Valley Voice Issue 143 (20 June, 2019)

Valley Voice

Three Rivers hotel plan moves forward

Former Visalia City Manager could be tapped as Hanford interim

DAVE ADALIAN

dave@ourvalleyvoice.com

MARK PRATTER

Special to the Valley Voice

The City of Hanford is considering hiring Mike Olmos, former Visalia City Manager as their interim city manager to replace outgoing manager Darrel Pyle.

Pyle resigned June 7.

He accepted a job as city manager of Norman, Okla., a city of 110,000 about twenty miles south of Oklahoma City.

His first day will be July 15. He said he and his wife wanted to be closer to their two grown children.

Pyle’s departure from the powerful city manager position comes at a time when residents in many Valley cities, notably Hanford and Tulare, grapple with communications problems between the public and city government.

The interim replacement decision won’t be finalized until the regular council meeting on June 18, said Mayor Sue Sorensen, a strong defender of Pyle’s tenure.

The city will conduct a statewide search for a permanent replacement for Pyle who served Hanford for nearly seven years.

A new permanent city manager might not be in place for six months said Sorensen. She said she would like to have a community forum where the public can make suggestions on hiring the city manager.

While Pyle was city manager at a salary of $187,179 he oversaw a city budget which in the current fiscal year is $70,818,180.

Sorensen praised Pyle for his fiscal responsibility, his skills working with the city staff of more than 200 employees, his completion of the General Plan Update and update of zoning ordinanc-

HANFORD continued on 12 »

Volume XXXIX No. 12 20 June, 2019 ourvalleyvoice.com

John Draxler. Courtesy/City of Hanford

POLITICAL FIX

Shakedown of Hanford Vice-Mayor John Draxler CATHERINE DOE

catherine@ourvalleyvoice.com

In February an 85-year old Hanford resident of Windgate Village Apartments, Diana Martin, was allegedly evicted from her home of 14 years by Windgate owner Vice Mayor of Hanford John Draxler. According to Ms. Martin’s lawyer, Mathew McReynolds of the Pacific Justice Institute (PJI), Ms. Martin was evicted by Mr. Draxler because of her age and religious activities.

But according to several residents of Windgate Village, Ms. Martin never engaged in religious activities but harassed and bullied her neighbors.

It is also not clear, by any of the parties involved, if Martin was evicted, asked to leave, or left of her own accord.

PJI filed a complaint with the Department of Fair Employment and Housing but had yet to file a formal lawsuit. Despite this, Mr. Draxler, Ms. Martin and her lawyers signed a confidential settlement agreement June 12

After three years of planning, the start of construction of a 185-room hotel complex in Three Rivers appears to be just months away, says Mike Washam, associate director of the Tulare County Resource Management Agency (RMA).

A preliminary site plan submitted to the RMA earlier this year places the proposed hotel complex--the Sequoia Resort and Spa--on Old Three Rivers Road, behind the Comfort Inn. “The location is off Old Three Rivers Road and away from the river on the opposite (east) side from Highway 198 (Sierra Drive),” Washam said. “You really won’t see it from 198.”

County Has No Discretion

for an undisclosed amount of money.

Mr. Draxler would not return Valley Voice’s phone calls but did send a text the morning of June 12.

“The matter has been resolved amicably between both parties. If you have any questions please call Andrew Brownson with Griswold Lasalle Law Offices.”

The onsite manager of Windgate Village, Dolores, also would not comment.

PJI filed a formal charge of discrimination In a press release put out by Pacific Justice Institute, “The family of an elderly widow was shocked when she was evicted from her longtime apartment earlier this year. They were even more outraged when the owner cited her religious expression and age as reasons for the eviction. Now, a State investigation is underway.”

The press release stated that Ms. Martin received a distressing visit from Mr. Draxler who informed Ms.

Initial plans for the hotel complex would have located it adjacent to the Kaweah River on a site near the Three Rivers Post Office. Had the developers--Guatam and Hitesh Patel, owners of the Pleasanton-based Patel Group--stuck with the original location, a series of public hearings focused on an environmental impact report (EIR) would have preceded the start of construction.

The land the Patel Group has purchased, however, will not require submission of an EIR, meaning the RMA will have little say beyond insuring the plans for the hotel complex meet the requirements of the Three Rivers Community Plan.

“There is no discretion. The property is zoned for that use,” Washam said.

“It’s been zoned for that use for a number of years.”

Because the proposed construction site is within the “town center-type area” designated in the Three Rivers

DRAXLER continued on 3 »

HOTEL continued on 13 »

Lemoore City Councilwoman Blair arrested by Lemoore PD CATHERINE DOE

catherine@ourvalleyvoice.com

Lemoore City Councilwoman Holly Blair was arrested June 5 by Lemoore police on suspicion of assault with a deadly weapon, child endangerment, resisting arrest, and reckless driving.

Blair was elected to represent Lemoore’s District E in 2016.

Lemoore Police Chief Darrell Smith, during a press conference, stated that Blair drove her SUV into the rear “compound” of the Lemoore Police Station at a high rate of speed.

A police officer reported that she was driving so fast that her front wheels came off of the ground after she hit a dip at the entrance to the station’s driveway. Attendees of a special event at the station who had gathered at the north compound, including children, had to run to avoid being hit by her car, he said.

Her teenage son and a dog were inside the car during the incident, Smith said.

When Blair got to the end of the parking lot she made a u-turn, and again proceeded at a high rate of speed in order to exit. Officers yelled at Blair to stop but she did not comply; an officer’s vehicle was entering the station parking lot as she sped out, and had to swerve to avoid being hit.

Blair proceeded north on Hill St and ran a stop sign while turning onto Cinnamon Drive.

She then proceeded west on Cinnamon and ran the stop sign on Fox St while police cars pursued her with lights and sirens.

When Blair turned onto Lemoore Ave, she was blocked in by traffic that was stopped at a red light. Police officers negotiated with Blair for approximately 15 minutes but she would not exit her vehicle.

Officers later removed her and her son; when they attempted to remove Blair, she went limp and the officers had to carry her to their vehicle.

Blair was ultimately arrested on two counts of assault with a deadly weapon

(her car), two counts of child endangerment, one count of felony evading the police, one count of resisting arrest, and one count of reckless driving.

Smith said that it did not appear that drugs or alcohol were involved and that he could only describe her behavior as “very bizarre.”

Smith said that Blair has a history of being stopped by the Lemoore Police and the California Highway Patrol, but that they have not had contact with her since August of 2018. That’s not exactly true as Blair, Smith and Ochoa spent several days together in March in mediation to avoid a trial over a restraining order filed by Lemoore and an anti-SLAPP suit filed by Blair.

Blair was also censured on August 7, 2018, by her fellow city council members.

On April 25, the Lemoore City Council voted to settle the case. The settlement between the City and Blair meant that the restraining order was lifted, the censure was rescinded, and Lemoore was required to pay $38,000 in legal fees

Holly Blair. Courtesy photo

to the Law Offices of Melo and Sarsfield, who represented her.

While discussing her behavior on the day of the arrest, Smith stated that Blair has missed the last two city council meetings, and revealed that she had

BLAIR continued on 12 »

20 June, 2019 Valley Voice

2

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Rocinante

I’ve just finished local author Mark Arax’ latest tome, The Dreamt Land: Chasing Water and Dust Across California. It’s a tremendous achievement--the writing ,research and living of it--certainly not my having read it. A must-read for any understanding of the Golden State, Arax expertly chronicles our many gold-type rushes--particularly that of water.

We’re all Don Quixote, it turns out, tilting at windmills--and California is our steed.

First, there was a race the Spanish mounted to colonize the coast and “civilize” the natives before any other European power could lay a claim. Then came the gold rush. Next, and in succession, were booms of wheat, cattle, cotton, citrus and nuts.

Water, of course, has ever been central to all these endeavors. In fact, it was Father Junipero Serra who oversaw the construction of the first aqueduct in California, a seven-mile snake of water emptying onto the mission grounds at what is now Ventura.

Naturally enough, it was the Indians local to Mission San Buenaventura who laid the stone and mortar down from the hills to the north of that enclave.

‘Twas ever thus.

Throughout the state’s history there has been--and continues to be--a rush for water. When panning and sluicing could not slake their lust for gold quickly enough, miners turned to hydraulic cannons, aiming immense nozzles at whole hillsides and washing them into increasingly silted streams. The City of Los Angeles stole the Owens River from its valley, connecting 137 miles of pipe northwards to its source in the mountains. Sound familiar? But San Francisco, too, claimed the Hetch Hetchy Valley, collecting its water there as a reservoir and piping it west to town. The Sacramento River was siphoned, the San Joaquin assassinated , and dams went up while wells went, ever deeper, down.

A depletion of the aquifer that caused the very ground to sink.

From geopolitics to gold mining to agriculture, as a construct California’s fulcrum has always been the manipulation of water. That’s the norm for California. Because we can’t count on Mother Nature. She’s capricious, and the state irregularly alternates between periods dry and wet. Sometimes for years on end.

So we build aqueducts, dam, divert and starve rivers--even create artificial ones, some of which run uphill--and mine for water forgetting, during the drought, that the wet is on its way.

All of this is before climate change.

And now we’re headed into a new era, perhaps the last rush, in physical

terms, of extraction: Housing.

We had a first taste of this roughly a hundred years ago when citrus in the San Fernando Valley, made possible by the rape of the Owens River, gave over to housing and fled across the mountains to the eastern San Joaquin Valley.

For nearly 40 years we’ve been in an increasing housing crisis--in terms of both availability and affordability.

Despite increased building, the best estimates place us at a deficit of three to four million housing units, with an emphasis on producing 85,000 units per year to match expected population growth.

And because scarcity only drives rents and purchase prices higher, for them to stabilize, if not decline, California would have to quadruple its current rate of production for the next seven years.

It seems that the only solution to the housing crisis is to build more housing.

And quickly. A housing rush!

Why am I worried? Because each rush California has experienced has been fevered and unreasonable.

I grew up, in the sixties and seventies, in the small East Bay town of Moraga. It’s nestled in a valley, mostly, but by the time I left houses were creeping up our pristine hillsides. Having explored this wildlife as a kid, of course I considered it a desecration. I still do.

I’m trying to picture, writ large, what this looks like on a state level. What it looks like not only in suburbia, where I was raised, but in urban and rural areas as well. Everywhere, I envision high-density housing and sprawl. High-density, particularly in urban areas, and sprawl anywhere there’s open land.

As Cervantes wrote it: “Destiny guides our fortunes more favorably than we could have expected.

Look there, Sancho Panza, my friend, and see those thirty or so wild giants, with whom I intend to do battle and kill each and all of them, so with their stolen booty we can begin to enrich ourselves. This is noble, righteous warfare, for it is wonderfully useful to God to have such an evil race wiped from the face of the earth.”

“What giants?” asked Sancho Panza.

“The ones you can see over there,” answered his master, “with the huge arms, some of which are very nearly two leagues long.”

“Now look, your grace,” said Sancho, “what you see over there aren’t giants, but windmills, and what seems to be arms are just their sails, that go around in the wind and turn the millstone.”

“Obviously,” replied Don Quixote, “you don’t know much about adventures.”

I think we’re in for another adventure.

Joseph Oldenbourg

Valley Voice

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

The Voice strives for accuracy in reporting.

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

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Use your voice: send letters, concerns, or corrections to editor@ourvalleyvoice.com PO Box 325, Ivanhoe, CA 93235

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Reporters: John Dillon

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Production/Website: Tony Maldonado

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Valley Voice 20 June, 2019

DRAXLER continued from 1

Martin that she was being evicted.

The press release alleges that “Draxler cited her religious activities— sharing her faith and offering to pray for people—as reasons why she must find a new home.”

The press release also stated that Mr. Draxler knew Ms. Martin was recovering from strokes and a heart attack. When she began to cry, protesting that it was winter and she had no children living nearby, the release claimed that he responded that was not his problem.

A Christian Broadcasting Network (CBN) article claimed, “One of the conflicts between Martin and the management stemmed from their attempt to take away her longtime parking space and reassign her to one some distance from her door and next to a dumpster. Martin had raised safety concerns about homeless men foraging in the dumpster, so the move seemed retaliatory.”

Mr. McReynolds commented in PJI’s press release, “What happened to our client, Diana Martin, was wrong on many levels. No one should be evicted based on their religious expression, but especially not an elderly great-grandmother. We are hopeful that a State investigation and remedial action will ensure this doesn’t happen to anyone else in this community.”

“She was evil”

Editor’s note: The names of the residents of Windgate Village were changed to protect their identities.

While Mr. Draxler has stayed mum along with the apartment manager, the residents of the apartment complex were eager to talk.

“She was evil, nasty and rude,” said Jessica in regards to Ms. Martin. She said Ms. Martin harassed her and the other neighbors to the point where Jessica would walk the long way around to her apartment from her parking space just to avoid seeing Ms. Martin.

Jessica didn’t even know Ms. Martin had moved out until a neighbor told her she loaded all her belongings out her back door and over her porch so no one would see her leave.

“Funny that someone who was in everyone else’s business didn’t want anyone to know about hers,” she said.

When Jessica and her family moved into her apartment two years ago things were cordial between her and Ms. Martin. The relationship went sour she said when Ms. Martin relentlessly knocked on Jessica’s door. Both Jessica and her husband work the night shift so many times they would not answer. When Jessica did answer the door she asked Ms. Martin to stop knocking because they were asleep.

But Ms. Martin allegedly did not stop, so Jessica complained to Dolores, the apartment manager. During their conversation, Jessica was allegedly told that Ms. Martin was actually complaining about her family because they slept past 12 noon.

Ms. Martin’s monitoring of Jessica’s family escalated, she said. Jessica noticed that every time she or her husband came home Ms. Martin would pull back the blinds and watch them.

Then, as they rounded the corner to their apartment, Ms. Martin would allegedly stick her head out the door and watch them go inside their apartment.

On other occasions Ms. Martin allegedly blocked the entrance to Jessica’s apartment saying she was watering the building’s landscaping.

Samantha, another resident of

3 Windgate Village, had her own unpleasant encounters with Ms. Martin.

About three months after Samantha moved into the complex she was intercepted by Ms. Martin, who again said she was watering the landscaping.

Ms. Martin allegedly took Samantha by her right shoulder and got one inch from her nose and said, “You need to stop hammering in the middle of the night.”

Samantha said she replied to Martin, “I’ve never hammered in the middle of the night.” To which Martin allegedly replied, “I heard you at midnight and at 3am.”

Samantha added that during her unnerving encounter, Ms. Martin used a racial slur to describe African Americans. Samantha also said, “I have heard several other residents complain to management about Ms. Martin’s aggressive behavior and unwelcome touching.”

In regards to Ms. Martin being evicted for sharing her religious beliefs, Jessica stated that she never witnessed Ms. Martin engage in religious activities and didn’t even know her religion.

A few years ago several residents of the complex ran a bible study group in the clubhouse, said Samantha. She often prays with friends and said that management always encouraged their religious practices.

“She was kicked out for harassing her neighbors--not for her religion.

That’s completely a lie,” said Jessica.

Both Jessica and Samantha disagreed that management moved Ms. Martin’s parking space further away from her apartment. The fourplex where Ms. Martin lived had designated parking along the side of the building by the dumpster. Ms. Martin allegedly started using a parking space designated for an apartment that was temporarily vacant. Management accomVALLEY VOICE modated her until the apartment was 5" x 7.75" rented and asked her to go back to her own parking space.

“She knows she is not right,” said Jessica. “I don’t know why she was so evil or where she got the energy to get into everyone’s business, complain to the management, and harass. She will have to answer for everything she has done when she meets her maker.”

Who is PJI?

PJI is a Christian-based law office out of Sacramento. They stated that Ms. Martin’s family reached out to them after hearing about a similar suit preventing the eviction of an elderly woman leading bible studies at her Veterans’ Home.

According to its website, “Pacific Justice Institute is a non-profit 501(c) (3) legal defense organization specializing in the defense of religious freedom, parental rights, and other civil liberties. Pacific Justice Institute works diligently, without charge, to provide its clients with all the legal support they need.”

The Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC) on the other hand, labeled PJI as a hate group around 2008. The law center monitors hate groups and other extremists throughout the United States and exposes their activities to the public.

According to the SPLC website, “The Pacific Justice Institute (PJI) is an anti-LGBT hate group founded in 1997

by Brad Dacus. PJI and Dacus have compared legalized gay marriage to Hitler and the Nazis’ ascent in Germany; endorsed so-called “reparative” or sexual orientation conversion therapy; claimed marriage equality would lead to legal polygamy and incest; fought against protections for trans children

and fabricated a story of harassment by a trans student; and said that LGBT History Month promotes gay pornography to children.”

Coordinated Smear Campaign

After PJI’s press release was put online June 5, a week before Mr. Draxler and Ms. Martin’s mediation, a dozen or so Christian websites, blogs and facebook pages circulated their own version of the press release. Fox News published a version of PJI’s press release in the form of an article June 7.

The online articles accuse Mr. Draxler of evicting a widow with recent health problems because of her age and for her religious activities. All of the posts mention that Mr. Draxler is the Vice-Mayor of Hanford.

Criticism of Mr. Draxler continued On June 10 with negative reviews about his businesses such as from M. Smith “Evicting an 85-year old? You’ve got to be kidding! BOOOO!” On June 11, the day before mediation, a Hanford facebook page asked Mr. Draxler to step down from the city council, It stated, “The question being asked over and over on the John Draxler issue is WHY? Why put his family through all this and more importantly why put the City of Hanford through all of this? He knew he did wrong, he knew it would come out, why not resign from the City Council? Is he that desperate for the $400 per month a City Council member gets?”

The Law Offices of Daniel Prado said that Mr. Draxler may not have much recourse if in fact PJI and Ms. Martin lied. He said that a typical settlement contains a clause precluding any further lawsuits.

Mr. Prado said Mr. Draxler could

file a tort claim for defamation and slander. “The only defense to a defamation lawsuit is the truth,” said Mr. Prado, but it would be long and difficult.

The Shakedown

It is common legal practice, Mr. Prado said, to use a service called LexisNexis to research a potential defendant’s assets before starting a lawsuit.

In the case of Mr. Draxler, who has several valuable assets, PJI could have determined through LexisNexis that it was financially worthwhile to start the process because Mr. Draxler was financially able to pay a healthy settlement.

For example, a cash award of $100,000 would net the law firm $33,000 for a case that is settled before filing.

Money also was possibly raised when PJI and CBN used Ms. Martin’s situation as an opportunity to fundraise for their organizations. A large red “Donate” button was in the right hand corner of PJI’s press release.

At the end of the CBN article it stated, “Help us continue to be a voice for truth in the media by supporting CBN News for as little as $1.” CBN then displayed the logo for Visa, MasterCard, American Express, and Discover as a convenient way to donate.

God Bless

When Samantha’s friend first sent her the CBN article concerning Ms. Martin’s alleged eviction, she quickly wrote her version of the events in the comment section – which were summarily deleted.

One comment not deleted was from the CBN website moderator.

“Thank you for taking the time to share. In the midst of political, spiritual and moral discourses, we must endeavor to ascribe humanity to

20 June, 2019 Valley Voice

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Measure A Bond Oversight Committee creates 2019-20 plan

JOHN DILLON

john@ourvalleyvoice.com

On June 12, the Measure A Bond Oversight Committee met to discuss its responsibilities and to plan its next steps.

The informational study session was provided by Visalia Unified School District (VUSD) and included board members, the district’s chief financial officer, and the director of facilities.

The committee was educated on Measure A and instructed on strategies other successful oversight committees have used.

A representative from the California League of Bond Oversight Committees (CaLBOC) conducted the presentation and directed the Measure A Committee on its next steps.

Measure A was passed in the 2018 General Election and it will allow the district to sell bonds and tax property-owning Visalians. VUSD started 2019 with an open application for the measure’s legally required oversight committee and selected its members.

These citizens will spend the next few years monitoring expenses and supervising the construction of Visalia’s fifth high school and the modification of old campuses. On the 12th, however, the committee decided on the 20192020 year’s plan.

What is Measure A?

In late June 2018, the VUSD School Board adopted a general obligation bond for the November 2018 General Election. It has authorized $105.3 million for the construction of a new high school with facilities for arts, sports, and science as well as safety and modernization upgrades for eligi-

ble schools.

Assistant Superintendent of Administrative Services Robert Groeber outlined the goal of the upgrades.

“Basically, it’s recreating a new school with the same learning environment,” said Groeber. The District has found 18 schools eligible for improvements. Measure E, passed in 2012, created a single point of entry for all VUSD schools. When classes are in session, visitors must pass through the office and demonstrate their purpose for visiting.

“We have to ask what’s the next step? What’s the next thing we can do to protect our staff and students,” said Groeber about the safety upgrades. He mentioned the possible installment of cameras pointed at the parking lot and other areas of congregation.

Groeber estimated that these renovations will take place when schools are closed for breaks to minimize disruptions as much as possible.

The high school is projected to siphon 1800 students from other high schools around the district. It’s going to be built near Ridgeview Middle School and will ease stress on other overcrowded schools in the area. No plans have yet been drafted.

Construction is expected to end in time for students to attend in August of 2023, says Groeber. Ultimately though, the construction will be observed by the bond oversight committee and if they are dissatisfied with the proposed expenditures, construction could be delayed.

Bond Oversight Responsibilities

VUSD held the initial training ses-

sion to educate the oversight committee on its duties and the powers granted to it by law.

Most of what was discussed at the meeting deals with Section 1(b)(3) of Article XIII A of the California Constitution and the Strict Accountability in Local School Construction Bonds Act of 2000.

Article XIII A has provisions banning the use of bond money to increase salaries or to operate integral parts of school sites. The article also calls for an annual performance and financial audit of the committee’s efforts to manage the implementation of bond money.

In the official resolution ordering an election for the bond, Exhibit A details an exact list of possible modernization and safety upgrades to be included.

Pursuant to the Strict Accountability Act, the oversight committee may review the performance and financial audits. The committee may also review any plans the district has and may require the district to implement cost-saving initiatives.

The bond oversight committee will inspect school sites and some members implied that future meetings of the committee could be held at school sites awaiting inspection.

Furthermore, the Strict Accountability Act declares that a citizens’ committee will have at least seven members. One should be a member of a senior citizen’s organization, another will be a member of a bona fide taxpayer’s organization, another will represent the business community, and there must be a parent of a student and a parent involved in a PTA or school site council.

The Measure A Committee has fourteen members and all requirements are fulfilled. The members will review and report their progress as it becomes more necessary.

Bond History in Visalia

In recent memory, VUSD has vot-

ed on three bonds. Measure G in 1999 was passed with a two-thirds vote and brought in $42.5 million for the district. It was refinanced in 2010 to save taxpayers about $600 thousand according to a page on the VUSD website.

All bonds have been issued and were paid back in fiscal year 2015-16.

Measure E was approved in November of 2012 and authorized $60.1 million to be spent. As with Measure A, the state promised to back funds.

When committee members asked about the state funds, the district couldn’t provide hard numbers on the state backing, but VUSD Chief Financial Officer Nathan Hernandez said the state had only now started doling out money. The next chance to refinance is in 2023.

Measure A has yet to issue bonds, but they are anticipated to be released in early 2020.

“Our taxpayers have to pay back on it from the time it was issued until it’s paid off,” said Lori Raineri, a representative for CaLBOC. She continued to explain how it was beneficial to have a developed work plan before issuing bonds, so taxpayers save money.

Raineri also told the committee that the number one barrier for committee success is participation.

Some members of the committee were absent or late, but the inaugural turnout saw most committee members present.

The goal of the oversight committee, said Raineri was to improve the way the district manages its priorities and funds.

“The district did things better because we existed,” said Raineri. To her, that should be the goal of the committee.

The bond oversight committee’s next meeting is set to take place Wednesday September 18, at 6pm. It will be held at the VUSD boardroom.

All the information discussed at the June 12 meeting can be found at https://www.vusd.org/Page/17053 along with a full list of the members and community affiliations.

Sierra View will lift visitation restrictions for kids STAFF REPORTS As of Monday, June 17th, children under the age of 13 will now be able to visit Sierra View Medical Center (SVMC) again. Tulare County Public Health Department (TCPHD) has confirmed that there have not been any cases of measles in Tulare and nearby counties.

“There have been several measles cases throughout the United States.

However, Sierra View Medical Center Infection Prevention has decided, after communicating with TCPHD, that it is safe to ‘lift’ our age visitation restrictions,” said Lisa Noel, Infection Prevention Manager. “We know this may have been an inconvenience for some staff, patients and families, but as a family-centered hospital, SVMC always wants to take necessary precautions to ensure the safety and well-being of patients, staff, visitors, and other community members.”

Although this information may come as a relief, community members should know the signs and symptoms of measles. Measles typically begin with a fever that lasts for a couple of

days, followed by a cough, runny nose, conjunctivitis (pink eye), and a rash.

It is also important for our community members to notify their primary physician immediately if they suspect their child or family member has measles. The physician will give instruction and direction on what to do as it is extremely contagious. To protect others, SVMC advises to not take them to the nearest Emergency Room or Urgent Care, where several people may be exposed.

Although there is no current risk for measles in Tulare County, health officials urge people who have not been exposed to measles to get vaccinated.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends for everyone over a year old, except for people who had the disease as children be vaccinated. Those who have had measles are immune.

For further information about vaccinations, the point of contact should be a patient’s primary physician. For the most recent updates on measles outbreak cases in California, visit cdph.ca.gov.

Valley Voice 20 June, 2019

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Country Music contest open STAFF REPORTS

D-Day veteran Vito Mastrangelo and State Senator Shannon Grove

D-Day veteran shares experiences STAFF REPORTS

Local Visalia resident and D-Day veteran Vito Mastrangelo shared his harrowing experience of the invasion of Normandy to a crowd of veterans and their families at a Veterans breakfast hosted by Senate Republican Leader Shannon Grove (R-Bakersfield).

Veterans and their families packed the Veterans Memorial Building in Visalia for the appreciation event.

Other special guests who were invited to speak included Tulare County Veteran Service Officer Ken Cruikshank, Visalia Chief of Police Jason Salazar, Chaplain Clayton B. Diltz from the Fresno Veterans Home, and Veterans Coordinator Ashley Martinez with the College of the Sequoias.

On Thursday, the California State Senate passed Senate Concurrent Resolution 53 by Senate Republican Leader Grove which recognized June 6, 2019 as the 75th anniversary of the invasion of Normandy, also known as D-Day. “Our veterans have sacrificed and selflessly served our country for our freedoms. I’m honored to be among

so many heroes today, including D-Day veteran Vito Mastrangelo who was only 20-years-old when he landed on the beaches of Normandy. Vito’s story of bravery is incredible, and I am so appreciative of him and all of our veterans for their service to our country,” said Senate Republican Leader Shannon Grove.

Elected in November 2018, Senator Grove is the first woman veteran elected to serve in the California Legislature and as the Senate Republican Leader. She also proudly serves as the Vice-Chair for the Senate Committee on Veterans.

Senator Shannon Grove represents California’s 16th Senate District which encompasses large portions of Kern, Tulare and San Bernardino counties and including the cities of Bakersfield, Barstow, California City, Exeter, Frazier Mountain, Joshua Tree, Mojave, Needles, Ridgecrest, Rosamond, Taft, Tehachapi, Twentynine Palms, Tulare, Visalia, Yucca Valley and portions of the Kern River Valley. She is the Senate Republican Leader.

ValleyPBS is searching for talented kid performers ages 5 -17 that can dance, sing or play an instrument in front of a live audience to open Ken Burns’s Country Music Roadshow in Fresno on July 25, 2019 and Bakersfield on July 26, 2019, presented by Bank of America.

The deadline to submit has been extended another two weeks to June 30, 2019.

Ken Burns’s Country Music Roadshow is on a 30-city national tour with Ken Burns, Dayton Duncan and Julie Dunfey for their upcoming documentary Country Music. These events mark Ken Burns’ first public appearance in the Valley, and features a preview screening of the film “Country Music” followed by a Q & A. Qualifications: Child must be between 5 – 17 years old at time of application.

Child must reside in one of the following counties: Fresno, Kern, Madera, Merced, Mariposa, Kings or Tulare County.

Talent genre must be considered

“Country” (either in song, dance or instrumental).

Must submit a video or audio file with application to events@valleypbs.org.

All equipment must be approved

by ValleyPBS prior to audition.

Judges will select up to three (3) opening acts for the Fresno performance and up to three (3) opening acts for Bakersfield. Winners will also receive a $100 gift card to Target and 2 tickets to Ken Burns’s Country Music Roadshow.

Before submitting your application, please read all the terms and conditions (can be found at www.valleypbs.org/kidstalent).

To apply, visit www.valleypbs.org/ kidstalent.

Deadline to apply is June 30, 2019.

About ValleyPBS

ValleyPBS enriches, educates and strengthens our diverse Valley community through the power of public service media. ValleyPBS in your local community can be found at valleypbs.org.

Visalia job fair set for July 9 STAFF REPORTS The Visalia Economic Development Corporation will host a job fair from 8 a.m. to 11 a.m. on Tuesday, July 9, at California Dairies, 2000 N. Plaza Drive.

This is the fourth annual job fair coordinated by the VEDC, noted Board Chairman Carrie Groover, and the organization now offers winter and spring fairs.

Confirmed participants to date include Electric Motor Shop, Hydrite, University of Phoenix, Fresno Pacif-

ic University, ServiceMaster, Sequoia Adult Education Consortium, USA Staffing, VWR and California Dairies.

The Visalia Economic Development Corporation is a nonprofit organization committed to supporting current employers and recruiting new employers in ways that lead to the creation of new jobs and fiscally stronger businesses.

For information on how to participate, contact Nancy Lockwood, executive director, at 733-3737 or nlockwood@thelockwoodagency.net.

Proudly introducing:

We are pleased to introduce Adventist Health Tulare — now the official, licensed operator of Tulare’s hospital.

Whether your health care needs are big or small, urgent or routine, the expert care you have come to expect from Adventist Health will be here for you and your family in Tulare, today and for years to come.

Learn more at AdventistHealthTulare.org

20 June, 2019 Valley Voice

6

AGRICULTURE

Advice on wildfire preparation takes on new urgency

KEVIN HECTEMAN

Ag Alert/California Farm Bureau Federation

With summer beginning and concerns mounting about another awful wildfire year, authorities encourage Californians to be prepared. It’s often familiar advice—but given with new urgency.

Robert Spiegel, a California Farm Bureau Federation policy advocate who works on forestry issues, said it’s not too late to make plans—and with fire season now nearly year-round, farm families should be prepared year-round as well, he added.

“We’re farmers and ranchers—we prepare for the inevitable challenges,” Spiegel said. “Wildfire is just one of those challenges facing California agriculture, our communities and families.”

Preparation, he said, includes creating defensible space around the home and being ready to evacuate at a moment’s notice.

“Have an emergency bug-out kit with needed medicines, prescriptions, dietary needs, water, batteries and a radio,” Spiegel said. “Have easily accessible contact and communications for everyone in the immediate family, sign up for community alerts and warnings, safeguard the most critical documents, make sure your pets have a carrier—some shelters require

all pets to be caged—and work with others in your community to arrange emergency protocols for larger animals and available boarding.”

Spiegel pointed to the six P’s of evacuation preparation promoted

by Cal Fire: people (pets), papers, prescriptions, pictures, personal computer and plastic, as in credit cards.

Susie Kocher, a University of California Cooperative Extension natural resources advisor in South Lake Tahoe, said it’s never too late to work on creating defensible space, but cautioned against engaging in activities that could cause sparks, such as mowing, in times of red-flag alerts when weather conditions are ripe for rapid fire spread.

“I think the main thing we have learned is that we are all at risk,” Kocher said, noting the destruction of homes in suburban neighborhoods caused by embers carried in high winds. “We all have to work together to reduce the risk.”

Another lesson learned in recent years, she said, is that fires can move so quickly they can overrun the best evacuation plans.

“I have been hearing much more discussion of shelter-in-place and refuges of last resort from the fire services than ever before,” Kocher said, “because it was so obvious that evacuation didn’t work as planned in Par-

adise. We’ve learned it’s important to have backup systems for evacuation alerts and evacuations themselves.”

With California’s recent history of deadly and destructive fires, Gov. Gavin Newsom declared a state of emergency in March, ordering Cal Fire to expedite 35 fire-prevention projects.

Spiegel said the work includes removing hazardous dead trees; vegetation clearing; creation of fuel breaks and defensible spaces around communities; and safer corridors to allow firefighting equipment to get in and evacuating residents to get out. Newsom’s declaration exempted these projects from review under the California Environmental Quality Act, to help get them rolling.

“These projects will treat roughly 90,000 acres, significantly less than the 500,000-acre annual goal, but nearly three times the number of acres treated last year,” Spiegel said.

“In fact, 90,000 acres this year is almost the equivalent of the total number of acres treated in the last three years combined.”

In addition, he said, $200 million has been appropriated toward forest-management work via Senate Bill 901, which was enacted last year. The money is included in the 2019-20 state budget sent to Gov. Newsom. Spiegel noted that CFBF played a pivotal role in working with local governments,

forestry groups, the California Cattlemen’s Association and Western United Dairymen to secure $1 billion in forestry-management funding within SB 901.

On the federal front, the U.S. Forest Service has proposed changes to how the agency complies with the National Environmental Policy Act, with an eye toward wildfire safety (see story).

“With millions of acres in need of treatment, years of costly analysis and delays are not an acceptable solution,” U.S. Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue said, “especially when data and experience show us we can get this work done with strong environmental protection standards as well as protect communities, livelihoods and resources.”

Closer to home, Kocher said Cal Fire and local fire departments have begun pre-positioning firefighting equipment in times of high fire-weather danger.

Kocher recommended homeowners follow the defensible-space guidelines laid out at ucanr.edu/sites/ fire/Wildfire_Preparation_-_Recovery/Landscaping/. People with forest or rangeland property will find tips for fuel reduction at ucanr.edu/sites/ fire/Wildfire_Preparation_-_Recovery/ Treatment/.

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

Commentary: Make rural residents’ voices count in redistricting MIKE ZIMMERMAN

California Farm Bureau Federation

Every 10 years, after the federal census, California must redraw the boundaries of its congressional, state Senate, state Assembly and Board of Equalization districts to reflect population distribution.

The importance of drawing fair districts that represent us equally cannot be overstated. Unlike most states, Californians have the ability to serve as commissioners during this process.

In 2008, California voters passed the Voters FIRST Act, authorizing creation of an independent commission to draw the lines, composed of 14 members, including five Democrats, five Republicans and four who are registered either as decline-to-state or with another party.

People may be familiar with the term “gerrymandering,” a term coined in the early 1800s after Gov. Elbridge Gerry of Massachusetts drew lines that favored his party. One of those districts was so oddly shaped that it resembled a salamander. Local news reporters began to call it a gerrymander, and the term was born.

Since then, examples of gerrymandering abound, and the power of drawing the lines had been left to politicians whose sole goal was re-election. For example, California was once

SALES, SERVICE, RENTAL AG EQUIPMENT & TRUCK REPAIR

home to a congressional district dubbed the “ribbon of shame,” because the district was 200 miles long and only a few miles wide, in order to consolidate a Democratic district along the Central Coast.

When California created its first commission, selected after the 2010 census, there were high hopes it would not fall victim to the outside pressure and political games that have dominated redistricting for decades. However, there are still examples of the commission failing to respect communities of interest and disregarding natural geographical boundaries, county and city lines.

The city of Fresno is split into several Assembly districts; voters in certain parts of the city of Riverside have different representatives than their neighbors across the street; the city of Modesto is seemingly split right down the middle. These are just a few examples of how the previous commission failed.

Despite the desire for an independent commission, partisan organizations and other community groups still found ways to influence the process during public hearings and comments.

In fact, several redistricting experts were hired by numerous groups to submit maps to the commission that favored their interests. What’s

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more, environmental groups, labor unions and social-justice groups organized in large numbers to testify in front of the commission in hopes of achieving desired political outcomes.

It is no secret they were largely successful. An article that appeared in ProPublica in December 2011 summed it perfectly.

“The citizens’ commission had pledged to create districts based on testimony from the communities themselves, not from parties or statewide political players,” the story said.

“To get around that, Democrats surreptitiously enlisted local voters, elected officials, labor unions and community groups to testify in support of configurations that coincided with the party’s interests.”

When they appeared before the commission, ProPublica wrote, “those groups identified themselves as ordinary Californians and did not disclose their ties to the party. One woman who purported to represent the Asian community of the San Gabriel Valley was actually a lobbyist who grew up in rural Idaho, and lives in Sacramento.”

For rural residents, a commission that represents and reflects all of California is vital to ensuring our way of life is protected, and it is imperative that the voice of agriculture is heard in this process.

To make that a reality, the Califor-

nia Farm Bureau Federation encourages its members to apply to serve on the commission. Commissioners who understand agriculture could be the difference in making sure our communities of interest, water districts, cities and counties are not broken up and ultimately represented by people who don’t understand or respect the work we do.

The requirements to serve on the commission are straightforward.

Commissioners must have been registered to vote since at least 2015 and free of the conflicts of interest that disqualify service.

According to California law, the conflicts include: • Being appointed, elected or a candidate for state or federal office.

• Serving as an officer, employee or paid consultant of a political party.

• Serving as an officer, employee or paid consultant of a campaign committee of a candidate for federal or state elected office.

• Serving as an elected or appointed member of a political party central committee.

• Acting as a registered federal, state or local lobbyist.

• Serving as paid congressional,

REDISTRICTING continued on 11 »

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20 June, 2019

VALLEYSCENE

ourvalleyvoice.com

Boys & Girls Clubs celebrate with “Graduation for Más” STAFF REPORTS On the evening of May 31st, the Boys & Girls Clubs of the Sequoias gathered at their Visalia Unit for their annual “Graduation for Más” celebration, to honor the accomplishments of Club members who are graduating from either middle school or high school.

The members and staff of Tulare, Visalia, Exeter, Strathmore, Ivanhoe, and Farmersville Clubs decorated the Visalia gym according to the theme “Dancing through the Decades.” Staff were dressed in vintage costumes— from poodle skirts to grungy flannels.

The Clubs and administrators collaborated in order to provide a variety of activities for the teens and pre-teens.

Inside the gym, there was a DJ, dancing, basketball, bowling, video games, raffles, and even an 80’s themed photo backdrop. Outside, there was an obstacle course, cornhole games, a bounce house, and a guest graffiti artist who spray painted a live piece.

Staff and volunteers prepared food

for the members, which was generously donated by Steve Smith. Members and staff cheered on their Clubs during competitive games of musical chairs! There was even a surprise performance by Wildstyle Bushido break dancers, an immersion of two different local b-boy crews.

The idea of a graduation celebration was initiated thanks to the Taco Bell Foundation, who graciously awarded our Clubs their Graduate for Más grant of $17,000 this year. Now, the Boys & Girls Clubs of the Sequoias hosts the Graduation for Más event annually. They know the importance of recognizing the effort that Club members put into their education, and their accomplishment of promotion or graduation. It is also a celebration of the mentorship of staff members and volunteers, who encourage members on a daily basis to do well in school, by helping with homework and even by helping apply for college.

The Boys & Girls Clubs of the Sequoias would like to congratulate their 2019 graduates.

Sequoia Springs Splash Park, a 42-foot water structure, is open for summer fun now. Courtesy photo

Water officially flowing for fun at Sequoia Springs Splash Park

Visalia Club staff dance in their 1950’s-styled attire. Courtesy photo

Eight Rawhide players selected as California League All-Stars STAFF REPORTS The California League announced today the rosters of the North and South Division All-Star teams for the 2019 California League All-Star Game, which will be played in San Bernardino on June 18th.

The Rawhide will send eight players to the All-Star Game this year: 1B Yoel Yanqui , SS Jancarlos Cintron , OF Mark Karaviotis , C Renae Martinez , INF Camden Duzenack , RHP Jeff Bain , RHP West Tunnell , and 2B Jose Caballero . All will travel to the San Manuel Stadium except Caballero who suffered a hand injury and will not be able to play. Duzenack was also invited to participate in the Home Run Derby.

Visalia’s coaching staff will manage and coach the North team since the Rawhide were the 2018 Northern Division Champions.

Yanqui has a .257 batting average and leads the Rawhide with doubles (14). Those 14 doubles are good enough

for fourth place in the Cal League. Cintron is batting .270 on the season with 23 RBI. Karaviotis has a .297 batting average, which is the fourth-best in the League and best on the Rawhide.

He also has the third-best on base percentage (.395) in the league. Karaviotis leads the Rawhide with 30 RBI. Martinez has six homeruns and 29 RBI this season. Duzenack leads the Rawhide in homeruns (8) and he is tenth in the league for homeruns. Caballero leads the league in stolen bases (28) and he has the second-most stolen bases in Minor League Baseball. Bain is 4-3 with a 3.64 ERA and he is tied for sixth in the league in strikeouts (61). Tunnell leads the league in saves (9) and has a 1.40 ERA in 19.1 innings.

This is Duzenack, Martinez, and Bain’s second mid-season All-Star selection. In 2017, Duzenack was named as an All-Star for the Northwest League.

Both Bain and Martinez were selected in 2018 as All-Star representatives for the Midwest League.

STAFF REPORTS Visit Visalia has announced that Sequoia Springs Splash Park, a 42-foot water structure with four slides, is officially open to the public.

“Water is flowing at Sequoia Springs and kids are beginning to trickle in,” said Demea Metcalf, Visit Visalia Executive Director. “Our team had the opportunity to be on site to see the doors open, and it’s an attraction we know visitors will enjoy. This is perfect timing for the summer, providing a wonderful spot for visitors to cool down and entertain the kids.”

Sequoia Springs officially opened at 11am on Monday, June 17.

After an unexpected delay on Friday, Sequoia Springs began allowing select guests to enter the gates in limited numbers over the weekend.

The park is will operate normal hours for the rest of the summer— Monday through Sunday from 11 am to 6pm and special after-hours nights on select Saturdays from 7 to 10 pm. General admission starts at $20. Package and cabana rental prices are available on the website.

The newest edition to Visalia Adventure Park, Sequoia Springs provides the only water park of its kind in the area.

“It’s an exciting day for Visalia,” Metcalf said. “Sequoia Springs Splash Park will bring a substantial number of visitors to Visalia this summer. The economic impact of the attraction will be positive for the city, further cementing our po-

sition as a leading vacation destination in Central California.”

Sequoia Springs Splash Park features timed water dumps from a wooden, 900-gallon barrel, as well as interactive water cannons and spinners. It offers water three slides of various thrill levels and a smaller slide for younger kids.

Additionally, the attraction has eight cabanas to rent, as well as open seating, tables and umbrellas.

A fully air conditioned, indoor lounge with views of the waterpark is available with separate entrance pricing. During operating hours, it offers beer and wine sales, as well as counter food service.

The water zone is themed after Sequoia National Park, featuring rustic and natural elements reminiscent of the massive sequoia trees for which the area is known.

The park has a commitment to sustainability and green energy. All water is treated and reused, and the attraction uses solar power.

Sequoia Springs Splash Park is located at Adventure Park at 5600 W Cypress Ave., on Highway 198 and Akers Street in Visalia. Adventure Park has an arcade, mini golf, laser tag and more.

“We are thrilled that visitors can add Sequoia Springs Splash Park to their itineraries this summer,” said Metcalf. “It’s the ideal attraction for families with children and compliments our exciting array of activities available in the nearby national parks. Visalia is the place to be for outdoor activities this summer.”

20 June, 2019 Valley Voice

8

Visalia welcomes newest luxury senior living development STAFF REPORTS Living Care Lifestyles, Kaweah Delta Health Care District, Shannon Senior Care, LLC, and BTV Senior Housing, LLC, proudly announce the opening of Quail Park at Shannon Ranch, scheduled for October, 2019.

This new community closes a gap in the Visalia seniors housing continuum, offering luxury apartments for active adults as well as dignified memory care services for those with Alzheimer’s Disease and related dementias.

The philosophy behind Quail Park at Shannon Ranch is – Live Healthy!

Live Passionately! Live Brilliantly!

Live Healthy!

Located at 3440 W. Flagstaff Avenue, this three-story, one hundred apartment community will focus on promoting better health outcomes for its residents. Featuring a fully loaded fitness center powered by HUR SmartTouch technology, residents will be able to automatically load their personalized strength training program, adjust their seat, and set their resistance level with a simple swipe of their HUR SmartTouch wristband. If lower impact, aquatic therapy is needed, a

Hydrowork therapy pool with built-in treadmills is also available!

Live Passionately!

Quail Park at Shannon Ranch offers a truly active lifestyle for active older adults. Residents will be afforded opportunities for regional and international travel, local philanthropy and community service, youth mentoring programs, as well as community partnerships focused on the creative and performing arts.

Live Brilliantly!

To delight the senses, the community boasts three restaurant-style dining options, including a full-service bar and a coffee shop. Other amenities include an in-house beauty salon, on-site spa, fitness coaching and concierge services, as well as a twenty-four seat movie theater.

“We are extremely excited to bring this new style of senior living to the Central Valley!” said Living Care Lifestyles CEO Denis Bryant. “People have changed the way they look at getting older, so we have created a Quail Park community specifically designed for a more active and dynamic lifestyle.”

“Utilize the Power of Art” in downtown Hanford STAFF REPORTS

Want to get your business seen?

The Valley Voice can help!

Call Catherine: 559-972-7778

Main Street Hanford and Hanford Parks & Recreation would like to “Utilize the Power of Art” in their efforts to revitalize downtown Hanford by creating a community driven Public Art Program.

This Saturday, June 22nd beginning at 9am, artists will begin painting utility boxes throughout downtown Hanford. You can visit downtown, walk around, meet artists, and watch the program come to life. This Saturday there will be approximately ten artists painting designated utility boxes. The boxes vary in size from 7 feet tall, to 2 feet tall. Artists will be paid for their work, depending on the size of the box.

“The public art program is intended to enliven our community, encourage foot traffic and provoke conversations,” said Michelle Brown, Executive Director of Main Street Hanford.

Artists from Urbanist Collective will be guiding Hanford’s artists throughout the process. Urbanist Collective is a non-profit organization whose mission is to promote the professional expansion of urban art within the community through art education, demonstration, and outreach.

Urbanists embrace the concept of redefining public space, with the addition of art and public engagement. Joel Martin is the go-to artist for Hanford’s Utility Box Program. Joel is working closely with the artists, as it will be their first time painting on a utility box. Michelle Brown and Joel Martin are working together to organize this Saturday’s Utility Box Paint Day. Urbanists have done the utility box program in other cities and is bring their knowledge to Hanford.

In April, Michelle Brown of Main Street Hanford sat down with the Hanford City Council in a Study Session to get permission to have the utility

boxes painted. The council fully supported the idea and art submissions have been flooding into the Main Street Hanford office. “It’s very difficult to choose what art goes on what boxes; especially because we received about 70 artist submissions. There are a lot of talented artists in Hanford.”

Brown said.

Hanford Parks & Recreation have played a major role in making this project come to fruition. Alvin Dias, Hanford Parks Superintendent and Main Street Hanford staff worked together to designate the 25 city-owned boxes to be painted. Brown put together a committee including Alvin Dias (Parks & Recreation), Bruce Kane (Kings Art Center), Jennifer Butts (Artist), Robb Robbins (Board Member), Jim Castleman (Board Member), and Brittany Parreira (Main Street Hanford staff). The committee has met several times over the last five months to bring the utility box project to life.

Main Street Hanford and Hanford Parks & Recreation hosted Food Truck Night on June 1st and was able to fundraise over $5,000 for the project costs.

The total cost of the project will be approximately $6,000. Main Street Hanford will budget $3,000 per year to maintain the artists’ work.

Brown is hopeful that the Utility Box Art is only the beginning for public art in downtown Hanford. “My ultimate goal is to have a public art program that includes utility boxes, fire hydrant art, murals and more.”

Brown said.

Please visit downtown Hanford this Saturday, June 22nd and meet the artists.

Please follow Main Street Hanford and Hanford Parks & Recreation on Instagram and Facebook to learn more about both organizations.

Also, visit www.mainstreethanford. com/publicart

Valley Voice 20 June, 2019

Calendar

Through July 18: The Visalia Branch Library Thursday shows Every Thursday at 11am and 3pm in the Children’s Wing, E&M Reptile, June 13th, Ballet Folklorico Sierra Linda, June 20th, Magician Tim Mannix, June 27th, Reptile Ron, July 11th, Steve Martin’s Working Wildlife, July 18.

Through July 19: Movies in the Park Films are shown on our giant inflatable movie screen at dusk. Free. Bring a blanket or lawn chair and sit back and enjoy the show! Guests are welcome to bring picnic dinner and snacks. Riverway Sports Park Special Event Promenade (3511 N. Dinuba Blvd.) June 14th – Smallfoot, June 21st - Lilo & Stitch, June 28th – Aquaman, July 5th - The Emperor’s New Groove, July 12th - Spider-Man into the Spider-Verse, July 19th - How to Train Your Dragon. Call (559) 713-4365 for more information.

Through July 19 Activities for Teens (ages 13-19) Visalia Library Teen Art Workshop “Express Yourself” Instructor: Lisa Alvarado, June 14th 3:00 - 4:30pm (Blue Room) Tween/Teen Poetry Writing Workshop, Instructor: Erin Elliott, June 15th 3:00 - 4:30pm (Purple Room) Teen Art Workshop “Let It Go” Instructor: Lisa Alvarado, June 21st 3:00 - 4:30pm (Blue Room) Art Workshop “The Power of You,” Instructor: Lisa Alvarado Saturday, July 13th 2:30 - 4:30pm (Blue Room) Teen Board & Video Games, July 19th 4:00 - 5:45pm (Blue Room) Through July 12 Activities for Tweens (ages 10-13) Visalia Library Tween/Teen Poetry Writing Workshop, Instructor: Erin Elliott, Saturday, June 15th 3:00 - 4:30pm (Purple Room) Tween Art Workshop, Instructor Mikayla Gutierrez, Friday, June 28th from 3:00 - 5:00pm (Blue Room), Tween Art Workshop, Friday, July 12th 3:00 5:00pm Through July 20: Summer Reading Program Visalia Library Stop by the library to register and get your reading log! As you meet your reading goals earn prizes. For children ages 1-18, we can feed their bodies as well with our Summer Lunch at the Library program. Free meals are served Tuesdays-Fridays at 12:30pm.

Through July 19: Summer Reading Programs and Entertainment Lindsay, Springville and Strathmore, Pixley, Alpaugh, Earlimart, Tipton Exeter, Farmersville, Three Rivers, Woodlake, Dinuba, Ivanhoe, London, and Orosi Libraries dishes up fun and excitement with the free programs at your local Tulare County Branch Library. Participants can sign up throughout the program to get their reading logs to earn prizes and be entered into drawings for more prizes.

The earlier you sign up, the greater the fun. Each of the branches has entertainers, events and special reading activities every Wednesday and Thursday June 12 – July 18. Three Rivers, Earlimart and Tipton Library events are on Fridays.

Through July 16th Toddler Storytimes Every Tuesday at 10am, in the Children’s Wing o the Visalia Library Through July 17: Activities for Kids and Families Visalia Library Lego Club, every Wednesday from 2:00pm – 3pm, Pajama Storytime every Wednesday at 6:30pm, June 12th - July 17th, Movies every Funtastic Friday at 2pm and 4pm, board games & Xbox Kinect at 3pm, every Friday.

9 June 20 – 22 “Mama Mia!” in Porterville ABBA’s hits sung on a Greek Island in this stage adaptation of the hit movie with non-stop laughs and explosive dance numbers. Porterville Barn Theater, 42 S. Plano, Porterville. 550 3107046 or www.portervillebarntheater. com June 7, 8, 14, 15, 21 & 22 at 7 p.m.

Sunday matinees June 9 & 16 at 2 p.m.

June 20 - 28th: Rockin’ the Arbor Rockin’ the Arbor is the Lemoore Chamber’s Annual summer concert series event held every Friday in June 6:00 pm-10:30 pm. There is live entertainment provided by various valley bands and local food vendors and beer garden.

June 20 - 28th: Juried Community Exhibition and Opening Reception at Arts Visalia Exhibition runs June 5th through June 28th. Gallery Hours: Noon-5:30 p.m., Wednesdays-Saturdays. Opening Reception is First Friday, from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Arts Visalia Visual Art Center 214 E. Oak Ave., Visalia. Janelle Howard, Gallery Director. 559-739-0905, artsvisalia@sbcglobal.net June 20 – 23: Ice House Theater present “ The Humans” Presented by The Visalia Players, 410 E Race Ave, The Humans is an uproarious, hopeful, and heartbreaking play that takes place during a family dinner on Thanksgiving. Our modern age of anxiety is keenly observed, with humor and compassion, in this new American classic that won the 2016 Tony Award for Best Play. Show times June 7, 8, 14, 15, 21, 22 at 7:30 pm, June 9, 16, 23 at 2:00 pm Tickets at www.visaliaplayers.org or at the door on the night of the show.

June 21: Tacos & Tributes Featuring an Eagles tribute by The Boys of Summer, 6-8 p.m. at Garden Street Plaza, at Main Street, Visalia.

Free concert with food and drinks for sale. Go to Facebook: Tacos and Tributes presents The Boys of Summer June 22: Movies at the Visalia Library Academy Award Best Picture winners will be shown from 9-4:30 at the Visalia Library, 200 W. Oak. 559 713-2700 or www.tularecountylibrary.org June 20 & 27 – Porterville Farmers Market Sierra View Medical Center welcomes you to the 5th Annual Farmer’s Market where you can purchase seasonal produce and goods, learn about community resources, receive health education, and grab a bite to eat. Children activities. Sierra View east parking lot from 8 to 11:30 a.m. 465 W. Putnam Avenue in Porterville. Visit sierra-view. com/farmers-market June 21 Candidate Larry Micari Bologna Feed Larry Micari for Tulare County Board of Supervisor District 1 would like to invite you to an opportunity to personally get to know him and enjoy an evening of food and fellowship. The Meet and Greet Bologna Feed is Hosted

by Mel Borbolla on Friday, from 6pm9pm at 31020 Road 160, Visalia. Please RSVP to Beth Micari 280-7546 or micari4supervisor@gmail.com. www.micari4supervisor.com.

June 22: The Golf Tournament Fundraiser for Larry Micari Join us for a fun day at the Exeter Golf Course supporting Larry Micari for Tulare County Board of Supervisor, District 1. Check in is at 8am. Sponsorships are available! The cost is $50 per player but teams are recommended. BBQ and drinks will be pro-

vided along with great prizes. Tickets and sponsorships can be purchased at www.micari4supervisor.com or https://www.eventbrite.com/e/micari4supervisor-golf-tournament-tickets-62617625002.

Contact Chris Wenzinger 901-8705 or Beth Micari 559280-7546 for more information.

June 22 & 29 – Free Family Night Swim Mt. Whitney High School Pool in Visalia. 6:00pm - 8:00pm. All children must be accompanied by an adult.

June 26 - Tai Chi for Arthritis, Fibromyalgia, and Chronic Pain This class consists of 8 consecutive sessions. Wednesdays and Fridays, 5:45pm to 6:45pm. $80.00 per person.

Instructor. E. Velasquez, Certified TCH Instructor. Each session in this class will build on concepts already learned in the previous sessions. Therefore, no new students will be added to the class after the third session . Register Now! 816 W. Oak Ave. Visalia June 28 – Family Night at Visalia Adventure Park Hwy 198 and Akers St., 9 p.m. to 12:30 a.m. $18 wristband gets you unlimited access to go karts, bumper boats, mini golf, batting cages, and laser tag.

Karaoke mic will be available, too. For more info, visit adventurepark.com/ family-fun.

June 28: 3rd Annual Dream Big Golf Tournament and Fundraiser Visalia Unified School District and Citywide Home Loans – Anthony Gonzales Mortgage Team will partner to host the This event serves to raise funds for VUSD’s PULSE After School Programs operated at VUSD’s five middle schools; Green Acres, Divisadero, Valley Oak, La Joya and Ridgeview.

For more information on this event, please contact Director of Student Services Frank Escobar at fescobar@vusd. org or (559) 730-7570.

June 29: SHOOTOUT” Fundraiser for Larry Micari Come out and support Larry Micari for Supervisor at the “SHOOTOUT” Fundraiser at the Tulare County Trap Club.

Enjoy the morning of shooting, bbq, lots of prizes and more! Shooter cost is $100 and sponsorships are available. https://www.eventbrite.com/e/micari4supervisor-shootout-trap-shoot-tickets-62526982889 or www.micari4supervisor.com. Or contact Scott James 559-352-6982 or Beth Micari 559-2807546.

July 3: Rawhide Ballpark & Recreation Park Fireworks Show Community celebration event at Rawhide Ballpark, Recreation Park, Providence Skate Park,and the Anthony Community Center. Starting at Noon with a free swim at the Redwood High School swimming pool, 4pm the gates to Recreation Park will open. Activities include live music, DJ, inflatable games, playground, basketball courts, a skateboarding competition, and food & drink vendors. 6pm, Rawhide Ballpark will open its gates for game versus the San Jose Giants. At the conclusion of the game a fireworks show.

5000 free general admission tickets will be given out beforehand and VIP tickets available for $20 each.

July 3: Kiwanis of Woodlake’s July 3rd Blast Fireworks Show from 5 to 9 p.m. at Miller Brown Park, downtown Woodlake. Family fun, fireworks, kids’ zone, music and food. Free admission.

July 4: fourth of July festival and fireworks in Exeter 10K run, 2-mile walk and Horseshoe Tournament in Exeter City Park locat-

ed at Chestnut and E streets. To register and for more information, call Exeter Community Services at 559-5925262, Pancake Breakfast from 7 to 10 a.m. sponsored by the Exeter Fraternal Order of Eagles 3608. Tickets are $5 at the Exeter Eagles Lodge, 555 W. Visalia Rd. in Exeter or at the Exeter Chamber of Commerce, 101 W. Pine St. For more info, call 559-592-1771,The Exeter Lion’s Club presents the 74th Annual Free Fireworks Show at dusk in Exeter Lions Stadium located on east Rocky Hill Drive in Exeter.

July 6: Gadabouts Meeting 10:00am at the Senior Center, 310 N. Locust, Visalia. A group of active seniors who love to travel and love to travel together! info, Barbara Davis 732-5066 July 9: Visalia Economic Development Corporation Job Fair Annual job fair coordinated by the VEDC 8 a.m. to 11 a.m. on Tuesday, at California Dairies, 2000 N. Plaza Drive.Participants to date include University of Phoenix, Fresno Pacific University, ServiceMaster, Sequoia Adult Education Consortium, Hydrite, USA Staffing, VWR, California Dairies and Electric Motor Shop. Information Nancy Lockwood, executive director, at 733-3737 or nlockwood@thelockwoodagency.net.

July 13; Proud to Wear Pink ~ Real Men Wear Pink Tulare Hospital Foundation Presents its annual Proud to Wear Pink fundraiser.

Join the fight against all cancers! 4:00 Doors Open, 4:30 Expo Begins (Wellness Information, Vendor Boutique, Silent Auction, Networking) 6:00 Main Event - Cancer Survivor Tribute, Dinner - Fashion Show, Live Designer Purse Auction, Jewelry Raffle. Info Jan Smith, Executive Director 685-3438 Office, jan@tularehospitalfoundation.org July 13: Exhibit “Oils by Grace” Tulare Historical Museum The Heritage Art Gallery at THM is happy to announce the opening of our newest exhibit “Oils by Grace” from 5:00-7:00pm with a reception for the artist, Grace Harvey, The reception is open to the public and free of charge.

THM hours of operation are 10:00 a.m.

- 4:00 p.m. Thursday - Saturday. Admission is free.

July 19-27 – Read all about it! Paper Mill Playhouse presents Newsies L. J. Williams Theater, 1001 W. Main St. in Visalia. Tickets are $8-$20. For more information, visit tcoe.org.

July 21 – The Elton John musical tribute The Rocket Man Show, will perform at 7 p.m. at the Fox Theatre in Visalia.

Tickets are $33 to $55 at foxvisalia.org.

August 3 – 1st Saturday in Three Rivers Arts Consortium presents event from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Art studios, restaurants and merchants open their doors and invite all for a town-wide celebration. Go to the Three Rivers Historical Museum, 42268 Sierra Hwy. for a map of participating venues. Info, visit 1stsaturdaytr.com or call 559-561-3463.

September 15: Boots and Brews Celebrate Flag Day the American way with the Exeter Republican Women Federated, 6:00 – 7:00,VIP reception, 7:00pm Program and Dinner at The Pine Residence, 1600 Palm Rd. Exeter.

Event sponsored by Tulare County Supervisor Kuyler Crocker and candidate for TCBOS District 1 Larry Micari, Distinguished speakers, Dinner and Raffle, Tickets $75, VIP $125. Info 280-3726 or 972-3707.

20 June, 2019 Valley Voice

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Excellence in Education winners announced TULARE COUNTY OFFICE OF ED.

Tulare County Office of Education and Educational Employees Credit Union.

Gist summarized her leadership style by writing, “Educating each child is a moral purpose intent on making a difference in the lives of all children. It requires all of us to move beyond our personal and professional biases, to work collectively as a team in order to raise up caring, creative and confident children. It is a purpose greater than oneself.”

On Friday, May 10, Tulare County Superintendent of Schools Tim Hire visited the top winners in the 25th An- Administrator/Manager of the Year nual Excellence in Dr. Clare Gist — Education Awards Superintendent Program, surprisTulare City ing each of them School District in the middle of Dr. Clare Gist their workdays. has supported Dr. Clare Gist, the Tulare district superintendent of for over 29 years Tulare City School in roles that have District, was in the included teachmiddle of a staff er, principal, dimeeting in her ofTaurie Thayer, receptionist for the Tulare County Office of Education, is rector, assistant fice when Mr. Hire surprised by Tulare County Superintendent of Schools Tim Hire, who informs superintendent opened the door her that she is the 2019 Tulare County School Employee of the Year in the of Business Serand told her that annual Excellence in Education program. Courtesy/TCOE vices, and – for the she’d been chosen for her students and the disruption past six years – suas the 2019 Tulare her recovery would cause in their Teacher of the Year County Adminis- Dr. Clare Gist poses with Tim Hire moments after perintendent. instruction.

Dr. Tabitha Grabowski Dr. Gist holds trator/Manager of learning she had been selected Tulare County Despite her doctor’s recommendaEnglish Teacher/Literacy Coach a Doctorate of Edthe Year. Dr. Gist Administrator/Manager of the Year. Dr. Gist is tions, she began to grade papers and Tulare Union High School brushed away the superintendent of Tulare City School District. ucation from Uniconduct lessons via Skype until she Tabby Grabowski is an English versity of the Paciftears as her staff Courtesy/TCOE was able to return to the classroom. ic and a Masters in teacher and literacy coach at Tulare applauded and Educational Administration from Cal- Union High School. crowded in to take pictures.

Dr. Grabowski teaches Expository School Employee of the Across town at Tulare Union High ifornia State University, Bakersfield.

Reading and Writing Curriculum, dual Year School, Dr. Tabby Grabowski, an En- She was praised by her nominators enrollment colTaurie Thayer glish teacher and literacy coach, was lege English, and Receptionist, Tulare County Office of alone in her classroom when Mr. Hire, is the district’s litEducation (TCOE) principal Dr. Michelle Nunley, district eracy coach. In adAmerican poet Maya Angelou said, superintendent Tony Rodriguez, and dition, she is an ad- “People will forget what you said, peoseveral staff members surprised her junct instructor in ple will forget what you did, but peowith the news that she had been choEnglish Language ple will never forget how you made sen Tulare County Teacher of the Year.

Arts at College of them feel.”

Back at the Tulare County Office of Edthe Sequoias.

Taurie Thayer, TCOE’s receptionist ucation administration building on Her teaching at the administration building, uses South Mooney Boulevard, receptioncareer includes these words to inspire herself in her ist Taurie Thayer was answering the 19 years of expe- day-to-day interactions with staff and phones when Mr. Hire passed through rience, with 11 visitors. Warm, funny, caring, and servthe lobby to announce that she had years at the Tulare ing, Ms. Thayer keeps children busy been selected School Employee of Joint Union High with toys from her toy box while she the Year.

School District. Dr. helps parents.

The winners in the annual ExcelGrabowski holds a She calms nervous job applicants, lence in Education program were choDoctorate of Edu- assuring them that they will “ace the sen by a selection committee of Tulare Dr. Tabitha Grabowski (second from left) of Tulare Union High School has cation from North- interview,” and helps presenters using County business and educational lead- been named the Tulare County Teacher of the Year. She is surrounded by eastern University the conference center with an assorters who individually reviewed and Dr. Michelle Nunley, Tulare Union principal; Tony Rodriguez, Tulare Joint in Boston and a ment of last minute items, including scored each nominee in the Adminis- Union High School District superintendent; and Tim Hire. Dr. Grabowski is an Masters in Lan- bottled water, super glue, safety pins, trator/Manager, Teacher, and School English teacher and literacy coach at the school. Courtesy/TCOE guage Arts from Advil and granola bars.

Employee of the Year categories.

Recently, Ms. Thayer loaned a womA total of 30 nominations were as a hands-on superintendent, wholly California State University, Fresno.

Her colleagues wrote that she has an her own shoes when the visitor received this year from Tulare County dedicated to learning every aspect of an extraordinary ability to connect broke a heel on her way to a meeting. district operations. school districts.

She was also praised for her leader- with each student, making learning Ms. Thayer, who has worked for The winners, finalists, and nominees will be honored at an invita- ship in promoting programs that sup- fun and inspirational. Each day, stu- TCOE since 2016, also manages the tion-only awards breakfast on October port the whole child, the whole school, dents walk into her classroom excited TCOE room reservation system, working with event coordinators and main29. Among the finalists in the Adminis- and the whole community. These pro- to see what she has in store for them.

Last fall, she sustained injuries tenance and operations staff on doztrator/Manager of the Year category is grams address early childhood eduJoy Soares, TCOE’s College and Career cation, K-8 academics, health, mental in a tragic boating accident, which ens of meetings held in the Redwood director. The Excellence in Education health, social-emotional learning, nu- claimed the lives of her husband Conference Center every week. and niece. program is a partnership between the trition, and safety.

Her immediate concern was Early in her superintendency, Dr.

Our 44th Year in Downtown Visalia

Ruiz 4 Kids awards mini-grant to Linwood School teacher STAFF REPORTS

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The Ruiz 4 Kids Mini-Grants for Teachers have been awarded, and local teacher, Diane Medeiros from Linwood School, was awarded $910 for her project “STEAM Makerspace”.

“I would like to express my heartfelt appreciation to the entire Ruiz 4 Kids community for your contribution to my STEAM Makerspace! It so exciting to see students give their time before school, at recess, and after school to learn twenty-first century skills. Your grant allowed us to compete in a robotics competition with other 7,500 teams from around the world. Thank you for helping make all of this possible,” said fourth grade teacher Ms. Medeiros.

Ms. Medeiros expanded her existing makerspace to allow students from outside her classroom the opportunity to use the robots, tools and other materials to expand their knowledge in STEAM. Opening her classroom before school starts and during recess gave students the opportunity to grow and eventually use their skills to educate the younger grades.

Ms. Medeiros’ students will be teaching approximately 15 classes how to code robots, use Makey Makey, experience augmented reality and learn how a Raspberry Pi computer works.

In total 394 students will have been exposed to this amazing STEAM project.

Valley Voice 20 June, 2019

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AGRICULTURE

State distributes grants to help implement SGMA CHRISTINE SOUZA

Ag Alert/California Farm Bureau Federation

With some local agencies just months away from a deadline to complete groundwater management plans, local and state officials acknowledge there have been a few speed bumps in distributing grant funding for planning and implementation. But observers say they expect the grant process overall to benefit groups working to comply with provisions of the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act. “There’s the old adage that there’s no free money; you take the bad with the good and the bad is, these processes always take longer,” Northern California Water Association President David Guy said. “We’ve done grants over the years and when you jump into the grant world, you have to expect stuff. There’s delays and audits, and it’s true, there’s all kinds of consternation that comes with that, so that’s the trade-off.”

Kelley List, senior engineer geologist for the California Department of Water Resources, the state agency overseeing the SGMA grant program, agreed it is fairly routine for there to be a few setbacks when it comes to distributing grant funding.

“For new grantees that have never done this process before, there’s a huge learning curve on how to navigate through the state requirements for grant funding,” said List,

who manages the DWR sustainable groundwater management grant program. “So far, everything seems to be going really well, (but) there’s always going to be a few things here and there.”

California Farm Bureau Federation Director of Water Resources Danny Merkley said it is important that grant funding for local groundwater sustainability agencies be awarded in a timely manner, since GSAs serving basins considered to be critically overdrafted must develop groundwater sustainability plans by 2020. The deadline is 2022 for medium- and high-priority basins.

So far, there have been two rounds of grant funding, through the Proposition 1 water bond, which required a 50% local match of the total project cost, and through the Proposition 68 Sustainable Groundwater Planning Grant Program, which requires a 25% total cost match. Despite the hiccups, List said DWR has awarded 79 grants totaling $98 million through those programs to various California GSAs. A comment period closed Monday for draft documents related to a third round of funding, which is expected to have $48.3 million in competitive grants available for SGMA planning.

For that third round, set to open this fall, List said about $1 million has been shifted from previous rounds and rolled over, due to a SGMA ba-

sin re-prioritization that happened in recent months. During that process, some basins had their priority reassigned.

“GSAs that just formed, some of them were just trying to form when we awarded the Prop. 1 grant last time and they weren’t quite ready,” List said. “And we have some who went from low (priority) to medium and high, and now must meet the SGMA regulations, so they will be applying (for round-three funding).”

Colusa Groundwater Authority program manager Mary Fahey said Colusa County received a Proposition 1 grant for $250,000 to help counties with stressed basins and a second Proposition 1 planning grant for $1 million. Because the area is considered a disadvantaged community, Fahey said, the planning grant does not require matching funds.

“We have the $1 million grant and it is estimated that our (groundwater sustainability plan) will cost about $1.5 million. It’s a lot of money,” she said. “There were some delays with the GSP funding. It took them a little while to get the agreements in place on this last one, but we are all learning as we go. We’re all just trying to do our best to comply and DWR has done a great job. They have quite the load dumped on them as well.”

To help fund the day-to-day operations of the GSA, Fahey said, the Colusa Groundwater Authority took part

in procedures required by Proposition 218 to establish a landowner fee.

“It’s a property-related fee, so our charge is based on our budget and acreage being assessed, and it came out to $1.21 an acre,” she said. “The purpose of the funding is long-term funding—anything you need to run an organization.”

Fahey added that the grants and Proposition 218 process had been very helpful to keep the GSA running.

“DWR offers not just the grant funding, but facilitation support services and technical support services,” she said. “I would definitely encourage any GSA to look at any type of support or funding from DWR.” List encouraged GSAs to take advantage of meetings led by DWR to learn more about how the agency can assist with financial, technical, facilitation and support services related to SGMA plans and implementation.

“People should get involved,” she said. “That’s the only way to get your voice and your concerns heard.

I keep telling everybody I know to get involved with their local GSA. You have to. Water is life and water is your livelihood.”

To learn more about DWR Sustainable Groundwater Management grants and other assistance, see www. water.ca.gov/sgmgrants.

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

Westlands announces scholarship recipients STAFF REPORTS Westlands Water District awarded scholarships to six high school seniors in recognition of the students’ exceptional academic achievement.

Each recipient, all of whom are from west side communities, will receive $1,000 towards their community college or university expenses. Applicants were judged on their academic performance, school activities, community leadership and each applicant submitted an essay on an agricultural-related topic.

The District congratulates the following 2019 scholarships winners: Joe Cardiel III, a senior at Firebaugh High School. Cardiel plans to attend Fresno State University where he will major in Agriculture Education with plans to pursue a career as an Agricultural Educator.

Cardiel is a varsity basketball, varsity baseball player and FFA chapter secretary. As a Firebaugh high school student, Cardiel was honored with the Eagle Baseball award, FFA State Degree and FFA Outstanding senior.

Marvin Cornejo, a senior at

REDISTRICTING continued from 6 •

legislative or Board of Equalization staff.

Contributing $2,500 or more to any congressional, state or local candidate for elected of-

Mendota High School. Cornejo is an honors student who plans to attend Fresno State University to pursue a degree in Chemistry. Following college, Cornejo aspires to pursue a career as a Pharmacist.

Cornejo is a Mendota School Board student representative, a West Side Youth volunteer, an avid athlete involved in track &field, cross country wresting and soccer and a FFA Greenhand and Chapter degree holder.

Myriam Castro, a senior at Tranquility High School. Castro will graduate in the top five of her class.

Castro plans to attend Fresno State University where she will major in Criminology.

During her time at Tranquility High School, Castro was involved in the Honor Guard, the California Student Opportunity and Access Program (Cal-SOAP) and obtained the ROP Criminal Justice certificate of completion and the State Seal of Biliteracy.

Peter Hawken, a senior at Lemoore High School. Hawken was honored as the Chemistry Student

of the Year. Following graduation, Hawken will attend the University of California, Santa Cruz where he will major in Environmental Science.

With his degree, Hawken aims to pursue a career as an Environmental and Agricultural Irrigation Specialist.

Hawken is the Varsity Soccer team captain, both the soccer and tennis club president and is involved Jesus Club and California Scholarship Federation life member.

Jazmin A. Murillo, a senior at Coalinga High School. Murillo plans to attend West Hills College Coalinga where she will major in Political Science and film. Following college, Murillo plans to pursue a career as a Paralegal and as a Film Director.

Murillo is the editor in chief of the Coalinga High School Magazine, President of the After School Program Leadership Club and VIDA club, and on the Principal’s Honor Roll from 2015 to 2019. Murillo has also been honored with the Bausch + Lomb Honorary Science Award, first place in the Chevron Robotics Challenge and as a National Hispanic Scholar.

Emma Andrade, a senior at Riverdale High School. Andrade is an honor roll student who plans to attend Fresno State where she will major in Physics and plans to pursue a career as an Experimental Physicist.

Andrade plays varsity basketball and tennis, and has been involved with Rural Route 4h since 2010 continually holding leadership positions, such as Corresponding Secretary and Camp Director. Andrade has been honored with the Academic All League Team and Letter, County Heartbeat Artistry Award and All League First Team Varsity Tennis.

Westlands is honored to recognize and assist these outstanding students; as reiterated by Tom Birmingham, general manager of Westlands, “these scholarships represent a small gesture of thanks and support to the communities on the west side of the San Joaquin Valley that make our region productive and vibrant.

Our hope is that these students will continue to contribute to their communities and make them even better for future generations.”

fice in any year.

The conflicts apply to the 10 years preceding an individual’s application and apply to the applicant or a member of the applicant’s immediate family.

If you believe you are qualified to serve on the commission, please visit shapecaliforniasfuture.auditor.ca.gov

to learn more about the requirements.

The initial application period is open until Aug. 9.

If you are interested in applying for the commission but have conflicts of interest, your help is still needed.

Farm Bureau will organize members to testify at public hearings so our voice can be heard.

Should you have any questions about the process or qualifications, please contact me as shown below.

(Mike Zimmerman is political affairs manager for the California Farm Bureau Federation. He may be contacted at mzimmerman@cfbf.com or 916-561-5617.)

20 June, 2019 Valley Voice

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Tulare County unveils new clean energy project STAFF REPORTS Tulare County is transforming into a clean energy future. The Tulare County Board of Supervisors along with energy partners, county staff, and community members gathered recently to celebrate the occasion at the “Flip the Switch” event held at the Tulare County Government Plaza.

The County has partnered with ENGIE Services U.S. to implement a large-scale solar energy project at several County facilities, including Government Plaza, County Civic Center, Bob Wiley Detention Facility, and the new South County Detention Facility. The

BLAIR

continued from 1 not been active on Facebook for several weeks, indicating that the police department or city management has been monitoring her social media accounts.

In a statement to ABC30 Action News, Lemoore City Manager Nathan Olson said that he would direct the Lemoore City Attorney to “take another look” at a restraining order.

HANFORD continued from 1

es, and the completion of the Costco project on Hanford’s east side.

In a written statement provided to Valley Voice Pyle cited several accomplishments relating to fire protection, adding police officers and firemen, development projects such as the Costco Center and the Family Healthcare Network building.

The city was able to purchase two new fire stations in 2014 with existing money and it purchased Fire Station Number 3 for cash, Pyle said. Hanford is also expected to get its first $1.1 million ladder truck.

Pyle said one of the problems the next city manager will face is managing homelessness. “This is not a matter of solving the homeless crisis, but managing this population given the incredible lack of resources to address the Mental health and substance abuse crisis at the heart of the problem.”

Pyle’s tenure wasn’t all roses.

energy saving program is expected to generate approximately $40 million in savings over the next 25 years and reduce electricity spending by 70%.

“I knew Tulare County had many opportunities for electric generation and efficiency when I first joined the Board,” stated Chairman Kuyler Crocker. “ENGIE approached us with a proposal that would allow us to keep our reserves intact, but realize the cost savings. This large scale project will allow for future energy efficiency projects, maximize utility cost savings, and utilize precious taxpayer dollars for vital County Services.”

Aligning with the County’s Strate-

gic Business Plan to promote fiscal and environmental responsibility, the new solar project is expected to eliminate carbon generated emissions equivalent to taking 2,700 cars of the road every year in use.

ENGIE Services designed, engineered and installed a total 9.2 megawatts of solar photovoltaic (PV) power on solar shade parking structures and ground mount structures. In addition, the project includes 1 MW/2 MWh of battery energy storage systems to store electricity and maximize generation capacity.

“The ENGIE Services U.S. team has been proud to work with Tulare Coun-

ty over the past two years - helping deliver next generation energy solutions to help address both the financial and environmental challenges that many counties across California are faced with,” shared John Mahoney, CEO and President of ENGIE Services North America.

The new renewable energy equipment is financed through a power purchase agreement with ENGIE Services allowing the County to pay zero upfront capital and the ability to lock in a low fixed electricity rate for the next 25 years. The new large-scale solar project is expected to be fully operational at all seven County sites by the Fall this year.

“Blatant disregard. I think Ms. Blair had shown a hatred toward law enforcement in general,” Olson said. “Because I do fear the safety of our employees after this incident.”

Olson also said during a later interview, “In response to several inquiries, there are laws that must be adhered to with respect to the actions of City Council members including laws regarding removal of a City Council member from City Council.”

Blair bailed out of jail 24 hours after being arrested. Bail was set at $195,000.

Blair’s next court date is July 5, when she will most likely be arraigned, though the Kings County District Attorney could choose to take another 30 days to file charges. The DA can charge Blair any time within the statute of limitations for a felony, which is three years.

In another incident that may or may not be related, the Kings County Grand Jury on June 4 released a report

that was openly critical of Blair and Mayor Ed Neal and the City Attorney.

The report did not name her directly but made it clear the council member who was described as being disruptive during meetings was Blair.

Melo acknowledged that Blair has been under an immense amount of stress since her case settled with Lemoore and that her behavior may be medically related.

During his time at the helm the city incurred a $50 million pension liability with PERS, the public employee retirement fund, a lawsuit from a Helena Chemical Company seeking $15 million in damages relating to the development of the Costco project and potential repair bills of $1 million each for the old Courthouse downtown and the Bastille next door.

The breach of contract lawsuit filed

by Helena Chemical Company is currently in the discovery stage, said Ty Mizote, city attorney.

Sorensen defended Pyle regarding the pension liability and said this is a widespread problem with other cities besides Hanford. PERS changed its investment strategy and when the new strategy lost money, PERS left the cities on the hook.

Pyle improved the quality of life for consumers with the Costco development, she said, and he tried to resolve the issue with Helena.

Both the Bastille and courthouse projects, Sorensen said, were problems he inherited. “If the council doesn’t

give direction,” she said. “Nothing gets resolved.

Neither was his tenure as Tulare City Manager free of controversy. He was involved with the failed and Motor sports complex east of the city. Several Tulare city council members criticized Pyle for what they said was not being forthright with information to all council members. Pyle resigned as Tulare City Manager effective November 30, 2010 saying he had achieved all he was capable of in Tulare. He also cited health and family reasons. The council unanimously accepted his resignation.

In Hanford Bob Ramos, a local activist, said at the June 10, 2019 council meeting, “I am pleased Mr. Pyle won’t be here anymore. He didn’t listen to the people.”

Ramos was primarily referring to the 18 undeveloped acres of Hidden Valley Park. Though residents have fought the city’s attempts to sell the property for years, the city administration and the previous council appeared to be on track once again to sell a large portion of the property for a housing

development.

Friends of Hidden Valley Park collected more than 2,700 signatures in 2017 to save the park and to have the property rezoned back to public facilities or put the matter on the ballot for a vote of the people.

The city rejected the citizens’ petition based on a technicality. A recent city-sponsored poll affirms public support for keeping the 18 acres. But Sorensen, an advocate to sell the property, rejects the validity of the poll.

Ramos said Pyle, who does not live in Hanford, did not engage the public.

He would talk to members of the public if they actively sought him out, Ramos said, but if a matter is not on Pyle’s agenda, he doesn’t like it.

“The council needs to direct the city manager, not the other way around,” said Lou Martinez, another local activist and ex-council member. “The way the council gets direction is by going to the people and finding out what their concerns are.”

Students & Teachers grades 7 - 12 are invited to participate in the 2nd Annual Porterville Summer Writing Academy (PSWA) on the Porterville College campus A collaboration between Porterville College, the San Joaquin Valley Writing Project (Fresno State), and California Poets in the Schools.

Porterville Summer Writing Academy July 29, 2019 - August 1, 2019 • 9:00 am - 12:30 pm Intensive writing experience for students. The focus will be on argument writing, with opportunities for creative projects, including a day devoted to spoken word poetry. Decades of successful work by the National Writing Project and the California Writing Project provide the model for this program.

Professional Development Opportunity for teachers from all content areas July 22, 2019 - July 25, 2019 • 9:00 am - 4:00 pm July 29, 2019 - August 1 2019 • 9:00 am - 4:00 pm Teachers & students are invited to enroll free of charge at the following links: Students: https://tinyurl.com/PSWA2019Student Teachers: https://tinyurl.com/PSWA2019Teacher Please contact Dr. Juliet Wahleithner (jwahleithner@mail.fresnostate.edu) or Professor Catherine Hodges (chodges@portervillecollege.edu) with any questions.

Valley Voice 20 June, 2019

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HOTEL

Mixture of warm woods and cool concrete envelope the 4 story hotel building.

continued from 1 Community Plan as an area intended for both commercial and social use, the project will not come under consideration by county leaders.

“It doesn’t have to go to Planning or the Board of Supervisors,” Washam said.

No Plans Submitted Yet

As of mid-June, the Patel Group has yet to submit a formal plan for consideration by the RMA. A single-page drawing of the intended layout of the complex was submitted earlier this year and has since been made public. The document, Washam said, was generated to allow the RMA to discuss the plan with other interested agencies.

“There was a preliminary site plan, just kind of a guide so we could converse to Caltrans about where the entrance is,” he said. “They’re (Patel Group) going to have to improve the drive approach. Some things might have to be done to Old Three Rivers Road. They’re ready to do that, as far as that goes.”

The Patel Group, Washam said, eventually purchased the Old Three Rivers Drive property following a trio of false starts.

“Because of the hurdles and engineering aspects, they started looking at other sites,” Washam said.

After giving up plans to locate the project next to the Post Office, the developers turned their sights on land behind Three Rivers Fire Station 35 on South Fork Drive. That plan was nixed when an environmental study discovered the land was home to a rare plant.

A plan to purchase an existing hotel and adjacent property also fell through.

“They did make an attempt (to buy Comfort Inn and Suites), but they weren’t successful,” Washam said.

Town Hall Meeting Planned

The site Patel Group eventually picked is perhaps better suited for the project, according to Washam.

“This land, again, is a bigger, leveler area,” he said. “It’s two parcels, one of them has been farmed for many, many years.”

The developers have also thoroughly investigated the Old Three Rivers Drive property’s suitability.

“They’ve done a number of studies on the site,” Washam said. “They’ve done a lot of work.”

Patel Group, he said, has performed cultural, biological and hydrological surveys of the site. The developers also intend to take into consideration local residents’ thoughts on the project.

“What we’re planning to do, because the community is very interested in this project, Supervisor (Kuyler) Crocker will be holding a town hall,” Washam said. “The developer will be there. That won’t occur until mid-July.

We don’t have a date set yet.”

While Patel Group is eager to move forward with construction, they are

Concept renderings of the site show multiple hotels, including the largest at approximately 100 rooms, pictured above. Courtesy rendering

also want to be good neighbors, according to Washam.

“They want to be able to listen and do the best they can,” he said. “They don’t want to say, ‘I’ve got a right. This is what we’re doing and we’re going to build it.’”

Three ‘Brandings’ at Site

According to Washam, the development will likely include three separate hotels, with Patel Group intending to construct one a year during a threeyear construction period.

“They’ll be probably three main buildings or so,” he said. “It’ll be a complex, with three brandings.”

The largest of the hotels will be a 100-room stand-alone building; a smaller 60-room hotel is planned in a second stand-alone building. A third hotel with some 25 “cabin-type” units surrounding a spa pavillion is also included, as are a pair of single-story meeting rooms.

“There’s a lot more to it than a hotel,” Washam said. “It’ll also have restaurants, and potential retail things--local artists and jewelry, things like that.”

Each hotel will also have its own parking area.

Community Benefits, Concerns

Once complete, the trio of hotels should bring 50 to 60 new jobs to Three Rivers, as well as 15 to 20 “spin-off” jobs, Washam said.

As part of the development deal, Patel Group will be providing $500,000 for a community benefit project to be named later. Over a 20-year period,

taxes on the property should generate some $3.3 million for the Three Rivers Union School District.

Despite these possible future benefits, the plan has raised concerns with many Three Rivers residents.

Chief among them are worries over the impact to the local water supply, increased traffic, environmental harm and additional competition for existing businesses.

Those concerns, Washam said, are overblown.

“There’s a lot of good things for the community,” he said. “A lot of the concerns out there are not founded because there have been studies done.”

Three Rivers Community Plan

Concerns have also been raised about the location of the new hotel complex, especially its effect on nearby residences. The location, however, is in line with the nearly 1,400-page Three Rivers Community Plan, much of which dates back to 1980.

“This is really the only area that allows an open area of development,” Washam said. “This has been the area where this type of development should occur for more than 40 years. It’s just actually occurring now.”

The Community Plan also con-

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tains 12 pages of “very rigorous set of community development standards” addressing issues such as lighting, building design, landscaping and other similar aspects.

“We (the RMA) look at the plans; we make sure it complies,” Washam said.

“Three Rivers is a sensitive area in terms of ideas. If this was on the Valley floor, they’d be jumping for joy.”

Summer Start Unlikely

Besides ensuring compliance with the Three Rivers Community Plan, the RMA will also be sharing citizen concerns with the Patel Group prior to finalizing construction plans.

“Right out of the gate, it (citizen concern) came pretty quick,” Washam said. “We’re putting all the emails in one place, so we can share them with the developers.”

Rumors ground at the site could be broken before the end of the summer months is likely unfounded, but could happen.

“It’s possible. We have to review the plans. If they get it right the first time, it could go through in a couple of months,” Washam said. “I would doubt it would be this summer, especially since we’re not going to do anything until after the (town hall) meeting.”

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14

VOICES & OPINIONS

20 June, 2019 Valley Voice

Open new investigation into USS Liberty, fight for truth, reader writes ROY J. KENDALL To use an animal analogy: Our President sometimes acts like a lion.

Some would say a “Lion Leader” others would say, “That’s a roar without reality.” When comparing facts and fantasy I prefer cold, hard facts. What are the facts?

There are two dangerous trends in the world opposing our way of life: 1. an increase in global warming and 2. A decline in worldwide democracy.

What are the facts regarding the Antarctic melting ice sheet and our disappearing democracy on earth?

The June 24, 2019, “Time” magazine cover photo and story tells about #1.

If one would prefer a more scientific perspective on climate change than “Time” magazine then go to page 936 of the June 7, 2019, issue of “Science.” Eric J. Steig, Department of Earth and Space Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98105, Email: steig@uw.edu, states, “There is no longer any serious scientific doubt that the retreat of glaciers in Antarctica will eventually cause several meters of sea level rise, unless the emission of anthropogenic greenhouse gas is reduced substantially…Accounting for solid-Earth feedback suggests that although the greatest effects may be delayed by a few decades, Antarctic ice sheet retreat remains virtually certain.” On page 56 of the same issue of “Time” Larry Diamond, Stanford scholar, discusses #2.

When asked “Earlier this year, the watchdog organization Freedom House reported the 13th straight year of decline for democracy across the globe. You’ve been teaching the subject for 30 years. How bad are things?”

Diamond answered, “It’s an emerging crisis. It’s not the 1930s. We don’t have the situation where a blatantly fascist party has conquered a democracy. It’s a more subtle, creeping and incremental process. But there’s this sense, as there was in the 1920s and 1930s, that

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it’s the authoritarian regimes that have the energy, the dynamism, the popular engagement.”

Diamond added, “...But you have an American President who is engaging in a lot of undemocratic behavior, doing the kinds of things that other autocrats have been doing step by step to try and suffocate democracy in their countries. The first line of defense is to call that out.”

When asked “If a U.S. President is not advocating for democracy, who picks up the slack?” He replied, “Without U.S. leadership, at best we’re going to have drift. At worst we’ll have a rout of the existing democracies in tenuous places....no state will act decisively and effectively to secure and defend democratic progress in the world unless the U.S. is in the lead. There will not be another leader.”

Mathew Goodwin, professor of politics University of Kent, co-author, with Roger Eatwell of the book, “National Populism: The Revolt Against Liberal Democracy” (Penguin) states in “The Wall Street Journal,” “Review,” June 15-16, 2019, page C-2, “That said, the populist revolt on the continent is just the topic of the moment. In 2020, all eyes will turn away from a divided Europe to a divided America.”

Goodwin lists four “wider currents now colliding in European politics.”

They are: 1. Distrust. 2. Destruction. 3.

Deprivation. And 4. Dealignment. Is there a causal connection between the rise of Populism and the decline in democracy? We may live to find out the answer. But will we live in the “jungle” or the “zoo.” The freedom of the “jungle” or the “safety” of the “zoo”?

Will Rogers said, “There are three kinds of men. The one that learns by reading. The few who learn by observation. The rest of them have to pee on the electric fence for themselves.”

According to Andrew Perrin and Pew Research, “About a quarter of American adults (24%) say they haven’t

the collectivist trend in today’s world should read this book.”

The almost completely successful and premeditated deception, only a few survivors, friends, family and interested people know, of the documented acts described in Mellen’s new book and the related evidence including the testimony from David Lewis, the Research Officer, points to the need for the bodies to float to the surface and be examined....in other words: the need for a new investigation, etc.

Why? If we live in a fascist dictatorship and act as if everything is lovey dovy and hunky dory when in fact, if proven, it is not. Then our freedom, which we mostly take for granted, is not only in danger, it is an allusion and self-deception....the worst lie is the one we believe....with apologies to Will Rogers who said, “Ignorance lies not in the things you don’t know, but in the things you know that ain’t so.”

Freedom: rule by law, which respects all minorities, requires transparency, honesty, and truth. Deception is the enemy of freedom and prosperity. White lies are included.

If we do not fight, educate and provide leadership, for our freedom it will be lost as in Germany in 1939. One man’s loss of freedom is loss of freedom to all men. If we do not change our course we are marching to the gas chambers in 2019....

If it is already lost then we have a choice to keep marching, run..., or try to inform and change the direction we are headed in.

The answer is, “Leadership and Education.”

The question is, “Do we have the motivation?”

Will Rogers also said, “After eating an entire bull, a mountain lion felt so good he started roaring. He kept it up until a hunter came along and shot him... The moral: When you’re full of bull, keep your mouth shut.”

Your comments from ourvalleyvoice.com I thank the letter writer for a cogent, well-written letter.

It does raise an issue which I think is corrosive to open government – the idea that discussions of District leadership is a “personnel” issue that demands privacy. This idea is certainly applicable to rank-and-file teachers or librarians or grounds personnel, but it is completely insane when applied to District Superintendents. A school governing board has one job that is above all others – selection of the management team. Discussion of these leaders should always be open to the public. The school board is spending anywhere from $2000 to $4000 on behalf of the typical household from whom that money is taxed. They all deserve more clarity and openness.

Quote: “While most of the children attending the Visalia Unified School District’s multi-school prom are not yet sexually active……..”, If only that statement were totally true but my guess is that “a higher percentage” of high school students not only attending Prom but all the other school activities and weeknight and weekends are sexually active one way or the other. Participation in sexual activity occurs in many different levels and ways. Sooner or later actual intercourse will happen. Today’s tweens/teens are much more sexually mature than past generations. That is a fact that many parents don’t want to admit or even think about. Glad to see that VUSD isn’t taking a puritanical view and actually reaching out to these kids to address and help them in this issue.

— I Was Young Once on Prom night condom giveaway

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— Saul Travers on Local media ignored Visalia Unified failures

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read a book in whole or in part in the past year, whether in print, electronic or audio form.”

For the remaining approximately 76% I want to recommend reading, “Blood in the Water, How the US and Israel Conspired to Ambush the USS Liberty” by Joan Mellen. It is available on Amazon.

Chapter 1 begins with a quote from John Hadden, CIA chief of station, Tel Aviv, June 1967, “Working for the CIA was not for anybody with a weak stomach—because you had to do things that were against all moral precepts and against the law.”

Ernest A. Gallo, President, USS Liberty Veterans Association, states in the Forward, “If we do not learn from what her book provides us, our future is in jeopardy.”

June 8, 2019, was the 52nd anniversary of the attack.

Did anyone, anywhere, see or hear anything about this event? Why not?

Was that a mistake?

The most important part of the event, and the hardest part to believe, is the role of the USA in the attack on the USS Liberty and in the Six Day War. There is an old saying, “Not learning from history means having to repeat that class”.

Freedom, anywhere, depends upon rule by law: Law that respects the equal rights of all, minorities included: not arbitrary law or deception.

That is a dictatorship. (Recommended reading: “Ominous Parallels,” by Lenard Peikoff who taught philosophy at Hunter College, Long Island University, and New York University and host of the national radio talk show “Philosophy: Who Needs It.” According to the cover page it is, “A brilliant study of America today-and the “ominous parallels” with the chaos of pre-Hitler Germany.” First printed in 1982.

Alan Greenspan called the book, “Extraordinarily perceptive…frightening insights…Everyone concerned with

”

I just can’t believe the ineptitude of all of this. If there is validity to this claim there are many recourses, the least of which should be making the comment in public session. Labor board would be a start if there are missed wages.

More alarming is a board member with no HR experience performing an unauthorized investigation. If this were to lead to further litigation how do you justify the actions of a board member digging around in a personnel matter and making it public.

Was County Consel even consulted, these boards seem like such a liability to the County.

— SMH! on Former Tulare Cemetery Employee Questions

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SMH Not that it matter but I have 30 years of HR experience, so before you make an incorrect and uninformed statement you should know what you are talking about .

Also it is perfectly within my duty to ask the office manager to research our records and for me to ask others involved at the time as what had happened. In other words I’m certainly authorized to look into this . Mr Ramos asked me too and like Catherine told you I did not make anything pubic . To answer your question . Yes country council was part of all this .

— Xavier Avila on Former Tulare Cemetery Employee

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Valley Voice 20 June, 2019

15

VOICES & OPINIONS

World Livestock Auctioneer Championship draws crowd in Tulare were judged as they sold dairy cattle to bidders and it was a full house with additional areas in tents and live online viewing.

The 2019 World Livestock Auctioneer Championship winner is Russele Sleep from Bedford, Iowa. The 56th WLAC took place in conjunction with the Livestock Marketing Association (LMA) Convention. Tulare Sales Yard hosted a BBQ to celebrate their Anniversary on Thursday night at the Fairgrounds. I spoke with several contestants whom enjoyed being in the area, but shocked by the gas prices.

A huge Thank You goes out to Tulare Sales Yard, the Macedo family, and all involved in bringing this once in a lifetime event to Tulare.

You have an opportunity to watch a one hour special with a recap of the competition to air on June 24 on RFDTV at 5P.M. PST at http//www.rfdtv.com.

MARY SEPEDA It was exciting to see a huge crowd in attendance Saturday, June 8, to watch the 2019 World Livestock Auctioneer Championship (WLAC) held in Tulare. Tulare Sales Yard hosted this year’s event which coincided with celebrating their 80th Anniversary.

Owner and former Tulare Mayor David Macedo was a past WLAC Winner in 2006. I was proud to see the City of Tulare represented positively to a World Audience.

Qualifiers came from across the United States and Canada. Contestants went through previous qualifying rounds across the country. Thirty one semi-finalists dwindled to a final group of ten. Finalists were chosen from an interview competition on industry knowledge and the live auctioneering portion. The ten finalists

Of carrots and coathangers STEVE PENDLETON Based on some recent laws passed by various state legislatures, I’d say a very serious flaw has opened in our political system. Frankly, you have to wonder in what century some Americans are living. This is not the fourteenth century, although the so-called lawmakers in Alabama, Ohio and many other states are passing laws that are straight out of the days of drawing and quartering.

Now certainly no one today wants to carve people up as punishment.

But the thought of the mental torture of forcing a woman to bear, and then nurture, a child forced on her by rape or incest, is simpply disgusting.

Not to mention the invasion of a woman’s right to privacy in what she does with her body. That these laws are passed by a bunch of old white males who undoubtedly have a lot of money, should give pause to you.

I certainly understand that there are many divergent views on abortion, and why few politicians even want to discuss it. But you would think by now that our so-called lawmakers would learn one vital truth. You cannot legislate moral issues. Punative laws simply dont work. You can put women who undergo abortions in jail. You can put abortion providers in jail. Do that, and you wont stop abortion. You will simply drive it underground, and the coathanger industry will bloom. You will get what we had before Roe vs.

Wade-an epidemic of horrifying alley abortions.

Is this going to be a battle like Israel vs. Palestine-i.e. a conundrum like the Gordian knot? I hope not-and with that in mind, here are some suggestions for laws that both sides could support (or maybe not). You can minimize abortions by attacking it from two sides-the beginning and the re-

sult. We need to remind legislators that immaculate conceptions only exist in the Bible. In other words, it takes two to tango.

So, my first recommendation is--condoms! Large ones. Small ones. Colored ones. Ones with ribs. Ones with feathers. Ones with rings. But most importantly, free ones. Even more important, they must be available. Alabama should require all motel rooms have free dispensers. All cars sold in Alabama (and maybe every other state) should have a dispenser attached to the dashboard.

Now, of course you can’t make a law requiring condoms be used. You can pass a law requiring that any male not using one has to pay child support for the result. After all, it takes two.

OK, here’s another possible law-I dont like it but it sure could be effective.

Are you a Crimson Tide fan? Imag-

ine this scene. A hundred thousand Alabamians are screaming for their team. A hundred thousand pairs of eyes are trained on the entrance tunnel. Out prance the pride of ‘Bama, the cheerleaders-Ohmygod! They’ve got iron knickers on! Yup, chastity belts!

Maybe they should invent ones for the boys as well.

Well, maybe these are just pipe dreams. But, I’d like to know why all those folks who support right to life, never seem to want to support programs for the kids who get born into poverty or neglect. So lets remedy that by mandating all newborns of unwed mothers get a check for $50,000 from the state deposited to their checking account. When they turn 18 the state agrees to pay for their complete college education. If the state requires that a person be born, doesn’t that mean the state must take on the responsibility of caring for them?

Your comments from ourvalleyvoice.com

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85-year-old Ms. Martin had lived in this apartment complex for 14 years.

When did management actually start receiving complaints about her behaviors … before or after her stroke and heart attack or all along throughout her 14 years as a residence?

There are 54 units in the Windgate Village Apartments and yet only two renters who each has lived in the complex for approximately two years or so elected to speak out. That is a mere two voices out of how many others living at the complex? How many others actually living in the complex refused to either validate or contradict Ms. Martin’s accusations?

Where there others to either validate or contradict Jessica and Samantha’s accounts of Ms. Martin? What are the average ages of the renters in this complex?

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The Tulare cemetery owners and staff are so unprofessional. There was an incident that occurred with my father in law being buried exactly where my mom was at and his headstone was on someone else’s burial spot. When I went to take action the office staff, owner gave me the run around and never returned my call s it wasn’t til I showed up and made my concerns address. I definitely will be reporting this to The Cemetery and Funeral Bureau.

— Sabrina on Former Tulare Cemetery Employee Questions

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— Catherine Doe on Political Fix (20 June, 2019)

This complex was built in 2004 with Ms. Martin moving in sometime around 2005 at the age of 71 or so. She must have thought of this complex as her forever home. Kind of sad, it sucks growing old for some.

— Curious on Political Fix (20 June, 2019)

There were many other residents that complained to management about Ms Martin but the management is not allowed to give out their names. This is not a case of “a mere two voices.” There is also evidence that dementia played a factor in Ms. Martin’s behavior and her children should have visited more often to take care of their mother. This is squarely the fault of Pacific Justice Institute and her children who should have done the Christian thing and taken better care of this elderly woman and protected her, instead of making money off of her unfortunate situation.

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Whatever you do, refuse to send long-time spendmonkeys Devin Nunes, Kevin McCarthy, and Jim Costa back to Congress. While part of the Republican majority (yes, I know Costa is nominally a Democrat), they supported Obama’s deficit increases in fiscal years 2016 and 2017, and Trump’s massive deficit increases in fiscal years 2018 and 2019. Deficit had been reduced to under $500 billion, but now is greater than $1000 billion.

— Saul Travers on Political Fix (6 June, 2019)

Apparently this man’s medical conditions were part of the public record. Did he, at any time request “reasonable accommodation” and if so was this addressed by both parties? Tulare County is notoriously lacking in its ADA compliance.

— Dave M on Former Tulare Cemetery Employee Questions

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16

Valley Voice

20 June, 2019

Kaweah Delta graduates resident physicians STAFF REPORTS There are more doctors taking care of people living in Tulare County thanks to Kaweah Delta’s residency program and on Thursday, June 13, that number grew as the program graduated its fourth class of physicians.

Thirty physicians graduated during Kaweah Delta’s commencement ceremony in Visalia. The graduates included Dries Van Dyk, D.O. and Christopher Schaefer, D.O., two of Kaweah Delta’s Emergency Medicine Residency Program’s 10 graduates, who will stay in the community to practice emergency medicine and become the first physicians in the first simulation fellowship in the Central Valley.

The one-year simulation fellowship will offer physicians the opportunity to establish skills that will help them develop and manage healthcare simulation-based programs in the future.

“Simulation is an integral part in educating physicians and it takes special training after residency to become an effective simulation educator,” said Dr. Kimberly Sokol, Director of Simulation at Kaweah Delta.

“Now that our residency programs are developing excellent physicians, we are excited to develop a simulation fellowship to create experts in the field of simulation. The fact that it’s the first of its kind in the Valley makes it even more special.”

In addition to Dr. Van Dyk and Dr. Schaefer, a number of other grad-

uates are staying to practice in the Central Valley. They include: • Dr. Ahmer Khalid, Family Medicine • Dr. Vanesa Avila, Family Medicine • Dr. Patrick McLaughlin, Psychiatry • Dr. David Fujihara, Emergency Medicine • Dr. Brian Tanner, Emergency Medicine • Dr. Dallas Beaird, Emergency Medicine Other residents that graduated include: Emergency Medicine: Drs. Christopher Goodwill, Michael Johnson, Norlan Maltez, Elizabeth Nguyen, Caroline Schrodt, Brian Tanner. Family Medicine: Drs. Mary Heady, Geoffrey Lange, Naila Mubashar, Suleiman Saroia.

Psychiatry: Dr. Latika Philips.

Transitional Year: Drs. Jason Andrade, Suzana Bosanac, Danielle Farrar, Barry Golestany, Cameron Henry, Zane Khademi, Ian Macdonald, Joel McLouth, Ana Mitchell, Nathaniel Moriarty, Jonathan Shader, and Anderson Webb.

In an area such as the Central Valley, residency programs are important solutions to solving the shortage of physicians.

“These programs are important to the community when you think about the fact that we are in a physician shortage area,” said Dr. Lori Winston, Designated Institutional Official for Kaweah Delta graduate

medical education. “We pour our hearts and soul into these programs and at the end of the day, we’re making really smart doctors who care for patients and are making Kaweah Delta better.”

In its first four years, 36 percent of the residency program’s graduates have chosen to stay in the community to practice medicine (excluding transitional year residents, who after one year of residency move out of the area for specialized training in fields such as radiology, ophthalmology, etc.).

Dr. Van Dyk, who grew up in Visalia and graduated from Golden West High School, first came back to Kaweah Delta as a scribe. Later, he became a medical student, matched into the residency program and is now an attending physician. “It has been a great experience. I would not have chosen anywhere else. This is the community where I was born and raised. It is nice to be able to give back,” he said. “I’m glad I’m able to do that.”

Dr. Schaefer is from Southern California, but the choice to stay in the Central Valley was easy.

“I didn’t feel a great connection to my hometown and I liked that everyone was friendly toward each other, so I sort of got adopted by the Valley,” said Dr. Schaefer who referred to his training as “world class,” and is looking forward to the simulation fellowship, which begins on July 1.

“Simulation is a very new field and it’s a powerful way to train people in

the safest and most life-like way.”

During the ceremony Nathaniel Moriarty, M.D. received the “Frank and Teresa Kleist Award,” which is given to a graduating resident physician who best exemplifies humanitarian compassion in the care of patients. Dr. Moriarty was selected out of the graduating residents across all specialties by Program Directors to receive the award.

The award was donated by Dr. Frank Kleist, a retired member of Kaweah Delta’s Medical Staff and Faculty Emeritus of Kaweah Delta’s Psychiatry Residency Program, and his wife.

During their programs, residents have taken care of community members throughout the hospital, while family medicine residents additionally care for patients at Kaweah Delta Family Medicine Center, 202 W. Willow Ave. (fifth floor) and psychiatry residents care for patients at Kaweah Delta Mental Health Hospital and at Kaweah Delta health clinics in Exeter and Lindsay.

Kaweah Delta’s Graduate Medical Education Program began in 2013, and now offers residency programs in emergency medicine, family medicine, psychiatry, surgery, anesthesia, and transitional year.

On Monday, June 24, Kaweah Delta’s six programs will support the training of ­­­­ 120 total resident physicians for the upcoming academic year, among them the next class of 46 residents physicians as they begin their two-week orientation.

n e al M

Re July 13, 2019

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