Valley Voice Issue 129 (15 November, 2018)

YOUR GUIDE TO THE HOLIDAYS IS HERE

HOLIDAY SCENE on pages 7-10

Valley Voice

HCCA CEO again denied return of property, hearing set for January 22

Rappellers raise money, hope for LGBT+ center DAVE ADALIAN

dave@ourvalleyvoice.com

Seventy-five otherwise apparently sane individuals threw themselves off the eighth floor of the Visalia Marriott over the weekend, and raised more than $95,000 for the Source LGBT+ Center in the process.

JOSEPH OLDENBOURG

joseph@ourvalleyvoice.com

Dr. Benny Benzeevi, the CEO of Tulare’s former hospital management company, won’t get his seized property or bank account back – but his legal team will have another chance to fight the seizures at an evidentiary hearing set in January.

Attorneys for Benzeevi and his company, Healthcare Conglomerate Associates (HCCA), appeared before Superior Court Judge John Bianco on November 9 in an effort to have his assets returned; they were seized as part of an ongoing Tulare County District Attorney (DA) investigation into his company’s conduct in Tulare.

“I can’t rule that as a matter of law a crime hasn’t been committed,” Bianco said.

Eliot Peters, appearing for Benzeevi, told Bianco that he had been misled about the series of contracts between HCCA and the Tulare Local Healthcare

PROPERTY continued on 13 »

Volume XXXVIII No. 22 15 November, 2018 ourvalleyvoice.com

First Step’s a Doozy

State Assemblyman Devon Mathis rappels down the outside of the Visalia Marriott during Over the Edge, a fundraiser for the Source LGBT+ Center, Tulare and Kings counties’ only LGBT resource center.

The event raised $95,000 as 75 volunteers descended the hotel. Dave Adalian/Valley Voice

Despite having a pair of working elevators at their disposal, as well as a set of reliable stairs, dozens of thrill-seekers opted instead to rappel down the outside of the city’s tallest building during Visalia Over the Edge, a fundraiser for Tulare and Kings counties’ only lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) resource center.

“We are building capacity,” said Nick Vargas, co-founder of the Source, who now serves as its director of development.

Founded by Vargas and Executive Director Brian Poth two and a half years ago, the Source provides services-such as medical referrals, support groups and social opportunities--for the LGBT community, family, allies and friends in the South Valley. Now, the Source needs more space, Vargas says,

OVER THE EDGE continued on 14 »

Missing absentee ballots cause confusion

Faraday Future treks forward, despite woes

DAVE ADALIAN

MARTIN VELASCO-RAMOS

Absentee ballots some voters in Tulare County expected to receive ahead of the general election never arrived, and one voter says his name disappeared entirely from the county’s voting rolls.

of the voters.

Sigala emphasized how proud he is to be a part of Tulare and live among such hardworking “salt of the earth” people.

During his watch party Sigala expressed how he was not discouraged and that he was looking forward to continuing his service to the community as a city council member and anticipates other local leadership positions just around the corner.

“Our first meeting in December we get to select someone to be the mayor and so I’m hoping that I am in consideration of becoming the first Latino mayor of Tulare.”

Sigala led the effort to remove the former mayor Carlton Jones who he considered to be a bully, disrespect-

Hanford’s hot new company, Faraday Future (FF) recently met a build milestone by producing its first pre-production vehicle, the 1000 horsepower ultra-luxury FF 91. As a celebration, the Hanford plant opened its doors to futurists and demonstrated their newest creation with friends and family. Despite a small fire that occurred within the car during the event, Faraday began a massive hiring effort and revved its engines for mass production.

The ambitious electric car company arrived in Hanford just in time to remedy a missed opportunity with pot grows. Faraday Future Director of Government Affairs and Plant Manager Stan Chapman made it clear they are here to stay. “The ultimate goal,” Chapman explained, “is to formulate firm roots here in Hanford.” With 13 years under his belt at Mercedes Benz, Chapman knows what makes a successful car company and he says it’s the people. Faraday has made it clear they intend to continue hiring locally.

To make sure its people are prepared, the Hanford plant partnered with College of the Sequoias to train employees on technical skills and soft skills such as communications, problem solving, and stress management. This curriculum involved personality assessments to help Faraday employees understand

TULARE ELECTIONS continued on 14 »

FARADAY continued on 14 »

dave@ourvalleyvoice.com

No Record Found

Frank Hill, who has lived at and voted from the same address in Tulare for the last five years, says he grew concerned when his roommate’s mail-in ballot and voter information guide arrived at their home, but his didn’t.

When he contacted the Tulare County Elections Office, he says the woman he spoke to told him his name wasn’t in the county’s records.

“She said it appears you’re no longer on the voting rolls,” Hill said of his visit to the Elections Office in Visalia.

He says the clerk also told him his wasn’t the only expected mail-in ballot that was never sent.

“That’s what she told me, that it wasn’t an isolated incident,” Hill said.

Others who have voted by mail in the past, including Danielle Glispey of Exeter, also failed to receive the ballots they were expecting. Glispey said she has not recently changed address or had any other reason to change her voter registration, yet when she con-

BALLOTS continued on 13 »

martin@ourvalleyvoice.com

Terry Sayre, center-left, celebrates with her family. Martin Velasco-Ramos/Valley Voice

Tulare election parties for assembly, council bring community together MARTIN VELASCO-RAMOS martin@ourvalleyvoice.com

Tulare residents, family, and friends gathered around Assembly District 26 candidate Jose Sigala at the Roox Agency for an election watch party and to give their support. Sigala is currently a Tulare City Council member. A band played on stage, people drank and ate food, while Sigala remained glued to his laptop refreshing the election results.

Sigala ultimately lost the election to incumbent Assembly Member Devon Mathis by over 14,000 votes despite huge support from labor organizations and blue collar workers such as farm workers, carpenters, electricians, and painters. Sigala said he was very appreciative of all the support he got for his campaign and respects the will

15 November, 2018 Valley Voice

2

FROM THE PUBLISHER'S DESK

Back Full Circle to the Pre-Trumpian World

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Through no bravery of their own, because his constituents overwhelmingly voted to retain him, Devin Nunes will now harmlessly recede into the mist of his office.

Gone are the committee chairmanships.

Gone is any influence.

All that remains is his own sense of importance. And, of course, the water he claims he’s secured farmers. Shall we ask them where it actually is?

You can thank the country at large for it. The Democrats’ retaking the House has cured us of this leprosy. Jesus didn’t suddenly appear--the American electorate did.

So did a check on the president.

Here’s what guest columnist David Kaiser, a Texan, wrote back on May 28: I love America, I’m patriotic, I’m a Christian, very conservative [not alt-right etc.] but OH MY GOD, I just flat out hate the fact Russians meddled in our American election.

But more importantly to me and others in the U.S., when a representative from your great Dist. 22, who only garnered about 170,000 to win his election, can hijack a Washington House Intelligence Committee and attack our great Systems and Departments of Justice, Courts, CIA and FBI, then I will get involved and express my views to the good people of Dist. 22 and Tulare. Politics is NO LONGER LOCAL when your lone “renegade” attacks all of our American Justice and Judicial System to cover up the Russian infiltration and possible involvement by U.S citizens.

This was a case of the tail wagging the dog. It was a case of party before country. The idea that Nunes, from a tiny Republican district in a Democratic supermajority state, could stymie the entire House Intelligence Committee’s Trump/ Russia investigation was ridiculous. For better or worse, I think most Americans want to get to the bottom of this and see the back of it, pronto.

I know I do--and now, maybe, we can.

But, now that Nunes is no longer politically important, does it even matter anymore if he continues to frustrate his constituents by refusing to meet with them? I doubt it.

I also doubt he’ll accept a cabinet position if one should arise and be offered.

He’s too secure here, in perpetuity, to compromise his position.

He has, then, gone so far with Trump as he can. Especially when you consider that there is nothing further Nunes can do for him.

It reminds me of what happened between the Republican Party and Speaker-to-be Kevin McCarthy. Speaker-to-be, that is, until McCarthy revealed live to Sean Hannity on Fox News that, “Everybody thought Hillary Clinton was unbeatable, right? But we put together a Benghazi special committee, a select committee. What are her numbers today? They’re dropping.”

This admission confirming the nefarious politicization of the committee killed his candidacy.

While Nunes himself has committed no similar gaffe, his sell-by date has arrived.

This is good news in more ways than one.

While Nunes may remain a supporter, Trump will no longer have priority over his--our--district. Which means Nunes might, since first coming under Trump’s thrall, finally pay attention to his constituents’ wants and concerns. Prioritize those, for a change.

Back we are full circle to the pre-Trumpian world--so far, that is, as Nunes is concerned.

The country at large, ironically, remains mired in it.

We’ll see how the House investigation reconstitutes itself. We’ll see how Special Counsel Mueller’s investigation finishes. Both, I hope, unimpeded and quickly.

It reminds me of President Ford’s pardoning of disgraced former President Nixon in 1974. I was 11 years old at the time, outraged, and unable to comprehend it. But as I matured--and the Chief would dispute that I actually have--I began to understand what a healing procedure it was for the country at large.

And that’s where we are now. As a nation--and for the health of our democracy--we need to safeguard these investigations, insure their fairness, and get to the bottom and the back of them.

Pronto.

Joseph Oldenbourg

Valley Voice

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Valley Voice 15 November, 2018

POLITICAL FIX

a column by CATHERINE DOE — catherine@ourvalleyvoice.com

A Midterm Post Mortem

It was freezing and quiet outside St John’s Hall in Hanford with a few unconcerned security guards lingering by the doors, but hot and crowded inside the Portuguese Hall on Election Night. Even though not in his district, this was still Nunes country, and a Nunes-friendly crowd, where no sharp edged questions or Fresno Bee reporters were to be had.

I raced to Hanford in between Visalia City Council candidate parties to get a group picture of State Senator Andy Vidak, Assembly Member Candidate Justin Mendes, Congress Member David Valadao, and Congress Member Devin Nunes, who were all hosting the party. Entering the hall and threading myself through the throng of people I realized how unrealistic my goal was, which was confirmed when I cornered a Nunes staffer who said, “Not going to happen.”

The party was actually in the heart of Mr. Valadao’s district and seeing him and Tulare Local Health Care Board Member Xavier Avila and his wife, Susie, chatting I thought - well that’s a better picture anyway.

Mr. Valadao moved on to other constituents so Mr. Avila took the time to congratulate me on my election predictions. He said if someone gets 50% correct plus one that’s doing well.

But two-thirds correct is genius.

I’ll accept that. Out of nine predictions, I got seven correct.

The easiest was to predict Mr. Valadao’s and Mr. Nunes’ victories. But I also came close to nailing the percentages, predicting 54% Nunes to 46% Janz, The final tally was 55% Nunes to 45% Janz with votes yet to be counted.

Mr. Valadao’s race has pulled within two percentage points but he is still projected to win.

The Nunes/Janz congressional race cost a combined $20 million and well known local Republican, Michael Der Manouel told the Fresno Bee, “I was surprised at the amount of national rage that converted itself into money for Janz, but it was all wasted.”

But Mr. Janz’ campaign gave voters a choice, and gave the constituents of District 22 a candidate with whom they could meet and talk. Mr. Janz also won over 30% of voters that in the past six elections voted for Mr. Nunes.

That is Democracy at work and not a waste of money.

I do agree with the assessment of rage on both sides. It really came down to the 22nd District’s support for President Trump.

A minority of constituents want Mr. Nunes to employ the system of checks and balances put in place by our three branches of government.

But Mr. Nunes protects the president, which is greatly appreciated by the majority of his constituents and they voted to send him back to Washington to keep doing what he is doing.

Tulare County Superintendent

The most surprising result of election night was the race for Tulare County Superintendent, where Tim Hire, Superintendent of Exeter Union High School (EUHS,) beat Craig Wheaton, Tulare County Office of Education (TCOE) deputy by two points.

I thought voters were fairly undecided in the beginning of the race and heard criticisms and compliments on how both men ran their respective school districts. Mr. Whea-

ton was the superintendent of Visalia Unified School District before working for TCOE. That changed after the candidates’ forum. Mr. Wheaton clearly outperformed Mr. Hire and I was miffed by how many times Mr. Hire parroted Mr. Wheaton’s responses to the questions.

In addition Mr. Wheaton had several campaign events, sent out multiple press releases, put ads in all the papers, and his fans swamped us with letters of support.

On the other hand, I never heard from Mr. Hire’s supporters, except to complain that we were not covering him.

We finally received one press release from Mr. Hire that we posted on facebook. We decided against putting the release into print because it had spelling and grammatical errors unbecoming of someone seeking the highest office in education.

Given all this, I made my election prediction that Mr. Wheaton would easily win. In response to my column I was trolled by Mr. Hire’s wife and his supporters.

The clincher, what I thought would send voters running in the opposite direction, was a statement in his press release, “Hire encourages voters to consider that longevity has played a huge role in the success of out-going Tulare County Superintendent, Jim Vidak, and notes at age 50, he (Hire) will do his best to stay in the position as long as possible.”

Given Mr. Hire’s logic, I guess he expects to be our superintendent until 2050. Last time I checked TCOE superintendent is a four-year term, not a lifelong appointment.

So much for Democracy.

Tulare City Council

The second most surprising result, but maybe not for Tulare, was Alex Gutierrez’ loss to Terry Sayre for Tulare City Council District 2.

Allowing my bias to cloud my judgment, I thought for sure Tulare would not elect a woman and I predicted an easy win for Mr. Gutierrez.

The only woman on the council is Maritza Castellanoz, also in District 2, but she was never elected. In 2014 she lost to a man who ended up resigning.

In 2016 she was uncontested.

But gender may not have played a role. Registered Democrats are not far behind registered Republicans in Tulare, and District 2 might even have more Democrats.

Yet, Ms. Sayre won 57% to Mr. Gutierrez’ 42%.

City council is a non partisan office, but Mr. Gutierrez campaigned on the fact that he was active in the Tulare County Democratic Central Committee, so one would assume most Democrats would vote for him.

Part of the answer lies in voter turnout. 750 voters cast their ballots in District 2, while in District 4 it was 2,100 voters. That’s a huge difference for a small district.

The story to be told is that, once again, Hispanics and Democrats did not show up.

Of course race, party or gender might not have had anything to do with the election. After everything Tulare has been through in the last few years, voters may have wanted someone older and wiser, and they found that person in Ms. Sayre.

In 2050 we might be saying the same of Mr. Gutierrez.

3

15 November, 2018 Valley Voice

4

Election night surprises many in Tulare and Kings Counties CATHERINE DOE

catherine@ourvalleyvoice.com

It was election party night in Visalia, Hanford and Tulare with the biggest shindig at St. Johns Hall outside Hanford. It was a who’s who in politics with Congress Member Devin Nunes, Congress Member David Valadao, State Senator Andy Vidak, and candidate for Assembly District 32 Justin Mendes hosting the party.

Various Hanford City Council members, Kings County Supervisors, and Tulare County Schools Superintendent Jim Vidak were among the 300 attendees celebrating Republican victories and mourning a few losses.

There was enough pizza, tacos and ice cream to last late into the night as the group anxiously waited for election results to trickle in.

By 10:30pm, while waiting for more solid results, Nunes addressed the crowd, praising the Republican Party for holding a record number

of United States Senate seats. He also reminded an applauding crowd that even though the Republicans lost the House, Congress Member Nancy Pelosi didn’t have the votes from her own party to regain the speakership.

Pelosi was Speaker of the House up until the Republicans took control in 2010, when she handed the gavel over to Congress Member John Boehner. Congress Member Paul Ryan is the current Speaker.

Though Nunes coasted to victory after a contentious campaign and will continue on the House Intelligence Committee, he will lose the Chair to Democratic Congress Member Adam Schiff, also from California.

After giving his pep talk, Nunes mingled in the crowd, talked with his constituents, and shook a lot of hands.

Until recently Nunes had kept a low profile because of what he says were attacks from the left. A supporter who was close to the Congress Member said Nunes ran to represent his dis-

Mathis congratulating Poochigian his race for city council. Mathis easily won his seat by 23 points.

Xavier and Susy Avila congratulate Valadao on his victory.

trict and didn’t sign up for his family getting attacked or expect challenger Andrew Janz to trespass on his family’s property.

Valadao and Nunes won as predicted but challenger TJ Cox narrowed the margin on Valadao to two points by the end of the week. Valadao is still expected to win. Andy Vidak, State Senator for District 14 suffered a surprising loss to Sanger City Council Member Melissa Hurtado, 46% to 54%.

While Hanford City Council member Justin Mendes received a rousing 60% percent of the vote in Kings County for Assembly District 32, he ultimately lost to incumbent Rudy Salas 44% to 56% with Salas’ majority of votes coming from Kern County.

Valadao declared victory by 11:30pm and issued a statement ending with “The Central Valley has always been and will always be my home and I am beyond grateful for the opportunity to continue serving the place I love.”

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Visalia City Council candidate Merritt Wiseman had her candidate’s party at Amigos Restaurant and Cantina.

Candidate Brian Poochigian had his party at the Wyndham Hotel joined by Candidate for Tulare County Superintendent Tim Hire with an appearance

by Assembly Member District 26 Devon Mathis. Candidate Steve Woods said the day before, “I’ll be attending the watch parties of a variety of others, in support of great candidates.”

Wiseman was discouraged by the preliminary results, but Tulare County Supervisor Amy Shuklian put on a positive face and said the results only represented one third of the absentee votes.

Though everyone ran a basically clean campaign, Wiseman expressed disappointment that so many of her signs had been vandalized towards the end of the race.

Poochigian’s preliminary lead held throughout the night and by Wednesday morning he had won 51.48%, to Wiseman’s 31.36%, and

Woods 16.9%.

Poochigan said that he knocked on almost every registered voter’s door in his district and did not believe he won because of name recognition. He said part of his victory was because he has lived in the district most of his life.

Poochigian wanted to dispel a rumor that he had only recently moved to the district so he could run for city council. He and his wife bought their first home in East Visalia where it is more affordable and when they could, bought a home where he grew up and attended local schools.

Tulare County Superintendent

While Candidate for Tulare County Superintendent Tim Hire watched his razor edge lead come in around 8:20 at Poochigian’s party, Candidate Craig Wheaton, Deputy Assistant for Tulare County Superintendent, was having his get together at the Planning Mill in downtown Visalia.

About 50 people were in attendance shortly after eight o’clock waiting for results as the mood in the room was upbeat, but guarded. A live feed, side-by-side, of local ABC and Fox affiliates was presented while groups of families and supporters were glued to their smart phones.

“It’s a tight race,” Wheaton said after the first election night results were announced online.

Wheaton’s campaign manager, Karen Tellalian, said, “The first report came out and Craig is down 800. But,” she said, “we’ll see when the next one comes out–we’ll know more.”

The first report indicated that Wheaton trailed his opponent, Hire, currently Superintendent of Exeter Unified School District, by 783 votes.

The first results were all mail-in, and reflected just shy of 19% of that total.

Hire ended up retaining his lead throughout the night and won the race by 50.84% to 48.5%. An insider opined that Hire’s election edge was due to his endorsements and support by the Tulare County Republican establishment.

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Valley Voice 15 November, 2018

Measure H wins by landslide, securing Tulare hospital lease DAVE ADALIAN

dave@ourvalleyvoice.com

Tulare is once again a united community.

With the future of the city’s only hospital hanging in the balance, voters overwhelmingly approved a 30year lease of Tulare Regional Medical Center (TRMC) to Adventist Health, as proposed in Measure H. The final tally was an 88.1% approval.

That landslide victory, says Tulare Local Health Care District (TLHCD) Chair Kevin Northcraft, signals an end of some of the division plaguing Tulare.

“At one point the hospital divided the community,” he said. “With 88 percent, it’s uniting our community.”

Measure H Milestone

Northcraft is proud of the city’s voters and his mood is hopeful.

“A lot of communities couldn’t have done what we able to do,” he said.

“The future looks very bright.”

The people of Tulare, he says, has helped TLHCD’s directors accomplished their major goal.

“The primary mission was to get a quality hospital open, and we’ve done

that,” said Northcraft.

The long-term agreement with Adventist comes just more than a year after TLHCD was forced to close TRMC as result of its legal battles with former management company Healthcare Conglomerate Associates (HCCA) and the financial woes created by the struggle to regain control of TLHCD’s assets. The district eventually entered bankruptcy and was able to free itself from its association with HCCA.

Yes, But…

Lack of immediate care in her city was the reason Tulare resident Lisa Crandell cast her vote for Measure H. “I felt it was important because the hospital was closed for so long,” she said of her yes vote.

Still, she didn’t enter her approval without doing her homework first.

“I felt it was a necessity to really read through the measure, find out the information and what it was about, and vote for it,” Crandell said.

Others weren’t sure how they would vote.

“I’m not sure to be honest,” said Tulare resident Bianca Harris, who said she was unfamiliar with the cir-

cumstances leading to the vote on Measure H. “I just don’t know.”

Time to Recover

While Crandell voted yes on Measure H, it wasn’t without a bit of hesitation. She has concerns about the 30-year term of the agreement and she fears the district may be giving Adventist a break on future rent.

“They say it won’t cost the taxpayers anything, however, you don’t know what property values are going to do,” she said. “It seems to me property values will go up, so rents will go up, why would they be locked in a 30year lease?”

Northcraft said a lengthy lease was necessary to protect Adventist’s investment in TRMC. “We knew we needed to spend a lot of money to get us open and lose a lot of money up front,” he said. “To get a quality, modern hospital, they were going to have to make major investments. You can’t do that if you don’t have the time to recoup.”

Adventist, Northcraft estimates, will spend some $2 million on TRMC before they begin see a move into the black on their balance sheet.

5

“They’re a nonprofit, but they’re not in it to lose money,” Northcraft said. “Everyone we talked to needed a long-term lease.”

Moving Ahead

The dour mood once associated with TRMC is dissipating, and many of the ugly rumors have been laid to rest now that the hospital is once again in operation.

“Everything I’ve been hearing is positive,” said TLHCD Director Steve Harrell. “I haven’t heard anything negative in the last month. There were some folks confused that it was going cost the taxpayers money.”

While the “primary mission” of reopening TRMC is complete, there are still issues the TLHCD Board must address.

“We’ve got some more challenges,” said Northcraft, specifically citing budgetary issues during the next two years, as well as legal concerns.

“We’ve got to resolve the litigation with HCCA.” A public forum to discuss the future of the District will be held at 6:30pm November 14 in the Tulare City Council Chambers, 491 N. M Street.

Visalia’s Water Reclamation Facility celebrates grand opening CITY OF VISALIA With the snip of the giant, ceremonial scissors, the Visalia City Council officially opened the Visalia Water Reclamation Facility.

A celebration of partnerships and conservation, the festivities marked the completion of the Facility’s upgrade project.

The construction project started in March 2014 and was undertaken to provide for the City’s wastewater treatment needs and to help mitigate the groundwater overdraft condition within the City.

“This facility is the largest public works project in the history of Visalia and was upgraded to produce recycled water that is California Title 22 compliant that is delivered to Tulare Irrigation District (TID) for use by their growers,” shared Mayor Warren Gubler. “In exchange, TID delivers surface water to the City to be used for groundwater recharge.”

In fact, the day’s festivities kicked off the delivery of recycled water to TID. Additionally, thanks to the upgrade project including the laying of purple pipe, the Facility feeds the

City’s Valley Oak Golf Course, Plaza Park and nearby City owned farmland.

“It doesn’t get much play, but this facility is the fifth largest of it’s type in the United States and it’s in the top 25 worldwide,” added Jim Ross, City of Visalia Public Works Manager. “So little

ol’ Visalia is in the big leagues when it comes to recycled water. This Facility has positioned Visalia as a leader in the water recycling field.”

To view the grand opening ceremony, head to the City of Visalia’s Facebook page.

Now open, a hospital inspired by our community.

Kaweah Delta will host Nov. 19 tour of state-of-the-art medical training facility STAFF REPORTS The Lynn Havard Mirviss Education Center will open its doors on Monday, Nov. 19, to give people a look at the top-notch simulation center that is used to help provide patients with the highest levels of care.

Tours of the simulation center will take place from 11am to 2pm on Monday, Nov. 19.

It is located on the fifth floor of Kaweah Delta’s Support Services Building, 520 W. Mineral King Ave., Visalia.

Additionally, attendees will have the chance to visit interactive stations involving patient simulators, a main feature of Kaweah Delta’s simulation center.

They include SimMan®, a portable and advanced patient simulator that can talk and move and Victoria®, a maternal patient simulator that allows staff to train for early pregnancy complications, high-risk deliveries, postpartum emergencies and more.

The simulation center also has a control room where residents, nurses and staff are trained and observed as they work with patient simulators.

“It’s a great resource in helping us bring the highest level of patient care to this community,” said Kimberly Sokol, MD, MS, who over the summer, Sokol became Director of Kaweah Delta’s Medical Simulation Center. “It gives us the ability to simulate highrisk patient events to test our clinical decision-making skills.

That way, when a patient really is experiencing a crisis, doctors, nurses and other staff members know how to best care for the patient.”

Kaweah Delta is a publicly-owned community healthcare organization that provides comprehensive health services to the greater Visalia region and Tulare County.

With over 5,000 dedicated medical professionals and employees, Kaweah Delta is committed to meeting the community’s health needs and providing patients with a personal, professional, and compassionate healthcare experience by offering state-of-the-art medicine, high-quality preventive services and specialized health centers and clinics. For more information, visit www.kaweahdelta.org.

Tulare Regional Medical Center is back, by popular demand.

You now have expert care right here in our community. It’s the care you need, right where you need it. Welcome to the new Tulare Regional Medical Center managed by Adventist Health.

15 November, 2018

VALLEYSCENE

ourvalleyvoice.com

TCOE Theatre Company prepares production of Aladdin Jr. STAFF REPORTS Jasmine, the princess we met over 25 years ago in Disney’s 1992 Academy Award-winning film Aladdin, continues to inspire young women today.

Allison Martin of El Diamante High School, who will play the independent princess in the upcoming Theatre Company production of Aladdin Jr., said that she appreciates the character.

“She’s definitely a strong and independent young woman,” she said. Perhaps

the experience of playing Jasmine has rubbed off on her. “I have definitely become more of an outgoing people person since being involved in Theatre Company productions,” she smiled.

Aladdin Jr. is based on 2014 hit Broadway show about Aladdin, a street performer and thief who learns a moral lesson that his true worth lies deep within. Aladdin and his three friends, Babkak, Omar, and Kassim, are down on their luck until Aladdin discovers a

ALADDIN continued on 11 »

From left to right: Christina Enquist as Wolf Moon dance; Aaron Johnson as Reuben Soady; and Donald Ajluni as “The Jimmer”. Courtesy photo

Escabana in Da Moonlight playing at Visalia’s Ice House Theater NANCY HOLLEY

Job Whetstone and Allison Martin star in Theatre Company’s production of Aladdin Jr. Courtesy/TCOE

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Escanaba in Da Moonlight, running for three weekends at the Ice House Theatre at Race and Santa Fe in Visalia starting November 16, is a farce depicting the extreme measures to which an individual may go to force fate to give him his desire.

Reuben Soady has never bagged a buck. To his chagrin, his father and his younger brother have been successful many times. A family log indicates the age each male made his first kill, and no one wants to be the oldest male on record.

The Soadys, father and both sons, along with their friend Jimmer are at their cabin in the woods in Upper Peninsula, Michigan, for the annual deer hunt.

Reuben is desperate for a kill. His Native American wife, Wolf Moon Dance, believes that she can help him succeed with potions and incantations.

Having Jimmer (Donald Ajluni) in the hunting party presents a challenge because he was at one time abducted by aliens. Since his return, he has had difficulty communicating. The Soadys frequently have to interpret what they believe he is saying.

Adding to the confusion is Tom, a Department of Natural Resources Ranger, who just appears and makes himself at

home. The Soadys do not trust anyone from the DNR, particularly someone who tells them he has seen God on the ridge.

Confused? Good! That is all part of the hilarity that will have you rolling in the aisles. As noted by Aaron Johnson (Reuben), “It is such a break from reality -- UFO’s and strange lights. Campy horror, but no one gets murdered.”

Hank Boone, who portrays the younger brother, Remnar, commented, “The humor is maintained through the heightened emotion. When each character enters, there is heightened energy and audience engagement. There is always something going on.”

Chuckling, Chad R Homan (Albert, the father) explained, “Laughter gets the endorphins going giving us a chance to relax, to get away from ourselves, improving our mood, and stimulating creativity.”

Pointing out the quick witted lines and dry humor of the playwright, John Olmos (Ranger Tom) suggested, “We all try to figure out what to do after Thanksgiving. Don’t fight the crowds. Come see this show and let us entertain you.”

Co-directors Belva and David Peden and Assistant Director Christina Enquist (who also is Wolf Moon Dance) empha-

ESCABANA continued on 11 »

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HOLIDAYSCENE

Tulare Hospital Foundation brings “A Woodland Christmas” on November 30 STAFF REPORTS The trustees and friends of the Tulare Hospital Foundation are celebrating 30 years of Festival of Trees, “a Woodland Christmas” holiday gala on Friday, November 30, 2018 at the Tulare Veterans Memorial Building.

During the evening, several beautiful artificial Christmas trees in different themes will be on display and auctioned at the end of the evening.

“We are very excited about this year’s “Festival of Trees,” states Jan Smith, Executive Director of the Foundation.

“After canceling last year’s event, we are so happy to have our hospital open again with an amazing organization, Adventist Health - Tulare, but it’s a positive way to end a difficult year and usher in the holiday season together and united.”

Many community members and returning hospital employees are looking forward to attending the event and annual celebration.

The gala features nine dazzling trees, decorated by extremely talented community members and spon-

sored by businesses; a live orchestra under the direction of Mr. Bill Ingram will provide festive music for the evening, beautiful centerpieces, and array of silent auction items.

The evening will begin at 6:00pm with a social hour. The silent auction will be open throughout the evening.

Following an elegant sit down dinner exquisitely, Tulare’s own David Macedo, master auctioneer, will auction off exquisitely decorated Christmas trees.

“The tremendous success we have enjoyed for the past 29 years was due to the wonderful work and efforts of the sponsors, decorators, the committee members, tree buyers, and the volunteers,” states Marmie Fidler, Foundation President.

“We are looking forward to another outstanding event.”

Tickets are $100 per person and available now at the Foundation Office.

For more information regarding sponsorship opportunities, volunteering, or tickets please contact the Tulare Hospital Foundation office, 685-3438.

ourvalleyvoice.com

38th Annual Christmas Tree Auction: A holiday fundraiser for more than 20 local charities

STAFF REPORTS Generosity and grandeur are combined as the Visalia Chamber of Commerce presents the 38th Annual Christmas Tree Auction Holiday Affair set to kick off Friday, December 7, 2018 at the Visalia Convention Center.

The Annual Christmas Tree Auc-

tion raises money and awareness for non-profit organizations impacting Visalia. More than four million dollars has been raised for local charities over the last 37 years. Underscoring the significance of this annual event, the Christmas Tree Auction is the primary

VISALIA AUCTION continued on 10 »

November & December at a Glance November 17: Three Rivers Holiday Bazaar November 21: Visalia Senior Center Thanksgiving Luncheon November 22: 14th Annual Race VEAC Against Hunger November 22: Hanford Turkey Trot 5K November 24: Small Business Saturday November 26: Candy Cane Lane Parade

December 1: Exeter Kiwanis Club presents Spirit of the Holidays December 1: Lemoore Christmas Parade December 2: Exeter Country Craft Fair December 4: Exeter Friends of the Library 1st annunal Christmas Tree Fundraiser December 6: 63rd Annual Tulare Children’s Christmas Parade and Tree Lighting

November 29: Visalia Holiday Open House

December 7: Exeter Woman’s Club 8th Annual Christmas Home Tour

November 29: Three Rivers - A Festival of Trees

December 7: Visalia’s 38th Annual Christmas Tree Auction “Holiday Affair”

November 29: Exeter Christmas Open House

December 7: Main Street Hanford Wine & Chocolate Tasting

November 30: Visallia Fox A Merry-Achi Christmas

December 7 and 8: The Naz Holiday Marketplace

December 1: Redwood Band and Color Guard Visalia Holiday Home Tour

December 8: Downtown Holiday Stroll in Lemoore

Happy Holidays from Harris Home Furnishings in Porterville

Your one-stop furniture store of all the major brands for the residential clients of the San Joaquin Valley.

15 November, 2018 Valley Voice

8

Visalia Emergency Aide Council Annual Christmas Stocking Project GUEST COLUMN BY KATHLEEN DOWLING This is the nineteenth year that I have approached the citizens of Visalia and the surrounding cities for assistance with the Visalia Emergency Aide Councils Stocking Project. My Dad was a career Air Force Officer; when we moved our stockings did too, it was one constant in our lives. When I was 16 it dawned on me that my mother while filling everyone else’s stocking had to fill her own and that just didn’t seem

right or fair. So I filled hers and Dads that year and it started a tradition of filling my brothers, their wives, girlfriends, children’s and visitors that happened to spend Christmas with us at Mom and Dad’s house. The tradition ended with the passing of my parents in 1998 and 1999.

I saw an article in the Visalia Times Delta in the fall of 1999 asking for assistance with the filling of stockings to be given out on Christmas Eve. The tradition had been started by a volunteer

who handmade and filled stockings that had been given out at Visalia Emergency Aide Council on Christmas Eve Morning. My parents had always insisted, and proven by their example, that we should help other people whenever and however we could. Filling stockings seemed a great way to help out and I could honor the memory of my parents, (who loved their stockings), at the same time.

I picked up 20 stockings and put up a note at work asking others to help out

too. I didn’t really know what to expect in the way of a response to my note.

To my surprise my co-workers came through eventually filling 350 fabulous stockings. I took my Escort, which was filled to the brim with stockings, and dropped them off on numerous occasions at The Visalia Emergency Aide Office. The staff nicknamed me, “The Stocking Lady,” and I have been known by that name ever since then.

I especially liked how the tradition

STOCKING PROJECT continued on 11 »

Visalia Holiday Home Tour set for December 1 from 12-5pm STAFF REPORTS Come and enjoy the music, warmth and hospitality of the holidays with the Redwood Ranger Band and Color Guard Saturday December 1, 12:00 PM – 5:00 PM. This inspiring event is a tour of 5 magnificent homes decorated for the holidays! Come and find new ideas to take back to your home. Twinkling lights, live music and fancy hors d’oeurves make this an extra special event.

The Redwood Band and Color Guard Holiday Home Tour starts at Quail Park, 4520 West Cypress Avenue. There attendees will receive a brochure with the tour details. Also at Quail Park get your holiday shopping done from the many vendors selling popular holiday gift items and enter all of the fantastic tricky tray raffles.

Tickets are $20.00 pre-sale, and will also be available the day of the event at Quail Park, White’s Music Store, Chelsea Street Boutique, Pet Envy, and from Redwood Band and

Color Guard parents.

All proceeds from the Holiday Home Tour go to support the Redwood Band and Color Guard.

The Instrumental Music Program at Redwood High School has a long history of success and musical excellence. It is our goal to shape positive attitudes, instill work ethic, and create a sense of family and community at school.

Many musicians from the Instrumental Music Program graduate with honors and continue in university programs across the state as well as many universities throughout the United States.

Students participating in instrumental music at Redwood have the opportunity to grow musically, compete in major state level competitions, be an ambassador for the school, make friends and travel across our great state of California.

The band experience instills values that go far beyond the classroom such as discipline, cooperation, leadership and teamwork. Band students

Visalia Home Tour 2017

set high goals and put forth great focus and effort at every practice and performance.

They represent our community

well with their performances and the manner in which they conduct themselves at competitions and events.

FESTIVAL OF TREES

aWo dland Christmas

HOLIDAY GALA NOVEMBER 30, 2018 Tulare Veterans Memorial Building 1771 E. Tulare Ave. - Tulare, Ca

Tickets on Sale Now at Foundation Office

906 N. Cherry St. - Tulare, Ca Call 5593685.3438 for info.

5:30 pm - Cocktail Hour & Silent Auction Opens 7:00 pm Dinner prepared by Executive Chefs Orchestra, Entertainment, Dancing 8:00 pm Live Auction

$100/Person

Live Auction of Exquisitely Decorated Trees a Tulare Hospital Foundation Annual Tradition Celebrating 30 Years!

TULARE HOSPITAL

FOUNDATION “Giving From The Heart”

Valley Voice 15 November, 2018

Calendar

November 16: Friday Speaker Meeting Gary Lindquist Wildlife Photography Photographic presentation by award winning local photographer Gary Lindquist.

7:00 pm, Tulare County Board of Supervisors, 2800 W Burrel in Visalia. No host dinner at Marie Callender’s at 5:15 pm.

November 17: Field Trip SW Tulare County Birding Travel to SW Tulare County, stopping at ponds and fields to observe wintering birds, Sandhill Cranes. Trip ends in afternoon to attend Return of the Cranes Festival at Pixley NWR. Bring water, snacks & lunch, sun protection, bird book, binoculars, 1st Meeting place: Visalia Sears parking lot at the Caldwell/Shady Lane Mall entrance at 6:30 AM, 6:45 AM departure. 2nd Meeting place: Big B’S Travel Center 7:15 AM 1164 N Front Rd Earlimart, November 17, Return of the Cranes Festival Saturday 3-6 PM, Pixley NWR ​Join Refuge staff, Tulare and Kern Audubon in the refuge parking lot. A presentation will be followed by a short hike (3/4 mi) to observation platform to see thousands of Sandhill Cranes returning to roost on the Refuge!

Bring flashlight, walking shoes and layered clothing. Hwy 99 to Ave 56. Go west to Rd 88 and turn north to the Refuge.

November 17: Three Rivers Holiday Bazaar Veterans Memorial Building 9;00 – 4:00, Three Rivers, gifts hand crafted by local artisans for the holiday season, Pick-a-Prize, TRUS 7th Grade Luncheon, Information: (559)-799-1473, 3rbazaar@gmail.com Nov. 17: Sequoia Symphony plays Gershwin, Bernstein The Visalia Fox Theatre 7:30pm.“On the Waterfront,” “An American in Paris”. Guest pianist Andrew Tyson returns to perform Gershwin’s “Concerto in F,” Tickets at www. sequoiasymphonyorchestra.com , 559 7328600 or at door.

November 21st Senior Center Thanksgiving Luncheon Join us for friendship and fun as we enjoy a traditional Thanksgiving 11:30am – 1pm Turkey with all the fixings. Seating is limited.

Purchase tickets in advance at the Senior Center beginning November 1st. Visalia Senior Center. $5 per person, info Holly Ellis (559) 713-4461 November 22: 14th Annual Race VEAC Against Hunger Join over 5,500 runners and walkers Thanksgiving at Garden Plaza, Main & Garden, 7:00 AM - 9:00 AM Fight hunger in the Valley!

Food vendors, music, selfie stations, kids race. $30 per person, $15 children 12 & under.

Includes commemorative T-shirt. Info Iris East, (559) 732-0101 November 22: Hanford Turkey Trot 5K 8:00 AM - 9:30 AM Turkey Trot 5K benefits local charities in Kings County. Hosted by Kings United Way. Register at https://runsignup.com/Race/CA/Hanford/KingsUnitedWayTurkeyTrot November 24th: Small Business Saturday Celebrate the entrepreneurial spirit of small businesses by shopping and dining at independently owned unique downtown businesses in the small towns throughout Tulare and Kings Counties.

November 26th: Candy Cane Lane Parade Downtown Visalia, 7:00pm, Sights and sounds of Christmas! Dancing, music, characters, and SANTA! November 29: Visalia Holiday Open House Visalia decks the halls, Enjoy the treats! Ride in a horse drawn carriage. Shop til you drop.

Enjoy a hot meal. Bundle up go for a stroll, Hop on Santa’s lap.5:00 pm - 8:00 pm. Info 559 732-7737 November 29: Three Rivers - A Festival of Trees It’s all about “Gingerbread” for St Anthony’s Retreat Festival of Trees, 5 PM, 3-5 foot beautifully adorned trees, Auction 7 pm; Silent Auc-

9 tion handmade gifts 5 pm. Gingerbread Village up for silent bidding. Appetizers, wine tasting, microbrews. November 28, 3:00pm Preview, Check or cash only for silent auction and trees. Tickets $25. 559-561-4595.

November 29th, Dec. 6th, 13th, 20th: Exeter Christmas Open House Old fashioned Holiday charm at Exeter’s open house 5:00- 9:00 every Thursday until Christmas. Carolers, Pictures with Santa, Old time fire truck rides, holiday refreshments, call 559-592-2919

Open House Sponsored by the Tule River Society Sunday 1 to 4pm at Springville Museum. Learn how to spin, weave, watch blacksmiths at work, enter the encampment of the Buffalo Soldiers and learn their history.

Rosemary on the piano and the Kings fiddlers. Raffle, refreshments.

December 2: Exeter Country Craft Fair Sponsored by American Legion Auxiliary #94, 9:00-3:00 pm, Toys, Gifts, Wood Crafts* Jewelry, Art, Apparel, Dolls, Exeter Memorial building - 324 N. Kaweah, info 731-0007

November 30: A Merry-Achi Christmas Visalia Fox Theatre 7:30 pm, traditional carols played by Mariachi Sol de Mexico® a 13-piece ensemble that brings to life a festive, joyous holiday celebration. Tickets $22$49 at Visalia Fox Theatre box office, 300 W. Main St. or 559.625.1369; or online at www. foxvisalia.org.

December 4: Exeter Friends of the Library 1st annual Christmas Tree Fundraiser Enter to win a seven foot Christmas Tree decorated with handcrafted ornaments by Exeter children. Tickets $1 or 6 for $5 and 15 for $10. Miss Exeter will draw the winner at the library.

December 1: Redwood Band and Color Guard Visalia Holiday Home Tour Tour of 5 magnificent homes decorated for the holidays! Live music, fancy hors d’oeurves. Starts at Quail Park 4520 West Cypress Ave, receive brochure with the tour details and do Holiday shopping, fantastic tricky tray raffles.12:00 PM – 5:00 PM. Tickets can be bought at White’s Music Store, Chelsea Street Boutique, Pet Envy, and from Redwood Band and Color Guard parents, or day of the event.

December 6: 63rd Annual Tulare Children’s Christmas Parade Tree lighting at 5:30pm, parade at 6:30pm.

Celebrating 63rd Tulare Children’s Christmas Parade. Kerissa Postma - Chapmanis the 2018 Grand Marshall. It all happens in downtown Tulare.

December 1: Exeter Kiwanis Club presents Spirit of the Holidays Premier Wine - Hors d’oeuvers - Raffle - Silent Auction - Live Auction, Semi-formal Dress Requested. All major credit cards for tickets, live and silent auctions accepted. Sober Drivers to Drive You & Your Car Home, 5:00 PM – 8:00 pm. Exeter Veterans Memorial Building, 324 N Kaweah Ave, info 592-2919.

December 1: Lemoore Christmas Parade The Lemoore Chamber of Commerce presents annual Lemoore Christmas Parade, 6 PM, downtown Lemoore! Info samantha@ lemoorechamber.org. or 559-924-6401.

December 2: Annual Springville Historical Museum Old Fashioned Christmas

December 7: Exeter Woman’s Club 8th Annual Christmas Home Tour Tour starts at Exeter’s Women’s Club, 201 Kaweah Ave, 4:00pm-8:00pm, Tickets $25.00 pre-sale, $30.00 at the door. Tickets available at the Exeter Chamber of Commerce & By the Water Tower Antiques. Information www.exeterwomansclub.com December 7: Visalia’s 38th Annual Christmas Tree Auction “Holiday Affair” Visalia Chamber of Commerce celebrates the holiday spirit by benefiting more than 30 charities. 7:00 – 11:00pm, VIP 6:00. Public Preview from 2:00 – 4:00. Live auction, silent auction, wine tastings, food samples, dancing. Visalia Convention Center, 303 E. Acequia St, Black tie gala for 21 and over.

December 7th: Main Street Hanford Wine & Chocolate Tasting Call 559.582.9457 or www.mainstreethanford.com.

15 November, 2018 Valley Voice

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Visalia Auction continued from 7

fundraising mechanism for participating non-profits.

Volunteers have already started to design and decorate 13 elaborate Christmas trees to be auctioned off live the night of the event. Additionally, that evening proceeds from silent auction items, including small decorated trees will benefit more than 20 local charities including: Arts Visalia, Celebrate Recovery,

Daughters of Hope, Deaf and Hard of Hearing Service Center, Eagle Mountain Foundation, El Diamante Class of 2019, Genesis House, Golden State Family Services, Hands in the Community, ImagineU Interactive Children’s Museum, Kaweah Delta Foundation Lifeline, Kaweah Delta Hospice Foundation, Love in the Name of Christ, My Fathers House, Read for Life, Samaritan Center of Tulare County, Seven Oaks Church, St. Paul’s School, The Ruth Wood Open Arms House, Valley Oak SPCA, Valley PBS, Visalia Rescue Mission, Visalia Police Explor-

er Post #32, Young Life Tulare County The Annual Christmas Tree Auction has become a local holiday tradition. Each year more than 1,200 people dressed in their finest holiday attire kick off the season with a giving spirit. This year’s event includes an appearance by the Mt. Whitney Drum Line, music provided by DJ John McCullough and a special Holiday sponsored surprise during the evening. This is an event not to be missed.

For Tickets - Lounges are now on sale. Lounges are $1,500 and include

souvenir wine glass, designated seating for 8 in a semi-private lounge, access to VIP winery, live entertainment, VIP hors d’ourves, wine tasting, appetizers, dancing, live auction and silent auction.

Lounge entrance is 6:00 pm.

General Admission tickets are on sale now. Tickets are $80.00 per person and include appetizers, wine tasting, dancing, live auction and silent auction.

General Admission entrance is 7:00 pm.

General admission tickets may be purchased online at www.Eventbrite.com.

Find Unique and Charming Gifts in EXETER! EXETER CHRISTMAS OPEN HOUSE Exeter Downtown Shops Open Late Thursday Evenings November 29 & December 6, 13 and 20 5:00 - 9:00 pm

Come see Santa & enjoy FREE Old Fashioned Fire Truck Rides, Refreshments and Family Holiday Spirit!

Exeter Gift Certificates make Great Christmas Gifts Employees, Friends, Loved Ones, Teachers, Stocking Stuffers and MORE! Available at the Exeter Chamber of Commerce all Year Long!

101 W. Pine St. Exeter 559•592•2919 www.exeterchamber.com

Mardi Gras was the theme of one of last year’s entrants to the Christmas Tree Auction.

Want to get your business seen?

The Valley Voice can help!

Call Catherine: 559-972-7778

Valley Voice 15 November, 2018

11

Arts Visalia hosting annual Holiday Show & Sale starting November 21 STAFF REPORTS In December 2018, Arts Visalia is pleased to host the annual Holiday Show & Sale which officially starts November 21st just before Thanksgiving and Black Friday shopping. The Holiday Show & Sale extends the small gift shop space to fill our large exhibition space. Come and shop your holiday list early from a variety of items for sale made by local artisans. Don’t miss out on unique works of art perfect for gift giving. Gift show will run from November 21st through December 15th. The opening reception is on First Friday, December 7th from 6:00pm to 8:00pm and is sponsored in part by Jack & Charlie’s, the Vintage Press Restaurante, the Southern Pacific Depot Restaurant, and Bueno Beverage Company.

Arts Visalia’s Young Imaginations Gallery will display the artworks of the 5-17 year old participants of our children’s classes year-round. Please stop in and take a look at what they created in the month of November on display in December.

Join Arts Visalia on Thursday, November 22nd, Thanksgiving morning, for free face painting at the 14th Annual Race Against Hunger Kid’s Zone. This is the second year Arts Visalia is partnering with the Visalia Emergency Aid Council to provide face painting to children. All proceeds from the Race Against Hunger benefit the Visalia Emergency Aid Food Pantry which provides critical funding for food assistance to more than 1,100 families (2,500 children) in need each month. A worthy cause to support!

Local water expert to receive Lifetime Achievement Award for water work STAFF REPORTS Richard “Dick” Schafer will be honored later this month with the Lifetime Achievement Award by the Association of California Water Agencies.

Schafer has been the principal and consulting engineer with R.L. Schafer & Associates since 1961. He has had a long and distinguished career devoted to the conservation and sustainability of water supply and irrigation water distribution in the San Joaquin Valley.

At 93 years old, he continues to be

actively engaged in critical water-related issues, including service as Watermaster and Secretary with Tule River Association. In 2012 Schafer was awarded the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Commander’s Award for Public Service for championing flood control and water conservation in the Lower San Joaquin Valley.

He was instrumental in organizing the San Joaquin Valley Ag Water Committee in 1979, and in 2006 he played a key role in forming Valley Ag Water Coalition, which has become an effective

voice with the legislative and executive branches of California government.

Schafer’s most recent accomplishment was to spearhead the enlargement of Success Reservoir which will double flood protection for the City of Porterville and increase flood protection for downstream farms and communities.

In June 2018, Congressman Kevin McCarthy announced that a $74 million grant had been awarded to the Success Dam Enlargement Project by Congress to fund and authorize the Army Corps of Engineers to initiate and complete

Tulare County Library offers databases of art and more STAFF REPORTS Tulare County Library now offers two new online learning programs to help you succeed, ArtistWorks and Universal Class. Both are free to you to use 24 hours a day, 7 days a week with a valid Tulare County Library Card in good standing.

ArtistWorks provides instruction on musical instruments, vocal, acoustic, and even art from top professionals who provide instruction via video session

Aladdin

continued from 6 magic lamp and the genie who has the power to grant three wishes.

Wanting to earn the respect of Princess Jasmine, Aladdin embarks on an adventure that will test his will and his moral character. With expanded characters, new songs, and more thrills, Aladdin Jr. is sure to delight Tulare County audiences this month.

The production has a huge cast of 100 students with another 40 young

Stocking Project continued from 8

of stockings, which had been brought to America by European Immigrants many years ago, (including my grandparents), was now being introduced to new immigrants from Southeast Asia and South America, a new tradition for them to pass onto their children and grandchildren. It is one of the things that I find most special about America.

As immigrants come here they bring new traditions and add them to our culture and adopt traditions of those that have come before them. The giving of stockings to children teaches them a wonderful lesson. It amazes them, that someone who doesn’t know them, probably will never meet them, takes the time and money to prepare a gift for them with no expectation of receiv-

and personally interact with you via email. Learn or gain help on the flute, guitar, violin, ukulele, music theory, bluegrass, mandolin, trumpet, cello, piano, saxophone, voice, and more. There is even an art class with drawing and painting techniques. The instructors provide feedback based on your own videoed performance.

Universal Class supplies over 500 courses, ranging from core academic, business, personal development, writing, management, health and medicine,

exercise, careers, cooking, event planning, human and child development, math, science, computer skills, DIY, history, and cultures—much to draw from to help you succeed.

Normally the classes would range between $75 or more, yet the Tulare County Library provides them free to you.

For more information about the library, head to www.tularecountylibrary. org. Like the Library on Facebook www. facebook.com/tularecountylibrary.

performers in a preshow production.

The production also features a flying character. “Directing this show has always been a dream of mine,” said Theatre Company director Bethany Rader. “I loved the idea of picking a show where one of the lead characters is a strong woman who knows what she wants,” she said. “Jasmine is a good example for girls these days.”

Mt. Whitney High School student Job Whetstone plays Aladdin and Redwood High School student Parker Chalabian plays Genie. “Aladdin has been

fun to play,” said Job. “He’s a complicated mix of a deceitful thief and the hero with a heart of gold at the same time.”

For more information on Aladdin Jr., call the Theatre Company at (559) 651-1482. All performances take place at the L.J. Williams Theater, 1001 W. Main St., Visalia.

ing anything from them in return.

If you could see the faces of the children as they receive their stockings you would understand why I continue to work on this project every year. We need filled stockings; stocking stuffers, empty stockings and donations of money to be used to purchase items for this annual tradition. Visalia Emergency Aide Council is a 501(c) 3 non-profit, and as such all donations to them can be written off on your taxes.

If you know of anyone that would be willing to make stockings that would be wonderful, (and a great way for fellow sewers and knitters to use up odds and ends of fabric and yarn that we all have filling our homes!). We also had a donation of a large variety of beautiful yarns that I would be willing to share with anyone that would like to make stockings. Pass on the word to other groups that might want to help

out with this project, youth and adult; if you know of some that may be interested please let me know.

We are asking that stockings be filled for boys or girls’ newborn to 12 years of age. Use your imagination and fill them with whatever you think a particular age group would like to find in their stocking. Some families have used it as a lesson in giving for their children by taking them to the Dollar Store and having them fill a stocking for a child their own age. For the children that receive these stocking it may be their only gift.

You do not have to spend a lot of money on this project it is the thought that counts. Please no red or blue clothing items, anything with a team logo or Looney Tunes pictures on clothing, due to the gang problem. Please no toy guns, swords, or knives as VEAC does not want to be responsible for some-

Show Times

Evening Shows November 15, 16, 17 Matinee Show November 17

(7:00pm): (2:00pm):

the project.

In a letter of support signed by House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy and congressmen Devin Nunes, David Valadao, Jeff Denham and Jim Costa, Schaefer was described as “a consummate gentleman who never deviated from his focus on problem-solving through perseverance, hard work and a positive attitude.”

The award will be bestowed upon Schafer on Nov. 28 at the ACWA Convention in San Diego.

Escabana continued from 6

size the importance of comedic timing that makes farce great fun.

Belva Peden noted, “Be ready to laugh. It is a night of pure entertainment.

You’ll go home with a smile on your face.”

Evening performances are at 7:30pm on 11/16, 11/17, 11/23, 11/24, 11/30, and 12/1, and matinees are at 2:00pm on 11/18, 11/25, and 12/2.

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

Show Ticket Information

$10 preshow “Meet the Characters” passes $12 general admission $20 reserved seating

Tickets available at Visalia TCOE locations:

6200 S. Mooney Blvd. and 7000 Doe Ave. Monday through Friday during normal business hours.

Cash or check only.

Tickets may also be purchased at the door. one being hurt because the toy is mistaken for the real thing I will gladly drive over and pick these items up. I also have tags that can be attached to the stockings. The citizens of Visalia and surrounding areas have been big supporters of this project in the past and I am excited about having a large variety of individuals and groups involved once again!

The stockings can also be dropped off at Maverick’s Coffee House, Horine Chiropractic Office, The Chrystal Barn, and The Visalia Emergency Aide Office and Thrift Store. If you would be willing to have a decorated collection box at your business or office, I would be happy to provide you with a box and will regularly come by and remove donations. Thanks in advance for everyone’s help!

Kathleen Dowling “The Stocking Lady” 559-731-7823

15 November, 2018 Valley Voice

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AGRICULTURE Psyllids found at Visalia residences STAFF REPORTS A breeding population of Asian citrus psyllids that included nymphs (young Asian citrus psyllids) was found at four residential properties in Visalia.

The discoveries are the year’s first detections of a breeding population in Tulare County; while the destructive plant disease Huanglongbing (HLB) wasn’t found, and has not yet been found in the Central Valley, the psyllid can transmit the disease. Currently, HLB has no cure, and is fatal to citrus trees.

There have been more than 900 HLB detections in backyard citrus trees throughout Los Angeles, Orange and Riverside counties. The best way to prevent the spread of HLB is to manage the Asian citrus psyllid.

Tulare County residents can follow these tips to protect local citrus trees: • Allow agricultural crews to inspect your citrus trees for the pest and disease.

• Inspect trees for the Asian citrus psyllid and Huanglongbing (HLB) whenever watering, spraying, pruning or tending trees. If you spot the pest or disease, call the California Depart-

ment of Food and Agriculture’s pest hotline: 800-491-1899.

• Psyllids are most noticeable when new leaves are growing on the tips of branches.

• The Asian citrus psyllid is similar in size to an aphid. Adults are brown, about 1/8th of an inch long, and feed with their bodies at a 45-degree angle.

• Young Asian citrus psyllids are yellowish orange and produce a white, waxy substance that can be seen on leaves.

• Adults, juveniles and eggs are typically found on tender, new leaves.

• Symptoms of HLB include blotchy and/or yellowing of leaves, yellow shoots, lopsided, small and bitter fruit, and premature and excessive fruit drop.

• Do not move citrus plants, foliage or fruit into or out of your area, and especially across state or international borders. This could unknowingly contribute to the spread of the pest and disease.

Visit CaliforniaCitrusThreat.org for more information.

WHCC program named among best STAFF REPORTS PrecisionAg.com has compiled and published a list of the 20 best community colleges for precision agriculture, with #5 West Hills College Coalinga, the only college listed from California.

Author Matt Hopkins had published a list of top 25 best universities for precision agriculture, when he realized community colleges and tech schools had developed precision agriculture programs that were “successfully thriving before many of the major universities got on board.”

He created the list of top community colleges by surveying program heads to provide a self-assessment and peer review, which included listing the schools they think have the best reputation in education, hands-on training, and graduate job placement for precision agriculture.

“We try to demonstrate and incorporate technology from the Farm into all of our courses.” said Terry Brase, Director of West Hills College Coalinga’s Farm of the Future, where the precision agriculture program is based.

The Agriculture Science Technology program at West Hills provides fun-

damental skills in geospatial, remote imagery, telemetry, automation, programming, and software, within five specialized courses. Application of these technologies is provided in additional production, irrigation, agronomic, and industrial ag courses using crops on the WHCC Farm of the Future.

Stacked certificates are also an important part of the department. They allow students to take technology courses as part of the Ag Science Technology degree and then “stack” on irrigation, HVAC, integrated pest management, heavy equipment, or any other certificate offered in the ag department as part of the Associate degree.

Terry Brase is the lead instructor for the technology courses and has over 25 years of experience teaching precision ag. Brase has also previously helped with the development of the precision ag programs at two other colleges listed in the top 20, including #1 Kirkwood Community College and #16 Hawkeye Community College.

You can contact the Agriculture and Industrial Science department at (559) 934-2701 or visit westhillscollege. com/coalinga

Programs work to bring veterans into agriculture KEVIN HECTEMAN, CFBF You’ve heard of turning swords into plowshares. How about turning soldiers into farmers?

Private groups and the U.S. Department of Agriculture have launched programs intended to recruit former service members into the agricultural ranks.

One private group, the Farmer Veteran Coalition, is based in Davis. It was founded in 2008 by Michael O’Gorman, who left a 40-year career in production agriculture to start helping veterans, after reading media reports indicating a disproportionate number of troops serving in Iraq and Afghanistan had roots in rural America.

Evan Eagan, the coalition’s communications manager, said the organization works with veterans with no experience in agriculture, vets who are leaving the service to return to a family farm or those who are starting their own operation.

Cal Zamora, a Marine turned flower grower, gained help from the coalition as he launched his farm, Zamora Flora.

Zamora served in the Marines from 2003 to 2008 and was deployed to Iraq in 2007.

“A big thing I noticed in Iraq is, I’d see the degradation of the land,” he said. “I was on the Euphrates River, and the desert came right up to 50 yards from the river. So they had plenty of water, but they couldn’t grow anything.”

The soil, he said, was salinated to the point of being toxic. Zamora said

the experience taught him “how important it is to take care of the land, have stewardship of it, and ensure that that sort of thing doesn’t happen to your best farmland.”

That eventually led him to the California Farm Academy, run by the Center for Land-Based Learning in Winters, where he and his wife Aubrianne enrolled in 2016. When applying to the academy, Zamora learned of the Farmer Veteran Coalition.

“They got me a scholarship in order to go to the California Farm Academy, so that my wife and I were both able to go through it,” Zamora said.

At first, the Zamoras thought about raising chickens, but decided they lacked the money for the startup costs.

Zamora’s day job at the Sacramento Valley National Cemetery in Dixon brought him into contact with florists. After a marketing instructor told him he had a “built-in client list right there,” he decided to try flower growing.

Zamora Flora just wrapped up its second growing season, on property leased from the Center for Land-Based Learning. Zamora said he grew 117 varieties this year, including azaleas and sunflowers.

“One thing I like about flower farming is that we experimented a lot,” he said. “We grew small amounts of a lot of different things—see how it worked, see how our customers liked it.”

The Zamoras sold most of their output this year at farmers markets in Petaluma and Novato. Next year, he said, he plans to add more vegetables to his lineup.

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Zamora Flora also is one of 63 veteran-operated farms in California—and some 1,400 nationwide—taking part in the Homegrown by Heroes program, a marketing label for food and other products grown or raised by veterans.

“I think America likes to support veterans, and one really good way to do that is to purchase the fruit of their labor,” Eagan said. “The Homegrown

by Heroes program allows them to communicate that.”

To help more people like Zamora get started, the Center for Land-Based Learning operates an apprentice program that recently earned the approval of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs to accept Montgomery GI Bill benefits.

“The veterans can use their GI Bill to participate in this program,” said Christine McMorrow, the center’s director of development and communications. “It can’t pay for their tuition and their training, but it can pay for the other stuff that they need to be supported,” such as housing and food.

“Once apprentices go through the program and complete their 3,000 hours of on-farm training and their 250 hours of curriculum training, they then graduate to the level of journeyman beginning farm and ranch manager,” McMorrow said.

Matt Mccue, the Farmer Veteran Coalition director of training and employment, said the new generation of veterans entering agriculture is not just “taking up the old jobs that Grandpa did exactly as they did it.”

“People getting out of the military have a tremendous amount of skills SALES, SERVICE, RENTAL AG EQUIPMENT & TRUCK REPAIR

that they developed from the military that they can put toward agriculture,” Mccue said. “Drone operators, for one—there’s a huge demand for drone operators in agriculture.”

Mccue said he would like to see more partnerships such as that between the coalition and the Center for Land-Based Learning, with dairy being near the top of his list.

“I’d like to get veterans into precision agriculture, plant breeding, and really take it to the next level,” he said.

Zamora said he thinks farming also has social advantages for former service members.

“I see a lot of vets that get stuck in a bubble of only wanting to hang out with other vets, only wanting to talk to other vets, and isolating themselves, which in a lot of cases doesn’t work out well for folks,” he said.

Getting into farming and finding a community of fellow farmers was a major benefit for him, he added.

“It’s kind of a healing process to be outdoors, to be nurturing something living, to see it through, going from seed all the way to the final product,” Zamora said. “It’s very different from what I did in the Marines.”

For more information about the Farmer Veteran Coalition, see www. farmvetco.org/. Information about USDA veterans initiatives may be found at www.usda.gov/our-agency/ initiatives/veterans.

(Kevin Hecteman is an assistant editor of Ag Alert. He may be reached at khecteman@cfbf.com.)

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Valley Voice 15 November, 2018

Ivanhoe Boys & Girls Club sports field opening on November 15

STAFF REPORTS Boys & Girls Clubs of the Sequoias will be celebrating the Grand Opening of their brand-new sports field located at the Ivanhoe Boys & Girls Club on Thursday, November 15th, 2018.

The sports field has been named in honor of Bob Felts Sr., who dedicated his life to community service and established the first youth center in Ivanhoe.

Bob Felts Sr. was born in North Carolina and attended Duke University School of Law. He moved to California with his wife, Pat Felts, where he passed the Bar Exam and began his work as an attorney.

However, his true life passion was serving his community. Along with the help of Pat Felts and daughter-in-

BALLOTS continued from 1

tacted the county, they had no record of her request for an absentee ballot.

“They said that I wasn’t signed up to receive my absentee ballot,” she said. “It was weird because I’ve been voting that way for years.”

Voters Not Lost

Registrar of Voters Michelle Baldwin says she doesn’t know what happened in those two particular instances, but a small number of missing ballots is common.

“You always have it in every election,” she said.

She was also emphatic voters are not being dropped from the rolls.

“We’re not losing voters off the record. They’re still registered to vote,” she said of those who have complained

PROPERTY continued from 1

District (TLHCD).

Oliver Wanger, a former judge for the US District Court for the Eastern District of California, appearing for HCCA, also told Bianco that he did not have all the evidence.

“You were affirmatively misled,” he declared.

Citing previous case law, Bianco said an evidentiary hearing was the required next step in the proceedings.

“You can’t,” he told Peters, “trump the People’s right to an evidentiary hearing.”

Peters and Wanger were referring to what they believed were “indisputable” clauses in the HCCA contracts that allowed the company, and Benzeevi, the right to make wide-ranging financial decisions.

“The idea that Dr. Benzeevi could sell $3.5 million in property and give it to himself is ludicrous. It’s a [Government Code] 1090 violation,” Deputy District Attorney Trevor Holly countered.

Government Code 1090 states: (a) Members of the Legislature, state, county, district, judicial district, and city officers or employees shall not be financially interested in any contract made by them in their official capacity, or by any body or board of which they are members.

Nor shall state, county, district, judicial district, and city officers or employees be purchasers at any sale or vendors at any purchase made by them in their official capacity. (b) An individual shall not aid or abet a Member of the Legislature or a state, county, district, judicial district, or city officer or employee in violating subdi-

13

law Cindy Felts, Bob Felts successfully established the Ivanhoe Youth Center in 1999.

Felts served as director of the Youth Center and donated his legal services to the community as needed.

When Felts developed Parkinson’s, he realized that he could no longer hold his position as director.

He came into communication with Dr. Sid Frank, who facilitated the transfer of the Ivanhoe Youth Center to the Boys & Girls Clubs of the Sequoias.

Since then, the Ivanhoe Boys & Girls Club has moved from the Presbyterian Church into a new building on 15892 Azalea Ave. After much community effort and construction, the empty lot and road in front of the Ivanhoe Club has been

converted into a sports field.

Dustin Stewart, Second Vice President of the Boys & Girls Clubs of the Sequoias and lead on the project, views the sports field as “a new beginning” for the Ivanhoe community.

Stewart helped gain the support of Tulare County in the construction of the field and particularly in the elimination of the road originally in front of the club. Elva Solano, Site Director of the Ivanhoe Club, and her club kids canvassed the neighborhood to gain approval for the field.

Thanks to many supportive community members, this project has received the necessary funding; now the community has a spacious, green area to call their own.

Stewart says, “There’s always a

way to give, it’s limitless. Whatever your God-given gift is, share that with people.”

“I think the people of Ivanhoe will really enjoy having a place to meet and celebrate,” says Pat Felts. Cindy Felts explains, “Before Bob had a vision of the youth center, there really wasn’t much for the kids in Ivanhoe outside of the school. Bob brought that to the community, and the Boys & Girls Clubs has been able to extend that.”

The event will be held on November 15th at the Ivanhoe Boys & Girls Club from 4pm-6pm. A video showcasing the sports field will be released this month—follow Boys & Girls Clubs of the Sequoias on Facebook to watch the video when it premieres: www. facebook.com/bgcsequoias

about missing ballots. “They’re coming in and getting their ballots, so we’re not losing them.”

expected ballot failed to appear in the mailbox at the Adams family home in Tulare.

“My husband didn’t get one, but everyone else in the house did,” Tasheena Adams said. “He called, and they sent one.”

That’s the preferred outcome, Baldwin said.

“We try to make sure everyone gets a right to vote,” she said.

for whatever reason, to get a driver’s license, there’ve been some issues with those registrations,” she said.

At least one Tulare County resident, Tania Gomez of Visalia, said her mail-in ballot didn’t arrive after she registered to vote through the DMV following a recent move. Rebecca Kirkman, also of Visalia, says she and her husband didn’t update their information at the DMV after their recent move, but did inform the post office.

“We moved last year, and I think the post office asked if we wanted to re-register when we did a change of address,” she said. “My husband didn’t get his ballot, though he doesn’t usually vote by mail.”

Yet Frank Hill, the Tulare resident who says his registration data was completely wiped, says none of this applies to his case.

“It wasn’t like a DMV sleight-ofhand or anything,” he said.

Report Missing Ballots

Still, Baldwin says there is no way for election officials to know how many would-be voters did not get the vote-by-mail ballots they were expecting.

“Unless they notify us that they didn’t receive their ballot, how are we going to know they didn’t receive their ballot?” she said. “If someone loses their ballot or they don’t get their ballot, it’s not done intentionally. If they come and bring it to our attention, we’ll try to find out what happened, why it didn’t happen.”

Anyone who did not receive the mail-in ballot they were expecting should contact the Elections Office at (559) 624-7300.

That’s what happened when an vision (a). (c) As used in this article, “district” means any agency of the state formed pursuant to general law or special act, for the local performance of governmental or proprietary functions within limited boundaries.

(Amended by Stats. 2014, Ch. 483, Sec. 1. (SB 952) Effective January 1, 2015.)

Holly’s statement regarding selling property referred to a $3m leaseback arrangement that HCCA made in August 2017.

The company allegedly sold some assets of Tulare Regional Medical Center and deposited the $3m into an account belonging to “Tulare Asset Management,” a company wholly owned

by Benzeevi.

After that deposit, the District Attorney’s office alleges that Benzeevi later shuffled the funds through HCCA’s bank account and into one shared by him and his wife.

Because the district is a public entity, it is an “agency of the state,” and subject to legal restrictions on its financial dealings.

However, Peters stated that the Management Services Agremeent, one of the contracts between the district and HCCA, is indisputable. “[It] allows Dr. Benzeevi to pay himself. The contract is what it is and can’t be disputed. The only reason the account is frozen is because they [the DA] say it was stolen,” he said.

The judge insisted there was a dispute, and both parties agreed the remedy is an evidentiary hearing.

Frustration Over “Leaks”

Peters also expressed his “frustration” to the judge that the DA allegedly leaked information about Benzeevi’s

DMV Errors

At least some of the problem can likely be traced back to the state’s new Motor Voter law, which began automatically registering customers to vote in April. More than 23,000 errors in those registrations have been discovered, according to the Secretary of State’s office. Those errors have effected voters in Tulare County, Baldwin said.

“People who’ve gone down to the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) seized accounts online, including bank account balances and dates.

A court filing from the District Attorney’s office was reported on in the media and posted by the group Citizens for Hospital Accountability. The filing is available below.

“These are all public documents,” Holly said. “There’s no number, they’re difficult to track down, but the documents are public.”

Wanger suggested the court assign the proceedings – and, by association, any related documents and filings — a case number.

The same suggestion was made at prior hearings; currently, hearings are not listed on the court calendar, and case information is unavailable on the court’s public e-filing website.

Internally, the District Attorney’s

office has assigned the investigation case number 17-01-000407, and the hearing are currently labeled as “In Re Search Warrant #013487.”

“There will be an evidentiary hearing with the burden on the People to show these funds were illegally obtained,” Bianco said. “If the money was illegally obtained, it taints the accounts it was put into.”

“At some point, Dr. Benzeevi’s Fourth Amendment rights will trump the District Attorney[‘s office],” Bianco said, noting that the proceedings were moving slowly.

Both parties agreed to a twoweek hearing, set to commence on January 22.

“You’ll have my full calendar,” the judge said. “From 8:30am to 4:30pm.”

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15 November, 2018 Valley Voice

14

FARADAY continued from 1

each other and work together.

There’s no doubt in Chapman’s eyes that they are hiring for success. “Every one of those people inside of that classroom, they really want to be there, and they come to work every day with a strong work ethic, that’s what’s gonna set us apart from the rest.”

When asked about seasoned competitor Tesla Inc., Chapman said he wished Tesla the “best of luck” and claimed Faraday had a vehicle no one had ever seen before and technology that will be innovative to the market. But his focus was not on one-upping competitors, it was on making the Hanford plant and its people the best possible.

That meant rolling out the new model early next year. It’s unclear, however, if the plant will meet ETA. According to a Faraday spokesperson, their largest investor, Evergrande, a Chinese investment company, refused to give an agreed payment of $500 million and attempted to prevent Faraday from receiving funds from other potential investors. Faraday responded by suing the investor.

“This is a matter of basic, common-sense fairness – Evergrande shouldn’t be permitted to withhold the funding and simultaneously prevent FF from accepting alternative financing or investments.”

Unfortunately, Faraday’s ambitious vision came at a high price. Evergrande was the largest shareholder, with 45% ownership of the company. Such a heavy hand put Faraday employees at the mercy of the investment company.

According to Technode, 60 Faraday Future employees in China never re-

TULARE ELECTION continued from 1

ful, and a divisive figure. His goal is to bring people together by respecting everyone’s views.

ceived their salaries. Some of the employees claimed that Evergrande was making drastic changes to their contracts, such as uprooting workers from their cities and only offering 50% of their original salary.

If these allegations are true, that may mean trouble for Faraday employees in Hanford. But Faraday did not give up on its vision and prioritized FaraStan Chapman speaks to a batch of new Faraday Future employees. Martin Velasco-Ramos/Valley Voice day employees and pany’s controller, stabilize the firm’s According to an article by The New York their families. They plan to do this by pursuing other fund- situation, and protect the interests of Times, Chief Executive Elon Musk expected the company to net a profit “all quaring opportunities, finding solutions to shareholders.”

Say what you will about Faraday’s ters going forward” and was “no longer protect everyone, and looking to their top gun, but a spokesperson claimed in startup mode”. leadership.

It’s safe to say Faraday Future is still The question is if Faraday leaders the company has remained unwavering have what it takes. The original Las Vegas despite running on fumes. “Jia and FF in startup mode and has recently startplant failed when funding sputtered to always prioritize the benefits of all our ed cutting costs by announcing layoffs a halt and debt grew too burdensome. employees and their families globally. and salary reductions. According to an The Initial Chief Financial Officer and We will try to look for solutions and pro- email obtained by The Verge, employee Chief Technology Officer abandoned tect everyone’s interests. We are moving salaries will drop 20% and CEO Jia has reship, leaving Chinese billionaire Jia Yuet- forward with our current team in Han- duced his salary to $1 a year.

In recent weeks as many as 60 eming alone at the wheel. Jia managed to ford and at our HQ here in LA as a company.

Our goals and objectives have not ployees were furloughed at the Hanford save the company once by landing Everchanged in terms of personnel.

We conplant while some 40 were laid off. grande, but he also doesn’t have the best tinue to hire those roles which the comA late October letter to employees track record when it comes to keeping pany has deemed crucial even in this stated that “FF is requiring most emmoney flowing. time of uncertainty.

The core projects in ployees who have worked for the ComAccording to the South China Post, Hanford are still moving forward.” pany less than six months to take the Jia left his original company in financial Faraday’s future may be uncertain, months of November and December off ruin and was placed on China’s official blacklist of defaulters in December of but it wasn’t long ago that competitor without pay.”

Dag Reckhorn, the company’s se2017. He was ordered by the Bejing Secu- Tesla was in a similar position. After years rities Regulatory Bureau to return home of struggle, delaying payments, and cut- nior vice president of manufacturing and “fulfill responsibility as a listed com- ting costs, Tesla finally managed to make at the Hanford plant, “heartbrokena huge profit of $312 million this quarter. ly” resigned.

would be resolving the city manager position, number two was finding a new police chief, and the third was to find a new permanent city attorney.

Tulare City Council District 2

Tulare City Council District 4

Candidate for District 2 Terry Sayre decided to have a more intimate watch party and hold it at her own house.

Family and friends gathered in the living room as one of her granddaughters refreshed the election results on her laptop. Others hovered around the kitchen filling their plates and bellies with delicious home cooked dishes.

Some took to the family piano and played a few songs.

Even District 4 candidate Chris Harrell swung by after his watch party.

An unorthodox watch party was fitting for an unorthodox candidate.

Former teacher Sayre decided to

OVER THE EDGE

“I believe that the different things the Source does are really great,” said Skye. “They serve anybody, actually, in the community who needs help.”

Skye, who was the top fundraiser during the event, says she is especially supportive of the Source’s anti-bullying and suicide-prevention efforts, as the issues have often effected her directly.

“Suicide has touched our family several times, like three different times, most recently my daughter-inlaw two months ago while my grandkids were in the house, so it’s a lot,” she said. “Depression is big, and a lot of kids are bullied for different reasons, so I just think (what the Source does) is great.”

Dennis Mederos had a lively gathering of friends and Tulare residents, many of whom sat at tables eating and chatting as Mederos calmly walked among his supporters.

Mederos remained optimistic as the first results rolled in, but kept a humble and realistic demeanor until the final result. In the end, Mederos won the race against challenger Chris Harrell by 14%.

When asked what his biggest priority would be, he said number one

continued from 1

and the money to pay for it.

“This is a peer-to-peer fundraiser,” he said of the weekend’s event. “Seventy-five people have signed up, and they are raising at least $1,000 by asking their friends, families, doing raffles, auctions. Anything that’s legal, they’re doing it to raise money to support our mission and to help us build capacity.”

‘They Serve Anybody’

The Friday night kickoff to the event saw several local notables, including State Assemblyman Devon Mathis, Marriott regional vice president Doug Warren, Visalia Rawhide mascot Tipper the Bull and radio personality April Skye, leading the way off the eighth-floor balcony at the downtown hotel.

Shock Value

“Jumping off a building does get some attention,” Vargas said about his effort to get people to rappel down the

write a passionate letter to her future constituents instead of a flyer at the beginning of her campaign. Her personal approach must have appealed to voters because supporters began to call in and she ultimately won the seat, defeating Alex Gutierrez by 16%.

Although Sayre was in a race for the council seat, she never forgot what mattered most to her– unity. She stayed true to her belief by always working together with local leaders and community members. District 2 candidate Alex Gutierrez and Sayre worked side by side at the Tulare Chamber of Commerce and she had the opportunity to teach Harrell when she was a teacher.

Sayre shared similarities with District 4 winner Mederos in that they both put finding a new city manager and police chief as a priority. She says they have known each other a long time and respect each other. And

just how Sigala believes in bringing people together, Sayre has faith that the east and west sides of Tulare can create unity.

“Look at the diverse group of people that came here tonight–other candidates!” Sayre said as she spoke of her supporters and how they are proof people can come together despite their skin color or what side of town they live on. “These are like-minded people who see humanity. They don’t see white, black, brown, Spanish. They don’t see that. They see humanity.”

Sayre says she feels blessed and doesn’t have words to express how grateful she is for the support she has received from her community. “It increases my belief that we can be united. We can change the climate of Tulare because Tulare has gone through a lot and there is still residual discontent and contention. It’s still here.”

side of a prominent building while the media looked on.

Creating a stir, Vargas says, was also an aim of the weekend event.

Members of the LGBT community, he said, may have needs that are not adequately addressed in the South Valley. He pointed to healthcare as an example.

“We are addressing disparities in health outcomes,” Vargas said. “If somebody needs an LGBT-knowledgeable and competent doctor, we can refer them. Or a therapist. LGBT people might have special health needs that, until we existed, weren’t really talked about.”

and elderly members of the community, parents and family members, and those who are dealing with issues such as substance abuse and eating disorders. The success of these programs has led to a desire to expand them.

“We’re poised for big growth to meet the needs of LGBT people here in our community,” Vargas said. “Part of that is increased space. Right now, we have about 500 square feet in Montgomery Square, and we love it there, but it’s just not enough space.”

With the money raised this weekend, the Source is now ready to grow.

“We can certainly expand our space,” Vargas said. “We’re thinking, ‘What are the options? Do we go to a bigger space we lease downtown? Do we expand our space here?’”

The Source LGBT+ Center is located at 208 W. Main Street, Suite B, in Visalia. For more information about the Source, visit thesourcelgbt.org.

Bigger and Better

Much of the work at the Source happens during support group sessions. The sessions serve a variety of different individuals, including young

Valley Voice 15 November, 2018

15

VOICES & OPINIONS

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

A careful search for parking GARY K. HERBST, KAWEAH DELTA CEO When the City and local businesses asked Kaweah Delta Medical Center to stay downtown rather than relocating elsewhere in Visalia, we knew staying would be beneficial, but not with-

out hurdles.

While we are a downtown staple and contribute to the economic fiber of downtown, the landscape is not without challenges. It’s no secret that one of our biggest challenges is parking. As we work hard to modernize, expand and improve facilities, our parking spaces are at a premium. We are working to find solutions that will

help patients and visitors find parking closer to our Medical Center. We know this is a concern for our community.

We have already increased our free valet parking spaces and the numbers of hours this service is offered to you, but we know more parking is needed.

We have just opened up 28 all-day patient and visitor spaces steps from our hospital entrance on Acequia Avenue by relocating our physician parking lot.

Physicians still have a parking lot that is close to our hospital, but it is gated and secure, so that when they need to see you at the hospital, they know their parking spot is reserved and can get to you in the most-timely manner.

We are also hard at work so that by summer, there will be more than 80 parking spots for patients and visitors directly outside our hospital en-

trance on Acequia Avenue. This will involve tearing down Checkers, which was a fixture in downtown Visalia and served our staff, patients and visitors for years. We were all sad to see it close its doors late last year due to fire. The creation of these spots will also involve the closure of Doc’s, a tenant of ours, which also in recent years served our patients and staff well.

We wish Doc’s the best as its owner immediately opens a new restaurant called, “The Green Apple”, behind Starbucks on Main.

Doc’s will move just one block northwest to the corner of Willis Avenue and Main Street where a new restaurant will be built and open in an estimated 6-8 months, still close-by for everyone to enjoy.

While you will not immediately see these buildings come down, we

will be hard at work behind the scenes to make sure this parking is available this summer.

We know that parking is a concern for our patients and visitors. Knowing that is the case, we also continue to seek out other opportunities to alleviate parking around our downtown campus.

Those opportunities include leasing or buying space around our hospital and possibly even giving our staff the option to park off campus and take shuttles to work. All of those options are opportunities that we are closely considering to improve the experience that our patients and visitors have when they visit Kaweah Delta.

It is always our goal to continually improve and make sure we are best meeting the needs of the community we serve.

Your comments from ourvalleyvoice.com

“

I’m a CA22 constituent. I’ve called and emailed questions and request for contact for over a year now, with no response. I do not receive an invitation to his events. If he refuses to respond to constituents who either don’t write him a big check, or who dont have an “R” next to their name, then he is not truly representing his district. These comments stating, “Oh, he always talks to me,” are self-centered and short-sighted.

— Brenda Linder on Nunes flees coffee shop confrontation

“

You are not the Valley Voice. If you were, you would have treated Nunes with the respect he deserves. I have personally talked to Nunes on the phone and last year when I visited Washington DC I called Feinstein’s, Boxer’s and Nunes’ office and it was Nunes’ office staff that actually answered my call and set me up with a tour of the Capitol Building and museums. After leaving messages with Feinstein and Boxer’s offices, they never returned my calls.

”

— Tim on Nunes flees coffee shop confrontation

“

”

Wait, wut????

Tulare Hospital District residents are voting on an agreement that is still not complete less than a week before the vote?

It’s subject to negotiation and change *after* the vote?

How can that be?

“

— Chris Northcraft on Measure H to decide TRMC’s fate

“ “

— Good Governance for All on Tulare hospital lease, in depth

The Tulare County District Attorney needs to handle this matter promptly so as not to give reason for Benzeevi to claim violation of his due process.

If they have evidence of a crime, which they say they do, then arrest the crook or crooks and get it done.

Benzeevi and Germany have already relinquished all integrity, now striped pajamas would just be icing on the cake.

— Greg Cotta on HCCA CEO again denied return of property

Todd Wynkoop: “Adventist will purchase various items from the hospital under a separate contract; the value of those items would be deducted from the loan. Currently, that value has not been determined.”

”

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Maybe Valley Voice should take note after all those Nunes articles enumerated with “only facts” were in print. Valley Voices articles were littered with biases towards Nunes challenger, yet Nunes still won by +16%. We desire only the news, leave your opinions to the opinion page. Selective journalism is also a disservice to the readership. Enjoy your new Governor and pray he does not run the whole state into the cesspool like he did to SF.

— OrangeJuice on Bandwagoning Pirates Discourse

Here at least one part that is missing from the agreement, form the linked article:

VOTE NO to stop more Board rushing into contracts that the public hasn’t seen. That’s exactly what got everyone in this mess in the first place

Measure H does not raise taxes. It is approval of the lease agreement between Adventist Health and the hospital district. This past year while our hospital was closed more than 9000 serious emergencies were sent to other area hospitals causing long delays. We now have reopened hospital with a quality provider that saw more than 120 people in the ER in the first two days. If Measure H fails the district will be unable to keep the hospital open.

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Hmmm…What ever happened to innocent until proven guilty?

The investigation has been going on for over a year, the DA has nothing concrete so he’s playing will all of us. The DA is doing all this for show, if he got something then why is he dragging this on? Or perhaps he has nothing but too ashamed to admit. Let’s get this over with already.

— Victor on HCCA CEO again denied return of property

AVAILABLE IMMEDIATELY FOR LEASE

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5650 sqft. of gated space on S. Mooney Blvd across from the Tulare County Superior Court 21 internal parking stalls, elevator, and spacious offices — ideal for attorneys!

BRE #01115021

CALL SHARI AGUIRRE AT 799-6082

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15 November, 2018

Valley Voice