Valley Voice Issue 69 (19 May, 2016)

telecommunication facility. This wireless facility will be designed in a way to complement the park by disguising the tower as a pine tree, which will be fenced for safety purposes.

The majority of the property is not located in a flood plain; however the portion where the wireless tower will be placed will be located in Flood Zone A (Flood Insurance Rate Map 06031C0185C, June 16, 2009).

A Weekend Away ...find it in Valley Scene General Plan Designation and Zoning

The General Plan designates the property as Public Facility. The property is zoned “PF” Public Facility. The applicant's proposal to construct a 78-foot Verizon wireless telecommunication tower facility is consistent with both the General Plan and Zoning Ordinance, with the approval of a conditional use permit.

Figure 1 Land Use

Volume XXXVI No. 10 • 19 May, 2016

www.ourvalleyvoice.com

Visalia City Council Reviews Plan for Possible Sales Tax Increase Catherine Doe At the May 16 Visalia City Council meeting, members reviewed options on how to spend the revenue from a possible sales tax measure. The city council has until late July to make up its mind whether or not to put the sales tax measure on the November ballot. Because of a loss of revenue and state take-aways, the city council members are leaning towards putting the tax measure on the ballot to close the city’s budget gap.

Eric Frost, Deputy City Manager, said that the two main concerns of voters are accountability and identifiability. In a professional survey of Visalia residents, voters said that it was important that the city do with the tax dollars what it says it will do. Accountability measures such as a spending plan, an oversight committee, and audits would be necessary for

the measure to pass.

Visalia residents consistently have expressed their desire that any extra revenue go toward the big three: streets, fire and the police, said Frost. The city council will also be consider giving 5% of the tax revenues to maintain the city’s parks and trail system.

In a presentation by Police Chief Jason Salazar he said that there is a clear need for increased revenue.

In 2008 the city had 140 police officers. Even though the population has increased and the challenges are greater, the city still has the same number of sworn officers. Salazar said that the calls concerning the homeless have increased from 200 a year to 3600. Calls for 911 have increased to 14,000 a year and response times have increased from 5.6 minutes to seven minutes to arrive at

VISALIA TAX continued on 5 »

Lindsay Considers Self-Sustaining Options; Answers Grand Jury Report Nancy Vigran The Lindsay City Council and city staff are continuing to seek opportunities and ways for its agencies to re-coop monies spent providing services for its constituents. The city has been running in the red and will continue to do so into the unforeseeable future, if it cannot turn some things around.

One small measure the council is considering is to charge for arbor rentals in its Centennial Park. It is not unusual.

Other local cities including Porterville and Exeter charge park and facility rentals for various locations.

“We looking for a way to try and reduce the overhead and maintenance only,” said Mike Camarena, city services director.

Until now arbor use has been on a first-come-first-serve basis. And, generally, “people do a pretty good job of cleaning up,” Camarena said. But, there is still some amount of clean-up involved.

To date, the council has had one study session on the issue with another planned for May 24.

The city is looking to charge a rental fee based on the size of each of its 11

LINDSAY continued on 10 »

Proposed Wireless Communication Tower

The map above shows where the proposed Verizon Hanford tower would have been located. Photo/Courtesy/City of Hanford

Hanford City Council Denies Use Permit for Verizon Tower At the May 17 Hanford City Council meeting the vote was three to two to deny Verizon Wireless its Conditional Use Permit (CUP) to build a wireless tower in a corner of Hidden Valley Park. Council members Russ Curry, David Ayers and Francisco Ramirez voted against granting the CUP and Mayor Justin Mendes and Garry Pannett voted in favor.

At issue was Verizon’s desire to build a 78-foot tower on a 484 square-foot piece of property. The tower would be disguised as a pine tree and sit in the south west corner of the park close to 11th avenue and Cortner Street, close to a residential area. The tower would sit on nine cell blocks of cement with an 10-foot tall chain-link fence topped with barbed wire.

Jack and Suzanne Willis, and Jean and Jim Leonard, all of whom live on Laura Lane next to the park and in close proximity to the proposed tower, appealed the April 12 Hanford Planning Commission’s decision to approve the structure.

During the city council’s public hearing it was standing-room-only. Of

Catherine Doe the eight speakers, all of the Hanford residents were against the tower and the two Verizon employees spoke in favor.

Jack Willis spoke on behalf of the four residents who filed the appeal. Dissent broke out when Mayor Mendes cut Willis off after five minutes, saying that a public hearing is no different than public comment. After attendees started giving Willis their five minutes to speak, the city clerk advised the mayor that Willis indeed did have 15 minutes to present his case.

Willis appealed the planning commission’s decision based on the fact that the tower should not be exempt from a CEQA review. He also said that the tower did not qualify as an infill development as Hanford staff claimed because it was not unused or underutilized land. The tower also was not consistent with Hanford’s general plan, said Willis. Lastly, to approve the tower the land would have to be surrounded

VERIZON HANFORD continued on 11 »

Local Political PAC Comes Out Against Mathis Catherine Doe Tensions are rising in the Tulare County Republican Party over Assemblyman Devon Mathis’ yes vote on the Managed Care Organization (MCO) Tax. Mathis says it is not a tax, and that his vote allowed the state to receive one billion in federal funding. Many Tulare County Republicans say that it was a tax and that health care insurance premiums will go up as a result.

Because of Mathis’ vote, and other alleged problems with his first term in office, Common Sense Information PAC (CSI) is launching a radio and newspaper ad campaign to educate the public about Mathis’ vote. CSI is also targeting Bakersfield Assemblyman Rudy Salas for not taking a stand against the $15 minimum wage increase.

Founded by businessman Tal Cloud

Southern Inyo Hospital, now managed by HCCA, is slated to receive $1.3 million from the Managed Care Organization tax. Photo/Courtesy/CAReHIN

six years ago, CSI has advocated or campaigned against certain candidates running for office or political issues. CSI debuted in 2010 when the PAC ran radio ads attacking then-state Sen. Jeff Denham, who was making his first congressional run. Denham ended up winning the election.

Cloud said, “Assembly Member Devon Mathis Republican, from Visalia, has been a failure in his first term

protecting conservative values that he claimed to represent when he asked for our vote two years ago. Assemblyman Mathis voted to raise taxes and give the Democrats in Sacramento another weak Republican member to take advantage of, and we cannot have that given how close we are to a Super Minority in Sacramento.”

Assemblyman Jim Patterson, Assemblywoman Shannon Grove, and State

Senators Jean Fuller and Andy Vidak all voted no on the MCO tax bill.

The issue at hand is Assemblyman Mathis’ vote on February 29 in favor of the Managed Care Organization tax. Ten other Republicans in the assembly, and two in the state senate, voted in favor of the tax along with Mathis. The California Disability Services Association, California Hospital Association, Kaweah Delta Health Care District among many others also supported the bill.

According to a recent Foothills Sun Gazette article, Mathis said, “The MCO tax reform package is good fiscal policy for California and directly helps some of our state’s most vulnerable Medi-Cal and developmentally disabled patients.

This bill package creates a net $100 million tax savings, and will allow more than $1 billion of Californians’ federal

MCO TAX continued on 10 »

Packet P

2 • Valley Voice

19 May, 2016 From the Publisher’s desk

If This Isn’t Corruption, It’ll Suffice Until a Better Definition Arrives

Dear Joe-Of course I got your letter of February 18. Anne and the Mongol Horde, as you call them, all say hello. Love to Catherine and the Tribe. Paris is nice this time of year--you all should come visit.

Sounds like you poked quite a hornets’ nest with that story of yours about the sitting state assemblyman on 100% disability. Nowadays people fall all over themselves to show they “support our troops,” and that of course includes veterans. Not like when we were kids. That said, I had no idea the VA approved of such a thing as this sustained disability. You would think it implied in its title that disability prevented one from working, and it would follow that this fellow’s 100% disability rating can’t quite be right. Maybe it is. I don’t know.

But that’s neither here or there. We’ve had this discussion before, about how shabbily returning servicemen were treated when we were kids during Viet Nam, and we have agreed how those of them who were wounded deserved, if they needed it, a lifetime compensation. So I think maybe you’re hung up on semantics here. If what veterans were receiving was called compensation instead of disability, I’d bet you a ten spot you wouldn’t bat an eye.

Just a little bit, maybe, you’ve swiftboated this guy.

Because I think you’ve missed the point. Let’s accept at face value that the assemblyman’s disability is 100%. Let’s say he earned it and it’s well deserved.

Let’s say he’s a hero and it reflects decently on our country that we’re doing well by him. Let’s even congratulate the assemblyman for his seat and commend him for being productive in society. I’m sure this is how the VA would paint it. It’s perfectly legitimate.

The question you should be asking is not where the assemblyman gets his compensation, but from whom he gets donations and what he does in return for the money.

After reading your coverage I’ve done some research on my own. I’m guessing this is exactly what you’d ask of your readers.

By far the worst thing, to my mind, is the hospital flap going on down there.

We’re talking a huge bond, and it beggars belief that construction has yet to be completed. What has it been--ten or twelve years? Your assemblyman should have been aware of this long before taking office. It should have been a top priority of his to help put this right, right from the time he got to Sacramento. Right?

My understanding is that, as a sitting assemblyman, he has the authority to ask the Joint Legislative Audit Committee to investigate.

From the JLAC: The Joint Legislative Audit Committee is statutorily charged with ascertaining facts, and making reports and recommendations to the Legislature concerning the State, its agencies, departments and political subdivisions of the State. Independently and through the State Auditor, the JLAC investigates, studies, analyzes and assesses the financial practices and the performance of existing governmental and/or publicly created entities in California - in order to assist those entities in fulfilling the purpose for which they were created by the Legislature. In carrying out these duties, the JLAC reviews requests for audits from any of the 120 members of the Legislature, approves those requests that are a good use of the resources of the State Auditor and will provide important and relevant information to the Legislature and the people of California, and establishes priorities among the requests received and approved for audit.

But we both know he didn’t make any request for an audit because the new manager of the hospital is a major donor. His biggest donor. It’s right there on the assemblyman’s Form 460.

And he’s quoted as saying he owes this doctor a favor!

What puts this well beyond the pale, as you know, is that the assemblyman was asked for an audit request by a member of the hospital’s Bond Oversight Committee--and the assemblyman refused! So the committee member has now reached out to two other state assemblymen, both Democrats, for help. Outrageous! That can’t have gone down well in such a Republican county--to say nothing of how it makes your county look to other assemblymen.

If this isn’t corruption, it’ll suffice until a better definition arrives.

Well, Joe--I wish you luck. I guess all you can do is report on this assemblyman and hope it provokes some thought in your readers.

You’ll have an answer sometime later this year, after the elections.

--Max

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19 May, 2016

Valley Voice • 3

Political Fix Happy World Press Freedom Day!

I bet you didn’t know that May 3 was World Press Freedom Day. The Secretary General of the United Nations had this to say, “On this World Press Freedom Day, I urge all Governments, politicians, businesses and citizens to commit to nurturing and protecting an independent, free media. Without this fundamental right, people are less free and less empowered.”

A week later, Bruce Greene, from the Los Angeles law firm of Baker Hostetler LLP, sent the Valley Voice a nine-page letter demanding a “full retraction” of our last article “Deal Gives HCCA right to Buy Tulare Regional Medical Center.”

This windy epistle, however, was an improvement over Mr. Greene’s first correspondence with the Valley Voice, where he threatened to sue the paper on behalf of Healthcare Conglomerates Association (HCCA).

Mr. Greene represents the Tulare Local Health Care District that is being run by HCCA; and at $500 an hour he has cost the Tulare taxpayers at least $7,500 to threaten and harass a small local newspaper.

HCCA was founded in 2013 by Dr. Benny Benzeevi and his brother Iddo Benzeevi. It is a private company that runs a public hospital which is also considered a government agency.

Our relationship with Mr. Greene started on March 17. He threatened that if the Valley Voice did not do a full

Catherine Doe

online and in print retraction of our first article concerning Tulare Regional Medical Center and the fired staff, the paper would “proceed at our own risk and the damages would be measured by the hour.”

Facing the prospects of a lawsuit from a powerful nation-wide law firm, we actually stopped distribution of our paper that morning and took the article off of our website.

While we were considering our options, one of which was throwing the March 17 issue away and reprinting it without the Tulare Hospital story, our lawyer, John Sarsfield, from Melo and Sarsfield, called. He said that the Tulare hospital article was not defamatory, all quotes were sourced, and that we printed what we believed to be true. Mr. Sarsfield was angry and said, “this is all about free speech. How dare a government agency try to shut us up?”

Mr. Sarsfield said at some point you have to get a backbone and take a stand.

So we took a stand, put the article back on-line, and distributed the paper the next day. From that day forward, no matter how big or how powerful, no one is ever going to shut us up again.

After the crisis passed, I googled this big powerful lawyer who seemed too comfortable trampling on Tulare’s first amendment rights. What I discovered was that Mr. Greene is no average corporate lawyer--he is a real estate lawyer, and unfortunately, that made a lot of sense.

Mr. Greene’s website states, “A traditional real estate lawyer with more than

38 years of experience, Bruce Greene focuses his national practice on representing clients in a broad range of real estate matters.” Mr. Greene was Iddo Benzeevi’s real estate lawyer for his failed housing development, Rancho Belago, and represented Iddo’s in his controversial acquisition of large tracks of land for the development of mega-warehouses in Moreno Valley.

Mr. Greene’s specialty seems to fit hand in glove with the goals of HCCA. HCCA’s website states, “We meet the future of healthcare delivery today by partnering with health systems, hospitals, and health care districts – either through direct purchase, capital infusion, creative mutually beneficial partnerships, and/or other means.”

Notice the first option is “direct purchase.”

In the contract between the Tulare Local Health Care District and HCCA, signed by the board on May 29 2014, it states, “the District hereby grants to HCCA the irrevocable and exclusive right and option (the Option) to purchase or lease the Hospital, the Clinics and Other Facilities and the Other District Assets…” HCCA also has the Right of First Refusal.

Now if only the Valley Voice would shut up, HCCA could make their acquisitions a little more quietly.

Can Tulare County be Bought Also?

It might come as a surprise to some

people that Tulare County Board of Supervisors candidate for District 3, Amy Shuklian, accepted $15,000 in donations from Healthcare Conglomerates Associates (HCCA). To put this amount in perspective, it is the largest donation she has received, and she is a very successful fundraiser. It also is more money than any other candidate running for Tulare County Supervisor District 1 has raised in total, except Kuyler Crocker.

Dr. Benzeevi and Ms. Shuklian met in January of this year, and his company, HCCA, gave Ms. Shuklian $10,000 at that time. HCCA gave an additional $5000 in late March.

Before the anti-HCCA faction takes aim Ms. Shuklian, it should be pointed out that she accepted the first donation when most people had never heard of HCCA. The second donation came right when the HCCA/Tulare hospital story was breaking.

In addition, Dr. Benzeevi happens to be very well liked and admired. He is seen by his peers as having only the best interests of the hospital at heart and as a compassionate, caring man with the patients and staff. He is also credited as saving Tulare’s hospital from bankruptcy.

But Tulare County Supervisor Phil Cox was not impressed.

“I would not accept donations from HCCA. My vote is not for sale.”

“I was surprised to see that $15,000 was given to my opponent,” said Mr. Cox. “They clearly want to control who

POLITICAL FIX continued on 4 »

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4 • Valley Voice

19 May, 2016

Tulare, Visalia Health District Boards To Hold Elections Catherine Doe With the increased publicity on Kaweah Delta’s Bond Measure H and Tulare Hospital’s Bond Measure I, more interest than usual is being generated around each hospitals’ governing boards.

Kaweah Delta will have three seats up for election and Tulare Local Health Care District (TLHCD) will have two.

For those interested in running for either board the filing period is July 18th to August 12th.

District 2 and District 4 for the TLHCD Board will be up for re-election. Sherri Bell, President of the Tulare Regional Medical Center Board of Directors, represents District 4 and Laura Gadke represents District 2.

District two, Gadke’s seat, is in the heart of Tulare. Gadke hasn’t decided whether or not she will run for reelection as she is focused on getting Measure I passed. Measure I is Tulare Hospital’s bond measure to pay for finishing the tower. Gadke said that years ago there was dissention among the board members but that during the last four years “the board has worked unanimously and put their heads together to face down their economic crisis. It has been a pleasure working with them.”

TLHCD’s District four, Bell’s seat, surrounds Tulare on the south, west and north sides of town. Bell has not indicated whether she will be running again.

To find out if you live in either of these districts go to the Tulare County Registrar of Voters web page. Go to the bottom of the page and click on “your districts.” Put in your city and street address and a directory of all the districts in which you live will pop up to the right.

To be eligible to serve in any of the districts you only have to have lived in the district 30 days before the November election.

For the Kaweah Delta Health Care District three districts up for re-election

Political Fix Continued from p. 3

is on the board of supervisors.” Mr. Cox considers HCCA a power-hungry corporation that is going to try and touch all elected officials in Tulare County and control all areas of the county’s government.

Mr. Cox said that he especially would not accept a donation now from HCCA after Dr. Benzeevi put $38,000 into defeating Measure H, a bond that would have rebuilt an old wing of Kaweah Delta Hospital and built a new ER. Kaweah Delta is in the heart of District 3.

Amy’s vote is not for sale either. But that doesn’t mean that HCCA isn’t going to try and buy it.

So far, Mr. Cox’ speculation that the Benzeevi brothers are maneuvering to control all areas of the county’s government is slowly coming true. In the 2014 election Dr. Benzeevi gave $10,000 to Tim Ward and nothing to Ralph Kaelbe; HCCA gave $5000 to Tulare County Sheriff Mike Boudreaux but did not donate to his opponent, Dave Whaley.

For the 2016 Assembly District 26 election HCCA has donated to Assemblyman Devon Mathis and not to Rudy Mendoza. And now HCCA has given money to Amy Shuklian and not to Phil

The map above shows the five Tulare Hospital District zones. Courtesy/Tulare County Registrar of Voters

are, Districts one, three, and five. Herbert Hawkins is the representative for district one, John Hipskind, District 3, and Maria Ramos, District 5. All three plan on running again.

District one comprises North Visalia and part of the East. District Three is the southwestern corner of Visalia and District five is an irregularly shaped sliver that passes through the middle of Visalia. If you want to know if you live in a district that is up for re election visit the registrar of voters’ website.

Tulare Local Health Care District is mailing out ballots in August for Measure I. The measure is a $55 million

dollar bond to fund finishing the tower.

Ballots can be mailed back to the Tulare County Registrars of Voters between August 1st and August 30th. Residents who live in the hospital district can also vote in person at the registrar’s office located in the Government Plaza across from Mooney Grove Park. The measure needs two thirds votes to pass.

Kaweah Delta just finished their mail-in ballot process for Measure H in May that ended up failing. The final vote was 43% in favor and 57% against.

The TLHCD Board, and the Kaweah Delta Health Care District Board, meet once a month and serve a four year term.

Among many other duties, the boards ensure that the hospital districts are in compliance with the states health care laws and approve capital expenditures for the benfit of the district and all of the facilities owned by the district. The board is responsible for the quality of care and services provided in each hospital district. According to the Kaweah Delta website the board, “also establishes policy, promotes performance improvement, and provides for organizational management and planning.”

The general elections will be November 7th.

Cox. I predict HCCA will be anxious to be a kingmaker in the Tulare County Supervisor District 1 race soon after the field is whittled down to two after the June Primary. The question is who?

HCCA is not only interested in dominating the political arena but the press. While HCCA pours money into the Visalia Times-Delta, their lawyer threatened to shut down the Valley Voice.

With a multimillion dollar corporation trying to dominate the press and local politicians in one of the poorest and uneducated counties in the state, what could possibly go wrong?

he hated her power. Then she got pregnant, and the larger she grew, the more venomous Kevin’s comments toward her became.

Looking back on how he spoke about, and treated women, I can’t believe that I was so naïve. He would regale me on how I wasn’t talented enough to write grants, would never be a manager, and how I couldn’t work a computer. Funny, after I finally left that company I excelled in everything he said I wouldn’t.

Women don’t see misogyny any better than men do.

He criticized and ragged on the founder of the company, Barbara. She had no idea how much he hated her.

When he was being his most disagreeable or pissy she would just say, “Oh, that’s Kevin being Kevin.”

I endured two miserable pregnancies while working under that man. His criticisms came more fast and furious as my belly grew, until a few days before my due date I found myself bawling in the board of director’s chair.

The director tried to console me as he handed me a cup of Nescafe by saying, “Kevin is just being Kevin.”

After being witness to Donald Trump’s campaign I don’t feel so naïve or foolish. Watching Mr. Trump’s treatment of women brings back all my old feelings while I hear news announcers

and the public saying, “Oh that’s just Trump. He tells it like it is.”

Many people do not see Mr. Trump as a misogynist.

They look at the strong women around him and say, “See--he loves women.” But at the same time he is fixated on women’s appearances, stereotypes and their bodies.

Those exceptionally strong women also spend an exceptional amount of time at the plastic surgeons and in the bathroom each morning putting on their faces.

Fortunately, enough people do to make his misogyny a campaign issue.

“That’s just Trump being Trump” doesn’t wash when he labels women he doesn’t like as ‘fat pigs’, ‘dogs’, ‘slobs’, and ‘disgusting animals.”

What makes a story about misogyny so sweet? I googled Kevin at the beginning of Mr. Trump’s campaign and saw that he is still working for the same sad nonprofit in East Oakland while I have moved on. Sweeter still is that the most famous misogynist in the world is about to lose the highest office in the world to a woman.

I can hear him hissing now at Ms. Clinton, “Just look at that face.”

Yes, Mr. Trump, I see that beautiful face--sitting behind her desk in the Oval Office.

A Misogynist by any other Name is Trump

The whole secret behind being a misogynist is to hide the fact that you are misogynist. After working five years for the same company I didn’t realize that my boss, Kevin, was a misogynist until I was sitting with one of my girlfriends discussing work. I told her the story about how my boss took a picture of Frankenstein and superimposed Paula’s face, his superior, onto it. Then he would shove pushpins into the picture every time he disagreed with her.

Paula was the chair of a large foundation that granted large sums of money to nonprofits like the one Kevin ran, and

19 May, 2016

Valley Voice • 5

Team Tulare Takes to the Streets Nancy Vigran In 2015, Team Tulare was formed to reach out to local business owners in a big way, while helping the economy of Tulare grow. Today, the team is proactive; reaching out to business by walking the streets.

Tulare Chamber of Commerce CEO Ben Brubaker had spent time visiting with other chambers up and down the state, with the intent of learning their practices and outreach programs, he said.

“I started putting it together,” he said.

By putting it together, Brubaker, and staff, reached out to various entities aimed at helping local business, creating Team Tulare which now involves the chamber, Business Finance Center, Small Business Development Center, Tulare Downtown Association and the Workforce Investment Board of Tulare County. The group started meeting and developed a plan for Business Walks to occur each month.

Last month the team held its first walk, visiting 56 businesses in a three-bythree block radius, between J Street and L Street, and Cross Street to Tulare Avenue, to see what issues might be of concern in their locale.

“The purpose of the Business Walks is to increase awareness and improve communications between Team Tulare and its partners, including the City and business owners. Our goal is to identify needs, challenges and opportunities for local businesses and to provide services and resources when necessary,” according to the Team’s report given at a recent City Council meeting.

The first walk consisted of 10 team members from each of the team’s entities.

Divided into teams of two, each business representative was asked two key questions: • What challenges do you face doing business in downtown Tulare?

• How can we help your business succeed?

However, Team members listened to any concerns or issues business owners and managers wanted to share, Brubaker said.

In its report, business owners and managers expressed concerns centered on safety and the homeless community, as well as the transit center, destruction of property, and sanitation and trash.

A summary of input and requests included: • Businesses willingly provided input on issues surrounding overall unsafe feeling of customers, staff and owners “We are moving,” “Theft is rampant”.

• Other concerns included the transit center, property owners’ lack of care, communication with the city, and

dumpster issues.

• Businesses were appreciative of the visit and for information on the upcoming Business Safety Meeting.

More specifically some business owners expressed concerns of safety with regard to aggressive panhandlers. Some went so far as to say they have to keep their doors locked during the day. Others commented on the homeless community sleeping and using local outside areas, such as planters, for restrooms. These concerns all wrapped around being detrimental for business.

The Team arranged for a meeting to be held between concerned business owners and/or managers and the Tulare Police Department, including its chief, to address these matters. This meeting went beyond the TPD regular Business Watch meetings to help the TPD understand general and specific issues to the specific areas involved, and to help business owners understand TPD roles in assisting them.

Outside of the newly formed Team Tulare, it is and has been part of Julie Franco’s job as TPD community service officer to reach out to businesses and hold regular Business Watch meetings, she said.

For her regular Business Watch meetings, only businesses she has reached out to and been in contact with are invited, she said. However, any business owner is welcome to contact her regarding non-urgent matters.

State Farm agent Renee Soto was one of the 56 businesses visited on Team Tulare’s first walk.

“I support it,” she said. “If the chamber is hearing the voice of the business owner, that’s a very good thing.”

Soto also happens to sit on the chamber board and was planning to walk in the May Business Walk.

“I want to be a part of it,” she said.

“We are definitely seeing our struggles down here,” she added, referring to the downtown corridor.

But the Business Walk is not aimed just at downtown. The May walk is taking them to South K Street and future walks involve a variety of areas throughout town, Brubaker said.

Different walks will be centered on different topics, but business owners are welcome to bring up anything that concerns them and their business.

“There may be issues that no one was really aware of and that we can help solve,” Brubaker said.

“This [Team Tulare] is along the lines in keeping business and improving business already here,” he said.

Although potentially new business owners are also welcome to get involved.

Visalia Tax Continued from p. 1

the scene.

The suggested spending plan allocates 30% of the tax revenue to the police department. That would add up to $6 million more a year. Salazar’s plan for the revenue is to increase the police force by 82 to 87 sworn officers over 15 years.

Salazar said that the desired proportion of police to population is 1.9 per 1000 residents. By contrast, Visalia has 1.03 per 1000 and Fresno has 1.46. If the tax measure passes Visalia will have 1.33 per 1000 at the end of 15 years.

Salazar said that if the tax measure does not pass the police department will have to go back to basics. “We will have to change how we do business and reduce services.” Such services that would be eliminated would be responding to non-injury traffic accidents, vandalism, and reports of stolen property.

Adam Peck, executive director of the Tulare County Workforce Investment Board, gave a review of Visalia’s street maintenance needs. He pointed out that, because the revenue from the gas tax has decreased, there is less money available to maintain the roads. He said that Visalia has 427 miles of road and 2300 acres of pavement that have a rating of low to good. Maintaining streets that are in good condition costs about twenty cents a square foot, but if the road reaches a certain level of deterioration it costs four to five dollars a square foot to repair, Peck said.

Visalia’s roads cost $8.2 million a year to maintain, but the city only has $2.6 million a year to do it. That translates into roads reaching a level of deterioration where they basically need to be rebuilt, said Peck. He said at the current pace, it will cost Visalia $28 million a year to move its roads from poor to good condition if the city does not increase revenue.

Peck said that if the sales tax measure does not pass that “the city will have to take less money and cover more roads.”

That would mean that Visalia would only have enough money to repair the arterial and collector roads and ignore the rest. Over time that would lead to a full degradation of our roads he said.

Councilmember Greg Collins interjected after Peck’s presentation, stating “I’m just getting more depressed.”

Collins added that when Visalia constructs more roads the deeper our financial hole gets.

Good news came with the presentation about Visalia’s Fire Department.

Visalia Fire Chief Doug McBee reported that, right now, the fire department has a healthy budget and that it does not foresee requiring increased revenues in the near future. That will change, though, as the population increases he said.

Because the parks and trails add to the quality of life, it was suggested that 5% of the increased tax revenue be spent in that department.

Jeannie Greenwood, head of the Visalia Parks and Recreation, said that there are over 40 parks and an extensive trail system that would receive less maintenance if the tax measure did not pass.

Right now there is $10.3 million a year to maintain the trails and parks but the department needs $15.3 million.

What remains for the city council members to decide is where to prioritize the money. The current needs for the police, fire, roads and parks add up to $13.3 million, but the proposed sales tax increase will only be$ 10 million.

The next step is to conduct citizens’ outreach to educate Visalians about the sales tax ballot measure. Mayor Nelsen said the voters need to ask themselves, “is this a true need or a wish list?” He said the residents are going to see that this is a true need. The fact that 40% of the income from the tax increase will come from non-Visalia residents should also help in passing the measure.

The city council has until the end of July to make a final decision about putting the tax measure on the November ballot, and until August to solidify its spending plan and agree on the ballot measure language.

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6 • Valley Voice

19 May, 2016

Agriculture Asian Citrus Psyllids Continue Hitchhiking Entrance into the South Valley Nancy Vigran The small Asian Citrus Psyllid (ACP) remains of big concern to local citrus growers, as well as the California citrus industry.

First detected in California in the fall of 2008, the first psyllid was found in Southern California, believed to have hitchhiked its way up from Mexico.

Areas south of the San Joaquin Valley have had “full infestations in San Diego, Imperial, Riverside – essentially everything south of the Grapevine,” said Tulare County Ag Commissioner Marilyn Kinoshita.

“In San Bernardino County they have the yellow panel trap and they can find 500 psyllids on it, whereas we’re finding one [per trap],” she added.

But, the number of individual finds is increasing, with seven finds from the end of March through the end of April, within the county, which is bad news.

The good news is that they are not infestations and only a single, or a few psyllids were trapped. The even better news is that all finds remain negative for Huanglongbing (HLB) disease.

There are continued and growing concerns, said Bob Blakely, vice president of California Citrus Mutual.

“We have done [and are doing] everything we can to suppress more psyllids from coming up from Southern California,” he said. “But they keep popping up in residential areas.”

Psyllids negative for the disease can

still cause problems, especially when in full infestation mode for a tree or a group of trees, but diseased psyllids would create devastating effects to the citrus industry.

“There’s so many different ways that we can get ACP finds here – because we’re the Number One citrus county in the state, the majority of the packing sheds are here, and almost all the juice plants are here,” Kinoshita said. “We get fruit from Mexico, the desert – Arizona, it just all flows up here plus hitchhikers.

“Even if you had juice fruit that was washed and waxed and sent from a packing shed - the truck driver, they usually leave their windows open when their waiting,” she said, and a psyllid could fly in the window and fly out upon arrival to Tulare County.

People go to Disneyland and get in and out of their vehicles, she added.

“You’ve got tons of ways. The hedgers and toppers may not get all the leaf trash and they move around different parts of the state. The picking crews – there is so much training about them emptying out their bags on site before they move onto the next block, but even they move around where ever the jobs are, where ever their labor contractor gets them work.

“Then there’s the underground movement – fruit peddlers – they might have a list of growers who instead of moving that third picking through the packing shed and paying packing costs when the fruit is a little bit margin-

al – they’ll strip the grove off and with a flatbed of bins, they might take to a flea market. And some of the movement is down to the LA markets, so they are moving back and forth – they may live here but they’re going down there to sell and then they come home.”

There have been a couple of hot spots in the area in recent years.

A particular mandarin tree in Dinuba was found in 2013 where a couple hundred psyllids were collected and a lot more involved in this one tree, which was full of them, Kinoshita said.

In 2014, a lemon tree and a mandarin tree on one property had numerous adult and nymph psyllids found.

But these have been the only infestations found locally, she said.

More individual and recent incidents include the Sunkist-Ventura Coastal juice plant in Tipton, where individual psyllids were found on the six trees of the property. The trees were immediately treated and recently removed and destroyed, Kinoshita said.

All of Tulare County is in quarantine for ACP. When an individual is found, there is a phone-tree where growers call each other relevant to the find to indicate a particular area is in need of treatment – just in case.

“Pesticide application effective on psyllids needs to be done within a twoweek period [of the find], and in as short a time period as possible. Growers have to follow all pesticide regulations – we’re the monitor of that,” Kinoshita said.

“In city finds – that is a 400-meter circle [that needs to be treated] – the California Department of Food and Ag has spray crews that make contact with the homeowners and provide them information. There is also a public meeting,” she said.

Recently there were a multitude of finds all within the Tulare area – the subdivision just north of Paige and Highway 99 had a find, about one-quarter mile north of that had one, plus Bardsley, east of Laspina, and Prosperity, east of Mooney, she said.

All of these areas had a combined meeting two weeks ago, she said, and only six people attended.

“Our local residents understand agriculture here,” Kinoshita said. “We have very few problems, very few refusals unlike Santa Barbara County, or San Luis Obispo county where you have people with million dollar homes, and attorneys and aren’t afraid to use them. And, they have some misconceptions about pesticide applications, because those same type of people think that with organic produce there is not pesticides used, and that is far from the truth.”

The CDFA sprayers, are very professional, she said. They cover pet water dishes, koi ponds, fountains and sensitive plants and they’re only treating the citrus trees.

In 2015, two finds of HLB were found in Southern California – the first

PSYLLID continued on 8 »

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19 May, 2016

Valley Voice • 7

Agriculture Results of Drought-related Public Health Disaster Impact Survey Released Staff Reports The California Department of Public Health (CDPH) has released the results of the Community Assessment for Public Health Emergency Response (CASPER) survey 400 East Porterville and Cutler-Orosi households voluntarily completed.

The survey was a collaborative effort between local public health, CDPH, and numerous local partner agencies and organizations.

“The CASPER survey findings help our County understand how drought relief and public health services currently offered are benefiting community members and what additional services are needed under these emergency conditions,” said Dave Rozell, Tulare County Public Health Emergency Preparedness

manager. “Participating community members assisted the County by sharing public and mental health issues and new household practices being brought on by the drought, in addition to perceptions about the drought.”

Results include: About 95% of homes surveyed said they had taken steps to reduce their water usage due to the drought; the most common water reduction steps include taking shorter showers, reducing the frequency of doing laundry, and cutting back on lawn watering.

Approximately one-third of households surveyed said the drought was responsible for decreased income in the household.

Nearly half of the respondents in East Porterville, and a third of those

surveyed in Cutler-Orosi, indicated that the drought had negatively affected their peace of mind, and 15% of respondents in East Porterville reported increased agitation and trouble sleeping.

Of those households seeking drought assistance, the great majority sought help from government and non-profit organizations to obtain drinking water.

The CASPER survey tool was developed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and was conducted at the behest of the State Health Officer.

The survey used validated statistical methods to collect information about health and drew from a small portion of residents to reflect a more broad population.

The CASPER survey collected

household level information on services being accessed, any changes in physical or mental health due to drought conditions, and changes in household behaviors, such as conservation, due to the drought.

In this way, the State and County have ascertained drought disaster impact and critical needs outside of services that already offered to residents.

The CASPER report provides a number of recommendations to help mitigate the impact of the drought.

Many of the recommendations have already been put into place by Tulare County Health & Human Services Agency, partner agencies, and non-profits. Several recommendations are being implemented.

The full report is available at http:// bit.ly/1OqcI26.

Drought Brings New Attention to Recycled Water Kate Campbell, CFBF Agricultural demand for recycled water is increasing along with the ability to supply it. But water experts say competition for access to the resource is rising—and say they’re unsure what the growing demand may mean for prices.

State water officials plan a survey of recycled water use in coming months— the first since 2009, when they estimated use of recycled water at 700,000 acrefeet. Results from the new survey could come early next year.

The State Water Resources Control Board is calling for recycled water to contribute 1.5 million acre-feet to the overall water supply by 2020 and at least 2.5 million acre-feet by 2030. Observers say the 2020 goal may be difficult to achieve, but say they’re more optimistic about reaching the 2030 standard.

Given drought pressures on Califor-

nia water supplies, Jennifer West of WateReuse California said she expects the upcoming survey to show an increase in the amount of recycled water being used statewide since the previous survey.

In 2009, researchers found agriculture used nearly 40 percent of California’s recycled water supply, with landscape irrigation and groundwater recharge the next-most-popular uses.

West said the drought has increased the number of competing uses for recycled water and that negative public sentiment about its quality and use has diminished.

“Since the last survey, a lot has happened and there have been a lot of positive changes for water recycling,” she said. “Funding is available now through Proposition 1 (the water bond passed by California voters in 2014). There’s new technology and interest. I’m expecting the next survey will show a significant

bump in all uses of recycled water.”

Because of adherence to strict water quality regulations for using recycled water on food crops, this irrigation option has a long history of safety, she said.

Danny Merkley, director of water resources for the California Farm Bureau Federation, said Farm Bureau supports use of recycled water as a supplemental supply. He said institutions that furnish recycled water for irrigation should be responsible for assuring and maintaining proper quality for the intended crop uses.

“State and federal governments should do everything they can to increase supplies of freshwater, but recycled water can be an important part of our portfolio for addressing the California water crisis,” he said.

Merkley noted that CFBF favors overall expansion of the available water supply through increased storage—both aboveground and underground—plus

recycling, desalination and improvements in water use efficiency.

In an agreement approved last week, the city of Turlock joined the city of Modesto in a 40-year agreement to sell recycled water to the Del Puerto Water District, which provides irrigation water to about 45,000 agricultural acres on the west side of the San Joaquin Valley between Vernalis and Santa Nella.

The district relies on water delivered through the federal Central Valley Project, which cut deliveries to zero in 2014 and 2015, and to 5 percent this year.

The U.S. Bureau of Reclamation signed the record of decision last week for what is being called the North Valley Regional Recycled Water Program at the Del Puerto district office in Patterson, certifying the program’s federal environmental documents. Del Puerto will cover the estimated $100 million construction

WATER continued on 8 »

Farm Bureau Urges Continued Action on Drought Legislation Staff Reports

Today’s U.S. Senate subcommittee hearing on Western drought legislation should now lead to prompt markup of a bill for consideration by the full Senate, the California Farm Bureau Federation said.

CFBF urged the Senate to maintain momentum on Western drought legislation.

“As another dry summer looms be-

fore us, we need the Senate to finalize and pass drought legislation to complement the drought bill already passed by the House of Representatives,” CFBF President Paul Wenger said.

“Californians saw a vivid example of the need for action this past winter,” Wenger said. “Trillions of gallons of water generated by El Niño storms passed through our rivers and out to sea. At least some of that water should have been captured for future human use—and federal

drought legislation could help prevent such lost opportunities in future years.”

Wenger said having the Senate bill advance to markup quickly would assure Western residents that Congress will address longstanding issues.

“In an election year, people want their representatives to act on matters that affect their livelihoods and the environment around them,” he said.

“Drought has plagued California, and human action has made matters worse

by unnecessarily reducing water supplies.

It’s time for the Senate to send a drought bill to a conference committee, and for Congress to produce commonsense legislation that helps ease the impact of water shortages in California and the West.”

The California Farm Bureau Federation works to protect family farms and ranches on behalf of more than 53,000 members statewide and as part of a nationwide network of more than 6.2 million Farm Bureau members.

Opinion: Citrus Mutual Comes Out Against Argentine Lemon Imports California Citrus Mutual Today USDA and the Obama Administration defied logic by announcing the issuance of a proposed rule allowing lemons from Argentina into the United States.

This followed on the heels of proposed rules allowing Chilean lemons into the country under less stringent protocols to avoid invasive pest and diseases.

The Chilean rule followed a proposal to allow Australian oranges into the United States from a heretofore designated pest infested area.

The Argentine proposal defies logic by relying upon a pest and disease trip almost eight years ago, therefore lacking any knowledge of present day pest and disease reality. The proposal lacks logic because it came after a whirlwind trip by our President who wants to reward the Argentine government for doing nothing, other than getting elected.

It defies logic because the previous Administration in Argentina had denied and cancelled access for many agricultural products and now this Administration rewards that bad behavior without generating any support for domestic agriculture. It defies logic because in 2014

the Argentines exported almost $400m in agricultural products to the United States, whereas we exported a paltry $5m of comparable product to Argentina.

Today while the U.S. industry is fighting to stay vibrant against the ravages of an incurable disease, Huanglongbing, the Obama Administration wishes to bring more fruit from pest infested and diseased areas. What kind of logic is that?

Today the California citrus industry, the nation’s supplier of fresh citrus, has spent over $100m defending itself from Huanglongbing and this Administration seeks to undercut that effort with less ex-

pensive product from pest infested and diseased areas.

The California citrus industry is an industry dominated by the family farmer. The Argentine industry is dominated by a handful of producers that are truly supported by their government. It’s too bad the Obama Administration and USDA acquiesced to a request without a logical foundation. We have no choice but to fight for our survival.

Imported disease has ravaged the Florida industry. Government proposals could lead to the demise of California’s iconic citrus industry. The proposal will be released on Tuesday, May 10, 2016.

8 • Valley Voice

19 May, 2016

Agriculture Event Stresses Need for Agricultural Unity Christine Souza, CFBF Faced with a profusion of regulations and mandates, California farmers, ranchers and agricultural businesses more than ever need to unify to make their collective voice heard in Sacramento and Washington, D.C.: That was the message of a rally that attracted an estimated 800 agriculturalists to Modesto.

The Ag Unite event, held last week in the agricultural pavilion at Modesto Junior College, described challenges facing family farmers and ranchers and outlined the need to overcome regional and commodity differences to work together on issues of common concern.

Speaking to attendees at the event, California Farm Bureau Federation President Paul Wenger discussed issues affecting the state’s farmers, including drought and water-related issues, environmental regulations and the challenge of communicating the many benefits of agriculture to the food-purchasing public.

Ultimately, he said, “the state’s farmers and ranchers should be unified and speaking with one voice. We’ve got to do something that is going to make a difference.”

Wenger offered Farm Bureau membership and participation as a way to assure unified advocacy for California farmers and ranchers.

“We’ve got to unite. We’ve got to support our county Farm Bureaus and we’ve got to get politically active,” said Wenger, a walnut and almond farmer from Modesto. “When it comes to fighting back against the onslaught that we have before us today, we have to work together and that is why we have Ag Unite.”

Organized by county Farm Bureau leaders, Ag Unite focuses on enhancing agricultural advocacy by growing Farm Bureau membership; encouraging sup-

Psyllid

Continued from p. 6 was in a grafted lemon and pomelo tree in Hacienda Heights, and the second in a residential area of the San Gabriel Mountains on some clippings from a kumquat tree with subsequent finds in the neighborhood.

HLB-positive finds result in treatment and mandatory take down of the trees involved.

The bacterial HLB is fatal to citrus trees and would be fatal to the citrus industry if spread. Many California counties are under quarantine for the disease with continued proactive organization to prevent it.

“Imagine throwing a pebble into a pond,” Blakely said. “The pebble is the first psyllid with HLB. It ripples with more psyllids until it spreads all the way across the pond. That is what we’re afraid of.”

Signs of HLB include irregular, mottled yellowing of leaves, and lopsided, small and bitter fruit. There is no cure for trees that become infested. It is not harmful to humans or animals.

While all psyllid findings in the South Valley have tested negative, any of those hitchhikers could be positive, Kinoshita said.

port of FARM PAC®, the California Farm Bureau Fund to Protect the Family Farm; and promoting the Ag Unite Legal Action Fund. The Modesto event was cosponsored by the county Farm Bureaus in Merced, San Joaquin, Sacramento, Stanislaus and Tuolumne counties.

During the Ag Unite rally, Tom Hart, who is based in Ceres and specializes in chemical sales for the dairy business, said he had decided to join several county Farm Bureaus.

“One of my customers down south became president of the Tulare County Farm Bureau and he asked me to join.

He said, ‘You should actually join every Farm Bureau where you sell products,’” said Hart, who is already a member of the Tulare County Farm Bureau. “It makes sense. Every area has different issues that they are fighting, so it is nice to know what is going on in every area.”

Merced County Farm Bureau Executive Director Breanne Ramos, who was staffing a table for the county Farm Bureau at the event, said, “It is important that we bring agriculture together as a united voice and a united front.”

Nut crop grower Eric Heinrich of Modesto, a Stanislaus County Farm Bureau board member, said all segments of California agriculture must come together because “agriculture is getting picked off one by one.”

“Take Proposition 2,” he said, referring to the 2008 ballot initiative on housing standards for egg-laying hens. “It was about the poultry guys, so it doesn’t (directly) affect the hay guys or the dairymen, but ultimately it does. We’ve got to come and fight together and be more unified in agriculture.”

Heinrich added that water is a continuous fight in California and farmers need to work together to protect their historic water rights.

Tu o l u m n e County Farm Bureau President Shaun Crook, who staffed a table at Ag Unite, said “farmers and ranchers need to organize the way that the environmental movement has over the last 30 years.”

Crook, a logging contractor who California Farm Bureau Federation President Paul Wenger speaks to the Ag Unite rally in Modesto, stressing the need for California is also in the cattle farmers and ranchers to “be unified and speak with one voice.” business, said an is- The event was cosponsored by county Farm Bureaus in Stanissue for his family is laus, Merced, Sacramento, San Joaquin and Tuolumne counties. forest management, Photo/Courtesy/Dave Kranz/CFBF an entire day with a county environmenwhich affects timber supply, water quality and cattle grazing. tal health official. He reminded his fellow He said ineffective forest management farmers, “that’s just one department, one contributes to wildfire danger, includ- agency,” and said it provides an example ing the 2013 Rim Fire that burned more of the day-to-day scrutiny farmers and than a quarter-million acres of Sierra ranchers face.

“I commit $2,500 to the FARM PAC Nevada land.

“The Rim Fire alone took away over program and $2,500 to the Ag Unite two and a half years of any benefits from Legal Action Fund program and I chalAB 32 (legislation to reduce the state’s lenge you to match that,” McGowan said. greenhouse gas emissions), just in one “There’s not a farmer out here that doesn’t have a cultural budget that they operate month of a wildfire,” Crook said.

Wenger reminded those at the event on. I offer this: (create) a budget line item that it is important for people involved in that says Ag Unite, a budget line item to agriculture to be actively engaged in elect- preserve farming life.”

McGowan added, “I’m here for the ing business-friendly candidates to the Legislature from San Francisco, Oakland, opportunity for the next 10, 20, 30 years for me, my son, my daughters, to continLos Angeles, San Diego and other cities.

“We can explain to them that what is ue farming—and I don’t see that happengood for agriculture is good for the entire ing without Ag Unite.”

For more information about Ag state of California,” he said.

Following his talk, Wenger intro- Unite, see agunite.net/why-ag-unite/.

(Christine Souza is an assistant editor duced nut grower Rich McGowan of Chiof Ag Alert. She may be contacted at csouco, one of the originators of the Ag Unite concept who helped organize the first Ag za@cfbf.com.)

This article reprinted with the perUnite rally in Butte County in 2013.

McGowan described a recent experi- mission of the California Farm Bureau ence during which he and his son spent Federation.

“This could be affect anyone, not just the growers,” she said.

Local residents are urged to follow some simple steps:

Water

• Don’t move citrus plants, plant materials or fruit in or out of quarantine areas, or in or out of the state or country.

• Inspect your own citrus trees monthly and when tending to your trees, for signs of HLB disease.

• Only purchase and plant trees from licensed, reputable California nurseries.

• Use only registered budwood to graft trees that come with source documentation.

• Dry out or double bag plant clipping material before disposing of them.

• Talk with your local nurseryman about applications that you can use to stop possible psyllids on your trees.

So far, we’ve been lucky,” Kinoshita said.

“It happened much more quickly in Florida, because they weren’t prepared for it,” Blakely said.

The hope is that through all the preventative measures, it will not be as disastrous here.

Continued from p. 7 cost, including pipelines from the treatment plants to the federal Delta-Mendota Canal for delivery to contractors.

Interim water deliveries could begin as early as this summer, with as much as 30 percent of the district’s supply needs being met by 2018.

West estimated there are about 100 recycled-water projects on the drawing boards in California, all in various stages of development.

Whether they will be online in time to meet the state’s strategic goals under its recycled-water policy is not known at this time, she said.

Water district managers are increasingly looking at water supply options, she said, and recycled water projects can provide cities both a new revenue source and new ways to manage the discharge of treated water.

Recycled water beneficial uses vary considerably around the state, the Department of Water Resources found in its 2009 survey, and West said she expects new survey results will reveal continued diversification in the uses of recycled water.

Mike Wade, executive director of the California Farm Water Coalition, said recycled water can come from a variety of sources, including treated urban wastewater and oilfield-produced water.

No matter the source, he said, “it’s required to be high quality, treated water that meets every standard set by state water quality officials.”

On land north of Bakersfield, the Cawelo Water District and North Kern Water Storage District are currently working with the oil industry to use treated water on crops, Wade said.

The districts have been delivering water for more than 50 years to irrigate about 45,000 acres in Kern County, including irrigation water to about 34,000 acres of orchards, vineyards and field and row crops.

Oilfield-produced water is the byproduct of oil production, Wade said, and has been used in the growing region without any health or environmental issues.

(Kate Campbell is an assistant editor of Ag Alert. She may be contacted at kcampbell@cfbf.com.)

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

19 May, 2016

Valley Voice • 9

District 1 Has Last Forum Before June Primary Catherine Doe The final Tulare County Supervisor District 1 forum took place May 4. After three forums, the voting public has ample information about the eight candidates in order to decide who will pass the June 7 primary. The top two vote getters will proceed to the November general election.

The forum consisted of one hour of pre-set questions for all the candidates and one hour of audience questions. For the candidates’ views on water issues or public safety, watch the video of the forum on Valley Voice’s Facebook page, or read the articles on the last two forums in our April 7 and May 5 editions. The following article addresses those issues not covered in past forums.

The candidates running for Tulare County board of Supervisor District 1 are Kuyler Crocker, John Elliott, Angel Galvez, Ted Macaulay, Brian Poochigian, Vincent Salinas, Rosaena Sanchez and Dennis Smith. Sanchez did not attend the forum. The event was co-hosted by the Foothills Sun-Gazette, Valley Voice and the Exeter Republican Women Federated.

Paul Meyers from the Foothills Sun Gazette was the moderator for the first hour, asking the preset questions. He kicked off the evening by asking what emerging industries should Tulare County develop.

Elliot, who is from Three Rivers, said that Tulare County loses hundreds of thousands of dollars a year by not harnessing the potential of tourism. He said

The District 1 candidates gathered on May 4 for the last forum before the June primary.

Photo/Nancy Vigran

visitors drive right through the county and out the other side of the national parks without stopping and spending their money. Poochigian agreed, saying we need to get the tourist to stop by promoting our restaurants, Exeter’s murals and Visalia’s downtowns.

Galvez said that the emerging industry that should be developed in Tulare County is technology. He said that District 1 has an extremely large workforce mostly working in agriculture, but tech is the future and we need to focus on training and education so the county can grow economically. Salinas agreed, saying that agriculture production is going digital and that we need a four year university to keep the area from experiencing brain drain.

Macauley and Crocker said that the emerging industry that best suits Tulare County is e-commerce such as the proposed Nordstrom warehouse in north east Visalia. Crocker said that at full

build out, Nordstrom’s e-center would be providing 2000 jobs to the region and be the number three employer in the county. If Nordstrom chooses to locate in Visalia “it validates that we are business friendly and ready to go.”

Smith thought the idea of an emerging industry was hooey. “I don’t know what is an emerging industry.” He said that the county needs to do more so that present businesses and agriculture can flourish. He wants the wealth created by those industries to be left with “we the people so that we the people can be wealthy.” He continued, “we need to take care of the people who are here right now, providing jobs, creating wealth and fighting for or private property rights.”

Public safety has been a popular point of discussion in the last two forums, so Meyers wanted to ask the candidates on what departments besides public safety would each candidate focus.

Poochigian sad that he would focus

on utilities. He said that water, sewage and electricity are not privileges but are services that need to be accessible to everyone in the county. Salinas said that he would focus on the parks. “During the time of the Great Recession, when people couldn’t travel outside of the area, they had to use their own home’s recreational facilities. So I would work on the parks.”

Smith said that he would break up the Health and Human Services into the three departments like it was in the 1990’s. “Of the $425 million, $408 million is coming from outside the county.”

He said breaking the department up would make them more transparent and easier to manage versus the bureaucracy they have become. Smith has voiced in the past about the danger of being so reliant on outside money.

Crocker would focus on the heart of our county which is agriculture, in particular the $600 million citrus industry.

The Asian Citrus Psyllid has destroyed 80% of Florida’s citrus. The disease has become just as dangerous as the drought here in Tulare County he said.

Elliot said that we need to get a handle on the county’s contaminated water.

SB88 says we need to clean up our act so far as serving the disadvantaged communities with clean water or the state will come in and do it for us.

“I know for a fact that besides public safety the most important issue is health,” said Galvez. Many people who own their own business in Tulare County can’t even afford their own health

DISTRICT ONE continued on 11 »

10 • Valley Voice

MCO Tax Continued from p. 1

tax dollars to return to our state in the form of matching funds.”

The editor of this paper called Devon Mathis’ office for his reaction to the CSI advertising campaign and his vote on the MCO. Their response was, “No comment for the Valley Voice.”

The Tulare County Taxpayers Association, Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association, and the National Federation of Small Business took a neutral stance on the bill. Grover Norquist, president of Americans for Tax Reform, however, came out against the bill. Norquist says that those Republicans who voted for the tax hike are damaging the Republican brand.

Norquist explains this is simply a tax on

Lindsay

Continued from p. 1

arbors, which range from 8x10 feet to 20x40 feet. Renting would prevent parties’ having to get there early to designate their spot, and would help pay for staff clean-up of the park, although citizens are still asked to clean-up after themselves, Camarena said.

The city is also considering a fee for use of a bounce house in the park, due to wear-and-tear on the landscaping, as well as the possibility of having damage to sprinkler heads, etc.

There would be a transition period, Camarena said, and there would be some type of notification of a reserved arbor, so that a walk-in party would not use that area on a specific day and time.

“It is a very small step,” he said, “in the overall picture of the city heading toward city revenues and operating in the black.

“We’re looking at just about anything,” he said, “including code enforcement infractions.”

“One real world example is adults riding bicycles on sidewalks,” he said. “We are actively pursuing them.”

And while this is basically for safety reasons, and not to fine them, it is a way to capture revenues as well.

Individuals may first receive a warning, he said, but when caught a second time, they may be cited.

The city has looked at larger possibilities including discussing a potential ½-cent sales tax, but that idea was axed last year. Some city employees underwent furloughs last year, but that ended in December.

Grand Jury Report Lindsay has been undergoing severe scrutiny for some time and the council has had anger-related, management issues for which it sought therapy last year.

In March of this year, the county Grand Jury filed a report on the city, titled “Nightmare in Lindsay.” The report stated: “The Tulare County Grand Jury today released a report in response to citizens’ complaints alleging Open Meeting (Brown Act) violations as well as quid-pro-quo dealings related to the City of Lindsay and its conduct of public business. Although the Grand Jury found that the Brown Act violations were extraordinarily difficult to substantiate, it did find evidence of civil improprieties occurring within Lindsay city government which justified further investigation.

“The Grand Jury Report contained seven (7) ‘facts’ as well as five (5) ‘findings’ and two (2) ‘recommendations.’ Among the facts were: (#1) After the resignation of Lindsay’s city manager in 2010, the then current Po-

19 May, 2016 health care providers that will be passed onto the consumer.

“In the last election, Californians elected more than enough Republicans to the state legislature to give the GOP the ability to block Democratic efforts to raise taxes in Sacramento” said Norquist. “California has the nation’s highest marginal income tax rate, the 8th highest corporate tax rate, and the 6th highest overall tax burden. If Republicans aren’t going to stop legislative Democrats from raising taxes at the behest of government employee unions who fund their campaigns, what purpose do they serve? Doorstops? Organ donors?”

The Business Journal reported that, “Whereas the old tax has been imposed only on managed care plans in the Medi-Cal business, the new tax will be levied

on all managed care plans. However, to encourage providers not to pass the tax on to consumers and to offset the cost to insurers, other taxes insurers pay were eliminated. The new legislation includes $371 million in breaks on state premiums and corporation taxes.”

The Business Journal concluded, “the impact it will have on businesses is uncertain.”

Mathis’ vote on the MCO tax was the straw that broke the camel’s back for Woodlake Mayor, Rudy Mendoza, when he decided to run for assembly again.

“Mr. Mathis does not represent the values of our district, the strongest Republican district in the Central Valley where we fight tooth and nail every day against government bureaucracy and bad regulations. Mr. Mathis voted for a major tax

increase that will hurt the working class families of our district. He has become the best friend of Governor Jerry Brown by helping to pass yet another tax that will do nothing but create additional hardship on our citizens.”

One longtime establishment Republican who did not want to be named vehemently agreed with Mendoza and said Mathis’ vote was simply “Pay to play.”

“What gets my goat is that the state legislature was going to pass the MCO tax anyway, so he didn’t even have to vote yes.”

She said that the Southern Inyo Hospital stood to gain $1.3 million from the MCO tax, which is a direct benefit to Healthcare Conglomerates Association (HCCA.) HCCA donated $7200 to Mathis’ campaign and just acquired the contract for Southern Inyo Hospital.

lice Chief was appointed as the city manager, thus combining the two positions; (#4) ‘A court document and witness statements alleged there was flagrant misallocation (of public resources) by a city official in directing (city) employees to perform personal services outside the city’s jurisdiction on city time;’ (#6) ‘The City reached high-cost employment severance settlements (in excess of $400,000) with a number of employees over the issue of termination; and, (#7) “The City imposed employee furloughs, claiming financial constraints.

“The Grand Jury’s ‘findings’ corresponding to the aforementioned ‘facts’ included: (1) The Grand Jury determined the combining of the office of city manager and police chief positions critically weakened the checks-and-balances with regards to personnel issues. This eliminated the division of authority to more than one person and position; (2) A number of costly employee settlements resulted from the aforementioned combination of these two positions; (4) Some City Council members were involved in discussions over union issues at private residences and outside the parameters of established procedures; and, (5) The cost of the employee settlements contributed to the city’s poor financial condition and to the necessity to impose employee furloughs.”

The Grand Jury also said it required a response from Lindsay City Council.

done to lessen the financial impact on the City while preserving necessary leadership during a period of financial hardship.

The combining of these two positions was not a decision made lightly.

With regard to F2 - A number of costly employee settlements resulted from the aforementioned combination of these two positions.

Response: The majority of Council disagrees wholly with Finding 2 for the following reasons: Evidence is lacking to support this finding. Only two people are known to have left the City unexpectedly during this period. The total cost of employee settlements was $276,449 (rounded to the nearest dollar) and not “in excess of $400,000” as indicated in Grand Jury Final Report, FACTS: #6.

The former city manager received severance pay of $151,326 plus $35,123 in unpaid vacation, wages, FICA/Medicare and ten months’ medical, per his separation agreement. This type of arrangement is not unusual when a city manager is asked to leave or is terminated without proof of wrongdoing. Lindsay Municipal Code, Section 02.08.260 allows for this process. The combining of the aforementioned positions had no bearing on whether or not severance pay would have been provided to the former city manager upon his departure.

An at-will police lieutenant was terminated and filed a wrongful termination lawsuit. A financial settlement of $90,000 was reached with the lieutenant to limit the fiscal impact on the City. A department head may terminate an at-will employee at his/her discretion, therefore, the decision to terminate and the resulting lawsuit would likely not have been impacted by the separation of these positions.

A minority of the Council agrees with Finding 2, that a number of costly employee settlements resulted from the aforementioned combination of these two positions.

With regard to F3 - The lack of meaningful evidence made allegations of Brown Act violations difficult to substantiate.

Response: The City Council unanimously feels that evidence is lacking to either support or refute this finding.

With regard to F4 - Some City Council members were involved in discussions over union issues at private residences and outside the parameters of established procedures.

Response: The majority of Council disagrees wholly with Finding 4 for the following reasons: Mayor Padilla indicated that she was not involved with discussions related to union issues and knows of no evidence to support finding 4.

Mayor Pro-tem Sanchez indicated that she was not involved in discussions related to union issues and supports the Council majority in wholly disagreeing with the finding.

Councilmember Mecum indicated that he only listened to a complaint and did not consider his actions to be outside established City Charter procedures.

A minority of the Council agrees with Finding 4, that some City Council members were involved in discussions over union issues at private residences and outside the parameters of established procedures.

With regard to F5 - The cost of the employee settlements contributed to the City’s poor financial condition and the necessity to impose employee furloughs.

Response: The City Council unanimously agrees with Finding 5, that the cost of the employee settlements contributed to the City’s poor financial condition and the necessity to impose employee furloughs.

Recommendations: With regard to R1 - Lindsay City Council members should thoroughly familiarize themselves with open meeting laws (Brown Act) and generally acceptable procedures for conducting municipal business.

Response: Although the Grand Jury stated in Finding #3 that they had insufficient evidence to support a Brown Act violation, the recommendation will be implemented with refresher training to be conducted in the future.

Training on Brown Act law and generally acceptable procedures for conducting municipal business has been conducted with refreshers planned during public forums to benefit both the Council and the public. These refreshers will occur quarterly, over the course of a year during a designated portion of upcoming Council meetings. The tentative schedule for these refreshers is as follows: • Date: August 9, 2016 • Date: November 8, 2016 • Date: February 28, 2017 • Date: May 9, 2017 With regard to R2. The Lindsay City Council should be more deliberative when considering the combining of key managerial positions.

Response: The recommendation has been implemented and will continue to be implemented.

The City Council considers its process in combining key managerial positions to have been appropriately deliberative and will ensure it continues to be deliberative whenever a scenario arises in which the City Council is in the position of combining key administrative positions.

At its May 10 Council meeting, Interim City Manager Bill Zeigler, revealed Council’s response: With regard to F1 - The combining of the office of city manager and police chief positions critically weakened the checks-and-balances with regards to personnel issues. This eliminated the division of authority to more than one person and position.

Response: The majority of Council agrees with Finding 1; that the combining of the office of city manager and police chief positions critically weakened the checks-and-balances with regards to personnel issues. A minority of the Council disagrees wholly with Finding 1 for the following reasons: Evidence is lacking to support this finding. The combining of these specific positions is commonly done and has occurred recently within other nearby municipalities, including the Cities of Farmersville, Exeter and Lemoore without negative impact.

The City of Lindsay has also done this in the distant past without negative impact; therefore, the City Council had no empirical evidence to indicate that combining these two positions should weaken the checks-and-balances relating to personnel issues. Further, combining these two high-salaried positions was

19 May, 2016

Valley Voice • 11

District One Continued from p. 9

insurance. The health of the residents in Tulare County is critical. He said that 50% of the residents have diabetes and that 22 veterans commit suicide a day.

“Health is something that I am already out in front and working on.”

Macauley said that everyone exclaims, ”What about the roads?!” He asked,“what good is a great agriculture industry if you can’t transport the products from farm to table?”

That ended the first part of the forum of prepared questions. The second half was moderated by Nancy Vigran, from the Valley Voice, who asked the candidates questions submitted by the audience.

The first question concerned building a rest stop in Three Rivers. Macauley thought that a rest stop along with regular bus service to Three Rivers would help keep tourist dollars in the area. Elliot said that right now there is nowhere for visitors to go to the bathroom. He said that Three Rivers has tried to construct a rest stop but that they could not secure the federal dollars and had a difficult time negotiating with Caltrans.

The next question was directed at Smith and asked if he thought property owners should be able to sell their ground water. Smith said absolutely not and that would start the slippery slope of outside corporations coming in to buy our water. “This is not just US corporations, but from all over the world will be buying up our water and that will hurt us.”

Another audience member wanted to know why Crocker used a Fresno Company to send out campaign information if he is so intent on creating jobs in Tulare County. He said that he wanted to use people he knew who had a proven track record. He did add that he purchases his signs in Tulare county. Macauley wanted to point out that all of his campaign materials, flyers, mailers and signs not only came from Tulare County but District 1.

Vigran then asked, “In one word or two what is the most important characteristic of a supervisor and how do you fit those characteristics?”

Crocker said, “Servant and leadership.” That is how he has served his community of Strathmore at various organizations including the boys and girls clubs and his church.

Elliot said, “knowledge and vision.”

While working on a newspaper he has researched and studied every issue under the sun and that translates to knowledge and vision.

Galvez said “Honest, ethical and fair.

If you don’t have integrity then nothing else matters. That’s what you need in a leader.”

Macauley said, “experience and community service.” He said that his 12 years on the Exeter City council for $45 a month was not for the money. After being president of the Exeter’s Lions Club he decided to run for city council because he wanted to continue to give back to the community.

Poochigian said that the best words to describe himself would be honesty,

trust and accessibility. He said that he puts in 100% into everything he does.

Salinas said that service to humanity is the best work in life.

Smith puts in 10 to 12 hours a day into his business and says that he has the work ethic and energy it takes to be a supervisor. He said that he is a prolific reader and has studied the issues that have gotten the country into the mess we are in.

The next question focused on the proposed Yokohl Valley development in regard to the drought. None of the candidates came out against the residential development planned by the J.G. Boswell Company and slated to be located east of Exeter. Elliot pointed out that, being a member of the Tulare County Planning Commission, JG Boswell and many developers are in a wait and see mode with the Ground Water Sustainability Act. He said that there won’t be much movement until after 2020 when the rules for the Act go into effect. He added that the development will be a much more scaled down project than the originally 50,000 people planned for the community.

When the candidates were asked about the impending legalization of recreational use of marijuana, none of them came out in favor of making it legal in Tulare County. If the November initiative passes there will be a clause where counties can decide for themselves. All of the candidates were leaning against legalizing the substance because of the problems with crime and the increased visits to the emergency rooms that Colorado and Washington have experienced since it was legalized there.

The only candidate with a more retrospective view on the initiative was Elliot. He wanted to take a wait and see approach and said it might help the crisis happening in the national forest with illegal cultivation. Tulare County is also burdened with taking care of prisoners in jail because of crimes involving pot.

Lastly, the federal government is moving towards legalization so Tulare County needs to be prepared for when that happens.

The last question was if the candidates agreed with Tulare County Sheriff Boudreaux putting on a gun raffle during his 2014 campaign. All of the candidates gave an unequivocal “yes” except Elliot.

He said that that the raffle under California law was totally illegal and he did not support it. Looking surprised at Elliot’s answer, Crocker said that seeing as it was illegal that he would be against it also.

Mail-in voting started May 9. Residents can also hand in their ballots at the Tulare County Registrar of Voters in the Government Plaza across from Mooney Grove. Tulare County residents can register to vote until May 28. The registrar’s will be staying open late the night of May 28 to accommodate anyone who wants to register.

Tulare County Supervisor District 3 contest between Phil Cox and Amy Shuklian will be decided in June because there are only two candidates. District 3 mostly encompasses Visalia. District 5 including most of Tulare is also up for re-election, but Supervisor Pete Vander Poel is running uncontested.

Next deadline for submissions, ads, etc:

Thursday, May 26

Verizon Hanford Continued from p. 1

by urban use. The proposed tower site is surrounded by a ponding basin, vacant lot and Hidden Valley Park.

Robin Mattos, representing Hanford Environmental Action Team (HEAT), said that this was a completely inappropriate use of Hidden Valley Park and that the tower would be ten to twelve feet higher than any of the trees. “This is not a good use of our open space when you think how little park space we have in Hanford. We are in a deficit. It’s not the only 485 square-feet of land available in Hanford. They can find somewhere else.

Mickey Stoddard, a Parks and Recreation Commissioner, was miffed as to why the issue of the tower was not brought before his department. He said that someone just approached the Parks and Recreation department to erect a tool shed. “Don’t you think a 78-foot tower should also come before the department?”

Stoddard pointed out to the council that not brining it before the department violated their own city municipal code. City Manager Darlene Mata said that CUPs are not required to be reviewed by the park and recreation department.

Marilyn Petterson, who has lived in Hanford since 1968, said that Hidden Valley Park is a very personal place for her and her family. Her children played there and a bench in the park is dedicated to her daughter who passed away a few years ago. “I want you to really think of the human side of this when you make a decision.”

The two Verizon employees who spoke in favor of the tower emphasized the need for more coverage. They said that the other towers are at capacity.

They also said they looked at two other sites for the tower but neither worked out. “It is the best location for the best service,” said the Verizon representative.

Verizon may appeal the city council’s decision.

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12 • Valley Voice

19 May, 2016

Viewpoint

Evaluating Obama’s Foreign Policy Record

So you’re not excited by Donald Trump’s announcement of his first foreign-policy acts as president: building the Mexico Wall, the No-Muslims Wall, the End-of-NATO Wall, and the China Trade Wall. And that’s just for starters.

The more Trump talks, the better Barack Obama looks. As the president nears the end of his term, we might take a look at his record, keeping the Trump Doctrine of “America First” in the back of our minds.

Not that Trump is going to succeed Obama; that job will go to Hillary Clinton. But an evaluation of Obama’s record is useful considering the choice between an incoherent and willful Donald Trump on one side and an experienced but fairly hawkish Clinton on the other.

How should we evaluate Obama’s record? Right-wing critics will of course excoriate Obama for all the usual things— weakness against adversaries like Russia and China, negotiating with instead of subverting Cuba and Iran, eviscerating the US military, undermining relations with Israel. On the left, Obama is already being cast as another liberal leader whose actions failed to deliver on his promises, from Guantanamo to the Middle East. Historians will have plenty of things to quarrel about, but we need not wait.

Let’s start with the positives: two major victories for engagement of adversaries, and some progress on environmental issues.

The Positives Engagement In his extraordinary visit to Cuba in March, Obama signaled the end of the Cold War in the Americas and, while criticizing Cuba’s human rights record, promised nonintervention.

Engaging Iran has been much more difficult. Some members of Congress, and right-wing groups such as United Against Nuclear Iran, continue to pressure the administration and US businesses to maintain remaining sanctions and stay away from Iran. Iran’s economy has yet to benefit significantly from the nuclear deal, and the ayatollah is still taking potshots at the US. Unless liberal Democrats gain the upper hand in Congress, and President Rouhani wins next year’s election in Iran, the trade embargo on Iran (and on Cuba too) will continue, endangering Obama’s engagement effort. Still, signs are that the nuclear deal is being fulfilled. Unfortunately, US diplomacy is not trying to build on that deal by ending the trade embargo and bringing Iran into a bold Middle East peace process that would include Iraq’s and Syria’s civil wars.

The Environment On Earth Day 2016 the President, along with China’s president Xi Jinping, signed the Paris Agreement on climate change, committing the US to reduce greenhouse gas emissions between 25 and 28 percent from 2005 levels by 2025. Whether or not that target can be achieved depends on a Supreme Court decision that will not be handed down until well after Obama leaves office: his administrative act to curb emissions from power plants, which the Court blocked in February. Responding to environmental pressure groups, Obama has rejected the Keystone XL fracking project, imposed a three-year moratorium on coal mining on public lands, and, in a policy reversal, banned drilling along the Atlantic coast

for five years.

The Negatives Quagmire The cause of peace in the Middle East has not advanced under Obama. His decision to follow Hillary Clinton’s advice rather than his own inclinations and intervene in Libya after the overthrow of Muammar el-Qaddafi was disastrous. Libya is fast becoming a failed state. The civil war in Syria has emptied the country. As many as 400,000 people have died, perhaps 10 times as many have become refugees, and millions more are internally displaced. No further military investment can make life better for the remaining population and anti-Assad fighters. There, as well as in Iraq and Afghanistan, the peace process has collapsed and good governance is a distant dream. Yet the administration, far from developing a strategy to extricate the US from Iraq and Afghanistan, has already stated that it will keep more than 5,000 troops in Afghanistan into 2017 and gives every indication that the US will resume a combat role in Iraq despite the endless political squabbling, corruption, and sectarian violence there. Obama’s reliance on elite forces and drones may reduce US casualties, but it still amounts to intervention and avoidance of creative peacemaking.

The failed promise of the Arab Spring virtually everywhere has been equaled by the US failure to find faithful partners amidst extremists. The US has no reliable allies in the Arab Middle East. Making matters worse, the Obama administration has followed the traditional American path of supporting anti-democratic regimes that thwart US policy goals but win US favor by proclaiming their anti-terrorism.

(If this sounds familiar, it is: merely a twist on the Cold War scenario in which the US extended support to dictatorships that trumpeted their anti-communism.) The US continues to feed the Pakistan military with billions of dollars in aid, carries out drone strikes that kill civilians (and expands drone bases in Africa), and turns the other way while Pakistan’s intelligence service cultivates ties with the Taliban operating in Afghanistan. Saudi Arabia’s criticism of US engagement with Iran and Syria policy has not stopped the US from providing the Saudis with intelligence and material support of a horrendous bombing campaign in Yemen. The civilian toll in death and destruction is running very high, and al-Qaeda has gained as a result.

Obama’s celebrated “rebuke” of the Saudis and his urging that they accept a “cold peace” with Iran has not fundamentally altered the US-Saudi relationship, testimony to a failure of will.

US support of authoritarian, military-backed regimes extends to other countries, such as Thailand, where the military is rewriting the constitution with what the UN human rights commissioner calls “dangerously sweeping laws and order” while the economy sinks; Egypt, where the military under President Abdul-Fattah el-Sisi has practically dismantled the constitution and conducted widespread repression; and Turkey, where President Recep Tayyip Erdogan is eviscerating the secular democracy step by step.

Finally, Obama has proven unwilling, not just unable, to craft a new approach to Israel based on social justice and respect for human rights. Though the Netanyahu administration is very unhappy with Obama over policy in Iran and Syria, it has noth-

ing to complain about regarding US policy toward Israel. Obama, like every president before him, will not take the crucial step of sanctioning Israel over its expansion of settlements and denial of basic rights to the Palestinians.

Weapons Always Welcome Nothing has changed when it comes to the Pentagon slush fund. Instead of a breakthrough on creating Obama’s nuclear-free world, we see the continued development of new weapons of mass destruction, including nearly $20 billion on nuclear weapons this year alone as part of a $1 trillion Pentagon plan for weapons upgrading generally. That direction hardly improves prospects for reducing the nuclear danger, for example with regard to North Korea. Why the administration has made no any serious effort to engage North Korea, a move that would also help improve relations with China, and instead keeps insisting that the DPRK must first terminate its nuclear-weapons program, defies logic.

Worsening Relations with Russia and China Relations with Russia relations have turned opposite of the “reset” that Obama envisaged early in his first term. Of course, Russian behavior is half the explanation— the absorption of Crimea and the intervention in Ukraine (which continues)—but the other half is the needlessly provocative US behavior along Russia’s western frontier. What has resulted is a dangerous catand-mouse game, characterized by three recent close encounters in the Baltic Sea, plans for a large-scale US-NATO military exercise, and a huge US military buildup in Europe that includes significant aid to countries bordering Russia. The fallout of this tension may be seen in Syria, where hopes have been dashed for a reliable US-Russia agreement that might turn a cease-fire into a lasting political solution.

With China, the relationship continues to be one of “strategic mistrust.”

As with Russia, danger lurks in US and Chinese maneuvering and posturing in and around the South China Sea. China claims sovereignty over the tiny islands and the US claims freedom of navigation, setting the stage for a confrontation as each country escalates shows of force to make its point. (The election of a Filipino president who rivals Donald Trump for bluster and lack of foreign affairs experience adds to the potential for a miscalculation, since the US has revitalized military ties with Manila.) Contentious US-China relations extends to many other issues, such as China’s crackdown on civil society, its military modernization, differences over trade and currency values, and most recently a new Chinese law that restricts the activities of foreign NGOs. Miscalculations leading to violence are entirely possible. Mutual understanding has suffered in both cases, replaced by US recourse to sanctions against Russia and warnings to China via gunship diplomacy. Predictably, Vladimir Putin and Xi Jinping have responded in kind.

Law, Secrets, and Ethics The use of drones has dramatically expanded, and with it the unanswered question as to their effectiveness and lawfulness. Many commentators have questioned the former on the grounds that more terrorists are created than killed by

drone attacks. The same conclusion applies to Obama’s reliance on Special Forces and intelligence agents.

Also shameful is the administration’s timid response to Europe’s refugee crisis. Obama isn’t building walls, but he is only taking in a tiny number of Syrian and other refugees fleeing war. The President promised to admit around 10,000 Syrians in the current fiscal year, far more than the pitifully small number in years past. Granted, the US permanently resettles more refugees per year than any other country. But the US can afford to be far more generous, and not only with Syrians, especially since US interventions abroad have contributed to the refugee crisis. I suspect that election-year politics has everything to do with sharply limiting admissions from the Middle East.

Obama’s legacy on lawlessness extends to the undeclared wars in Afghanistan, Pakistan, and Iraq over the last eight years, and the support of Saudi Arabia’s bombing in Yemen. At the least, he has failed to uphold his promise to support the War Powers Resolution and its 60-day requirement to seek Congressional approval of the use of force. He’s repeating the disastrous Vietnam model of incremental intervention, using Special Forces “advisers,” “trainers,” drones, and other devices in lieu of major combat forces. But the scale of involvement aside, US forces are still in combat, and members of Congress on both sides of the aisle are remiss in their duties by failing to challenge the President’s succumbing to mission creep.

Obama’s tough line on whistleblowers, most notably Edward Snowden, is just the tip of the iceberg. Occasionally, his administration has surprised us by declassifying once-sensitive material, such as US support of Argentina’s “dirty war” against leftists during the Nixon-Kissinger era. But that was then. Coinciding with his declassification decision was a visit to Argentina that, according to human-rights activists, lent support to an authoritarian regime that has overturned various democratic reforms.

In Sum Obama’s foreign policy has been long on progressive rhetoric and (engagement with Iran and Cuba excepted) short on substantive accomplishment. To be sure, we need to make allowance for the backward-looking Congress with which he has had to contend; and we should give more than a little credit to Obama for going over its head on Iran, Cuba, and climate change.

But we had come to expect more, much more, from him, especially on issues of war and peace. After all, he was supposed to have learned from the George W. Bush years that you “don’t do stupid shit” and get yourself bogged down in hopeless foreign adventures. But he hasn’t learned. A foreign-policy legacy that includes a costly and irremediable quagmire in the Middle East as well as hostile relations with Russia, considerable contention with China, and very modest advances on climate change is not much to crow about. The most positive prediction I can make is that by 2020, another Clinton presidency will make us feel much better about Barack Obama’s foreign policy record.

Mel Gurtov, syndicated by PeaceVoice, is Professor Emeritus of Political Science at Portland State University and blogs at In the Human Interest, where a more detailed version of this is located.

19 May, 2016

Valley Voice • 13

Viewpoint

Urban Water Conservation in the South San Joaquin Valley: A Better Option for Hanford Richard L. Harriman The State Water Resources Control Board (SWRCB) is reconsidering the state’s water supply and conservation regulations, while the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA) is being implemented and Valley cities are updating their pre-drought 2010 Urban Water Management Plans (UWMPs); and the City of Hanford is updating its General Plan. This convergence of state, regional, and local regulatory regimes provides a unique opportunity to address urban water re-use in the City of Hanford and other South San Joaquin Valley communities.

The California Water Code (CWC) mandates re-use of tertiary treated wastewater by urban communities within their jurisdiction. Re-use of tertiary treated wastewater from de-centralized treatment facilities for purposes that do not require potable water is defined as a “beneficial use” of water.

Civil engineering consultants in the Bay area and the San Joaquin Valley already have the knowledge and technology necessary to design and construct specially engineered tertiary wastewater treatment systems to serve new development or retro-fit infill development. The UC Merced Engineering Department

has the expertise and research resources to assist in the application and improvement of such technology in Hanford and the rest of the Valley. If implemented, this technology can reduce the demand for potable urban water by almost 30%.

Similarly, financing for de-centralized tertiary wastewater systems is available. Community Facility District (CFD) financing for public police, fire safety services, and infrastructure for public utilities is commonly utilized throughout the state. Public finance consultants are familiar with this financing; and, following the repeal of redevelopment agency statutes, new financing options are being created by consultants, and new legislation will follow.

The financial and environmental benefits of specially engineered community wastewater treatment facilities are numerous. First, using small-scale wastewater treatment systems allows a local government to avoid excess treatment capacity and debt service for development of treatment facilities that are over-sized to anticipate future growth.

Second, the use of small-scale community wastewater treatment facilities avoids having to speculate about the rate of projected growth and allows local governments to respond more accurately to real growth--- rather than speculate on

growth during uncertain future economic conditions.

The failure to use small-scale wastewater facilities imposes an unnecessary financial burden on the existing local taxpayers and water users. Currently, they pay for excess unused capacity that does not benefit these rate payers---who do not need it, and will never use it. Using tertiary treated wastewater from smallscale de-centralized facilities avoids the cost of having to construct and operate additional unnecessary water conveyance facilities to return the tertiary treated waste water to the users for re-use on site.

Finally, the environmental benefits of small-scale wastewater treatment facilities include re-use of urban tertiary treated wastewater closer to the original user, as required by statute, which will reduce the total amount of groundwater used.

Second, the use of this technology allows local governments to “fine tune” the amount and rate of growth which will occur in the local community.

Third, these systems may be used for both new development and in-fill growth, without expanding or surcharging the existing centralized wastewater treatment facilities. Fourth, directly charging residents of the new growth and/or infill development for the cost of

their own wastewater treatment facilities and operating expenses will make these residents more aware of their own water use, so they may reduce their use of treated potable water supplies as much as possible. Fifth, the use of small-scale de-centralized waste-water treatment facilities will reduce demand per capita on groundwater supplies.

Therefore, the current paradigm of hugely expensive large-scale centralized wastewater treatment facilities should be re-examined in the light of currently available wastewater treatment technology and financing options. Governor Brown’s administration should aggressively pursue “improved urban conservation” by permitting developers to use state-of-the-art small-scale de-centralized tertiary wastewater systems for new development.

This implementation of this alternative can be expedited by executive action.

This strategy will save money for local rate payers and will protect environmental resources and will comply with the state’s “beneficial use” policy that mandates the use of recycled tertiary treated urban wastewater.

Richard Harriman is an environmental and land use attorney who has practiced in the Central Valley for almost 40 years.

Reader: Important That Supervisor Candidates Represent All Constituents Maria Gaston A letter to the Valley Voice Editor: In a recent correspondence, James Henderson, the Chairman of the Republican Party of Tulare County bragged, “We currently have all 5 REPUBLICAN Supervisors…”. He was pleading with his Republican base to hold the line.

Shouldn’t we be asking, “Who will represent the other 76,618 Tulare County people who are have registered declined to state or under one of the six other political parties?” Think about that number for a moment.

As many people in the community know, I am a strong proponent of keeping party loyalty out of nonpartisan elections: the candidates should be elected based on their own merits and ought to represent the needs of all constituents.

The very notion of nonpartisan elections grew out of the early 20th century, and

was intended to combat the corruption and one-sided influence prevalent in the big-city political machines of the time.

The intent has not changed: nonpartisan candidates are expected to remain unbiased toward any particular political group when making official decisions. Even the official Voter Guide that was mailed to every registered voter, clearly states, “Political parties are not entitled to nominate candidates for nonpartisan offices at the primary election…” and “A candidate for nomination to a nonpartisan office may not designate his or her party preference, or lack of party preference, on the ballot.” Now, I am not so naïve as to think that we can keep partisanship completely out of elections, however, haven’t we moved far from the spirit of the agreement?

In 2014, I spoke out against my own local Democratic Party leaders who were threatening expulsion from party orga-

nizations, if anyone supported a known Republican. They would not even make an exception for the critical nonpartisan races of Sheriff and District Attorney.

Now it looks like our local Republican leadership needs to be reminded that we are ALL tired of the same old loyalty tactics that have brought us to the ugly political climate we find ourselves. We will be making our decision for the open Supervisor seats based on qualifications – not purely on partisanship.

James Henderson’s recent comments and the District 3 candidate forum cemented the reasons why I don’t believe Phil Cox represents our community’s best interests now or in the future. On the very first forum question, Phil made it clear he is a conservative Republican, thereby telling us all that he does not represent the entire community. In addition, there was a tone of arrogance in so many of Phil’s forum answers: mak-

ing statements like HE created the STEP program and that HE wrote Measure R. He had no problem taking all the credit for accomplishments achieved by the whole (and very diverse) community.

I have supported Amy Shuklian for City Council in the past, and I support her now for Supervisor. I do so because, even when I disagree with her decisions, I know that Amy has listened to my concerns, and that she has considered every point of view fairly. Isn’t that what we all want and expect from our nonpartisan officials?

Phil promised that after his next four-year term (there’s that arrogance again) he and his wife plan to do missionary work. Perhaps it would be best for the future of our community that his last term ends on June 7, 2016.

Respectfully, Maria Gaston Registered Voter, District 3

Blue Revolution - Kuwaiti Women Gain Suffrage Rivera Sun This week in nonviolent history commemorates the successful conclusion of Kuwait’s Blue Revolution. On May 17th, 2005, Kuwaiti women gained suffrage after more than 40 years of struggle. The women used a wide variety of approaches to achieve their goals, including lobbying, introducing repeated legislation, protests and demonstration, marches, rallies, and mock elections.

Like many women’s suffrage movements around the world, the Kuwaiti women escalated their actions and campaigns, shifting from legislative and legal efforts into nonviolent direct action.

The history of their multi-decade effort is complex, spanning from the 1960s

when Kuwait won independence from the United Kingdom, through the Iraqi occupation in 1990-1991, and onward another 15 years until a series of nonviolent actions, changing political climate, and increased pressure finally won the vote for the women of Kuwait.

The movement first began to apply bolder methods of nonviolent action in 1996 when 500 women stopped working for an hour to demand suffrage. Then, as the Global Nonviolent Action Database reports, “In 2002, several women held a demonstration near two voter registration centers in Kuwait. The demonstrators waved banners outside the two centers, but were eventually asked to leave.

Kuwaiti women continued to be very assertive in 2003. There were reports

of demonstrations involving more than 1,000 women in a country with a total population of two million. The campaign also unsuccessfully sued both the Minister of the Interior and the Speaker of Parliament. During the elections of 2003, women established mock ballots that allowed hundreds of women to cast symbolic votes for real candidates.”

In March of 2005, after highly visible and captivating actions, 1,000 demonstrators gathered outside of the Kuwaiti parliament to continue their demand for basic voting rights. Many women wore pale blue to represent the struggle for suffrage, leading to the moniker, “The Blue Revolution.” On May 17th, Kuwaiti parliament passed the long-awaited suffrage bill, granting women the right

to vote and run for elected office.

The Blue Revolution is part of the Color Revolutions, a series of nonviolent movements that erupted from the 1970s to present day, with a peak in the late 90s and early 2000s. These movements include, the Carnation Revolution in Portugal, the People Power Revolution (also known as the Yellow Revolution) in the Philippines, the Velvet Revolution in Czechoslovakia, the Rose Revolution in Georgia, the Orange Revolution in the Ukraine, the Cedar Revolution in Lebanon, the Denim Revolution in Belarus, the Green Revolution in Iran, among many others. The use of identifiable colors and symbols was often used as an intentional tactic of solidarity and visible protest.

14 • Valley Voice

19 May, 2016

Voices of the Valley Marilyn Kinoshita Nancy Vigran From a Nebraska farm to Tulare County Ag Commissioner, Marilyn Kinoshita’s life has always involved agriculture, and probably always will.

“I was the youngest and my mom did half the farming,” she said. “She was a product of farming parents, as my dad was, so at a young age back in the ‘20s, ‘30s and ‘40s, that’s what you did, you helped out. I learned that girls can do anything boys can do, ‘cause mom was out chisel plowing in the back forty.”

Kinoshita attended the University of Nebraska and obtained her bachelor’s degree. She married a B52 radar navigator and moved around a bit landing in California at Castle Air Force Base.

Learning of a job opening for a pest detector trapper in Merced County, she applied and got the job.

She also met Don Estes during a show on the base, and decided to drive down to Visalia for a makeover. For a few years, she would drive down from the base every month to have Estes do her hair. But then she and her husband parted ways.

The Move to Tulare County

Kinoshita heard of an Ag inspector trainee position with Tulare County and moved in 1993, when she landed the position.

“I worked on getting all my licenses – because there is a licensing requirement to move up the food chain,” she said, “but also a time in service. I quickly got the licenses out of the way, so that if openings did come up, I’d be ready for them.

“So, I worked in citrus, table grapes and stone fruits as an ag inspector – in packing houses at 8 o’clock at night on wet floors, and you’re squeezing orange juice – not the most glamourous, but it’s agriculture, just a very different type of Ag than I was used to growing up.

“I asked tons of questions because with my job I had to know. For example, the types of pomegranates and what their harvest period is. I don’t think I’d ever seen a pomegranate until I moved to California.

“The thing I always think of is that I didn’t know that there were two different types of oranges, even as an adult.

As a Midwestern kid in a rural area, you went to the grocery store and there were oranges – but Navels and Valencias? At the store, you took what they had and, as a kid, you never paid any attention to the word Valencia – they might not even have been marked.

“I think of this now and this [Tulare County] is the number one citrus exporting county, number one dairy county - I was used to beef cattle, but nothing to the scale that we have out here. Everything is on a massive scale. California commercial Ag gets a bad rap, but, we’re feeding the world. It’s got to come from somewhere – it might as well be California – say what you will about regulations and red tape and all that – it is the safest food supply in the world.”

Ag Commissioner

Kinoshita has been the county’s Ag

Commissioner since February, 2010 and her duties are di-

verse.

“I go to packing shed dinners and Farm Bureau events a lot of the Ag industry wants you to come and talk about regulatory updates and all that, so there are these regular meetings that occur once a year and you’ll get called and think I just did that, but it was a year ago. It really does go by fast,” she said.

“The Ag Commissioner, it doesn’t matter if you are Shasta County or San Diego or in between – while they are all so different, what you are work- Marilyn Kinoshita. Nancy Vigran/Valley Voice ing mostly on, is policy issues,” there are more and more restrictions on Kinoshita said. “We’ve got a lobbyist for our pilots. Pesticide use near schools is the Ag Commissioners Association and another big one that you’ll be hearing a lot of times, if there is going to be a about, probably in June, and as late as state regulation, we’re involved – trying September. to make it sensible. Or, when the USDA “There’s going to be restrictions on is negotiating with a foreign country, I’ve any grower that happens to be around seen some work plans for shipping a cer- a school and more often than not, tain commodity, and it is like, ‘Wait a that grower was there first and they’ve minute, how does that work? ‘ I remem- plopped a school in. Cities grow, land is ber one USDA official over in Mary- cheaper out in the country and schools land that thought citrus was packed out that are out near Ag – they’re beautiful in the field in cartons – so that’s what – you’ve got great surroundings for kids that work plan looked like. Back to the to learn in. But, it’s still problematic to drawing board – helping them with the have 50-foot tall walnut trees across the language is one of the important things street from a school. that we do.

“Our growers, even without state“But, here in the office – we have wide regulation – they know if there growers that need help and they may not needs to be an application, when they know who to go to, and it may not be need to do it and more often than not in my purview but I always know peo- that’s in the middle of the night. So, ple who know. So, you try to get them they’ve got some pretty understanding answers. employees, or the grower themselves is “And sometimes, growers aren’t hap- doing the applications. py when our pesticide-use inspectors “Just east of here you’ve got grapes show up and do an inspection on their near a school – Sundale School, and they employees, who have their visor up, or can’t use Sulphur – it’s usually dust and the respiratory is down around their they go pretty fast through the fields - it’s neck because it’s a little warm out, or a fungicide. When you’re making table that sort of thing. grapes, you have to keep them healthy “So, I learned early on – you’re not and pretty, and that’s just one tool in going to make everybody happy. You their tool chest that they can’t use bejust try to be as pleasant as possible, even cause of that school. Sulphur smells.” if you have to deliver some bad news.

“Just with our export program, Life Outside of Work we’ve got 25 of our inspectors that are Kinoshita has been married to never in this office, they’re in a satellite Fresno County Ag Commissioner, Les office and they just go back and forth to Wright, for 10 years. They live in Visalia. their packing sheds. If they find a probShe has no children of her own, and her lem and a certain pest of concern for Japarents have passed away. But she has pan, or Korea, or the UK, or there wasn’t brothers, and nieces and nephews, who a treatment done on the commodity, or all live in Nebraska. The couple plans something wasn’t done right – you’ve got on moving back there, when they both to give them bad news.” retire. Although Wright is a native CaliKinoshita said she has a great job. . fornian, “he’s fine moving to Nebraska,” .most days. she said.

“All it took was one visit – he likes Helping Others to hunt – we were at a wedding of a “I think mostly because you’re help- niece, and we drove from North Platte ing people,” she said. “Customer service [Nebraska] back to my parents place, has always been very important to me. and he’d keep pointing to the hundreds And making sure that your staff under- of deer in the flatland around the Platte stands that, OK, somebody called in and River – there just like rats and they’re it’s not a question that we are directly in- feeding on corn, so they’re big and fat, volved in, but you can still help them.” not like the little pygmy goat ones we Her office does training constantly, have up here in the mountains. ‘Yes, yes she said, including pesticide-use enforce- I know,’ I told him. ment.

“We joke about getting a longhorn “There’s an aerial applicator meet- and naming it Mr. Pickles. That’s our ing that’s coming up in June,” she said, goal – have a ranch mascot. And, prob“so they asked the Ag commissioners to ably a miniature horse. But, I’m really come and give them updates, because a fan of draft horses – I grew up with

them. You’d go to the Nebraska State Fair and they’d have barn after barn of them.

They were all braided up [the manes and tails], and that was just fascinating to me as a little kid.

Kinoshita has a hobby of growing orchids.

“I like buying orchids that are done blooming from big box stores,” she said.

“I bring them home and I take all the sphagnum out with a chopstick, repot them and wait a year for them to rebloom. That’s my hobby.

“I have had one greenhouse for about five years, and then I bought another one. My husband and I put it up about four months ago and it’s full now.

And, it’s a much nicer greenhouse. So at different times of the year, something’s always blooming. But, I don’t necessarily bring them indoors – sometimes I do.

But, I also just like to hang out there on a Saturday and go, ‘oh, you’re pretty.’”

She also has friends who call upon her for orchid advice.

“They will bring me these really sorry-looking, usually phalaenopsis and so, I’ll say, ‘you need to cut it off here and take it back home, and you’re watering it too much.’ But, a lot of times I will take them home, and attempt to give them back to them blooming.”

Something else she has that most people don’t, she said, are pet tarantulas. Their names are Morticia and Pink Floyd.

“Pink Floyd is relatively knew,” she said. “She’s jet black with pink toes. Each of her legs is pink. I don’t know how that happens. She’s quiet feisty.

“Morticia is about nine years old.

You have to be committed for the longterm. But they are absolutely fascinating, especially when they molt. I had one – she died of old age – her name was Trixie, and I would come home and say, ‘where’s Trixie.’ You’d pick up the water dish and she’s just under there, and her little suit is next to her, because she had molted.

She also has a Yorkshire terrier.

“I’m kind of a terrier person, I’ve always had little, high-maintenance dogs,” she said.

Her other hobbies include writing and cooking.

“I have the computer skills of a Baby Boomer, but I know how to write really well. I like writing articles. It’s nice that when you’re writing about some of the problems that our growers face - here

MARILYN continued on 16 »

19 May, 2016

Valley Voice • 15

Comments & Letters “

The beginning of this article starts out with wanting to verify facts and then immediately goes into mistakes, unat- If this remarkable financial turnaround is nationally rectributed opinion and rumors. ognized and so wonderful why is the Board asking for another $55 million? How is the Board able to do that to the First, which “verifiable” records indicate the hospital was tax payers and at the same time continue to spend money almost lost at the end of 2013? With 30 days of cash in the on clinics in Lindsey and Earlimart that are not part of our bank, while not strong, it was definitely not on the steps of property tax base? If it is so strong why hasn’t the landscapbankruptcy. Spending could have definitely been curtailed ing of the hospital been kept up? Does empowering team in the year 2013 by the board if it was so dire. Verifiable members mean staff have to take on positions they aren’t records will show that money was continuing to be spent qualified or trained for? to open clinics all over the place when the District should have been concentrating on fulfilling the responsibility that The medical staff issue is going to play itself out in the the voter’s entrusted them with in 2005 with the $85 mil- court. All I am going to say there is a lot more to this story lion dollar bond. and there has been for years. Favoritism and bias, neither in the best interest of the community.

Even within bankruptcy there would not have been loss of jobs. Southern Inyo Hospital, that HCCA currently man- Again, some misstating of facts in regards to the Manageages, is in bankruptcy and employees are currently work- ment Service Agreement (MSA). It clearly indicates taxes, ing. TRMC is using threats like this to scare the communi- benefits and workers’ comp. are reimbursed by the Disty. Such as if we don’t pass another bond the hospital will trict. Per the meeting minutes of 8.25.14 it states “Legal close. Another inaccuracy is that all were hired, there were Counsel noted the Board approved the first amendment to some let go, including some that had been speaking up and the MSA on 7-30-14 which changed how the 130% surattending board meetings. charge was calculated for the leased employees and reserved HCCA the right to use the surcharge as an offset.” This The board was tasked with finding an alignment partner amendment changed the 130% to be just on base comand they had a great description of what they were seek- pensation, prior to that it was on everything including eming for the District. The strange thing is that HCCA could ployee expense reports. Strange thing is the attorney during not have fit the description but yet they were selected over the describing of the contract on 5.28.14 never even menthe four other proposals that had experience in operating tioned the 130% to the board. a hospital with proven track records. Now it is being presented that no one else could have done the job. In a re- If HCCA had ZERO intention to buy the hospital why did cent board meeting Linda Wilbourn commented that all they file the Option with the County of Tulare on 7.3.14, a the others were going to close the Emergency Room, again scant 36 days after signing the MSA. another scare tactic. I was told by someone that the District Let’s start to really get to facts not threats. We all want has no records on those proposals per the District attorney long-term success of the organization but continuing to say Bruce Greene. So much for verifiable records. They can’t “Let’s go forward and ignore the past” is just asking for the even produce a copy of the plan that HCCA submitted. same path to continue.

Veteran’s Corner

Requesting Military Service Records and Replacement Medals Scott Holwell

”

— Deanne Martin-Soares on The Facts Behind the HCCA/Tulare Regional Medical Center Partnership

“ “

I heard something very interesting the other day…..it seems that all the binders for the oversight committee were lost.

Alberto would always take his home and so his was the only one saved.

Where’s the Oversight Binders that were in the care of the Hospital?

”

— Concerned on The Facts Behind the HCCA/Tulare Regional Medical Center Partnership I was employed by Tulare for 22 years. Never written up, never misse work, loved my job.. Until the new administration started. With all the horrible things that they did to employees I saw fir to finally speak up. Went to the board meeting,a few, and defended the employees and how we felt. I did this on a few occasions. When HCCA took over I was handed my walking papers. No reason given, just get out. Devistated at age 59 with no job. Talk about being thrown under the bus..there we several long time employees that we laid off…

This is my thorn that I need to get over. But will probably have a very hard time to forgive.

”

— JDR on The Facts Behind the HCCA/Tulare Regional Medical Center Partnership

“

If the negative people could put some of all the negative talk into working side by side with HCCA… INSTEAD OF FIGHTING ABOUT EVERYTHING HCCA HAS DONE FOR THE PEOPLE AND THE COMMUNITY….

JUST STOP BEING SO NEGATIVE… ALL OF US SHOULD BE THANKFUL AND APPRECIATE WHAT HCCA DID FOR OUR HOSPITAL…They came in and fixed the mess the hospital was in and Saved 500 jobs, saved all of our home values from crashing and saved “Our Hospital!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

”

— Melodie Ford-Furtado on The Facts Behind the HCCA/Tulare Regional Medical Center Partnership

“

Sir, you are correct when you stated …”We were then ordered by the security guard to clear the hallway: in the same breath he informed us that the police had already been called.” … What you are not aware of is that a citizen wishing to attend the meeting and refused entrance by security made the call to the Tulare Police Dept. asking for assistance in exercising his rights under the Brown Act. When HCCA heard the phone call they then also called Tulare P.D. what they said is anyone’s guess. Tulare P.D. had already dispatched two officers to the citizens request not HCCA’s. After the arrival of the officers and conversation with HCCA as seen in your photograph, some people mostly HCCA employees were moved out of the meeting room and the second room was set up. The Tulare Police Dept. was not used by TLHCD “as a tactical, pre-emptive show of force-threat and intimidation”. They were there in response to a citizens request.

”

— S.C. Harrell on Fear and Loathing in Tulare

“

Thank you! I’m relieved to be wrong on this. It did not sit well with me that TLHCD would do this, and the security guard’s statement made me question it doubly. Good for the citizen who called TPD to exercise his right to attend! Full marks!

”

— Joseph Oldenbourg on Fear and Loathing in Tulare

Join the conversation: Send your letters to editor@ourvalleyvoice.com Comment online: ourvalleyvoice.com and fb.me/ourvalleyvoice

Military personnel records can be used for proving military service, or as a valuable tool in genealogical research.

Most veterans and their next-of-kin can obtain free copies of their DD 214 (Report of Separation) and other military and medical records from the National Personnel Records Center (NRPC). The Standard Form SF-180 is recommended for requesting all replacement records and medals. Your request must contain certain basic information in order to locate your records. This information includes the veteran’s complete name used while in service, service number, social security number, branch of service, dates of service, and date and place of birth (especially if the service number is not known). The normal response time for DD 214s is ten (10) working days or less. However, requests that involve reconstruction efforts due to the 1973 fire or older records which require extensive search efforts may take much longer. If there is an emergency or deadline associated with your request, please explain this on the SF-180 Requests for the issuance or replacement of military service medals, decorations, and awards should be directed to the specific branch of the military in which the veteran served. Provide as much information as possible and send the SF180 to the appropriate military branch.

Generally, there is no charge for medal or award replacements. The length of time to receive a response or your medals and awards varies depending upon the branch of service sending the medals.

Limited information from Official Military Personnel Files is releasable to the general public without the consent of the veteran or the next-of-kin. You are considered a member of the general public if you are asking about a veteran who is no relation to you, or a veteran who is a relative but you are not the next-of-kin. Next-ofkin is defined as the un-remarried widow or widower, son or daughter, father or mother, brother or sister of the deceased veteran. Our office can assist you in completing the necessary forms.

The Kings County Veterans Service Office can complete the DMV Veteran Status Verification Form for the new California Veteran Designation on your driver’s license. We can also issue Veteran I.D. cards to honorably discharged veterans.

Contact Scott Holwell if you would like to receive periodic veteran’s information by email. There are many state and federal benefits and programs available to veterans and their dependents. To find out if you are eligible for any of these benefits, visit or call our office. We can and will assist you in completing all required application forms. You can get information on the Web from the Kings County Veterans Service Office webpage at www.countyofkings.com/vets.

Scott Holwell, retired Navy Master Chief Petty Officer, is the Deputy Veterans Service Officer for Kings County.

Send your questions to the Veterans Service Office, 1400 W. Lacey Blvd, Hanford, CA 93230; call (559)852-2669; or e-mail scott.holwell@co.kings.ca.us.

16 • Valley Voice

19 May, 2016

theSOURCE LGBT+ Center Opens

Marilyn

Continued from p. 14 in this county you don’t have to worry about offending people.

“There’s an Ag commissioner over on the coast, and he’s routinely called a baby killer, just because he has the anti-pesticide crowd. It’s a very strong voice there, even at the city council and board of supervisors’ level. Having a really supportive board of supervisors is pretty key in agriculture.”

She added that she feels she has great support in Tulare County from its board of supervisors.

“I travel for the job a lot, so I don’t necessarily like traveling [for fun],” she said. “I’ve done two lobbying trips to Washington DC – that’s exhausting, but it’s important and it was fun.

“I like to cook. I’m a homebody, I don’t like going out to dinner. I cook and make a complete mess and Les cleans it

up. He always says, ‘Good God, woman, are there any dishes left?’

“I make things from scratch. I’m kind of a recipe hoarder - all those magazines, with pages torn out of them.

“Back when I was an officer’s wife, a German woman taught me how to make Rolladen, which I call ‘Pickles in Bondage,’ because it’s like a thin-sliced beef, mustard, onions and a dill pickle spear – which Bohemian people love pickles anyway – that’s my upbringing.

Everyone in that community was Czech.

So, you roll it up and brown it and make a sauce and IT IS awesome! That’s one of my things that I make and you invite somebody over, and they ask, ‘What is this?’

Kinoshita also likes pigs and collects pig figurines and other chachkies.

“I had heart surgery,” she said. “Valve problems tend to run in my family and I had a pig valve put in, so I collect pigs.”

Oh, and, Don Estes still does her hair today.

On Facebook at facebook.com/ourvalleyvoice

Friday, May 6 saw the opening of theSOURCE LGBT+ Center in Visalia.

The center provides the LGBT+ community and their allies with services, referrals, and resources, designed to improve the quality of life for LGBT+ individuals in Tulare and Kings Counties.

Hundreds toured the new center, with many being part of First Friday, the monthly program featuring art in various downtown Visalia locations.

Artworks from LGBT artists were on display inside the center, located at 208 W. Main, Suite B, downstairs in the Montgomery Square.

A steady stream of visitors enjoyed the art, met the staff, and mingled with the community.

Staff Reports Visalia City Councilwoman Amy Shuklian stopped in for a visit and pictures with the staff, and to see a painting by her partner Mary Randol on display in the center.

Regular operations begin this week, with staff on duty in the center, and activities are planned for the upcoming months.

To learn more about theSOURCE, you can visit their Facebook page at https://www.facebook. com/thesourcelgbt or their web page at http://thesourcelgbt.org. Donations can be made at theSOURCE’s Crowdrise webpage: https://www. crowdrise.com/thesource-lgbt-center1

Hundreds of men, women, and children came from all over the Central Valley to Dance Away Hunger with Visalia Rescue Mission at this 8th Annual event last week. VRM Director of Development, Ryan Stillwater, said, “This is one of those community events that serves as a creative way to support the Mission financially, as well as learn what this ministry is all about. It’s a real friendraiser.” Photo/Courtesy/Visalia Rescue Mission

A Weekend Away Vegas: Not Just for Adults Las Vegas – it’s known for being a premier location for adult entertainment. But, it is also very family friendly, with an abundance of theme parks, museums and shows for kids of all ages.

Just an hour flight from Fresno-Yosemite International, or a five-to-sixhour-drive from the South Valley, makes it a great place for a weekend filled with things to do. Lodging is available in a variety of price ranges and it’s easy to get around town on foot, or via monorail, tram or cabby. Many attractions are part of some of the larger hotels, while others stand alone as independent businesses.

Theater and Observation Wheel

National Steinbeck Center, with map, courtesy of the National Steinbeck Center

Salinas Continues Legacy of John Steinbeck Nancy Vigran John Steinbeck wrote about the Great Depression and of those moving to the South Valley during difficult times. However, he grew up on the Coast, which he also wrote about, and a trip to the National Steinbeck Center is well worth a stop or even an intended trip to Salinas.

Located on One Main Street in Salinas, the Center is a monument to the late Nobel Prize winning author.

According to the Center’s website, “Rooted in the earth and the people of the Salinas Valley, Steinbeck achieved worldwide recognition for his keen ob-

servations and powerful descriptions of the human condition. He championed the forgotten and disenfranchised, while affirming the strength of the human spirit. His life was as rich and provocative as the Salinas Valley he immortalized in his writing. Steinbeck drew his inspiration from this land and became known throughout the world, receiving the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1962.”

Founded in 1983, the Center opened to the public in 1998. It contains the largest compilation of Steinbeck’s works and has a wing devoted to California agriculture and agricultural workers, which the author was passionate about.

STEINBECK continued on IV »

One current high-tech live show is the “Jabbawockeez” at the MGM Grand. Chock-full of live music, dance and comedy, this is definitely for the young at heart. The hip-hop group first appeared on the competitive television reality show, America’s Best Dance Crew, produced by Randy Jackson. After winning the show, and appearing on other TV shows and live performances, it hit the Vegas stage. Having quickly become

Staff Reports a major hit, the production now has its own customized theater at the MGM. The young, energetic dancers interact with audiences during two nightly shows, Thursdays-Mondays. Pre-event ticket purchases are highly recommended. For more information, visit https:// www.mgmgrand.com/en/entertainment/jabbawockeez.html.

The High Roller, at Cesear’s LINQ, touts being the world’s tallest observation wheel, standing 550-feet tall. A part of the LINQ’s outdoor shopping, dining and entertainment promenade, it takes 30 minutes for the wheel to complete one revolution. It features 28 enclosed cabins which each hold up to 40 people.

Children 12 and under ride free with one paid adult. There is bench seating inside, although most people prefer to stand to take in the sights.

For more information on the High Roller, visit https://www.caesars.com/ linq/high-roller

VEGAS continued on II »

The brave souls who ride the El Loco rollercoaster at the Circus-Circus Adventuredome, the largest indoor theme park in the world, will experience twists, turns, and drops. Its tallest point is 90 feet and the rollercoaster reaches up to 45 miles per hour.

Yosemite Valley Chapel – A Landmark and Place of Worship Nancy Vigran For some, an early Sunday morning service communing with the majestic Giant Sequoia Redwoods and surrounding nature in Yosemite is a dream come true. For others, a more formal worship service is desired, and the historical Yosemite Valley Chapel provides just that.

The chapel was built in 1879 and is the oldest structure in Yosemite Valley, still being used today. It was placed on the Natural Register of Historic Places in 1973 because of its “simple architecture” that was “a particularly fine example of the early chapels constructed in the Sierra Nevada Mountains.”

It is also a favorite for photographers and artists including Tulare’s Robert Sutton, who takes photographs everywhere he goes and then redipicts them in oils.

Such was the case, for the Yosemite Chapel and two of the past miniature exhibits at the Tulare Historical Museum.

“It’s nice a looking little chapel, and it’s out in the middle of nowhere,” Sutton said. “It was a perfect fit for a minia-

ture.” to seat up to He paint250 people. ed it once and It was moved put it in the in 1901 to its exhibit, where current locaall entries are tion on the also utilized south side as fundraisers of Yosemite for the museValley, about um, through a mile away a drawing. from its forWhen he mer home. found an acIt has quaintance been added had wanted on to in the to win, but back. Some didn’t, he restoration painted one occurred in for her as well. the 1960’s And then he and the founpainted it dation was again, a third Tulare artist Robert Sutton’s oil miniature painting raised to protime, for the of Yosemite Valley Chapel, exhibited during the 2016 tect it from exhibit earlier Tulare Historical Museum’s Miniature Exhibit. Photo/ flooding.

Nancy Vigran this year.

However, The chapin the flood of el originally was one room and designed 1997, it did receive damage anyway and

further restoration took place.

“It’s an incredible privilege to be pastor there,” said Brent Moore, who has been resident pastor for the chapel for 15 years.

Managed by the Yosemite Community Church, services at Yosemite Chapel are nondenominational. Sunday service hours are 9:15am, 11am (Memorial Day-Labor Day) and 6:30 pm. Wednesday services are offered at 7pm.

Special services and events are sometimes held including historic films and lectures, visit the chapel’s website or Facebook page for more information.

The chapel is open 24-hours a day and is also available for weddings, however, there is no area for receptions.

The chapel is open year-round, weather permitting. Yosemite Chapel is located on Southside Drive not far from Yosemite Village, the lodge and hotel.

For more information visit yosemitevalleychapel.org, visit the Yosemite Valley Chapel Facebook page, or call (209) 372-4831.

II - A Weekend Away

Vegas

Continued from p. I

Indoor Theme Park

Las Vegas likes to do everything big, and at Circus-Circus, the Adventuredome is said to be the largest indoor theme park in the world. This refreshing indoor arena away from the summer heat offers themepark rides, games and food. While most of the rides have height requirements, there are some all-age rides and a multitude of attractions such as the clown show, miniature golf, mini-bowling and arcade games for the whole family.

For the more adventurous there is rock climbing and bungee jumping. There are also two laser tag rooms – Circus Lazar Maze and Gotham City.

The dome’s two roller coaster rides, El Loco and Canyon Blaster require riders to be at least 48-inches tall and strong of heart. Other featured rides include the FX Theater with SpongeBob Square Pants 4-D: The Great Jelly Rescue or Dora & Diego 4-D Adventure. Children must be 33-inches tall to attend with an adult or 42-inches tall to attend on their own.

The Sand Pirates is an out of control swing ride, with riders meeting the same requirements as the FX Theatre. Children must be 54-inches tall to drive, or 42-inches tall to ride in the Canyon Car, bumper cars.

Other junior rides include the Miner Mike - mine train, Frog Jumper, Thunderbirds – airplane ride, the Circus Carousel, Road Runner and the B.C. Bus. One other unusual feature is Drifters, a Ferris wheel eluding to the feeling of riding in a hot air balloon. Children under 42 inches

19 May, 2016 must ride with an adult.

For more information on the Adventuredome, visit http://www.adventuredome.com.

From TV to Visitor Crime Scene Investigation

For children 12-and-older, and their parents, the CSI Experience is an interactive forensic experience like no other.

Visitors check in on a crime scene and uncover clues, then return to the lab for further investigation while interacting with real-life forensic scientists, as well video of stars of the hit TV show, CSI. There are three different crime scenes, and generally individuals can pick their choice. These include – “A House Collided” investigators will compare fingerprints of the victim to the evidence, examine blood spatter patterns, observe the shoes of the victim and tracks found in the room, compare fibers on the victim’s clothes with fibers in the room, analyze the victim’s blood-alcohol level, compare DNA of the victim with evidence and eventually discover the cause of death.

For “Who Got Served?” the investigation will include reviewing evidence within a cell phone, examining the contents of the handbag, inspecting the purse and headshot for fingerprints, establishing the time of death, reviewing DNA samples, testing powder from the handbag at the scene, and discovering the cause of death.

Sleuths working on “No Bones About It!” will analyze the bullet from the found skull, analyze hairs found with the body, examine a seed found in a the pocket of a coat, study a DNA sample from a tooth, test the DNA of an animal’s hair, examine

The Jabbawockeez show at the MGM Grand is full of live music, dance, and comedy.

Photo/Flickr user Earflaps

a femur bone to establish the height of the victim, compare dental records to the victim and discover the cause of death.

It generally takes one hour to complete an investigation, although once participants have entered an exhibit they may take as long as they wish.

CSI: The Experience is located at the MGM Grand and is open daily from 9am-9pm. Advance ticket purchase is highly recommended.

CSI: The Experience was developed in cooperation by the Fort Worth Museum of Science and History, CBS Consumer Products, CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, and the National Science Foundation.

For more information visit, http:// lasvegas.csiexhibit.com/.

Wildlife Park

While their act ceased, once Roy Horn of Siegfried and Roy was attacked by one of their tigers 13 years ago while on stage, the legend continues through

Siegfried and Roy’s Secret Garden and Dolphin Habitat located at the Mirage.

Families including children of all ages are welcome to spend as much time as they wish exploring the gardens and tiger, lion and dolphin habitats. Exclusive experiences include a VIP tour, Yoga with the Dolphins, Painting with Dolphins and the opportunity of becoming Trainer of the Day in the Dolphin Habitat.

All day adventure passes are $22 for adults; $17 for children 4-12. Painting with the Dolphins is limited to two at a time and restricted to participants a minimum age of 8. For more information visit https://www.mirage.com/en/ entertainment/siegfried-roys-secret-garden-and-dolphin-habitat.html.

No doubt, there is much to do and see in Las Vegas for all ages, any time of year. While there is adult-only entertainment, and gambling is prohibited to anyone under the age of 21, the city is alive with entertainment 24-hours a day and so are the restaurants and buffets.

Other Las Vegas Family Attractions Fountains of Bellagio – Bellagio Hotel This free outdoor experience and Vegas staple fuses water, music, and lights for an ambitiously choreographed show. www.bellagio.com/en/entertainment/ fountains-of-bellagio.html

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SkyJump, XScream and Insanity – Stratosphere Hotel Three adrenaline-fueled rides atop the tallest building west of the Mississippi. www.stratospherehotel.com/Activities

The Volcano – Mirage Hotel Firing nightly, this iconic Vegas centerpiece is full of explosions and an energetic soundtrack. www.mirage.com/en/amenities/volcano. html

Flamingo Wildlife Habitat Families can take a trip through paradise in one of Vegas’ most unique attractions as they experience the beauty of exotic birds, fish and turtles. www.caesars.com/flamingo-las-vegas/ things-to-do/wildlife-habitat

Gondola Rides – The Venetian Hotel Families can complete their Venice experience in Vegas by hitching a ride in an authentic Venetian gondola with a singing gondolier. www.venetian.com/hotel/attractions/ gondola-rides.html

Mandalay Bay’s Shark Reef Aquarium This unique sensory experience is unlike any other aquarium taking visitors through a magical undersea ride of colorful fish and dangerous aquatic predators. www.sharkreef.com/

Bellagio Conservatory and Botanical Gardens – Bellagio Hotel Seasonal garden curated by talented horticulturalists and designers, showcasing plants from around the world inside a 14,000-square-foot conservatory. www.bellagio.com/en/entertainment/ conservatory-botanical-garden.html

Tournament of Kings – Excalibur Hotel The ultimate dinner and show experience, families will rejoice as this live-action production retells the story of King Arthur. www.excalibur.com/en/entertainment/ tournament-of-kings.html

The Big Apple Coaster & Arcade – New York-New York Hotel A thrilling ride featuring the world’s first 180-degree “heartline” twist and dive maneuver. www.newyorknewyork.com/en/entertainment/the-big-apple-coaster-and-arcade.html

Popovich Comedy Pet Theater – Planet Hollywood Hotel Gregory Popovich and his furry friends put on a one-of-a-kind comedy and juggling show the whole family can enjoy. comedypet.com/ Cirque du Soleil – Various properties www.cirquedusoleil.com/

A Weekend Away - III

19 May, 2016

California Boasts Latest National Park in Salinas Valley the last remaining birds eventually being introduced into the wild in the coastal America’s newest National Park is mountains of southern and central Caljust a few hours away from the South ifornia, as well as northern Baja CaliforValley. Located in the Salinas Valley, nia, the Grand Canyon and Zion NaPinnacles National Park was first estab- tional Parks. There is at least one pair of lished as a National Monument by Presi- California Condors nesting within the dent Theodore Roosevelt in 1908. It was park, according to the Pinnacles Nationpassed by congress for National Park sta- al Park Facebook page. tus in 2012, and signed in by President Bird watching enthusiasts from all Barack Obama in January of 2013. over are drawn to the park for the opporThe Pinnacles started forming some tunity to possibly spot one of these rare 23 million years ago with the eruption of birds, as well as other bird wildlife inthe Neenach Volcano in what is now the cluding falcons, hawks and kites; geese, Antelope Valley near Lancaster. Move- ducks, gulls and shorebirds; swallows, ment of the Pacific Plate along with hummingbirds, sparrows and flycatcheruptions of the San Andreas Fault split ers; and more. The best opportunity off part of the rock moving it nearly 200 to see the condors is soaring along the miles to the Northwest. Weathering and ridge next to the Pinnacles Campground erosion have and above the aided in crepeak formaating the area tions near Bear now known Gulch. as Pinnacles R o c k National Park. climbers are Small, but also attractWestern Naed to the tional Park park.

Here standards, the there are easy park is approxto mid-level imately 26,600 climbs, from acres. easy topropes The rock Free flying endangered California Condors live within to multi-pitch formations at- the Pinnacles National Park and lucky bird watchers just climbs. Certract wildlife may spot one in the park. Shown here is a parent with tain areas may nestling. Photo/Courtesy/Gavin Emmons, NPS such as bats be off limits at and birds, invarious times, due to weather conditions cluding the endangered California Con- and raptor breeding habits, so climbers dor. It is currently home to 25 of these need to check in with the visitor center. majestic birds. Once extinct in the wild, General climbing rules and common a captive breeding cooperation between sense apply to rock climbers. the San Diego and Los Angeles Zoos beThe park has more than 30 miles gan in the early 1990’s with offspring of of hiking trails ranging from easy walks Staff Reports

The amazing view along the Condor Gulch Trail begins just minutes into the 1.7 miles hike. Photo/Courtesy/Miguel Vieira, The Wilderness Society

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The Pinnacles National Park, located in the Salinas Valley, is the newest park to enter into the National Park system. Photo/Courtesy/National Park Service

to more strenuous trails throughout the park. They range from one to one-anda-half hours to eight hours in length, although the trails do not have to be completed. For example, the Condor Gulch Trail offers fabulous views just a few minutes in, and the Condor Gulch Overlook is just a mile in, but the full trail is 1.7 miles one way. Information for all trails is provided at the visitor center.

Yet another feature of the park are the Talus Caves. Those leery of bats, might want to stay away. There are 14 bat species in the park, one of which, the Townsend’s Big Eared Bat, is considered a sensitive species within California. Since the Bear Gulch Cave is a breeding area for the species, the cave is closed during breeding and pup-rearing season. However, parts of the cave will

be opened when deemed safe for the bat colony.

Both the Bear Gulch Cave in the east part of the park and the Balconies Cave to the west may also be closed at times, due to high water.

The Pinnacles campground is available for tent camping. RV camp sites with electrical hookups are also available. Advance reservations can be made and should be for any holiday weekend.

There is a campground store.

Pinnacles National Park is open 365 days per year. Entrance fees are $10 per vehicle or $5 for those on foot or bike. A $20 annual pass is also available.

For more information on the park visit the website, http://www.nps.gov/ pinn/index.htm For camping reservations, call (877) 444-6777.

IV - A Weekend Away

19 May, 2016

Steinbeck

Steinbeck and Ed Ricketts would likely be saying about climate change, were they here today.

Continued from p. I Steinbeck, in his own words, was The building itself was sold to “a student of the mutual relationship California State University, Monterey Bay, with a long-term lease back to the between organism and environment.”

Center, according to Eric Mora, mar- This worldview developed throughout keting and membership coordinator his years of friendship and collaboration with Ricketts and is, perhaps, best for the Center.

The Center strives to share Stein- expressed in Sea of Cortez.

Two blocks from the Center, withbeck’s values with its visitors through in walking distance, is the family home interactive and multimedia exhibits.

On exhibit are rare artifacts such as the of John Steinbeck, which has been Steinbeck’s camper which he took on transformed into a luncheon restauhis road trip around the country result- rant. Owned by the Valley Guild, a non-profit, voluning in the book, teer organization, Travels with Charwhose primary ley, and themed purpose is to maintheaters showcastain the Steinbeck ing films on the House, docent-led author’s works intalks are offered to cluding Cannery diners by reservaRow, Grapes of tion.

Wrath and Of Mice Starting in and Men. June the SteinUpcoming beck House will events at the Nabe open for dinner tional Steinbeck the first Friday of Center include each month. And Steve Webster, during the sum“”What would mer, tours will Steinbeck and be offered on the Ricketts Say about first Sunday of the Climate Change?” Steinbeck gift shop. Photo/Courtesy/ Steinbeck House month. on Sunday, June John Stein5 from 3-4:30pm at the Center. Dr. Steve Webster, beck was an author well-known by co-founder of the Monterey Bay the Baby Boom generation for writing Aquarium, will give a talk on climate about American during the Great Dechange which will explore what John pression.

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Steinbeck’s childhood home. Photo/Courtesy/Steinbeck House

Born in 1902, he was a voracious reader, even at a young age when he also began writing.

Although famed mostly as a novel author for the era, he also served as a war correspondent for the New York Herald Tribune during World War II and his writings were published in book form in the late ‘50s as Once There was a War. He had been denied a commission in the military, as his writings were thought to be of communist leadings and he was investigated by the FBI for the Grapes of Wrath.

One of his last books was Travels with Charley.

According to the Center’s website – “That year [1962] also saw publication of one of his most endearing books, Travels with Charley (1962). ‘I’m going to learn about my own country,’ Stein-

beck wrote to a friend, before he began his trip around America. He felt that he had lost touch with his own country: ‘I, an American writer, writing about America, was working from memory, and the memory at best is a faulty, warpy reservoir. I had not heard the speech of America, smelled the grass and trees and sewage, seen its hills and water, its color and quality of light. I knew the changes only from books and newspapers. But more than this, I had not felt the country for twenty-five years.’

Through the National Steinbeck Center and the Steinbeck House, his legacy lives on.

For more information on the Steinbeck House, visit steinbeckhouse. com.

For more information on the National Steinbeck Center and upcoming events, visit www.steinbeck.org.

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Valley Scene

19 May, 2016

Tulare County Symphony Proposes Name Change Donna Orozco After 56 years, the Tulare County Symphony is proposing to change its name.

The board of directors is proposing a name that would reflect the regional nature, professionalism, and artistic excellence of the orchestra today. The board will discuss the idea with association members at the annual meeting at 5:30 pm on Wednesday, May 18 at the Visalia Fox Theatre. A vote of the membership will take place before the end of the year.

The name Sequoia Symphony Orchestra has been proposed because it would both reflect the composition of the orchestra, whose musicians travel from all over the Central Valley, and also help attract financial support from donors outside of Tulare County.

When Executive Director Juliette de Campos was hired two years ago, one of the board’s directives was to outline a strategy that would broaden the symphony’s patron base by engaging a younger and more diverse audience.

The proposed name change is part of a rebranding campaign that has been underway for several years.

“Most of our patrons are over 60 years old,” says de Campos, “and while that is not unusual for a symphony or-

chestra, we know that growth and expansion are essential to our sustainability. In the past few years we’ve made significant progress in our efforts to create a more modern image for ourselves that appeals to a young audience.”

Key elements in revitalizing the symphony’s image have included upgrading the season playbill to a more professional “magazine style” format and producing a high quality season concert poster series with contemporary visual appeal.

The symphony office has also moved to a modern space with an open floor plan that is designed to communicate the energy of a vibrant arts organization. Exposure through social media outlets has increased considerably and a new website is under construction.

“We see the name change as an opportunity to complete the rebranding process,” de Campos said.

In the corporate world companies choose to rebrand to remain relevant to new customers and stakeholders. It’s also a way to refresh an image to ensure its appeal to contemporary customers and stakeholders. What looked fresh and relevant in 2001 is no longer so appealing in 2015—or more to the point what was a great sounding and perfectly descriptive name in 1960 is not necessarily so

The Tulare County Symphony. Photo/Courtesy/Visalia Convention Visitors Bureau

today.

Tulare County Symphony Association President Florence Kabot believes the time has come to select a name that better reflects the professionalism and regional composition of the orchestra today. Founded nearly 60 years ago as an all-volunteer community orchestra, the Tulare County Symphony has risen to new levels of artistic excellence under the baton of Dr. Bruce Kiesling, who was chosen seven years ago to become the symphony’s music director and conductor.

Kabot emphasized that change is nothing new for the Symphony and in fact has been key to its sustainability for nearly six decades. “We anticipate that like anything else there will be those who are in favor of the idea and those who are against it,” she said. “However, there is a general sense among the board that we need to exercise leadership in this process while remaining sensitive to feedback from our patrons.”

For more information, contact the symphony office at 559 732-8600.

Green Acres Middle School Awarded 1st Place at 5th Annual Tulare County Step Up Youth Challenge

Last year’s Farmersville Memorial Day Parade.

Farmersville to Host Memorial Day Parade Staff Reports

The Kiwanis Club of Farmersville, with the support of the City of Farmersville and members of the community, will be sponsoring Farmersville’s 62nd Memorial Day Parade on Monday, May 30, 2016. This is the only Memorial Day parade held in Tulare County and is the longest running event in the City. In fact, the parade has been around longer than Farmersville has been a city. The parade starts at 10:00 a.m. and normally lasts an hour featuring about 80 entries.

The parade route will run west on Visalia Road to Farmersville Boulevard, turning right and continue north on Farmersville Boulevard to Front Street. Trophies will be awarded for first and second place in various categories as well as a Sweepstakes Trophy for the best entry in the parade. The trophies will be presented at the location of the judges’ stand in front of the La Muebleria El Alto Furniture Store at the corner of Farmersville Boulevard and Ash Street immediately following the parade.

Members of the Parade Committee will be selling raffle tickets along the parade route to offset the cost of trophies.

Raffle prizes are donated by many of the community merchants. Winners of raffle prizes will be announced at the end of the parade.

This year’s parade theme is “Veterans Remembered and Honored”.

So bring your memories, find a good seat and enjoy a good old fashioned parade. Even though Farmersville is a small city, residents still feel that same great pride in our country as the bigger cities. For many, the Memorial Day Parade is a special family event and a wonderful way to honor our veterans.

We hope to see many of you in or at the parade. There is no charge for entering and you might win a trophy!

Those interested in placing an entry in the Parade should contact the Farmersville Memorial Day Parade Committee at P.O. Box 244 Farmersville, CA 93223 or email lopez-alice@sbcglobal. net . Questions can be answered by calling Alice Lopez at 747-3722 or Paul Boyer at 731-9774.

Since February of 2016, Green Acres Middle School students who participate in The PULSE Afterschool Program have been volunteering their time once a week to feed the homeless at the Visalia Rescue Mission. This community service has been part of a leadership project initiated by their participation in the 5th Annual Tulare County Step Up Youth Challenge. The Youth Challenge, which is sponsored by the Tulare County Board of Supervisors, is a community initiative that calls for middle and high school students to create and implement projects that have a positive impact on their local school and community. The Green Acres PULSE Leadership students, led by their after school coach, Monica Alvarez, helped cook, clean, and serve meals to the patrons. While this was an activity for the students to give of

Staff Reports

their time helping those in need, students also experienced the opportunity to learn more about the stories of those who are homeless in our community.

“I always thought that homeless people were bad or weird, but I learned that many of them are regular people who lost a job or just had something bad happen in their life that caused them to be homeless,” shared one of the PULSE Leadership students of her experience at the Visalia Rescue Mission. “I now feel really different about them and want to continue to help.”

Another student spoke of his experience by sharing, “The saddest thing was seeing other kids there that were homeless too. It makes me appreciate what I have.”

GREEN ACRES continued on 18 »

Photo/Courtesy/Visalia Unified School District

18 • Valley Voice

19 May, 2016

West Hills Magazine Highlights the Hard Work of Dedicated Students, Staff and Faculty Staff Reports

The Spring 2016 issue of West Hills Magazine is now available online.

The sixth issue of the magazine focuses on student success and the stories of students throughout the District who have overcome obstacles to reach their goals. It also showcases the dedication of West Hills staff and faculty to providing students with the best possible educational experience both in the classroom and out whether through fundraising for scholarships or providing learning experiences.

“Inspirational,” said Dr. Frank Gornick, West Hills Community College District Chancellor. “That is one word I would use to describe this issue of our West Hills Magazine.”

This 32-page issue features everything from the story of Rodolfo Rodriguez, the son of farm workers who is now working on his PhD, to an inside look at West Hills College Lemoore’s LIFE Program, which helps train future teachers by giving them an opportunity to work with students at local elementary schools.

It also features a diverse array of student success stories, including the story of mother and son Tami and Garrett Shannon and how they achieved their goal of graduating from WHCL together, the achievement of West Hills College Coalinga student Alex Avalos in attending an international summit in Switzerland to compete against mobile application developers from around the world, and the tale of three

girls who loved Disney and—by attending WHCL—now are living their dream of working at Disney Land and Disney World.

Also highlighted are several West Hills programs including the dual credit program, which allows high school students to take college classes and earn their associate’s degree while still in school, and the Associated Degree for Transfer program, which streamlines the pathway for West Hills students from community college to a four-year school.

Events that contribute to student life and the campus culture are featured, including the annual Club Rush at WHCL, the growing Century bicycle ride at West Hills College Coalinga, and a disability awareness event at WHCL. Finally, the increasing need for graduates who are well versed in math and science and the dedicated efforts of West Hills’ faculty to meet that need is examined.

The magazine is available online on the district’s website and printed copies will be mailed to donors and friends of WHCCD. Printed copies will also be available on each campus and at the district office, local chambers of commerce, and libraries.

A link to the magazine is on the district’s homepage at www.westhillscollege.com. For a direct link to the magazine, go to: http://tinyurl.com/ htrcfbe. The online version includes an option to download a PDF copy of the magazine.

Photo/Courtesy/Visalia Unified School District

Green Acres Continued from p. 17

In addition to their time at the Visalia Rescue Mission, the PULSE Leadership students also volunteered at the Visalia Emergency Aid Council (VEAC) and FoodLink, who package and donate items to the Rescue Mission.

“This program is taking the initiative to provide our middle school students with real-world experiences that allow them to foster compassion and empathy for those less fortunate in our community. For these students, who spend much of their time on their smartphones texting friends, listening to music, or playing video games, to be brave and selfless enough to give of their free time and help those in need says a lot of what their potential is,” states Frank Escobar, Program Manag-

er of After School Programs at Visalia Unified School District.

As a result of the Green Acres PULSE Leadership Team’s efforts, they were awarded first place in the Community Collaboration category at the Tulare County Step Up Youth Challenge Awards that was held at the LJ Williams Theatre this past Monday, May 2, 2016. The students received medals, a trophy, and a check for $2,500 to support continued projects in the following school year. Additionally, these students will be recognized at the upcoming Visalia Unified School District Board meeting on Tuesday, May 10, at 7:00 p.m.

The PULSE Leadership Club still has two more visits scheduled to the Visalia Rescue Mission this school year.

Several of the students have expressed interest in continuing to volunteer their time at the mission after school is out this summer as well.

19 May, 2016

Valley Voice • 19

Great Conversations Surrealism and Politics: The Case of Gogol been close relations between us. Judging by your dress, you must be employed by Imagine you awake one morning the Senate…whereas my field is science.” to find that your Kovalev leaves in despair, and spends the nose is gone—that rest of the day searching for his haughwhere your nose ty civil servant nose, even attempting to once sat is nothing place an ad in the newspaper for it—only but “a flat, smooth to find out that the newspaper office will surface.” This is not do such a ridiculous thing, since the precisely the sit- nose probably has some social clout, and uation of Nikolai it would be insulting to post an ad for Gogol’s character Kovalev in his short such an esteemed figure. Eventually, a story “The Nose” (1836), a surreal and policeman arrests the nose and returns hysterically funny tale that levels scath- it, but unfortunately, Kovalev cannot acing social satire through subtle narrative tually reattach his nose: it merely falls to and well-drawn characters. the table “like a cork” when he tries.

The tale actually begins with Ivan By the end of the story, Kovalev’s Yokovlevich, a barber with nose has mysteriously reat“a number of good points,” tached itself. But what does including the fact that he’s it all mean? The narrator “a terrible drunkard,” his himself tells us that the tale clothes are “piebald[,] yelis “utter nonsense,” that the lowish brown and gray,” entire affair “is completely and he is a “terrible cynic.” inexplicable.” Nonetheless, Yokovlevich finds a nose in Nikolai Gogol the narrator says, “there is his breakfast biscuit, and something to it. Whatever after pulling it out to marvel at it, his you may say, such things do happen— wife lambastes him: “did you lop off seldom, but they do.” that nose, you beast? You crook…you The great books group loved this drunkard! I’ll report you to the police weird, poignant, and humorous tale, and myself!...Get it out of here. Do what you offered a variety of takes on the story. For like with it, you hear me, but don’t let some, the story is a subconscious fantasy me ever see it here again!” Troubled by or dream in which the insecure Kovalev this nose in his food, Yokovlevich leaves suffers a symbolic loss of a body part that and attempts to drop the nose into the stands as a proxy for his social status. river. Just as he is being apprehended by For others, Gogol is weaving an incisive the police, the narrator tells us that “here commentary on nineteenth century Rusthe incident becomes befogged and it sia’s economic and class structures. And is completely unknown what happened for others still, the story is just that—an next.” engaging, funny, surreal story, lovely in That’s when the story shifts to the its weirdness and provocative in its posnow-noseless Kovalev. Angry about his sibilities. missing nose, Kovalev searches about One thing’s for certain: our discustown, only to find that his nose is gal- sion exemplified the human desire for livanting about dressed as a state coun- order and meaning, raising a host of cilor—a rank significantly higher on questions. Why would an author write the social ladder than Kovalev, who is in a surreal mode like Gogol does? What merely a “Collegiate assessor.” Kovalev interpretive possibilities does such a tale follows his smartly-dressed nose into the offer? In what ways can social satire of cathedral, there to plead with his nose to two centuries ago still speak to us about come back to him: “I don’t know how to how we jockey and maneuver for posiput it, sir,” he sycophantically says to his tion in our society, forcing us to rethink nose, “it seems you ought to know where our own foibles even as we laugh at those you belong.” The nose is unimpressed: of others?

“You’re mistaken, sir. I’m all on my own.

Joseph R. Teller is Professor of English Moreover, there couldn’t possibly have at COS. Email him at josepht@cos.edu.

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Sequoia Shuttle Kicks Off 2016 Season Sequoia Shuttle will celebrate ten years of transporting passengers to and from Sequoia National Park with a 2016 season kick-off event, at 10 a.m. on Thursday, May 26, featuring a press conference with representatives from Visalia Transit, the City of Visalia, Sequoia National Park and the Disability Advisory Committee.

The event will culminate in a free season-opening ride to the park. Anyone can take advantage of this special offer; however, seats are limited, so reservations should be made in advance by calling (559) 713-4577 or emailing sequoiashuttle@visaliacity.org. The trip will include the shuttle ride, entry to the park, a guided tour on one of Sequoia National Park’s wheelchair-accessible trails and free lunch. Guests

Staff Reports

board the shuttles at 11 a.m. and return to the Visalia Transit Center at approximately 5:30 p.m.

As a part of the ten-year anniversary celebration, Sequoia Shuttle has added a section to its website to highlight some of the incredible destinations and attractions that visitors can access by taking the shuttle, including things to do, see and bring. Come celebrate with Sequoia Shuttle!

Sequoia Shuttle is the perfect way to get to Sequoia National Park. For just $15 round-trip, riders receive complimentary entrance to the park and unlimited shuttle service within the park, giving guests unparalleled access to numerous exciting attractions.

Sequoia Chamber Chorale Performs Mozart Coronation Mass The College of the Sequoias Foundation presents the Sequoia Chamber Chorale in Concert on Sunday, May 22 at College of the Sequoias Theater, 915 S. Mooney. The concert begins at 3pm with doors open at 2:30pm.

The concert will be the final performance of retiring COS music professor Jeff Seaward. There will be a hors d’oeuvres reception following the concert.

Special pieces include “Nada te turbe,” by Joan Szymko featuring cellist Dr. Valerie Walden; “Set Me As a Seal,” by Richard Nance featuring Elisha Wilson on French Horn. The concert will also feature, “Luminous Night of the Soul,” by Ola Gjielo featuring piano and string quartet with Treasa Bonnar, piano; Erin Scofield and K.C. Simba, violin; Louise Gutierrez, viola; Valerie Walden, cello.

The program concludes with, “Coronation Mass in C Major Missa No. 14,” by Mozart, with orchestra made up of professional musicians in the area. Featured soloists are: Krystin

Staff Reports

Dulay, soprano; Darice Vieira, alto; Steven Smith, tenor; Michael Kirksey, bass.

The newly-formed Sequoia Chamber Chorale is an auditioned chamber choir dedicated to the pursuit of musical excellence. Through its performances and programs, the Sequoia Chamber Chorale seeks to inspire singers, audiences and communities through the beauty and power of diverse choral music. The chorale works to nurture and develop the skills of choral musicians, to increase community appreciation for the choral arts and to encourage support through public performances and collaboration with other artists and arts organizations.

Tickets are available on line at www.costheater.org/tickets, at the COS Box Office (559) 730-3907 or at the door. Tickets are $15 general admission; $10 for students and seniors.

Proceeds support the College of the Sequoias Foundation.

Lunch served 12-1 pm $4

Calendar Mondays: Bridge Club, 9:30am2pm 210 W Center Street Visalia, CA 93291. Admission is free. For additional information call: Joan Dinwiddie @ 732-0855 Mondays: Knitters, 10am-12:30pm 210 W Center Street Visalia, CA 93291. Everyone is welcome.

Fridays: Women’s Morning Bible Study, 9am-Noon 210 W Center Street Visalia, CA 93291. For additional information call: 739-9010 Saturdays: Cup of Jazz, 10amNoon At Cafe 210, at 210 Center street, Visalia. Free. Led by Richard Garoogian. Call 559.730.0910 for more information.

Only) at the Tulare Public Library, 475 North M Street in Tulare.

Facilitated by: Dr. Lance Zimmerman, Ph.D of veterans Counseling Clinic. “The transition from serving in a combat zone to civilian life can be a difficult one. Combat veterans commonly experience feelings of depression, isolation, alienation, guilt, anxiety, and anger following their service. If you’re experiencing these or any other emotional problems after serving in a combat zone, it’s vital to seek professional help. “ -Veterans Counseling Clinic.

Mon

Tues

Wed

Thu

2 Grilled Chicken breast with lemon cream sauce, rice pilaf, fresh veggie and a roll

3 Baked Meatloaf with brown gravy, mashed potatoes, fresh veggies and a roll

4 Frito boats topped with all meat chili & cheese, garden salad and fruit

5 Ch gre Me bea frui

9

10

11

12

with brown gravy, mashed potatoes, Wed fresh veggies and a roll

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May 2016 Lunch

Salisbury 12-1 Steakpm Fett served $4

Ham & cheese sub sandwich with tortilla soup, salad Mon and fruit

Oven FriedLunch Chicken, scalloped potatoes, fresh vegetaTues bles, and a roll

16 2 Grilled Chicken

BBQ pulled breast with pork lemon sandwich withrice cream sauce, coleslaw, pilaf, freshpotato veggie chips and fruit and a roll

317Baked Meatloaf Lasagna with meat with brown gravy, sauce, salad and mashed potatoes, garlic veggies bread and fresh a roll

418 Minestrone soup, Frito boats topped pastrami and chili with all meat Swiss meltgarden sand& cheese, wich and salad andfruit fruit

19 5 Ch

9 23 Ham & cheese sub

10 24 Oven Fried Chick-

11 25 Salisbury Steak

12 26 Fett

Cheeseburgers sandwich with torwith chips,salad macatilla soup, roni salad & fruit and fruit

Chicken & Cheese en, scalloped potataquitos with Mextoes, fresh vegetaican bles, rice, and beans a roll and salad

Pancakes, with brownbreakgravy, fast potatoes, mashed potatoes, scrambled eggs, fresh veggies and sausage, and fruit a roll

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2nd Tuesday, Monthly: Yappy Hour, 5-9pm Well-mannered, leashed pets are DAI welcome on the patio at the Planing 30 31 18 16 19 17 Mill Artisan Pizzeria, 514 East Main Chic Fish Tacos with Closed!

BBQ pulled pork Lasagna with meat Minestrone soup, Bak Street, Suite A, in Visalia. A portion Sal cabbage and pico Memorial Day!! sandwich with sauce, salad and pastrami and wit of the proceeds is donated to the Valabl de gallo, black ley Oak SPCA. For more informacoleslaw, potato garlic bread Swiss melt sandma rep beans & rice 3rd Thursday tion, call 651-1111. chips and fruit wich and fruit fres Monthly through roll 3rd Tuesday, Monthly: League of October: Diabetes Women Voters Meeting, 11:45am Please call . Reservation Support Group, 24 23 26 25 At Sue Sa’s Club House, 699 W. 5:30-7pm October: Diabetes Support Group, eas covered. They also report fewer Pancakes, Cheeseburgers Chicken & Cheese hospitalizations Chi Center in Visalia. Reservations are Kaweah Delta Health Care andbreakoutpatient visits.

District 5:30-7pm required and the public is welcome. will offer a free diabetes support fast potatoes, withgroup chips,Kaweah maca-Delta taquitos Mexser Health Carewith District The Empowerment for Better Living Contact Newellgb@hotmail.com or through October on the third scrambled roniThurssalad will & fruit icandiabetes rice, beans offer a free support CDSMP workshops eggs, will be offeredtort on call 732-1251.

October on the last a quarterly basis atand the newly sausage, fruitopened salad rice day of the month at Woodlake Man- group throughand 1st Wednesday, Monthly through or Apartments, 200 E. Sierra Avenue Thursday of the month at Sand Creek Chronic Disease Management Center DAI 31 Rd. 124, Orosi. located at 325 Willis Street in Visalia.

June 8: South Valley Guitar Society ,Woodlake. Information:30 624-2416. Apartments, 41020 Chic Information: 624-2416.

Fish Tacos with June 4: Visalia Music School Open Meeting, 7-8:30pm Closed!

3rd Thursday, Monthly: Gathering Sal All acoustic musicians and music At the Oval, 12:30-1pm Memorial cabbage and picoMic, 7-9:30pm JulyDay!!

12th – August 16th (Every abl lovers are welcome to join at 1849 Lifting up the needs and concerns of Tuesday for 6 weeks de gallo, 10am –black Bring your Instrument. We do have E. Tulare Rd. in Lindsay. The more Visalia through individual prayer and 12:30pm) rep drums, mic, PA System and extra guibeans & rice styles of music, the better. A featured meditation at Oval Park, 808 North October 4th – November 8th tars. We want to watch and hear you performer each month during the Court Street in Visalia. For more in- (Every Tuesday for 6 weeks 10am – perform. 4,000 square feet of musical first half of the meeting. During the formation, call 967-4065.

Please call 12:30pm) fun. We will be .inReservation the Performance second, anyone is welcome to play.

If you would like to learn how to bet- Hall at 2332 W Whitendale Avenue, Share a song or simply enjoy the mu- 3rd Thursday, Monthly: Board ter manage your health, sign up for a Suite A, B, & C. $5.00 at the door, sic. Bring snack to share. Every first Game Night, 6-7:45pm free six-week workshop presented by Pizza and Soda for small fee.

Wednesday of the month through For ages 10+ at the Visalia Branch Li- Kaweah Delta Health Care District.

June 8. For more information, call brary, 200 West Oak Street. Sign-ups The workshop is designed to help Call (559) 627-9500 for more Info. are not required. For more informa559-303-3943. people with ongoing health probtion, call 713-2703. lems such as diabetes, arthritis, heart 1st Thursday Monthly through disease, asthma, or any other chronOctober: Diabetes Support Group, 3rd Thursday, Monthly: Ladies’ Night, 6-10pm ic condition. Class size is typically 5:30-7pm At the Clay Cafe in Visalia, 1018 E. around 12-18 participants. Each sesKaweah Delta Health Care District Mineral King Ave. $10 studio fee sion lasts 2 ½ hours. Topics that are May 21: SpringFest & Aftermath will offer a free diabetes support group through October from on the first with ceramic purchase. Includes com- covered include: dealing with difficult Car Show, Noon-11pm Thursday of the month at the Kaweah plimentary margarita, dinner and emotions, managing symptoms, goal Vendor Booths, Car Show, Chili and Delta Chronic Disease Management dessert. Door prizes too! Reservations setting, problem solving, nutrition, Salsa Cook-Off, Beer Garden, Tourunderstanding medications, making nament, Live Music, BINGO, and Center, 325 Willis St., Visalia. Infor- required: 733-2022 informed treatment decisions, and in- other activities throughout the day. mation: 624-2416.

1st and 3rd Thursdays, Monthly: Central Valley Tea Party Meetings, creasing strength and stamina through At John Maroot Park - Van Dorsten 1st Thursday, Monthly: Veterans better fitness. This workshop was de- & Whitley Avenue Corcoran.

6pm Support Group, 5:30-7pm veloped by Dr. Kate Lorig at Stanford Free support group for global war 819 West Visalia Road, Farmersville.

University. Participants demonstrate May 21 & 22: Exeter’s Relay For on terrorism & post 9-11 (Veterans Last Thursday Monthly through significant improvements in the ar- Life

713-4481

713-4481

MAY

4.00 Dine In or Takeout & under 55 yrs: $5.00 Fri.

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6 MOTHER’s DAY

The Weekly Salads Garden Salad — with chick-

Chicken LeCordon Bleu, baked potato, veggies, roll and a dessert

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13

Asian Chicken Salad — Crisp

pizza, garden salad and fruit

cilantro, peanuts, wontons, grilled chicken with peanut dressing

fered at the Book Faire. Baskets are donated by local businesses.

There will also be a book sale.

the Center for Spiritual Living during the First Friday art walk in Downtown Visalia on June 3 from 5-8 p.m. Located at 117 S. Locust (one block south of Main). 559 625-2441 www.cslvisalia.org

May 28: Center for Spiritual Fri. The Weekly Salads Living shows “Peaceful Warrior,” 6pm Salad tacochickGarden Salad——inwith heese & Chicken 20 6 MOTHER’s DAY Taco Starring Nick bowls withtomato, lettuce, chicken, kedenchiladas, Meatloaf Ham & lentil soup en, lettuce, cucumeen Chicken LeCordon Nolte, based blackshredded beans, corn withwith Mexith brown ber, lettuce exican rice,gravy, with on the semi-auBleu, turkey baked sandpotato, can cheese and salsa ashed potatoes, wich on wheat bread tobiographical ranch dressing ans, salad and veggies, roll and a sh veggie & a and fruit book by Dan it dessert Millman, the l Asian Chicken Salad — Crisp movie is about 13 Perfect Garden Salad — 27 a young athlete tucine alfredo Slice of combination romaine, carrots, cabbage, Field of greens with apples, who meets “Socli verde pork salad salad sandcilantro, peanuts, wontons, th chicken, Cae- Chicken pizza, garden walnuts, dried cranberries and rates” (Nolte), rved with corn wich on croissant, grilled chicken with peanut r salad & garlic and fruit feta with raspberry walnut who teaches him tillas, Mexican cream of broccoli dressing ead dressing about spirituality, e, beans & fruit soup, salad & fruit the quest for happiness and living ILY SALAD: Salad— -inChicken, *Sweet treats or fruit will Garden Taco Salad taco 20 in the “now.”The cken Caesar tomato,with cucumber, shredded be served daily. bowls lettuce, chicken, kedisMeatloaf Ham & lentil soup Center for Spirlad availlettucebeans, with ranch dressing **Items on Menu are black corn with Mexiitual Living is th le brown as mealgravy, with turkey sandlocated at 117 S. subject to change ashed potatoes, wich on wheat bread can cheese and salsa placement Locust, Visalia sh veggie & a and fruit (one block south l of Main). Tickns must be made a day in advance by PM. ets are $10 and Perfect Garden Salad — 27 Held at Monarch Stadium. For more Banner ProgramField was created for the include popcorn of greens with apples, liinformation, verde pork Chicken salad sandcall 594-9919 ext. 6504. Porterville area as a way to honor past and beverages. Information: 559 625walnuts, dried cranberries and rved with corn wich on croissant, and current military personnel for 2441.

May 25: Meet and Greet for Wendy feta with raspberry walnut tillas, Mexican cream of broccoli their service to the nation and comReed, 6-8pm May 29: Southern Gospel music dressing e,Meet beans & fruit soup, salad & fruitThe banner will act as a pub- concert, 6pm Wendy Reed, Democratic can- munity. gratitude that pays didate for Congress, 23rd District, lic expression ofGarden First Baptist Church of Dinuba is ILY SALAD: Salad - The Chicken, * Sweet treats tribute or fruittowill the courage, commitment, at the Caesar Ol’ Buckaroo in Three Rivers. pleased to be hosting a Southern Goscken tomato, cucumber, shredded and heroism displayed by individuals be served daily.

The Ol’ Buckaroo is right past the pel music concert on Sunday May 29, lad is availwith ranch2016 dressing who have in the Armed Forces. **Items on Menu areservedlettuce North Fork turn off at 41695 Sierra at 6:00 pm featuring “Keepers leDr. asThree mealRivers. Refreshments will Banners will be raised for Memorial Of The Faith Ministry”. KOTF is a subject to change Day and lowered after Veterans Day. placement be served. nationally known quartet from the May 28: Clover House Peddlers state of Washington who has become May 26: Ground Breaking CereMart, 8am-3pm a “Fan Favorite” wherever they go. for be Visalia’s new Elementary nsmony must made a day in Antiques, advance by and PM . vintage collectible Last year they filled our church to School, 10am Near Giddings and Shannon Parkway. items for sale at 224 N. E. Street, Ex- near capacity while blessing us with a Spirit filled concert.

Parking available in the parking lot of eter.

June 4: Free Entrance to Your National Parks National Trails Day (free only at Sequoia and Kings Canyon NPs)

h Menu / Visalia Senior Center

romaine, carrots, cabbage, tucineDine alfredo SliceTakeout of combination 4.00 In or & under 55 yrs: $5.00

th chicken, Caer salad & garlic u ead

12

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Riverway Sports Park located at 3611 N Dinuba Blvd. Questions or information: Nancy Lockwood (559)7333737 or email Nlockwood@thelockwoodagency.net

May 28: Memorial Day Book Faire, 9am-4pm At the Exeter Library Patio at City Park, 230 E. Chestnut. Win a basket of goodies -- tickets are $1 each or six May 27: Porterville Inaugural Mili- for $5. Tickets available now at the Exeter Library. Last-chance tickets tary Banner Ceremony, Noon The City of Porterville will host a cer- will also be offered at the book faire. emony in honor of the 2016 Military May 28: Book Faire, 9am-4pm Banner Program nominees. Com- Exeter Friends of the Library’s First memorative banners for 37 former Memorial Day Book Faire will be Satand active service members from the urday, May 28th from 9 am to 4 pm Porterville community will be raised on the Exeter Library patio at Exeter along Main Street in Downtown Por- City Park, 230 East Chestnut. Win terville. The community is invited to a basket of goodies!! Tickets for the attend and recognize the service of basket are $1 each or six for $5 beginthese hometown heroes along with all ning May 10th at the Exeter Library. other military personnel. The Military Last chance tickets will also be of-

June 10: St. Anne’s School Golf Tournament, 9:30am - Check in at 8:00am At the River Island Country Club, 31989 River Island Drive in Porterville. Entry fee: $100 per golfer; $5 Muligans; Sponsorship’s starting at $100. 2 Hole in One’s to Win a New Car and a New Boat Longest Drive & Closest to the Hole Contest Vegas Hole and a Whole Lot of Fun! Entry includes golf, all you can eat buffet, and 1 raffle ticket. For more information or to register contact: Tristan at 559.359.0397 or Torri at 559.793.8834.

June 10: Dairy Princess Coronation & Salute to the Dairy Industry, 6-9pm The Tulare County Dairy Women along with the Tulare Chamber of Commerce will host the 32nd Annual Dairy Princess Coronation and Salute to the Dairy Industry Dinner at TDES Hall 515 North I St in Tulare.

During the event the dairy princess will be crowned, dairy family of the year will be honored, and scholarships will be provided to students who are pursuing a degree in agriculture.

Tickets - $35. For more information call Toni-Marie Faria 559.686.1547.

June 11: Hunter/Jumper Clinic For Beginners, 8:30am Teaching riders how to go over fences (jumps). Must ride English. They can bring their own horse or lease one of If you were to only attend one con- mine. cert all this year this is the one to For more info call 559-561-4268. All attend!. Their music ministry brings events take place at Wood N Horse praise and worship of our Lord. Free Training Stables, 42846 North Fork admission! A free-will offering will be Dr, Three Rivers. taken for the ministry of KOTF. For more information, please call Dennis June 18: Free Entrance to Your National Parks at (559) 643-0676.

A Day Honoring Buffalo Soldiers (free only at Sequoia and Kings Canyon NPs)

JUNE

June 27-30: Horse Camp for Beginners Ages 7 to 77, 8:30-11am each day June 3: First Friday art walk For more info call 559-561-4268. All Art quilts by the award-winning events take place at Wood N Horse SewEclectic group will be on display Training Stables, 42846 North Fork at the Brandon-Mitchell Gallery in Dr, Three Rivers.

22 • Valley Voice

19 May, 2016

Sports The Determination of an Olympian Stefan Barros Porterville High School wrestling coach and Monache High School graduate Tim Vanni isn’t your ordinary high school coach. He is also an Olympic wrestler. Vanni represented the United States in Seoul, South Korea, in 1988, and Barcelona, Spain in 1992.

Vanni’s initial reaction to becoming an Olympian back in 1988 was a feeling of determination. That was something he said he needed to reach his ultimate goal.

“The trials process was long, then we had the pre-limb tournament, and then final trials in Pensacola, [Florida],” he said. “I was extremely determined. It was something I really wanted. I had the feeling that I had finally made it.”

In the 20-plus years since competing in the Olympics, the one thing Vanni carries with himself is a sense of family, and a sense of pride.

“I have that sense of family and history with being an Olympian. It’s a family-type feeling, and you have a sense that you belong, and you’re in a life-long fraternity with the other Olympians.

The recognition that goes along with this achievement is peaceful and encouraging, and makes you continue to be at your best. It was very encouraging to leave that experience, and just contribute.”

When you become a two-time Olympian, there are some unforgetta-

ble memories of your experiences. Vanni influence in allowing him to get to the says that the opening ceremonies and his Olympics. first win, were moments that he won’t “There were numerous people. I forget. have two brothers, Vince and Danny.

“There were numerous memories Vince got us started in wrestling. Danthat I experienced ny and I were closer at other events asin age though, so sociated with the he had more of an Olympics - walkinfluence on me,” ing into stadium Vanni said. “Also, in Seoul, and hearmy college coach ing the roar of the at Cal-State Bacrowd,” he said. kersfield had a big “The first victory influence on me. over Spain is anThen there was Joe other one. At that Gonzalez. I trained point, I thought it with him at Arizona was the pinnacle, State. We would go but was disappointtoe-to-toe, and we’d ed with how I fin- Tim Vanni. Photo/Courtesy/Facebook train to get ahead of ished in ‘88. I was everybody else. We able to meet President Reagan, and that still talk, and are still friends to this day. was one of those experiences that goes Dave Schultz also influenced me comwith the goals you set. I made friend- ing up. I had a style that blended with ships to last a lifetime though.”

Schultz; calm and slow, and then GonVanni talked about how getting zalez, speeding things up.” back to the Olympics for a second time For someone to get to the point that in ‘92 was no easy feat.

Vanni was able to get to, they generally “Things were different getting back have to clear some kind of tough hurdle, in ’92,” he said. “I lost my first match of or have to overcome some type of adverqualifying, and I was so nervous for that sity. That was definitely something that match. I tried a different approach. I just Vanni had to deal prior to becoming an wanted to be left alone. I won the next Olympian for the first time. two matches to qualify.”

“It’s like coaching, there’s always Vanni had many influences as he something holding you back,” he said. “I came up in wrestling. He looked at his hurt my knee in ’82, and doctors told peers and brothers as being the biggest me I was done, and shouldn’t try wres-

tling again. I was discouraged. I had my knee scoped, and had arthroscopic surgery. I came back six months later, and never looked back. There are a lot of different factors though. I remember a tournament in Russia and I didn’t win a single match in the three weeks I was there. I got pummeled, but I came back home, picked myself up and persevered.”

Being a high school wrestling coach, Vanni talked about whether or not he coaches differently, being that he was an Olympian, and if his wrestlers pay closer attention to his teachings because of his experiences.

“It’s yes and no,” he said. “A lot of teenage kids come out here for fun experiences and don’t realize the sacrifice it takes. I’ve had some good ones over the years, but I’d like to have an impact on their success. I want to be able to get you to the point where you’ll have success on and off the mat.”

Vanni is a part of an illustrious fraternity, and has had experiences that very few people can relate to. He shared some thoughts on what it takes to get to the point of being an Olympian, and some advice for people who aspire to that goal “It really depends on where they’re at, how dedicated they are,” he said.

“They will have to show sacrifice, perseverance, and they have to know there will be setbacks and adversity. People will try to block your path, but you have to try to put negative things aside and focus on the goal.”

Three West Hills College Coalinga Basketball Players Sign to Top Schools Staff Reports

Three members of the West Hills College Coalinga basketball team have been given the opportunity to continue their college basketball careers at universities post-graduation and were acknowledged in a recent signing ceremony.

Stephon Gordon and Stephen Glassco signed with the University of Arkansas at Monticello while DeQuan Doyle signed with West Virginia State University.

“It is our goal for all of our student athletes to graduate and transfer to the four-year level,” said Mark Arce, WHCC athletic director. “We’re proud of them.”

All three students had excellent records during their time on the Falcons basketball team. Doyle and Gordon earned a spot on the Central Valley Conference’s 1st team while Glassco earned an honorable mention and was the All-Defensive Team Co-MVP. “I’m looking forward to a new chapter in my life at UAM and furthering my education,” said Glassco.

“I had an amazing experience here at West Hills and built lifelong relation-

ships with the faculty and staff. I’m extremely thankful for all of the support from the local fans, students and faculty of West Hills College Coalinga.

The years I have spent here will not be forgotten nor taken for granted.”

All three graduated with associate’s degrees at West Hills College Coalinga’s commencement ceremony on May 20.

Dr. Carole Goldsmith, president of West Hills College Coalinga, said the three are an example of what an important part of the college experience sports can be for students.

“These young men are a shining example of how sports provide additional educational opportunities for students, life-long lessons on the court and in the classroom, and proof that through hard work, drive and pushing yourself you can achieve goals you may never have thought you could achieve in the past,” she said. “These lessons, and many more, will be carried by all of our student athletes into all aspects of their personal and professional lives long after their time spent with West Hills. It’s a fitting tribute to their faculty/coaches as well.”

College of the Sequoias student-athlete Jamie Thompson poses atop the horse she drew for competition at the Intercollegiate Horse Show Association National Championships in Lexington, Kentucky.

COS Equestrienne Jamie Thompson Places 7th in Nation College of the Sequoias Equestrian Team member Jamie Thompson placed 7th in the nation last weekend at the Intercollegiate Horse Shows Association National Championships (IHSA) held at the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, Kentucky. Over 400 schools compete as members of IHSA. Thompson, a Visalia native, majors in Animal Science at COS and plans a transfer to UC Davis in the Fall of 2017 with the goal of becoming a veterinarian. She competed in the Individual Intermediate Western Horsemanship category, which judges the rider on the correctness of the rider’s seat, hands and

Staff Reports feet, the finesse in riding and the skill of maneuvering the horse through a series of patterns. Riders draw horses so that no rider has an advantage by using a familiar mount.

COS came out of the regional competition at Stanford University with 10 of the top 10 riders in the region and were specially awarded for Top 10 in the region. Four of the riders progressed to the mid-March Semi-Finals in Illinois.

COS is one of two community colleges in the region competing against eight other schools such as Stanford, UC Davis and Cal Poly.

Valley Voice • 23

19 May, 2016

Read for Life Awards ‘Pass the Word’ Scholarship to Tulare Senior Staff Reports Caitlin Phelps of Tulare is the recipient of the Read for Life “Pass the Word” scholarship. Caitlin, 17, a senior at San Joaquin Memorial High School who has a 4.2 grade point average, was awarded the $500 scholarship for her work as a staunch advocate for literacy.

The scholarship, sponsored by the County Center Rotary Club, was awarded to Caitlin for her work in leading the St. Aloysius Parish Book Drive for the last three years. The book drive, held in collaboration with the Manuel Torrez Family Resource Center, has collected $2,500 in donations and more than 12,000 books to distribute to impoverished families in the Tulare area. The books have benefitted 13 non-profit organizations and helped to kick-start reading programs throughout Tulare, including the Read to Succeed Program.

“Caitlin’s efforts have made a tremendous impact in our community,” said Kimberly Torrez, director of the Tulare Read Program and a board member of the Manuel Torrez Family Resource Center. “Sometimes all it takes is for one person to envision, create a solution, and

implement it.”

Read for Life annually awards the “Pass the Word” scholarship to an outstanding Tulare County high school senior who has served their community by volunteering to promote literacy. Since its start in 1989, Read for Life has donated a quarter million books to Tulare County children. The non-profit organization supports all Teen Age Parenting programs in Tulare County, Head Start Pre-Schools, and provides books and information to the pre-school migrant programs and home-based pre-schools. Read for Life reaches out to children in crisis by placing books in shelters, homework centers, and health centers throughout Tulare County. Poverty and lack of education are big problems in Tulare County. The illiteracy rate is over 30% and it is has one of California’s highest rates of teen pregnancies. There is a documented connection between early exposure to reading and success in school, yet many Tulare County children have no books at home. Read for Life members are committed to breaking the cycle of illiteracy through early intervention, direct service projects, and community awareness. To learn more, go to www.readforlife.org.

Caitlin Phelps, of Tulare, is a senior at San Joaquin Memorial High School.

Summer Enrichment Program Enrollment Open Through July 21 Staff Reports The Porterville College Child Development Center (CDC) is now enrolling for their Summer Enrichment Program for children three years old as of September 1, 2016 and no older than five years, six months old. The PC Summer Enrichment Program develops beginning reading, writing, math and science skills necessary for students to transition to Kindergarten. Research from the Summer Matters Partnership for Children & Youth revealed that the long term effects of summer learning loss are permanent and significant.

Through intentional teaching practices, purposeful learning environments and enriched activities, teachers ensure children entering Kindergarten in fall 2016 have joyful, appropriate and meaningful learning experiences. Karen Ball, CDC Manager, acknowledges that academic activities are designed to prevent children from experiencing summertime learning losses.

Porterville College’s CDC Enrichment Program is filled with investigation, exploration and discovery activities. Children will have exposure to high quality learning that lead to success in school and in life. Diane Thompson, Director of Student Services, stated that single-parent college students receiving CARE support program services appreciate the convenience of the on-campus child development center.

“Parents are able to attend college and study while their children are also learning,” Thompson said. “This is a great opportunity.”

Students, faculty, staff and the community are welcome to enroll in the weekly sessions from now until July 21, 2016. Some parents may qualify for FREE or reduced tuition. Space is limited.

Porterville College is located at 100 East College Avenue in Porterville. For more information visit www.portervillecollege.edu or call the CDC at (559) 791-2272.

Front row: Melinda Hatfield, J.P. Rapozo, Christopher Volkerts, Nicole McAvoy. Back row: Jack Finley, Peg Collins, David Payne

Next Fall Continues at Ice House Theatre in Visalia Next Fall, which opened at the Ice House Theatre in Visalia May 13, is at heart a play about real people with differing points of view trying to make their relationships work in spite of or perhaps because of their beliefs.

Luke and Adam, rather unlikely lovers since Luke is a devout Christian and Adam is an atheist, have been in a fiveyear relationship which may be reaching its watershed.

Suddenly, Luke is in an accident which throws Adam into contact with Luke’s parents.

Luke’s father, Butch, is a fundamentalist and in total denial of his son’s homosexuality. Luke has never come out to his family, but his father knows or at the very least suspects Luke’s sexual orientation. Arlene, his mother, was rather a wild woman in her youth, who loves her son and still cares for her ex-husband.

Throw in a couple of well-meaning friends, one for Adam and one for Luke, and you have the perfect scenario for conflict, but perhaps not resolution.

J.P. Rapozo, who portrays Luke, notes, “His father has threatened to keep his brother away from him if he is gay.”

Perhaps because he doesn’t want to lose his brother, or because it makes a plausible excuse for postponing coming out to his family, Luke has promised Adam (Christopher Volkerts) that he will tell his brother next fall when he enters college.

However, falls come and go with no disclosure. Volkerts points out, “After five years, Adam is having more and more difficulty dealing with their hidden relationship, but when Luke is in an accident, only turmoil ensues.”

“Butch is unwilling to step outside the rigid place his religion has brought him,”

Nancy Holley explains Jack Finley. Finley respects Butch for his what-you-see-is-what-you-get attitude, but realizes that Butch is dishonest with himself. “He is nearly self-righteous.”

Melinda Hatfield, as Arlene, sees the play as “intelligent with characters who are very human, loving, and flawed. There are no caricatures.” Hatfield depicts Arlene as insecure, viewing herself as a failed wife and mother.

Holly (Nicole McAvoy) has been Adam’s friend for many years and is sometimes a buffer between him and Luke.

McAvoy notes, “This play is very realistic. The events have happened thousands of times across America and will happen again and again.”

David Payne portrays Brandon, Luke’s buddy since childhood, who cannot accept Luke’s relationship with Adam.

Director Peg Collins says that Next Fall is a memory play that depicts what it means to believe and not believe. Collins quotes the Dalai Lama, “All major religious traditions carry basically the same message, that is love, compassion and forgiveness … the important thing is they should be part of our daily lives.”

Next Fall runs for three weekends at the Ice House Theatre at Race and Santa Fe in Visalia. Evening performances are at 7:30 p.m. on 5/20, 5/21, 5/27, and 5/28 and matinees are at 2:00 p.m. on 5/22, and 5/29.

NOTE: The show contains adult content and language. To purchase tickets go to the Visalia Players’ website at www. visaliaplayers.org, their Facebook page “Visalia Community Players”, or call 7343900.

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24 • Valley Voice

19 May, 2016

Kings Art Center to Host Yosemite Renaissance 31 June 4 - July 15 Yosemite Renaissance is celebrating its thirty-first year with an exhibit of 55 paintings, photographs, prints and sculptures by fifty artists from across the United States. Drawn from 973 entries from over the world, this year’s exhibit includes a broad range of works from representational to abstract, all interpreting the majesty of Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada.

The exhibit will be on view at the Kings Art Center from June 4 through July 15, 2016.

The artists included in Yosemite Renaissance 31 are: Patricia Allen, Elizabeth Ashcroft, Lorraine Bubar, Jenni Buczko, Jerilynn Bush, David Butz, Carter Chamberlain, Natalie Ciccoricco, Valerie P. Cohen, Nancy Crozier-Lynch,

John Robinson Jane Culp, Stephen Curl, Steve Emery, Chloe Fonda, Kit Gentry, Charlotte Gibb, Theresa Grams, Betty Hendrix, Susan Mae Hull, Marge Kraber, John Lambert, Johanna McCormick, Katya McCulloch, James McGrew, Tim McMeans, Ann Mendershausen, Judy Miller, Denise Oyama Miller, G. Dan Mitchell, Rachel Miura, Collin Murphy, Glenn Nelson, Penny Otwell, Sally Owens, Bonnie Peterson, Janice Pluma, Troy Poeschl, Jody Sears-Barbuta, Jeffrey Skelly, Carol Steinberg, Kris Lael Temple, Andie Thrams, Erika Van Dewark, Chris Weiermiller, Rick Wheeler, Rick Whitacre, David Will, Michael Wooten, Samantha Zimmerman, and Floy Zittin.

“Flower Artwork,” by Gordon Brofft

Artwork of Gordon Brofft to be Shown at Kings Art Center June 4-July 15 John Robinson As artist and educator holding a MFA degree from Stanford, Gordon is best known for his wood turning and constructions of utilitarian objects from bowls and boxes to furniture and contemporary lighting fixtures. This work was rooted in the principal that Form Follows Function with inspiration from the Arts and Crafts movement. This current work takes a very different direction. Like the “Color Field” and “Nonobjective” paintings and sculpture artists of the 1950’s, Brofft has reduced

the visual to one basic shape – the circle, opening the work to a multitude of interpretations. While one may study the relationship of a single sphere to the multitude of spheres within a larger sphere, another may see an abstracted flower while a third may experience the kinetic quality created by the placement of the circles and colors. The viewer must engage in the process of interpreting what it is they are seeing and experiencing.

The Kings Art Center is located at 605 N. Douty St. Hanford, CA. Regular gallery hours are Wed-Fri 11-4 PM and Sat-Sun 12-3 PM.

“White Headed Woodpeckers,” by Floy Zittin.

Recycle this paper.. make art out of it!