Valley Voice Issue 78 (6 October, 2016)

Volume XXXVI No. 19 • 6 October, 2016

www.ourvalleyvoice.com

Tulare Hospital Directors Facing Strong Opposition the road of private management under Healthcare Conglomerate Associates Sherrie Bell likes her (HCCA), which took over chances in the upcommanagement of the District in ing election.

2013. The District’s contract Bell, who is the current with HCCA gives the compachairwoman of the Tulare Lony the right to buy all the Discal Health Care District’s (TLtrict’s assets, which has caused HCD) Board of Directors, says a great deal of anger and conshe thinks voters will stay the fusion on the part of many the course and reelect her when district is meant to serve. Yet, she faces off against newcomer Sherrie Bell Bell says voters understand the Kevin Northcraft in the Nocurrent Board can get results. vember 8 election.

“I’d like to go forward and “I think they’re good, bemove in a positive direction. cause the hospital is doing very In the first time in a long time well, and the people of Tulare we have a board that works realize the past didn’t work and together,” she said. “It may they’re willing to try a different look like the five of us agree on way to provide health care,” everything, but we don’t. We she said. “Tulare Regional communicate on an a adult Medical Center has not had level. How in discord can you a good reputation over its 65 Kevin Northcraft bring good results? That’s alyears. I’d like to change that.” most an impossible feat.”

Since HCCA took over operations of the District, says Bell, Tulare RegionStaying the Course The “different way” Bell would like al Medical Center (TRMC) has been to lead the hospital is further down in the black and regained much of its

Dave Adalian

financial wherewithal. Others have dis- entitled Tower of Shame, sits incomplete, puted that claim, pointing to recent and the District lacks the funding to complete it. The Grand Jury layoffs involving 29 TLHCD also took TLHCD’s leadership employees. TRMC was given to task for failing to disclose an F rating by LeapFrog, a nahow the original $85 million tional nonprofit organization in bond funding for the towthat conducts biannual review er was spent, as well as for of patient outcomes, and refailing to follow public disceived the lowest rating possiclosure laws. ble from the Centers for MediBell’s opponent in District care and Medicaid Services, an 4, former Tulare City Managarm of the federal government er Kevin Northcraft, thinks that determines among other Laura Gadke enough is enough. With the things which facilities can redeadline to file for the election ceive their funds. looming and no one coming forward to oppose Bell’s reelecEnough is Enough tion, Northcraft jumped in.

The layoffs and poor rat“It seemed like it was craings came in the wake of the zy to let the people who caused solid failure of Measure I, a our problems go back in office, general obligation bond issue so I filed,” he said. that would have put $55 mil‘Frustration of the lion in the District’s coffers to Mike Jamaica Community’ complete work on its expanAlso running for a seat is Michael sion at TRMC. Measure I was defeated Jamaica, who is looking to unseat the inby a two-to-one margin at the polls.

The expansion, infamously the focus cumbent from District 2, Laura of a Tulare County Grand Jury report DIRECTORS continued on 10 »

Two Vie for Tulare City Council District 1 Seat

Four Candidates Compete For Tulare City District 5

Catherine Doe Tulare residents will have a difficult time choosing between the qualified and experienced candidates running to represent District 1. Tulare City Councilmember Shea Gowin will be defending her District 1 seat against Jose Sigala, Service Employees International Union (SEIU) representative.

As an active member of the Tulare Chamber of Commerce, Gowin heard its call to residents in 2012 that no one was running for Tulare City Council seat in District 1. She talked it over with her family and friends and they all agreed she would be an asset to the city. She ran unopposed.

District 1 makes up the West side of Tulare and is approximately 75% Hispanic.

TULARE 1 continued on 13 »

Catherine Doe Left to right: Phil Cox, Adam Peck, Susanne Gundy, and Adam Arakelian.

City of Visalia, Visalia Unified Candidates Mix It Up at Forum ty Women, the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, the League of Women VotThe Visalia City Council Can- ers, and the Visalia Times-Delta. didates and Visalia Unified Up for election are seats School District (VUSD) canfor Visalia City Council Disdidates had an opportunity to trict 1 and District 2. District outline their platforms Sep1 technically has no incumtember 29 at the Visalia Veterbent, with Tulare County Suans Memorial Building. Each pervisor Phil Cox facing Visacandidate had the chance to lia City planner Adam Peck. explain their goals and then Cox was on the Visalia City answer questions posed by Incumbent Bob Link Council from 2001 to 2004. moderator Paul Hurley.

Councilmember Bob Link is The forum was sponsored by the Experience anddefending Leadershiphis seat for District 2 against for Visalia’s future American Association of UniversiVISALIA continued on 8 »

Catherine Doe

Incumbent Craig Vejvoda is facing three challengers for Tulare City Council District 5: Suzanna Aguilera-Marrero, Margee Fallert, and Greg Nunley.

According to the challengers, the biggest issue facing Vejvoda’s 12-year incumbency is the lack of residential and commercial development. Fallert and Nunley both expressed a deep dissatisfaction with rate of development in Tulare. Vejvoda’s philosophy is to put out the red carpet and not the red tape.

He conceded though that, “we could do better.”

Aguilera-Marrero was not available for a detailed interview but said in an email her focus, if elected, would be, “public safety, access to health care, education, economic growth, infrastructure

TULARE 5 continued on 12 »

Bob Link

Tulare Hospital District Board Opponents File Suit, Recall VISALIA CITY COUNCIL

(559)799-6367

www.VoteBobLink.com | Bob@VoteBobLink.com

Tony Maldonado By any measure, Tulare Local Healthcare District (TLHCD) officials were blindsided at September’s regularly scheduled board meeting.

While the meeting’s agenda was routine, and the District received an award for its participation in and promotion of organ donation, the public comment section of the meeting had large surprises in store for the board.

Opponents of the district’s practices and partnership with Healthcare Con-

glomerate Associates (HCCA) came out in force: officials with HCCA and the District were served with a lawsuit, and TLHCD Board Vice-Chairman Dr. Parmod Kumar was served with the initiation of a recall process.

also names the District, HCCA, and Dr. Benny Benzeevi, the CEO of HCCA, and Dr. Rebecca Zulim as defendants.

Though Benzeevi was named in the suit, he was not served with papers at the meeting, as he was not in attendance.

The suit was filed by Thomas Drilling, Bill Postlewaite, John E. Beck, Ned Kehrli, Ed Henry, Xavier Avila, Douglas Jacobs, J.D. McNearney, Jennifer Burcham, David Phelps, and Patricia Drilling Phelps.

Their lawyer, Michael Lampe, served the board members and Bruce Greene,

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Another Lawsuit Filed

The lawsuit names all of the members of the Tulare Local Healthcare District Board of Directors: Sherrie Bell, Kumar, Linda Wilbourn, Laura Gadke, and Richard Torrez as defendants. It

the lawyer for both HCCA and the District, with a copy of the suit.

“I want to put this in the context of the layoffs — 29 people recently got laid off. People who have worked for this district in some cases most or all of their adult lives — decades of service, laid off.

Mr. Germany was paid $39,000 a month to be the Chief Financial Officer for this district, under the contract that you approved, out of his home from Tuscon, Arizona. And then we paid more than

LAWSUIT continued on 11 »

2 • Valley Voice

6 October, 2016 From the Publisher’s desk

The Equivalent of an Automotive Miracle

My very first car was a 1968 Ford Mustang my parents helped me purchase by furnishing all the cash. It was a sort of cream yellow hardtop with a black interior, powered by a straight six-cylinder engine attached to a manual three-speed transmission.

I learned to drive a manual in that car, and learned to love that car after I’d mastered its clutch. And it’s a good thing I learned to drive a stick shift, because, a few short years later and in a different car altogether (to the uninitiated, the operation of a manual transmission is baffling) I was able to teach my wife that skillset’s intricacies.

Like compression starting. While I never had to teach her that, it’s still a good thing I learned how to do it in the old Mustang.

Many years later, in 1999, I drew the duty of driving the first leg of our move from Cabo San Lucas to Lemon Cove. There were to be two drives, the second of which was to be made in a 1976 Volvo station wagon--which, again, my parents “helped” me with, and, I think, cost as much as the Mustang. But for that first drive, the vehicle of choice was our 1964 International Scout. We had bought it specifically for our time down there, and in May of that last year I set off north all alone.

Everything went like clockwork, with overnight stops in Loreto then Catavina, until, in the Sierra San Miguel just northwest of the latter, the brake pedal went flat on a mountain top. Luckily, the mountain top was flat, too, with a turnout in which I was only just able to wrestle the Scout to a stop. It turned out, though, that, in addition to having a brake fluid leak, the carburetor was leaking fuel and the engine would not start.

What to do? Hope for a compression start, naturally--and remain in second gear all the treacherous way downhill to El Rosario.

At this remove I mostly remember the old Mustang as quite a stalwart. It did not leak or burn oil and, back when I used attend college in Eureka, it easily handled the mountainous drive between there and the Bay Area. Thirty years ago the101 was not the wide highway it is today; there were stretches that were more glorified logging track than highway, and there was no searching for anywhere to pass, say, a slow truck.

It seems to me now that the old Mustang handled just about everything I threw at it--from learning how to drive it to driving it everywhere--but I’m probably reminiscing over fondly.

It did, literally, come to a grinding halt in the mountains north of Santa Cruz on Senior cut day in 1981 when the rear axle split at the differential. To be fair, I can’t remember how many people were in the car at the time--or even who, anymore--so to say it was overloaded is likely an understatement. Certainly not something that would fly today with our “click-it-or-ticket” seatbelt law.

And though it was pretty to look at, from the driver’s seat there were blind spots in the rear and the hood was a tad too long in terms of cresting a hill. It always seemed as if half the car had gone over before I myself ever got to the top.

Still, I loved that car and wish it was in the driveway today.

I remember, shortly after getting it, that it began to run hot. At first I was mystified because there was no discernible leaking or steaming off of the coolant. But as the overheating persisted, I was forced to investigate more fully. Nada.

Until one day I noticed--while the engine was running--a tiny drop of coolant ooze from the side of the block. Ruin!

Ninety-nine times out of a hundred, a cracked block means the end of an engine.

Now, I don’t remember where I got this stuff, or even what it was called, but somehow I obtained a product that claimed to be able to fix such a predicament.

And I don’t remember if it was my father who was skeptical while I was hopeful, or whether it was the other way around. I read the can and followed the instructions--something like: “Shake contents well and pour into radiator while engine is running.”

The instructions should also have said: “Then enjoy your car for so long as you have it.” Because that’s what I did. Whatever that stuff was--I recall it, vaguely, as metallic--it absolutely worked an automotive miracle. I never looked back.

Wouldn’t it be nice if my Republican friends could procure some kind of similar tonic for their nominee? Just imagine if, by pouring something down Donald Trump’s throat, they could cease his overheating and ooze.

It would be the equivalent of an automotive miracle.

— Joseph Oldenbourg

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

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6 October, 2016

Valley Voice • 3

Political Fix I Never Knew Plastic Bags Could Be So Confusing

I got several comments about last issue’s Political Fix. One concerned “Custer’s Last Stand,” where I stated “no Republican has held statewide office in 10 years.” Cheyne Strawn of Tulare called to say that it’s only been five years since a Republican has held office in California. Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger held office from 2003 to 2011, and Republican Steve Poizner also held office until 2011 as California Insurance Commissioner.

What I thought I was saying was, no Republican had been elected since 2006, which is true. But I’m glad Mr. Strawn called because many people have forgotten about Mr. Poizner, who has had a very successful business and political career.

His last political involvement was as John Kasich’s campaign co-chair. It would be enlightening to hear what he has to say about his party’s current nominee.

I then got a comment on the Valley Voice website concerning my wrap-up of the propositions. The reader said, “You state that the recap is unbiased. I beg to differ, not only are you biased you are not complete with your recap.”

My introduction did say “here

Catherine Doe

is an unbiased recap of the propositions” which was a result of heavy editing of that paragraph. I eliminated the part that made it clear that I was being facetious. I definitely do not have an unbiased opinion about the propositions, nor do I have a firm grasp of all of them. I did think that through my sarcastic comments about the use of condoms in pornographic films it was obvious.

I also thought that my sentence, “Does anyone really need 20 rounds of ammunition when deer hunting, shooting squirrels, doves or your husband?” might tip readers off.

Another problem with last issue’s Political Fix was my confusion on how to vote for Proposition 67.

The plastics industry spent millions of dollars to stop California from enforcing the state’s ban on single use plastic bags. Now, the plastics industry is spending millions of dollars to defeat Proposition 67.

Our web guy changed the Valley Voice’s on-line version, but the print version says “Vote no on Proposition 67” whereas I meant to say vote Yes. I mistakenly thought that a No vote would ban plastic bags. But a yes vote reaffirms California’s law and permanently bans single use plastic bags.

According to Voters Edge, a

publication put out by the league of Women Voters, “Voting ‘yes’ on Prop 67 would allow the 2014 state law to go into effect. Across California, single-use plastic bags would not be allowed at grocery stores, convenience stores, large pharmacies, and liquor stores. These stores would be required to charge for paper or thicker plastic carry-out bags and they would get to keep the money.”

Plastic bags could still be used for meat, bread, produce, bulk food and perishable items.

Vote yes on Proposition 67.

Psycho-delic Trump

Presidential candidate Donald Trump is a horse of many colors.

His audience, or a change of wind, determines the color he represents that day. Currently he is a deep red.

Comedians call him orange. Just five years ago he was swing state purple. Fifteen years ago he was Democrat blue.

But what do you get if you take the “delic” out of the title? That’s the Trump I have been pondering ever since June of 2015 when he announced he was running for president.

As everyone looked on in disbelief while Mr. Trump picked off his Republican rivals one by one,

Thurs | oct 20th

political analysts have debated if he is a narcissist, master manipulator, psychopathic liar or just a plain sociopath.

Besides dissecting his appeal to “the angry voter,” news anchors have asked mental health experts to explain how someone so divisive, negative, and angry could be elected president of the United States.

Robert Levine, a psychology professor at Fresno State, wrote a book called “The Power of Persuasion – How we are Bought and Sold.” He said during our phone conversation that, “Trump is just a smorgasbord for anyone interested in psychology.

He is a salesperson. He is an advertiser. He is a cult leader.”

As far as his tactics of persuasion, Prof. Levine said, “The guy belongs in some sort of Hall of Fame.

He does things that couldn’t be patented. What he is, is a sales person and that is the nicest term I can use for him.”

Prof. Levine wondered aloud about the election: “What kind of odds was he up against when he started his campaign? Trump’s clientele is extremely conservative, poor or financially struggling, and very religious. Trump is a New York billionaire playboy whose views go against his own clientele. And yet he

POLITICAL FIX continued on 9 »

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4 • Valley Voice

6 October, 2016

Visalia Water Rates Increase Starting January 2017 Catherine Doe Water’s about to get more expensive in Visalia.

The Visalia City Council voted to approve water rate increases at starting with a less than 1% raise in January of 2017, a 2.5% raise in 2018 and an additional 2.5% hike in 2019.

City documents, formed from a 350page agreement between the city and Cal Water, state that the total increase would equal 15% over three years. Current residents have already paid 8% of that due to a past increase. New households/businesses that moved into Visalia since 2014 will pay an additional 2%, satisfying an overall 10% revenue increase on top of the above increases that Cal Water has requested.

The new rates were approved at the council’s September 19 meeting, with council voting 4-0 to accept the water rate increases. Councilmember Greg Collins was absent.

The California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) requires a review of utility rates every three years.

Cal Water initially sought a 34.4% in-

crease over three years — a 26.9% increase in 2017, an additional 3.5% in 2018 and a 2.3% increase in 2019. The desire for capital improvements motivated Cal Water’s proposed increases, said Leslie Caviglia, Visalia’s assistant city manager.

City staff worked with the California Office of Ratepayer Advocates (ORA) to reduce the increase to less than half of what Cal Water originally requested. The city staff members involved with the negotiations and research were Leslie Cavglia, Eric Frost, Kim Loeb, Adam Enis and Nick Macia.

According to the staff report, “The CPUC conducted a public hearing before an Administrative Law Judge on the Visalia rate increase and Selma rate increase on September 8, 2016, in the Visalia Convention Center. About 30 members of the public were present at the hearing including Cal Water and City staff. Based on a query from the judge to the audience, it appeared all members of the public in attendance were from Visalia and none from Selma. Five persons presented testimony. Two indicated they were not opposed to the increase, while the other three indicated opposition.”

According to Caviglia, city staff were

able to reduce the increases by providing specific local data and information, including soil types and previous growth trends, enabling Cal Water, ORA and the City of Visalia to negotiate pipe replacement price reductions without compromising the reliability of the water system.

The city also successfully negotiated to reduce another facet of the proposed hikes by taking into account that Visalia residents have paid an 8% Sales Reconciliation Mechanism, a surplus to make up for Cal Water losing revenue from reduced water usage.

According to the staff report, “the elimination of the 8% SRM in 2017 will offset 8% of the revenue requirement increase, and the additional 2% rate increase of the proposed 10% revenue increase for 2017 will be paid by new households and businesses that have come to Visalia since the last rate case (2014).”

As a result of the 8% from the SRM, and 2% from new accounts, most Visalia residents will not pay a 10% increase for the first year. The staff report also pointed out that the actual amount that the bill goes up usually differs from the amount of the revenue that is approved by the CPUC.

Caviglia reported during the city council meeting that Visalia could continue to fight the overall 15% increase or settle now.

She said that Bakersfield has decided to continue fighting the rate case further, but that after reading their case, she does not believe they will win.

“While the City of Visalia would be agreeing to the terms of the settlement, the document specifies that the City is not supporting the rate increase,” the staff report reads, “This approach reflects ongoing concerns about the impact of water rate increases on Visalia residents and businesses, but also recognizes that it is unlikely a better settlement can be reached in the CPUC rate setting process.”

Caviglia recommended that the Visalia City Council authorize the city manager to sign the settlement agreement related to the California Water Service rate case pending before the CPUC. Mayor Steve Nelsen said to continue fighting is futile, and stated that the CPUC process is unnecessarily complicated.

“We are rowing with one paddle in the water until something changes in Sacramento,” Nelsen said.

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Valley Voice • 5

Tulare County Supes Approve Their Own Raises Catherine Doe Tulare County supervisors have approved their own raises, increasing their salaries by 4.25% and an additional 2% cost of living increase.

Their yearly salary increased from $101,776 to $108,224. In accordance with County Ordinance, the TCBOS receives an increase in salary when the four elected county officials receive a similar increase. The four elected officials are the Sheriff, District Attorney, Auditor-Controller, and Assessor/Clerk.

The Tulare County Board of Supervisors (TCBOS) approved the adjustments in a continuation of the public hearing on the Tulare County budget.

The County Administrative Office (CAO) did a salary analysis of five neighboring counties and found that Tulare County elected officials are underpaid.

The five counties used for comparison were Merced, Kings, Kern, Fresno and Madera. The results found that the Sheriff was 7% lower than the surveyed counties, the Auditor-Controller was 5% lower and the Assessor was 1% less. The District Attorney was 2% above the surveyed counties.

As a result, the CAO suggested the following raises: Sheriff, 8% increase; Auditor-Controller, 5% increase; Assessor/Clerk, 2% increase, and the District Attorney, 2% increase. The CAO also suggested an additional 2% cost of living increase. The TCBOS unanimously approved the salary increase effective immediately.

Michael Spata, County Administrative Officer, explained that if the four elected county officials receive salary adjustments, then the BOS shall receive the average adjustment of the officers 60 days after the date of the adjustment. The total

salary increases for everyone adds up to $47,000 a year, $25,000 of which would be going to the supervisors.

Rhonda Sjostrom, head of Human Resources, reported that county employees received an average of a 6% raise for this fiscal year. Since this article was published online, employees have written to the Voice that they have seen much less.

The BOS does have the option to modify or disapprove their own proposed salary adjustments, or defer their raises to a later date. During the recession, when county employee salaries were frozen, Supervisor Steve Worthley declined to take his yearly raise.

Supervisor Pete Vander Poel stated that the CAO’s presentation of the BOS salary raises was probably the most transparent ever. The higher transparency is a reflection of the new leadership in the County Administration Office headed by Mike Spata. This is his first year presiding over the formation and presentation of the yearly county budget.

While transparent, not everyone agrees with the process.

Supervisor-elect for district 3, Amy Shuklian, made it part of her campaign platform to do away with the current manner in which supervisors get their raises.

“That’s a policy that needs to be abolished,” said Shuklian. “They should not get a raise every time the four elected officials get raises.”

Shuklian suggested that when the county employees get a cost of living increase then the supervisors get one. She also suggested that another option would be that the supervisors only get a pay increase when they are re-elected, as happens with the Visalia City Council.

Shuklian will be taking her seat on the dais in January, replacing supervisor Phil Cox.

Kaweah Delta Surgery Department Set to Host October 15 Open House Tulare County residents will get a chance to play surgeon on Saturday, Oct. 15, during an open house and tour of Kaweah Delta Medical Center’s surgery department.

The free event, which will take place from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., will give attendees a chance to suit up, get a guided tour of the surgery department, and visit interactive stations for hands-on experience. Guided tours will begin on the western lawn of the Acequia Wing Entrance of Kaweah Delta Medical Center at Acequia Avenue and South Floral Street. Parking is available in the Acequia Avenue parking structure.

“People are so curious about life inside the operating room. This is their chance to come out and get a behind-thescenes look,” said Nancy Green, a Registered Nurse First Assistant in the surgery department of Kaweah Delta Medical Center. “People come away from this tour and they’re just amazed because it truly delivers an ‘ooh-ah factor.’”

The tour will include hands-on activities, opportunities to speak with staff, and stops to observe the following operating rooms: • da Vinci Si (robotic surgery)

Staff Reports • Neurosurgery • Orthopedics (total joint replacements) • Laparoscopic surgery • Vascular procedures The department is newly remodeled; over the summer two new surgery suites were completed. The open house is taking place in celebration of Perioperative Nurses Week, Nov. 6-12, which honors operating room nurses nationwide.

Established in 1963, Kaweah Delta Health Care District is the only trauma center between Fresno and Bakersfield.

Kaweah Delta Medical Center was recently recognized by Healthgrades as one of America’s 100 Best™ 2016 hospitals for Spine Surgery as well as excellence awards in orthopedic surgery, pulmonary care, and general surgery.

The district offers a comprehensive scope of services including everything from a well-respected pediatric hospitalist program to nationally recognized orthopedic and cancer programs. For more information, visit www.kaweahdelta. org or follow Kaweah Delta on Twitter and Facebook.

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6 • Valley Voice

6 October, 2016

Agriculture Balancing Farms, Tourist Sites Poses Local Challenges

Photo courtesy of USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service.

Cotton Harvest Looking Up Compared to Last Year Nancy Vigram Cotton has long been an important crop for Kings County, and this year it may regain its second top crop spot again.

In 2015, it was pushed to third, with cattle earning second, according to the county’s 2015 Agricultural Crop Report.

This year, the county saw a rise in cotton planting, which is most likely due to a rise in commodity pricing, said Rusty Lantsberger, Kings County deputy ag commissioner. Plantings consumed 83,120 acres in the county this year, he said, as compared to 69,742 harvested acres last year and 75,063 harvested acres in 2014.

In 2015, Acala cotton sold for $487 per bale, up from $451 in 2014; Pima cotton bales sold for $687 in 2015, down from $871 the year prior, according to the crop report.

Tulare County also has some cotton plantings with 9,860 harvested acres last year, according to that county’s 2015 Agricultural Crop Report. It, too, has seen routinely declining cotton production.

Cotton was the Number three commodity for Kings County in 2015. In the years prior to that, it was Number two, behind only milk. Fifty years ago, cotton was Number one. Back in the late ‘70s, cotton plantings took up some 287,000 acres in Kings County and approximately 219,000 acres in Tulare County.

Kings County nonetheless remains the top producer of cotton lint and cottonseed oil within the state.

“Acres [planted] are up, state-

wide,” said Stan Creelman, manager of Mid-Valley Cotton Growers Inc., in Tulare. “We’re up [locally] about 2026%,” he said.

This is promising for the cotton industry and cotton gin facilities.

Mid-Valley Cotton Growers runs a local cotton gin facility and receives cotton from neighboring counties every year.

While cotton pricing definitely has something to do with the rise, Creelman also attributes the increase in cotton planting to the fact that it uses less water to grow than some competing crops such as corn or black-eyed peas, he said.

While some plantings have simply been a rotation in crop, some fields that had been fallow due to the drought are back in production this year with cotton.

Weather permitting, the cotton should yield on average about three and three-quarters bales per acre for Upland cotton (Acala is a high-quality Upland variety) and three bales per acre for Pima cotton, Creelman said.

According to Calcot Cotton Marketing Services, California maintains approximately 5-8% of the country’s cotton plantings, but 10-14% of the US yearly production, because the state gets “phenomenally high yields,” netting more bales per acre. But the cost of production is also higher, keeping profit margins tight. About 80-85% of California’s raw cotton is exported to Pacific Rim countries, as well as Turkey, India and China.

Defoliation is under way, Lantsberger said, and harvesting should begin with a couple of weeks.

The rise of the farm-to-fork moveChing Lee, CFBF ment has been accompanied by the growing popularity of agritourism, as that have made it work without harming more landowners open their ranches to area farms. Casa de Fruta runs a restaupeople who want to experience the bu- rant, farm stand, gift shop and entercolic views of the countryside. But the tainment attractions.

“We’re off (Highway) 152, so we’re proliferation of event centers, wedding venues and bed-and-breakfast inns on not impacting the rural backroads of agricultural land has also increased ten- counties and people who aren’t already sions between those landowners and used to having weekend traffic,” said surrounding farms that see their normal Joe Zanger, who operates Casa de Fruta.

“As far as neighbors, we have so few and activities impacted by nearby events.

Chris Scheuring, an environmental we’re fortunate, as we’re pretty isolated.”

For many farmers, agritourism attorney for the California Farm Bureau Federation, said the problem has less to represents a way to bring in additional do with agritourism and more to do with income while creating a new venue to nonagricultural uses in rural areas that market their crops. Scheuring said Farm are incompatible with agriculture and Bureau supports those projects if they can be done without displacing agriinterfere with farmers’ ability to farm.

Agritourism operations are more ap- culture and if they uphold the tenets of propriate, he said, when what they do is the California Farmland Conservation “ancillary to existing agricultural opera- Act, or the Williamson Act, which gives tions, rather than just somebody coming farmers tax incentives to keep their land in and plopping down a big wedding in agricultural production.

Penny Leff, agritourism coordinator center that really isn’t agriculture and for the University of California Small calling it that.”

Another concern, Scheuring said, Farm Program, which holds workis that some counties may be leaning shops for landowners who want to get into agritourtoo heaviism, said people ly in favor see agritourism of intensifrom different fication of points of view. land use in She noted that agriculturmany people al zones, who come to in part beher workshops cause they are first-time appreciate farmers who see the reveagritourism as a nue and component of taxes the the farming opbusinessFarm animals are a popular attraction at agritourism eration they are es generate. destinations, which provide farmers a new venue to He cit- market their crops and bring in additional income. Cour- starting; some haven’t even ed as an tesy/Ching Lee/CFBF bought land yet. example What she stresses in her workshops, a bed-and-breakfast and event center in Winters that was recently granted a she said, is the importance of neighbors use permit by the Yolo County Board and how landowners “need to work of Supervisors. The project drew oppo- out with your neighbors whatever you sition from area farms because it would want to do.”

“A lot of times, people can work bring increased traffic to the area’s narrow country road and disrupt farming things out. I know that sometimes you activities such as harvest, pesticide ap- just can’t,” Leff said.

George Kapor, who operates Pageo plications and crop transport. Due to a Lavender Farm in Turlock with his wife procedural error, another hearing on the Patty, said when he first started to open project will be held next week.

The purpose of that project, Scheur- his farm to weddings and events, there ing said, is not to support agriculture on were concerns from neighboring farms. that parcel but rather to be a venue for But after going through a lengthy regulatory planning process and subsequentweddings out in farmland.

“It’s a question of scope, magnitude ly passing muster with the California and intensity of impact—and what does Environmental Quality Act, he received it do to the surrounding agricultural fab- his use permit with no objections from neighbors, with whom he said he has a ric?” he said.

Location also matters, he added, cit- good relationship. A number of them, ing other agritourism destinations, such he noted, have been to his events. He’s as Casa de Fruta in San Benito County, CHALLENGES continued on 7 »

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Valley Voice • 7

Agriculture Forestry Experts Say Tree Mortality Brings Added Risk Christine Souza, CFBF Pine trees in California forests will die out and give way to brush and chaparral, forestry experts warn, unless agencies undertake what one analyst called a “massive effort” to reduce fuels and replant trees. Otherwise, the conversion to chaparral could further increase risk of wildfires and affect the state’s water supply.

A U.S. Forest Service survey, released in June, revealed that 66 million trees— mostly pine species—have died in the southern Sierra alone, due to bark beetle infestations, drought, wildfire and climate change. One question now, experts say, is what will replace those dead trees.

“We know in the Sierra and Sequoia national forests east of Fresno, the beetles have killed at least 85 percent of the entire pine vegetative type and at least 20 percent of the mixed conifer type, which is pine and fir,” said Steve Brink, California Forestry Association vice president of public resources. “By the end of this summer, essentially 100 percent of the pine type will be dead in the Sierra and Sequoia national forests, and you are going to have a massive conversion to chaparral.”

In the last 15 years, national forests in California are burning at an average rate of 320,000 acres a year and, Brink said, “the intensity of those fires has been increasing steadily.”

Causing the explosive fires, he said, are overly dense forested areas that grow at the rate of 4 billion board-feet a year.

Forest thinning and prescribed burning removes less than 10 percent of the annual growth. Brink said USFS inventories show 300 trees per acre on a landscape that only has enough water to sustain 20 to 100 trees an acre.

“There has to be at least consideration of a massive effort to aggressively remove much of the dead, beetle-killed trees and replant to the species that want to be there, whether it is pine or fir,” he said.

Bill Stewart, co-director of the Center for Forestry at the University of California, Berkeley, said bark beetles “are wreaking havoc on the large-diam-

Challenges Continued from p. 6

also given them a schedule of his events, noting that they “go out of their way” to work around them.

“And I really appreciate that, because I know they have the right to farm,” he said.

With its burgeoning wine sector, San Joaquin County has seen its share of rural venues hosting weddings, concerts and other events. Some of those venues call themselves wineries but have never produced any grapes or wine, and some also did not have permits to host events, said Bruce Blodgett, executive director of the San Joaquin Farm Bureau Federation.

He said it’s taken time for the county board of supervisors to understand that “there’s a place for everything.” If a venue is in a commercial zone and has

eter pine trees, leaving the forest with small-diameter and younger pine trees, incense cedar, fir trees and hardwoods like black oak and laurel trees.”

Challenges, Stewart said, include whether the Forest Service will have the funds and skill to replant these forests before the shrubs go wild and take over.

Marc Meyer, an ecologist with the USFS Pacific Southwest Region, said research indicates stands of pine trees at lower elevations will be exposed to a change in climate and, inevitably, “conifers will disappear.” In some cases, these trees will move upslope in the Sierra Nevada or to areas that have a cooler microclimate, he said.

“As you go from a tree-dominated to a shrub-dominated system, you start to lose some of those ecosystem services, but even chaparral has a lot of benefits.

But you have a new fire regime and they (shrubs) are a little more susceptible to perpetuating more of a frequent fire system,” Meyer said. “A lot of those stands where you have 95 to 99 percent of mortality of conifers, you see that the oak species are doing quite well.”

Meyer cited mechanical thinning and prescribed burning as treatments used by the Forest Service to improve forest conditions, adding, “Some of these landscapes can be thinned or restored using fire alone.”

The more forest restoration work the Forest Service and others do to buffer stands of trees from the impact of climate change, drought and beetles, Meyer said, “the better off we are going to be in the future.”

Shaun Crook, a timber operator and president of the Tuolumne County Farm Bureau, said drought and beetle infestations are cyclical, but that “40 years of mismanagement” have left forests vulnerable.

“The forests haven’t been grazed, they haven’t been logged and you add four years of drought and another cycle of the bark beetle and you’ve got the perfect storm. Now, we’re going to pretty much eliminate pine forests under 4,000 feet in most areas of the Sierra,” Crook said.

In the foothills near Groveland, he

said, he can look in all directions and count dead trees remaining from the 2013 Rim Fire or as a result of beetle infestations.

“I’m on a road overlooking a canyon and it would take a few weeks to count as many dead trees as I can see here,” Crook said.

“Until you actually see it, it is hard to fathom.

“What brings all of this full circle, especially in California,” he said, “is all of our waters start in the forest, and forest health means more water running down the rivers and into reservoirs that can eventually be used for growing food and other uses. If we allow this conversion to chaparral, you are not going to have the snowpack accumulation Although there is some removal of dead and dying trees on the ground.” taking place along roads, trails and recreation sites, many Gov. Brown declared a more dead trees remain in California forests. Forestry state of emergency last fall leaders say dead trees, such as seen along Highway 120 because of tree die-off and near Groveland, above, represent a public safety hazard formed a Tree Mortality and could fall down during winter storms. Courtesy/Shaun Crook/CFBF Task Force to assist with ton attended a meeting in Washington, safe removal of dead and dying trees. Some government funding D.C., that discussed forest management.

“The administration is addressing has been directed to California for reforest management under their Climate moval of dead trees along roads, trails Action Plan, but it is for drought and and recreation sites where falling timber is likely to threaten people, powerlines they are looking at the relationships beand structures, but forestry experts be- tween forests and water as part of that lieve the threat to public safety remains. strategy,” Huston said. “There are a lot “All it is going to take is one good of diverse interests taking notice of the windstorm. All of this material is going tree mortality issue because of what they to get blown over,” Crook said. “We have get from the forests, whether it be water homes and communities in the midst of or forestry.”

She said CFBF also supports legisall of these forests.” lation to develop a wildfire emergency Brink predicted that in about a year, funding process that provides more relithe Forest Service will close forests to the able funding without harming land manpublic due to safety concerns.

Erin Huston, federal policy con- agement and fire-reduction activities. sultant for the California Farm Bureau Federation, said Farm Bureau has been actively engaged in addressing the state’s tree mortality challenges, as well as reducing fire hazards in California forests.

As part of a drought-preparedness effort by the Obama administration, Hus-

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

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

amenities such as big streets and roadways and public services such as a sewer, then it makes more sense, he noted.

But if a property is on a Williamson Act contract, he added, it should be “in the production of food, not the production of events.”

Wayne Zipser, executive director of the Stanislaus County Farm Bureau, said his region has grappled with similar issues regarding agritourism. In 2008, the county rejected a public events and outdoor entertainment ordinance after seeing a surge of wedding venues operating on farmland without permits, and some that were permitted but were on land with a Williamson Act contract.

Recently, the county decided to reconsider its zoning ordinance to allow wedding venues in agricultural areas if a use permit is granted for the business. The planning commission approved the proposal, which will go before the county board of supervisors in November.

Zipser noted the close relationship the county Farm Bureau has with planners and said he trusts they will evaluate each project on a case-by-case basis while seeking input from agriculture and neighbors.

“I guess we’re kind of opening the door for allowing some of this out in ag areas and it’s a little bit scary, but I trust the county and I hope that they adhere to these very stringent rules to not allow these wedding venues to pop up everywhere,” he said.

In Napa County, which has a long tradition of agritourism, the term has a whole different meaning, said Jesse Ramer, interim executive director of the Napa County Farm Bureau. Because of the success of the wine business and the marketing of Napa as a destination, he said, people flock to the region—but they see themselves as tourists, not agritourists.

“What they need to realize is that

it’s good old-fashioned agriculture—the growing of grapes—that is providing the idyllic scenery and the acclaimed wine,” he said.

Ramer also noted that the proliferation of marketing events, tours and tastings at wineries has “rightfully brought more scrutiny on new projects.”

Leff said some counties do worry about opening the floodgates to non-farm uses such as event centers on farmland, with concerns that they would drive up land values, affect wildlife habitat and change the overall rural landscape.

“I think there’s a fear in other counties like Yolo that they don’t want to be like Napa,” she said.

(Ching Lee is an assistant editor of Ag Alert. She may be contacted at clee@ cfbf.com.)

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

8 • Valley Voice

6 October, 2016

Visalia

Continued from p. 1 retired firefighter Adam Arakelian and animal rights activist Susanne Gundy.

Peck started the evening by saying that he loved being a Visalian and loved being on the stage and being able to run for city council. After being on the planning commission for 11 years, Peck felt the city council was the next logical step. Cox said, “My resume and experience prove I am the best candidate.” He pointed out that while Visalia’s downtown is a safe place to go and have a good time that gang activity is on the rise. Last year there were as many gang murders as the three previous years combined, he said.

Gundy started the introduction statements for District 2, saying that she thought Link had done a good job but that the city needs new views and a fresh voice. She had five issues on her platform: update the city’s animal control policies, explore more solar options, improve the services for the homeless, lower the fees for jail bookings, and finally, drag Visalia into the 21st century concerning their attitude towards marijuana.

Link said he had three main issues: the city’s water in terms of dealing with Visalia’s underground aquifer, homeless, and getting Measure N passed – the half-cent sales tax increase.

Arakelian spent 24 years as a Visalia firefighter and is now retired. He was motivated to run for city council because he cares for Visalia and stated, “I have put my life on the line for this city.”

Candidates answer questions The first question was how each candidate plans on dealing with the homeless situation. Cox said that the city needs to cut through the red tape in order to get rid some of the blighted properties in town that attract homeless and ruin neighborhoods. He also said that Visalia needs to stop being a homeless dumping ground and that he has a plan to put an end to it.

Arakelian said he has been on the

front lines of emergency services for 15 years, several times finding himself doing CPR on people who have overdosed in the Oval. He said that he is glad the bathrooms were taken out of the park and that many of the homeless choose this lifestyle. He did research on what other cities do and they all told him, “Don’t make the same mistakes we did,” meaning be careful of the services you provide the homeless, you could get sued.

Gundy has a different take on the homeless and has done her research also.

The cities she has looked at provide services such as showers and bathrooms for the homeless. She said that right now Visalia provides no services for the homeless except to give them referrals to the Visalia Rescue Mission.

Next, each candidate was asked about supporting Measure N, the halfcent bond measure on the November ballot. All of the candidates said they were going to vote for Measure N, though Arakelian said “I don’t like taxes.

I know it’s frustrating.” Link reminded the audience that 40% of the sales tax will be paid for by outsiders, “but they use our roads and police too, so it’s fair.”

Gundy was all for the half-cent sales tax increase, saying that the police are planning on hiring 30 more officers if it passes. She said she would personally advocate for hiring one more animal control officer with the extra revenue.

Hurley’s next question concerned Visalia’s high rate of poverty and how the candidates plan to diversify the city’s economy. Peck said that Visalia’s economy is much more vibrant and diverse than the county as a whole, where agriculture jobs dominate. He said that keeping our infrastructure in good shape and having shovel- ready parcels will bring jobs to Visalia.

Cox said he would be more aggressive in pursuing economic development and more aggressive about updating Visalia’s zoning. Gundy said that Visalia should be taking advantage of the fact that marijuana will be legal. She advocated for Visalia to change its ordinances to take advantage of business

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opportunities that can increase the sales tax base. She said Visalia changed its city ordinances for micro breweries and micro wineries, “and alcohol is a lot worse for you than pot.”

Given the fact that Visalia’s air is the worst in the state, Hurley asked what each candidate would do to improve the air quality.

Arakelian said that there isn’t much Visalia could do about the air but advised everyone to ride their bike to work. Link agreed with Arakelian’s assessment and said that the Federal Government sets the standards but does not acknowledge that the Central Valley is a bowl where the dirty air cannot escape, that we are in a five-year drought, and that we are an ag based economy.

Cox said that even if Visalia took all the cars off the roads, trucks off the highways, stopped farming, and killed all our cows, we still would not be able to comply with the federal air standards.

“People in Washington DC need to take their heads out of their rear ends and realize that we don’t have sea breezes cleaning our air like the Central Coast.”

The last question was what the candidates planned on doing about Visalia’s traffic congestion. Gundy said that she was raised and lived in Los Angeles and the Bay Area so she is thrilled that she can drive from one end of town to the other in 10 minutes. All of the candidates agreed that the north to south arteries in the city are deficient and that the intersection at Lovers Lane and Highway 198 is a nightmare no matter what time of day.

Peck said that traffic congestion and roads come up every time Visalia gets a new budget. He said that when the planners approve developments on the edge of town, they don’t stay the edge of town for very long and the roads soon become inadequate. A good example of that is Goshen and Demaree.

Cox ended the forum by saying that the piece of the puzzle that no one is willing to address is that when Visalia gets its share of Measure R money, approximately $2.5 million, the city spends it all on bike paths.

“I would take all that money and put it into roads and improving intersections,” said Cox.

Visalia Unified School Candidates Debate the Issues

Visalia Unified School District candidates took the stage after the city council to introduce themselves and answer questions.

Up for election are seats representing Trustee Areas 5, 6 and 7. The three candidates for Area 5 are: Resource Management Agency’s Planning Director, Mike Washam, retired postman and former trustee, Niessen Foster, and Visalia teacher Patricia Griswold. The incumbent for Area 5, Donna Martin, is not running.

Incumbents Lucia Vazquez and William Fulmer are running unopposed for the Trustee Area 6 and 7 seats, respectively.

Washam said that owning a small business and working for the county gives him the skills and experience to serve on the board, especially when it comes to the responsible stewardship of the district’s financial resources. He has two boys attending Visalia schools.

Griswold said that education is her passion and she knows what the district

needs to survive in the 21st century. She has 20 years experience in the classroom and three children who attended Visalia schools. She wants to see more collaboration between the parents, teachers and students.

Foster has had children, grandchildren and now a great grandchild in Visalia schools. His three goals, if elected, will be to reduce classroom size, address the shortage of teachers, and reduce the truancy rate. He added that he is very assessable to his constituents and that he has the most support and endorsements in the community.

The first question Hurley posed to the candidates concerned school safety and discipline. All three agreed that fenced in schools need two secure points of entry. Foster said that he would advocate for more surveillance cameras in combination with more councilors to work with the students. Griswold wants more police officers on the campuses saying that all the middle schools share one officer.

Washam said he would like the district to work on the suspension rate that stands at 6% while it is only 4.5% statewide. He also pointed out that VUSD’s expulsion rate is twice the statewide rate. Washam supported an in-school suspension system so Visalia youth were not getting a “get out of school free ticket.” He felt that rewarding students for being at school and trying to increase their participation in school activities might work in reducing suspensions.

Foster said that the campuses should make more use of their social workers and campus life chaplains to help reduce expulsions and suspensions.

Hurley’s next question concerned Common Core testing. Griswold said that the testing makes it easier to measure progress, especially in the liberal arts portion of the test. She said that the math portion does not accurately assess the students as, “one size doesn’t fit all” in that test subject.

Foster said that we need more teaching and less tracking. He said that 75% of VUSD students do not go to college, so the district should focus more on vocational education. Washam said he would like to put more focus on career programs liked Linked Learning where students are introduced into a profession before graduating.

The last question concerned what the candidates plan on doing about the anticipated teacher shortage. Foster said that at almost every VUSD meeting the personnel director addresses issuing emergency credentials. He said it doesn’t have to be like that and VUSD could build relationships with colleges such as the University of California system.

“It doesn’t always have to be just Fresno State and Cal State Bakersfield.”

Washam said that VUSD needs to pay their teachers better so the district is not used as a stepping stone to better paying areas. He added that the district needs to reduce class size and reduce the amount of money teachers have to take out of their pocket for their classroom to make VUSD more attractive.

Griswold said that there is an anticipated of 20,000 shortage of teachers and that VUSD needs to start recruiting in the fall and not wait until the spring to recruit teachers.

The election for local and federal offices is November 8.

6 October, 2016

Valley Voice • 9

Political Fix Continued from p. 3

pulled it off.”

One tactic of persuasion Mr. Trump has perfected is selling his name. Prof. Levine said that Mr. Trump has not been involved in real estate for years and instead has concentrated on selling his brand.

Skilled advertisers don’t sell the nuts and bolts of their product but promote the image of the brand.

Mr.Trump hasn’t put a lot of energy in explaining what he would do as a leader. Instead he has selling points such as how he is not a politician or how he is a successful businessman without getting into the specifics.

He is the poster child of an “insider” but has convinced his supporters he is an “outsider.” He says he isn’t a politician while running for the highest political office in the country. He profits from the same rigged system he purports that he will change. Then he gets the most votes of any Republican ever during a primary because his voters claim “he tells it like it is.”

Whether he is fully aware of it or not, Mr. Trump uses a variety of other tactics of persuasion.

market on lower-middle class white anger. America is angry at the millions of undocumented (i.e. Mexicans) taking our jobs, being on public assistance, and causing all the crime. He says China is taking our money and ISIS is lurking on our borders.

Bottom line: If you are not angry then you are un-American.

The Messiah Complex Mr. Trump’s rallies have a cultlike euphoria where he makes the attendees feel like a group like no other.

In his speech announcing his candidacy he said, “I’ll be greatest jobs president God ever created.”

During his acceptance speech at the Republican National Convention he said, “I have a message for all of you: the crime and violence that today afflicts our nation will soon come to an end. Beginning on January 20th 2017, safety will be restored.”

“He targets people who are unhappy and trains his message specifically to their needs.” said Prof.

Levine. His message is “if you come with me, if you are loyal to me, then I will solve all your problems.”

Also during his convention speech he said, “Nobody knows the system better than me, which is why Fear Mongering.

I alone can fix it.” That message made Fear is an incredibly powerful mainstream Republicans shudder. emotion that shuts down higher Bottom line: He will save us. thinking. Fear is a central to Mr. Trump’s message and was central to Repetition his acceptance speech. He said the When Mr. Trump repeats emoUnited States is in “troubling and tionally provocative words like dangerous times. Things were bad “strong,” “win,” and “great” over already and on their way to getting and over, its is no accident. This is a worse.” He erroneously cited that subtle tactic to condition people to violent crime was on the rise in the associate winning and strength with United States.

Mr. Trump. Through shear repeti“Poverty and violence at home, tion these images of winning and war and destruction abroad. This is greatness become embedded into the legacy of Hillary Clinton: death, the mind even if it is subconsciously. destruction and weakness,” Mr. Bottom line: if you do not vote Trump said. for Mr. Trump you are stupid.

Bottom line: Vote for Mr. Trump or our world will come to an end.

Bullying Coming up with special nickFear is a Convenient Segue names is a favorite tactic of manipuinto Anger. lators. “Little” Marco, “Lyin’” Ted, Mr. Trump has cornered the “Crooked” Hilary, “Goofy” Eliza-

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beth Warren, and “Crazy” Bernie were Mr. Trump’s favorites. If he can’t humiliate his competition into losing or quitting, then he will crush them with insults at 3am on twitter.

Bottom line: If you don’t vote for Trump you are a major loser.

Trump took a different approach.”

Prof. Levine said that he has studied persuasion from the mundane to cult leaders. “A lot of his approach is shared by some of the most successful cult leaders we have known.”

Appealing to Irrational Parts of our Brains

Humans are surprisingly bad at making rational decisions and are much more likely to make emotion-driven decisions. Mr. Trump knows that there are certain methods of manipulating people’s emotions to get them to do what you want.

He tapped into voters’ fear and anger and has humiliated his opponents, then repeats. The constant drum beat telling voters that Mr. Trump is our savior makes his supporters feel very confident. They feel confident despite clear evidence that Mr. Trump is too unstable to be president.

The final take-away is: Trump supporters are passionate about their candidate--but do they know why?

Also, how can Sec. Clinton combat an opponent proficient in mind control?

Lucky for her she hasn’t had to put up much of a fight, though she is taking nothing for granted. Sec. Clinton just has to keep plugging away while Mr. Trump gets into 3am pissing contests with beauty queens and yells at Sec. Clinton during the debate how she doesn’t have the temperament to be president.

Since he is a psychology professor whose specialty is mind control, I asked Prof. Levine if he foresaw Mr. Trump’s winning the nomination. “I was stunned, just stunned that this could happen. I was blindsided. I was looking at it wrong. I was looking at it like a political debate. Mr.

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10 • Valley Voice

Directors Continued from p. 1

Gadke. He joined the race, he said, out of a widespread sense of dissatisfaction.

“My interest is just looking at the frustration of the community--and myself as a taxpayer--that this tower has not been finished in 11 years,” he said.

“Our $85 million bond was supposed to construct this thing; it just came to a halt. Then turmoil started among the construction companies and the Board.”

His sense is voters will welcome change.

“The support seems very well out

6 October, 2016

“

I think we need to have those community meetings. We need to finish the audit of the old bond. We need to get good engineering estimates of how much it’s going to cost to finish the tower. It’s the way the city does things. It’s the way the school district does things. It’s the Tulare way.

”

Kevin Northcraft

off people? That’s another thing that shocked people in the community,” said Jamaica. “They’ve been doing so well, then the bond gets defeated and they have to lay off people.”

He finds the lack of transparency is unnerving.

“I don’t know what’s going on over there. Is everything being said? It’s hard to grasp what’s true that’s coming out of there,” he said.

“That’s the whole thing: What’s true that’s coming out of there?”

An HCCA spokesperson said the layoffs were to ensure continued financial well-being. The Board also sought and were Alberto Aguilar reads a notice of intent to recall Parmod Kumar from the Tulare Local Healthcare District Board of Directors. Tony given an $800,000 Maldonado/Valley Voice loan in the wake of the failure of there,” he said. “People I’ve spoken to Measure I. while I canvassed the area, they’re very happy two people are running who have no special interest other than getting our hospital back on track and finishing our tower that has been sitting.”

Jamaica is a retired UPS driver and longtime community volunteer with two decades on the Tulare Parks and Recreation Commission. Gadke, who was appointed to her seat on the Board, did not respond to an interview request.

‘Poor Management’

Ironically, Bell and Jamaica agree Tulare needs a better hospital, and that management is at the heart of the problem. However, they disagree on the source of those bad choices.

HCCA, Bell said, is doing good work at the hospital, and the “poor management” is a thing of the past. That history means perceived problems with District operations are blown out of proportion, she said.

“When you’re in a small community, word travels fast. Any problem gets magnified,” Bell said. “I also believe that I know our nurses and staff give quality care. Our facility itself has been very limiting.”

Jamaica doesn’t agree.

“First, I think this contract with HCCA needs to be reviewed,” he said. “I think paying the CEO over $3 million a year is excessive. Then their CFO, he makes between $38,000 or $39,000 a month. We’re a small hospital. How can we afford that? That money could be put to something else.”

‘Everything Being Said?’

But, it’s almost impossible to know for certain how the District is performing, Jamaica said. The ongoing lawsuit between the District and its former Medical Executive Committee (MEC), as well as the layoffs in August, have raised questions in the minds of many about the true state of the District’s finances.

“If they say they’re making monthly profits, why would you want to lay

‘The Tulare Way’

“We need to get back our reputation,” said Northcraft of his top priority if elected to replace Bell.

Echoing Bell and Jamaica, he asserts poor management is at fault. Measure I failed, he said, was because the public no longer trusts those in charge at TLHCD. Again, he cited the lack of transparency detailed in the Grand Jury’s report.

“I went to the Board in May before they put the ballot out, and said, ‘You’re

HCCA and the TLHCD Board, Northcraft said, have rubbed citizens the wrong way.

“Tulare is a special city,” he said.

“There’s a Tulare way of doing things by consensus building.”

Quality Care

Jamaica says he has a good idea of what Tulare wants from its hospital.

“In speaking with other residents in this town, they’ve all said the same thing,” he said. “They’d like to see better care given to them at the hospital.”

Jamaica cited the low ratings TRMC has had recently, specifically it ER performance.

“There’s still a four- or five-hour wait in the emergency room,” he said. “That needs to be addressed.”

According to HospitalStat.org, the average wait for an initial exam at TRMC’s ER is an hour and nine minutes. Non-critical cases see patients discharged in two hours 35 minutes on average, while those who are admitted will likely spend three hours 31 minutes in the ER, as well as another hour and 50 minutes waiting for a room. Further, TRMC has performed 22% below the national average based on mortality rates for critical illnesses.

Other Tower Money

Northcraft is also critical of the Board for seeking a new bond issue before exhausting other possible sources for construction funding. Bell, however, said she thoroughly investigated other means to pay for finishing the tower but

Sherrie Bell and Parmod Kumar at September’s Tulare Local Healthcare District Board of Directors Meeting. Tony Maldonado/Valley Voice

not doing this the Tulare way,’” Northcraft said. “They didn’t explain where the money had gone. They didn’t explain where the money will go if it’s approved.”

Citing his three decades of experience dealing with similar issues, including his decade as Tulare’s city manager, Northcraft called for more public input before seeking voters’ OK for any plan. The public, he said, was left out of the process, and is still on the outside looking in.

“I think we need to have those community meetings. We need to finish the audit of the old bond. We need to get good engineering estimates of how much it’s going to cost to finish the tower,” he said. “It’s the way the city does things. It’s the way the school district does things. It’s the Tulare way.”

came up empty. A new bond was the Board’s only remedy, and now that it’s failed the search has been renewed for other ways to get the job done.

“We’re looking into other means by which we can finance the tower,” Bell said. “Once we have 36 months of net margins, we can possibly get government loans, low- or no-interest loans. We’re looking into all the options.”

Northcraft is skeptical all avenues of funding lead to dead-ends. He again cited his 30 years of experience working with and for public agencies.

“I think I know more than the current board does,” he said.

Total Recall

If Jamaica and Northcraft are elect-

ed, they may become a minority on the Board, but not if Alberto Aguilar gets his way. Aguilar, a former member of the District’s Bond Oversight Committee, served Dr. Parmod Kumar, the TLHCD District 3 board member, with a notice of intent to seek his recall during the Board’s September meeting.

Kumar has been at the center of several incidents widely reported in the press. In December 2002, a Tulare County jury awarded the family of Stan Staley $4.5 million in a medical malpractice suit against Kumar. The sum was later reduced to $1.4 million.

In 2009, TLHCD paid a $2.5 million settlement following investigation by the Department of Justice (DoJ) into physician contracts at TLHCD’s Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC).

The DoJ investigated the Center again in 2013, when it was alleged Kumar was seeing 64 patients an hour there, instead of the mandated four per hour. An article in the Financial Times of London reported the DoJ found Kumar earned up to $800,000 while working under an illegal contract. Kumar and his wife, Dr. Parul Kumar, resigned from their positions at the Center following the disclosure.

Cases Pending

Kumar is also a defendant in a lawsuit filed last month by a group from the Citizens for Hospital Accountability. The suit alleges the Board of TLHCD misspent public funds to pay for the outcome of a private lawsuit filed against TRMC’s former chief of staff by Kumar, HCCA CEO Dr. Yorai (Benny) Benzeevi and TRMC chief of surgery Dr. Rebecca Zulim.

In their suit, the trio claimed Dr. Abraham Betre, the former chief of staff, disclosed private and damaging information to the Valley Voice regarding investigations into the practice of all three by the TRMC Medical Executive Committee. Citing California law protecting journalists and their sources, the judge in the case dismissed it summarily. The three plaintiffs were ordered to pay Betre’s legal costs.

The suit now pending against all five board members and TLHCD alleges public funds were used to pay those private legal costs, despite the District having no interest in the suit’s outcome. The new suit also claims the District is in violation of the state’s Public Records Act. Besides asking any public money already spent on the private lawsuit--more than $98,000--be returned to the District, the plaintiffs also want to prevent the Board from spending additional money in connection with Zulim, Benzeevi and Kumar’s suit against Beltre. Should the plaintiffs prevail, the District, and thus taxpayers, could also be held responsible for the entire cost of this latest suit.

Further Distractions

Meanwhile, the sudden replacement of TRMC’s medical staff of 135 in January is still being fought in Tulare County Superior Court. A settlement conference has been scheduled for February 10, 2017. This follows the posting of jury fees by the MEC’s lawyers in July.

In the midst of all the legal wrangling, Northcraft says something’s being forgotten.

“They’ve kind of ignored the real mission of the hospital, which is to provide health care,” he said.

6 October, 2016

Valley Voice • 11

Lawsuit

Continued from p. 1 $39,000 a month. Did any of you look at the expense account reports we found?

Did any of you? Probably everyone in this room will take that as a no. Let me tell you some of the things that were in there — it’s really amazing,” Lampe said.

“Here’s bills from Chipotle Grill, Kentucky Fried Chicken, Carl’s Jr, Jamba Juice, Fruitland Fresh, Starbucks, Long John Silver’s, FarmerBoys, Subway, El Pollo Loco, Black Bear Diner, Sonic, Taco Bell, Wendy’s, Togo’s, Burger King, Del Taco, Chilli’s, Popeyes, A&W Root Beer, Panda Express, McDonald’s, there’s charges that he incurred that you paid for with taxpayer funds at Los Angeles International Airport, Fresno Air Terminal…my question to you, is that the moral compass of this board? You take your employees and you move them over to HCCA so that they can fire them, but the guy you’re paying $39,000 a month to to work out of his home in Tuscon, Arizona, you’re buying his hamburgers and his coffee? You think that’s a wise expenditure of public funds?”

After his initial statement, Lampe was reminded by the board that he only had one minute left. He retorted by stating he’d need even less to give his final words to the board.

“The waste of public funds that I just outlined pales in comparison to the lawsuit you were just served. Your lawyer collected all of those lawsuits. There are four of you who desperately need to grab a copy of that lawsuit and go seek independent counsel. If you don’t do that, it will be the most foolish move of your adult life,” Lampe said.

Bruce Greene, right, collected the lawsuit papers from each of the board members, including, from left: Linda Wilbourn, Richard Torrez, and Sherrie Bell. Greene is counsel for both HCCA and the Tulare Local Healthcare District. Tony Maldonado/Valley Voice

authorized the use of those funds while obscuring their true purpose.

The $98,213 figure comes from documents that the plaintiffs requested from the district through a California Public Records Act request.

The second part of the new suit centers around the same issue, and seeks a judgement that would determine how those funds could be recovered from the district.

The third allegation in the suit centers around allegations that the district has not cooperated with a California Public Records Act request by extending the time of a request from the maximum required 24 days to an estimated 90-120 days.

A copy of the suit is available at the Voice’s website, ourvalleyvoice.com.

This lawsuit is distinct from a prior

Deanne Martin-Soares holds up a letter outlining one patient’s experience at the Tulare Regional Medical Center during September’s board meeting. Tony Maldonado/Valley Voice

“You are in the middle of a volcano and you don’t even know it – the allegations of that complaint are horrid. By the way, that complaint has been uploaded by the Valley Voice, and I believe it’s already online. I encourage every voter in this district, every resident of this district, every taxpayer of this district, to read that complaint. Thank you very much.”

Greene declined to comment for this article.

The first allegation of the suit claims that the district spent $98,213.84 to support a civil lawsuit filed by Benzeevi, Kumar and Zulim against Dr. Abraham Betre, the Chief of Staff for the former Tulare Regional Medical Center Staff.

That lawsuit, which Benzeevi, Kumar, and Zulim lost, asserted that Betre had violated confidentiality bylaws in allegedly speaking to the Voice.

The plaintiffs state that since the district was not named in Benzeevi/Kumar/ Zulim suit, there was no reason for funds to be used toward it, but they claim that a board closed session reportable item

suit previously filed by Emily Yenigues and Deanne Martin-Soares alleging that the district had knowingly violated the California Public Records Act.

Recall Notice

During the meeting’s public comment section, Alberto Aguilar served Kumar, the representative for TLHCD Zone 3, with a notice of intent to circulate a recall petition. The proponents of Kumar’s recall were legally required to serve such a notice to him, either by providing it to him in person or by certified mail.

Aguilar, a former member of the district’s Bond Oversight Committee, has been an outspoken critic of the board and the board’s management arrangement with HCCA. The recall notice, which Aguilar read aloud before serving Kumar, stated that the recall was being sought due to the floundering tower expansion project and the district’s agreement with HCCA. A copy of the notice is available at the

Voice’s website.

“Since November 2008 you have continually failed the public trust. The citizens of the District entrusted you with $85 million in bond funds to build an addition. The addition was never completed and the shameful use of public funds prompted the Tulare County Grand Jury to issue the “Tower of Shame” report and demand the Board provide a full accounting of the project. However, instead of abiding by the Grand Jury request, you continue to thumb your nose to your fiduciary duty as a Board member,” Aguilar said, and the notice read.

“You voted to completely divest the powers of the Board to company (HCCA), with no experience in operating a hospital or manage the delivery of quality healthcare. You gave HCCA unfettered access to District assets, including an option to purchase. You approved a contract which keeps the Board from entering the hospital or voice any type of criticism against HCCA. This has resulted in a significant deterioration of the District’s healthcare delivery, which now has a one star rating, a falling census and recent long-term employee lay-offs.

Yet, you continue to financially benefit from its limited operations. Your failure has put the future of a publicly owned hospital in jeopardy.”

Proponents of the recall provided a statement to the Voice.

“We find this recall to be a necessary step in the process of eliminating corruption and mismanagement from our District Board. Dr. Kumar’s 20 years of service have been marred by continuous questions of honesty and public stewardship,” the proponents said. “On multiple occasions, Dr. Kumar has intentionally taken steps to cloud the answers to these questions, particularly through the suspension of the 2012 forensic audit and the controversial hiring of Healthcare Conglomerate Associates.”

“At best, Dr. Kumar’s actions display a gross disregard for public funds and for the citizens who provide those funds—not to mention the votes that elected him. For these reasons primarily, we see the removal of Dr. Kumar from this board as integral to the preservation of our public hospital.”

A Patient’s Death

Deanne Martin-Soares, a former TLHCD Board Member and a member of Citizens for Hospital Accountability, spoke before Alberto Aguilar about a letter describing a now-deceased patient’s

time at Tulare Regional Medical Center earlier this month.

Martin-Soares spoke about the letter and how it has allegedly spread around the community.

“If you four other board members do not know what I’m talking about, you need to ask Dr. Kumar or Dr. Benzeevi to explain this to you today. All I’m going to say about this letter is that when somebody has a strangulated bowel, a strangulated hernia, and they reside in our emergency room for 10 hours, and then two more hours before they make it to surgery, that person’s likelihood of survival is very slim,” Martin-Soares said. “Those kind of things are what continue to happen in this community, and for those of you that are nurses and healthcare staff, this is not about all of you — this is about reducing things and job sharing — you can’t put a medical floor nurse in ICU, it takes a certain kind of skill.”

The letter, which was provided to the Voice and redacted to protect the information of the deceased and her family, claims that the patient came into the hospital on September 16 and died the following day.

“From 10am until 8:30pm she sat in a bed in the ER waiting to be taken up stairs to be taken to surgery. For 10 hours my Mother in Law who was diagnosed with a strangulated hernia waited 10 hours to be given a room and to be taken to surgery,” the letter reads. “At one point my Father in Law got so exasperated and asked if she could be transferred to Kaweah Delta to be seen and the staff had said “no” that they had already called for another patient and that Kaweah was full. After finally getting admitted to the ICU she sat in her bed for another 2 hours waiting for surgery.”

The letter also claims that hospital staff lacked professionalism while demonstrating recklessness.

“My wife arrived at 9:15pm and the events that she witnessed are downright heart breaking and depressing that such unprofessionalism was exhibited at a functioning Hospital. What she saw was her mother in pain who had not received any pain medication for 4 hours because they were prepping her for surgery.”

“I am sickened to my stomach that this kind of reckless care and unprofessionalism is what we the citizens of Tulare are exposed to. If we do not have a functioning Hospital with a capable staff then please do not mislead us!”

The letter is available on the Voice’s website at ourvalleyvoice.com

12 • Valley Voice

Tulare 5

Continued from p. 1 and strategizing how the city will prioritize, fund, manage and monitor each.”

Vejvoda’s two main priorities for the next four years are public safety and economic development. He said those have always been his number one and two priorities since taking office 12 years ago. “Public safety is always first and foremost on everyone’s mind and it’s something we do a good job at with the city council.”

Vejvoda’s priority concerning economic development is to bring in new businesses that will create jobs and encourage Tulareans to shop local. One community need he sees is recruiting a major grocery chain. He would like to see a store such as Savemart come to town to give residents a better choice when shopping for groceries and to keep them from grocery shopping in Visalia.

Tulare’s main source of income is sales tax, said Vejvoda, so the city council retained a company called Retail Strategies as a business recruiting partner.

Vejvoda explained that Retail Strategies works like a match maker between businesses and cities, matching their demographics, traffic and available buildings to prospective businesses. The ultimate goal of hiring the company is to bring new retail to Tulare.

The city signed a three-year, $100,000 contract with Retail Strategies that represents about one third of its business development budget.

Fallert and Nunley felt that Tulare’s economic development has been stagnant for years.

Fallert, former Tulare Deputy Manager, said that, “When you look at where Tulare is sitting in terms of growth in comparison to Porterville, Visalia and

City of Tulare District Boundaries since 2012.

6 October, 2016 Hanford, we have fallen behind the curve.” Greg Nunley, a real estate developer, said that “I want to be very vocal and very pro-growth.” When told that other city council members want to roll out the red carpet to business he said, “That is solely untruthful. There is no red carpet.”

Nunley challenged anyone to name one new business that has opened in Tulare in the last five years. He only knows of one and that is a carwash.

Fallert’s main goal if elected is to see a turnaround in the planning department. She said that Tulare laid off its planning staff about two years ago and outsourced the city’s planners to a Visalia firm. Fallert pointed out that, ironically, the layoffs did not happen during the recession but during the recovery.

Smaller communities such as Farmersville, Delano and Sanger have their own planning departments and provide full city services to developers said Fallert. That is something she wants to see in Tulare. She says the residents deserve better and have paid for it because Tulare is one of the highest taxed communities in California.

Nunley said that the Valley is in a building boom right now but nothing is going on in Tulare. “We are going to miss our window of opportunity.”

Because Tulare contracts out its planning services there are very restrictive counter hours available to builders who might show up from out of town.

Nunely said if a developer comes in to look at pulling building permits they will leave empty handed. “The curtain is pulled down and business is closed for the city,” Nunley said.

Nunley had a conversation with a current councilmember who didn’t seem to understand the connection between residential and commercial development. The councilmember was stuck on

the fact that residential properties only represent 1% of the tax base revenue in terms of property taxes. Nunley tried to explain that if Tulare wants more commercial development then it needs more rooftops. While the increase in property taxes for new residential might be minimal, new homes bring new shoppers and raises the sales tax base. More shoppers also make the city look attractive to outside businesses.

“If you don’t have community growth you are not going to get more businesses. Smart growth, consistent growth, means more places to shop and eat so people don’t have to go to Visalia for these things,” he said.

“If we don’t grow it will affect property values and then people will want to move away.”

Nunley was born and raised in Tulare and said he is sick of seeing people leave for other cities for lack of opportunities.

He reiterated what Fallert said about Hanford, Porterville and Delano. “They are doing 100% better than we are.”

Nunley said that Tulare’s falling behind is because of a lack of leadership.

He said it’s not the city staff’s fault, which he thinks does a good job. He blames the city council and the last city manager, Don Dorman for Tulare’s stagnant development. Dorman retired earlier this year and was replaced by interim city manager Paul Melikian.

Vice-Mayor Carlton Jones agreed with Nunley ,saying, “I celebrate Dorman leaving. He wasn’t a good fit for Tulare.”

Fallert was put on administrative leave while serving as Deputy City Manager under Dorman. She says the reason was because of personal differences on which way the city should go. “I worked under five different city managers over the last 25 years and I have a lot of good things to say about them. But this last manager was interesting.”

She said she received the best mentoring under former Tulare City Manager Kevin Northcraft, who she felt did an excellent job. She said he was prudent with city funds, overseeing the new library and city hall. She was excited about the fact that Northcraft is currently running for Tulare Regional Health Center Board.

Nunley expressed the same skepticism about Tulare’s water system problems as Jones.

Jones was the lone city council member to vote against the water rate increase because he said the fire suppression test required for cities showed the system was excellent. Nunley tested the water pressure himself for 30 days and found that the pressure never dipped under 55 pounds.

Nunely has heard that Tulare has

a water infrastructure problem that is so bad the city must restrict growth. He questioned if that is true. “Then why did they let it get that bad?”

Nunley doesn’t necessarily believe that is completely true, though.

His theory is that the city attorney gave the council bad advice on pursuing a legal fight in connecting Matheny Tract, a rural subdivision, to Tulare’s water system. The development was ultimately connected to Tulare’s system and everything has been fine, Nunley said.

“Tulare lost that battle and obviously the advice they got was wrong. I think the water problem is hocus pocus.”

Candidates bring different backgrounds to the table All of the candidates are life-long residents of Tulare County, with Vejvoda arriving as a second-grader to Tulare’s grade school from the Mid-West. His father was a teacher in Nebraska while California was experiencing a shortage of teachers. Recruiters would show up after a blizzard and show seasoned teachers pictures of California beaches.

The Vejvoda family moved soon after and his father taught at Tulare Union High School.

Vejvoda started with the company Bankers Life as a financial advisor and has been there for 33 years. He is the vice-chair of Tulare County Association of Governments and past president and current board member of the Economic Development Corporation of Tulare County. He is also on the board for the California League of Cities representing the 38 cities that make up the Central Valley.

Serving on the city council is just an extension of his public service. He is a volunteer every year at the World Ag-Expo, and is past chair of Relay for Life. He is also a member of Kiwanis and the Rotary Club. “It’s part of what I do. I want to leave a place better than I found it.”

Fallart has 25 years working in public service. She started at the Tulare Public Works Department, focusing mainly on economic development. Then she was promoted to Public Works director, where she negotiated work contracts for city employees. “It will be interesting to be on the other side of the table,” she said. She retired last February as the Deputy City Manager. She graduated from Fresno State with an Ag Business degree and married right out of college Aguilera-Marrero was born and raised in Porterville and has lived in Tulare the last 15 years. She was unable to be interviewed but said in an email, “I have served and been chairs/presidents on Associations, Organizations, Clubs, Boards, Committees for youth, church, community, state and federal level. I want to help and serve the growth of Tulare youth, families, and community with public safety, education and economy. I have the courage with desire to advocate for the good if our youth, families and community.”

Aguilera-Marrero said she would be the best choice for city council because, “I will serve you, I will listen to your needs, I will advocate for your fair share of city resources, I will represent with honesty, credibility and integrity.”

Nunley’s background is in architecture, construction and development. He has built several subdivisions in Tulare County. He was born in Tulare hospital and has six children with his wife, Michelle, who is the principal of Tulare Union high school.

6 October, 2016

Valley Voice • 13

Carlton Jones Faces Challenger for Tulare City District 3 Catherine Doe Incumbent Carlton Jones is defending his District 3 seat against Phil Smith, a local commercial credit manager.

Carlton Jones’ first foray into politics came as working for the Tulare Fire Department. He was president of the firemen’s union and led labor negotiations.

After he was hired by the Fresno Fire Department he missed working with the Tulare community and decided to run for city council. He won for the first time in 2004. He lost his seat in 2008, then won it again in 2012 when the city had converted to by-district elections. After that election he was selected as Vice-Mayor.

Even though Jones was raised on Tulare’s West side and graduated from Tulare Western, he now lives in District 3, representing southeast Tulare.

Jones likes the fact that with districts citizens have a point of contact. The residents can easily contact Carlton and can call district meetings. In that way Jones can hear and see what his constituents need.

Two such examples are when a park needed to be completed, and another was when a senior center needed more lighting and police coverage. For the park he was able to get an assessment district created that paid for the park. For the senior center he worked with the police department to beef up the security and got the city to make sure the street lights worked.

Jones’ father worked for the housing authority and he still uses those contacts.

“I find out what the needs are, and I meet them.”

His goal, if re-elected for four more years, is to re-established the oversight committee for the original Measure I. During his first tenure on the city coun-

Tulare 1

cil in 2004, a Public Safety/Street maintenance bond called Measure I was passed as a general bond . That means the money was not earmarked and could be spent however the city saw fit. The city council negotiated amongst each other and Jones agreed to vote yes for the measure to be put on the ballot only if the money was spent on public safety and streets. He also demanded an oversight committee to ensure accountability.

In 2012, when Jones was no longer on the city council, it voted to get rid of the oversight committee. His goal is to get the oversight committee active and to have a full accounting of where that money was spent. Right now it just goes into the general fund.

Another goal of Jones’ is to jump start economic development in Tulare. According to Jones the city is not doing as well as it was in his first term on the council.

He feels that Tulare has fallen behind Porterville and Hanford. He acknowledged that development is happening in other towns and said, “I want boom times for Tulare too.”

Jones was the only councilmember to vote against the water rate increase in August. He became skeptical about Tulare’s water crisis because the reasons for the rate increase kept changing. He said the rationale for the first increase was to get people to save water. Then another increase was needed because people were conserving too much water and the city was losing revenue. Now Jones says the city council justified the increase because the city needs to upgrade the infrastructure.

Jones pointed to a fire suppressions study required for each city that found the water pressure was great in Tulare. He added that the study was not included in the

Gowin considers one of the city’s biggest accomplishments during her was the hiring of Don Dorman. She said Continued from p. 1 he updated Tulare’s procedures so the Gowin first got interested in city city could function more smoothly in government in 2009, when she was ap- the future. pointed to Leadership Tulare. She found “Now Tulare functions like a real city the council meetings were fascinating instead of a small town,” she said. and realized she enjoyed being involved Gowin said, “I know Tulare, underwith the running of the city. She was stand Tulare, and want it to be a place then asked to participate in a where people want to raise group that was responsible for their kids.” She is a fourth genreviewing the pros and cons of eration Tularean who raised a major racing track venue that the family’s fifth generation never came to fruition. While here and has a sixth generation attending city council meetings on the way. during that contentious time Gowin is looking forward she saw behavior unbefitting of to bringing in new industry a representative of Tulare. into Tulare once the infrastrucThough reluctant to get Shea Gowin ture is in place. involved in politics because she ran a family business and had time Jose Sigala Says District 1 restraints raising school-aged children, Doesn’t Get Its Fair Share she felt that she would be a better repof Resources resentative of Tulare than what she had Jose Sigala has only lived in Tulare witnessed. full-time for a few years but has considTulare’s biggest challenge over her ered the town his second home since his last four years on the council was the city’s antiquated water infrastructure. The mother and siblings moved here in the current system made it difficult to con- 1990s. Sigala would come home during nect Matheny Tract because the pipes are the summers from University California too old and too small to handle the extra at Berkeley and received one of his first pressure. To update the water system the community organizing experiences in city council recently voted 4-1 to increase Tulare. He said the town had just inthe water rates. Vice-Mayor Carlton vested about a million dollars into a new senior center but there was no center for Jones was the lone dissenting vote.

Gowin says that Tulare’s water system the youth. Still in college, Sigala orgais currently maxed out and does not allow nized the high school students and was for the building of new developments. successful in getting a youth center built.

After graduating from Berkeley, SigaThis has left the city council unable to la worked for 16 years for the California approve new building permits she said.

presentation when the city council voted to increase rates.

“We have been providing water to Matheny tract and everything is fine with the old system,” he said.

The issue of Jones’ missing a lot of city council meetings and special meetings was raised by a sitting city councilmember.

“That’s not true,” he said. “I haven’t missed any more meetings that the other councilmembers.”

It is in fact true that Jones misses the most meetings of the five councilmembers, with Mayor David Macedo a close second. In 2015, Jones missed seven meetings, Mayor Macedo six, council member Maritsa Castellanoz three, and council member Craig Vejvoda two. For 2016, Jones has already missed six, Macedo, four; Marista, two: and Vejvoda two.

It should be pointed out that Shea Gowin, running her own landscaping business and mother of four, has not missed one city council meeting or special meeting.

Jones’ profession of being a firefighter makes it unpredictable how many and when he will miss a meeting. But he added that he felt blessed to be able to serve his community and that he is able to “make decisions with his heart.” “I don’t have to worry about conflicts of interests with my personal business.”

Phil Smith, who has worked as a commercial credit manager for 20 years, has never run for public office. He was appointed to the Board of Public Utilities (BPU) in 2011 and serves as its vice-president. The BPU is in charge of regulating and managing the solid waste, water, sewer and wastewater system. The board is appointed by the city council.

What motivated Smith to run for city

council was his desire to create a more welcoming atmosphere in Tulare for developers. “I want to ensure a good experience to those interested in investing in our community and for those interested in relocating to our community.” He said right now there is a disconnect between the city staff and developers. He wants to find out where that disconnect is and fix it.

The process in obtaining a building permit in Tulare has been inconsistent over the last 20 years. He wants a planning department that responds promptly to the developing community’s requests.

With more than 20 years of experience in the finance industry and being an advocate for small business, Smith wants to take a good look at Tulare’s General Fund before deciding whether to hire more personnel to improve the city’s planning department. In an email he stated that one of his goals for the next four years would be “to ensure fiscal responsibility and promote strategic economic development.”

In fact his finance background is what he feels separates him from Jones. “My profession has provided me with an opportunity to understand the challenges faced by family businesses and, in many cases, to assist them in achieving their goals.”

Another motivation for running was to “to bring a message of reconciliation and optimism to our community,” said Smith.

Smith said that the proposed 2008 Nascar-style Racetrack, and now the Measure I vote for the hospital, still effect relationships with the voting public. “I’d like to see our community get together and unify. We need to be on the same page on how we want Tulare to look and decide how we get there together.

Absentee voting begins October 10.

“I feel like the district needs strong state legislature in the senate. He then worked for six years for the as a legislative leadership and to be more responsive to director for Los Angeles City Council, the community.”

He said that West Tulare still has dirt forming public policy, and was part of the team that put together Los Angeles’ alleys and no sidewalks or street lights, $9 billion budget. Sigala feels that his even around some schools. “I don’t see relationships formed during his time in any dirt alley’s in the mayor’s neighborSacramento can help him with his goals hood. We need engaged and active leadership to run that district.” for Tulare.

Another area where the West side One of those goals is revitalizing the needs attention is commercial developdown town.

Revitalizing Tulare’s down town will ment he said. “When you go across the railroad tracks it’s like stepping take thinking outside of the into the movie Back to the Fubox, said Sigala. Because of its ture, or as if you have stepped affordability, Tulare could deinto 1976.” There are a lot of velop some nice office spaces mom-and-pop places to eat, with high-speed internet to do but if you want to eat at a napre-production of movies. He tional chain, get groceries, or go offered to drive down to Holshopping you have to leave the lywood himself to cultivate the West side of town he said. The contacts needed to start such a commercial zoning exists but no business. He also thought that Jose Sigala one is pushing for development.

Tulare would be a perfect place “There are a lot of blighted areas and to develop a research corridor and recruit abandoned homes,” he said. Sigala said companies like Google and Yahoo.

Sigala said Tulare’s number one in- what the West side is missing is a “baldustry will always be agriculture, but that ance of equality.”

“I plan on rolling up my sleeves and the city needs to diversify to keep the area getting to work. It’s about accomplishfrom experiencing brain drain.

“That’s the type of vision I do not see ing things.” He said that other council coming out of the current city council,” member may feel similarly, “but I haven’t said Sigala. “I offer the district a choice.” seen it.”

Sigala is also running because he feels Sigala says he can fall back on his like his district isn’t getting its fair share experiences in Los Angeles because, “we of the resources. “There have been shoot- have urban problems in a rural setting.” ings on the West side and no one has Tulare still has homelessness, poverty and brought the community together to ad- unemployment, just on a smaller scale dress it. There are things we can do such that needs to be addressed. “It’s all relaas after school programs, recreation pro- tive,” he said.

Absentee voting begins October 10. grams and summer jobs and programs for the youth.”

14 • Valley Voice

6 October, 2016

Voices of the Valley The 26th Assembly District Nancy Vigran California’s 26th Assembly District contains the majority of Tulare County, a very small portion of Kern County and all of Inyo County. The district is a little more than 45% Republican and 31% Democratic of those registered to vote. The seat is currently held by Devon Mathis, a Visalia republican, who declined several requests for an interview. His opponent on the November ballot, Ruben Macareno, is a Democrat, also from Visalia.

Ruben Macareno

Ruben Macareno grew up in the farmlands of California. The 11th of 13 children, his family followed the harvests, making Tulare their home base in the mid 1960’s, and building a permanent home in Farmersville shortly thereafter. Macareno attended Farmersville schools and graduated from Exeter Union High School.

He feels as though his life and professional experiences, as well as his education, make him a good fit for becoming the next 26th District Assemblyman.

During high school, Macareno took a journalism class. With that, he was able to do some part time writing for local newspapers. Upon high school graduation, he landed a job as the newsletter editor for Proteus, which provides education, job training, job placement and other support services to farm working families and other program participants.

“That was really a good experience – it opened up my eyes, at a young age, to folks who were trying to get ahead and that was very difficult in this area,” he said. “They would tell me their stories of heartaches, and how difficult it was to work in the fields, how difficult it was to just pay the bills, because there still wasn’t enough income coming in, and, how difficult it was because of the type of work it was.

“That gave me an awareness– even though my own family was a migrant family, my parents, pretty much, kept us away from all those discussions of how bad it was and how hard it was.

“At the same token, I would also hear the success stories – how organizations like Proteus would actually help people get out of the field and into a vocational career, that they could actually build on and do more for their families. So, I saw how people could actually make a difference in other people’s lives.

“That is when I decided that I really wanted to be part of this kind of work.

This was more personal and it was satisfying to see that I was able to help somebody, in one way or another.”

With this in mind, Macareno moved to Los Angeles to pursue college.

As a student, he looked for part time work. He had always had an interest in politics and wanted to learn more about how representatives help their constituents. Although he had no political experience, and was just starting out in school, he decided to check in with a Los Angeles congressman to see if he could find any work there. Thinking it was a longshot, he found himself meeting with

the late Congressman Ed Roybal (D-Los Angeles).

“I told him about my experience with Proteus,” he said, and he shared his ambitions.

Roybal gave him a shot as a summer intern. Macareno admitted he was taken aback, but at the same time delighted.

He talked with constituents and primarily worked with them on immigration and tax issues.

“That gave me some good training in working constituent services. I didn’t know all these services existed. If you have a tax problem, or whatever, I just thought you call the IRS and or a hotline. But, what people don’t realize is that they can actually get assistance from their legislatures or congressman when they have any issues pertaining to federal or state issues,” he said.

With that under his belt, Macareno was ready to take on a full load at college, but Roybal had other ideas for him. “’Oh,’ he said, ‘we’d actually like you to go to Washington – we have an opening there – I think you’d be great for it.

You would be working for the National Association of Latino Elected and Appointed Officials,’ which the congressman was the president and founder of.

“Of course, I didn’t hesitate. I said, ‘Yes, I’ll go!’

“When I went to Washington, that was a different type of education – it was for citizenship advocacy and Latino advocacy, and nationwide interests, as opposed to just local. We also kept track of who was getting elected around the country and where there was potential for an increase in Latino participation.

“And, so I was getting a full-rounded education in terms of serving people.

From working with Proteus and working in a congressional office, to working to a more vast type of focus with NALEO – I really got that sense that it is people helping people through services and resources out there. It was very exciting.”

he took it, and moved back to Tulare County. He was one class short of obtaining his bachelor degree, but felt he needed to be close to family and home.

“I just felt a great need to be here,” he said. “I was concerned about my family and their state of mind – but one thing that I didn’t know it would do for me that it did was– it gave me great empathy– empathy for others in similar situations, and for those in other difficult situations.

“Something I realized when I came back here, was there hasn’t been a lot of change. Everything was pretty much the same. I also noticed that there were a lot of people Ruben Macareno who just felt that they weren’t 1. Figure out how we can retain being listened to– or that their vote didn’t that water. matter– particularly in the rural areas 2. Figure out how it is going to be and particularly the Latino community, safe– not contaminated. in general. So, I had decided that I am 3. Figure out how it is going to going to jump right in, and I am going be distributed among farmers to do something and get involved. and residents– that’s always a “I am a Democrat. I went to our tug-of-war.

County [Democratic] Committee and “These are valid issues, real issues they said, well you can come to our that people have and when I go back to meetings, but you’ll have no vote. That the empathy part of what I’ve experiseemed kind of uninviting. enced - I think about when people have “So, I decided to form the Lati- talked about it and I truly put myself in no Democrats of Tulare County – that their shoes – oh my God! What would way I would get to engage with the it be like to be without water – to not community that mostly feels marginal- be able to shower, or eat, or boil water? ized by the political process, and I got It’s just unimaginable that their voice is to get involved politically with basically not being heard because they are in the like-minded people. big, giant mix. It’s a big, big job! This “Two or three years later I was asked job of being a state legislature, it is truto chair the County Committee, and I ly one where you should NOT have a did. I had the opportunity to meet a lot partisan badge, but it should be a job of of people within the Democratic Party, public service.” elected officials in Sacramento – other Macareno ran for the same seat two assemblymen, state senators - that were years ago. Devon Mathis won the seat. really doing things for their communi- Macareno said he was not disappointed.

He felt at the time that, although Mathis I also noticed that there were a lot of people who just felt is a Republican, his promise to reach that they weren’t being listened to– or that their vote didn’t across the aisle was good. It was with matter– particularly in the rural areas and particularly the that promise, Macareno said, that many progressives and moderates Latino community, in general. So, I had decided that I am Democrats, helped Mathis win the election. going to jump right in, and I am going to do something and “And at the beginning it seemed like get involved. he was holding up to his end of the barRuben Macareno gain, or his public persona that he would be one to reach over the aisle. He came to one of our Democratic openings and Eventually, Macareno returned to ty. I would talk with them about what it I thought that was very big of him, espeLos Angeles to continue working on his was like to serve in office– what are the cially in the political scene– that rarely education. His sister urged him to con- pros, what are the cons and that sort of happens. He didn’t only do it once, he sider applying for a position with the Los thing– so, I kind of got another educa- did it twice. He had a staff that mirAngeles Times, pointing out they have an tion in regard to that, which was good.” rored, to some degree, the district and I opening in their customer service dethought that was also very good. And, at Local Concerns partment. He applied, but the human the beginning, he would visit other orgaSome of Macareno’s current con- nizations that perhaps in the past weren’t resources staffer felt there was a job that his skills were a better fit for, in public cerns within the district, are about jobs, visited by others like community groups affairs. He took the job and ended up senior citizens, air quality, and water in rural towns. So, I thought that was working for the Times for close to 20 quality and quantity. He’d also like to good,” Macareno said. years in various capacities while attend- see a public university within the TuBut, then, he added, someing school part time, at Los Angeles City lare-Kings counties area. thing happened.

“Water is a humungous issue that College, and then Cal State, Los Angeles.

“I met with some of his staffers, who In 2007, his younger brother, Mar- needs to be addressed consistently and were not happy with him. So, that gave tin, was murdered at the Central Coast. we need to be able to be a cheerlead- me a flag up with regards to him,” he said.

Macareno had been considering a buy- er for our Valley and our District, so “And, also there was a [Assembly] out program with the Times anyway, so that we can: MACARENO continued on 16 »

“

”

6 October, 2016

Valley Voice • 15

Comments & Letters

Look Up, Look Down, Look Around — LOOK OUT!

Lynn M. Mclean America has been among those nations who have fared the best in offering freedom to its citizenry. However, we are now plagued with an increased impact of outside influences.

These new arrivals are directed toward creating one world government.

This line of thinking is being promoted by those who consider themselves to be elite and in their minds, are ready to take control of the world’s population.

This idea includes disposing of 90% of the human population in order to maintain control and provide themselves with ample numbers of slaves. This, of course, is not widely advertised and is unimaginable to many Americans.

Modern technical weapons of war have now come into full fruition and a number of these weapon are so destructive as to end all life on this planet

without our knowledge. Chemtrails and HARRP are the two major controllers of weather and is now being used by Illuminati-like forces to destroy already established natural weather patterns.

All life including birds, fish, cows and butterflies are impacted. Politicians act as though the demise of the Honey Bee is a total scientific mystery while aluminum oxide and other deadly poisonous material continue to sift down from high flying militarily directed air craft. But wait, there is much more to be reckoned with. Monsanto has had a nasty history with making bug killers, roundup and Agent Orange so powerful that it not only kills bugs and bushes, it causes cancer and deformities in children around the world. Thirty eight European countries have banned their GMO foods.

The statement, “Money is the root of all evil.” could never have been more

true than now.

‘We are now well into world war three with little public awareness.

Are their hints of insanity in these bold ill principled ventures? Well yes, since insanity is a part of the human condition. It Exhibit itself in the mentally ill, but when it falls within the reasoning of those who have no other ambition in this world than to capture unlimited power over all living souls, it is time for the people to realize money is the culprit.

It would be a prudent decision on the part of all populations to cut off the money.

No money! No war! WELL, I”LL BE DARNED! Go, governments, go! Forget the lobbyists!

Lynn M. Mclean Google reference, Monsanto, the truth, Chemtrails, exposed, HARRP, military weapon.

The $10.8 Million Blank Check Chris Telfer, Taxpayers Association Visalia is one of the best cities in the San Joaquin Valley to call home. We enjoy a vibrant downtown with fantastic places to dine and entertain, great schools, and we are situated just a short drive away from the Sierra Nevada and California’s Central Coast.

All of this at just a fraction of the cost of living facing Southern Californians and Bay Area residents.

In a recent poll performed by the Citizens Advisory Committee, 93% of Visalia residents said they enjoy this high quality of life that our city offers. We should aim to continuously improve the place we call home and promote what makes this city great.

Our city leaders are convinced that Visalians must approve a $10.8 million annual sales tax hike to maintain this quality of life. Despite claims that the revenue will strictly be set aside for public safety, road maintenance and addressing our homelessness crisis, the tax revenue actually goes to the City’s General Fund and can be spent on each and

every whim of the City Council.

When drafting this tax hike, city leaders failed to include a concrete expenditure plan, opting for a socalled “initial plan.” This is nothing more than a pencil sketch – it can be changed at any time.

Essentially, this is a $10.8 million blank check handed to the City Council.

Every year. In perpetuity.

That’s right: there is no sunset clause or expiration date on this tax hike. Who wouldn’t want to hire more policeman and firefighters? Who wouldn’t want to enjoy perfectly manicured parks? These are all critical components to a vibrant, growing city.

But according to the City Manager’s most recent Comprehensive Annual Financial Report, sales tax revenue accounted for $21.6 million in 2015, the largest annual accrual of sales tax revenue in our city’s history.

The Tulare County Taxpayers Association – like voters across Visalia and the rest of Tulare County – would offer serious consideration to a tax measure that provides full transparency with a clearcut

spending plan with a specific scope.

It’s opaque spending “sketch” does not provide guarantees to hardworking taxpayers that it will stick to its promises and provides temptation to spend our money on their pet projects. Measure R (Tulare County) and Measure T (City of Visalia) were both built on a clear, concrete expenditure plan that cannot be changed – regardless of who holds office.

And with Visalia’s tax revenues rising to record highs, it is unconvincing that the City Council cannot reprioritize the budget to dedicate more funding to public safety and other quality-of-life departments.

If Visalia’s need for public safety, roads, and essential services truly is beyond the limits of our current revenue, then let’s vote on a sales tax that guarantees our dollars will be spent accordingly.

Measure N does not accomplish this. And a vote against Measure N in November is not a vote against our police officers, firefighters, or road maintenance crews. It is a vote against a $10.8 million annual blank check handed to politicians with zero accountability.

Re: The $10.8 Million Blank Check Janice Avila I was born and raised in Visalia, attended schools here, and my career has been here. The same for my husband; we are lifelong Visalians and care deeply about this community.

In a recent letter on Measure N, the Visalia Safety and Public Services ½-cent sales tax measure, Chris Telfer asked how the measure is accountable to the public. He stated, “Who wouldn’t want to hire more policemen and firefighters?” but then groused about how Measure N would achieve these “critical components to a vibrant, growing City,” calling it a “blank check.”

That’s an inaccurate soundbite. Measure N provides City Council’s the abili-

ty to address the community’s needs now and in the future. I was a member of one of two citizen committees, which spent six-months seeking to make Measure N both transparent and accountable. We endorsed our committee’s recommendation that the City Council place Measure N on the November ballot to maintain police, fire and roads.

The Council created multiple safeguards for Measure N to be accountable to the public by requiring: • Council members, who we elect, to publish a plan on what they will do with the money • The plan to be reviewed by an 11-person oversight committee, four members of which are not appointed

by Council

• The Council to consider if the tax should be suspended every eight years • Independent financial auditors to report how the money was spent • Multiple public hearings to be held so the plan is reviewed by us all As citizens, we must trust our elected officials to understand the needs of our growing community and any changes or threats to our safety. Chris Telfer’s alternative would be to set an unchangeable plan today to solve problems that will arise in the future. Although that might seem attractive at first, future Councils have one great advantage we do not have: they will be living in the future, addressing problems we can’t even imagine today. Please join me in voting Yes on Measure N. Vote for Visalia’s future.

Use your voice

Comment on our website, or email editor@ourvalleyvoice.com

Veteran’s Corner Veteran Homelessness Scott Holwell The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is partnering with Chrysler Liquidating Trust to provide funds to support VA efforts to end Veteran homelessness.

The partnership is part of the MyVA Strategic Partnership Initiative, which works with external organizations to improve the delivery and access of care for Veterans.

Earlier this year, the Chrysler Liquidating Trust committed $750,000 to support VA’s efforts to prevent homelessness in Detroit, Philadelphia and Los Angeles.

Leveraging VA’s existing partnership with the Pentagon Federal Credit Union Foundation, more than $233,000 of these funds have been awarded to cover rent and utility deposits for Veterans. As of July 2016, approximately 220 grants were distributed to support Veterans and their families.

“It gives me great pleasure to announce another VA partnership,” said VA Secretary Robert A. McDonald. “VA’s new strategic partnership with the Chrysler Liquidating Trust is a great example of ways VA is opening its doors to new kinds of partners to better serve Veterans.

Just this summer, President Obama announced a nearly 50-percent decline in Veteran homelessness. It’s these kinds of collaborations that are helping us achieve results. Caring for Veterans is a shared responsibility and opportunity.”

“After speaking with Secretary Bob and hearing about VA’s newly invigorated effort to work with external partners, I wanted to find a way to use these funds to support Veterans,” said Trusts’ Manzo. “There’s no reason VA has to take on issues like homelessness by itself. There are ways that all organizations can step up to the plate to support this important national issue.”

The Chrysler Liquidating Trust was established as part of the Troubled Asset Relief Program (TARP). During its creation, it was pre-determined any surplus funds would be allocated to a national cause benefiting Americans. Trust officials chose to allocate those surplus funds to Veterans’ issues.

Since the launch of the MyVA, the largest transformation in the history of VA, the Department has entered into new collaborations with dozens of external organizations to combat issues of homelessness, suicide and Veteran unemployment.

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 and also issues 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 determine 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.

16 • Valley Voice

Macareno Continued from p. 13

Bill for East Porterville, and that bill was to give state loans to people who live in East Porterville, so they could dig their wells deeper. It was passing the Assembly, unanimously, but it was held up by Senator Ricardo Lara (D-Los Angeles) and it never got to the Senate floor, or to the Governor’s desk. And one of the reasons that happened was because when it reached Ricardo Lara’s desk, Devon did a last minute amendment to it – he wanted to make sure that the monies would be under local control, and not the state water board – so that halted that and Ricardo Lara put it to the side, and it basically died,” he said.

“The people in Porterville needed this to happen – you need to be able to have your contacts, or to have the support a number of people who will back you and say – ‘this needs to happen, Ricardo, this needs to go, because these people are suffering, these people need the funding so that they don’t live without water.’ But, when you play the political ballgame, that doesn’t happen.

“My argument with that is that our assemblyman should have been fighting for those kinds of services from the very beginning– working with the Governor’s office and others to bring in this type of service, months and months ago. And, I say that because of the critical urgency of having water.”

“I think a fundamental difference

6 October, 2016

“

I’m willing to be the cheerleader – the advocate for the district. I am also one who will look for folks to help me lead and to help me represent, because it is not just one person, but it is a coalition of leaders who know where the issues are and I am committed to doing that.

”

Ruben Macareno between us two, truly is with Assembly Bill 1066, the farm worker overtime bill – that is, it would have been a no-brainer vote for me. Having gone through working for Proteus, having been raised in a migrant family, knowing what it’s like to have worked in these conditions, and also having just been a regular hourly worker at one time – if I work over eight hours, I want to get paid overtime – I’m sorry, I do. If I work over 40 hours, I want to get paid my overtime. And, I think that everyone who is an hourly person deserves to get paid that overtime. I don’t even see it as a farm or farm worker issue. It’s a worker’s issue, and it’s very clear to me.

“My opponent, not only did he vote against it, he was very vocal against it, saying the farm workers don’t want it.

That’s not true. Saying that it will hurt them because there will be less work for them, because there will be new crews – well, where do you get all these new farm workers? Especially, if you are talking about documented workers – there is a major shortage. If you are talking about undocumented workers, where are you going with this? It makes no sense.

“He has also said the unions are exempt from this law. NO, everybody who is an hourly worker will get their over-

time. Furthermore, it is going to grandfather into the full overtime in 2020, or something of that nature. I think this was a good thing – both sides had to come together, whether you voted for it or not, to have some type of compromise. HELLO – the art of politics. That’s what we do, and that’s what we should be doing – not the partisan part of it, not the lining your pockets with big money part of it sort of things. This is what we are suppose to do – come together with some type of solution.

“One of the things that I am very, very, very concerned about, more than the local election, is the whole presidential election. I have never felt so concerned of the outcome. I’m worried about Donald Trump because of his temperament – he lashes out at Latinos, at women, at everybody and that’s just his style. And, I recognize that that’s just the way he is, but what worries me is that having someone like that as president, could truly put us into some type of international chaos and, also what it has done locally, what is has done locally to unleash this separation – I see it more and more every day and that really worries me – at a time when we are under this international threat – gosh, if there

was ever a time we had to be together, it’s now!

“Yet my opponent thinks he can lead us to greatness, despite all he has said and done, and continues to do so.

My point is that my opponent prefers to play partisan politics, instead of what is best for the entire district, which is contrary to his campaign theme ‘People over Politics.’

“I tell people to make sure to vote.

Make sure to vote your conscious, your heart and make sure that you have America in mind. All of us together – we are still one people. I don’t tell them how to vote – but to vote – it’s important.”

Macareno is 53. He and his wife, Leyda, have two grown sons – one lives in LA and is a music engineer; the other is living in New York, while studying musical theater.

“I think that when elected, I am committed to not just be the voice of the constituency, but I’m willing to cross the aisle when necessary,” Macareno said.

“I’m willing to be the cheerleader – the advocate for the district. I am also one who will look for folks to help me lead and to help me represent, because it is not just one person, but it is a coalition of leaders who know where the issues are and I am committed to doing that.

“I’m running because I truly care.

I’m running because I think I can be effective. I’m running because I know I am qualified. And, I’m running because I have the ability to get support for things that need to be addressed in Sacramento.”

Valley Scene

6 October, 2016

Tulare County Symphony Features Americana Music Donna Orozco The Tulare County Symphony is excitedly getting ready to open its classical

Alexi Kenny

season on Saturday, October 15, performing music by American contemporary composers on the Visalia Fox Theatre stage surrounded by a brand new wraparound orchestra shell designed to enhance the sound.

The shell’s mahogany finish not only provides a highly professional look, but it wraps the entire stage, including ceiling “clouds” with overhead lighting, so the musicians will be able to hear each other and see their music much better.

The sound will also be enhanced for the audience.

The concert begins with the brass and percussion playing the dynamic “Fanfare for the Common Man” by Aaron Copland. The four-minute piece was written in response to America’s entry into WWII and is often heard on TV, for sports shows and in Navy recruitment ads.

Edgar Meyer’s “Violin Concerto” is a very lyrical piece with solo violin often floating high above a lower accompaniment. There are two passages where guest soloist Alexi Kenny has to play a slow melody on one string while playing a faster theme on another string.

Meyer, born in 1960, is a virtuoso double bassist who plays on concert stages (with such musicians as Yo-Yo Ma) as well as in country music venues and studios in Nashville. His music includes the strong folksy influence of his native Tennesee and deceptively simple melodies that require great skill on the violin.

Kenny, who grew up in Palo Alto,

trained at the New England Conservatory in Boston and played his debut recital at Carnegie Hall at age 19 (just three years ago).

The symphony returns to Copland to end the concert with his “Billy the Kid Suite.” Created as a ballet, the suite is most famous for incorporating several cowboy tunes (such as “Git Along, Little Dogies” and “The Old Chisholm Trail”) and American folk songs into the story of the famous Old West cowboy.

Tickets are $30 to $39.50 at the symphony office, 208 W. Main St. Suite D, Visalia, Student prices are $10. Tickets are also available at 732-8600 or at www. tularecountysymphony.com. Go online to check out the special season offering: three tickets for $99.

The concert begins at 7:30pm, but the audience is invited to attend the pre-concert preview by director Bruce Kiesling at 6:45.

America’s Got Talent Winners “The Olate Dogs” to Appear in Visalia The Olate Dogs, winners from Season 7 of America’s Got Talent, will appear in Visalia at the Convention Center on Sunday, December 11, 2016 at 2pm.

The Olate Dogs Santa Paws Holiday Show, led by Richard Olate and his son Nicholas Olate is a high-energy, fastpaced canine theatrical act filled with amazing dog tricks, human acrobatics and humor.

Richard grew up in South America in a poor family, getting his start as at 10 when he rescued his first street dogs and found he had a rapport.

He combined this gift of training and compassion with hard work, enabling him to support his entire family by age 12.

He came to the attention of a circus and found himself performing in the United States at age 33. That is when the rise of the Olate Dogs began in earnest.

Winning America’s Got Talent in 2012 opened doors previously only imagined. They are now America’s most recognized dog entertainers.

They command standing ovations performing at high-profile sporting events, including NBA, College Division 1, WNBA, MLB, MiLB and more.

Richard’s dream of having his own dog variety show has come true as they have a new Variety Show touring the U.S.

They have even taken on a new type of performance, starring in a series of acclaimed short online films promoting shelter adoptions. They are also seen on National Television for programs such as FOX’s Cause for Paws, the TODAY Show and the Tonight Show.

Nicholas Olate started working with his father at 6, and for the family, while having a home base in Texas, home is truly on the road.

The dogs, many of them rescues, are all pampered members of the family and travel in their own air conditioned, tricked-out trailer.

A singer and talent in his own right, Nicholas Olate has his debut album Think Big available on ITunes.

The Dogs themselves have their own “Olate Dogs Christmas” CD barking the holiday classics, also available on ITunes.

Tickets for The Olate Dogs go on sale Friday, October 7 at 10am.

Tickets can be purchased at the Visalia Convention Center Box Office, Monday through Friday, 8am – 5pm, or online at www.visaliatix.com. Tickets start at $20, and a VIP package is available for $50.

For more information call the Visalia Convention Center Box Office at (559) 713-4040.

SCICON is welcoming American and international interns for the new school year. Courtesy/TCOE

SCICON Interns Assist Staff, Help Students At the beginning of the 2016-17 school year, 12 young people became the latest class of interns at the SCICON outdoor education program.

Arriving at the school in August to begin working alongside SCICON teachers and naturalists, the American interns, most of whom are recent college graduates, came from the Central Valley and as far as New Jersey.

Based on its international reputation, SCICON also welcomed interns from abroad. Young people in this year’s class of interns came from Argentina, Germany and England.

“SCICON is excited at the opportunity this diverse group offers our students,” said Dianne Shew, SCICON

Tulare County Office of Education administrator. “Learning from these inspiring young naturalists, attending fifth and sixth graders gain an insight into different cultures and ideas for their future, while learning hands-on science.”

Interns augment SCICON’s professional staff of program specialists and naturalists. They rotate through a variety of positions – such as trail guide, museum docent and village coordinator – in order to experience all aspects of the program.

Interns often go on to careers in teaching or environmental science.

For more information about the SCICON intern program, call Dianne Shew at (559) 539-2642.

VRM to Celebrate 35 Years of Hope and Restoration Staff Reports Since 1981, the Visalia Rescue Mission has provided various services and ministries to those encounter-ing homelessness and substance abuse addiction.

For 35 years, VRM has served hundreds of thousands of meals, provided shelter for men, women and children every night of the year, and graduated hundreds of men and women through the Life Change Academy — a residential recovery program.

The VRM is celebrating 35 years of hope and restoration at its annual banquet on Thursday, October 13 with two times to attend, at 12:00pm or 6:00pm.

This year’s banquet will be at Visalia Convention Cen-ter in the Charter Oak Ballroom.

Banquet attendees will join VRM staff and volunteers, as well as local historian, Terry Ommen, on a journey down memory lane. They will also be inspired by stories from VRM graduates now employed by the Mission. Executive Direc-

tor Al Oliver, will wrap up the evening by painting a picture of what the future holds for the VRM and how the community can best help the homeless and hurting in Visalia.

Any man or woman, of any race or religion, straight or gay, may get a meal at VRM’s kitchen, 365 days of the year.

The same is true of a dry, warm place to sleep at night. And women may also bring their children up to the age of 12.

Through the Life Change Academy, a 12-month process, students without a

high school diploma study can work toward their GED exam, and take advantage of some of the practical skills training offered.

Tickets for either the afternoon or evening banquet event are $35 or $250/ table of 8.

For tickets, more information or to become a sponsor, email hope@vrmhope. org, or call Jessica Rondon, (559) 7404178, ext. 210.

This year’s banquet is sponsored by ServiceMaster by Benevento and KSEE24.

6 October, 2016

18 • Valley Voice

Great Conversations Bartleby the Scrivener: Melville’s Tale of Despair and Resistance Joseph R. Teller Y o u hire an employee at your business.

At first, he seems fantastic— skilled at his job, unobtrusive, capable, productive. But within a few days, when you ask him to do something that’s clearly part of the job, he simply says, “I prefer not to,” and then completely ignores you. Since you’re a compassionate business owner, you let it go, but after several weeks, you realize that the employee has completely stopped doing his job, and responds the same way to every one of your requests: “I prefer not to.” You finally fire him, but he has no family, no friends, no home, nowhere to go, so he simply stays in your office. He refuses to leave. He doesn’t threaten anyone, doesn’t harm anyone, doesn’t ask for anything. He just stays there, unobtrusive, quiet, and completely immovable.

How do you handle it? What might motivate a person to act so inexplicably?

How does one navigate the pressures of business and the ethical imperatives of compassion and mercy?

This is the basic conflict of Herman Melville’s short story, “Bartleby the Scrivener,” published in the 1850s

and set in New York’s burgeoning Wall by, moves his office to another building, Street. The narrator is a middle aged at- leaving Bartleby standing alone in the torney who hires Bartleby as a scrivener middle of the bare room. (one who hand-copies legal documents But Bartleby refuses to leave the old in an age before easy and cheap printing building, and the narrator is confrontmade this a machine’s job). Bartleby at ed regularly with the complaints of first seems ideal for the law office, other lawyers and businesssince the narrator wants somemen that this scrivener one “steady,” “free from disremains there, “Sitsipation,” “incessant[ly] ting upon the banindustr[ious],” “of great ister.” The police stillness,” and—above eventually take all—“valuable.” But Bartleby to “The soon after the hire, Tombs,” the jail Bartleby completein the “Hall of ly ceases all work, Justice.” There calmly replying to Bartleby, utterevery request, “I prely and immovfer not to.” Not that ably silent till the he “will” not; he just end, starves him“prefers not.” self to death, an The narrator’s impenetrable mysworld of ease and tery even in death. The profit unravels. He narrator, Bartleby’s only cannot fathom why human conHerman Melville a man would do nection, finds such an irresponsible thing, yet he will the body “drawn up, and lying on his not evict him forcibly. The narrator feels side, his head touching the cold stones,” increasing compassion for Bartleby as he and when the jailor asks, “He’s asleep, discovers Bartleby lives at the office on ain’t he?”, the narrator says “With kings the weekends and has no family at all: and counsellors”—an allusion to Job, “Before, I had never experienced aught that archetypal figure of unjust, tragic, but a not-unpleasing sadness. The bond and inexplicable suffering. The narrator of a common humanity now drew me tries to investigate Bartleby’s past, tries irresistibly to gloom. A fraternal mel- to piece together some explanation for ancholy! For both I and Bartleby were this unfortunate man’s life, but finds sons of Adam.” Eventually, the narrator, nothing—only a rumor that Bartlerather than physically removing Bartle- by once worked in the Postal Service’s

“dead letter office,” where his job might have been to sort and burn missives that never reached their addressees, a fact which leads the narrator to exclaim in the story’s final line, “Ah Bartleby! Ah humanity!”

In trying to piece together our interpretations, the COS Great Books group had a wide-ranging discussion.

Some argued that Bartleby might have suffered from what we today would call clinical depression, or some other mental disorder. Others interpreted the tale (whose subtitle is “A Tale of Wall Street”) as a scathing critique of the excesses of nineteenth century capitalism, a system in which the common man could be crushed by the machine of commerce.

Still others pointed out that the story is deeply preoccupied with asking, “What happens if a person just refuses to conform to social expectations—is that a form of freedom?”

Obviously, as with any literature worth reading, there is no simple resolution. Yet Melville’s tale puts us in the same position as the sometimes witless but ultimately compassionate narrator: we search desperately for what Bartleby means and what motivates him. And even as we do so, we become aware of the mystery of the human person—that impenetrable and in some ways unknowable being that is Bartleby, that is us.

Dr. Joseph R. Teller is Professor of English at COS. Email him at josepht@ cos.edu.

6 October, 2016

Valley Voice • 19

New Physician Assistant Welcomed at Family HealthCare Network Family HealthCare Network (FHCN) is pleased to announce Metaxia Drakopoulos, PA-C as the newest addition to its provider team in Hanford, CA. Practicing as a Physician Assistant, Drakopoulos is now offering comprehensive family medicine services for patients of FHCN’s Hanford Health Center.

Drakopoulos completed her Master of Physician Assistant Studies at University of the Sciences in Philadelphia, PA. Drakopoulos also holds her Bachelor of Arts in Anthropology and French, and is a member of the American Acade-

Metaxia Drakopoulos

my of Physician Assistants (AAPA), Pennsylvania Society of Physician Assistants (PSPA), and the California Academy of Physician Assistants (CAPA).

Drakopoulos is accepting new patients at Family HealthCare Network’s

Hanford Health Center, located at 329 West 8th St., Suite 101. To schedule an appointment with Family HealthCare Network, please contact 1-877960-3426 (FHCN) or visit www.fhcn. org for more information. The Hanford Health Center is open Monday through Friday, 7am to 9pm and Saturdays, from 8am to 5pm.

Family HealthCare Network to Host Porterville Health Fair Family HealthCare Network is pleased to announce its Sixteenth Annual Porterville Health Fair taking place Sunday, October 9, 2016 from 1pm to 4pm.

Presented in partnership with Azteca America, and co-sponsored by Anthem Blue Cross, local community members are invited to join Family HealthCare Network for this free event, which will take place at the Veterans Park, located at 1501 W. Henderson Ave., Porterville, CA 93257.

Health fair participants will have access to free health and dental screenings

for adults and children, including blood pressure, hemoglobin, and glucose screenings. Attendees will also receive free digital retinopathy screening vouchers. Family HealthCare Network has invited other local agencies to attend the event to provide information on their services to the community. The fun-filled evening will also include children’s activities and free raffle drawings for all who attend. Family HealthCare Network will also have Certified Enrollment Counselors available to assist with any questions regarding the Affordable Care Act and enrollment into

Family HealthCare Network is a private nonprofit organization that operates 21 sites, 17 of which are federally qualified health centers located throughout Tulare and Kings Counties.

Its mission is to provide quality health care to everyone in the communities it serves. FHCN also offers pharmacy services, free transportation, and extended evening and weekend hours. FHCN is recognized by the National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA) as a Level 3 Patient Centered Medical Home.

Covered California.

For more information about Family HealthCare Network’s Porterville Health Fair, please contact Family HealthCare Network Community Health Representative Eriselda Lizarraga at (559) 356-8545.

Family HealthCare Network’s Porterville Health Center is located at 1107 W. Poplar Ave., and is open Monday through Friday, 7am to 9pm. and Saturday from 7am to 5pm. To schedule an appointment with Family HealthCare Network, please call 1-877-960-3426 (FHCN) or visit www.fhcn.org for more information.

David ‘Mas’ Masumoto Comes to the Tulare County Library Tulare County Library The Central Valley leads the nation in agricultural production and one of the Valley’s leading lights is author and farmer David ‘Mas’ Masumoto, who speaks at the Tulare County Library Visalia Branch on Saturday, October 15, at 7pm.

A third generation farmer, Masumoto raises organic peaches, nectarines, and raisin grapes. When not writing books or farming, he is a columnist for the Fresno Bee and a regular contributor to the Sacramento Bee. Join us as he talks about his farm, his family, and his writings. In addition, a documentary about the Masumotos, Changing Seasons on the Masumoto Family Farm, aired on PBS in May of this year and was featured at several film festivals.

Mas is the author of 10 books, the most recent being “Changing Season, A Father, A Daughter, A Family Farm,” written with his daughter Nikiko. Another of his books, “Wisdom of the Last Farmer,” was named Best Environmental Writing in 2009 by the National Resources Defense Council, and “The Perfect Peach,” co-authored with his wife, Marcy, was one of USA Today’s best summer picks in 2013. Among his other works are “Epitaph for a Peach,” “Heirlooms,” “Letters to the Valley,” “Harvest Son,” “Silent Strength,” and “Country Voices.”

He is the recipient of numerous writing awards including the Commonwealth Club Silver medal, the James Clavell Literacy Award, and the Julia Child Cookbook Award. In addition to his literary honors, he received the Award of Distinc-

tion from UC Davis and the California Central Valley Excellence in Business Award. Mas currently serves as a member of the Central Valley Community Foundation, the Public Policy Institute of California, and the National Council on the Arts appointed by President Obama.

Mas is married to Marcy Masumoto and has two children, a son Korio and a daughter, Nikiko. Copies of his books will be available for purchase at the event.

The library program featuring Mas is sponsored by the Friends of the Tulare County Library, an association for people who love libraries, reading, books, volunteering, and raising money to enhance public library services. For more information about becoming a Friend of Tulare County Library, please contact the Library’s Volunteer Coordinator at (559)

David ‘Mas’ Masumoto. Courtesy/TC Library

713-2709 or go to www.tularecountylibrary.org.

Wine & Beer Tasting At

Redwood Wine Room

Totem Market & Gifts Enjoy our Deli!

7 Great South Valley locations to serve you!

(Evening meals coming soon) J&J Cellars - Kelsey See Canyon Vineyards

(559) 561-4463

45186 Sierra Drive, Three Rivers

EXETER

420 N. Kaweah Ave.

HANFORD

1675 W. Lacey Blvd.

(In the Hanford Mall Food Court) 1113 10th Ave.

TULARE

133 North J St.

VISALIA

301 N. Willis St. 2611 S Mooney Blvd.

2124 W. Riggins Ave * Available only for a limited time!

● 2245 S. Mooney - Visalia (559) 730-4475

● 1365 W. Olive - Porterville (559) 730-4492

● 1826 W. Lacey - Hanford (559) 730-4495

● 4931 N. Blackstone - Fresno (559) 730-4494

www.spookyhalloweenstore.com

Be sure to like us, follow us & tweet us @spookyhallowsto * With minimum $50 purchase per person, per visit, per day.

Cannot be combined with any other coupon or discount - other restrictions may apply.

Calendar October 1-31: Exeter Scarecrow Contest The Exeter Chamber of Commerce is excited to announce that “Scarecrows are Returning to Exeter” and will be on display for your viewing pleasure, at participating businesses for the entire month of October.

Come to Exeter and vote for your favorite!

October 7: Visalia Republican Women Fashion Show, 11am The Visalia Republican Women Federated will hold their annual Fashion Show, Luncheon and Boutique on Friday, Oct. 7th.

11 a.m: Registration and Shopping — Noon to 1 p.m. -- Lunch, Fashion Show and Raffles.

For reservations call Debora at (559) 3004192 or Evette (559) 905-7050 October 7: City of Exeter Lip Sync Contest, 6pm Lip Sync Contest sponsored by the City of Exeter Community Services Department at 6:00 p.m. Exeter City Park, Chestnut Ave. & E Street. For information call 559592-5262 October 7: Meet the Candidates on the Road to Accountability, 6-8pm This event will give you an opportunity for an enjoyable evening with Kevin Northcraft and Mike Jamaica and others concerned with rejuvenating our public hospital. In addition to providing for an excellent cause, your ticket will also grant you access to refreshments and an on-site taco truck. Tickets are $45 per person, for information 559-805-9076.

October 7: Lisa Manes-James: Unfolding, Reception at Arts Visalia, 6-8pm Held in conjunction with the Arts Consortium’s First Friday events. Arts Visalia is pleased to present a new body of work by Lisa Manes-James in October 2016. Lisa Manes-James: Unfolding will be on display at Arts Visalia from October 5th through October 28th, 2016.

October 7: Happy Trails Riding Academy Round-Up, 6-9pm Including a Country Picnic BBQ, Music, Parade of Horses, Silent Auction, all for a great cause! Tickets are $35 per adult, or $280 per table. For more information, call Leslie Gardner, Executive Director, at 559688-8685 October 7th: PC CHAP: Coming Home: Finding My Filipino-American Roots, 7-8 p.m.

Includes a presentation at the Porterville College Theater by Patty Enrado, author of A Village in the Fields, shortlisted for the Seventh William Saroyan International Prize for Writing, Fiction, 2016. Book discussion to follow. For more information on Patty Enrado, visit her website: http:// www.pattyenrado.com/. All CHAP events are free, and a book signing will follow the event.

October 8: Tulare-Kings UC Master Gardener Plant Clinic, 11am-1pm Do you need help with creating a drought tolerant landscape or conserving water in your garden? Clinic at 139 S. Mariposa.

For details call Master Gardening program at Tulare (559) 684-3300 or Hanford (559) 852-2736 October 8: Exeter Fall Festival 7am-4pm

All events at Exeter City Park and Downtown Exeter on E St.

October 2016 Lunch Lunch served 12-1 pm $4.0

7am — 5K Run, 2 Mile Walk and Pancake Breakfast.

10am — Fall Festival Parade. Live entertainment in the park all day featuring the classic rock sounds of “What’s Left” from 11:30 am – 1:30 pm., under the gazebo.

We will also have arts & crafts, games, pet adoptions, petting zoo, live reptile show, food and fun for all.

Please call 713-4481. Reservations m

Monday

Tuesday

Wednesday

T

3 Cheeseburgers

4 Asian stir fry

5 Ground beef & with lettuce, toma- with beef, steamed cheese enchiladas to, condiments, rice, veggies, low- in red sauce, salsa pickle, chips, fruit sodium soy sauce, & sour cream with salad, fruit, cookie tortilla soup

6 B bre bea ron

10

11 Ground beef tacos with cheese, salsa, rice & beans and fruit

12 Crust less quiche with ham, mushrooms, & asparagus, country potatoes, fresh fruit and muffin

13

Grilled chicken patty on a brioche bun with lettuce, tomato, condiments, chips, fruit

17

18

19

20

Spaghetti with meat sauce, garden salad, garlic bread and fruit

Parmesan encrustMeatloaf with ed chicken with mashed potatoes baked potato, veg- and gravy, vegetable and fruit gies, fruit and a roll

Chic wit tuce sals and

24

25

27

October 13: Valley Oak Quilt Guild Meeting, 10am The program will be a trunk show and the color red by www.cathiehooverstudios. com. At Tulare Community Church, 1820 N. Gem.

Lemon pepper chicken with rice pilaf, veggies, fruit and a roll

Pastrami & Swiss on marbled rye with corn chowder and fruit

October 14: Crazy Quilt with Curves, 10am Hosted by the Valley Oak Quilt Guild at Tulare Community Church, 1820 N Gem. For information call: Nanette at 559-6252541.

peppers with ground turkey in tomato sauce with rice, salad, fruit and a roll

11am - 3pm — The 10th Annual Car & Bike Show will feature Custom Vehicles, Classic Cars, Hot Rods & Bikes (downtown Exeter on E Street between Chestnut & Pine Street). For information, call (559) 592-2919.

October 10: Kaweah Delta Healthcare District Candidates Forum, 7pm Hosts are 210 Connect & Visalia Times-Delta; 210 W. Center Ave., Visalia October 12: Tulare-Kings UC Master Gardener Plant Clinic, 1-3pm Clinic at AAUW Book Sale in the Sequoia Mall.

October 12: Town Hall with Devon Mathis, 6pm At the Exeter Memorial Bldg., 324 N. Kaweah Ave.

October 15: 3rd Annual VTEC All-YouCan-Eat Pancake Breakfast, 7-10am The breakfast will be held in the school’s historic “Party Barn” located at 2245 S. Linwood in Visalia, and consists of pancakes, sausage, coffee, milk and orange juice. Tickets are $5.00, and can be purchased at the school office located at 2245 S. Linwood Ave. in Visalia.

October 15: Strathmore High Highway Cleanup, 8-11am The Emerging Agriculture Technology Pathways Senior Class at Strathmore High will be doing highway cleanup on Highway 65 from Strathmore to Lindsay. The group says that any help would be appreciated in beautifying and strengthening the community.

October 15: Healthy Visalia Festival, 10am-1pm Entertainment, music, prizes, family activities, health screenings, and more at Riverway Sports Park, 3611 N. Dinuba, Visalia.

31 Stuffed bell

26 Beef & bean tostada topped with shredded lettuce, black olives, green onion, rice, salad

sag rico nico nar gar

lay sau &p sar bre

Sweet treats or fruit will be served daily.

Items on Menu are subject to change.

osa Room, this free “living history” educational program will focus on local events in the years 1970-1975, featuring keynote speaker Dr. Robert Aguilar and contemporaneous presenters on education, veterans issues and farmworker labor rights, and music, poetry and native American cultural performances for the whole family, Free parking on campus. For more information contact Roberto Bustos, (559) 802-7366; email bustoshuelga65@aol.com.

October 15: Three Rivers Fall Music Festival, 1-10pm Gates open at 1PM. Live music from 3-10PM. Includes Rudy Parris from The Voice, Hard Water, Fifty Buck Band, and special guest Merlinda Espinoza.

Food and drinks available. General admission $40, VIP $60. Tickets at vallitix.com.

For more information, dial 559-786-7960.

October 15: Tulare-Kings UC Master Gardener Plant Clinic, 11am-3pm At Orchard Supply Hardware in Visalia, 2239 W. Walnut

October 15: California Melody Boys 15th Annual Concert and Dessert, 6:00pm Held at Gateway Church of Visalia, 1100 S. Sowell Street and Tulare Ave., Visalia.

Featured guest: Reliance, special guest: Freeway Quartet.

October 15: Tulare County for Families 2nd Annual Tulare County History Revisited, 11:30am-3:30 pm Held at the COS Visalia Campus’s Ponder-

This night is loaded with a ten piece ensemble, a quartet, and two trios. The Host, California Melody Boys are a long time home favorite and this event is filled

with fun, inspiration, and free dessert for everyone after the concert. Do you make a good dessert? Enter the dessert contest by calling 559-759-1357 or emailing cmbministry@gmail.com. The event is FREE A Love Offering will be taken. Doors open at 5:15pm.

October 15: David ‘Mas’ Masumoto at the Tulare County Library, 7 pm.

The Central Valley leads the nation in agricultural production and one of the Valley’s leading lights is author and farmer David ‘Mas’ Masumoto, who speaks at the Tulare County Library Visalia Branch on Saturday, October 15, at 7 pm.

October 16: Kings River Hardwick School Calico Art Festival, 11am-5pm Includes bingo, silent auction, farmers market, BBQ, carnival games, car show, crafts, and other fun activities at 10300 Excelsior Ave, Hanford.

October 18: Overview of State Propositions, 11:30am An overview of state propositions, hosted by the League of Women Voters of Tulare County. Contact the LWV at 559-4294721.

October 19: Disability Awareness Month at West Hills College Lemoore, 11am-1pm West Hills College Lemoore will celebrate

h Menu / Visalia Senior Center 00 Dine In or Takeout & under 54 yrs: $5.00

must be made one business day in advance by 12 PM.

Thursday

Weekly Salad Option:

Friday

BBQ chicken east with baked ans and macani salad, fruit

7 Mustard & thyme rubbed pork tenderloin with rice pilaf, veggies, fruit and a roll

Italian sauge, spinach and otta-stuffed maotti with marira sauce, salad, rlic bread, fruit

14

Taco Salad

— in taco

bowls with lettuce, chicken, black beans, corn with Mexican cheese and salsa

Salisbury steak with roasted potatoes, veggies, salad and fruit

Chef salad—with diced cheeses, black olives, ham, tomato and hard boiled eggs with ranch dressing

21 Combination

Southwest Chicken Salad

cken soft tacos th shredded lete, cheese and sa with beans d fruit

With lettuce, corn, black pizza with Italian beans, Mexican cheese, sausage, salami, black olives, onions, salsa and Ranch dressing bell pepper and mushrooms

Lasagna with yers of meat uce, mozzarella parmesan, Caer salad, garlic ead & fruit

28 Halloween lunch Beef stew with veg- Perfect Garden Salad — Field of greens with apples, gies, salad, fresh fruit and corn bread walnuts, dried cranberries and feta with raspberry walnut dressing

Asian Chicken Salad — Daily Salad Option: Chicken Caesar Salad available as a meal replacement.

National Disability Awareness Month on Oct. 19 with its annual Operation Awareness event. Students, staff and community members are welcome to attend. It will feature food, games and representatives from community groups and organizations, including many organizations offering services for those with disabilities.

For more information about the event, contact Megan Shults at (559) 925-3337.

October 20: Marissa Nadler and Drab Majesty, 8pm At The Cellar Door, 101 W. Main, Visalia.

Show is 21+. Tickets are $10. Doors open at 8PM, show start at 9PM sharp.

October 21: From Earth to the Universe, 7pm Tickets to the new high-definition From Earth to the Universe planetarium show will go on sale prior to the October 7 public program. Tickets for all scheduled shows are available at the Planetarium office only after 5:00 p.m. on show days.

Prices for admission are $4 for adults and $3 for children 11 and under. For information on upcoming programs for students and the public, visit tcoe.org/planetarium.

October 21: Beatles Tribute Concert (Rescheduled!), 7:30pm The Beatles Tribute Concert starring Abbey Road has been rescheduled because of un-

Crisp romaine, carrots, cabbage, cilantro, peanuts, wontons, grilled chicken with peanut dressing

foreseen circumstances. Those with tickets can either enjoy the concert on Oct 21 or receive a refund of the full purchase price if unable to attend. The Lindsay Community Theater apologizes for this unavoidable change in dates.

October 21: Able Industries Awards Dinner/Dance, 6-9pm Able Industries, Inc. will hold its annual Awards Dinner/Dance at the Elks Lodge, 3100 W. Main, in Visalia. This year’s theme is Superheroes!

Tickets for this event are PRE-SALE ONLY and will NOT be sold at the door and must be purchsed by Friday, Oct. 14 — $10 per person. Contact Kori Williams at (559) 651-8150.

October 22: Harvest Holiday Boutique, 10am-4pm Hosted by the Women’s Ministry of the Visalia United Methodist Church at 5200 W. Caldwell Ave. at the corner of Akers and Caldwell in Visalia. Call Jana at 9303759 for more information.

October 22: 22nd Annual Sunrise Breakfast for WHAMOBASS Weekend, 6-9am Enjoy a warm breakfast and a front row view of the WHAMOBASS hot-air balloon event at the 22nd annual Sunrise Breakfast on Oct. 22, hosted by the West Hills Col-

lege Coalinga Child Development Center.

The breakfast will be held at the Child Development Center on Cambridge Ave. from 6-9am, supported by donations of $5 or more per person. For more information, call (559) 934-2388.

October 22: Magical Mooney Grove Held at the 4KBar Ranch in Exeter. Featuring Rudy Parris and band. Includes food,

CONTINUOUS beer, a bounce house, and various vendors.

For more information, email trmgproject@gmail.com October 24: “Taste Treats in Tulare,” 6-8:30pm Take part in the Tulare Historical Museum’s biggest fundraiser, the 26th annual restaurant showcase. Tickets $50; for tickets, call 559-686-2074 or visit tularehistoricalmuseum.org October 29: Tulare-Kings UC Master Gardener Plant Clinic, 11am-1pm Booth at Orchard Supply in Hanford.

October 29: Tulare-Kings UC Master Gardener Plant Clinic, 11am-2pm Booth at Hanford Garden Festival, Hanford Mall.

Sunday Nights: Barmageddon Tulareous Open Mic, 9pm-12:30am Our weekly open mic has a great selection of local comedians and musicians. Comedians will have approximately 10 mins of stage time and musicians get three songs.

Sign ups start at 9 PM, Show starts at 9:30 PM, Ends around 12:30 AM. No Cover.

Through November 12: Kings Art Center Exhibitions Common Threads Quilt Guild and Paintings by Maria Simoes will be exhibited at the Kings Art Center, 605 N. Douty, Hanford. The opening reception for both exhibits will be held Sept. 23, 5:30-7:30pm.

Regular gallery hours are Wed-Fri 11-4pm, Sat-Sun 12-3pm. Admission is free, tours are by appointment, and for more information, dial 559-584-1065.

Mondays: Bridge Club, 9:30am-2pm 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.

Monday Nights: Monday Karaoke at Barmageddon, 9pm-1am Get on stage and sing your favorite tunes on our one of a kind sound system. New Image has a vast selection of songs to choose, ranging from 70’s classic rock to modern pop. Karaoke Jockey Miss Sammi will be hosting from 9 PM - 1 AM. No Cover.

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, 10am-Noon At Cafe 210, at 210 Center street, Visalia. Free. Led by Richard Garoogian. Call 559.730.0910 for more information.

Tuesday Nights: Barmageddon Trivia Thunderdome, 9pm-1am Challenge your friends to the ultimate trivia throw down. Earn some bragging rights in categories ranging from Saturday morning cartoons, classic video games, and pop culture films. Teams of 4 or solo players compete each round for the best scores.

Winners of every two rounds will square off in the Trivia Thunderdome for great prizes. Free sign ups at 9:30 PM. 2nd Tuesday, Monthly: Yappy Hour, 5-9pm Well-mannered, leashed pets are welcome on the patio at the Planing Mill Artisan Pizzeria, 514 East Main Street, Suite A, in Visalia. A portion of the proceeds is donated to the Valley Oak SPCA. For more information, call 651-1111.

3rd Tuesday, Monthly: League of Women Voters Meeting, 11:45am At Sue Sa’s Club House, 699 W. Center in Visalia. Reservations are required and the public is welcome. Contact Newellgb@ hotmail.com or call 732-1251.

Wednesday Nights: Barmageddon Game Night Come blow off some steam at our game night. Enjoy complimentary gaming on all consoles, TCG’s, Table top & board games.

Happy hour will be from 6 PM- 8 PM. 1st Thursday Monthly through October: Diabetes Support Group, 5:30-7pm Kaweah Delta Health Care District will offer a free diabetes support group through October from on the first Thursday of the month at the Kaweah Delta Chronic Disease Management Center, 325 Willis St., Visalia. Information: 624-2416.

1st Thursday, Monthly: Veterans Support Group, 5:30-7pm Free support group for global war on terrorism & post 9-11 (Veterans 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.

1st and 3rd Thursdays, Monthly: Central Valley Tea Party Meetings, 6pm 819 West Visalia Road, Farmersville.

3rd Thursday Monthly through October: Diabetes Support Group, 5:30-7pm Kaweah Delta Health Care District will offer a free diabetes support group through October on the third Thursday of the month at Woodlake Manor Apartments, 200 E. Sierra Avenue, Woodlake. Information: 624-2416.

3rd Thursday, Monthly: Gathering At the Oval, 12:30-1pm Lifting up the needs and concerns of Visalia through individual prayer and meditation at Oval Park, 808 North Court Street in Visalia. For more information, call 9674065.

6 October, 2016

22 • Valley Voice

Sports High School Football: And Then There Were Two Stefan Barros Five weeks into the 2016 high school football season, there remain two undefeated teams in Tulare and Kings Counties--the Rangers of Redwood High School, and the Spartans of Strathmore High School: The Redwood Rangers, lead by Head Coach Shaun Ball, stand at six wins against zero losses having recently knocked off previously undefeated Golden West High School. Ball doesn’t want to look at one singular reason as to why the team’s record is unblemished thus far this year.

“For us, it’s always about the group as a whole, not about an individual or a group.”

Ball does see on possible obstacle that could hinder his team

from reaching its ultimate goal.

“If we don’t handle certain situations the way we should, we won’t have the season that we want to have.”

The Spartans, Strathmore High School’s football squad, lead by Head Coach Jeromy Blackwell, currently number five victories and zero losses. The team, fresh off of a win against Avenal High School, has not allowed a single point in its last two games.

The Spartans will now move on to the League portion of the schedule, as they will take on the Woodlake Tigers on Friday October 7.

The Rangers, meanwhile, will continue their West Yosemite League Play this week against the Hanford Bullpups.

The Rangers are already 2-0 in league.

McFarland Cross Country Champions Appearing At West Hills Coalinga Oct. 6 Two of the 1987 state champion cross country runners who inspired the popular Disney film McFarland, USA – Johnny Samaniego and Thomas Valles – will speak at West Hills College Coalinga on October 6 as part of the Associated Student Body’s National Hispanic Heritage Month celebration.

The free on-campus presentation will start at 6pm in the theater, followed by a Q & A session to begin at 8:15, and is open to the public.

“The opportunity to meet and listen to these two Central Valley heroes will be as memorable as the movie,” said Eric Mendoza, Associate Dean of Athletics at West Hills College. “I have been fortunate to hear them speak in this format and they are very engaging with the audience.

Johnny and Thomas share great insights behind the movie and the fact that they represent the Central Valley with such pride makes it more special for us.”

Johnny Samaniego is currently a middle school teacher, coach, and athletic director at McFarland Middle School.

He is the successor to coach Jim White at McFarland Unified School District, teaching physical education at the middle school and coaching various sports at his high school alma mater.

During his career, Samaniego was part of four league and Valley championship teams; he was a four-time league and area champion; and later became a four-

time East Sequoia League Coach of the Year for basketball. In 1992, he was voted COS Runner of the Year; and Teacher of the Year at McFarland in 2000.

Thomas Valles is a United States Coast Guard veteran, and currently works for the California Department of Corrections & Rehabilitation.

After leading McFarland High School to prominence, both were members of the College of the Sequoias cross country team – and were recently inducted into the COS Giants Athletic Hall of Fame.

Valles was McFarland’s top runner during the historic season. He enjoyed more success at COS, where he earned All-State status. He accepted an athletic scholarship to Cal State Bakersfield.

From 1992-1996, Valles served in the Coast Guard. He conducted maritime law enforcement, search and rescue. After joining the California Department of Corrections Training Academy in 1996, he started a long career in corrections and rehabilitation.

Valles coached alongside White at McFarland High School, and has enjoyed coaching for McFarland Parks & Recreation for many years. In 2003, he took over the McFarland Track Club established by White in 1973.

Samaniego, Valles and their fellow 1987 teammates have enjoyed appearing as motivational speakers across the country, since the film – debuted in 2015.

The Golden Dragon Acrobats present

Visalia Players’ directors, Sharon DeCoux and Nancy Holley, are considering submitting Driving Miss Daisy for the Visalia Players 2017-18 season with a production date in the fall of 2017.

They are looking for an African American male who can appear to be roughly age 60 and a Caucasian male who can appear to be in his 40’s.

If you know anyone who fits either of these descriptions and think they might be interested, please pass this bulletin along, even if you think he might have seen the request.

The assessment will be held at the Ice House Theatre at Race and Santa Fe in Visalia on Sunday, October 16, 2016 at 2:00 p.m. and will last as long as necessary. Details regarding casting commitments will be provided.

Ice House Theatre 410 E Race Ave Visalia CA Corner of Race & Santa Fe

If you are interested in either of these roles and cannot attend the assessment, please contact either Sharon DeCoux at sdc2530@yahoo.com or Nancy Holley at njholley@flash.net.

Cirque Zíva The Golden Dragon Acrobats from China do the impossible (or at least the improbable) ÐThe New York Times

Saturday, January 30 4 pm Matinee & 7:30 pm ¥ 4 pm Matinee 1 hour kids show

There is a precision and beauty about everything these performers do.

–Washington Post

If DeCoux and Holley can find actors they consider suitable, they will submit the play to the Visalia Players’ perusal committee for consideration. No guarantee of casting is included in the assessment.

Visalia Fox Theatre 300 W Main St. 625-1369 ¥ Foxvisalia.org

6 October, 2016

Valley Voice • 23

Education Porterville College CHAP to Host Filipino-American Author Staff Reports The Porterville College Cultural and Historical Awareness Program (CHAP) is hosting a presentation by Patty Enrado centering around her book “Coming Home: Finding My Filipino-American Roots.” The book was shortlisted for the Seventh William Saroyan International Prize for Writing, Fiction, 2016.

In 1994, while attending a reading

by Filipino-American poets in the Bay Area, Patty Enrado first heard about Agbayani Village in Delano, the retirement home built in 1974 by the United

Farm Workers. Thus began her journey of learning about the Filipino-American contributions to California’s farm worker movement – a buried piece of history few people have heard of. In her research, Patty also delves into her family and community history, and in writing her debut novel, she brings to light and honors the immigrant stories of her relatives and her Filipino-American community.

Enrado was born in Los Angeles and raised in Terra Bella, California. She has an AA from Porterville College, a BA in English from the University of California at Davis, and an MA from Syracuse Uni-

versity’s Creative Writing Program. She writes about health information technology for a healthcare industry media firm and lives in the San Francisco Bay Area with her husband and two children.

The event will be held from 7-8pm at the Porterville College Theater, with a book signing to follow.

Porterville College CHAP events are free and open to the public. For information on upcoming events and the full CHAP schedule, visit https://www.portervillecollege.edu/chap/chap For more information on Patty Enrado, visit http://www.pattyenrado.com/

Patty Enrado. Courtesy/Porterville College

Free Classes in Huron Increase Adult Education Opportunities, Employability

Poet Catherine Abbey Hodges works with cadet Rosie Gutierrez during weeklong instruction at La Sierra Military Academy. Courtesy/TCOE

Poet Project Engages Students Tulare County Office of Education Ancient and modern poetry from the Middle East, Asia, Europe and the Americas served to inspire dozens of students who participated in the first annual Tulare County Poet Project. In September, four veteran poets visited select Tulare County schools to provide students with intensive writing instruction. The results included amazing gains in students’ creative writing skills and increased confidence in reciting their original works before audiences.

Three Tulare County poets and John Oliver Simon, president of the California Poets in the Schools (CPitS), worked with students in select classrooms at La Sierra Military Academy, Hurley Elementary, Central Valley Christian and Mission Oak High School for one week – visiting each of the schools two to four times during the week of September 12-16. “After just one visit, teachers were telling us that they were amazed at the amount of writing their students produced and how easy it was to integrate creative writing activities into their instructional day,” said Kate Stover, TCOE’s staff development and curriculum specialist for the Visual and Performing Arts.

Tulare County Poet Project Eighteen months in the planning, the Tulare County Poet Project is a partnership between the Tulare County Office of Education, the Arts Consortium, and CPitS, with partial funding from a Visalia Community Arts grant and the California Arts Council. The partnership recruited three Tulare County poets – Tulare County librarian Erin Grey Elliot, Porterville College literature professor Catherine Abbey Hodges and local storyteller Uncle Bill Warner – to

work directly with John Oliver Simon in delivering the CPitS curriculum and encouraging students’ creativity, imagination and intellectual curiosity through the development of their own poetry.

Students harnessed their inner creativity by first studying the works of great poets. The pieces, which spanned over 4000 years of history and included odes, haikus, epics, pantoums, pentameters and other poetic forms, served as guides for students as they wrote their own poetry and shared it with classmates. “I watched as some of my students who struggle the most, who never volunteer to share, who doubt their abilities, came to life and shined,” said Sara Rocha, a fourth-grade teacher at Hurley Elementary in Visalia. “It brings tears to my eyes even now to think how the Poet Project has changed my students’ thoughts about poetry, about expressing themselves and about taking risks.”

On Thursday, September 15, students who participated in the Poet Project were invited to read their selections in the Redwood Conference Center.

Elementary and high school students eagerly shared their writings before an audience of students, parents, teachers and poets. “The Tulare County Poet Project is a natural extension of our efforts to promote creative writing and recitation,” said Tulare County Superintendent of Schools Jim Vidak. “It fits nicely with the Poetry Out Loud competition, which we introduced for high school students last year, and the Poetry & Prose program, which we have offered to K-8 students for over 30 years.”

For more information about the Tulare County Poet Project, contact project coordinator Kate Stover at (559) 651-1482.

A new semester has begun for the West Hills Community College District and, in addition to serving students on campus and online, the District is continuing its efforts to serve surrounding communities.

West Hills College regularly offers free courses across the San Joaquin Valley geared toward career technical training and certification and this semester is no exception. Several courses are being offered at Huron’s John Palacios Center.

“Offering courses in Huron is crucial to equipping Huron’s residents with the necessary skill sets needed to enter the competitive technological industry/ business market of the 21st century,” said Maria Cavazos, WHCCD Grants Development Specialist.

English as a Second Language, Welding, and Forklift operation courses are being offered by West Hills College Coalinga, the Westside Institute of Technology and Workforce Connection. Career relevant workshops featuring help with resumes and job interview and application skills are also scheduled.

While space is limited, community members can sign up now for the welding courses, which will be held December 1 to 16 from 8am to 11:50am and 12:30pm to 2:20pm.

The community can also attend several upcoming workshops. Resume writing and job application workshops will be offered November 9 and interview skills workshops will be held October 6 and December 5, all from noon to 1:30pm.

According to Robert Pimentel, West Hills College Coalinga’s Associate Dean of Educational Services, the courses held in Huron were carefully selected by working collaboratively with representatives from the Huron Westside Family

Staff Reports Preservation Services Network.

They were chosen based on the needs of the community and, in particular, the needs of adult learners looking to improve their employability.

“Adult education is an important component to the economics of any city,” he said. “West Hills College Coalinga, along with its partners, understand the importance of adult education and are dedicated to offering courses to all of the cities within our district to ensure that the citizens have better employment and educational opportunities.”

West Hills College—and its Westside Institute of Technology— have offered dozens of courses in the past targeted toward increasing employable skills in the members of the communities it serves.

In the past two years, between August 2014 and June 2016, the Westside Institute of Technology—a collaborative project of West Hills Community College District and K-12 districts in the areas of Firebaugh-Las Deltas, Golden Plains and Mendota Unified School Districts—has offered 13 trainings in forklift certification, solar/OSHA certification and truck driving certification.

These particular trainings, which were funded by USDA Rural Development, resulted in a 93% employment rate for those who participated in the trainings, with 168 out of 180 students finding jobs after completion.

“We’ve seen a definite impact on the community as a result of these courses,” Pimentel said.

To find more about or to register for the welding courses and employment workshops in Huron, visit the John Palacios Center or call (559) 934-2221.

Annual West Hills Sunrise Breakfast Scheduled for WHAMOBASS Weekend Enjoy a warm breakfast and a front row view of the WHAMOBASS hot-air balloon event at the 22nd annual Sunrise Breakfast on Oct. 22, hosted by the West Hills College Coalinga Child Development Center.

The breakfast will be held at the child development center on Cambridge Avenue from 6am to 9am. The breakfast is supported by donations of $5 or more per person. Admittance for preschool students and children ages four

and under is free. Pancakes, eggs, bacon, sausage, juice and coffee will be served.

Tickets to the event are now being presold by children who attend the center and can also be purchased at the door.

Parent volunteers are also needed to set up for the event on Friday afternoon and to cook pancakes and eggs early on Saturday.

For more information, call (559) 934-2388.

6 October, 2016

Valley Voice • 24

Porterville College Hosts Art Association Exhibition Staff Reports The public is invited to see an exhibition of art in a range of different media from the Porterville Art Association members at the Porterville College Art Gallery. The exhibition runs from October 3 - 20, 2016. The public is also invited to the reception ,which is for Thursday evening, October 6, from 5-7pm.

This show will bring together a diverse group of artists from the Porterville area. From Joy Harvey, who has studied Chinese Brush Painting for decades here at UC San Diego with Jean Shua Chen and in China at the Zhejiang Academy of Art in Hangzhou to Christina Hansen,

Christina Hansen, “My Dominik”

most likely the youngest member of the Porterville Art Association, who is in her second year as a Commercial Art major at Porterville College. Harvey describes the role of art in culture, as she sees it: “I believe the universal language of art bridges all cultures, and allows all of us to communicate without translators.”

Another PAA member, plein air painter Joy Collier describes herself as “a nature lover out enjoying the astounding beauty of the California landscape.”

Her paintings are “in a Post-Impressionist style, influenced most by Cezanne and Monet.” Collier learned plein air painting by taking her canvas “to the subject [where she] battled the elements for each discovery of form, color, and light.”

These artists and others in this group exhibition communicate many unique perspectives through their works on display at the Porterville College Art Gallery.

The show will run from October 3 to October 20, 2016. Gallery hours are Monday-Thursday from 12 to 2pm and 4 to 6pm. The reception is Thursday evening, October 6th, from 5-7pm.

Parking is unrestricted during the time of the reception. For other times, contact the front desk when you arrive to visit the show for a free temporary parking permit.

Joy Harvey, “Demon Chaser”