Valley Voice Issue 81 (17 November, 2016)

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Volume XXXVI No. 22 • 17 November, 2016

www.ourvalleyvoice.com

Griswold Looks Forward to Serving on the VUSD Board

ington, Mountain View, Conyer and Royal Oaks.

Some may have found the result surWith the change of administration prising, others may have found it expect- on a national level, there has been talk of ed, but in a more than 50% margin over greatly diminishing the federal Departeither of her opponents, Patricia Gris- ment of Education, if not eliminating it wold won the District Area 5 seat for the altogether. This could have an effect on Visalia Unified School District. local budgeting, so Griswold said, she “I was, like, shocked” Griswold said. finds it difficult to discuss “You don’t ever know. I did some of the things she’d like a lot of canvassing and I to see done within the dishad people out canvassing trict in that manner. for me, but so did the other However, somewhat candidates.” irrelevant to budgets, she Her opponents were would like to see more even Michael Washam, Tulare more community involveCounty’s Resource Manment in the schools with the agement Agency’s planning police and fire departments, director, and Niessen Foster, Patricia Griswold as well as the Chamber of a retired US post office emCommerce and local busiployee who served on the school board in nesses. She wants students to learn more 2000, but resigned before his term end- respect for law enforcement. ed, mid-year in 2002.

“When I hear, ‘cops, run!’ this really Griswold, herself, is a special edu- means to me that we need more commucation teacher, who works for the Tulare nity outreach,” she said.

County Office of Education. She was enCurrently, there is one police offidorsed by Donna Martin, the outgoing cer assigned to each high school, and board member for Area 5. one officer assigned to rotate around the Griswold said, she was the most middle schools. The elementary schools qualified, as she has experience with within the district are being served on an schools as a teacher. as-needed basis, she added. She feels, she She said that during her canvassing, said, that there needs to be more comshe visited the mix of neighborhoods that munication between the police and elemake up her district area. mentary-grade students.

“That was the best part of the cam“There are serious gang problems in paign,” she said, “meeting the people.” town,” she said. “I don’t think you can While she will serve with regard rescue [a student with gang ties] in midto all Visalia Unified School District dle school – by then it is too late.” schools, there are four schools that actually fall within her territory – Wash- GRISWOLD continued on 9 »

Nancy Vigran

Outgoing TLHCD Board Chairman Sherrie Bell, Board Vice-Chairman Dr. Parmod Kumar, and Board Treasurer Richard Torrez at an October board meeting. Tony Maldonado/Valley Voice

Tulare Hospital Board Member Facing Recall Effort Dr. Parmod Kumar’s days on the Tulare hospital board may be numbered.

During the November 8 election, Tulare Local Health Care District (TLHCD) board incumbents—Chairwoman Sherrie Bell and Linda Gadke, who have been central to several controversies there— were rejected harshly at the polls, losing their seats by a two-to-one margin. Now, a recall of Kumar has been certified by the Elections Office.

No date has been set for the recall vote.

The petitions calling for Kumar’s ouster were circulated by Citizens for Hospital Accountability, and the grassroots group’s statement of intent to recall was delivered to Kumar by Alberto Aguilar, a former member of TLHCD’s Bond Oversight Committee (BOC), at a meeting of the TLHCD just prior to the election.

Kumar did not respond to a request to discuss the recall.

‘Not an Honest Person’ “He is a very unethical person,” Agu-

Dave Adalian ilar said of Kumar. “He’s just not an honest person.”

As a member of the BOC, Aguilar was tasked in 2008 with monitoring the spending of $85 million in bond funding approved by voters three years earlier for the construction of the Tulare Regional Medical Center (TRMC) expansion project. He soon found discrepancies in the accounting and evidence bond funds were being spent on projects not involved with building the hospital’s new wing. Kumar and other board members, Aguilar said, were aware of irregularities and refused to provide the BOC with full documentation of how the bond money had thus far been spent.

Ironically, it was Kumar’s influence that put Aguilar on the BOC. Aguilar was appointed to the BOC by former board member Rosalinda Avitia, who resigned

KUMAR continued on 5 »

Election Night: Surprise, Confusion, and Delays Staff Reports Election night started out on shaky ground for Tulare County as some polling places ran out of ballots and voters were forced to vote electronically. Other sites around the county were copying ballots for the unexpected huge numbers that showed up. At around 10:15pm voters in parts of Visalia and Lindsay were still waiting to cast their ballots and the Tulare County Registrar of Voters had to delay posting preliminary results until 10:35pm.

The Tulare County Registrar of Voters released a statement outlining the challenges they faced election night.

Tulare County Auditor/Controller Rita Woodard said, “Voter enthusiasm was high on Election Day with a record number of voters coming to our polling

sites to vote…There was a record number of last minute voter registrations leading to a record number of 154,003 registered voters in the county. A large last minute turn out to the polls, a longer than usual ballot, and changes in the election law all lead to the extra-long lines at the polling sites.”

She also cited as reasons for the delay as the increase in provisional ballots, the newly instituted district elections in Visalia, and an unusually large number of voters registering after her office had ordered the ballots.

Woodard explained that the election night results were later than usual because they cannot be posted until the last voter has finished. “Additionally, any voter in line at 8pm must be given sufficient time to enable them to vote before the poll closes. That was around

10:30pm at Grace Community Church in Visalia.”

As of November 14, Tulare County had approximately 15,000 votes yet to count. The next update on Tulare County election results is scheduled to come out Friday November 18.

An election earthquake on a national scale happened when Republican Donald Trump was declared president-elect. It was described by Fox News as a political miracle. Trump gave his victory speech at 11:50pm after Presidential candidate Hillary Clinton called Mr. Trump to congratulate him.

National news pundits reported that anger and dissatisfaction with the government was stronger than previously acknowledged. Trump’s campaign message resonated with the American people and his demographic showed up

in force, bringing him a victory.

The atmosphere was festive at the victory parties for Congressmen Devin Nunes and David Valadao. Rep. Valadao gave his victory speech around 9:30pm, saying that it was an expensive and ugly race against his challenger, Emilio Huerta. He expressed gratitude that it was over. He said he was glad to be able to continue working hard for his district and his constituents.

Rep. Valadao, who did not officially endorse Trump, said that he did not expect this result.

“But when you have an FBI investigation against you and allegations of corruption it can’t help,” he said.

He also said that Trump may have spoken to the working class better than Clinton. Even though Trump is a

ELECTION continued on 9 »

2 • Valley Voice

17 November, 2016

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Donald Trump Is My President

I find revolting the election of Donald Trump as our president; then again, in voting for him, that’s what approximately half of the voting electorate did--revolt.

As of 14 November, Hillary Clinton garnered 668,483 more votes than Trump. That’s about the size of Boston. The 60 million-plus who voted for Trump despite his antics did so to express their deep dissatisfaction with politics as usual in Washington D.C. Again, that’s about 47%.

That’s why Donald Trump is my president. Certainly not because I voted for him. I voted for Clinton. Before that, I voted for Sanders. And I still think he would have won.

However--and I can’t hammer this home hard enough--half the turnout was for Trump.

This is why the current protests must stop. Sure, the man who claimed the election was “rigged” won by coming in second place in the popular vote. Even so, he won fair and square.

If you want to protest, protest that we’re still using an Electoral College.

But now is the time to be watchful. Given Trump’s past behavior, I seriously doubt that with his election he’ll suddenly sprout the gravitas the presidency demands.

He may, during this honeymoon, improve--but my money is on his reverting to form. So we must be vigilant with this Grand Guignol on our hands.

We must also be supportive of those who feel threatened. The time to fight will come when, as president, the Orange Horror attempts to implement any of his campaign rhetoric.

Ask yourself if half of us really want a universal ban on Muslims entering the country. Ask yourself if half of us want a wall along our southern border. Hell, ask the Mexicans if they will pay for it. Ask yourself if half of us would boast of a history of sexual assault. Ask yourself if half of us condone the mocking of journalists or prisoners of war.

The list goes on, but it’s making me too queasy to use this computer.

I don’t quite yet know how one half of us will fight the other, but that a fight is indeed coming I have no doubt. Many fights, more realistically. For nearly a week now I have been unable to free myself of the following words from Winston Churchill: I have, myself, full confidence that if all do their duty, if nothing is neglected, and if the best arrangements are made, as they are being made, we shall prove ourselves once again able to defend our Island home, to ride out the storm of war, and to outlive the menace of tyranny, if necessary for years, if necessary alone. At any rate, that is what we are going to try to do. That is the resolve of His Majesty’s Government--every man of them. That is the will of Parliament and the nation. The British Empire and the French Republic, linked together in their cause and in their need, will defend to the death their native soil, aiding each other like good comrades to the utmost of their strength. Even though large tracts of Europe and many old and famous States have fallen or may fall into the grip of the Gestapo and all the odious apparatus of Nazi rule, we shall not flag or fail. We shall go on to the end, we shall fight in France, we shall fight on the seas and oceans, we shall fight with growing confidence and growing strength in the air, we shall defend our Island, whatever the cost may be, we shall fight on the beaches, we shall fight on the landing grounds, we shall fight in the fields and in the streets, we shall fight in the hills; we shall never surrender, and even if, which I do not for a moment believe, this Island or a large part of it were subjugated and starving, then our Empire beyond the seas, armed and guarded by the British Fleet, would carry on the struggle, until, in God’s good time, the New World, with all its power and might, steps forth to the rescue and the liberation of the old.

Ultimately--and however slowly, if only in fits and starts--we have made progress. Maybe we only succeed where and when we’re ready to, but I don’t know. I don’t, however, believe that the progress we have made can be turned back.

“The arc of the moral universe is long,” Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. once said, “but it bends towards justice.”

— Joseph Oldenbourg

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17 November, 2016

Valley Voice • 3

Political Fix Prognostications in Hindsight

It would make sense for me to hang up my prognostication hat, except for the fact that I, along with a lot of other people smarter than myself, were completely wrong about this election.

Donald Trump won, despite insulting every minority and special group in the United States, and campaign chair Kelly Anne Conway was right all along.

So was one of our devoted readers.

The Valley Voice was chided on facebook and emails, some justified some not, for printing the predictions of a 30-year-old college student. But Cheyne Strawn had the last laugh, as all of his predictions except two were spot on.

He was the only reader to definitively state that Mr. Trump would be declared the winner on election night.

Association of Realtors Representative, Joel Rosales, also predicted a Trump victory, but that it would be too close to call that night.

Not only did Mr. Strawn blow my predictions out of the water, but he got some predictions correct down to the number of votes.

He stated that Republicans would maintain control of the House and Senate and that the Senate would end the night with 48 Democrats and 51 Republicans, which is exactly what happened. He also correctly predicted that Craig Vejvoda would win his Tulare City Council seat by two points and that Congressman Valadao would win by 15 points or less.

As far as the California State Assembly and Senate claiming a supermajority, only the Assembly did. The Democrats only needed to pick up one more State Senate seat for a supermajority, but that does not look likely. California still has some 4 million votes remaining to count.

The Tulare County Registrar of Voters still has more than 15,000 mailin and provisional ballots to count, so no race is final. But it is unlikely any of the results will change, especially the Visalia City Council District 1 race that everyone got wrong. The prediction was that Adam Peck “would blow Phil Cox out of the water.” In fact, Mr. Cox won by more than 10 points.

The closest race is Tulare County Supervisor District 1 between Kuyler Crocker and Dennis Smith. Mr. Smith has held a consistent lead by 200 votes since election night. Also, Mr. Strawn and Mr. Rosales predicted he would win--so Mr. Smith can rest easy.

What Happened?

Susan B. Anthony predicted when women were given the right to vote that it would be 100 years before we would see a female president.

I think she was giving the United States too much credit. Ms. Anthony did not live to cast her first vote and Hillary Clinton will probably not see a woman president in her lifetime.

As women flocked to Ms. Anthony’s grave on November 8 to put their

Catherine Doe

“I voted” sticker on her head stone, state after state was falling to Donald Trump until Hilary Clinton called late that night to congratulate him on his unlikely victory.

He gave his victory speech right before midnight, congratulating Sec. Clinton on a hard-fought campaign.

So what happened?

The biggest reason for the upset is that Sec. Clinton ran on her 30-year resume while Mr. Trump talked about the future. He gave a voice to White working class anger about being disinherited from the American dream while the Washington establishment declared the economy recovered. Mr. Trump declared at rallies what the working poor already knew that the economy hadn’t recovered and that the system is rigged.

It seems counterintuitive that the people against whom the system is rigged would vote for a billionaire. But middle America wanted Mr. Trump to bring change to Washington because he is a political outsider, despite the fact he is an insider of the financial elite.

There is a raft of other reasons for Sec. Clinton’s defeat that everyone seemed to miss before the election.

Research suggests that more than half of nonvoters tell pollsters that they are going to vote, which also gave the illusion that Sec. Clinton’s victory would be a slam dunk. Sec. Clinton received the predicted high percent of Hispanic vote, but there was no “Trump effect.” Latinos had the same miserable turnout as always, and there was no surge at the polls. Sec. Clinton also failed to draw in as many African-American and non-White voters as President Obama did in 2008 and 2012, giving Mr. Trump a slight edge in Florida and Ohio, swing states that he ended up winning.

Pundits laughed at Mr. Trump for holding rallies in Michigan and Pennsylvania in the final days of his campaign, but the joke was on them. Mr. Trump concentrated on the Rust Belt where Latinos have a sparse presence and gained more votes in the Electoral College by mobilizing more White voters than he lost by alienating Latinos.

His strategy lost him the popular vote but he won the election.

This has happened four times before in US history--twice in the 1800’s, and twice in recent history. In 2000 Al Gore won a half million more votes than George W. Bush, and Sec. Clinton won a million more votes than Mr. Trump.

When political junkies say that during this election Mr. Trump rewrote the political map they are referring to the Rust Belt states of Michigan, Wisconsin and Pennsylvania.

These states were erroneously considered the “Blue Wall” and a sure thing for Sec. Clinton. But these industrial states have felt mocked by the mainstream media and more educated coastal states.

In fact, while Mr. Trump campaigned regularly in Pennsylvania, Sec.

Clinton did not bother to visit the state since her convention.

Another demographic Sec. Clinton was hoping to win was White women, who she ended up losing. Part of the reason was FBI Director James Comey’s announcing that he might reopen the investigation into Sec. Clinton’s emails. He couldn’t have launched a nuclear strike any more strategically into the Clinton campaign even if he tried. Eleven days before the election, in the middle of early voting, he sent Republican congressmen a letter that the public interpreted as saying that Sec. Clinton was under FBI investigation. White women, who traditionally vote Republican, decided they could not trust Sec. Clinton after all and voted for Mr. Trump.

Now that the election is over and Mr. Trump is sitting the Oval Office with President Obama, it seems that a lot of Mr. Trump’s promises were, as Newt Gingrich put it, “campaign devices.” Promises such as to build a wall, ban all Muslims, repeal Obamacare, move the American embassy to Jerusalem, reinstate water boarding, raise tariffs on China by 45% and deport 11 million illegal immigrants have now morphed to “that’s no longer a priority,” “campaign talk,” or as his “being misquoted.”

The bottom line, though, is that Mr. Trump is right. Whether Mr. Obama’s fault or not, the majority of Americans are not better off eight years later under a Democratic president.

Because of this fact the Republicans have the House, Senate, Presidency and probably the Supreme Court.

A feat that hasn’t happened since the 1920’s and we all know how that ended.

Do I dare make one more prediction? When I see Senator John McCain, I see a hard worker. When I look at Hilary Clinton I see a worker bee.

When I look at Donald Trump I see a player who just beat his adversaries at a marathon game of Monopoly.

Mr. Trump proved his point and won the highest office in the land. I predict he will call it quits after four years and retire to one of his golf courses.

And Lastly - Something Local

The polar ice cap is melting, North Korea is on the cusp of developing nuclear missiles, and Syrians are dying of famine in Aleppo. But what are my neighbors worried about?

Their lawns.

The neighbor on the corner of our cul de sac where we live owns two specialty lawn mowers and an edger.

He spends three hours on his lawn, first using a regular lawn mower, then his specialty lawn mower, then his edger, to make it look like a putting green.

He sits in his bay window like a sentinel with the louvres positioned in such a way that he can see out, but someone on the street can’t see in, just in case.

Our home at the end of the court has a limited back yard that is con-

stantly wet in the morning because of the sprinklers. As a result my little fussy dog doesn’t want to get her paws wet and won’t urinate in the back yard, so I have to take her out front into the cul-de-sac to find a dry spot.

Seven o’clock one temperate summer morning, her tail wagging, unaware of the boundaries that delineate my yard from my neighbor’s, she runs across our driveway on to the neighbor’s lawn.

Right in the middle of doing her business a middle-aged man, who obviously had been watching us from his window, burst out his front door.

I, with sleep still in my eyes, exclaim “morning, what a beautiful day.”

He, not noticing the nice weather, starts yelling at Bun Bun as if she understood English.

He yelled in her face the reasons why she can’t pee on his lawn while all five pounds of her stood looking up at him wagging her tail thinking he wanted to play.

I explained to him that I diligently pick up her poop and throw it in our trash. But he points to some patches of grub grass and says that she is ruining his lawn by peeing on it.

He was distraught so I didn’t think it was the appropriate time to explain that only large female dogs can cause lawn burn, not grub grass. It also normally only happens to stressed lawns and looks burned on the edges not dead.

A week later I approached another neighbor to see if she was missing a kitten we found in our back yard. She did not hear my question and told me she could sue for damages because of Bun Bun. She is rarely home but said she had “heard” that Bun Bun was peeing on her lawn.

“The entire neighborhood is upset with your dog,” she said.

The first thing to point out is that the lawns in my neighborhood are not “stressed.” Rain or shine, sprinklers go on each night and everyone’s lawn remains an Ireland green, even when it is 107 degrees outside.

It’s ironic that the yelling neighbor’s wife was so nice to point out to me that their CC & R’s prohibit unleashed dogs while the entire neighborhood was in flagrant violation, on several counts, of the City of Visalia’s watering code.

My interactions over the last few months with my neighbors reminded me of why such a nice house to rent was available on such short notice.

The homeowner had been driven out of town by her neighbors. She now lives a peaceful existence in Exeter.

Where have people’s priorities gone? Is it that my neighbors, Americans, or humanity as a whole have lost their way? I always thought that lawns were for children and pets, soccer balls and swings, and bad mitten and croquet.

I guess I was mistaken.

Maybe this country does need change and Mr. Trump is the answer – or maybe he is our punishment.

4 • Valley Voice

17 November, 2016

New Plan Needed for Kaweah Delta Rebuild Dave Adalian

Kaweah Delta Health Care District (KDHCD) leaders are going to have to find another way to pay for new construction if they want to keep their doors open, and at least one former detractor says they can do it without asking taxpayers for more money.

During a special election in August, voters said no to a $327 million bond to continue expansion and upgrade seismic standards for existing buildings at Visalia’s hospital. This month, those same voters may have replaced one of the District’s sitting board members in a vote where the main issue was that failed bond measure.

However, thousands of ballots remain to be counted in the contest between challenger Nevin House and incumbent Teresa Ramos, and House’s lead is less than 4%. Either way that election goes, KDHCD is going to have to find a new way to pay for seismic upgrades to a major portion of its downtown facility before a state-mandated 2030 deadline, and House will likely have much to say about that even if Ramos survives the election challenge.

During the Measure H campaign, Kaweah Delta officials touted this design as the future of the hospital. Nevin House, currently leading in ballot counts for a seat on the Kaweah Delta Healthcare District Board of Directors, believes that the hospital doesn’t need to expand the number of beds it currently has. Courtesy/Friends of Kaweah Delta

hospitals are saying they need to downsize,” he said. “The reason for that is new procedures. The reason is advances in technology are reducing the length of stays.”

More procedures All On Board these days do not involve a Those House might hospital stay, and that will be working with on the become increasingly true Board already agree a new over the next few years plan is needed. as medicine continues to “I would say withmove toward less invasive in three years we need to treatments, House said. have a definitive plan and be moving on that plan,” Nevin House, candidate for KDHCD is already seeing that in its operations. said KDHCD Board Pres- KDHCD District 5 “All of these charts ident Carl Anderson, who has served on the Board since 2001. that show how many rooms we need “So, we’ve got some time to formulate are showing a great decline over the a plan and involve the community and next 10 years,” said House. “We actually saw that at Kaweah Delta. Last move collectively forward on that.”

House and Anderson also agree if year was flat. They didn’t have more they decide to go to voters for fund- patients.”

Measure H would have ing, they’ll have to do a better job of added half again as many explaining themselves. beds beyond those be“One of the things we’re going to have to do is get substantial pub- ing replaced. lic input to explain how we are where we are,” Anderson said. “Once they have that information, find out what they really want. We will move ahead once a plan of action starts to come into focus.”

More Beds Needed?

House, however, doesn’t think the District needs to go public in its search for funds, and it may not need to build more rooms either.

“I’m not opposed to the expansion of Kaweah Delta, if you consider the replacement of the rooms they’re going to lose,” House said. “That has to be done.”

While he’s certain the 276 beds the hospital will be lost due to the age of Kaweah Delta Medical Center’s original building, which cannot be upgraded to meet modern seismic requirements, House is not so sure the District needs to add more beds beyond that.

“Most of the experts who study

Other Options

just sell the Lifestyle Center, why don’t you sell Quail Park? It’s like the doctor says you’ve got to lose 40 pounds, and I come to you and say why don’t you cut off your leg?

You’ll be 40 pounds lighter.”

House said he has “five or six” ways the District can pay for its new beds without floating a bond measure, which requires a two-thirds approval from voters.

Discussing just one of Welcome Addition those approaches, he says While it’s clear there is the District can use the a difference of opinion on $227 million it has on hand how it is to be done, both to begin construction. men agree the District must “That leaves you short keep the doors open at about $120 million (based Carl Anderson, KDHCD Kaweah Delta. Anderson Board President on a $360 million estimate is hoping he can enlighten to construct space for 300 House, and that House can new beds),” House said. “Start it now. enlighten him and the rest of the HosShell out part of it and don’t fill it. It al- pital Board. lows you to build the entire structure.”

“Quite frankly, I’m going to be The District could then use reve- working with Nevin to provide him nue bonds based on its average income the information and all the backto fund the remainder. Rev- ground he needs,” he said. “And, I’ll be enue bonds do not require looking for him to provide substantive voter approval. input. The rest of the board will be “It’s based on (the Dis- looking at him.” trict) can borrow up to 50% For House, it won’t be the first of their average billing of the time he’s charted new territory. last three years,” House said.

Asking Too Much “I had my own business I built “If the hospital did an av- from the backroom of a two-bedAnderson thinks he erage of $500 million, they room apartment to an international knows exactly why Meacan have a total of $250 multi-million-dollar business,” he said. sure H failed.

Teresa Ramos, KDHCD million in revenue bonds “Sometimes you have to invest to make “Measure H failed for Director, District 5 out there, but the hospital’s money in the long-term.” one reason only. It was because we simply did not have a correct revenue keeps going up.”

Anderson welcomes that experiHe estimated KDHCD’s earnings ence and expects House’s presence will understanding of the mental set and what the public was thinking,” he said. would average $650 million a year by be constructive and meaningful.

“The consultants told us we were in the end of the next decade.

“We thrive on discussion and difgood shape to get this passed. We won’t ferent points of view, and we come up make that mistake ever again.” with the best plan of action,” Anderson Not So Fast House again sees more to the issue.

Anderson says the District did ex- said. “The Board has been around long “When you read Measure H, it plore other ways to fund the new beds enough to realize it’s not about getting had four points,” he said. “Only one of it must have, and the bond vote was your way. It’s about doing the best thing for the community.” the four was building a new acute-care needed and still is.

Meanwhile, no one should be hospital.”

“We examined every alternative.

He said the District also planned We examined the use of our funds on worried Kaweah Delta is about to to use those funds to pay for the con- hand. We examined revenue bonds for close down.

“The chances of (the state) closstruction of a facility to house its new part of this, and that maxed us out, and power plant, but did not inform voters. so what we were left with was this huge ing this hospital down is almost zero,” “They hid the cost of three build- debt to make up,” he said. “So, looking House said. “But, we need a new hosings,” House said. “They didn’t tell the at what alternatives we had, for exam- pital. The middle wing is obsolete, the people that was part of it.” ple one of the things was why don’t you seismic requirements aside.”

Be thankful for this paper — eat a turkey!

17 November, 2016

Kumar

Continued from p. 1 last year, but his membership was rejected by the TLHCD Board. Kumar wrote Aguilar a letter of recommendation, and the vote was reversed.

“Miraculously, I got the most votes and ended up on the Committee,” Aguilar said. “Once I got approval from the Board, I started asking questions. I wanted to know what kind of training the people on the Committee got, to see the prior audits, to see where the money was going.

Within two months, I found out money was being spent on things it should not be spent on. Even the (outside) auditors said they weren’t spending the money where they should be.”

Aguilar presented those concerns to the Board at a meeting held on October 23, 2013, and the minutes show Kumar denied the accusations.

Federal Fines Aguilar’s objections at that meeting included a discussion of the hospital’s corporate integrity agreement with the Office of the Inspector General of the US Department of Health and Human Services (OIG), as well as the possibility of OIG’s investigations of TLHCD being reopened.

Kumar said at the time Aguilar did not fully understand the inner workings of the BOC, and he said TLHCD had a good relationship with the OIG. To the best of his knowledge, Kumar told Aguilar, there were no issues with the OIG. The conversation is detailed in the TLHCD’s public records.

Yet in 2009, the District had agreed to pay a $2.4 million settlement after an OIG investigation found TLHCD had “submitted claims to the Medicare system as part of a scheme to illegally reimburse doctors who referred patients to Tulare Healthcare.”

The District was under investigation again in 2013 when a former TLHCD Board member contacted the OIG with accusations of illegal behavior by Kumar and improper contracts between Kumar and the District. Specifically, Kumar was alleged to have improperly earned more than $800,000 over a two-year period by seeing up to 64 patients during four-hour shifts at TLHCD’s Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHC).

TLHCD admitted to no wrongdoing in the 2009 settlement. Kumar and his wife, Dr. Parul Gupta, both resigned their jobs with TLHCD’s FQHCs following the opening of the OIG’s second investigation.

The OIG began its investigations of TLHCD after its former CFO, Maria Lucy Reimche, alleged in a lawsuit that the TLHCD paid its physicians illegal kickbacks for sending their patients to TRMC for treatment. Additionally, a 2014 investigation by the OIG found TLHCD had overcharged Medicare by nearly $200,000 in 2011 and 2012. TLHCD has since repaid the feds and agreed to strengthen its control of its billing department.

‘They Were Aware’ Meanwhile, Aguilar remained dogged in his investigation despite Board resistance.

“They didn’t like me inquiring on why this money was being spent on this stuff,” he said. “They stopped giving me information. That’s basically been their M.O. under Dr. Kumar.”

The numbers and documents he had

Valley Voice • 5 on hand, along with information from other sources, was enough for him to put together a detailed report of how the bond money had been spent, and apparently misspent. It was also enough for him to know the accounting was being deliberately obscured, he said.

He made sure the Board knew he knew.

“I hand-delivered my report to their homes,” Aguilar said. “Dr. Kumar sat at every (BOC) meeting, as was the Board president. They were aware it wasn’t being spent the way it was supposed to be spent.”

Change Orders One of the first irregularities Aguilar noticed was a high number of change orders for the project. He found at least dozens recorded, but the real number was much higher, he said, and those orders included spending on projects that had nothing to do with the expansion.

The information came from Healthcare Conglomerate Associate’s (HCCA) construction manager, Aguilar said. HCCA is a private company that now manages TRMC and the TLHCD. “I asked how many there had been since the start of the project. They (hospital officials) said 66,” he said. “Then I asked the project manager, and he said more than 660.”

The changes Aguilar reviewed included orders to upgrade construction trailers and to construct a new marquee sign for TRMC. Each project expended more than $100,000 in bond money earmarked for the still unfinished tower expansion.

Foundation Funds The BOC had also been tasked with overseeing spending on the tower that did not come from bond sales, including a $3 million commitment from the Tulare Hospital Foundation and its communi-

ty supporters. Hospital employees were asked to give as well.

“They (the Foundation) had a flier asking employees to donate one hour of their salary toward the construction of the tower,” Aguilar said.

Aguilar found other ways bond funds had been misspent or mishandled. The District paid medical supplier Siemens $5.5 million for equipment for the tower that was never delivered. The money, he said, may have been returned, but without accounting there’s no way to be sure.

The District also stockpiled furnishings and supplies for the tower, so much that a two-week inventory was required when hospital management changed hands.

“My concern is money is being spent on things that have nothing to do with the project or its intent,” Aguilar said. “That’s still my concern.”

Aguilar’s attempt to reverse some of the damage has been rejected by management, he said.

“One of the things that was recommended at the last Bond Oversight Committee meeting in August of 2015, all of the stuff that was bought that was paid for from the bond money, why isn’t money put back from the general fund?” Aguilar said. “That’s really a simple solution.”

‘He Blatantly Lied’ Aguilar is focused on recalling Kumar because he says the wrongdoing is ongoing. He points to the recent $800,000 loan taken out by TLHCD and what Kumar and the Board told the public about it.

“I was at a Board meeting when he (Kumar) went ahead to put on the agenda about the line of credit that was $800,000. Usually, the resolution says what the intent is. What they had was just a line of credit,” Aguilar said. “People were asking questions. He (Kumar) indicated it

was just a line of credit. He blatantly lied to us. They knew that money had already been dedicated.”

Once the loan was authorized by the bank, the funds were immediately used to pay off an outstanding debt. The payoff had apparently been in the works for weeks, internal TLHCD documents reveal. They are available at the Valley Voice website, ourvalleyvoice.com.

Kumar is also accused of receiving $650 an hour for being on call, a figure Aguilar says is much higher than fees received by other physicians for the same work. He said Kumar has charged the District for time when he was not physically present in Tulare County.

“How can he be on standby at $650 an hour when he’s not even there?” Aguilar asked. “I hear the other doctors only get $150 an hour.”

Nothing Personal Despite his distaste for the situation at hand, Aguilar says he has no grudge.

“There’s nothing personal,” he said.

“All we want is accountability and transparency. We’ve got to have the truth about what’s really going on. If there are changes to be made, let’s make them for the benefit of the community. People are lining their pockets.”

Aguilar cited the outcome of voting on Measure I, a request by the District for an additional $55 million in bonds to complete work on the stalled tower project that was voted down harshly, as an indicator of how the recall will proceed.

He also pointed to the outcome of Bell and Gadke’s reelection campaigns and their failure as evidence Kumar won’t be around much longer.

“I’m so glad the people in those districts turned out and voted the way they did,” Aguilar said.

6 • Valley Voice

17 November, 2016

Agriculture Commentary: Teachers Cooperate To Use Ag In Classrooms Jennifer Ray, CFAC What happens when two very enthusiastic teachers meet at the California Agriculture in the Classroom Conference? For Julie Cates and Jami Beck, the possibilities may seem endless. However, the two Tulare County teachers say they are most “Ag-Excited” about their recent pen pal “Ag-Venture,” letters exchanged between their sixth- and second-grade students.

Last school year was Cates’ first year teaching. She teaches sixth grade at Linwood Elementary in Visalia, and she has already made quite an impression. Cates incorporates her passion for nutrition and agriculture into her classroom each week through engaging activities she shares on Twitter.

“I am in love with agriculture and nutrition education,” Cates said. “I enjoy sharing my passion with students and opening their minds to all agriculture has to offer. I also try to help other teachers learn how they too can make agriculture part of their classrooms.”

Last fall, Cates received a $500 Literacy for Life grant from the California Foundation for Agriculture in the Classroom for her #FindYourFavoriteFridays project. She was named the organization’s 2015 Outstanding Educator of the Year for her commitment to agricultural education. This past September,

she was invited to present a workshop at the foundation’s annual statewide conference.

Beck is a second-grade teacher at Three Rivers Elementary in Three Rivers, where she has been teaching for 12 years. A fellow Tulare County resident, Beck also recognized the importance of teaching students about agriculture.

However, she said she found the science aspect daunting.

“I was always intimidated when it came to agriculture, because I thought you needed to have a strong background in science,” Beck said. “The conference gave me the confidence, connections and resources I needed.”

Conference attendees could almost see the wheels turning in Beck’s mind as she listened to Cates speak. The idea of introducing students to California-grown fruits, vegetables and nuts through #TryItTuesdays and #FindYourFavoriteFridays was intriguing, and Cates made it sound practical. She explained how she used fresh produce to not only give students a taste of agriculture, but also to teach math concepts, like plotting ordered pairs with beets. She said bringing in local farmers as speakers and working with the school’s garden coordinator helped students make their own handson connections with agriculture.

“You can connect agriculture to everything,” Cates said. “We talk about

it in history, math, English language arts, visual arts and more. It’s fun to see students’ eyes light up as they become proud to live in the top agricultural production region in the world.”

Beck was inspired. She immediately returned to her classroom, and before the secSixth-grade teacher Julie Cates of Visalia, left, and ond-graders entered the room second-grade teacher Jami Beck of Three Rivers coorMonday morning, she had dinate an Ag-Venture pen-pal project for the students in created a new bulletin board their classrooms. display titled, “I’m Ag-Excited, friend, Alice.” are you?” On Tuesday, the second-gradJust like that, new friendships have ers experienced their first #TryItTues- sprouted between the two teachers and days tasting. their 40 students. Follow @cates_julie “You should have seen my young and @mrs_jbeck to keep up with their students’ faces when they saw the bulle- journey watching their seeds and stutin board. They can’t wait to learn about dents grow. agriculture,” Beck said.

For free teaching resources, grants The students were not the only ones and other agricultural education opporexcited to learn more. Cates and Beck tunities offered by the California Founmet up within three weeks after the dation for Agriculture in the Classroom, conference to attend a seed propagation visit LearnAboutAg.org. workshop. Before long, they had developed a new project tying writing and ag(Jennifer Ray is communications riculture together: a pen pal Ag-Venture. coordinator for the California Founda“Dear 6th Grader,” one of Beck’s tion for Agriculture in the Classroom. students wrote. “My name is Alice. I am She may be contacted at jennifer@learnin second grade. I love Try it Tuesday. aboutag.org.)

My favorite thing so far was honeydew melon. What was your favorite thing to This article reprinted with the pertaste? What is your name? Do you like mission of the California Farm Bureau working in your school garden. Your Federation.

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17 November, 2016

Valley Voice • 7

Agriculture Ranchers See Better Pastures, Tough Markets Ching Lee, CFBF A series of storms this fall has promoted healthy grass growth on the range for grazing cattle, but improved feed conditions come as cattle prices remain in a slump and ranchers struggle to recover from the recent drought that has battered their herds.

“It’s unfortunate, because you’ve got good feed conditions brewing but no market,” said Yolo County rancher Casey Stone.

Although rainfall in October boosted enough grasses to sustain cattle, Stone noted that more storms are needed on his winter range to get creeks flowing to provide drinking water for his cattle, many of which remain on irrigated pasture.

“We’ve got a good head start from the last storm,” he said. “It certainly helps. We’ll take everything we can get.”

In Tehama County, rancher Bert Owens described his range conditions as “outstanding,” noting that recent precipitation coupled with mild temperatures and days of sunshine had native grasses “flying out of the ground.” This has allowed him to turn his cattle out on the winter range three weeks ahead of schedule, which has reduced his operating costs because he’s not buying any supplemental hay.

But recent storms have not eased his concerns that a dry winter may still be ahead. Owens said he remains cautious about expanding his herd, opting to wait until next spring “to see if we have enough soil moisture to carry us through the end of May.” “This drought and lack of rain has really affected my thinking with regard to the number of livestock I do,” he said.

“You can’t get too carried away this early in the grass-growing season. We can’t really count on these rains continuing.”

With large domestic supplies of beef and other meats weighing on the market, Owens said he does not anticipate cattle prices will improve significantly for two to three years, which means he will need to cut his costs where he can.

At 72, Mariposa County rancher Tom Gookin said he’s at the age where he doesn’t want to expand his herd, especially now with a depressed cattle market. He noted that two years ago, a calf sold for $1,160; today, a 1,400-pound cow brings half that price.

Though he said he plans to ride out the current market downturn, Gookin said he’s less certain about prospects for a robust rainy season. Because his cattle stay on dryland pasture all year, he said he will sell his herd “if I have to go through another drought and feed hay.”

Even if it turns out to be a plentiful feed year, Stone said there’s not much incentive for him to expand his herd, with the cattle market outlook being so grim.

He noted that prices for cattle he sold this year were 30 to 40 percent lower than his original projections. Falling prices of hay, which he also farms, have hurt his income as well. He noted that many ranchers stocked up on hay last year for fear there would be another dry winter.

Now those ranchers have surplus hay sitting in their barns. With early fall rains and so much feed on the ground cur-

rently, there’s even less demand for hay, keeping that market down, he said.

“These prices really rocked us pretty good,” Stone said. “We went from record-high cattle and hay prices two years ago to an absolute disaster right now.”

During the drought, Contra Costa County rancher Tom Brumleve reduced his herd by almost half. Without knowing what the coming season will bring, he said he Yolo County rancher Casey Stone stands among cattle on his winter range in Esparto. Rainfall last month has will wait until April been good for pastures and grazing cattle, but improved feed conditions come as the cattle market remains in or May before he a slump. Photo/Ching Lee decides whether to there is not extra forage for him to ex- market had not been so good. rebuild his herd. pand much, but he said he might try to “In a way, at least the market held “I think my numbers are low enough improve his herd by culling harder and us together,” he said. “People who had to that even if this year doesn’t get back to replacing his lower-performing cattle. liquidate got paid well for it.” normal (rainfall), I’ll get by, but I’ll have “For the most part, we’re going to to feed more hay,” he said. “If our num- hold steady,” Giacomini said.

(Ching Lee is an assistant editor of bers were up to our average, I’d be much He said even though many Cali- Ag Alert. She may be contacted at clee@ more concerned.” fornia cattle ranchers were forced to re- cfbf.com.)

Madera County rancher Clay duce their herds during the drought and This article reprinted with the perDaulton, who runs a stocker operation, couldn’t take full advantage of several mission of the California Farm Bureau said he doesn’t plan to expand his cattle years of strong cattle prices, they would Federation. numbers, but he will be back to average have had a tougher time if the cattle stocking rates this season. He noted he stocked only about a third of his normal One call . . . numbers last year because he did not have enough residual feed on his pasture Does it all . . . at the onset of the fall season. That resulted this year in the largest quantity of We own and operate all residual feed he’s seen on his ranch. our trucks and equipment!

“It’s low-quality forage, but it also offers great potential for the new grass,” ● ORCHARD RIPPING Office: 559-781-5824 he said. “More rainfall in the coming ● WHEEL LOADERS James: 559-358-5090 year will be good. I have the buffer of ● END DUMPS this residual feed in case it does end up www.jtagservice.com being drought-ish. It certainly is a beau● BOTTOM DUMPS tiful start.”

Jtagservice1@yahoo.com ● SLIP PLOWING In Shasta County, rancher Henry Giacomini noted that Redding had the ● 7 SHANK CHISEL third-wettest October on record, giving ● STUBBLE DISCING a huge boost to winter pastures and native feed in the foothills. The amount ● (2) DIO’S of rain has also brought stock water to ● (2) D9’S those pastures, allowing him to move some cattle there. ● (3) D8’S Giacomini said he did not have to reduce his own herd during the drought, but he did cut back on his hay producNo job too small, tion so that more of that land could be or too large! grazed, which lowered his income.

Although some California ranchers We can rip 6’ deep! may be reluctant to grow their herds at this time, he noted that U.S. cattle numbers are increasing, with many of those animals yet to hit the market, and that could put more pressure on the market.

If lower prices curtail expansion nationwide, whereby ranchers aren’t retaining their heifers for replacement, that will keep pressure on the market for potentially two to three years, he added.

Depending on the rancher’s situation, Giacomini pointed out that lower cattle prices also present “a pretty opportunistic time to expand, if you’ve got cash flow to do it.” In his operation,

8 • Valley Voice

17 November, 2016

Agriculture Commentary: Ag Faces Big Challenges Right Now Patricia Stever Blattler, TCFB

The coffee shop talk has probably been particularly discouraging lately as farmers have had to digest the news of a several bad bills signed into law this year that make their businesses that much tougher to keep afloat.

Amongst them the Ag Overtime bill signed by the Governor, the anticipated increase in minimum wage over the next five years, recently a new proposed rule making changes to pesticide uses near sensitive sites, and the hits just keep on coming.

I can understand the anger and frustration that has resulted from the blows that agriculture has been dealt.

It seems like California agriculture is under a heavy barrage of assault being pounded again and again by our state’s legislature, heavy handed bureaucrats and agency staff out of touch with California’s agriculture industry.

I wish I had all the answers to fix the broken state of our state, but I don’t. But what I do know is that farmers have to be resilient, innovative, and adaptive to change.

As we are reviewing the archives of our organization and with our centennial approaching in 2017, it is somewhat reassuring to know that agriculture has always been treated as an underdog, and there have always been serious issues and regulatory hurdles facing our farm community.

Looking back through the early publications of the Farm Bureau the same common issues over water allocations, taxation, government over reach, burdensome regulations, and the interests of urban and rural areas clashing – all seem to resonate as common and recurring themes across history.

What made agriculture great 100 years ago, still is what makes our industry strong and resilient today.

Leaders with vision and courage to make change possible.

Farm Bureau and our trade and commodity associations have helped to cultivate and develop leaders for the past century – not always are we able to align perfectly, nor fight every battle in lock step – but collectively the value of the agricultural organizations cannot be dismissed.

Farm Bureau and many other agriculture organizations do share many common virtues and values, and when we do pull together we have power to unite and organize.

Sometimes turf battles, ego, and wanting credit for wins and victories takes center stage and that usually never trumps the bigger battles we all must fight when it comes to protecting this industry.

As 2017 approaches, I hope we can take a moment to reflect on the bountiful gifts the earth gives us, the food

and shelter it provides for our families, and the income it provides our Valley and its residents.

It may seem like a difficult time to remain optimistic, but I imagine that many times over the past 100 years farmers have felt this way and have been knocked down and get back up again.

Through resilience, hard work, perseverance and leadership we remain the fruit and vegetable basket to the world.

I wish everyone a bountiful and blessed harvest for Thanksgiving this month, and let’s give thanks for all the good things we have during this time when the world around us is in turmoil.

Patricia Stever Blattler is Executive Director of the Tulare County Farm Bureau.

This article used with the permission of the Tulare County Farm Bureau.

Water Year Gets Off to Wet Start; Caution Remains Christine Souza, CFBF

The precipitation that soaked parts of Northern California during October—the first month of the rainfall season—may have slowed harvest for some farmers, but water officials say it represented the second-wettest October on record for the Northern Sierra. Though encouraged by the season’s beginning, water watchers caution about projecting an end, or even a lessening, of the state’s ongoing drought.

“We’re off to a great start, but there is no expectation or belief that this is going to continue,” said Doug Carlson, a spokesman for the California Department of Water Resources.

He said precipitation through October stood at 393 percent of average on the Northern Sierra Precipitation 8-Station Index. The index samples the region’s major watersheds, which produce inflow to some of California’s largest reservoirs—the source of much of the state’s water supply. Even so, one-fifth of the state, primarily in Southern California, remains in the most severe category of drought, compared to nearly half the state at this time last year.

Data from DWR show the state’s largest reservoir, Shasta, holds just more than average, as do Don Pedro Reservoir and Millerton Lake. But many other reservoirs remain below average for the date, despite the wet month, though they hold more water than they did on the same date last year.

“Lake Shasta is doing better at 103 percent of average, but Oroville, the largest reservoir on our network of the State Water Project, is not even three-quarters of the way up to its average for Nov. 1,” Carlson said. “We

should be a little more than 2 million acre feet. We’re down 600,000 acrefeet from average.”

Farmers welcomed the October rains, but almond and prune farmer Mike Vereschagin of Orland said it’s too early to make predictions about water for 2017.

“This is a great start, but we know that we have a long way to go,” Vereschagin said, adding that rains delayed harvest of walnuts and rice for some growers in his area. “So far, the rain has been soaking into the soil quite well, so that leads to some groundwater recharge, which is what we want to see.”

Diversified farmer Cannon Michael of Bowles Farming Co. near Los Banos said, “It’s obviously hard to know what the weather is going to end up doing, but we saw pretty wet conditions in the north this last year and above average at Lake Shasta all throughout the year, but still some pretty tough (water) conditions for folks south of the delta.”

Michael said his planting intentions for 2017 at this point include processing tomatoes and an increase in longer-staple cotton.

“We’re going to lock in a certain amount of acres through wells and hopefully through some amount of surface water, but then we’ll be in a holding pattern on everything else and it’s wait and see,” Michael said.

As winter temperatures appear to become warmer, Michael said he will try planting garlic, onions and carrots earlier in the year, to avoid the risk of not having enough water for irrigation in the summer.

“We’ve shifted crop timing to grow some things in the winter, which we don’t normally do, but because we’re a little bit nervous about

not having water for the summer, we’re trying to shift to different time periods,” he said.

Michael noted that farmers and water districts are investing millions of dollars in drip irrigation and modernization of district infrastructure, to ensure not a drop of water is wasted.

“Farmers continue to plow in a lot of money into investments on a water district level and on our own farms, but it’s pretty hard to take those risks when you don’t know (about the water supply future),” said Michael, who farms with water mostly from the San Luis Canal Co. Vereschagin, who serves as president of the Orland-Artois Water District board, said he has invested in additional wells and should have enough capacity for the coming season.

“If I need to purchase water, it should be a minimal amount,” Vereschagin said.

Michael said he has friends who farm in many different water districts and have “all different levels of access” to water supplies.

“I don’t want to see other family farmers go out of business,” Michael said. “I like to engage with folks in other areas to make sure that we try to get on the same page, because at the end of the day, we all are part of this larger California agriculture and we need to try to help each other and work together.”

The recent storms produced only a dusting of snow at Echo Summit and along Interstate 80 at Donner Lake. Based on the small snowpack received last winter, the concern going into this year is: Will the state receive enough snow?

“The problem is that we’ve had

a lot of warm weather in the wintertime and not enough precipitation,” Carlson said. “We’ll just have to wait to see how it pans out.”

Last winter provided plenty of reason for caution. The strong El Niño weather pattern led forecasters to predict heavy rainfall in the south, which didn’t materialize. Carlson said the state as a whole did receive a fair amount of rainfall last year—100 percent of average—but only 85 percent of average snowpack.

Headed into this winter, forecasters report a La Niña pattern developing, but don’t know what that portends for California rain and snow.

The director of water resources for the California Farm Bureau Federation, Danny Merkley, said California needs new surface storage to make the state’s water infrastructure compatible with new precipitation patterns.

“We now receive our precipitation generally in warmer, flashier storms that don’t allow time for precipitation to settle into the soil to recharge groundwater,” Merkley said. “Recent years have shown we can’t rely on our largest natural reservoir—the Sierra snowpack—the way we once did. With the construction of new water storage, such as Sites Reservoir and Temperance Flat, we would be able to capture significant amounts of surface water in excess of what is needed at the time, for flows and other uses.”

(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.

17 November, 2016

Valley Voice • 9

Election

Continued from p. 1 billionaire, he said, he is simply the type of person who can relate to the average American.

“His message resonates better with people and he is better at getting his message across than Clinton.”

Congressman Nunes did endorse Trump and co-hosted a successful fundraiser in Tulare that brought in $1.3 million to the candidate. For his loyalty, Rep. Nunes has been asked to join Trump’s transition team. Rep. Nunes released the following statement after joining the executive committee of Donald Trump’s transition team: “Today I was honored to have been named to the executive committee of President-elect Donald Trump’s transition team. In this role, I will advise President-elect Trump on the appointments of his Cabinet members and on appointments to other top positions in the new administration. I look forward to helping to assemble an energetic and forward-looking team that will capably lead our country toward more economic growth, greater opportunity, and a safer homeland for all Americans.”

Local Democrats React

Local Democrats gathered at the Visalia Pizza Factory on election night to

Griswold Continued from p. 1

More technical training is on her to-do list, and she would like to work on class-size reduction, across the board from pre-k through 12th grade, including AP classes. She would also like to see more help in the classroom, and more support for teachers with a greater presence of aides, she said. She has talked with one teacher, who was thrilled with the 30 minutes a day of aide time he has in his classroom. While another, said that the 45 minutes of aide time she has, just

watch the returns and lick their wounds.

The crowd of approximately 50 was cautiously optimistic.

Then Ohio went for Trump.

“If Trump wins,” Victor Moheno, “master mentor” to the group, said, “women can forget about their reproductive rights.”

Moheno, Abigail Solis, President of the Visalia Democratic Club, and Ruth McKee, Chairperson of the Tulare County Democratic Central Committee, discussed their reaction to the election returns.

Right away, McKee said, “The stock market will crash.”

“And nukes will proliferate,” Moheno said. “He doesn’t seem to care who has them. He’ll deport people. He’s against the Dreamers. You can forget about comprehensive immigration reform. People will be fearful.”

Solis interrupted at this point, saying, “There will be a fear of what will happen to us, what will happen to our families. There will be a level of fear.”

“He’ll rip up all of Obama’s executive orders,” McKee said.

“But there’s a separation of powers,” Moheno said. “He can only do certain things alone.”

This was hours before it was learned that the House and Senate would both now be under Republican control.

Before that, the group discussed what would be the “bridge too far” isn’t enough.

Griswold believes that education should start at an early age.

“I love that we’re expanding the pre-K program,” she said.

Prior to the November 8 election, VUSD Superintendent Todd Oto said, he had met with all three candidates and was impressed with all of them.

“We had a great meeting,” he said.

“They all seemed very committed. They are sincere candidates, who want to move the district forward.”

Griswold will be sworn into her position on December 6 to start her four-year term.

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for Trump.

“Healthcare,” Moheno said. “Twenty million people now have healthcare they didn’t have before. And now there’s such a thing as not discriminating against pre-existing conditions.”

Anti-Incumbent Streak in Healthcare Districts

In the Tulare Local Healthcare District, challengers Kevin Northcraft and Mike Jamaica appeared to beat their incumbent opponents, Sherrie Bell and Laura Gadke, at 63.94% and 63.15% respectively.

The candidates gathered at an election party in Tulare – one that ended before any results came in from Tulare County elections officials. At the party, Northcraft said he was “cautiously optimistic” for their chances.

Later in the night, Citizens for Hospital Accountability, the group endorsing both candidates, released a short statement: “Their success is a result of their hard work in getting out their message of transparency and accountability.

Their success is also the result of the great citizens of Tulare understanding that the role of each Board Member is uphold the public trust by holding open, honest and transparent meetings to conduct the business of the District,” the statement read.

“Most importantly this election has shown the People’s desire to hold the current Board accountable and to ensure our tax money is used wisely and appropriately so the Tulare Regional Medical Center can return to being

OUR public hospital that delivers quality healthcare.”

The wave that the two candidates rode in on was almost certainly fueled by disdain for Tulare’s failed Measure I bond proposition, also defeated by a two-thirds to one-third margin.

Similar feelings played a large part in Kaweah Delta’s hospital board campaign.

Nevin House, Robert Gilson, and Elbia Luz Fernandez ran as part of the “No on H” slate of candidates, formed after the failure of Measure H, Kaweah Delta’s bond measure, and intended to take the leadership of the hospital district in a different direction.

House narrowly defeated the incumbent, Teresa Ramos, at 51.75% to 47.20%. Gilson and Fernandez didn’t fare so well – incumbents John Hipskind and Herbert Hawkins, respectively, won by 63.59% and 59.33%.

Elsewhere

In other election results, in the race for the Visalia City Council District 1 seat, Phil Cox won over Adam Peck at 55.42% to 43.96.

In Visalia’s District 2 seat, Bob Link was able to score a victory over his opponents at 56.5%.

“I feel good. I’ve heard nothing negative,” Link said at his election party, before results were released late in the evening. “We’ll have to wait and see the first result.”

For the Tulare County Supervisor District 1 Dennis Smith was leading Kuyler Crocker 50.58% by 48.65%.

For State Assembly District 26 Devon Mathis won by more than 30 points.

10 • Valley Voice

17 November, 2016

Local Law Enforcement Opens Up About Current Climate

“I don’t think we’ve felt or seen any my experience, I’ve never shot anyone. through the years have been seen.

Kings County Resource Deputy My experience with shooting is on the of the problems that you’ve seen naEvery day police officers and sheriff Darrin Ellis, a 51-year old African-Amer- range. I go over our use of force rules tionally, here,” said Visalia Police Chief deputies put their lives at risk in order ican who grew up in Fresno, has served and regulations, over, and over, and Jason Salazar. “I think, that while we’re to perform their jobs and protect their on the force since March, 1990. over. I’ve never beaten anybody up. I’ve all part of America, there’s also different communities. With recent civil unrest, “When I was a kid, you looked up never kicked anybody. I don’t believe ways that we approach, and communiprotesting, and sometimes rioting with to cops,” he said. “And, if a cop told that I have treated anybody in a way ties have their own different dynamics.

Black Lives Matter marches, and, now, you to do something, or asked you to that would be thought of as being out of In the 23 years I’ve been here, I think #notmypresident marches, there is more do something – you did it. You didn’t the ordinary range of law enforcement. Visalia’s always done a pretty good job risk to law enforcement around the question it. I noticed when I came on, it In other words, I’ve never been excessive of being involved in the community, in country. And as if that wasn’t enough, wasn’t like that. with anybody, I don’t believe. And, that’s terms of our police department. police are being targeted and shot, not “And, I think that’s where a lot of “It’s a lot on how you portray your- the vast majority of every single deputy because of who they are individually, self, and just how you are with people, in this department, and lots of other po- this starts - in having people who are but because they wear the uniform. in general. So, sometimes I’d get back- lice departments all over the country. involved in the community. We have However, it may not be so true talk from kids and stuff what we call a Take Home Car Program that the men in blue are disrespected like that, and it kind of and I think we’ve shown, from a finanThere more than ever before. According to a shocked me. But, you cial perspective, it’s a good investment. are Bad Seeds US News and World Report article from treat everybody with “But, we’ve got a I think the part that gets missed, is the October 25, the respect for local police, respect, no matter who big country. So, there’s investment it makes in the community,

by Americans, is very high. The article, they are – rich/poor, a certain small per- because about 85% of our officers live “Americans Respect for Local Police Black/White, doesn’t centage of deputies or here. And, I think that that makes a Nears Record High,” reported by Rachel matter who they are police officers that, to big difference too, when you talk about Dicker, sites a new Gallup poll which – you treat them all put it nicely, didn’t take community relationships. shows 76% of US adults have a “great with respect.

“Like Sir Robert Peel said, ‘The potheir training serious deal” of respect for local police. Only “I go through my lice is the community, and the commuenough, and may make 7% said they have “hardly any.” The poll day treating everyone mistakes, or may over- nity are the police.’ I think there’s a lot and article reveal that the percentage is with respect. And, if of validity to that. When you have staff react,” Ellis said. up regardless of race, although the per- you do that, you hardly “There’s this thing, that live in the community, they tend to Kings County Resource Deputy centage was higher among Whites. ever go wrong. that lumps us all in be invested in a different way.

“As far as the re- Darrin Ellis the same basket - that cent events in the Higher Respect in Kings & Black Lives Matter Protests bothers me - that there’s always a tennews – it breaks my heart, sometimes, “We really haven’t seen any of those Tulare Counties dency for law enforcement to back each because conclusions are jumped to--by Locally, law enforcement officials, other up [the Blue Line] regardless of same issues [aggression toward the poand officers, feel they garner an even everybody--you see things; you don’t whether the officer is wrong or not – lice] come up,” Salazar said. “We did see things. Just because there is video, THAT IS NOT TRUE! Our first duty have, a few months ago, a local group higher average of respect. that started out as a Black Lives Matter, “I know with the national media doesn’t mean it tells the whole story, is to protect the public. going on, at times we get lumped into about everything.

“I can say that over the years the of- that were getting ready to plan a march.

“I think a lot of times there is a the spotlight. The things I see in our ficers and deputies that have gone over But, we met with their organizers, becommunity are a lot different,” said generalization with law enforcement the line, or have done something that fore they did that, and we sat down and Kings County Sheriff David Robinson. that we’re all working together to do they should not have done, have been talked with them. We opened up some lines of communication.

“We do a lot of community events and bad things to people. That’s what peo- dealt with properly.”

“And, that was very important, I the feedback we get in our community, ple have told me, sometimes. I’ve heard “It’s like any other job,” Robinson from the people, is that there is a lot of that from people that I know – even added. “You have people at times, at dif- think, to understanding where they childhood friends, ferent levels of severity – violate policy, were coming from and what their consupport, and they are sometimes. very receptive to the or violate the law. And I know, through cerns were. Their concerns really weren’t “I used to get upthings that we’re doing. my years in law enforcement, and with local, it was more about what was hapset by it, but I don’t “That’s not to say the department, that it has always been pening nationally, and being part of that anymore. Because, I dealt with – not just under my adminis- conversation. We now meet with that that somebody doesn’t know me. And, I know tration, but even prior administrations, group rather frequently. complain about us, or the people who I work it was always dealt with and it’s dealt “You certainly have your First to us, but in comparwith. And, I know the with at different levels – through addi- Amendment rights to do that [protest], ison to a lot of other people in this depart- tional training, and termination. but our hope is that you express that agencies outside of ment. Serve – that’s California and to some And, it’s not just rookie mis- and do it safely – but more importantwhat we do. And, takes, he said. ly is that we start a dilarger agencies overall – I know if there is a alogue. If you believe I think we have a great “No, experienced problem and someone deputies sometimes,” there is a problem, or relationship with our comes in, it’s going to an issue, especially with community.” he said. “There are be handled.

It’s going us, we need to start the Robinson said Kings County Sheriff David challenges within this to be dealt with – with job that sometimes the dialogue, because that he judges his agency’s Robinson respect and professionis where we’ll make positive community stress level pushes peoalism, by the people here. progress. And, I think relationship from a low total of two ofple to do things that “In the sheriff’s department, we you wouldn’t normally that’s happened. And, ficial complaints made against the dehave a lot of support here in the comso they learned a lot partment during 2015, and none so far see somebody do. Alabout us, and we’ve this year. He also feels that while Mea- munity. I don’t go a day without some- cohol sometimes plays learned about where sure K, a measure that would accept a one coming up to me, shaking my hand a role – drinking on and saying ‘thank you for your service.’ that movement comes ½ cent sales tax throughout the county the job, showing up from, and they ended benefitting public safety--including fire And, it comes from all kinds of people – to work drunk, drivup not doing a march, departments--fell short of passing, it kids will come up and hug me. ing drunk on duty. It’s Visalia Police Chief Jason Salazar “But, I will not say that nothing at they ended up holding did receive close to the 66.67% needed happened – but it gets a prayer vigil instead. for passing with 66.29% in June, and a all has changed, because it has. If I am dealt with. driving down the street [while on pa“And, they prayed really for the slightly smaller, 65.23%, unofficially, in “From the department administratrol] and, if I see an African American the November election. tive perspective, we want to see that we communities they feel have been affect“When you have a community that young man, or young lady, they will give deal with it swiftly. But then, also from ed by the issue, they prayed for police, is willing to [nearly] vote in a tax to sup- me a look. And, it’s like a, ‘why are you the employee perspective, that is, they they prayed our nation and healing in port public safety – I think that says a lot looking at me,’ kind of thing. But, it’s have an issue. We try to get them the general. That’s been our experience with about the organization and public safety not just them, it’s everybody really.” help that they need. And, sometimes it it and I think it’s a positive thing.”

Ellis went on to say that every ofSalazar said that he believes that as a whole in Kings County,” he said. results in termination, depending upon ficer has a whole set of experiences the severity, but sometimes it doesn’t there is little racial tension or police result in termination, but it results in brutality questions within Visalia, and Better or Worse Than 10 or 20 all his own.

“My experience is not the same as discipline that includes some type of certainly not any recent addition to it.

Years Ago? other deputies or other police officers treatment plan.”

“I think nationally there’s been, and While officer respect seems to reexperiences – White and Black. My exAnother Point of View main high in the county, some changes POLICE continued on 11 » periences are my experiences. And, in Nancy Vigran

17 November, 2016

Valley Voice • 11

Self-Help Enterprises Launches Path to Homeownership Program Staff Reports Homeownership is a dream most families share. It’s also one of the most important decisions and the largest purchase families are likely to make. To help families navigate housing options and turn this dream into a reality, Self-Help Enterprises, a HUD certified counseling agency, has launched The Gateway: Your Pathway to Homeownership program, an improved homeownership education program.

Serving as a “one-stop” for families looking to start their housing search or to access one of Self-Help Enterprises’ homeownership programs, Self-Help Enterprises’ homeownership counselors will walk families through the different types of mortgage rates, the effect credit scores have on being approved for a loan, how much down payment is needed for purchase, and how much home is affordable. A tailored action plan will then be developed to assist families in achieving their financial homeownership goals.

Individuals and families will participate in an in-person or online homeownership education class, available in English and Spanish. The homeownership education course covers key topics including: • Importance of Credit • The Mortgage Process • Working with a Realtor • The Purchase Process • Mortgage and Down Payment Assistance Programs • Affordable Housing Opportunities Homebuyers who take this class have a better understanding of the process, ask smarter questions, and make better informed decisions.

To get started, prospective homebuyers will need to contact Self-Help Enterprises via phone at (559) 651-1000 or via email at gateway@selfhelpenterprises.org. An initial counseling appointment will be scheduled and a $50 fee will

Police

Continued from p. 10 as everyone is aware what’s happening.

We’ve certainly brought attention to what some of those issues are. But, have we seen a change in behavior between the police and the community here – no. It’s something that we pay attention to and we try to be sensitive to. We try to understand and to make sure that in the things that we do, we take all of that into account. And really, I think if you really practice community policing and you practice service, integrity and respect, and all those things- if you really embrace those philosophies – you’ll tend to avoid some of those issues in the first place.”

The Visalia PD has two advisory boards – a Hispanic advisory board and an African American advisory board, Salazar said. Quarterly meetings are held with each group.

“Those have been good with opening dialogue with those parts of the community, but we are talking about merging it into one community advisory board,” he said. “The Hispanic group has been around for probably 12 years

reserve the appointment. The fee covers a credit report and a portion of the homeownership education class fee. Upon completing an intake form, providing requested documents, and attending the counseling appointment, homebuyers will be enrolled in the homeownership education class.

As part of the Gateway Program, Self-Help Enterprises partners with local municipal governments, realtors and mortgage lenders in an effort to provide a range of homeownership opportunities for families residing in Fresno, Kern, Kings, Madera, Mariposa, Merced, Stanislaus and Tulare County.

Self-Help Enterprises’ housing programs include: • First-Time Homebuyer: Resources and down payment assistance for families looking to become homeowners through

traditional avenues.

• Self-Help Housing: Eight to twelve families are grouped together and help each other build their houses with skilled onsite supervision and guidance of Self-Help Enterprises’ construction staff. “Sweat equity” serves as the down payment and monthly mortgage payment is based on the household’s income.

• Manufactured Housing: Assistance to eligible, first-time homebuyers in purchasing manufactured housing units.

• Housing Rehabilitation: Funding assistance to make important health and safety repairs to a home.

Because our programs provide affordable and stable low-interest loans

for homebuyers, sustainable homeownership has become a reality for many underserved families in the San Joaquin Valley who may not afford a home otherwise.

Together with launching The Gateway program, Self-Help Enterprises has been designated a NeighborWorks ® Homeownership Center. This designation assists Self-Help Enterprises with resources and coordination essential for delivering comprehensive, high quality homeownership services and expanding homeownership opportunities in the San Joaquin Valley.

To date, Self-Help Enterprises’ housing programs has resulted in successful homeownership for over 24,000 hardworking families.

For more information about SelfHelp Enterprises, visit www.SelfHelpEnterprises.org.

or so – and it’s just different community leaders – a lot of them have been around for a long time. And, then on the African American Advisory board – we had an officer who retired, who’s African American, and he reached out to different parts of the community that he was familiar with. That kind of branched out a little bit, so we’ve got probably around 15 people, and it’s a very diverse group.

It’s a good opportunity for them to talk with us, and about how we handle some of the issues here in Visalia.”

protests that have gained national media attention, there’s a common theme. And the common theme isn’t Black or White, or Hispanic– the common theme is that the suspect has dictated the actions of the deputy, or the officer. And, the common theme also includes that that person failed to obey the commands that they were given.

that is what the law says. We can give a lawful order and the person is supposed to follow it, or they are in violation – and if they don’t follow that, then the police have to step it up to another level, and sometimes it can result into what just looks horrendous in the news media.

“And while I agree, it is sad to see, if people would cooperate with the commands of the police, it would go a long way to quell these instances that occur.

Question it later – we have a court process – we have a process by which they can file a complaint. They can file civil action against us. So, the biggest thing to the community is – if a police officer or deputy sheriff gives you an order – follow the order, and then sue us later. Take it up with the courts – file complaints – do everything you can through the legal process, rather than take the chance of escalating it to another level where somebody gets physically harmed.”

Size of Protesting

“In California there’s 38 million people and when you look at a Black Lives Matter march, or protest, or riot that has occurred in LA or Oakland – it’s generally hundreds to maybe a thousand people involved,” Robinson said. “And, when you’re talking 38 million people in the State of California – that tells me something, well, hey, yeah there’s a group of people that are upset about how they perceive the way that law enforcement treats them. But, there’s a large group of people that feels that their law enforcement protects their community.

“And, in the vast majority of the

Obeying Commands

“I do think that that has changed a lot in the course of our careers – not that we always didn’t have people who just didn’t follow directions,” Robinson said, “but I do think that in our society, there has been this movement in questioning authority – and values and morals in your upbringing, and looking at those things in our youth community to see that those things are still instilled in them. So, that way as they grow, they understand what authority figures are.

“I think that is one of the big changes that we have seen, is that in our youth movement, there is more of that questioning everything and questioning authority. In certain circumstances, where the police have a duty to respond, or a duty to act, or react - we’re trying to give an authoritative command – because

This is part one of a two-part series.

The Valley Voice would like to thank Visalia Police Chief Jason Salazar, Kings County Sheriff David Robinson, and Kings County Sheriff Deputy 2 Darrin Ellis for the time they afforded these articles.

12 • Valley Voice

17 November, 2016

Tulare Hospital Board Challengers Win Races, Define Plans Tony Maldonado Two of Tulare’s contentious races finally came to a close on election night: Kevin Northcraft and Mike Jamaica came out ahead of their incumbent opponents, Sherrie Bell and Laura Gadke, in the Tulare Local Healthcare District election.

Northcraft and Jamaica came in with 65.95% and 63.04% of the vote, respectively, according to vote results released on November 11.

County elections officials have said that they still need to sort through tens of thousands of ballots countywide before they can produce certified, final results.

They were supported by Citizens for Hospital Accountability, a Tulare-based group that organized opposition to the district’s failed Measure I bond proposition, and is also currently seeking to unseat another board member, Dr. Parmod Kumar, through a recall process.

The directors-elect believe that the momentum from Measure I may have helped their bids for hospital board.

“I do believe that the Measure I [voters] did carryover to this, seeing how they voiced their opinion very strongly in the first measure, and they voiced their opinion now, through this election,” Jamaica said.

The First Thing We Do…

The two won’t be taking their oaths until the first Friday in December, pending final results, but they’ve already got key points they’re going to focus on once they get in: both would like to obtain independent legal counsel for the district, ensure improvements in quality, get doctors to return, and restore the hospital’s image.

“I walked the districts, and that was a concern of the voters out there,” Jamaica said, speaking about the quality of care.

“They’d like to see our hospital come back to what it used to be.”

“I think for years, when you have a good running hospital, people kind of ignore the administrative elected part of it,” Northcraft said. “Obviously the controversy and this horrendous contract that was signed has raised everybody’s interest level, and hopefully it will continue.

“We’re a big enough city — we need a quality hospital for our use, for our children, our grandchildren, for guests that come visit us, for travelers passing through. That’s a very big thing to the quality of life in Tulare, to have that hospital operating well, openly, fiscally prudent, and providing the quality we all should expect of our own hospital.”

And though Jamaica and Northcraft would only be a two-person bloc on the board, they don’t believe their goals would go unachieved, or ignored, by the rest of the board.

“To me, I think it’ll just depend on what’s on the table — what’s being discussed,” Jamaica said, “and how we would approach it. Maybe somewhere down the line one of them, or maybe both of them might switch over, seeing as how the citizens spoke loud and clear: they’d like some transparency and some accountability.”

“I think both Linda [Wilbourn] and Richard [Torrez] are people with integrity, and we now have two elections that two-thirds of the people say ‘we’re going in the wrong direction’,” Northcraft said.

“If they care about our community, they

should be open to looking at some new direction for it, and we certainly want to work with them to the extent possible.

“We certainly haven’t closed off the option that some of the existing board members will agree with at least some of the points that we’re going to be raising.”

No Plans to Change – Except the Contract

One of the concerns raised by supporters of Northcraft, Jamaica, and Citizens for Hospital Accountability, centers around a non-disparagement clause in the Management Services Agreement, one of the contracts between Healthcare Conglomerate Associates (HCCA) — the company that runs Tulare Regional Medical Center — and the Tulare Local Healthcare District.

“Neither the District nor its Governing Body shall (nor cause or encourage others to) disclose confidential or negative information regarding, or take any action or omit to take any action that is materially detrimental to the reputation of [… HCCA] or any of the other Manager Parties, or make any statements, verbally, in writing, or otherwise that defame, disparage or in any way criticize the personal or business reputation, practices, or conduct of [HCCA], or of the other Manager Parties, to anyone other than Manager’s Chief Executive Officer.”

The clause goes on to state that negative information may be discussed within board meetings, legal and governmental proceedings, but that the prohibition extends to conversations with press, bondholders, industry analysts, competitors, strategic partners, vendors, past/present employees and clients.

Northcraft, Jamaica and the Citizens for Hospital Accountability group, have all been critical of HCCA in ways that would likely be considered “materially detrimental” to the company’s reputation. They say that won’t change, no matter what the contract says.

“I think we have a responsibility to the electorate, and a constitutional right to free speech, so I’m not planning on observing that condition that was made by a prior board,” Northcraft said. “And it’s going to be up to be up to HCCA […] to determine whether or not they want to cancel the contract based on that.”

“I think we should be entitled to voice our opinions, and also see if that contract can be somehow amended or go back and revise it to see if we can’t get a better salary amount for HCCA, instead of paying this excessive amount,” Jamaica said. “I’m sure a lot of cities the size of this population aren’t paying their CEOs $3 million a year to run their hospital.”

“Especially when it’s never had any experience in doing it,” Northcraft added.

Both said that one of the goals of hiring independent legal counsel is to ensure that the district is getting the most benefit out of its arrangement with HCCA — including a provision that would bar those currently employed by HCCA from returning to work at the district should it choose to manage TRMC on its own again.

“We want our employees to not feel intimidated, not feel they have to be politically involved to keep their jobs — only competency in the healthcare field should be the determining factor for them to keep their jobs,” Northcraft said.

Kevin Northcraft and Mike Jamaica, two Tulare Local Healthcare District directors-elect.

Tony Maldonado/Valley Voice

What’s Your Plan For The Tower?

The Citizens for Hospital Accountability group, which Jamaica and Northcraft support, was originally started to oppose the Measure I bond — their opposition, the group said, was due to the board’s leadership and HCCA’s involvement, but not to a bond overall.

“We’ve got a lot of different options.

We should look at all our assets, all our revenue sources, all the grants and loans that are available,” Northcraft said. “I think even staging it — I don’t know if that makes sense, but we haven’t looked at it. We shouldn’t close out any options until we thoroughly look at it, and then we’ll work with citizens to make sure we’re doing the thing they feel is appropriate.

“Nobody’s in disagreement: we need that tower finished, open, and operating as soon as possible.”

“The citizens of our community — that’s their [the community’s] big concern,” Jamaica said.

“I think a new bond would be a last option. They [Northcraft’s opponents] did a trick that wasn’t very honest, but it was strategic — we only got one-third support for a bond, so let’s make our opponents look like the bond people, and us being anti-bond,” Northcraft said.

Northcraft was referring to mailers sent out that emphasized a statement he made at the Tulare Candidates’ Forum, in which he said that while a bond may not be needed, the community would support one as a final resort, if done in a manner that included community input.

Promotional graphics from the Bell campaign were produced and promoted that stated “No Bond No New Taxes” and also quoted Northcraft’s remarks.

HCCA’s Ready to Welcome – They’re Ready to Go

For its part, hospital officials are ready to welcome the two with open arms, and thanked the incumbents for their service in a statement provided to the Voice, by its public relations department.

“We thank President Sherrie Bell and Laura Gadke for their tireless contributions to the TLHCD board and are appreciative of their courage and dedication to steadfastly act in the best interests of our District. Kevin Northcraft and Mike Jamaica join a hard working board which will continue to serve the healthcare needs of our community,” a statement from the hospital read.

“And just like during the campaign, we have an open invitation to our newly elected board members to come and visit us at the hospital and see firsthand the amazing accomplishments that have taken place over the past three years and the roadmap to accomplishing our goal of creating a truly healthier Tulare,” the statement continues.

Jamaica and Northcraft stated that they want to work with the entire community — those who voted for them and those who voted against them — because all parties involved want the same thing: high-quality care and a quality hospital.

“We are honored, but we have a huge responsibility to fix this,” Northcraft said. “That’s what [the voters] have told us to do, and that’s what they’ve given us support to do, and it’s on our shoulders to get us done.”

Laura Gadke declined a request for an interview. A request for comment from the Sherrie Bell campaign was not returned by press time.

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Valley Voice • 13

Viewpoint

The High Calling of Teaching Winslow Myers

Post-election shock has invited many of us to look within. What might have been our own role in this extraordinary outcome? I hope having been a teacher for 40 years gives me sufficient credibility to address my own profession. Many teachers are underpaid and asked to do too much, but that’s not where my concerns lie at this anxious moment.

Whatever else it means, this election surely denotes a landmark failure to help our citizenry learn to think independently—the difficult job of our benighted teachers. Voting did not break along class lines that would indicate that those with fewer educational opportunities were more susceptible to demagoguery and lies. Forty-two percent of all women—all women!— voted for a serial sexual assaulter, an over-promiser in an empty suit, upon whom we now must project our best wishes, for his successes and failures will be ours, up to and including the prevention of nuclear war.

I was privileged to graduate from a top-ranked private high school and university. These two “elitist” institutions had one thing in common: they put together the best teachers with small groups of students in a circle, encouraging the dialogue to become, at its best, student-led.

Educational research demonstrates the counterintuitive fact that we learn to think autonomously, expand our worldviews, and temper our judgments by speaking. And thus the counterpart to speaking, listening, also becomes a sacred act in the classroom. So much teaching is debased simply by teachers slipping into a lifetime of being in love with their own voice, with student cynicism the awful consequence—cynicism that leads ultimately to making debased choices in the voting booth.

I had a colleague who could not have cared more deeply for his charges—except that he pretty much undermined his own authenticity by asking a question, waiting two beats, three beats—but not long enough for the students to believe he really wanted to know their thoughts. After silence hung in the air for a few seconds, he would inevitably answer his own question. It was just easier. Soon enough students were content to remain silent if that was what he wanted, and his classes, year after year, became permanently univocal.

Early in my career I myself believed I was a mediocre teacher, precisely because I had had such remarkable models at the institutions from which I had graduated. But that forced me back upon myself. What did it mean to teach well, and what was worth knowing?

What gradually helped me improve were two things: first, appreciating at the heart level the fundamental interaction through which a teacher awakens the mind of a student, deepening the teacher’s readiness for further, ever-richer relationships with students and with the infinite body of collective wisdom and hard-won truth. This led me to set up my physical teaching space in the same kind of circle, as opposed to a lectern and desks in rows, I had experienced in my own education.

Second was my encounter with what is now being called “deep history,” the scientific story of the 13.8 billion year development of the universe—the story we all share.

From the natural coherence of that story I began to sense that however much the departmentalization of knowledge had given the world by way of dissection into chewable bits, there was a crying need for students to see the vast spectrum of knowledge in a larger context of a single great unfolding, a new way to apprehend all

knowledge, the whole of history, scientific endeavor, the arts. From that perspective the widest artificial gap of all had become the divide between the scientific and the humanistic, what Stephen Jay Gould mistakenly called “non-overlapping magisteria.”

In the classroom or in the great world beyond it, is the search for truth exemplified by the scientific method so different from Socratic dialogue as practiced in the humanities? Are such questions as “how does the chemical process of photosynthesis work?” and “what is Robert Frost trying to say in his poems about spring?” entirely “non-overlapping ”? Pregnant, endlessly searchable mystery hangs equally over these “separate” realms of knowledge.

Teachers provide the initial role-models, after parents, for what it feels like to be a sensitive, independent, fair, thinking and feeling citizen engaged in a sincere search for truth.

Teachers can lead students into skepticism about bunkum, but only by authentic, not instrumental, encounters between themselves and their constituents. The needed skills are endlessly perfectible and challenging; there is no final arrival.

Take for example the essential skill of leading a discussion about any aspect of our current national political scene—our original sin of slavery, the uses and misuses of great power, if or how America is an exceptional nation, bias in the news. To bring it off without betraying one’s private preferences while encouraging the civil engagement of diverse points of view can never be easy. But not to have the discussion at all out of fear of what might go awry is a tragic reinforcement of the ignorance that oozed out not just on Election Day but overflows from our whole gridlocked, venal and science-averse political culture.

How different might our recent history have been if Henry Kissinger had had a history professor who taught him to see the truth of the thousand-year enmity between Vietnam and China, dispelling the simplistic nature of the “domino theory” in favor of the Jefferson-admiring nationalism of Ho Chi Minh? If the ethical context of Nixon’s Quaker background had sunk in more deeply? If George Bush or Dick Cheney had taken in something in college about the Middle East and the fraught record of the colonial powers in that region since World War 1? If the Fox News folks had been educated to the ever-unreachable but always worthy ideal of objectivity over ratings-based partisanship? And yes, if someone at Wellesley had touched Hillary Clinton’s heart deeply enough to give her from the outset an instinctive sense of what ethical shortcuts to avoid?

The sacred encounter of teacher and student, where teachers hope they can set students on their way toward both self- and teacher-surpassing , replicates the interdependence of all growing, evolving, blossoming life, and even points toward the ideal of ideals, what Martin Luther King Jr. called “the beloved community.” That the United States produced a teacher, for he was that as much as preacher, on King’s level is one exceptionalism we can claim with pride. King taught us well by making connections across race in the basis of constitutional rights, and, not long before he was martyred, by dispelling the illusion that grinding poverty at home and racist wars abroad were “non-overlapping magisteria.”

Teaching at its best is true servant leadership. Servant leadership on behalf of an inclusive beloved community is what we admired in King—servant leadership into which we can only hope our new president will grow.

Demographics May Favor Democrats - Someday James A. Haught For years, researchers have predicted that changing U.S. demographics -- the rising tide of Hispanics, blacks, Asians, Pacific islanders, city-dwellers, educated women and young people who don’t attend church -- will create an unbeatable majority for the Democratic Party.

Well, it didn’t quite happen in 2016.

Hillary Clinton won the popular vote among all stripes of Americans -but whites, especially fundamentalists, tipped the electoral majority to Donald Trump. Exit polls said 81 percent of white evangelicals chose Trump.

How long can the GOP keep winning as a mostly-white party? In the future, Census Bureau projections foresee a relentless “browning of America” -and most of the minorities tend to vote Democratic.

By 2040, minorities will pass 50 percent, and traditional European whites will become a minority in America (al-

though they will continue to control most wealth and power).

Conservative columnist George Will says Republicans are wrong to depend on the “kamikaze arithmetic of white nationalism.” He wrote: “Arizona whites have gone from 74 percent to 54 percent of the population in 25 years; minorities will be a majority there by 2022. Texas minorities became a majority in 2004; whites are now 43 percent of the population. Nevada is 52 percent white and projected to be majority-minority in 2020. Georgia is 54 percent white, heading for majority-minority in 2026. … In 2016, Republicans won a ruinous triumph that convinced them that they can forever prosper by capturing an ever-larger portion of an ever-smaller portion of the electorate.”

Researcher Steve Phillips wrote a book titled “Brown is the New White: How the Demographic Revolution Has Created a New American Majority.”

Minority people -- often treated as

outsiders -- generally have liberal, progressive, humane values and tend to support the Democratic Party. Their relentless increase helps Democrats. But they often don’t vote.

Author Phillips says the Democratic Party could secure a strong, permanent, national edge if it focused more money and energy on recruiting minority voters through low-cost, door-to door personal contact.

He outlined this strategy in a New York Times analysis titled “How to Build a Democratic Majority that Lasts.”

Churchless Americans who say their religion is “none” have become the largest single bloc in the Democratic Party base. They’re growing steadily, and now are the nation’s biggest faith category.

The Public Religion Research Institute says “nones” have reached 25 percent of the adult population, outstripping Catholics (21 percent) and white evangelicals (16 percent). They’re destined to increase more, because 39 percent of adults un-

der 30 have no church affiliation.

Unfortunately, the churchless are poor voters. Evidently they shun politics as much as they shun religion. A quarter of them aren’t even registered to vote. In the 2012 election, when they comprised 20 percent of U.S. adults, they were only 12 percent of voters. In 2016, as one-fourth of the populace, they were 15 percent of voters, according to Pew Research.

Will all these varied minorities someday constitute a Democratic powerhouse? I hope so. But remember, groups aren’t monolithic. Some blacks, Hispanics, educated women, agnostics and the like voted for Trump (only God knows why).

The tide of demographic change is unstoppable. Eventually, I hope, Democrats may become an inclusive “rainbow” party with better chances for success. It almost happened in 2016. As losers say in sports, Wait til next time.

14 • Valley Voice

17 November, 2016

Comments & Letters

“Take Stock of Our Negligence to Love and Forgive Others”

Jovita Harrah Eleven months ago, people all over the world was celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ. We watched Jesus “grow up” by reading the bible and knowing His story.

We saw him mature from a child to an adult, taking his responsibilities seriously and actually doing things like healing the sick; teaching people the things they should be doing to help each other, and setting a good example of following the commands of God, our Heavenly Father. He grew up recognizing the injustices that was taking place and doing all he can to denounce them and to correct them. We witnessed all of this in his death and resurrection, as we participated in that “cycle of Salvation.”

But the million-dollar question is; “did we grow up.”

Have we grow up to be a prophet like He did, in denouncing the evil among us: racism, endless wars, militaristic domination and empire building?

Have we grow up to become the priest we were baptized to be: as healers - spiritually and physically – of the poor and outcast among us?

Have we grow up to be a king: providing for his subjects needs (the poor and homeless); justice and solidarity?

Our answers may have played a big part in this past November elections: i.e. did we grown up to vote as a faithful citizen or as a partisan; to vote our consciousness, or to vote for the “lesser of the two evils”; to vote for love and forgiveness/mercy and expel the desire for revenge, power or status? Or have we grown up to be “Gods” determining the nature of evil, or which life is valuable and matters?

This November-election was an opportunity to take stock of ourselves and figure out how we have grown and how we can grow to make the rest of our lives count for something!

It is time to take stock of our negligence to love and forgive (have mercy) others and our unparallel desire for revenge in the face of the death penalty issue and the other evils mentioned above.

Let us take stock of how we will provide for the needs of the outcast, the uneducated, the stranger, the refugee, the immigrant, people of different religions and sexual orientations and the needy and minority among us in the face of increased military spending. The challenge for us is to figure out ”how much have we grown?”

This recent national election (11/8/16) was a great opportunity to test that growth by: (1) Putting the words of

Martin Luther King in perspective: “’… that a country that spends most of their money on the military has lost its soul!’”

(2) Heeding the words of Pope Francis: “’ …that the death penalty is not about justice but about revenge’” and, (3) contemplate the words of Jesus Christ, ‘that unless we can love and have mercy for others as He has love and mercy for us, we will never be able to enter His Kingdom!’

Ultimately, we must determine whether we have truly grown up like Jesus did, or are we just hedonistic, juvenile people without purpose or humanity!

The good news though, is that next month (12/25/16), the Christ Child will be born among us again, with the opportunity to take part in those rituals of “Salvation,” and a golden opportunity to truly “grow-up”. Let us not waste this opportunity!

Comments from ourvalleyvoice.com

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Southern Inyo Hospital was purchasing medications through Tulare as all vendors for Southern Inyo Hospital were on credit hold. We purchased a lot of medications through Tulare as we had to be up to standards to open our doors! You may want to look into where those medications eventually ended up. Tulare has been providing Southern Inyo Hospital with several things to keep this hospital running. Southern Inyo Hospital can’t afford to order supplies let alone medications.

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— Darla J Oakley on Election Night: Surprise, Confusion, and Delays

— Susan on Documents Show Tulare Hospital Loan Went to Past Due Payments

I made it very clear from the beginning I was an administrator. I also made it clear that we weren’t going to disclose the others because of the personal attacks. I was prepared for it because I experienced it in 2006-2007. I also saw it done to others, the list is long.

The pattern continues with the defamation of Kevin Northcraft.

First, very few were deleted until right after Measure I was defeated when a lot of trolls were popping up and attacking Mr. Northcraft. Prior to that we let Brian Bell go on for months, he called people awful things including calling past board members embezzlers and definitely was attempting to write history. We had numerous requests to ban him but we wanted all people to be heard. Towards the election we put it to a vote and people wanted him deleted. Prior to that there was a Grace Wilbur that was deleted. Even though we were accused of deleting numerous posts that is untrue, we removed posts with cuss words and a few that got very inappropriate.

Our intent was to allow free community dialog. We also set out a goal to put forward truthful documents, historical and current. Our desire was that the community would educate themselves and then make their own informed decision.

Our group of citizens began meeting in February. Some of us didn’t even know each other. We had many different concerns, not all the same. There are usually 30 people meeting weekly with only one goal – having a PUBLIC hospital that we can have trust in. No one wants it to close, just the opposite. We want a vibrant healthcare community.

The reason I got involved was the unprecedented decision to interfere with the Medical Staff leadership. My intent is not to reinstate anyone, other than knowing Dr. Betre as the Chief of Staff I couldn’t tell you who comprised the Medical Executive Committee.

But I believe strongly in the sanctity of their elected body and their process.

As a past board member I have no desire to be on the board or attempt to run the

To those who are afraid of Trump being elected: he offers help for the family. He only will deport those immigrants who are hiding here illegally and committing crimes here. He does not want to split families. People have the complete wrong ideas. He is not racist. He does want AFFORDABLE healthcare. Obama Care is not affordable as it could be.

board from behind the scenes. Nor do any of the other past board members. But as a past board member I have a difference of opinion on more than a few things. I also recognize that operationally the hospital is not in a good place. This isn’t personal about HCCA or the board, it is just fact.

I hate that I am part of suing the hospital but the withholding of public records all the while representing a different picture during the Measure I campaign was just wrong.

Can you imagine if the bond would have passed. I spent yesterday afternoon being deposed for 4 1/2 hours by two attorneys that are being paid for by your tax payor dollars and they wanted it filmed. Questions were all over the place to wanting to know if I wanted to close the hospital as well as what doctors are involved with the citizen group.

We have occasional doctors drop by but this is a citizen movement no matter how it is being portrayed otherwise.

The really sad part of your comment is about thinking I have some responsibility to delete comments about nurses. For the hospital to have growth you need the community to support it and for that to even begin to happen there needs to be a humbling to acknowledge there are problems. Without doing this no bond will solve the current problems. In 2005 the occupancy rate was 53% we had to work to grow it to that and it was work. Today the census is dismissal and the CFO is describing it as changing times. Maybe the CFO should explain that to KDDH that is bursting at the seams with people that have admittable diagnoses.

I for one will be glad when this is fixed but we have a ways to go. The recent financial deceit is very concerning. We do this because this is our community, where we live and raise our families. So no matter how much you continue to attack me or others that have a different opinion we are going to move forward. It is our hospital!

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— Deanne Martin-Soares on UPDATED: Surprises Continue at October Tulare Hospital Board Meeting

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The bottom line is at least two members misrepresented (politically correct way to say lied) the facts about the loan when they approved it. Kumar, Wilbourn both talked about the line of credit, which it is not. KUMAR blatantly mislead the public when he said that the board would publicly approve the expenditure of said funds. The FACTS show bank already had instructions to wire funds to Cardinal Pharmacruticals prior to board approval. Could it be Benzoovi keeping information from the board? None can be trusted. On this issue alone Kumar must be recalled.

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— Jack on Tulare Hospital’s $800K Loan Went to Past Due Payments

Use your voice Comment on our website or email editor@ourvalleyvoice.com

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TT: I would not judge Kumar’s competency as a doctor in a peanut gallery.

As far as I know, he has done a lot for patients over last 20 years and I have great respect for him in that context.

But it is not his medical competency that we have in focus. It is his position in board and his use of that position to enrich himself and serve his personal vendetta against other doctors that we have problem with.

He gave away OUR hospital to HCCA. He forced all other doctors to quit working at OUR hospital.

If we can remove him from the board and just keep him as a doctor, we should be content.

For medical side, there are malpractice courts and medical board etc. Let them do their job.

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— Tate Simmons on Tulare Hospital Board Challengers Win Races, Define Path Forward

17 November, 2016

Valley Voice • 15

Comments & Letters

Veteran’s Corner

Trump’s Emerging America

Ruben Macareno

Congratulations, President-Elect Donald J. Trump. He is going to “Make America Great Again!” He is surrounding himself with the best of the best to make America a winner again. So much so, as he repeatedly said, we will get tired of winning all the time. What more can we ask for, right?

So why is it that globally, with the exception of Russian President Putin, many are in fear of the emerging America under Trump.

Why is it that nationwide a large number of diverse Americans, from young to old, are protesting on the streets from coast to coast, day after day? Why is it that a large number of Californians would like our state to seriously consider breaking away from the United States?

Or here at home in TulareCounty where locals are looking at complete strangers, neighbors and friends with hesitation and disdain because of the election.

It truly is a sad state of affairs. Some are comparing their after-election emotions to that of 9/11 and days after.

This is not a better America. Never in the history of our country have we seen such an out pour of disenchantment of our Presidential election results.

I was against Mr. Trump from the beginning after he announced a run for the Presidency last year. I didn’t think he was right for America in many ways particularly in temperament, character and integrity. Even the promises he made to his followers, I knew he would flip-flop on those eventually. I felt America needed someone that can bring us together and not apart during these dangerous times we live in.

Many wonder why some voters voted Trump because it just doesn’t make conventional sense. He never gave solid or complete answers to policy questions and offered a meatless agenda; he never turned in his promised tax returns and doesn’t pay taxes; and

offended many groups of people who belong to the communities that their friends, neighbors, customers and perhaps even family members belong to.

Perhaps building that wall between Mexico and the US and having the Mexicans pay for it was attractive to Trump voters, as well as repealing Obamacare on day one of his Presidency, doing away with marriage equality, a women’s right to choose, deporting undocumented immigrants and blocking others from coming in.

Was it his anti-establishment position that won them over regardless of the fact he was part of an establishment that made money off others’ misfortunes; or despite his failed businesses experience they still believe he can bring economic prosperity to our country.

On his way to the Presidency he carelessly attempted to damage several American institutions because at the time they didn’t favor him. He consistently said that the election might be rigged thus questioning the legitimacy of our democracy. He said the FBI was corrupted, then it wasn’t and then it was again. And despite his fraud and sexual assault lawsuits in court Trump voters still supported him even if he never held elected office.

All of this and they still voted for him. So why is what many ask?

Many believe this was an election that Trump charged forward with primarily hate based racism that he knew would attract many white voters.

In TulareCounty and nationwide the majority of Trump voters were overwhelmingly white according to exit polling. Many have shared that they see some differently because they know they voted for Trump or think they did.

The post-election America sees an increase in confederate flags flying and racial tensions particularly against minorities and students teasing and harassing children of color. Trump tapping a White Nationalist to be his White House Chief Strategist doesn’t

help in our race relations.

Although many are saying the Trump voter is racist, which I disagree with, they certainly decided that racism was not a deal breaker in choosing the “lesser of two evils” in the words of some Trump voters. As a result there are wordless tensions at the supermarkets, events, schools and neighborhoods. Where are our local Trump endorsers, Congressman Devin Nunes or Assemblymember Devon Mathis, to reassure citizens that Trump’s emerging America will not run over us?

Many Trump voters have said they voted for Trump because, “He thinks just like us.” This is where it is most disturbing to many of us.

The fact that these voters lowered their standard of integrity and character for the tenant who will occupy the Office of the President and even their own standards of the expectations of the Presidency says a lot about the Trump voter.

So where are we now?

Now that Trump won the election, he no longer cries about a rigged election. He doesn’t call to abolish the Electoral College because he leads Hillary Clinton in those numbers despite the fact that Clinton leads in the popular vote. No more sending Clinton to jail.

Just a week away removed from election night he already pivoted. Instead of abolishing Obamacare he is keeping parts of it. Instead of doing away with same-sex marriage he says it is already dealt with and will leave it as is. Instead of building a wall he will increase border patrol and I could go on and on. It appears that Trump supporters are ok with the flip flopping so far.

Ultimately this election did more than elect Trump president. It showed us a face we never wanted to see, but one we only heard about and preferred not to believe it existed to the extent it does.

Now that you have seen the face, you must to be bold, strong, politically-engaged and vote.

CCM Welcomes Trump Administration to misrepresent the President Elect’s statements.

“Like many in America, we at “He is not against trade, but he California Citrus Mutual were sur- does desire better trade agreements. prised at the outcome of our Nation- He is not against immigration or al election. The election of President immigration reform, but he is for Elect Donald J. Trump and the prom- secure borders. He is for economic ise of a new Administration offers growth and job creation via many hope for a more balanced approach pathways. We in California agriculon environmental regulations, water ture believe the oppressive regulatory policy and, yes, immigration reform. environment will improve under the “Too many focused on the nega- Trump Administration. I believe a tive during the campaign and chose more balanced approach to water in-

California Citrus Mutual

frastructure and water creation is in our future.

“He hasn’t built a successful business, run a successful campaign and raised a loyal family by being immune to the environment in which he operates. He struck a chord that America responded to. I think President Elect Trump will be a President for all America and will create paths that will make us great again.”

Comments from ourvalleyvoice.com

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I would like to thank wholeheartedly the voters of District 1 for their faith in me and my vision for the district.

I was humbled by the overwhelming support and I look forward to getting to work after I get sworn in on December 6th.

JOSE SIGALA, Council Member Elect Tulare City Council, District 1

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— Jose Sigala, on Republican Prognosticator Predicts a Trump Win

VA and Social Security Partner to Speed Up Disability Decisions Scott Holwell The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and the Social Security Administration (SSA) launched a new Health IT initiative that enables VA to share medical records electronically with social security disabilty processors. This secure process will save time and money resulting in better service for Veterans and dependents who apply for social security disability benefits. The SSA requests nearly 15 million medical records from health care organizations yearly to make medical decisions on about three million disability claims. For decades, SSA obtained medical records through a manual process.

This new national initiative puts in place an automated process to obtain Veterans’ medical records entirely electronically.

“VA’s partnership with Social Security will ultimately improve the quality of life for Veterans and their dependents by enabling Veterans to share their health information within a safe and secure health-related consumer application,” said Dr. David Shulkin, VA’s Under Secretary for Health.

The joint venture is expected to significantly speed up social security disability decisions, utilizing VA’s VLER Health Exchange under the Virtual Lifetime Electronic Record (VLER) Program. The VLER Health Exchange gives VA and participating community providers the ability to retrieve Veterans’ health information from each other for the purpose of treatment. Currently, VLER Health Exchange shares health data with over 79 community health care partners, representing 775 Hospitals, 427 Federally Qualified Health Centers, 142 Nursing Homes, 8441 Pharmacies and over 11,969 Clinics. The SSA now has access for the purpose of processing benefits for Veterans and their dependents.

“This SSA-VA partnership is another example of VA’s leadership in interoperability efforts among federal partners,” said VA Secretary, Robert McDonald.

“Increasing federal partnerships to improve operation and resource coordination across agencies is among VA’s 12 Breakthrough Priorities for 2016.”

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, call or visit our office. We can and will assist you in completing all required application forms. You can get information on the Web from the Kings County Veterans Service Office webpage at www.countyofkings.com/vets.

Scott Holwell, retired Navy Master Chief Petty Officer, is the Veterans Service Officer for Kings County. Send your questions to the Veterans Service Office, 1400 W. Lacey Blvd, Hanford, CA 93230; call (559)852-2669; or e-mail scott.holwell@ co.kings.ca.us.

16 • Valley Voice

17 November, 2016

Self-Help Enterprises Celebrates Opening of New Apartment Community Staff Reports Self-Help Enterprises and the City of Visalia are pleased to announce grand opening of the Highland Gardens apartment rental community. Highland Gardens features 36 two- and three-bedroom apartments as well as a half-court basketball court, playground, community center, and community garden where residents can grow fruits and vegetables.

The community center will provide a location to conduct after school programs, ESL classes, and financial literacy workshops, among other resident services.

The on-site computer lab will offer computer classes and the computers will also be available to adults and children for school work and educational activities. In conjunction with the community garden, Self-Help Enterprises will coordinate other health education opportunities on-site, including Zumba (and other exercise opportunities), prevention screenings, and healthy cooking classes Highland Gardens also features green building practices designed to foster a sustainable future for the residents and community. Green features include Energy Star® appliances, solar PV, water conservation components, and solar carports that will generate renewable energy, lowering utility costs for residents and providing shaded parking.

The design of Highland Gardens, located between Riggin and Ferguson Avenues, minimizes the need for motorized transportation. Key services and amenities are located within walking distance, including Fairview Elementary School, Fairview Village Park, Visalia Health Care

Center, Food 4 Less and Vallarta supermarkets, bus lines, and pharmacies.

Monthly net rents, ranging from $366 to $830, are determined based on family size and income. By offering low monthly rents, Self-Help Enterprises and the City of Visalia are providing an affordable housing opportunity that will serve the needs of hardworking, low-income families.

Highland Gardens, the first rental project in Visalia for Self-Help Enterprises, is among 28 affordable apartment rental communities operated by Self-Help Enterprises throughout eight counties in the San Joaquin Valley.

To apply for an apartment, families can call 559-651-2579. Applications are also available in person at Goshen Village I - 30940 Road 72 in Goshen.

Additional project support provided by California Tax Credit Allocation Committee, Wells Fargo Bank, NeighborWorks America®, the California Community Reinvestment Corporation, and the Central Valley Regional Foundation.

Ashwood Construction, Inc. served at the general contractor.

About Self-Help Enterprises Self-Help Enterprises (SHE) is a nationally recognized community development organization whose mission is to work together with low-income families to build and sustain healthy homes and communities. The pioneer and leading provider of mutual self-help housing in the United States, SHE’s efforts today encompass a range of efforts to build better homes and communities for farmworkers and other hard working families.

Visalia Mayor Steve Nelsen was one of many local dignitaries present at the opening of Self-Help Enterprises’ Highland Gardens apartment complex. Courtesy/SHE

Highland Gardens features green building practices and Energy Star appliances. Courtesy/SHE

Valley Scene

17 November, 2016

12th Annual Holiday Home Tour To Be Held Saturday, December 3 Staff Reports The 12th Annual Holiday Home Tour, featuring decorations, music, desserts and prizes, will be held on Saturday, Dec. 3, from noon to 5pm, and is presented by the Redwood High School Marching Band and Color Guard.

The tour will include several prominent Visalia homes specially decorated for the Christmas/Hanukkah season. Each home will host a small musical ensemble group from the Redwood High School band, which will play holiday favorites.

Each home will also feature holiday decorations and spreads of colorful and delicious hors d’oeuvres and desserts.

The tour begins at Quail Park Retirement Village, 4520 W. Cypress Ave., Visalia (just West of Linwood St.). Ticket cost is $15 before Dec. 3, and $20 at

the door. After purchasing tickets, guests will receive a map with directions to the homes on the tour. Quail Park itself will be decorated, and several local businesses will have booths set up featuring many holiday specials.

Guests will also have the opportunity to purchase tickets for “Tricky Tray” prizes —specially decorated baskets with various gift items. Once guests have experienced all that Quail Park has to offer, they may visit any or all of the homes on the tour.

Tickets may be purchased from Redwood High School Band and Color Guard members; the Redwood High School finance office; White’s Music (corner of Caldwell Ave. and Court St.); and Chelsea Street Boutique (114 E. Main St.). For more information on the Home Tour, visit www.redwoodrangerband.org.

Fernando Alvarez, 16, and his mentor Serena Garcia, 22, at the Boys & Girls Clubs of the Sequoias Gindick Unit. The BGCS was awarded $20,000 to mentor 32 youth from the ages 6-18 years old in Visalia. Boys & Girls Club staff, teens, and volunteers have been identified to serve as advisors to youth who are in need of mentoring. Mentoring consists of program implementation, one on one/group discussions, and modeling positive, supportive relationships. It is required to track their increased positive behaviors. Courtesy/ Johanna Coyne

Boys & Girls Club, Visalia Youth Benefit from $25m Mentoring Grant

The Annual Christmas Tree Auction has raised millions of dollars for local charities over its 35 years of operation. Courtesy/Visalia Chamber of Commerce

‘White Christmas’ 36th Annual Christmas Tree Auction Set for December 9 Staff Reports Generosity and grandeur are combined as the Visalia Chamber of Commerce presents White Christmas – the 36th Annual Christmas Tree Auction – set to kick off Friday, December 9, 2016 at the Visalia Convention Center.

Hosted by the Visalia Chamber of Commerce, the Annual Christmas Tree Auction has become a local holiday tradition. Each year more than 1000 people dressed in their finest holiday attire kick off the season with a giving spirit. The Christmas Tree Auction is the only formal event in the city open to the public. From a live Christmas tree auction to a formal dinner, dancing, and wine tasting this is an event not to be missed.

The Christmas Tree Auction raises money and awareness for amazing non-profit organizations impacting Visalia. More than four million dollars has been raised for local charities over the last 35 years. Underscoring the significance of this annual event, the Christmas Tree Auction is the primary fundraising mechanism impacting the budgets of

participating non-profits. “Kaweah Delta Hospice Foundation is excited to participate in the 36th Annual Christmas Tree Auction. Kaweah Delta Hospice Foundation uses the Christmas Tree Auction as its major fundraiser for the year. The Chamber hosted event saves us the time and labor of doing our own event, so that we are able to concentrate our efforts on getting our donors to donate.” stated Barbara Mayeda, Chairman of the Christmas Tree Auction committee.

Volunteers are planning decorations for 20 Christmas trees to be auctioned off live the night of the event. Additionally, that evening silent auction items, including small Christmas trees will benefit the following local charities: Bethlehem Center CASA of Tulare County Daughters of Hope Deaf & Hard of Hearing Service Center El Diamante High School Class of 2017

AUCTION continued on 24 »

In 2015, $25 million was awarded to the Boys & Girls Clubs of America by the National Mentoring Programs. Funded by the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), Office of Justice Programs (OJP), Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP), monies were provided for the mentoring of at-risk and high-risk Boys & Girls Club members nationwide, including American Indian, Alaskan Native and Hawaiian Native youth; military-connected youth; and youth at high risk for gang involvement or delinquency.

The Boys & Girls Clubs of the Sequoias was awarded $20,000 to mentor 32 youth from the ages 6-18 years old in Visalia.

Boys & Girls Club staff, teens, and volunteers have been identified to serve as advisors to youth who are in need of mentoring. Mentoring consists of program implementation, one on one/group discussions, and modeling positive, supportive relationships. It is required to track their increased positive behaviors each month.

Fernando Alvarez, 16, used to not care about getting good grades, felt frustrated so he gave up. He was shy, worried about what other kids thought of him, hung around with a questionable crowd.

Last year he started meeting with Serena Garcia, 22, a staffer at the Boys & Girls Club of the Sequoias at the Gindick Unit in Visalia. With Serena, he has someone to talk to, she has a similar background.

Fernando said, “Having someone to talk to helps me to work through problems and decide what I choose to do matters.”

Almost a year later, Fernando said “I realized good grades were important to prove to myself I could do it.”

He’s now a sophomore at Mt. Whitney High School, taking Math 2, English

Staff Reports 2, Biology, History and Weight Training as well as Intro to Engines. He’s getting A’s, a B, with a couple of C’s where he used to have only D’s and F’s for grades.

He has confidence in himself, and is looking for a part-time job. Another battle Fernando fought was losing 70 pounds.

His favorite class is Weight Training class for the feeling he gets from working out.

He plans to go to college, maybe studying real estate. He says “I’m a good talker”, so feels sales would be a good area for him.

The mentoring helped him with anger issues, dealing with feelings of frustration from difficult people, and living with family as well. He is looking towards his future, to be independent. Fernando says, “Don’t let life control you, take control of your own life.” “Do what you feel is right, don’t pay attention to what people say.”

Serena motivated Fernando to improve his grades by telling him how important good grades are and to avoid having regret later on in life from not doing well in school.

Staffer Serena Garcia is studying to be a behavior specialist or high school counselor. She says there are assigned students for mentoring, but “we mentor all of them all the time.” She has seen a tremendous change in the way Fernando acts now from the past year. He used to be standoffish and negative and now people pay attention to his positive behavior. Serena was bullied in middle school and used that experience to help Fernando with his weight issues, his self image. She helped him with family and school problems, his appearance and relationships. She taught him to “keep a positive mindset”. Working with Fernando has made Serena realize she wants to get more involved working with teens.

17November,2016

18 • Valley Voice

HCCA/Tulare Regional Medical Center Earns ACR Accreditation Kaweah Delta Retail Pharmacy Opens to Public in Visalia Staff Reports A new program at Kaweah Delta Medical Center provides prescription delivery to patients and provides the community a retail pharmacy steps from the hospital where people can conveniently get prescriptions filled.

“This is about making sure our patients stay healthy. If they choose our pharmacy, they will have prescriptions in hand before they leave the hospital,” said Dr. James McNulty, Pharmacy Director of Kaweah Delta.

When people who have been in the hos- pital do not fill prescriptions (an estimated 30 percent of patients), there’s a pretty good chance they will be visiting the hospital again, Dr. McNulty said.

Through the program called RXDirect, patients of the hospital can choose to have their medications delivered to their bedside.

The end goal is to make sure patients have the prescriptions they need when they leave the hospital.

Another advantage of the program is

that it offers patients time to visit with a pharmacist to understand why they are taking medications and ask questions about them, said Dr. Sunny Bains, the pharmacist overseeing prescriptions at Kaweah Delta’s Pharmacy.

The pharmacy, open to the public, is open from 9am to 7pm on weekdays and from 9am to 1pm on Saturdays, just outside the hospital on the first floor of 202 W. Willow Ave., Suite 102.

The pharmacy offers automatic refills, prescription refills, and over-the-counter medications.

Dr. Bains was born and raised in Visalia and is a graduate of Golden West High School. He has a Doctor of Pharmacy from the University of the Pacific School of Pharmacy and has worked locally at CVS and Walgreens pharmacies.

“If you don’t take a medication as prescribed, you will not receive the maximum benefit of the medication,” Bains said. “People need to understand how to take their prescriptions and the importance of taking them.”

For more information on the Kaweah Delta Pharmacy, visit www. kaweahdeltapharmacy.org.

HCCA/Tulare Regional Medical Center has been awarded a three-year term of accreditation in computed tomography (CT) as the result of a recent review by the American College of Radiology (ACR). CT scanning — sometimes called CAT scanning — is a noninvasive medical test that helps physicians diagnose and tailor treatments for various medical conditions.

This accreditation marks the fourth concurrent accreditation for Tulare’s Hospital. HCCA/TRMC now has four medical imaging modalities under ACR accreditation; CT, Nuclear Medicine, MRI and Mammography.

“For a facility to earn four con-

Staff Reports current accreditations for its medical imaging modalities is a remarkable accomplishment“, states Duane Iwamura, Director of Medical Imaging, Interventional Radiology and Cardiac Cath Lab. “This achievement is further evidence of the top-notch medical care provided at HCCA/Tulare Regional Medical Center.“ The ACR gold seal of accreditation represents the highest level of image quality and patient safety. It is awarded only to facilities meeting ACR Practice Parameters and Technical Standards after a peer-review evaluation.

Sequoia Prompt Care Now Offering X-Ray Services in East Visalia Patients who are in need of a chest x-ray or believe they have suffered a fracture or a break, can now get care at one location – Sequoia Prompt Care at 1110 S. Ben Maddox, Suite B., in East Visalia.

The clinic’s new radiology suite is an added convenience for people who choose to visit Sequoia Prompt Care for their urgent care needs, said John Leal, manager of Sequoia Prompt Care, a division of Kaweah Delta Health Care District, “This is another step to help our patients save time,” said Leal, noting that x-ray services were added as a result of patient feedback.

Construction on the suite started over the summer and was recently completed.

Sequoia Prompt Care already offers people the following two steps to save them time: • A QuickPass feature that allows them to skip the waiting room by calling 559-624-5800 • A website at http://se-

Staff Reports quoiapromptcare.org that allows them to see wait times for our two locations and choose the shortest wait.

Sequoia Prompt Care provides care for general illnesses and offers everything from physicals to workers’ compensation care.

Patients are seen by a physician, a physician assistant, or a nurse practitioner.

Walk-in patients are welcome. Cash and most insurance are accepted.

For more info on Sequoia Prompt Care, call 559-624-5800. Hours by location are: • 1110 S. Ben MaddoxWay, Suite B. Hours: 9 am to 7pm, weekdays; 10am to 5pm, weekends • 820 W. Akers St., Suite 100 (inside Sequoia Medical Plaza at Akers Street and Cypress Avenue).

Hours: 9am to 7pm, weekdays; 9am to 2pm, weekends

17 November, 2016

Valley Voice • 19

Moody’s Ratings Updates Tulare Hospital’s Bond Outlook to ‘Stable’

A large crowd was present as theSOURCE LGBT+ Center held a ribbon cutting ceremony Wednesday, Nov. 2, 2016. Brian Poth (L), and Nick Vargas prepare to cut the ribbon, while volunteers, staff, and members of the Board of Directors look on.

Moody’s Investor Service has released a rating update for the Tulare Local Health Care District which revises the outlook from negative to stable and affirms the Baa3 rating of the district’s general obligation bonds.

Moody’s Investor Service, one of the world’s three major credit rating agencies, stated the ratings affirmation is indicative of the district’s improved trajectory of financial performance which began in 2014. Since January 2014 Healthcare Conglomerate Associates (HCCA) has managed operations, leading to the district’s achievement of now 30 consecutive months of profitability and higher returns than in the past twelve years.

Moody’s statement that the “continuation of improved financial performance is critical to supporting planned financing for completion of the medical center addition” underscores the extraordinary value of HCCA’s operational and financial expertise to the district and its future.

Moody’s ratings update comes just two months after FITCH Ratings up-

Staff Reports dated Tulare Local Health Care District revenue bonds Rating Watch to Positive.

Since HCCA has come on board in January 2014, Fitch Ratings Rating Watch for TRMC has gone from “negative” to “stable” and now to “positive.”

“The hospital’s dramatic turnaround has now for the fourth time been validated by a national rating service”, states Dr. Benny Benzeevi, Chair of HCCA. “This transformation is unprecedented and a testament to the hard work and dedication of our employees and the effectiveness that stability and professional management have brought to the Tulare Healthcare District”.

HCCA/Tulare Regional Medical Center will continue on its path of financial improvement while keeping its word to our community that we will complete the hospital tower.

The hospital tower will be a state-ofthe-art facility which will house expanded services as part of an integrated health care delivery system.

Bank of the Sierra Announces $19k in Grants Throughout Tulare County Pixley Community Campus Holds addresses the housing and support needs Grand Opening Event & Ceremony Staff Reports Bank of the Sierra announced that a total of $19,000 in grants were awarded through its Sierra Grant program to 6 different non-profit organizations that serve communities in and around Tulare County. 17 total organizations throughout the Bank’s footprint received a total of $63,000 for the 3rd quarter. Each quarter the Bank commonly awards 10 to 20 organizations with grants of $1,000 to $5,000 based on the specific needs of the organization.

National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI)-Tulare County provides advocacy, community education, and family support for those affected by mental illness. With the $2,000 Sierra Grant that NAMI-Tulare County received, they plan to fund a number of new programs and initiatives, including scholarships for mental health conferences, and NAMI in the Schools, which uses education to increase awareness and reduces stigma surrounding mental illness in the schools system.

The Kings/Tulare Homeless Alliance, which received a $2,500 grant, is a community-driven organization that

More than 40 years in Downtown Visalia

of those experiencing homelessness in Kings and Tulare County. The grant will be applied to the group’s Project Homeless Connect, a one-day forum designed to conveniently provide services like ID cards, haircuts, and dental and vision screenings free of cost.

Bank President and CEO, Kevin McPhaill expressed his appreciation for the grant recipients this quarter. “Bank of the Sierra is happy to recognize organizations that help improve the communities we live in, and these organizations were chosen for demonstrating that commitment to their community.”

On Thursday, November 17, 2016, the Pixley Community Campus celebrated its grand opening with a ribbon-cutting ceremony and tours of the facilities.

The campus will be home to a new library branch and a community office offering support and healthcare services to local residents.

The campus was designed to bring these much-needed services to the Pix-

Staff Reports ley community and was made possible by partnerships between the County of Tulare, U.S. Department of Agriculture, The Pixley Foundation, Family HealthCare Network, Community Services Employment Training (CSET), and the Tulare County Library. The public is invited to attend the grand opening celebration.

About the Sierra Grant Program

Since its inception in 2004 the Sierra Grant Program has been responsible for donating over a million dollars to organizations that improve local communities. The grants go toward fostering community services, park preservation, and educational programs. Non-profits who wish to apply for a Sierra Grant can pick up an instructional brochure at any Bank of the Sierra branch, or visit the bank’s web site at www.bankofthesierra. com/resources/sierra_grant_program.

559-734-7079

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Lunch served 12-1 pm

Calendar NOVEMBER Now – December 17: Arts Visalia Holiday Show & Sale Featuring handcrafted gifts and art by some of the Central Valley’s finest artists and craftsmen, just in time for the Christmas shopping season.

First Friday reception on Dec. 3 from 6-8pm. Admission is free. 214 E. Oak St. Visalia. For more information, call (559) 739-0905.

November 17: COS CHAP Presents Professor George Nash 7pm - College of the Sequoias’ Cultural Historical Awareness Program (CHAP) is pleased to present Professor George Nash, independent scholar, historian and lecturer with specialties in twentieth century American political and intellectual history. Nash will speak specifically on the topic of “American Conservatism and the Problem of Populism.”

He speaks and writes frequently about the history and present direction of American conservatism and the lives of Herbert Hoover, Ronald Reagan and the Founding Fathers among other subjects. The event will be held in the Visalia campus, Ponderosa Lecture Hall. All CHAP events are free and open to the public. Parking will be relaxed for the event.

November 17-19: Tulare County Office of Education Theatre Company presents Les Miserables At 7pm - Wednesday - Saturday and one 2pm matinee on Saturday at the LJ Williams Theatre, the TCOE Theatre Company presents Les Miserables. The cast is played by students of many schools throughout the county, as well as homeschooled students. Tickets are $12 for general admission, $20 for reserved seating.

For more information and tickets, visit TCOE offices at 6200 So. Mooney Blvd, or 7000 Doe Ave., Visalia. Or call, (559) 651-1482.

November 18: Computer Class 9:15am—Intro to Microsoft Powerpoint - Tulare Public Library, 475 N. M Street. For more information, call (559) 685-4508.

November 18: Porterville College CHAP Presents Alan Hess 7-8pm - California as Muse: Modern Architecture in the Golden State

by Alan Hess, who is an architect and historian, having authored 19 books on Modern architecture and urbanism in the mid-twentieth cen-

tury. Lecture will be held in the Porterville College Theatre, book-signing will be available.

November 19: Downtown Lemoore Holiday Stroll 3-7pm - Park Downtown Lemoore and take a stroll - holiday cheer, festive decorations, window decorating contest, local holiday entertainment, fire truck rides for the kids, and unique gift ideas from local merchants. For more information, call Downtown Lemoore Merchants Association (559) 924-6401.

November 19: Mighty Oak Chorus - Western Round-Up 5-8pm - First annual fundraising event for the non-profit Mighty Oak Chorus at Ritchie’s Barn. Barbecue tri-tip steak dinner with music by One Nation and the Chorus.

Tickets $15. Tickets and more information, Dee Baughman at 2805715 or Bud Case at 901-4615, or visit visaliamightyoakchorus.org.

$4

Please call 713-4481. Reservations

Monday

Wednesday

Meatloaf with mashed potatoes, gravy, veggies and roll with fruit

2 Chicken and dumplings with carrots, broccoli and celery with green salad and fruit

beans, mashed po-

basmati rice with

1

Sweet treats or fruit will be served daily.

Items on Menu are subject to change.

7 Beef stroganoff with buttered noodles, mixed veggies, roll and fruit

Tuesday

November 2016 Lun 8 Chicken asiago 9 Hawaiian pork with asiago cheese with pineapple and Lunch servedartichokes 12-1 pm $4 sauce with green over

Please calland 713-4481 . Reservations tatoes, roll fruit salad in sesame

Monday 14 Eggplant parme-

Sweet treats or fruit san with layers of will be served daily. eggplant, mozzarelItems on Menu are la and marinara subject to change.

sauce with green salad, garlic bread fruit 7and Beef stroganoff

with butteredpork noo21 Shredded dles, mixed vegand bean tostadas gies, rollshredded and fruit (2) with lettuce, condiments, Mexican cheese, rice and fruit

14 Eggplant parme28 Turkey and prosan with layers of

volone submozzarelsandeggplant, wich with mushla and marinara room soup, chips sauce with green and fruit salad, garlic bread

Meatloaf withreMexican rice, mashed potatoes, fried beans, tortilla gravy, veggies and and fruit roll with fruit

dressing and Hawaiian rolls 216Chicken Chickenand salad on dumplings with carcroissant with rots, broccoli and & cream of broccoli celery with green cheddar soup with salad and fruit fruit chips and

8 Chicken asiago with asiago cheese 22 Lasagna with lay-

9 Hawaiian pork with pineapple 23 Turkey dinnerand

Tuesday 115 Chili verde with

sauce with sauce, green ers of meat beans, mashed pomozzarella and basil with marinara served tatoes, roll and fruit with Caesar salad, garlic bread and fruit

15 Chili verde with 29 chicken enchiladas Mexican rice, rewith shredded chickfried beans, tortilla en and cheese with andsauce, fruit Mexican red rice and beans with tortilla and fruit

Wednesday

artichokes over with all fixings– basmati rice with turkey, stuffing, salad in sesame mashed potatoes, dressing andcassegreen bean Hawaiian rolls role, roll and fruit

16 Chicken salad on 30 croissant with Cheeseburgers with cream of broccoli & lettuce, tomato, concheddar soup with diments, pickle, chips and fruit chips and fruit

and fruit

through Nov. 24 $60; race Kingston Trio - 23 theTurkey Country Line 21 Shredded porkday $65.

22 Lasagna with laydinner ers of meat sauce, and bean tostadas with all fixings– All participants must be entered by Trio has been performing for 45 mozzarella and basil turkey, stuffing, (2) with shredded 7am the day of the race. Proceeds years. The show will incorporate lettuce, condiments, with marinara served mashed potatoes, go to the Chris Dudley Foundation. the original of many with Caesar salad, arrangements Mexican cheese, green bean cassegarlic bread and fruit For morerice information, hit and songs inand fruit call (559) of the Kingston Trio’s role, roll fruit 260-2909 or visit 222.kaweahcoun- cluding Tom Dooley, Charlie on the 30 Soda, Worried 28 Turkey and pro- 29 chicken enchiladas tryrun.com.

MTA, Scotch and Cheeseburgers with with shredded volone sub sandMan andchickWhere Have All The FlowNovemberwich 26-December en and cheese with lettuce, tomato, conwith mush-3: Small ers Gone? and many other red sauce, MexicanThesediments, pickle, Business Week room Tulare soup, chips November 25-27: COS Holiday beans great folkwith music classics arefruit blended chips and and fruit Saturday, Nov. 26, 10am - 2pm,rice is and tortillawith and delightful fruit Basketball Camp banter, jokes and just Friday-Saturday, 10am - 1pm; Sun- Small Business Saturday, but Tulare cutting-up and having fun. At the day, 1-4pm - open to boys and celebrates all week long with holi- Lindsay Community Theatre, 190 girls, ages 7-14. Instructed by COS days specials, and a variety of activi- N. Elmwood. Tickets are $20. coaches and players in the Porter ties. Special deals in many businessth Field House gym. Cost $75/camp- es throughout the Downtown area. December 3: 25 Annual Spirit er or $100/for two. more informa- For more information, call (559) of the Holidays Christmas Tree Auction & Wine Tasting tion and application, contact Coach 685-2350.

Saturday, Dec. 3 5-8pm Exeter KiRusty Smith, (559) 737-6291, or wanis presents its annual Spirit of rustys$cos.edu. the Holidays at the Exeter Veteran’s November 25-27, December Memorial Building, 324 N. Kaweah December 2 & 3: Christmas in 1-4: COS Production of “White Blvd.

Lemon Cove: Christmas” Thursday - Saturday evening perfor- Friday, Dec. 2, 4-7pm; Saturday, Enjoy wine tasting, hors d’oeumances 7:30pm; Sunday matinees Dec. 3 10am - 1pm and 4-7pm. vres, raffle, silent auction and a live 2pm at the College of the Sequoias The Lemon Cove Women’s Club- Christmas tree auction. Tickets are Theatre. Music and lyrics by Irving house will be decorated upstairs and $50 each. For more information, Berlin, book by David Ives and Paul down for Christmas. Baked goods call the Exeter Chamber of ComBlake. Tickets $24; $22/seniors; and holiday bazaar items will be for merce at (559) 592-2929. $20/students. For more information sale along with a raffle, door prizes December 4: Old Fashion Christand tickets visit COSTheatre.org or and live music Friday and Saturday mas Open House nights. Enjoy the museum which is 1-4pm - At the Springville Hiscall (559) 730-3907. only open a few times a year. Des- torical Museum, sponsored by the November 25: Kaweah Country serts and drinks are provided. $5 Tule River Historical Society. Patty Run donation requested at the door. Call 8am - 10K Run; 9:30am 5K Run/5K Pam Lutz for more information, Torrey and friends will make music throughout the afternoon. BlackWalk - start and finish at Slick 597-2436. smithing, weaving, woodworking, Rock Recreation Area (Day-use fee butter churning and cider presswaived). Run/walk on a dirt course December 3: Country Line Trio ing also throughout the afternoon.

Salutes the Kingston Trio that transverses the lake bottom. All finishers receive a medal. Entry fee 7:30pm - Saluting the music of the Refreshments will include hot ciNovember 19: Tulare Kings Hispanic Chamber of Commerce 21st Annual Installation and Awards Dinner Dance 6-11pm - At the Visalia Convention Center, catered by the Marriott. For more information, visit www.mytkhcc.org

deceMBER

4.00 Dine In

or Takeout & under 54 yrs:

$5.00

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

y

-

Thursday 3 Albondigas soup with meatballs serverd with cheese enchiladas in salsa verde (Green Sauce)

Friday 4 Mustard and thyme rubbed pork tenderloin with mashed sweet potatoes and mixed veggies with fruit and a roll

Weekly Salad Option: Taco Salad

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

nch Menu / Visalia Senior Center Chef salad—with diced 10 Spaghetti a la Roc- 11 black olives, d ca– with bacon, bell CLOSED!! & undercheeses, 4.00 Dine In or Takeout 54 yrs: peppers, tomatoes ham, tomato$5.00 and hard

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-

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Thank you and Italian sausage in a white with must be sauce made oneVeterans! business day Cesar salad, garlic bread and fruit

Thursday

317Albondigas soup with meatballs Salisbury steak serverd roasted with potatoes, cheese veggies,enchiladas salad and in salsa verde fruit (Green Sauce)

Friday

418Mustard and thyme Combination pizza rubbed pork tenderwith Italian sausage, loin with mashed salami, black olives, sweet potatoes and onions, bell pepper mixed veggies with and mushrooms with fruit roll saladand andafruit

10 Spaghetti a la Roc- 11 ca– with bacon, bell CLOSED!!

25 24 Closed!!

peppers, tomatoes and Italian sausage Happy in a white sauce with Thanksgiving!

Cesar salad, garlic bread and fruit

boiled eggs with ranch

in advance dressing by 12 PM.

Dayyou After Thank Thanksgiving!

Veterans!

Closed !!

Weekly Salad Option: Southwest Chicken Salad — in taco Taco Salad With lettuce, corn, black

bowls with lettuce, chickbeans, Mexican cheese, en, black beans, corn salsa and Ranch dressing with Mexican cheese and salsa

Chef salad—with diced cheeses, black olives, ham, tomato and hard — Perfect Garden Salad boiled with Field of eggs greens withranch apples, dressing walnuts, dried cranberries and feta with raspberry walnut dressing

DAILY SALAD18 Option: Combination pizza Southwest Chicken Salad Asian Chicken Salad — Chicken Caesar Salisbury steak withSalad Italian sausage, With lettuce, corn, black h a mealblack olives, Crisp beans,romaine, Mexicancarrots, cheese, roasted available potatoes, assalami, cabbage, cilantro, peareplacement. salsa and Ranch dressing veggies, salad and onions, bell pepper nuts, wontons, grilled fruit and mushrooms with chicken with peanut salad and fruit dressing

17

der and more brought 25 by the Back eter Chamber of Commerce or An24 Closed!!

— Garden Country Cookers. AdmissionDay is free. tiques byPerfect the Water Tower.Salad For more After Happy Field of greens with apples, 34902 Hwy 190 - enter through the information, call (559) 592-6738.

Thanksgiving!

Thanksgiving! walnuts, dried cranberries rodeo gates. and withChristmas raspberry Closed December !!

9:feta White

December 4: 41st Annual Senior SALAD Option: ChristmasDAILY Dinner & Dance Chicken Caesar Salad – at Burton Middle h 1:30-4:30pm available as a meal School featuring Jimmy Kusserow replacement. and the Fabulous Studio Band. Dinner, dancing and door prizes! Tickets are $10.00 in advance or at the door. Space is limited. Tickets may be purchased at the Heritage Center, 256 E. Orange. For more information, call (559) 791-7695.

walnut dressing

- 36th Annual Visalia Chamber Christmas Tree Auction Asian Chicken Salad — 5:30-11:30pm - Live Christmas Crisp romaine, carrots, tree auction with formal dinner, danccabbage, cilantro, peanuts, tasting. wontons, grilled are ing, and wine Volunteers chicken with peanut planning decorations for 20 Christmas treesdressing to be auctioned off live the night of the event. Additionally, that evening silent auction items, including small Christmas trees will benefit local charities. Tickets $70; VIP tickets $130. For more information December 6 & 8: Vision Care (559) 734-5876 or at www.visaliaClinic 9am - 5pm - Tues., Dec. 6 @ 337 E. chamber.org King Street, Hanford; Thurs., Dec. December 9, 10, 16 & 17: Old 8 @ 444 W. El Monte Way, Dinu- Fashion Christmas Tours Candleba - Senator Andy Vidak, Adventist light Tours @ Zalud House Health, Tulare County Office of Ed- 6-8pm – Seasonal displays and vinucation, Kings Community Action tage decorations with guided tours Organization and VSP Vision Cen- and refreshments. 393 N. Hockett, ter offer VSP Mobile Eyes: A Free Porterville. Admission: $2/adults; Vision Care Clinic. Contact: Vic- $.50/children & students. For more toria Priggett, (559) 584-5723 for information, call (559) 782-7548; more information.

(559) 791-7695.

December 9: Exeter Women’s Club 6th Annual Christmas Home Tour 4-8pm - Visit four local home decked with festive holiday decorations.Exeter Women’s Clubhouse will serve as the hospitality house with hot cocoa, snacks and live music all evening, 201 Kaweah Ave. Tickets are $20 in advance; $25 the night of the tour. Tickets are available at the Ex-

ONGOING Sundays: 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 welcome on the patio at the PlanPM, Ends around 12:30 AM. No ing Mill Artisan Pizzeria, 514 East Main Street, Suite A, in Visalia. A Cover. portion of the proceeds is donated Through November 12: Kings to the Valley Oak SPCA. For more Art Center Exhibitions Common Threads Quilt Guild information, call 651-1111. 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, 5:307:30pm. Regular gallery hours are Wed-Fri 11-4pm, Sat-Sun 123pm. Admission is free, tours are by appointment, and for more information, dial 559-584-1065.

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.

Wednesdays: Barmageddon Game Night Come blow off some steam at our Mondays: Bridge Club, 9:30am- game night. Enjoy complimentary gaming on all consoles, TCG’s, Ta2pm 210 W Center Street Visalia, ble top & board games. Happy hour CA 93291. Admission is free. For will be from 6-8pm. additional information call: Joan 1st Thursday Monthly through Dinwiddie @ 732-0855 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 Mondays: Monday Karaoke at the Kaweah Delta Chronic Disease Barmageddon, 9pm-1am Get on stage and sing your favorite Management Center, 325 Willis St., tunes on our one of a kind sound Visalia. Information: 624-2416. system. New Image has a vast se- 1st Thursday, Monthly: Veterans lection of songs to choose, ranging Support Group, 5:30-7pm from 70’s classic rock to modern Free support group for global war pop. Karaoke Jockey Miss Sammi on terrorism & post 9-11 (Veterans will be hosting from 9 PM - 1 AM. Only) at the Tulare Public Library, 475 North M Street in Tulare. FaNo Cover. cilitated by: Dr. Lance Zimmerman, Fridays: Women’s Morning Bible Ph.D of veterans Counseling ClinStudy, 9am-Noon 210 W Center Street Visalia, ic. “The transition from serving in CA 93291. For additional informa- a combat zone to civilian life can be a difficult one. Combat vetertion call: 739-9010 ans commonly experience feelings Saturdays: Cup of Jazz, 10amof depression, isolation, alienation, Noon guilt, anxiety, and anger following At Cafe 210, at 210 Center street, their service. If you’re experiencing Visalia. Free. Led by Richard Garoo- these or any other emotional probgian. Call 559.730.0910 for more lems after serving in a combat zone, information. it’s vital to seek professional help. “ -Veterans Counseling Clinic.

Tuesdays: Barmageddon Trivia Thunderdome, 9pm-1am 1st and 3rd Thursdays, Monthly: Challenge your friends to the ulti- Central Valley Tea Party Meetmate trivia throw down. Earn some ings, 6pm bragging rights in categories ranging 819 West Visalia Road, Farmersville. from Saturday morning cartoons, classic video games, and pop cul- 3rd Thursday Monthly through ture films. Teams of 4 or solo play- October: Diabetes Support ers compete each round for the best Group, 5:30-7pm scores. Winners of every two rounds Kaweah Delta Health Care District will square off in the Trivia Thun- will offer a free diabetes support derdome for great prizes. Free sign group through October on the third Thursday of the month at Woodlake ups at 9:30 PM. Manor Apartments, 200 E. Sierra 2nd Tuesday, Monthly: Yappy Avenue, Woodlake. Information: Hour, 5-9pm 624-2416.

Well-mannered, leashed pets are Mondays: Knitters, 10am12:30pm 210 W Center Street Visalia, CA 93291. Everyone is welcome.

17November,2016

22 • Valley Voice

Sports Bell Game Leads to League Championship for the Tulare Union Tribe Porterville Golf Course to Host Golf Events Nov. 19 Staff Reports

For the second straight season, the Bell Game between Tulare Union and Tulare Western meant the winner would become the East Yosemite League Champion. In this, their 52nd meeting, the Tribe of Tulare Union avenged their loss last year by beating the Mustangs 48-27. In this photo, the Tribe takes down Mustang running back Mason Bernardo in the 4th quarter of the Bell Game. The Tribe won the game 48-27. Daniel Nunez/Valley Voice

The Porterville Golf Course is hosting a footgolf tournament on November 19, beginning at 2pm. Participants get a chance to compete for cash prizes on the challenging 18-hole course. It’s a four-person team scramble format and only $20 per player. The tournament combining soccer and golf is open to anyone who can kick a ball, and all levels are welcome.

After the footgolf tournament, the Porterville Golf Course will stay open late for Night Golf. Now you don’t have to interrupt your game solely because it’s getting dark. Night Golf is also great for people who find it hard to fit their golfing time into their busy schedule. Glow balls will be on sale for $6 and green fees are only $15. Tee times start at 5:30pm and play ends at 10:30pm.

Contact the Porterville Golf Course at (559) 784-9468 for more information or to register a team for the tournament.

The course rests in the rolling foothills of Porterville at 702 E. Isham Avenue.

“Young, but mature” PC Men’s Basketball Team Ready for Season Staff Reports

Fourth-year Porterville College men’s basketball head coach Rob Haynes is having to deal with something he’s never experienced before.

For the first time during his coaching career, Haynes will open the season with no returners from his previous team. It’s a challenge that he and his 2016-17 Pirates are up for.

“I’m a firm believer in experience and over the past three seasons we’ve had it.” said Haynes of his Pirates squads. “But the team this year is a young, but mature group. They’re a bunch of really hard-working guys that don’t complain about anything that’s asked of them. We’ve had good camaraderie thus far, so as a coaching staff, that’s all we can ask of them.”

Despite having a roster of all freshmen, Haynes will look to 6-4 point guard Malik McCowan out of Valencia High School, 6-5 forward Arthur Price from Eldorado High School in Las Vegas, and 6-2 shooting guard Carlos Angel of Milton-Freewater, OR to lead the Pirates this season. But he knows he’ll need everyone to contribute to be successful.

“Every last one of these guys on the roster will play a part in some form or fashion,” said Haynes. “They just have to be ready when called upon.”

Porterville’s freshmen will need to be ready in a hurry with the season getting underway on Thursday, November 3. The Pirates will be on the

road to start, competing at five tournaments before beginning Central Valley Conference play. Porterville opens at the San Jose City College tournament and will compete in tourneys at Victor Valley, Bakersfield, Skyline, and Compton before its conference opener on January 4 at West Hills Coalinga College.

Porterville will finally make its home debut on January 7, hosting Reedley College at 5pm Rival games for the Pirates include Jan. 14 at College of the Sequoias, Jan. 21 at Fresno City College, and home games against COS on February 8, and FCC on Feb. 15. Porterville closes the regular season at Merced College on Feb. 18.

All PC men’s games are scheduled for 5pm followed by the women at 7pm “The Central Valley Conference is going to very competitive as always,” said Haynes. “We had the top four teams make it to the playoffs from our conference last season with us finishing tied for fourth place. I see the teams that made it to

the playoffs last year all competing again for a conference championship with Fresno City leading the way.

West Hills, COS, and Columbia are all teams that have improved as well us, Reedley, Merced and newcomer to the conference, Cerro Coso. So it should be a really interesting and fun season.”

The Pirates will look to improve on their 10-16 overall record from last season. With a 6-6 CVC record, Porterville shared fourth place with Columbia in the final conference standings. Looking to this year, Haynes doesn’t have a specific number of wins as a goal but just wants

his young team to play well and continue to improve.

“Our goal this year is to get better each game and to grow as a unit,” Haynes said. “It’s vital to understand that the season is not a sprint, it’s a marathon, so there’s going to be a lot of growing pains throughout. When you have a young group, attitude and patience is going to be the common theme throughout the long season.

“It will interesting to see how these guys respond to adversity once it comes staring them in the face. I’m looking forward to it because I think they will embrace the challenge.”

17 November, 2016

Valley Voice • 23

Porterville College Softball Team Transfers Four Onward Staff Reports Porterville College Softball head coach Vickie Dugan has announced that four members from her Pirates squad has signed on with four-year colleges to continue their academic and athletic careers. Briana Bamber is headed to Urbana University in Ohio, Danielle “Nelly” Jimenez and Alyssa Benally are both transferring to Blue Mountain College in Mississippi, and Destiny Garcia will take her talents to Transylvania University in Kentucky.

“It is no surprise that athletes from our softball program are able to transfer to four-year schools,” said Porterville College Director of Athletics and Student Programs Joe Cascio. “Coach Dugan and her staff do a great job of preparing student-athletes for success on and off the field. Coach Dugan is one of the best in the business, especially when it comes to stressing the importance of academics. Her teams are always among the state leaders in GPA. I am very proud of these student-athletes and their accomplishments.”

Bamber, out of Monache High

School, led the Pirates last season with 9 stolen bases and was tied for the team lead with 16 walks. Her 25 runs scored ranked second on the squad while she totaled 18 hits over 94 at bats (.191 batting average). As a freshman in 2015, Bamber earned first-team All-Central Valley Conference honors.

Urbana University is located in Urbana, Ohio and competes at the NCAA Division II level as a member of the Mountain East Conference. The Knights are led by second-year head coach Kira Zeiter.

Jimenez (Porterville High School) was one of the Pirates’ top hitters in 2016 as she ranked second on the squad in batting average (.389), hits 37, RBI (26), and home runs (3). Her .642 slugging percentage led Porterville as she totaled team-highs of 11 doubles and 2 triples. Her 27 runs also led PC. Jimenez was a first-team All-CVC selection as a freshman in 2015.

Benally (Mohave High School/ Bullhead City, AZ) played her sophomore season for Porterville in 2015. Her .368 batting average was second on the Pirates as she totaled 32 hits, 19 runs, 9

doubles, a homerun, and 18 RBI. Her 14 walks ranked third on the squad.

Benally was named All-CVC honorable mention in 2015.

Jimenez and Benally will play together at Blue Mountain College for head coach Tyler Herring. BMC is located in Blue Mountain, Mississippi and competes at the NAIA level as a member of the Southern State Athletic Conference.

Garcia (Lindsay High School) was one of the Pirates top fielders in 2016.

From the outfield, she compiled a .971 fielding percentage after committing just two errors in 70 chances. On offense, Garcia scored 12 runs, totaled 11 hits, had 5 RBI, walked five times, and stole four bases. Garcia was also a first-team

All-CVC pick as a freshman in 2015.

Transylvania University is located in Lexington, Kentucky and plays at the NCAA Division III level as a member of the Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference. The Pioneers are led by head coach Shawn Hendrickson.

Porterville College Softball Transfers Briana Bamber (Monache High School) – Urbana University in Ohio Danielle “Nelly” Jimenez (Porterville High School) – Blue Mountain College in Mississippi Destiny Garcia (Lindsay High School) – Transylvania University in Kentucky Alyssa Benally (Mohave High School, Bullhead City, AZ) – Blue Mountain College in Mississippi

17 November, 2016

Valley Voice • 24

Soroptimist International of Tulare Thanks Community Soroptimist International of Tulare wishes to thank all those who came out and made its first Wine & Shop Event a true success on October 27.

Wine tasting, food, music, fashion show, the $500.00 shopping spree and more drawings.

The organization extends a special thank you to Patty Rocha, of the Tulare Outlets, for its excellent partnership. Her leadership was fantastic!

Another special thanks to Bravo Farms, Wente Vineyards, and all the restaurants for the delicious food, plus the fantastic live band of Adan Infante, and

Auction

Continued from p. 17 Foodlink of Tulare County Golden State Family Services George McCann School Hands in the Community International Agri-Center, Ag Ventures! Learning Center Kaweah Delta Foundation Lifeline Kaweah Delta Hospice Foundation Love in the Name of Christ NAMI of Tulare - Tulare County National Alliance ProYouth Expanded Learning Program Ronald McDonald House Charities of the Central Valley Spirit 88.9 St. Paul’s School The Open Arms House The Samaritan Center of Tulare Co. theSOURCE LGBT+Center Visalia Emergency Aid Council

his excellent musicians.

A special thank you to the community for supporting us by way of a sell-out crowd, making it possible for the Tulare Soroptimist & Tulare Outlets to donate towards Human Trafficking Awareness.

Another special thanks to Lieutenant Franks, and Captain Gonzales on speaking to us on such an important issue that evening.

Hope to see all of you back again next year.

Much appreciation, Tulare Soroptimist Club Members.

Visalia Rescue Mission Vision Visalia Returning this year the Visalia Chamber of Commerce will host the Christmas Spirit Tree. The Christmas Spirit Tree is an opportunity to take home your choice of four bottles of wine from the Chamber’s custom wine Christmas tree. The tree will be filled with a variety of wines and every 30 minutes opportunity tickets will be drawn allowing the lucky ticket holder their turn to choose wine from the Christmas Spirit Tree.

Don’t miss the chance to generously support the work of local non-profits and kick off the holiday season with the most festive party in town. Attendees have the choice to attend the Christmas Tree Auction on a General Admission ticket or as VIP Guest. General admission includes: wine tasting, hors d’oeuvres, live and silent tree auctions dessert & dancing. The VIP ticket includes: a sit down dinner, live Christmas tree auction, wine tasting,

Courtesy/Visalia Chamber of Commerce

hors d’oeuvres, silent auction, dessert & dancing. General admission tickets are $70.00 (7:30 – 11:30pm) while VIP tickets are $130.00 (5:30 – 11:30pm).

Tickets may be purchased at the Visalia Chamber of Commerce: 222 N. Garden St., Suite 300, 559-734-5876 or at www. visaliachamber.org

Sponsorship opportunities for the 36th Annual Christmas Tree Auction are available for interested businesses, call the Chamber at 559-734-5876 for details.

Businesses wishing to support the Chamber or other non-profits through sponsorship opportunities should contact the Visalia Chamber of Commerce.

Valley Holidays The Trek to the Nation’s Christmas Tree, the General Grant in Kings Canyon

Hanford’s Christmas Parade will be held November 25. Courtesy/City of Hanford

Cities Welcome Holidays with a Variety of Themes for Their Parades route from Morton, down Main Street Staff Reports to Olive. Contact, Porterville Chamber Everyone loves a parade and the of Commerce, (559) 784-7502.

South Valley has a lot of opportunities Thursday, December 1 – “It’s a to see Holiday parades and Santa Claus Superhero Christmas” 61st Annual with parades in most every city through- Tulare Children’s Christmas Parade – out Tulare and Kings Counties.

Grand Marshall Robert Martinho-HerEvery year, many South Valley cities nandez. Contact Tulare Downtown Ashost their own annual parade. Each has sociation, (559) 685-2350. their own theme, categories, judges and Thursday, December 1 – Annual set of prizes.

Christmas Parade in Corcoran – down Last year, for example, the Ex- Whitley Ave. Contact Corcoran Chameter Christmas Parade had more than ber of Commerce, (559) 992-4514.

40 entries.

Friday, DeIts categories cember 2 – “Saninclude youth, ta’s Workshop” floats, marchExeter Christmas ing bands, baton Parade – 6:30pm groups and dance – route down groups, animals, Pine Street. Condrill teams and mistact Exeter Comcellaneous. munity Services, Some parades (559) 592-5262. boast 100 entries or Hanford’s Christmas Parade will have bands Saturday, Demore, including the and more. Courtesy/City of Hanford cember 3 – “The Visalia Candy Cane Music & MagLane Parade, which is the largest and is ic of Christmas” Lemoore Christalso televised on ABC-30. mas Parade – 6pm – route along D While many parade entries are al- Street between Follett and Hill – conready closed, there are some that still tact, Lemoore Chamber of Commerce, have registration open.

(559) 924-6401.

Please contact individual parade orSaturday, December 3 – “Christganizers for more information. mas in Candy Land” Dinuba Christmas Light Parade & Tree Lighting – South Valley Holiday Parades 5:30pm – “Christmas in Candy Land” Friday, November 25 – “Sounds Dinuba Christmas Light Parade & Tree of the Season” Hanford Christmas Lighting – 5:30pm – tree lighting to Parade – 6pm – route down 7th Street follow at The Entertainment Plaza, 289 from Green to Irwin, up 8th Street to South L Street. Contact, Dinuba ComDouty, past the Judge’s Stand - con- munity Services, (559) 591-5900. tact, Hanford Chamber of Commerce, Saturday, December 10 – 3rd An(559) 582-0483. nual Woodlake Christmas Parade – Monday, November 28 – “A Sto- 7pm in Downtown Woodlake. Contact, rybook Christmas” Visalia Candy The Homegrown Project (559) 804Cane Lane Parade – 7pm – route from 5203, (559) 909-2932.

West along Main Street from Liberty Friday, December 16 – “Parade to Conyer – Grand Marshall Skip Nu- of Lights” – Lindsay - 6pm – lightgent. Contact, Downtown Visalians, ed vehicle parade from the Save Mart (559) 732-7737.

Shopping Center to Downtown. Open Thursday, December 1 – “Christ- to any vehicle with lights. Contact, mas Around the World” Porterville (559) 333-1994.

Children’s Christmas Parade – 7pm –

The Annual Trek to the Nation’s Christmas Tree is on Sunday, December 11, in Kings Canyon National Park at 2:30pm. Activities including the Jubilation Singers, a non-denominational Christmas Message, and a War Memorial Ceremony will all be delivered at the base of the General Grant Tree.

This tree has inspired thousands of people, including R.J. Senior and the late Charles E. Lee of Sanger, California. In 1924, R.J. Senior visited what was then General Grant National Park, and found himself standing by the Grant Tree with a little girl. As they admired the huge tree, the girl exclaimed, “what a wonderful Christmas tree it would be!”

The idea stayed with Mr. Senior, and in 1925, with the help of Mr. Lee,

Staff Reports

the first Christmas program was held at the Grant Tree at noon on Christmas Day. Senior, president of the Chamber of Commerce, and Lee, then secretary of the Chamber, conceived the idea of an annual ceremony. Lee wrote to President Calvin Coolidge, who designated the General Grant as the Nation’s Christmas Tree on April 28, 1926.

At one of the early gatherings, Colonel John White, longtime Park Superintendent, expressed the feeling that brings people here year after year. “We are gathered here around a tree that is worthy of representing the spirit of America on Christmas Day. That spirit is best expressed in the plain things

TREE continued on H7 »

Christmas in Lemon Cove

The Lemon Cove Women’s Club has a tradition of celebrating the holidays with an old-fashioned flair. On Friday, December 2 from 4-7pm and Saturday, December 3 from 10am – 1pm and 4-7pm, the Clubhouse will be decorated upstairs and down. Baked goods and holiday bazaar items will be for sale along with a raffle, door prizes and live music.

Desserts and drinks are provided. $5 donation is requested at the door.

Photo courtesy the Lemon Cove Women’s Club.

Celebrating Hanukkah Holidays are wonderful opportunities to share traditions and stories with children. While many are familiar with the story of Christmas, many do not really understand what Hanukkah represents.

Hanukkah, sometimes referred to as The Festival of Lights falls in late November or December on the secular calendar, which is the 25th of the Jewish month of Kislev, and lasts for eight days and nights. This year, it actually begins on December 24 and ends January 1. During this time the Jewish remember how their ancestors reclaimed the holy Temple from the Syrian-Greeks and then rededicated it to God. The story of Hanukkah does not appear in the Torah, the law on which the Jewish religion is founded, because

Staff Reports

the events that inspired the holiday occurred after the Torah was written. It is mentioned in the New Testament, however, in which Jesus attends a “Feast of Dedication.”

The Hanukkah “Miracle”

Judah Maccabee and the other Jews who took part in the rededication of the Second Temple witnessed what they believed to be a miracle, according to the Talmud, one of Judaism’s historic texts. Even though there was only enough untainted olive oil to keep the menorah’s candles burning for a single day, the flames continued for eight nights, leaving the Jews time to find a fresh supply of oil. The event inspired

HANUKKAH continued on H6 »

17November,2016

H2 • Valley Voice

The world is in a difficult place right now.

People are angry - within the US, around the world.

Here in the South Valley, we can do better & take care of each other.

Perhaps, there has not been a better time since the following was written to return these words to the forefront:

- John Lennon, 1971

May you find peace this Holiday Season - the Valley Voice Staff

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17 November, 2016

Valley Voice • H3

A History of Black Friday & Cyber Monday Staff Reports It sounds solemn – calling any day black. But in fact, Black Friday represents the first day of a long year in which some retailers actually start turning a profit. So, generally, they are out of the red and into the black, with regard to their accounting.

While Black Friday is still a highly sought out day for many retailers and shoppers alike, Christmas Creep, which was named in the 1980s, starting encroaching upon, not only Thanksgiving, but the entire month of November, as well as December. It seems Halloween barely gets by before the Christmas displays are up in stores and holiday music is played on the radio.

Black Friday was taken to a new extreme at the turn of the 21st century, when large retailers such as Target, Best Buy, Macy’s and more, started opening on Black Friday mornings as early as 5 and 6am. And, now, of course, some stores even open on the afternoon or evening of Thanksgiving. Some employees protested the move – others welcomed more hours to their schedules.

Three states – Maine, Massachusetts and Rhode Island, prohibit stores from opening on Thanksgiving due to their blue laws, which enforce religious holidays.

While most blue laws, still in effect today, focus on the sale of alcohol, others do enforce the protection of other religious beliefs.

Part of the Black Friday draw is that

in many states, the Friday following Thanksgiving is a holiday – therefore a lot of people are off from work, and may have time to shop for those on their holiday giving lists.

However, Black Friday is not limited to the US, but is celebrated in many countries around the world.

While deemed the busiest shopping day of the year, that may not be true.

Cyber Monday was created as an encouragement for people to avoid the crowds and shop online.

“Seventy-seven percent of online retailers said that their sales increased substantially on the Monday after Thanksgiving, a trend that is driving serious online discounts and promotions on Cy-

ber Monday this year (2005),” according to the Shop.org/Bizrate Research 2005 eHoliday Mood Study, and noted by Wikipedia.

“In 2014, Cyber Monday online sales grew to a record $2.68 billion, compared with last year’s [2013’s] $2.29 billion.

However, the average order value was $124, down slightly from 2013’s $128,” according to Wikipedia.

Of course, internet businesses around the world all benefit from Cyber Monday sales.

Small Business Saturday started in a small town in Massachusetts in 2010. This was the beginning of a shop local campaign for the Saturday following Black Friday, which quickly spread around the

country promoting small businesses and small business merchants. Some associate it with Made in America, while others think of it as small-town charm. The UK also has taken up the Small Business Saturday campaign.

Whichever day is the busiest, certainly Thanksgiving weekend and the subsequent weeks in December are large sale days for so many reasons. Not only has it become a tradition for gift shopping, but for all shopping large and small, as the deals, for-the-most part, are said to be the best of the year.

However, if you miss something, don’t worry.

The January sales are sure to offer more great pricing.

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17November,2016

H4 • Valley Voice

Holiday Calendar ciation (559) 924-6401.

Now – December 17: Arts Visalia Holiday Show & Sale Featuring handcrafted gifts and art by some of the Central Valley’s finest artists and craftsmen, just in time for the Christmas shopping season. First Friday reception on Dec. 3 from 6-8pm. Admission is free. 214 E. Oak St. Visalia. For more information, call (559) 7390905.

November 25-27, December 1-4: COS Production of “White Christmas” Thursday - Saturday evening performances 7:30pm; Sunday matinees 2pm at the College of the Sequoias Theatre.

Music and lyrics

by Irving Berlin, book by David Ives and Paul Blake. Tickets $24; $22/seniors; $20/students. For more November 19: information and Downtown tickets visit www.costheatre.org Lemoore Holiday Stroll 3-7pm - Park Downtown or call (559) 730-3907.

Lemoore and take a stroll - hol- December 1: Annual Tulare iday cheer, festive decorations, Tree Lighting Ceremony window decorating contest, local 5-8:30pm – Annual tree lightholiday entertainment, fire truck ing ceremony at Tulare Ave. and rides for the kids, and unique gift K St. organized by the Tulare ideas from local merchants. For Downtown Association, includes more information, call Down- the big tree lighting, photos with town Lemoore Merchants Asso- Santa Claus, homemade cookies,

Coming to the Hanford Fox Theater Brothers Osborne Saturday, Dec. 10 - 8 pm $25 - $35

Golden Dragon Acrobats Thursday, Feb.. 23, 2016 7:30 pm - $22 - $34

Irish Rovers Sunday, March 5, 2016 7 pm - $25 - $35

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hot chocolate, face-painting and December 3: 25th Annual Spirit of the Holidays Christfire engine rides.

December 1: Corcoran Christ- mas Tree Auction & Wine Tasting mas Tree Lighting 6pm – Annual tree lighting cer- Saturday, Dec. 3 5-8pm - Exeter emony and dedication, vendor Kiwanis presents its annual Spirit booths, and Santa Meet and of the Holidays at the Exeter VetGreet under the gazebo at Christ- eran’s Memorial Building, 324 N. Kaweah Blvd. mas Tree Park in Corcoran. For more information, call Corcoran Enjoy wine tasting, hors d’oeuChamber of Commerce (559) vres, raffle, silent auction and a live Christmas tree auction.

992-4514.

Tickets are $50 each. For more December 2 & 3: Christmas in information, call the Exeter Lemon Cove: Chamber of Commerce at (559) Friday, Dec. 2, 4-7pm; Saturday, 592-2929.

Dec. 3 10am - 1pm and 4-7pm.

The Lemon Cove Women’s Club- December 3: Annual Dinuba house will be decorated upstairs Christmas Tree Lighting 5:30pm – tree lighting follows and down for Christmas. Baked the parade at The Entertainment goods and holiday bazaar items Plaza, 289 South L Street. Conwill be for sale along with a raffle, tact, Dinuba Community Serdoor prizes and live music Frivices, (559) 591-5900. day and Saturday nights. Enjoy the museum which is only open December 3-4: Le Tres Petit a few times a year. Desserts and Noel drinks are provided. $5 donation 10am-5pm – Local artisans’ requested at the door. Call Pam wares on display and for sale for Lutz for more information, 597- the holidays at the Elsah Court Studio at the end of Skyline Drive 2436. in Three Rivers. For more infor-

17 November, 2016

Valley Voice • H5

Holiday Calendar mation, call (559) 561-4671.

December 4: Old Fashion Christmas Open House 1-4pm - At the Springville Historical Museum, sponsored by the Tule River Historical Society. Patty Torrey and friends will make music throughout the afternoon. Blacksmithing, weaving, woodworking, butter churning and cider pressing also throughout the afternoon. Refreshments will include hot cider and more brought by the Back Country Cookers. Admission is free. 34902 Hwy 190 - enter through the rodeo gates.

December 4: 41st Annual Senior Christmas Dinner & Dance 1:30-4:30pm – at Burton Middle School featuring Jimmy Kusserow and the Fabulous Studio Band. Dinner, dancing and door prizes! Dinner service provided by the Burton Middle School Leadership Team. Tickets are $10.00 in advance or at the door.

Space is limited. Tickets may be

purchased at the Heritage Cen- December 9: White Christmas ter, 256 E. Orange. For more in- - 36th Annual Visalia Chamformation, call (559) 791-7695. ber Christmas Tree Auction 5:30-11:30pm - Live Christmas tree auction with formal dinner, dancing, and wine tasting. Volunteers are planning decorations for 20 Christmas trees to be auctioned off live the night of the event.

December 16: Lindsay Community Christmas Celebration 6pm – Following its Celebration of Lights Parade, Santa arrives at City Hall with a toy for every boy and girl, sponsored by the Lindsay Police Officers Association.

Free refreshments and cookies.

December 16-18: Journey to Bethlehem Friday, Dec. 16 & Sat. Dec. 17 7:30pm; Sunday, Dec. 18 matinee at 2pm – Lindsay Community Theatre presents Journey to Bethlehem directed by Jan Owens.

Additionally, that evening silent auction items, including small Christmas trees will benefit local December 9: Exeter Women’s charities. Tickets $70; VIP tickClub 6th Annual Christmas ets $130. For more information Home Tour 4-8pm - Visit four local home (559) 734-5876 or at www.visadecked with festive holiday dec- liachamber.org December 31: Exeter’s New orations. Exeter Women’s Club- December 9, 10, 16 & 17: Old Year’s Eve Doo-Dah Parade house will serve as the hospital- Fashion Christmas Tours Can- and Free Fireworks Show ity house with hot cocoa, snacks dlelight Tours @ Zalud House 6pm – Pine St. in Exeter. There and live music all evening, 201 6-8pm – Seasonal displays and will be entertainment, bounce Kaweah Ave. vintage decorations with guided house, petting zoo, face paintTickets are $20 in advance; $25 tours and refreshments. 393 N. ing, train rides, food vendors, live band, dancing and a beer the night of the tour. Tickets are Hockett, Porterville. available at the Exeter Chamber Admission: $2/adults; $.50/chil- garden. The evening closes with of Commerce or Antiques by the dren & students. For more in- a fireworks show at 9 pm proWater Tower. For more informa- formation, call (559) 782-7548; vided by the Exeter Lion’s Club.

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17November,2016

H6 • Valley Voice

Hanukkah

Continued from Holiday Front the Jewish sages to proclaim a yearly eight-day festival.

According to Jewish law, Hanukkah is one of the less important Jewish holidays. However, Hanukkah has become much more popular in modern practice because of its proximity to Christmas.

Lighting the Menorah is the most traditional way to celebrate the holiday, but there are others.

Because Hanukkah celebrates the miracle of oil, it is traditional to eat fried foods such as latkes and sufganiyot during the holiday. Latkes are pancakes made out of potatoes and onions, which are fried in oil and then served with applesauce. Sufganiyot are jelly-filled donuts, which are fried and sometimes dusted with confectioners’ sugar before eating.

The Dreidel

A dreidel is a four-sided spinning top with a Hebrew letter on each side.

It is used during Hanukkah to play a popular children’s game that involves spinning the dreidel and betting on which Hebrew letter will be showing when the dreidel stops spinning.

Children usually play for a pot of gelt, which are chocolate coins covered in gold colored tin foil, but they can also play for candy, nuts, raisins, or any-

thing else.

Dreidel is a Yiddish word that comes from the German word, drehen, which means to turn.

A game similar to the dreidel game was popular during the rule of Antiochus. During this period, Jews were not free to openly practice their religion, so when they gathered to study Torah they would bring a top with them. If soldiers appeared, they would quickly hide what they were studying and pretend to be playing a gambling game with the top.

A dreidel has one Hebrew letter on each side. Outside of Israel, those letters are: Nun, Gimmel, Hay and Shim, which stand for the Hebrew phrase, Nes Gadol Haya Sham. This phrase

means, a great miracle happened there [in Israel]. The miracle referred to in both versions of the Hebrew phrase is the miracle of the Hanukkah oil, which lasted for eight days instead of one.

Two or more can play the dreidel game. At the beginning of the game each player is given an equal number of gelt pieces.

At the beginning of each round, every player puts one piece into the center “pot.” They then take turns spinning the dreidel, with the following meanings assigned to each of the Hebrew letters: • Nun which means nothing - if the dreidel lands with a nun facing up the spinner does nothing.

• Gimmel means everything - if the dreidel lands with the gimmel facing up the spinner gets everything in the pot.

• Hey means half - if the dreidel lands with hey facing up, the spinner gets half of the pot.

• Shin means put in; Pey means pay - if the dreidel lands with either a shin or a pey facing up the player adds a game piece to the pot.

When a player runs out of game pieces they are out.

There are other representations of Hanukkah and while some may not practice Judaism, it is interesting to learn the culture of others, and the foods and games may be enjoyed by anyone.

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17 November, 2016

2 • Valley Voice

Tree

Continued from Holiday Front of life, the love of the family circle, the simple life of the out-of-doors. The tree is a pillar that is a testimony that things of the spirit transcend those of the flesh.”

Some people have returned many times to rededicate themselves to the spirit of the season in the presence of this magnificent tree.

In 1976, the 50th ceremony was attended by Elizabeth Gates, who remembered the adventure of getting to the first program with her father R. J. Senior. It was a much longer, colder and more hazardous trip than today.

Peter Beier, 27 years old at the first ceremony, still had a perfect attendance record at the 50th anniversary. He even made the trek to the tree in 1971, when a snowstorm had closed the road and the ceremony was held outside the

Valley Voice • H7

park. He and a handful of hardy campers made it to the tree to watch as park rangers placed the traditional wreath.

A Sanger native who took part in the first ceremony as a child later returned to deliver the Christmas message. Jasper G. Havens was a minister in Idaho and Utah when he returned to speak in 1978. He recalled the cold trip of 1926 in the family’s Model-T Ford. In 1984, Al Saroyan, then 73, was honored at the 58th ceremony as one of the three Sanger High School trumpet players who performed at the 1926 event.

Chartered buses will leave from the Sanger Chamber of Commerce office.

Reservations are available and will be taken until busses are full. Bus departures vary for the lunch bus, regular bus, and dinner bus. Give the Sanger Chamber a call to make a reservation.

For more information call the Sanger Chamber at (559) 875-4575.

Springville Old Fashioned Christmas

The Christmas wreath lays at the base of the General Grant Tree during the celebration of the Nation’s Christmas Tree. Courtesy/National Park Service

Shop & Support Local This Holiday Season!

Members of the Tule River Historical Society participate in an Old Fashioned Christmas in Springville. This year’s event takes place on Sunday, Dec. 4 from 1-4 pm at 34902 Hwy 190. Admission is free.

10th Annual Gift O Faire Friday, December 2nd 4 p.m. – 8 p.m.

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17 November, 2016

Valley Voice • H8

Magic of the Seasons Opens at Tulare County Fairgrounds Staff Reports

For its second year, a Global Winter Wonderland comes to the Tulare County Fairgrounds, this year bringing the Magic of the Seasons.

The Global Winter Wonderland in coordination with the Fairgrounds is providing acres of entertainment and fun, opening on Friday, Nov. 25 and open weekends through Dec. 11, and daily starting on Dec. 16 including Christmas and New Year’s Day through January 2. It will again open for one last weekend January 6-8.

Global Winter Wonderland has a history of having opened in Vallejo, and then moving to Sacramento.

While the Sacramento Winter Wonderland remains an annual event, so now does the Tulare location. It all is the vision of Lulu Wang, GWW CEO of the company, who wanted to share glimpses of her native culture in China, and wanted to bridge cultural gaps.

It takes more than 40 artisans several weeks to design and set up the Fairground display. Every flower bud, every leaf and every detail takes a lot of work and time, and it is all handcrafted on site.

The enormity of the sculptures can only be appreciated in person with some standing several stories high.

They are vibrant during daylight hours and luminous at night.

This year, the Magic of the Seasons takes you on a “journey through spring

and meet the magical creatures that inhabit the gardens and forests full of foliage. Then go Under the Sea though summer swimming with mermaids, dolphins and all sorts of sea creatures. In fall you’ll meet all the playful creatures that help bring in our harvest and see the fruits (and vegetables) of their labor.

Then make your way into the magic of winter where snowflakes fall and penguins and polar bears frolic and fish,” according to the Global Winter Wonderland website.

Enjoy the North Pole in Holiday Fun, the animals of the Animal Kingdom and relive the dinosaur age in Dino-Land. In the International City, you can stroll by the Eiffel Tower, the Leaning Tower of Pisa, King Tut’s tomb and the Statue of Liberty.

The event again brings with it Circus of Light performers, who will take the stage at 6 and 8pm every night. Entertainment is part of the entry ticket

price. This unique circus features performers from around the globe including acrobats, jugglers, fire dancers and contortionists.

There will also be carnival rides for the whole family, including a carousel and Ferris wheel. Meet and greet with Santa and Penny the Global Winter Wonderland mascot.

Admission is $16 for adults, $12 or seniors (60+) and children (4-12), children under 4 are free. Unlimited

ride wristbands are $25. A season pass with ride wristbands is $41 for adults and $36 for children. Tickets may also be purchased online at www.globalwonderland.com, or at participating Walgreens stores in Tulare, Visalia, Porterville, Hanford and Lemoore.

The Tulare County Fairgrounds is located at 620 South K Street in Tulare.

For more information visit, www.globalwonderland.com or call, (510) 962-8586.

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