a compromise solution, such as that being discussed in Congress right now, is absolutely necessary.”

BACKGROUND

Since being elected to Congress, Congressman David Valadao has remained dedicated to repairing the broken immigration system of the United States. His personal connec-

tion to immigration, combined with the serious impact policy change will have on his constituents, have provided Valadao with a deep understanding of the issue, especially as it relates to agriculture and our guest worker program.

In 2017, Valadao cosponsored H.R. 496, the Bar Removal of Individuals who Dream and Grow our Economy (BRIDGE) Act and H.R. 1468, the Recognizing America’s Children (RAC) Act, as well as H.R. 3440, the Dream Act of 2017.

In January, Congressman Valadao cosponsored H.R.4796, the USA Act. Most recently, in March, Congressman Valadao cosponsored H.Res. 774, the Queen of the Hill Resolution and signed on to a Discharge Petition to bring the legislation to the House Floor.

Congressman David G. Valadao represents the 21st Congressional District, which includes Kings County and portions of Fresno, Tulare, and Kern Counties.

Valley Voice 21 June, 2018

Visalia Rescue Mission to celebrate Simply Chic Boutique expansion STAFF REPORTS After seven years in its current location, Visalia Rescue Mission’s specialty thrift boutique, Simply Chic Boutique, is once again doubling in size.

Simply Chic Boutique is not your traditional thrift store. Each item in this charming shop is hand selected by in-house curators. “It’s common for first time shoppers to mistake us for a full-price retail boutique,” commented store manager, Brittany Pasillas, and it’s no wonder why. A quick stroll around the store will reveal a wide variety of new or very gently used items, including clothing, shoes,

housewares, and small furniture from high-end and on-trend designers.

Along with current trends, the boutique is stocked with beautiful vintage and antique items as well-- all expertly displayed alongside each other, creating the most beautiful, eclectic setting you can imagine. Owned and operated by Visalia Rescue Mission, all proceeds from the boutique fund the community work VRM is known for.

Located on the corner of Court and Main Streets, Simply Chic Boutique is housed in Visalia’s historic Palace Hotel building. VRM’s boutique began with humble roots, as a small section within the Mission’s

larger thrift store on Mooney Blvd.

When the small corner space at 100 E. Main became available in 2011, Sherri White, VRM Director of Thrift, jumped at the opportunity to set up shop in the iconic location. After the neighboring business on their east side relocated in 2014, the boutique expanded into that space, and doubled its then current size. With the recent vacancy on the Court Street side of the building, the boutique is taking the leap, and expanding north to occupy nearly the entire ground floor of the former hotel.

The public is invited to attend Simply Chic Boutique’s expansion

grand opening: • June 28th, 10:00am-6:00pm • 100 E. Main Street, Visalia • Live music, giveaways, and discounts throughout the day • Light refreshments provided An official ribbon cutting is set for July 2nd at 10:00am.

“We are so grateful for the community’s support of this unique concept,” said White. “When we opened the first phase of the store here on Main Street, we could not have imagined we would be quadrupling in size.

It’s only by God’s grace and our wonderful community that we are where we are today.”

California Connections Academy graduates 2018 Senior Class STAFF REPORTS California Connections Academy @ Central, a tuition-free online public school serving students in transitional kindergarten through 12th grade, graduated 28 high school seniors at a commencement ceremony held at San Joaquin Delta College in Stockton on Monday, June 18. Remarks honoring the graduates were delivered

by Couper Condit, district director, Dr. Richard Savage, the school’s executive director, Kara Mannix, high school principal, and Alexandria Yao, student and professional figure skater on Team USA. Hundreds of family members, friends, teachers and administrators gathered to honor the students’ accomplishments.

“We are thrilled to watch the 2018 graduating class take the next steps toward a purposeful and rewarding future,” said Marcus White, site administrator at California Connections Academy @ Central. “During their time at California Connections Academy @ Central, they have emerged as thoughtful leaders, masters of digital literacy and ambitious en-

HONOREES continued from 4

Large Business of the Year – Tucoemas Federal Credit Union:

The mission of Tucoemas Federal Credit Union is to seek opportunities to provide financial product, services, and education to those in our community that might not otherwise be seen as worthy investments.

To that end, activities that might “exceed the mission” of other organizations are really at the heart of the mission of Tucoemas.

Below are a few examples of programs that show how they go above and beyond. Tucoemas is a supporter of Visalia SOUP, Helping One Woman, Valley Oak SPCA and Hats for Hope along with other programs. Tucoemas also supports its employees through staff development and by providing a Family Day vacation day to all employees.

Non-Profit of the Year – Happy Trails Riding Academy:

Happy Trails Riding Academy is a premier accredited program which enriches the lives of children

trepreneurs.”

California Connections Academy @ Central’s 2018 graduating class includes valedictorian Hayley Bean of Tulare, who has attended Connections Academy all four years of high school.

In traditional brick-and-mortar school, Hayley was a quick learner. She frequently outpaced her classmates in lessons and her teachers often needed to give her separate assignments just to keep her busy. At Connections Academy, Hayley had the opportunity to advance at a quicker pace on subjects she mastered, including math and psychology. She will continue her education at the College of the Sequoias in the fall and then plans to transfer to a four-year university where she will pursue a degree in psychology.

“Attending Connections Academy was the best decision I could have made when deciding where I wanted to begin my high school journey,” said Bean. “It helped me grow, not only academically, but as a person as well.

From navigating Connexus, to talking to my teachers on the phone, I really got a sense of the way I prefer learning

and adults with physical, cognitive and emotional disabilities, through equine facilitated therapy. Happy Trails was founded in 1983 and has grown to be a 25 acre facility which was able to provide 1,985 therapeutic lessons in 2017. Those lessons would not have been possible without nearly 11,000 volunteer hours.

Happy Trails currently offers five different activities/therapies. These services account for over 100 hours per week of therapeutic instruction.

Happy Trails has increased the number of rides offered, and they have been able to serve 13 different Central Valley communities including; Lindsay, Porterville, Exeter, Dinuba, Lemoore, Tipton and Fresno Winners were chosen by a committee of past winners and judged on a point system.

Winners were announced at the Visalia Chamber of Commerce’s 65th Annual Awards Celebration held on June 14, 2018 at the Visalia Convention Center.

For more information or to obtain biographic information for the winning companies or individuals, contact the Visalia Chamber of Commerce, 559-734-5876.

For more information about the Annual Awards Celebration go to www.visaliachamber.org/awards.

and it helped me become even more independent than I already was.”

Additional students from the 2018 graduating class will go on to pursue higher education at institutions including San Diego State University, Brigham Young University - Idaho, California State University: Long Beach, Humboldt University and San Francisco State University.

California Connections Academy @ Central provides an innovative and flexible learning environment for more than 450 students in transitional kindergarten through 12th grade in Tulare, Fresno, Kern, Kings and Inyo counties. Through a combination of state-credentialed teachers and high-quality curriculum which meets stringent state education standards, the school provides an individualized and top-tier learning program for its students.

Throughout the school year, students have many opportunities to interact with their classmates in person and prepare for the next stage in their lives. Recently, California Connections Academy organized visits to various

5

academic institutions, including University of California, Merced, California State University, Bakersfield, and California State University, Fresno. The school also hosted several field trips, including visits to the Superior Dairy, the Tehachapi Railroad Museum, the California Living Museum and the Cat House. California Connections Academy offers a variety of clubs and activities for students, including National Honor Society, sports club, music club, and robotics club, among others.

Juniors and seniors planning to attend college may adapt their schedules to accommodate exam preparation and applications, as well as take advantage of the school’s diverse course catalog, including expanded AP classes and career technical education offerings. Unique electives include accounting, psychology and computer science.

To learn more about California Connections Academy @ Central and begin enrollment for the 201819 school year, please visit www.connectionsacademy.com/california-online-school/about/central.

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21 June, 2018 Valley Voice

6

AGRICULTURE

Commentary: We can all help Californians appreciate ag TAMMY ANDERSON-WISE From new regulations to heightened scrutiny by consumers, retailers and foodservice partners, it’s no secret that California agriculture is under pressure--but huge opportunity exists through education.

California agriculture has the opportunity to build upon increased interest in food to educate families about the important work that occurs to bring food from farm to plate, as well as the nutrition profile of farm products, ultimately creating a value for agriculture and lifelong healthy eating.

At the crux of all this is the need to improve agricultural literacy. Programs such as the California Foundation for Agriculture in the Classroom provide a great way for agriculture to be represented to young people, but there is more to be done. Farmers, producers, processors and ranchers all have a role to play to make lasting change.

When children learn where their food comes from, they gain an understanding and value for agriculture that stays with them for the rest of their lives. For Dairy Council of California, creating a lifelong value for the five food groups starts in schools, which increasingly serve as the nexus of community health.

Dairy Council of California provides free, classroom-based nutrition education programs that align with Common Core State Standards and

reach more than 2.4 million schoolchildren and parents each year. To reinforce classroom programs, Mobile Dairy Classroom—an interactive learning lab that brings a live cow and calf to California schools—showcases how dairy products get from the farm to the plate. Children make a strong farm-to-school connection when programs reach them in and out of the classroom.

Through the school cafeteria, agriculture can also build a lifelong value for nutritious foods. The Smarter Lunchrooms Movement uses creative displays to nudge students to select fruits, vegetables, whole grains and milk for meals at school, reinforcing the education they receive in the classroom. Dairy Council of California has trained more than 54 school districts in California on how to use Smarter Lunchrooms Movement tactics to encourage consumption of the five food groups and reduce waste.

While these strategies are impactful, one of the best sources of information to create behavior change comes straight from the agriculture community.

Every year, Dairy Council of California works with dairy producers and processors to host farm tours for school foodservice professionals, registered dietitian nutritionists and other influential groups. The tours provide insight into dairy farming practices, animal welfare, milk processing and sustainability efforts.

Many attendees leave the tour with a newfound appreciation and deeper understanding of the hard work and care involved in making dairy foods readily available to consumers.

All farmers, ranchers, producers and processors play an important role in sharing California agriculture’s story. Here are a few ways you can educate children and families and create a lifelong passion for agriculture: • Advocate for nutrition education and agricultural literacy programs to be used in your local schools.

• Open your farm or processing facility to school and public tours.

• Participate in local health fairs and other community events.

• Volunteer for your school district’s wellness committee.

While the agriculture community can make a difference, we can’t do it alone. It’s critical that we convene with key partners outside of agriculture to build environments that not only support systemwide nutrition education but also focus on access to nutritious food.

Recently, students, parents and organizations across California came together to champion access to school meals. State Senate Bill 138 recently passed, and its implementation will allow the seamless enrollment of more than 650,000 students in free school meals through Medi-Cal direct certification. This new legislation ensures

students have breakfast and lunch available through federal universal meal provisions. This is tantamount to increasing student access to fresh fruits and vegetables, whole grains and dairy foods, since all are integral components of school meal programs.

The California agriculture community has a unique opportunity to connect with children and families, while also supporting health. Encouraging local schools to use classroom-based nutrition education and agriculture literacy programs, sharing how children can receive balanced meals all year long, and telling your story can make a difference in the life of a child.

For nearly 100 years, Dairy Council of California has worked on behalf of dairy farm families and local distributors to elevate the health of children and families in California through the pursuit of lifelong healthy eating habits. As we look to the future, one thing is certain—we can create a lasting value and understanding of agriculture if growers, producers, ranchers, processors and other members of the agriculture community work together to engage with audiences and share our story.

(Tammy Anderson-Wise is CEO of Dairy Council of California.)

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

USDA Announces Approval of CA Federal Milk Marketing Order STAFF REPORTS The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced June 7 that California dairy producers have voted to approve a Federal Milk Marketing Order (FMMO) for the entire State of California.

The new California FMMO will be implemented October 17, 2018, with publication of the Announcement of Advanced Prices and Pricing Factors, and affected parties must comply with all provisions beginning November 1, 2018.

USDA will work over the next few months to educate handlers who will become regulated by the new FMMO. California represents over 18 per-

cent of all U.S. milk production and is currently regulated by a state milk marketing order administered by California Department of Agriculture (CDFA).

Once this new FMMO is established, over 80 percent of the U.S. milk supply would fall under the FMMO regulatory framework.

According to Congressman David Valadao, local dairy producers faced an unfair disadvantage under current California dairy pricing structures in the federal market place. Many California dairy producers had expressed interest in entering the FMMOs, a dairy pricing mechanism, which would allow California dairy to compete on a lev-

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el playing field with the rest of the United States.

In response to constituent concerns, Valadao introduced bipartisan legislation addressing California’s struggling dairy industry in March 2013. H.R. 1396, the California Federal Milk Marketing Order Act allowed California dairy producers to petition the U.S. Secretary of Agriculture to join the Federal Milk Marketing Order.

In 2013, Valadao successfully inserted his FMMO legislation into the 2013 Farm Bill, triggering the USDA Agricultural Marketing Service began moving forward with California FMMO rule making.

FMMOs are legal instruments that regulate the sale of milk between dairy farmers and the first buyer. Where appropriate, the California FMMO adopts the uniform order provisions contained in the 10 current FMMOs in the national system. These uniform provisions include, but are not limited to, dairy product classification, end-product price formulas, and the producer-handler definition.

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unique market structure of the California dairy industry through tailored, performance-based standards to determine eligibility for pool participation. The order also provides for the recognition of producer quota as administered by the CDFA. After counting all votes of the referendum, conducted between April 2 through May 5, the USDA Agricultural Marketing Service confirmed passage of the referendum and published the Final Rule on Friday, June 8.

Valadao stated, “As a dairy farmer myself, I experienced firsthand the serious disadvantages dealt to California dairy producers and I came to Congress to ensure Central Valley farmers and ranchers had a voice in Washington. Ultimately, my FMMO legislation provided an open and transparent process, in which California farmers had the final say regarding their own pricing system.

Most importantly, implementation of a new pricing system will help California dairy farms compete on the national level, expand their operations, and create greatly needed jobs right here in the Central Valley.”

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21 June, 2018

VALLEYSCENE

ourvalleyvoice.com

Smash Mouth added to 2018 Tulare County Fair concert series STAFF REPORTS

“February Scene” by Peg Bonnar Hutson.

Peg Bonnar Hutson to sing Broadway at her art show DONNA OROZCO Peg Bonnar Hutson didn’t become an artist until recently. Instead, music was her passion. For 24 years she was the choir teacher at Valley Oak Middle School in Visalia and won a number of music educator awards. But she was a showman at heart. She bet her students each year if all four choirs got Superior ratings at the Visalia choir contest, she would do something outrageous.

One time she shaved her head.

Once time she arrived as Brunnhilde, the German opera character her students had studied. She sang Johnny Cash’s “Ring of Fire” because the opera is about a ring of fire.

But in 2013 when she was asked to teach a beginning art class, she jumped in. “I was given a room with chairs, clipboards and an overhead projector.

That’s it,” she said. So to teach art with no budget, she incorporated things like chalk art and a 1,000 origami crane project.

She will put her art and music skills together when she kicks off her art show at the Brandon-Mitchell Gallery during the Downtown Visalia First Friday Art Walk on July 6 from 5-8 p.m.

Not only will she show her abstract oil paintings, she will also sing some

Broadway tunes.

When Hutson was first asked to teach art, she immersed herself in learning about it and realized she loved the medium.

“Often I was only one lesson ahead of my students,” she said, but she had caught the bug. She took private oil painting lessons and had her first show at Cort Gallery in Three Rivers last year.

Hutson’s work features vibrant oil paintings in abstract form. She is best known for infusing her work with emotional hues and bold color stories.

Many of her paintings are in thick “Impasto” forms which seem to leap off the canvas and invite you to touch.

Her most recent work is based on the emotions of nature around her.

She will show these works along with pieces from her collection “Genesis 1,” which includes the painting, Tree Yielding Seeds, as well as other works depicting the creation of the world according to Genesis.

The Brandon-Mitchell Gallery is located in the Center for Spiritual Living, 117 S. Locust (one block south of Main).

The gallery is open Monday-Wednesday 9-3 by ringing the bell at the door and after Sunday services at 11:30 a.m.

Information: 559 625-2441 or www.cslvisalia.org.

Fairgoers will be “Walkin’ on the Sun” when “All-Star” rock band Smash Mouth takes the stage in Tulare this September.

Smash Mouth is the fourth act announced for the Tulare County Fair’s 2018 concert series. The Smash Mouth concert is slated for Sunday, Sept. 16 at 8:00 p.m. on the Budweiser Stage. All concerts are included with the price of fair admission. Tickets and discount promotions for the Tulare County Fair will launch Tuesday, July 10 at tcfair.org.

“Smash Mouth got their start in San Jose and became an international sensation in short time” said Pamela Fyock, chief executive officer of the Tulare County Fair. “They are a multi-platinum and Grammy-nominated band and we are delighted that Tulare is included on their tour route.”

For the first time in nearly a decade, all five members of what is widely-considered the “Classic” Smash Mouth lineup have committed themselves to the long-term future. Founding guitarist and main SM songwriter Greg Camp, along with world-renowned drummer Michael Urbano. has returned to the fold for an unforeseeable horizon of Smash Mouth projects already in the works. Founding bassist Paul DeLisle and 20-year-veteran SM keyboardist Michael “Hippy” Klooster round out the

classic combo.

Formed in late 1994, the band immediately began recording demos and showcasing in both San Jose and Hollywood. “Walkin’ On the Sun” was a hit after only one spin of their song on an influential radio station. Smash Mouth’s major-label debut “Fush Yu Mang” went double platinum, with 1999’s brilliant follow-up album “Astrolounge.” Boasting three top-ten hits, “All-Star,” “Then The Morning Comes” and “Can’t Get Enough Of You Baby,” sales for “Astrolounge” approached quadruple platinum status.

The Tulare County Fair’s 2018 concert series announced to date includes, Sheila E. (Sept. 12), Con Funk Shun (Sept.

14), Queen Nation (Sept. 15), and Smash Mouth (Sept. 16). The Sept. 13 act will be announced soon.

The Tulare County Fair’s mission is to showcase agriculture and create family fun. The five-day fair opens on Sept. 12 and runs through Sept. 16, 2018. The annual celebration includes scrumptious food, celebrity entertainment, interactive children’s activities, hundreds of animals, a wildlife adventure, a thrilling carnival, exciting motorsports, a rodeo, an impressive Junior Livestock Auction, and more. The Tulare County Fair has been a community tradition for more than a century.

For more information visit tcfair.org. #TulareFair2018

Singer brings heart songs to Visalia concert DONNA OROZCO After a traumatic childhood, Kimberly Haynes became hooked on methamphetamines. She realizes she could have died. Instead after many years of “putting my life back together,” she is an award-winning song writer and singer.

Her songs talk about her life experiences and finding the light within.

Haynes will bring her “Nectar of Song” musical tour of heart songs and sacred music to the Center for Spiritual Living Visalia on Sunday, July 1 thanks to a collaboration with Visalia attorney Doug Hurt.

Haynes grew up in Los Angeles but spent most of her vacations visiting

her aunt in Lindsay. But it was through a meditation singing prayer group in L.A. that she met Hurt.

“He heard me singing in these community gatherings and really supported me,” said Haynes. “He’s the executive producer of my new album. He made it happen.”

Hurt, also a musician, will open for Haynes’ concert at 6 p.m. at the center, 117 S. Locust, Visalia. Tickets are $20 and include Haynes’ new CD, “In Dreams.”

Haynes’ first CD, “Awaken Me,” won Album of the Year in the international One World Music Awards in 2016. She says her music is hard to categorize. Her web site is called “Musical Medicine Woman,” and her music ranges from new age world fusion to

gentle folk and soft pop.

She is touring with her musical partner, Vito Gregoli, who performs on a vast array of instruments such as guitars, South American charango, mandolin, sitar, Native American flute and percussion.

Haynes began singing as a young teenager and by age 17 had been featured in Christian TV and radio programs. But her father was an abusive alcoholic who committed suicide when Haynes was 13. She discovered by accident that she was adopted, but her mother denied it at first. As an adult, Haynes went into an emotional spiral.

“I had a lot of secret anxiety and started going to a therapist,” Haynes said. But then she was introduced to

meth. “It made me feel like a million dollars. It took away the pain.”

But eventually it was a worse nightmare, and she checked into a rehab center.

“I had to regain my sanity, my self-respect.” It took time, but eventually her music started coming back to her. Today she is happily married with two children. Music has been very healing.

“It’s all about opening your heart, lifting your spirit,” she said. “Life is challenging enough. Music is what sweetens it.”

Tickets will be available at the door or call the Center for Spiritual Living, 559 625-2441, or Doug Hurt, 559 730-8758.

21 June, 2018 Valley Voice

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Book Notes

The Handmaid’s Tale NEWELL BRINGHURST newellgb@hotmail.com

The Handmaid’s Tale by Margret Atwood, initially published in 1985, is a classic dystopian novel, achieving such status alongside George Orwell’s, 1984, and Aldous Huxley’s Brave New World. As in more recently published dystopian novels, including P. D. James’ The Children of Men and Suzanne Collins’ The Hunger Games, constant warfare combined with irreparable destruction to the earth’s environment has facilitated the obliteration of all vestiges of democracy.

The Handmaid’s Tale focuses on a patriarchal Christian Theocracy that has taken over what was once the United States, establishing a totalitarian state known as the Republic of Gilead.

Such drastic change resulted from the nation’s involvement in endless war combined with its irreparable damage to the environment.

Toxic chemical pollution led to a drastically shrinking birth rate, prompting the totalitarian regime to press into service those females best able to conceive. These women, designated Handmaids, were placed into the households of ranking government officials whose wives are unable to bear children. The subordinate women are expected to bear the husband’s children in place of the barren wives.

These Handmaids find themselves caught up in a nightmarish environ-

ment of strict regulation and severe punishment—the latter imposed even for the most minor of offences. Emblematic of their subordinate status is their assigned dress—a common red costume combined with a broad head covering— all designed to hide each w o m e n ’ s distinguishing features.

Females are also denied access to any and all written materials.

They are, moreover, drastically restricted in moving about, only allowed to leave their respective households for brief excursions to food distribution centers. These unfortunate females find themselves under constant surveillance by Gilead’s secret police, known at the Eyes.

The tale’s protagonist, indeed, its chronicler, is Offred, a Handmaid assigned to the household of an import-

ant leader known as The Commander and his infertile wife, Serena Joy. Underscoring her subordinate status, Offred has been forcibly separated from her husband and daughter.

Every effort has been made to strip Offred of both her self-identity and indeed, humanity. As Offred struggles to survive, she finds herself confronted with continuing challenges but also unexpected opportunities—the latter resulting from her changing relationship with the Commander and also with his wife, Serena Joy. Offred’s tale, thus takes a number of unexpected twists and turns.

Even though Atwood has dubbed her The Handmaid’s Tale “speculative fiction” it alludes to practices engaged in other societies at other times. It harkens as far back as Rachel and Leah in

the Old Testament up through plural marriage as practiced today in Africa, the Middle East, and even in the United States.

One is hauntingly reminded of the Utah-based Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints—a cultlike organization under the absolute control of convicted pedophile, Warren Jeffs. The novel’s title evokes component parts of Geoffrey Chaucer’s classic The Canterbury Tales—itself a series of connected stories.

Following its publication some three decades ago, The Handmaids Tale was well-received by critics, earning several writing prizes, among these the Arthur C. Clark Award for Science Fiction. As a Canadian citizen, Atwood earned the prestigious Governor General’s Award for English language Fiction and the British Commonwealth Literature Prize.

Subsequently the novel served as the basis for a 1990 motion picture and a 2000 Opera. Most recently the novel has received renewed attention, in the form of a weekly television series on Hulu, with Margaret Atwood, serving as a consulting producer. The novel, itself, has resonated with contemporary readers, earning a place on the current New York Times Best Seller list.

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

Valley Voice 21 June, 2018

Calendar

Through June 29th: Faces and Figures Art League Membership Exhibition 10am - 3pm - Arts Visalia presents the annual Visalia Art League membership exhibition entitled Faces and Figures. On display will be art pieces by a number of Art League artists, in a variety of media, including oil and acrylic painting, watercolor, photography, drawing, and sculpture. The Arts Consortium, 300 E. Oak Ave, Visalia.

June 22, 23; weekends through July 28: Vintage Hitchcock At the Porterville Barn Theater. A Live Radio Play. Styled in the form of a 1940’s radio broadcast featuring 3 of the master of suspense earlier films, “The Lodger”, “Sabotage” and “The 39 Steps” this live radio play comes complete with vintage commercials,through the magic of live sound effects and musical underscoring. times and tickets, call 559-310-7046.

June 22, July 13, July 20: Summer Night Lights 7-10pm - At Murry Park in Porterville.

Featuring a local free resource fair, movie under the stars, bounce houses, raffle prizes, food, games. Movie starts at dusk. For more information, visit the City of Porterville website or call (559) 782-7521.

June 27: Concert in the Park 7:30-9pm - A free concert series hosted by the City of Tulare’s Parks and Recreation Department. Bring your lawn chairs or blanket and enjoy!

June 22, 29; July 6, 13, 20: Visalia Parks & Rec Presents Movies in the Park 8pm - Films are shown on our giant inflatable movie screen at dusk. Bring a blanket or lawn chair, picnic dinner and snacks. (No alcohol allowed.) The Lego Ninjago Movie June 22, The Lion King June 29. Wonder July 6, Jumanji July 13th, and Coco on July 20th.

June 23; July 14, 28: Visalia Parks & Rec Community Pool Party Series 12-3pm - Free swim during this lifeguard supervised pool time.

June 22: Rainmaker Productions Presents LeAnn Rimes 7:30pm - LeAnn Rimes is an internationally multi-platinum selling acclaimed singer. At the Visalia Fox Theatre. A portion of the proceeds from this event benefits The Creative Center Foundation.

June 23: Visalia Municipal Airport Appreciation Day 10am-4pm - Veterans receive early admission from 8-10am; general admission 10am. Visalia Municipal Airport, 9501 W. Airport Drive.

Tour of the airport, and peek at unique aircraft. Bounce houses; music, craft and local food vendors, Sequoia Brewing Company beer garden. Vets with Wings will offer aircraft rides for free on a first come, first serve basis.

June 23: Mighty Oak Chorus Annual Spaghetti Feed 12-6pm - All you can eat.. and lots of music! Hosted at the 1st Presbyterian Church at the corner of Oak and Locust in Visalia. For tickets -- adults $10, kids 12 and under $5 -- call Bud Case at 559-901-4615 or Dee Baughman at 559280-5715 June 23: Visalia Teen Idol Auditions 9:30am - 1:30pm - Teens can now pickup an audition packet at the Anthony Community Center and sign-up for their audition time. Must be ages 13-19 and reside in VUSD boundaries. Visalia

9 Teen Idol will be held on Saturday, September 15th at 6 p.m. For more information, call (559) 713-4365.

June 23 - July 14: Tulare Public Library Summer Reading Program, Fridays at 11:15am: Preschool Storytime; Saturdays at 12:30pm: Family Storytime; first Thursday of each month at 1:15pm: Bilingual Storytime June 23 at 1pm: Ballet Folklorico Sierra Linda; June 26 at 2pm: Legos in the Olympic Room; June 27 at 2pm: Mystery Movie; June 28 at 2pm: Crafts: Pirate Hat, Foam Pennant, Patriotic Hats; June 30 at 1pm: Xtreme Science Magic Show; June 23: Center for Spiritual Living The Woke (inspirational) Film Series will show “Inside Out” at 7 p.m. Free Pixar film is set in the mind of a young girl where five emotions—Joy, Sadness, Anger, Fear and Disgust—try to lead her through life. Popcorn included.

117 S. Locust, Visalia. Information: 6252441 or www.cslvisalia.org.

June 24: Visalia Health and Fitness Expo 11am-4pm - At the Visalia Convention Center.Expo will feature health, fitness and wellness experts displaying and selling products and services. Classes, plus cooking and fitness demonstrations and a kids zone for little tikes fitness needs. General admission $5; 12 and under free.

VIP Fitness Passes are available in a limited quantity and include entrance to the expo, four 30 minute workouts, complimentary treats and prizes. For tickets, visit visaliatix.com June 26: Visalia Economic Development Corporation Job Fair 8-11am - The VEDC is hosting its third job fair Tuesday, June 26, at California Dairies. Employers are seeking to fill various openings from entry level to skilled level employees. Job seekers come prepared with hard copies of resume. Follow us on Facebook @Visaliaedc June 27 – July 20: Events at the Dinuba Library June 27 at 11am – Lost Realms Pets: Reptile Ron Animal Presentations, July 6 at 2pm – Family Rock Painting Workshop, July 11 at 11am – Steve Martin Wildlife, July 18 at 2pm – Journal Making with Rosie and Friends, Teen Event, ages 1319, July 20 at 3pm – Teen Painting Takes You Everywhere Workshop. (559) 5915829, June 28 - July 19: Events at the Ivanhoe Library June 28 at 3:30 pm – Shirley Keller, Artist, July 5 at 3:30 pm – Katie Baker: Service Dogs, July 6 at 3:30 pm – Family Rock Painting Workshop, July 12 at 3:30 pm – Steve Martin Wildlife, July 19 at 3:30 pm – Rock Talk with Debbie Havner (559) 798-1264 June 27 - July 18: Events at the London Library June 27 at 3pm – Tulare County Fire Station 2, July 6 at 3pm – Family Rock Painting Workshop, July 11 at 3pm – Family Craft Workshop, July 18 at 3pm – Family Movie Day (559) 591-1017 June 27 – July 18: Events at the Orosi Branch Library June 27 at 2:30pm – Family Rock Painting Workshop, July 5 at 2:30pm – Family Fun Day: Board Game Day, July 11 at 2:30pm – Tulare County Fire Station 4, July 18 at 2:30pm – Tulare County Sheriff. (559) 591-5830 June 30: Tagus Ranch Reunion Mooney Grove Park under Arbor 9, potluck, bring your own chair. Cake, water, tablecloth, plates and utensils will be provided.

West Hills Coalinga caps successful season with trip to College National Finals Rodeo STAFF REPORTS Last week, West Hills College Coalinga Rodeo travelled to Casper, Wyoming for the National Intercollegiate Rodeo Association’s College National Finals Rodeo.

The 2018 College National Finals Rodeo (CNFR) was held June 10 to June 16 and West Hills College Coalinga Rodeo competed against some of the biggest rodeo schools in the nation, with many team members finishing high in the rankings.

“WHCC Rodeo has been very successful at the regional and national levels over the last few years with great performances by many outstanding student athletes,” said WHCC Head Rodeo Coach Justin Hampton. “This year’s representatives to the CNFR had great years and we were excited to see what they could do at the CNFR.” Four of the six competitors from the WHCC rodeo team who attended the event placed in the top ten in the nation. Case Hirdes placed 4th in the nation in team roping.

Brushton Minton placed 7th in team roping and was also the overall Reserve All-Around Cowboy. Abigayle Hampton placed 7th in the nation in breakaway roping. Andrew Madden finished 8th in the nation in steer wrestling. Caleb Johnson and Justin Wilson both competed in saddle bronc riding and, while not finishing in the top ten, stacked up against some of the best cowboys in the nation.

The students competed in a range of individual events to face off against over 400 competitors from 11 other regions and over 100 universities and colleges at the finals.

The College National Finals Rodeo will be televised this August on ESPNU. This season was a good one for WHCC rodeo, with the men’s team finishing the regular rodeo season in May in 1st place regionally—earning the title of 2018 West Coast Regional Champions— and the women’s team finishing 5th. Brushton Minton of West Hills earned the 2nd place Men’s All-Around spot regionally while Abigayle Hampton earned the 2nd place Women’s All-Around spot. A West Hills rodeo team member finished in the top ten regionally in nearly every category this year.

This season was also a good one for Coach Justin Hampton: he was honored with the West Coast Region Coach of the Year award at the West Coast region championship banquet in Las Vegas.

Several members of the rodeo team will now be moving on to other programs. Abigayle Hampton accepted a full ride scholarship to Texas A&M Commerce in Commerce, Texas. Andrew Madden will also be attending Texas A&M Commerce.

Justin Wilson will be going on to attend Fresno State as members of the Bulldogger Rodeo Team.

For more information about the WHCC rodeo program, contact Justin Hampton at (559) 934-2702.

21 June, 2018 Valley Voice

10

Three Visalia Rawhide players named California League All-Stars STAFF REPORTS The California League announced today the rosters of the North and South Division All-Star teams for the 2018 California League All-Star Game, played in Lancaster on Tuesday, June 19.

Visalia sent three players to the All-Star Game this year: C Daulton Varsho, RHP Emilio Vargas, and RHP Kevin McCanna. Varsho, the 5th ranked prospect of the Arizona Diamondbacks (Baseball America) leads the Rawhide in batting average (.289) and hits (59) and is tied for the team lead in Home Runs (8). Vargas, Arizona’s #29 prospect (MLB.com), leads the California League in ERA (1.13) and batting average against (.201) and is third in the league in strikeouts (82). McCanna is 4-1 with a 2.83 ERA in 7 starts for the Rawhide this year.

This is Varsho’s third All-Star selection, after he was named both a Mid-Season and Post-Season All-Star in the Northwest League last season. Vargas has earned his second All-Star nod, and is a Mid-Season All-Star for the first time since 2014, when he earned All-Star honors in the Dominican Summer League.

The All-Star Game featured 24 prospects rated in the Top 30 of their respective farm systems by MLB.com.

The rosters feature the top 2 prospects of the Seattle Mariners, OF Kyle Lewis and 1B Evan White, MLB.com’s #6 LHP prospect Adrian Morejon (Lake El-

sinore Storm, SD), and MLB.com’s #3 2B prospect Jahmai Jones (Inland Empire 66ers, LAA).

Modesto, Stockton, Lake Elsinore, and Lancaster all hold the most AllStar selections with eight representatives selected to All-Star rosters.

About the Visalia Rawhide

The Visalia Rawhide are a professional baseball team in the Class A Advanced California League and are

the only professional sports team in Tulare and Kings counties.

The team has been an affiliate of the Arizona Diamondbacks since 2007 and is entering their 72nd year of play in 2018.

The Rawhide renovated their home at Recreation Ballpark in 2009 and have since become the largest gathering of individuals in Tulare County, having set an attendance record for the seventh time in the past

Leadership Tulare to hold informational meeting STAFF REPORTS The Tulare Chamber of Commerce is accepting Leadership Tulare 2018-19

applications now through July 31, 2018.

Leadership Tulare is a program designed to develop and sustain leaders within the community. Leadership Tu-

lare provides a dynamic, stimulating forum to prepare, involve and expose a culturally diverse group of individuals who are committed to addressing challenges within their community.

Emerging leaders will experience a comprehensive curriculum including skills sessions on leadership development, communication, group dynamics, project implementation, and conflict resolution. The curriculum further provides informative sessions on Healthcare, Public Safety, Agriculture & Water, Education Systems, City & County Government, Community Impact Non-Profits, and a trip to Sacramento for exposure to the workings of State Government.

Current leaders and those who aspire to achieve leadership roles are perfect candidates for the 9-month program. Exposure through Leadership Tulare to issues and opportunities facing us today is an invaluable experience in furthering community efforts and career paths.

Businesses may sponsor employ-

eight seasons in 2017.

In 2018, the Rawhide look to continue their reputation for hosting competitive baseball while providing affordable family entertainment.

To be a part of the 2018 Visalia Rawhide season, please contact the Visalia Rawhide Ticket Office at 559.732.4433, visit online at rawhidebaseball.com, or follow on Facebook (TheRawhide), Instagram (@VisaliaRawhide), and Twitter (@VisaliaRawhide).

ees and interested persons may also apply individually. An information meeting has been planned for Thursday, June 21st in the Tulare Chamber Trade Room. A hosted, light lunch will be provided, and RSVPs are requested to info@tularechamber.org or by calling the Chamber at 686-1547 by June 19th.

For more information, and to download a Leadership Tulare application, please visit the Tulare Chamber of Commerce website at www.tularechamber.org.

About Tulare Chamber of Commerce

For more than 100 years, The Tulare Chamber of Commerce and its predecessor, the Tulare Board of Trade, have played a vital role in the community’s ability to survive adversity and develop into the dynamic city that we know today. Visit www.tularechamber.org to find out how Chamber membership can help new and existing businesses.

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Valley Voice 21 June, 2018

TULARE COUNCIL continued from 1

They were encouraged by ag advocates, such as the My Job Depends on Ag group and Gar Tootelian, Inc. Both groups jointly held outreach events immediately preceding each meeting directly across from the library, which houses the council chambers.

Jones had supporters who spoke, but faced down considerable opposition from the crowd -- and, in total, public comments lasted nearly two hours.

Jones’ Removal Vote

Jose Sigala has been one of Jones’ key critics on council, having previously brought forth motions to reorganize the council and remove Jones as mayor.

Some of those, such as one originally slated for the June 5 meeting, were unilaterally removed by Jones.

This one was not removed, as it was voted on by the council as a whole.

“This isn’t about the ag. This is something I’ve been working on for months; as some of you may know, this was my fifth time trying to bring this to the council,” he said. “It was about the people being called clowns in our council, about me being called a clown out in a parking lot by the mayor, about a lot of folks who were fat-shamed and whose intelligence was questioned on social media, because that’s unbecoming of the mayor.”

Sigala moved that Macedo be named as mayor to applause from the crowd. Jones seconded the motion; the vote passed unanimously.

Macedo moved that Maritsa Castellanoz remain in her position; Sigala seconded to a unanimous vote.

David Macedo said that his installment as mayor doesn’t change his mind in choosing not to seek re-election. It only strengthens it, he said.

“They put me up there because of my experience, but it’s time for new ideas and new people -- 20 years is long enough for anybody, and I don’t care what elected office it is,” he said.

“New ideas, new energy need to come to the city, and there’s a lot of good talent out there. I think we’re going to be just fine.”

The City Attorney Removal

In closed session, the council voted unanimously to sever ties with Goyette and Associates, a law firm which had previously provided services for the city.

“We need a municipal law attorney. We need somebody that’s well versed in how city government works,” Macedo said, explaining his rationale for voting to cut ties with the firm.

The firm provided Heather Phillips as the City Attorney and Sarah Tobias as the Assistant City Attorney. Those seats are now vacant, though the city will be reaching out for services an interim basis, Macedo said.

The firm had been under fire for its flat-rate billing practices totalling $360,000 per year, which Jones defended at the May 1 City Council meeting.

Armed with a spreadsheet of legal fees at that meeting, he made the case that the city was saving significant amounts of money.

A Voice data analysis showed that the figures were inflated by settlements and separate legal agreements for the city’s former redevelopment agency.

“We talk about so many of the flat fee and the hourly and it’s a moving target, because -- a lot of times when you have high attorney bills, it’s because you’ve got a lot of development going on, you’ve got a lot of things go-

11 ing on,” he said. “So keeping them un- his true issue with the leadership. He’ll der control and making it look good is bring up his concerns with the hospinot always necessarily a good thing. I tal, knowing that us as the council we do think we’ll have a few lawsuits that don’t make decisions that have to do we’ll have to deal with that are going with the hospital -- I get called a bully, to cost the city a little bit of money then read all the way people talk and to defend.” their comments We need a municipal on social media, “It’d be nice to get a one-stop law attorney. We need and then they’ll shop, but that’s turn around and somebody that’s well call me a bulnot always possible. And in some ly,” he said. versed in how city of the lawsuits Sigala regovernment works. you go into, you’d sponded to better have the David Macedo, Tulare’s mayor.

Jones’ remarks at best,” he added. the meetings.

“The mayor mentioned on the radio on Monday that if I had a problem Jones, In His Own Words After the last public comment, and with the city leadership, that I was one before the reorganization vote, Jones fifth of the leadership, so I should have appeared before the council with his a problem with myself. That may be a logical thing to say,” he said. “Tonight, I own yellow public comment card.

Charlie Ramos, a Tulare realtor, want to be one third of the solution by stood up from his seat to protest. He selecting a new mayor.”

“

of you knowing your constituency and being trusted by them,” she said.

“I know it’s the product of you raising your hand at the meeting when they asked who wanted to be mayor, and everyone else said no.”

She encouraged the entire council to educate themselves on modern agricultural practices.

Tracy Miller, a Tulare resident, said he didn’t feel Jones “had the community’s back.”

“You’ve thrown the farmers under the bus, you’ve thrown the police department under the bus, you even threw the local high school under the bus a few years back and stood against them when they had to get their name changed,” he said. “It just seems like every time when I open the paper and read something, you’re not there for us.”

Jones’ Support

attempted to point out the agenda’s Jeremiah Smith, a Tulare resident language that “...Council cannot leThe Opposition and one of Jones’ coworkers at the gally discuss or take official action on Bryson Ribeiro spoke to the coun- Fresno Fire Department, said that he citizen request items that are intro- cil. He asked citizens to stand if they supported Jones remaining as mayor. duced tonight.” agreed with any of his statements, “I think there’s a lot of people here Jones disagreed, stating that he and asked council members to partic- that would like to see Mayor Jones was respectful during Ramos’ time, ipate as well. leave the seat as mayor, and I just don’t motioned for officers. Three police of“Please stand if you appreciate the understand why,” he said. “Because ficers surrounded Ramos, who acqui- tireless hours, blood sweat and tears you don’t like the way he told you esced and sat down. the farmers and dairymen put in on a the truth?”

“I don’t think anything I’m going daily basis to provide for our commu“I’ve worked with Carlton Jones to say is going to change any of your nity,” he asked. for; what, I don’t know, 11 years? Riding minds,” he told the council.

“Please stand if you appreciate in the back of the same engine for that Jones told the council that wheth- those that are going to do the hard la- long, and I know for a fact that there is er he stayed in the ceremonial mayor bor; the jobs that no one else is willing no one here in this room that is more position, he said that he would still to do in our community, day in and day passionate and dedicated to helping perform public service in Tulare. out,” he asked. “You are the backbone the citizens of Tulare than this man He reiterated his prior comments of this industry -- without you, this right here,” he said. that his comments were taken out of doesn’t happen.”

Euler Torres, a Tulare resident, imcontext, and said that he apologized “Please stand if, like me, you are plored the Tulare Police Department to for the way he said them -- but wouldn’t Tulare Proud; if you are proud of this investigate a Facebook comment that apologize for being who he was. community’s ability to come together encouraged the lynching of the mayor.

“They weren’t offended at what I and speak out,” he said.

“I read those comments about said, they were offended at the way I The entire council chambers had lynching our mayor and ‘go back to said it and who the person was saying stood by that point, including the the good old days’,” he said. “I ask the it,” he said.

Council. police department to investigate these They weren’t offended City “And Jones said he finally, comments against public officials.” at what I said, they was “still waitplease stand if Rosemary Wade said that she’s ing to hear” what you demand that lived in Tulare her whole life. were offended at the he said that was Carlton Jones be “I am in favor of Carlton Jones. way I said it and who removed from the You know why? He’s concerned about disagreeable.

“If you believe the person was saying position of may- the little things. I was at a meeting, that there is nothor tonight.” and they voted to raise the water tax. it. ing in ag that causJones sat Carlton was the only one that didn’t es cancer; if you be- Carlton Jones, Tulare City down, but other raise his hand to raise the water lieve that, then the Councilman. council members tax,” she said. $23m that we took continued to stand “It takes more than one person from Shell [in a recent water contami- after the statement, foreshadowing to run Tulare. And we’re in it all tonation lawsuit],” he said, “give it back.” the eventual vote. gether -- and I want you to know this Prior to the meeting, he criticized Stacie Silva, a San Luis Obispo resi- is my town. God gave it to me, it’s my Sigala on his Monday, June 18 appear- dent, grew up in Tulare. She said she at- town,” she said. “I’m here to represent ance on KTIP, a local radio station. tended two years’ of council meetings this Mayor Carlton Jones -- I’m behind He mentioned that he had previ- as a high school student. you, brother, and God’s gonna fix it. ously removed Sigala’s requests to re“I’m not here today to tell you to Yes he is.” move Jones from his position because step down, because I know that your Carlton Jones declined to comment they were disruptive. position as mayor is not the product for this article.

“Once the council votes to put it on there, I wouldn’t even try to take it off.

If there are -- you know, to kind of keep the flow of the meeting going we’ll look at it, like when I do my agenda review and see what items can be moved to future agendas or what items don’t need to be there at all, and it’s become disruptive when every other meeting 316 W. Main Street we have one councilmember saying Visalia, CA 93291 I don’t like who the mayor is, and it’ll get voted down and then it’s right back on there, and then it gets voted on,” Jones said on the radio program.

“Whatever the hot topic of the Certified Gemologist Appraiser meeting is -- rather it be the hospital or www.michaelscustomjewelry.com the police chief, Sigala’s answer to that is, I think we need to change the mayCOMPLIMENTARY CLEANING AND INSPECTION ors, which has no influence on any of OF YOUR JEWELRY those decisions; it’s just, that’s his MO. 3-D DESIGNS • CERTIFIED APPRAISALS • FINE ENGRAVING “When Jose questions the leadRING SIZING • RESTRINGING • WATCH REPAIR ership of Tulare, and he’s part of that WATCH BATTERIES • WATCH BANDS leadership and one fifth of the equal STONE REPLACEMENT • PRONG RETIPPING share of that leadership, he’s yet to FREE GIFT WRAPPING WITH PURCHASE explain what his issue is -- like, what’s

“

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21 June, 2018 Valley Voice

12

NUNLEY

continued from 1 bond currently existed to maintain the agreement. A public records act request (PRA) revealed bonding for the agreement had expired, and as such a new contract would have to be initiated, he said.

Staff reports doesn’t verify existence of bonds, he said. Staff reports do not reveal that bonds do exist. “I think you are agreeing to a subdivision agreement that does not have bonds to guarantee the payment of the offsite construction, if it is not completed by the subdivider.”

And thirdly, Noland said, “On both former inquiries, Mr. Miller [the city engineer] responded it was not a renewable contract.”

Nunley, speaking as a citizen, responded, stating the bond doesn’t expire until June 23 of this year, and he had just paid an invoice to renew it for another year. He read a letter from his bonding provider – the bond automatically renews on June 23 and remains in full-force until the improvements are finished.

“For this project, we’ve been waiting 10 years for a reimbursement agreement to do the off sites of this project which it calls for in the subdivision agreement,” he said. “We are entitled to off-site reimbursements from the state highway fund that pays these expenses.

“The City of Tulare has neglected to provide us with a reimbursement agreement and it states in the subdivision agreement that if we start the improvements,” he emphasized, “if we start the improvements, as the developer, without having the reimbursement agreement in the amount $700,000 of improvements to be reimbursed to us for finishing an arterial road, that should have been handled with a specific plan when the school went in, that we can’t start the improvements.

“Does the city expect us to start improvements without a reimbursement agreement in place?”

He added that San Joaquin Valley Homes, with a neighboring development, received a reimbursement agreement within six months.

He asked for the Tesori agreement extension to be conditionally approved for one year.

Further opposition

Real estate broker and lifelong Tulare resident, Charlie Ramos, stood up and asked why council didn’t just wait for the bond renewal and/or off-site improvements to begin, and/or until the reimbursement agreement is taken care of, prior to the extension renewal.

“Why take the cart before the horse and favor a councilmember?” he asked.

Visalia attorney, Michael Lampe, also commented referring to the Bella Oaks subdivision, also developed by Nunley, where two prior lots had been released [for development]. “There was supposed to be an agreement entered into with one of Mr. Nunley’s entities, and he refused to enter the agreement?” directing the question to Michael Miller, city engineer.

Apologizing to Lampe, McDonnell intervened, stating it was customary for the public to address the mayor, and for the mayor to then call upon staff for comment.

“I think we all know what that means, thank you,” Lampe responded.

Take a breather

Nunley wanted to address Lampe’s question – “the bonding amount of

Tesori actually covered probably over and forth, as to what items are re90% of the improvements for Bella imbursable.”

Oaks. Isn’t that right Mr. Miller?”

Electrical lines, maintained by In a moment of levity, meeting at- Southern California Edison along tendees rebuked him, telling him to Mooney Blvd. include city, county and address the mayor not a city employee. state jurisdictions, he said.

It did bring a grin to the developer’s While the state is responsible face, and with a chuckle he continued for the actual Highway 63, which is his comment.

Mooney Blvd., the city maintains the “And, there was no bond for Bella property on the west side of the street Oaks, Mr. Lampe.” He responded. and the county on the east, McDonnell City Engineer added. Electrical Miller stated this I can still develop land could involve all was the last counthree, as power and I can do cil meeting prior poles could need to the necessity to be moved, and subdivisions. of the extension Greg Nunley, a Tulare City lines may need to renewal, and that be taken underCouncilman. upon renewal the ground requircity should receive ing an easement. a hard copy of the bonding agreement And, there is also the matter of arterias verification. al roadways.

According to City Attorney Heather Currently, an agreement sits on Phillips, whose office had checked with Nunley’s desk, according to city staff. the Fair Political Practices CommisIt is true that a reimbursement sion, no 1090 violation exists. agreement for San Joaquin Valley “I just want to make the council Homes was signed fairly quickly, earliaware that we have checked with the er this year.

Fair Political Practices Commission, “There were no arguments as to the FPPC, and they provided us with a what was reimbursable or not,” Millwritten opinion that the council mem- er said, adding the city didn’t have to ber is allowed to enter into contracts start from scratch because the Tesori with respect to subdivisions,” she said. agreement acted as a template for the Nunley concurred later to the San Joaquin Valley Homes agreement.

Voice, saying he had researched any potential conflicts prior to running for What’s at stake? city council.

The Tesori development’s offsite “I can still develop land and I can reimbursable agreements could run do subdivisions,” he said. approximately $700,000, Nunley said.

Waiting for the reimbursement is Actually, around $800,000 for which costing him $13,000 per year, as he re- the developer would be responsible for news his bond, he added. approximately $100,000. Those reimHe rarely talks with the city’s com- bursements would come from builders munity development or engineering for each individual property, referred offices, Nunley said. He has his staff to as difs, and would be paid to the city communicate with them to avoid any which in turn would reimburse the deconflict. “I get treated worse now than veloper, in this case Nunley’s company. when Don Dorman was there,” he said.

As a developer, Nunley risks reimDorman was a previous city manager, bursement of his expenses if no agreewho retired in the ment is in place, fall of 2016.

The City of Tulare has as per Municipal

“

“

neglected to provide us with a reimbursement agreement and it states in the subdivision agreement that if we start the improvements, as the developer, without having the reimbursement agreement [...] that we can’t start the improvements.

Does the city expect us to start improvements without a reimbursement agreement in place?

Code, Chapter 8.64.020. He does not want to lose those funds.

The LagomarMunicipal sino Group was Code – Chapter the master devel8.64.020 (A)(2) oper of Del Lago, § 8.64.020 in which Tesori is R e i m b u r s ement a subdivision. Del agreements.

Lago includes Pla(A) Whenever za del Lago, a reimprovements are tail component of required to be inthe development, stalled adjacent to which includes property other than Wal-Mart; Home that being develDepot, etc. accordoped or in greater ing to the Lagosize or capacity than marsino Group that required for website. The group the development of remains interestthe property under ed in Del Lago as a consideration, the whole, Miller told applicant installing the Voice. the improvements In an interGreg Nunley, a Tulare City may be eligible to view following Councilman. enter into a reimthe meeting, Nunbursement agreeley said he knew ment with the city if the following the reasoning for the Lagomarsino conditions are satisfied: Group’s interest. “Fred [Lagomarsino] (1) The city and applicant agree wants me to do the improvements, so that the improvements significantly he doesn’t have to.” benefit and serve property that is not A call to Noland, representing the within the subdivision or site develLagomarsino Group, for comment opment area; had not been returned as of publi(2) All anticipated oversize imcation time. provement costs have been reviewed and approved by the City Engineer, Why the delays? and included in the subdivision imThe original Tesori subdivision improvement agreement or separate provement agreement was recorded development agreement, prior to the not quite five years ago, in November, start of their construction; 2013. The reimbursement agreement (3) The improvements are inis complicated and involves a lot of cluded in the city’s development imparties, Miller said. “It has been back pact fee program as a fee generating

Why the interest?

component, unless otherwise authorized by City Council; (4) The city and applicant enter into a reimbursement agreement in a form approved by the City Attorney; and (5) The applicant submits evidence of the actual costs of the improvements described in the reimbursement agreement as follows: (a) Evidence shall be provided in the form of receipted bills, canceled checks, or contracts, and shall be subject to the review and approval of the City Engineer. (b) Evidence shall be submitted within 90 days of the city’s acceptance of the improvements by notice of completion. If the required evidence is not submitted within this time period, the applicant shall not be eligible for any reimbursements under this ordinance.

Following the item being the agenda item placed on hold, while staff searched out the various documents needed for review, and the city attorney reviewing those documents, the council voted 3-0 for the extension at the end of the council meeting. Nunley recused himself.

Attempting to dig a deeper hole didn’t pan out Earlier, during the public comment period, Ramos, the realtor, raised the potential of councilmembers receiving special favors, such as city permits, citing a personal well within city limits which he felt inappropriate. “It should be capped,” he added.

Ramos implied that maybe it had been done without permission, “oops, I made a mistake,” adding that because it was done by a member of the council who could get away with that. He did not mention any names.

Nunley later verified the comments were aimed at him. While building his own property on three acres within the Tesori subdivision, he wanted to maintain a well for irrigation purposes, as allowed by the city.

Private wells on property within city limits date back to when there was no city water service in place. There is currently a city resolution, dating back to the early ‘90s, allowing for well development by private land owners for irrigation purposes.

Nunley submitted a well application for his own property in May, 2017, which was approved. He shared the paperwork with the Voice, indicating it was all above board. He also stated he has shared the information with the concerned Ramos.

And lastly, the city attorney’s contract

With so much going on at the June 5 council meeting, it should also be noted the renewal of the city attorney’s contract had not placed on the agenda.

An employee performance evaluation for the city attorney as submitted

by Councilman Nunley was set for the closed session agenda, however, the mayor cancelled closed session that night. The former contract with the attorney expired on June 6.

While the city and its attorney do not currently have a contract, Goyette & Associates’ attorneys Heather Phillips and Sarah Tobias still worked for the city, according to Phillips.

“The contract has expired, though we are working with the City to get a new one in place following the Council’s 4-1 vote and notice of intention to extend/renew the contract [during the May 1 council meeting],” Phillips said in an email.

At the council’s June 19 meeting, the council voted unanimously to sever ties with Goyette.

Valley Voice 21 June, 2018

TRMC

continued from 1 CEO, agreed that the potential partners may have other priorities.

“I think it’s an independent analysis that each of them are making, and either these entities are going forward because they feel it’s an opportunity and they can meet the guidelines, or they can’t. That’s up to each individual entity to determine whether they can go forward within the guidelines that the board has presented,” he said, adding that all four would be able to run the hospital successfully.

He said that Adventist Health and Dignity Health have both indicated that, so far, they may be able to reopen Tulare Regional Medical Center by October 29.

“We won’t know until the [entities’] presentations to the ad-hoc committee and subsequently the potential presentation to the board on June 27, what the exact stance each of the potential suitors will be,” he said.

Two to three of the entities contacted could be making presentations, Blitz said.

He added that because the board’s current goal is to open the hospital as soon as possible, and certainly before October 29.

He did not believe the board would request an extension of the hospital’s suspension.

A long-term lease as theorized in the district’s request for proposals would need voter approval, he said, requiring the filing of a measure at least 88 days before the November 6 general election.

“The board is pleased and the administration is pleased that all four of the targeted individual organizations were interested in the possibility of affiliation or a lease. That, to me, means that the future of this hospital is very very good. Where we have differences in how, when, and where we would open the hospital; and, each organization is different,” Blitz said.

Community’s View

A one-page response from Tim Joslin, President/CEO of Community Medical Centers, states that “...CMC has determined that significant capital is required to replace aging equipment, finish construction projects, address seismic compliance, and complete critical safety and infection-control repairs.”

Representatives from Commu-

HARRELL continued from 1

he said. “We do need to set the City up for the future, but we also need to do what we can for the here and now.”

To support Tulare’s first responders, he said that he’d meet with those in leadership and out in the field to find out what they need, what’s working, and what isn’t — so that he can ensure their needs are represented at the city council.

“Those people are the subject matter experts,” he said. “I will do everything I need to do to learn.”

He said he would work hard to listen to constituents and Tulare’s residents — even when their viewpoints may differ from his.

“There’s always a middle-ground, no matter what,” he said.

Harrell’s past experience in working with a diverse array of people means that he is able to go into situations with an “open and honest mind,” he added.

Shortly after the September 2001

13 nity Medical Centers have previously manner in which it was maintained been on the grounds of Tulare Re- and managed by HCCA, we must be gional Medical Center, but it is not allowed sufficient time to perform a clear whether they have performed an comprehensive assessment of the conin-depth inspection of the hospital’s dition of TRMC’s facilities..” facilities.

The letter goes on to state that “we He specifically mentioned Com- believe it is unrealistic to try and remunity’s involvement with Tulare over open TRMC by October 1st (as stated the last 12 months, including making in the RFP) or by October 29th (which legal services availwe understand to able, providing be the one-year ...CMC has deterconsulting seranniversary of the mined that significant license suspenvices at no cost, and providing capital is required to sion),” and that access to loans as “we believe you replace aging equippart of their commust immediately ment, finish construc- secure an extenmitment to “all residents of Cention projects, address sion of the license tral California.” suspension to Deseismic compliance, An October cember 31, 2018.”

2018 reopening He elaboratand complete would risk the ed on the statecritical safety and hospital’s finanment further with infection-control cial future and the Voice. would not allow “I haven’t been repairs. time to address in the hospital in critical needs, Tim Joslin, the President/CEO of well over a year Community Medical Centers.

Joslin wrote. and same with our Representastaff, so I’m essentives for Community would not com- tially basing that on the conclusion ment beyond the letter. that I would walk into a hospital that “We’ve been in discussion with the is for the most part empty, and I don’t Tulare Healthcare District for more have any idea what the condition is of than a year, and it’s very possible that their infrastructure, electrical, plumbdiscussion will continue in some way. ing, just the operating capacity of their That’s for the District to determine, of ORs, things of that nature,” Herbst course, and we won’t comment further said. “I believe that it would take on our RFP response letter,” John Zelez- Kaweah Delta at least a full month just ny, Community’s Senior VP/Chief Com- to conduct a comprehensive assessmunications Officer, told the Voice. ment of all of the different systems, and the things that go into the operation of the safe and high-functioning Kaweah Delta’s View A three-page letter from the hospital, because certainly the day we Kaweah Delta Healthcare District, writ- open or reopen we would want that very first patient to ten by CEO Gary We believe it is unreal- experience nothHerbst, outlines ing but a highly the Visalia-based istic to try and re-open safe, efficient high hospital’s condiTRMC by October 1st quality service.” tions for entering that into a partnership. (as stated in the RFP) pressHe saidreports Herbst stated or by October 29th showing that in the letter that the hospital had (which we understand Kaweah Delta was sold its supplies not able to perto be the one-year and equipment form necessary played into that anniversary of the due diligence to conclusion. submit a formal license suspension)...

Kaweah DelRFP proposal.

Gary Herbst, the CEO of Kaweah ta’s assistance beHe states that Delta Healthcare District gan in September it is “not in a poof 2017, when the sition to invest in newly-elected board reached out to or loan TRMC the requested $22 milHerbst and he provided them with a lion of funds referenced in your RFP,” “Healthcare 101” presentation, he said. and that “given the lengthy closure of Throughout his time assisting Tulare, TRMC’s hospital and facilities and the

he stated that his motivation has only been to assist a sister district hospital.

“I’ve just tried to maintain a very collegial, supportive relationship with them, most recently I wrote a letter on their behalf to the state to help support their request for funding out of the governor’s budget, for this coming fiscal year,” he said.

One unique form of governance that Herbst’s letter touched on was the potential of a Joint Powers Authority between Kaweah Delta and Tulare, or potentially Kaweah Delta, Tulare, and the Sierra View Local Healthcare District. The Sierra View district runs Sierra View Medical Center in Porterville.

“Joint Powers Authorities are legally created entities that allow two or more public agencies to jointly exercise common powers. Forming such entities may not only provide a creative approach to the provision of public services, but also permits public agencies with the means to provide services more efficiently and in a cost-effective manner,” according to Best Best & Krieger, LLP. Herbst stated he was in active discussions with Donna Hefner, the CEO of Sierra View Medical Center, about potentially combining certain functions in a Joint Powers Authority. In his letter, he states that a potential Joint Powers Authority arrangement could potentially be used to manage Tulare Regional Medical Center.

“We never approached Tulare with a formal proposal, but I referenced it in my letter to kind of differentiate where Kaweah Delta is a bit more unique from Adventist or Dignity or Community, essentially we’re kind of a sister district hospital. The 3 hospitals in Tulare County are all district hospitals, whereas Adventist Community Dignity are all private, non-profit hospitals,” he said.

Herbst said that he had not received any indication that Kaweah Delta’s conditions were rejected or unacceptable, and that Kaweah Delta had been asked to provide a presentation to the Tulare district’s ad-hoc RFP committee.

He also stated that because the RFP was so fresh, there was not such a presentation prepared, but that he would be able to sit with the committee and discuss potential affiliation options.

Northcraft stated that the decision of whether the two companies would be able to continue in the RFP process would be one for the district’s ad-hoc RFP committee to decide.

attack on the U.S., Harrell joined the Air Force, spending eight years with Security Forces in South Korea, Guam, Massachusetts, Kyrgyzstan and Oklahoma.

He was promoted to the rank of Senior Airman at minimum time in grade and later to Non-Commissioned Staff Sergeant. He’s proud to be an Air Force Veteran.

Harrell earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Liberal Studies at Azusa Pacific University and a Master of Arts in Diplomacy/Conflict Resolution at Norwich University.

A 2015 graduate of Leadership Tulare, he continues his community involvement by serving on the Board of Trustees of the Tulare United Methodist Church and on the Board of Directors of the Tulare Masonic Temple Association.

He has led Tulare’s Olive Branch Masonic Lodge for the past three years and is also a member of Tulare Amvets Post 56.

Community volunteer Sharon Allison-Crook, who is serving as his campaign manager, said the cam-

nity. He brings a breath of fresh air Tulare needs. Chris stands for common sense. He is a Veteran, served his Country and wants to serve Tulare. Chris supports Public Safety, agriculture, business and industry and the diversity that is Tulare,” Isherwood said. “He knows and has worked with leaders in business and agriculture. He is involved and engaged. Chris is the right guy for the job!”

Harrell’s love for the Tulare community drives him to make Tulare a better place — even in the face of recent difficulties.

“Within the past year and a half to two years, I’ve been hearing people talk about how they’re ashamed to be from Tulare,” he said. “It’s discouraging to hear that.”

“Tulare is a great town with so much untapped potential,” he added.

That love for the community — and other factors — led him to throw his hat into the ring.

“I’m very optimistic and look forward to seeing the future of Tulare,” he said.

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paign has already garnered the support of a strong coalition of residents that have joined together to support Chris Harrell.

Residents can learn more about his stances and how they can support his campaign through multiple avenues. A “Friends of Chris Harrell for Tulare City Council” group has formed to support the candidate. The campaign’s email address is Harrell4Tulare@gmail.com. A Facebook page has also been launched which can be found @ChrisHarrell4Tulare.

Harrell can be reached directly at 559-331-8157. He encourages citizens to reach out to directly.

“I would much rather prefer to discuss things with you individually over the phone or in person, so things can be discussed in depth,” he wrote on Facebook. “I feel that for important issues such as these concerning the city of Tulare, you deserve no less.”

Patrick Isherwood, a Tulare resident serving as Harrell’s treasurer, praised his entry into the race.

“Chris Harrell knows the commu-

21 June, 2018 Valley Voice

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CA HSR Cross Valley Corridor plan approved STAFF REPORTS Today, the Tulare County Association of Governments (TCAG) Board voted to approve the Cross Valley Corridor Plan that will serve as a vision plan to improve transportation connections and guide future development of the Central San Joaquin Valley.

The plan focuses on an existing rail corridor between the cities of Huron and Porterville, with direct and convenient access to the Kings/Tulare highspeed rail station.

“This plan represents an opportunity to transform public transit in the region,” said TCAG Executive Director, Ted Smalley. “Our goal here is to identify how the corridor can provide convenient transit service, but to also plan how the high-speed rail station will connect our communities throughout the state.”

In 2016, TCAG partnered with the California High-Speed Rail Authority (Authority) to launch a corridor planning and community engagement campaign to identify how transportation can be improved using various modes, including taking a bus, riding a train to visit surrounding communities, driving a car, biking or walking.

GUBLER

continued from 1 end of the night, Gubler’s lead in Tulare County had shrunk to 34 votes over Mathis.

Assembly District 26 is comprised of Tulare and Inyo Counties as well as a small part of Kern County, and as the week wore on, and Kern and Inyo Coun-

The plan also enabled TCAG to evaluate new public transit service alternatives that would accommodate future population and economic growth in Tulare, Kings and Fresno counties, while being compatible with existing land uses and future development opportunities.

The project area follows the existing freight rail corridor from Huron to Porterville, which also parallels portions of State Routes 198 and 65.

The corridor would potentially link the cities and communities of Huron, Naval Air Station Lemoore, Lemoore, Hanford, Goshen, Visalia, Farmersville, Exeter, Lindsay and Porterville. Unincorporated communities of Armona and Strathmore may also be served by transit stops. The Kings/Tulare highspeed rail station is located in the center of this corridor near the intersection of State Routes 198 and 43.

“The approval of this plan marks a significant milestone in the ongoing progress of the high-speed rail program and the partnership between the Authority and the TCAG,” said Diana Gomez, the Authority’s Central Regional Director. “We look forward to working with them to enhance multimodal connections and promote eco-

ties updated their returns, Gubler’s lead continued to shrink until he fell to third place — from which he never recovered.

Of the four candidates running for Assembly District 26, Mathis and Sigala appear almost certain to move forward to the November general election The tally as of June 18 was: Incumbent Republican Devon Mathis 18,050

nomic development.”

The California High-Speed Rail Authority has also started construction in Kings County that was ground zero for fighting the project with a string of lawsuits.

Work on utility relocation and construction of an embankment be-

gan on May 21 and is expected to continue through at least July 27.

To view the full contents of the Cross Valley Corridor Plan, please visit www.tularecog.org/cvcp. A hard copy of the plan is also available at the TCAG office at 210 N. Church, Suite B, Visalia, CA 93291.

at 30.3%, Democrat Jose Sigala 17,555 at 29.5%, Republican Warren Gubler 16,805 at 28.2%, Republican Jack Lavers 7,121 at 12%.

Political pundits predicted that Mathis and Gubler would easily advance to the November election, but Sigala turned out an impressive performance considering his minimal fundraising and campaigning. But Sigala’s

numbers ended up to be less performance and easily predictable as the district is 32% registered democrat.

Tellalian feared that the three republicans in the race would split the vote, making a Gubler victory nearly impossible. And that is exactly what happened.

Final results will not be certified until July 5.

Valley Voice 21 June, 2018

15

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

A third political party? Why not?

STEVE PENDLETON I’ve been a maverick in politics since 1980, when I first voted for (gasp)a Libertarian. They have a great platform of personal liberty. (However,once I realized their idea of a free market meant the losing of consumer protection for such things as financial products or homebuying, I changed my registration to another group). I became a Green. Their motto seems to be-it isn’t the economy, stupid, its the environment. So far as I can tell, the Greens have never had had a public official accused of any scandal. Maybe that’s because they have a strict policy of not accepting corporate donations.

If socialism is your game, there are Socialist and Peace/Freedom parties. Can’t stand the rest of the US? There’s the California National Party.

(They have a great Grizzly logo). Can’t stand anyone else? Join the American

Independents.

So, if there is such a difference available in political parties, how come they are so weak-at least in today’s California? After all it wasn’t always that way.

The first reason is historical ignorance. So many Political Science profs continue to sing the praises of ‘the two-party system’, ignoring the contributions of many third parties in US history. Republicans before Lincoln), Progressives, Socialists and others have made many contributions to improving the political system-as well as working conditions for the masses.

We do have a built-in slothfulness in the system-I cant tell you how many people have said-that’s the way my parents voted-or-Im too busy-or-never heard of them.

The second reason is media ignorance. I don’t mean that newspapers are stupid. I mean they deliberate-

ly omit the existence of third party candidates. I supported Jill Stein in 2016. I also subscribe to a major Valley newspaper.

During the entire election campaign not one mention of any sort was made in that paper. Of course, the same comment is true of all the other so called minor candidates. The reason? None of those candidates made outrageous, despicable or racist comments which could result in money-making headlines.

The third reason is so simple, yet puts the lie to just about every myth found in Political Science textbooks.

Its the money, stupid. One of the worst decisions the Supreme Court ever made was Citizens United, which allowed the dumping of untold millions of dollars into political campaigns.

A party which is made up of popular movements can sometimes compete-witness the showing of Bernie

How scary this country is becoming!

BARBARA KANE Look at these so-called Republicans, Democrats, and Independents that I now call Trumplicans. They pledge allegiance to Trump instead of the constitution, the flag, the United States. Trumplicans have adopted the TRUMP CREDO “THE END JUSTIFIES THE MEANS”, no matter what! Compulsive or pathological lying, cheating, stealing, immoral and violent behaviors…. no matter! Christian Trumplicans look the other way when it comes to Trump’s lack of morals…..no matter if it means getting a conservative judge on the Supreme Court! What about these Trumplicans silent support of Trump’s weakening or stripping authority away from governmental agencies that were put in place to serve and protect America and its citizens….no matter cause there are people in these agencies who do not pledged their allegiance to Trump. Scary!

Look at the lack of “statesmanship” and “courage” in these Trumplican Representatives and Senators.

Staying in the Senate or House has become more important than the oath

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of office that they took and pledged to honor. Why aren’t Senate and House members working together as Americans to protect our country from tyranny and extremists, both foreign and domestic instead of following in lockstep with whatever Trumps decrees?

Whatever happened to checks and balances…..are they too afraid that it will make Trump angry? Will these cowards continue to look the other way….. no matter what? Scary!

“He speaks and his people sit up at attention. I want my people to do the same.” - Trump on Kim Jong Un, who sends people to prison camps for “reeducation” and carries out summary executions. These are Trump’s own words which clearly describes how he views his role as President, that of a dictator. Trump and his Trumplicans say he was just joking or being sarcastic and didn’t really mean it......so are they just joking when they proclaim their unquestioning loyalty for Trump? Is it possible that there are Americans who are much like the Germans while Hitler was in power……keeping their mouths shut and looking the other

way? Do these Trumplicans approve of Trump’s authoritarian envy and admiration for the likes of Vladimir Putin, Kim Jong Un, or Xi Jinping? Could they possibly believe that life would be better under a dictatorship? Scary!

Trump and Sessions “chosen” policy of ripping children away from mothers and locking them up in detention camps, allowing only brief occasional phone contact with mothers who are locked up at another location.

Siblings, even if they are of the same sex, are separated from each other and placed in other detention camps.

Trump and Sessions along with Sarah Huckabee-Sanders are using “selected” biblical quotes taken entirely out of context to justify their cruelty toward these children and their mothers who dared to seek and petition for asylum in the United States or were forced to come through unauthorized portals by the Mexican cartel.

When pressed for an explanation Trump and his minion’s gaslight Democrats, claiming that it is their law so it is all “their” fault and “they” (the Dems) are the only ones who can

Sanders-but its pretty difficult to fight a blizzard of cash-especially when it is directed equally at the candidates of both parties.

The last reason is our undemocratic Jungle Primary. Do people participate? Not hardly at least in California and especially in Tulare County. In this last primary we let a bit over 10% of the possible voters decide who would be on the November ballot. This is the tyranny of the majority, where the two parties get a monopoly of the slots in the general election.

The two-arty system has abysmally failed to produce real change here or anywhere else in the US. If we eliminate all of the factors Ive mentioned, we might get a real permanent so called third party. Even better, we could get a variety of parties. Make our country great again? Put the people first, not party hacks and ignorant blowhards.

change it. Guess they thought no one would actually see the Trump/Session memo stating that they have put in place a change in policy which now supersedes Obama’s previous policy of keeping families together whenever possible while being processed. Government sanctioned child abuse and childhood trauma…..what would Jesus say? Just why would these Trumplican Christians sell their very soul just so a conservative judge could be seated on the Supreme Court and has it really been worth it to them? It wouldn’t surprise me one bit if Trump sooner or later orders the Statue of Liberty to be covered in a shroud and closed to the public because he doesn’t like the inscription “Give me your tired, your poor, Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free, The wretched refuse of your teeming shore, Send these, the homeless, tempest tost to me, I lift my lamp beside the golden door“. He could get away with it because today’s Trumplican Congress and Senate will never question what he says or does, they just do as he says…..cause to do otherwise would anger him. Scary!

Your comments, from Facebook and ourvalleyvoice.com The soon to be ex-mayor set this meeting up and only allowed people that he agreed to and questions he was ok with? Is that accurate? Is that a town hall meeting? Ha. Nope not if he controls who attends and what they ask. Does not surprise me as he lacks the education, experience, integrity and intestinal fortitude to be confronted by people with intelligent questions of which he cannot provide an intelligent response to. He did not graduate college. Must have quit? He is not a quitter though?

He never served in the military? He has never been a supervisor of a company or responsible for leading employees in a for profit environment. Has no clue how to manage a budget, employees, processes been accountable for such. We don’t need a self absorbed fireman leading a city. We need s saavy experiences business person with experience and one that has personal skills. He is an actor without s ting skills a small town wanna be politician that lacks integrity.

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— Tulare Citizen on Tulare mayor hosts townhall

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Does anybody think that after Mathis wins his third term, the Tulare County Republican Party will finally accept him?

— Doni N Bill Lewis on Warren Gubler out of Assembly race

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Dnt every quit nothing Carlton Jones my brother yes he is my brother — Vicki Shaver on Tulare citizens erupt in protest at council meeting

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I see a lot of angry people and believe me is not because of the mayor!!!

I see a lot of frustration and deception that out hospital is still closed!

A lot of broken promises and no results in fact a lot of SMOKE!!!

— Mickey on Riddle Me This

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Carlton Jones took on AG and lost miserably. He lost because of his lack of integrity, education, experience and erratic self absorbed behavior. He has to keep forcing his name off of the reorganization agenda in an attempt to keep his title for his ego not for the good of the city. The scandals and corruption are surfacing and it’s time for Carlton to go and the Police Chief to return.

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— Tulare Citizen on Tulare Mayor takes on Ag

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21 June, 2018

Valley Voice

Kaweah Delta expansion to impact parking starting July 16 Hospital visitors’ best bets for parking will be free valet parking or city parking structures STAFF REPORTS Beginning Monday, July 16, Kaweah Delta will take the next step in nearly doubling the size of its Emergency Department (ED) and waiting area to meet the needs of a growing community.

This phase of construction will result in changes to parking in and around the downtown Visalia medical center.

This phase involves new construction onto a portion of the hospital’s main parking lot off of Mineral King Avenue.

In order to proceed with construction, parking spaces in the hospital’s main parking lot will be reduced, however the lot will remain open for: • Emergency department patients • Labor and delivery patients • 20-minute patient drop-off During construction, hospital visitors are advised to either: • Use Kaweah Delta’s free valet parking service, which is available from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. on weekdays and from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. on weekends at the hospital’s main entrance off Mineral King Avenue. It is free, fast, convenient and cars are parked

in secure, guarded areas.

• Park in one of the city’s two parking structures, which offer free all-day parking, directly to the east of the hospital on Willow Street and to the north of the hospital on Acequia Avenue.

In anticipation of construction, Kaweah Delta has worked with City of Visalia officials to increase allday parking in the city’s parking structures.

Kaweah Delta is also exploring options to acquire properties around the downtown hospital in an effort to replace the permanent loss of parking that will result from expanding the ED. The multi-phase project is expected to be complete in the Summer of 2020.

This important two-year project will modernize, expand and improve Kaweah Delta’s emergency medical facilities to help meet the

needs of the growing community and better serve patients by nearly doubling patient beds, increasing the size of the ED waiting room, and incorporating a new “fast track” area that will allow patients to be more quickly screened.

Kaweah Delta’s ED was originally built to serve 72,000 patients a year, but today, more than 90,000 patients a year are seen there. For more information, visit www. kaweahdelta.org/more.