Direct Magazine – October 2018

CULTURE, COMMERCE, AND COMMUNITY IN VISALIA AND TULARE — THE HEART OF THE SOUTH VALLEY | OCTOBER 2018

M A G A Z I N E

35 YEARS

O F COM M U N IT Y S U PP O R T

VIRTUAL VALLEY

GARDENING

VUSD

Don’t Get Hooked

by Phishing Scams

What’s Bugging You?

Renewing Our Commitment

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INSIDE OCTOBER 2018 PU B LIS H E D BY

DMI Agency 801 W. Main St. Visalia, CA 93291 ADMINISTRATION & EDITORIAL

Executive Editor KAREN TELLALIAN Operations Manager MARIA GASTON CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

AL OLIVER C. S. WYATT IMAGINEU JASON SALAZAR JIM BARLOGIO JOHN GOLDSHOT JONATHAN WALTIMRE KELLEY PETTY LEE LITTLEWOOD MISSY YAVASILE STEFANI RICH SUE BURNS SUSAN SCHIEFERLE TODD OTO WARREN GUBLER

COVER STORY

4 TACHI PALACE

35 Years of Community Support

F E AT U R E S

DEPARTMENTS 11 Valley Oak SPCA 12 The Recipe Box 14 College Prep 15 Character Counts!

8 Gardening

16 Meet A Local

What's Bugging You?

17 Tulare County Library

22 Kids' Library

9 Community Safety Tips for Halloween Safety

18 VUSD Renewing Our Commitment

20 Virtual Valley

Reducing Risk: Don't Get Hooked

by Phishing Scams

24 Craft Corner 26 Tulare Chamber 27 Visalia Chamber 28 Crossword 30 Goings-on

32 Warren Reports

2018 Public Opinion Survey

GRAPHIC DESIGNER

FRANK MIRAMONTES ADVERTISING SALES

ads@dmiagency.com 559.739.1747 SALES OFFICE

801 W. Main St. Visalia, CA 93291 559.739.1747 • fax 559.738.0909 email: direct@dmiagency.com B U S I N E S S M A N AG E M E N T

Malkasian Accountancy, LLP Gary Malkasian, CPA Jeffrey Malkasian, EA

Direct Magazine is published twelve times a year and is distributed via direct mail to nearly 33,000 homes in Visalia. An additional 2,000 magazines are circulated at distribution points around Visalia and Tulare. Views expressed in columns are those expressed by the columnist and not necessarily those of Direct Magazine. We are dedicated to serving the community. Please call us for questions, comments, article suggestions or for information about local events at 739-1747. Fax us at 738-0909 or email us: direct@dmiagency.com.

Online Issue at: www.issuu.com/dmiagency ©2018 DMI Agency

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ROBYN GRAHAM & ASSOCIATES LE A D I NG T H E LU X U RY MA RKE T I N M O ST H O M E S SOL D !

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(559) 733-4505 4025 W. Caldwell Ave, Suite A Visalia, CA 93277

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TACHI PALACE

35 Years of Community Support

T

achi Palace Hotel & Casino is excited to be celebrating its anniversary on Nov. 4, marking 35 years of growth and steadfast community support of the Central Valley.

Located in Lemoore, the heart of the San Joaquin Valley, Tachi is perfectly situated halfway between San Francisco and Los Angeles, accessible from both Interstate 5 and state Highway 99, making it the ultimate destination for entertainment, gaming and relaxation for locals and travelers alike.

As the hotel and casino turn another year older, the property has developed into a family-friendly destination offering even more

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entertainment options than before.

During the summer, the Tachi-Yokut Tribe, owners and operators of Tachi Palace, enhanced the property by adding several new features to make the guest experience even more enjoyable.

Northwest of the casino, a new outdoor Sprung structure, the largest ever built, has been constructed, providing 45,000 square feet of shade and exhaust fans for cooling during concerts and events.

This new structure housed the Santa Rosa Rancheria Days annual Pow Wow, among other concerts.

Guests also have been taking advantage of the expanded outdoor entertainment area on the north lawn,

near the resort pool, that earlier this year was cemented into a 4,000-square-foot space. This was recently the site of the 35th Anniversary Free Concert Series.

At the beginning of the year, the Tachi-Yokut Tribe opened an 8,000-square-foot gas station and convenience store with 16 gas and diesel pumps, plus eight race highoctane pumps and two electric charging stations. The station offers easy accessibility for trucks and RVs. The convenience store features a gourmet coffee bar, beer cave, plus a variety of food, snacks and essentials. In addition, there are 36 slot machines inside.

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More than 900 parking spaces were added for the convenience of visitors.

NON-STOP GAMING ACTION AND ENTERTAINMENT

“It’s an exciting time here at Tachi Palace as we celebrate 35 wonderful years in this community,” said Bill Davis, Tachi Place Hotel & Casino assistant general manager. “All of our improvements were aimed to provide our guests a top-notch experience, and we look forward to offering even more in the near future.”

Known for its high-energy gaming action, Tachi Palace is home to two casinos, Casino of the Moon and Casino of the Sun, with each atmosphere reflecting its celestial namesake. The combined 195,000 square feet includes a third-floor space with more than 2,000 gaming machines that have a wide range of denominations, themes and ways to win. In addition, the casino offers 24 table games, including Blackjack and Pai Gow, plus a seven-table poker room and a High Limit Room for high-stakes players for both slot and table play.

This fall, grand opening celebrations will be held for a new, 88,350-squarefoot entertainment center. The complex features a state-of-the-art movie theater, including eight screens, 30-lane bowling alley, arcade home to the latest games and 10-table billiards room. New food and drink concessions are also part of the concourse connecting the main casino and entertainment center.

For those interested in learning to play, just ask Tachi Palace’s friendly dealers, who would be happy to teach visitors. The ever-popular Bingo Hall is always bustling. Tachi offers several

sessions daily, with seating for up to 1,200 players. Plus, visitors are encouraged to sign up for the Players Club, which offers the opportunity to earn rewards during every play, as well as discounts throughout the hotel and casino.

As part of its 35th anniversary celebrations, the casino invites guests to “Share the Dream,” where $2 million in cash and prizes will be given away, including cars, a tiny house with a one-ton truck and a million-dollar slot tournament, in addition to other promotions and fabulous prizes.

“Everyone, from our loyal players to one-time visitors, is welcome to participate in the fun and promotions,” said Davis. “We are as excited as our patrons to see who will win the truck and tiny house and the million-dollar slot tournament!”

“All of our improvements were aimed to provide our guests a top-notch experience and we look forward to offering even more in the near future.”

Tachi Palace Hotel & Casino is about more than just gaming. It is recognized as the premier location for entertainment in the area. The entertainment line-up, offering a wide range of music, talent and sport, has something for everyone.

Upcoming acts include comedian Rodney Carrington on Thursday, Oct. 4, and a free tribute to Selena on Sunday, Oct. 14, and Trace Adkins on Nov. 2.

Recent performances included the Rock & Roll Express Tour featuring 3 Doors Down and Collective Soul, country music duo Dan + Shay, Ann Wilson of Heart, TLC, plus Moonwalker – The Reflection of Michael and Los Tucanes De Tijuana.

For those seeking a little more action, the hotel and casino are also home to Tachi Palace Fights (TPF), Mixed Martial Arts, happening live in the Bingo Hall. Fight cards feature local, up-and-coming fighters in a variety of weight classes.

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HOTEL, DINING AND MORE Beyond gaming, Tachi Palace Hotel & Casino offers high-quality service at its seven-story, 255-room hotel, which features spaciously appointed guest rooms and suites. All rooms incorporate special touches such as high-threadcount sheets, high-definition television, wireless in-room Internet access, in-room dining and complimentary valet parking.

Guests can relax by the beautiful resort-style pool or head to the luxurious spa, the perfect place to take a break from the gaming action.

Spa guests will enjoy being pampered with a full menu of services ranging from facials to full body massages. They also can also enjoy fresh fruit, herbal teas and time in the sauna.

Dining options at Tachi Palace are sure to suit all tastes.

The Pork Chop Hill Buffet offers soup, salad, seafood, carving station, live cooking areas, international selections, traditional comfort foods, a large assortment of desserts and more.

Special themed evenings are always

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popular, including the seafood and prime rib on Fridays, south of the border Saturdays, and champagne brunch on Saturdays and Sundays.

Pork Chop Hill offers more than enough to satisfy any appetite at an affordable price.

Taste buds are the winner at Tachi Palace’s Coyote Grille, the recipient of several prestigious awards, including the California Restaurant Association’s Visalia Best Casino/ Restaurant Dining and Fresno Best Casino/Restaurant Dining awards. The menu includes delicious comfort food like Tachi Palace’s famous chicken-fried steak, tender steaks, scratch-made soups, specialty salads, seafood and a variety of pasta dishes. This restaurant also features a delicious Pan-Asian menu with fusion cuisine and traditional favorites. Daily specials and a full bar selection are available.

For a quick bite or a meal on the go, Tachi Palace also offers Rez Dogs On the Go, featuring items such as hot dogs, burritos and tacos. The Coffee Stop also offers breakfast favorites like

coffee and muffins, as well as paninis, sandwiches and other light meals. And recently opened is the Red Tail Hawk Stop Quick restaurant that focuses on specialty burgers, hot dogs and French fries. This new dining option is on the third level next to the buffet.

At the Sunset Lounge, open daily, guests can enjoy a favorite cocktail while playing video poker or relaxing outside on the cozy patio, where there is live music on the weekends.

The Koy’ Wae’ Lounge, in the Casino of the Moon, is open daily and also has live music weekend nights.

HISTORY AND COMMUNITY SUPPORT It has taken three decades and significant investments for the Tachi-Yokut Tribe to turn Tachi Palace Hotel & Casino into the amazing destination that it is today. When the doors first opened in 1983, it was a small, one-room, single-story bingo hall and, in 1993, the Southgate Bingo Hall opened. In August 2000, Casino of the Moon was completed and, just seven years later, the property expanded to include the two-story Casino of the Sun. Following the second gaming area came the grand opening of the hotel and spa in November 2006, creating additional revenue for both the tribe and local economy.

“We have come so far in just 35 years and are pleased to offer so many dining and entertainment options for our patrons,” said Davis. “More importantly, we are most gratified by the impact we make on our local economy and work force, offering a variety of opportunities for employment. Coupled with the tribe’s generous spirit of giving back to the community, there is so much for which we are proud.”

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Meet Merritt Wiseman Dedicated Community Leader • Vice President of the Las Madrinas Guild for Valley Children’s Hospital • Board of Directors for the Visalia Fox Theatre • Active Volunteer at St. Paul’s School and the Bethlehem Center • Wife & Mother – Married to Dr. Mark Wiseman.

They are blessed with 4 children.

• Valley Values – Graduate of Fresno State.

Hard worker. Committed. Genuine.

• Success Oriented – Former developer and business owner, and top producer in the pharmaceutical sales industry prior to transitioning to full-time mom.

CITY COUNCIL Public Safety

Merritt on the Issues: Quality of Life “I’m dedicated to preserving Visalia’s small town character.

City leaders must plan wisely to prevent traffic congestion, protect our Ag lands and conserve our vital water resources.”

Accountability “I support strict financial safeguards to protect taxpayers and prevent wasteful spending.

Residents deserve the highest level of transparency and respect at City Hall.”

“Protecting the safety of our families will be my number one priority.

We must make sure that residents feel safe in our neighborhoods, parks and Downtown.

Homelessness “I promise to collaborate with agencies and non-profit organizations to get homeless individuals off our streets and into effective work or treatment programs."

Strong Economy “District 3 is home to the Visalia Industrial Park – our city’s economic engine. I will help local businesses grow so they can provide more jobs and opportunities for our families.”

5211 W. Goshen Ave. #121 • Visalia, CA 93291 • 559.797.1759 Paid for and Authorized by Merritt Wiseman for Visalia City Council 2018 • FPPC#1408575

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GARDENING TEXT BY SUSAN SCHIEFERLE, UCCE MASTER GARDENER FOR KINGS AND TULARE COUNTIES

What's Bugging You?

M

ost children have a fascination with bugs. Most adults just want bugs gone from their homes and gardens. But do you and your children really know which garden bugs are “good” bugs and which are not? In the garden at Hurley Elementary School, kids come up to me with “roly poly” or pill bugs, saying how cute they are. These bugs are cute, but are not our friends in the garden. They feed on young seedling plants, plant roots, leaves, and even fruit and vegetables.

Before we discover the world of bugs, let’s learn some new vocabulary.

1. Beneficial bugs: These are the bugs that are “good” for your garden.

2. Pollen: A powdery substance from the center of a flower.

3. Pollinators: Many good bugs take pollen from a flower to another flower in the garden. This process allows the plant to make seeds and reproduce.

Besides pollinating your garden plants, beneficial, or “good,” bugs attack and eat the “bad” bugs.

There are many good bugs in your garden. This month and November, we are going to learn about these good bugs and how to welcome them into your backyard garden.

BEES Description: Bees are brown and golden colored bugs with stingers.

have long, “see-through” wings with light yellow near the tips. Their wings are closed over their bodies when at rest.

How they help: Bees are necessary as 30 percent of the world’s edible crops depend on bees for pollination.

Many fruit and vegetable plants, as well as decorative plants, depend on bees.

Bees do sting when annoyed, and many adults and children are allergic to bee stings. Just be aware of them in the garden and keep your distance!

How they help: When their wings are stretched out, they will hunt aphids, flies and mosquitoes. They especially love small, flying insects.

LADY BUG OR LADY BEETLE Description: This cute black and red bug is probably the most popular one to children. The red part of the beetle has black spots.

PARASITIC WASPS Description: These are tiny, nonstinging insects, tan and black in color.

How they help: Lady bugs love to eat aphids, scale, thrips, mealybugs and spider mites, all of which are “bad” bugs. All these “bad” bugs love to feed on plants in the garden.

How to welcome to your garden: Plant flowers and herbs such as cilantro, dill, fennel, caraway, yarrow, tansy, angelica, scented geraniums, coreopsis and cosmos.

How to welcome: They love sunflowers, which can be planted and grown toward the back of your yard.

They also like asters, lavender, butterfly bush, bee balm and zinnias, to mention a few.

How they help: They lay eggs inside “bad” bugs and inside their eggs.

These wasps paralyze those eggs, destroying them.

How to welcome: They like alyssum, tiny white and purple flowers in your garden borders; as well as yarrow, and dill and caraway (herbs).

DRAGONFLIES Description: A dragonfly has large eyes that take up most of its head. They

How to welcome: They like being near garden ponds and streams.

GROUND BEETLE Description: It is dark brown and black, with long legs and shiny wings.

It has strong jaws.

How they help: This beetle works below the soil. With their jaws, they quickly gobble up slugs, snails and other creepy-crawler pests that devastate garden plants. Ground beetles eat beetles that feed on asparagus, Colorado potato beetles, and corn earworms, cabbage worms, cutworms and slugs.

How to welcome: They love to dig below the soil of planted perennial flowers and native grasses.

So parents, give your child a magnifying lens and let them go exploring in your garden. Hopefully, many “good” bugs will be spotted!

Next month, we will explore several more good bugs that every gardener needs.

Happy gardening!

Find more information on the Master Gardener website, http://ucanr.edu/sites/UC_Master_Gardeners/ 8

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COMMUNITY SAFETY TEXT BY VISALIA POLICE CHIEF JASON SALAZAR

Tips for Halloween Safety

F

all is my favorite season of the year. The weather is cooling down, the school year is in full swing, there’s football, and post-season baseball is underway. Fall is also host to one of the most popular nights of the year for our children … Halloween.

In our increasingly fast-paced and distracted world, I would like to share a few Halloween safety tips to keep in mind as we approach the season of fall carnivals and Halloween night itself to make sure that this is a time for families to enjoy our great community – and to stay safe in the process.

• Motorists should use extreme caution when driving. Be on alert for children and pedestrians, especially whose vision might be obstructed by costumes or kids who might be excited and not paying attention. Do not drive distracted!

• Keep kids’ costumes short to prevent restricted movements, trips, falls, etc.

• Try make-up instead of masks. Masks can obstruct a child’s vision, which can be dangerous when crossing streets or walking about.

• Use light colors or reflective tape on costumes to ensure visibility of your child.

• Parents should accompany young children trick-or-treating, and traveling in groups is always a good idea.

• If possible, do your trick-or-treating when it’s still light out.

If not, have a flashlight available to improve visibility and stay on well-lit streets.

• Do not go inside anyone’s home or approach dark residences. Never accept rides from strangers, and be sure that your children do not approach vehicles.

• Be mindful of traffic. Cross at street corners and use sidewalks for walking down the street.

• Inspect your child’s trick-or-treat haul before eating any treats, and discard homemade or unwrapped treats.

• Do not use realistic replica firearms or weapons as part of your costume.

The Visalia Police Department hopes that you have a safe and enjoyable fall season. Please remember not to drive distracted and not to drink and drive as we celebrate this great time of year.

Finally, through generous community support, the department has been able to expand its Police K9 program from four to six patrol dogs and they will be hitting the streets soon. Stay tuned to future columns for more information about our Police K9 Partners and their service to our department and community.

Thank you and have a great October!

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VISALIA FIRST TEXT BY JOHN GOLDSHOT, CONNECTIONS PASTOR, VISALIA FIRST

Helping People GROW

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don’t know about you, but life gets busy fast. It also seems like things never slow down. School is underway, everyone is busy at work, and there doesn’t seem to be an end in sight. With all the busyness, it can seem just about impossible to dig deeper in our relationship with God. But when life feels overwhelming, it is amazing what can happen when we find time for God. Sometimes this means getting our priorities straight, and sometimes it is simply a matter of finding the resources that are available to help us grow and flourish spiritually.

Discipline is a word that nobody likes to hear. Going to the gym in the early morning is not generally something that people get excited over, but we are all aware of the benefits. In the same way, creating margin for our relationship with God has eternal impact, but sometimes feels like an impossible task. We like to speak figuratively about the importance of creating time for God, but, unfortunately, what tends to happen is the “urgent” takes precedence over the “important.” We have a mentality that while it is important to invest in our relationship with God, it is not as urgent as a child’s soccer game or getting a couple of items checked off on the to-do list. Now, is the soccer game important? Certainly. Does it have eternal value like our relationship with our Lord and Savior? Certainly not.

However, I would venture to say that we often view the soccer game as the priority.

If you have read this far, you might feel like I am being a total bummer. But I point out the struggles to bring attention to real solutions. Here at Visalia First, we know that schedules are crazy and people have a lot on their plate. Because of this, we do everything that we can to help as people are seeking to grow in the Lord. This can be as simple as making sure that our first-time guests get a free

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Bible, or making sure that we offer a class on Sundays called GROW, where people can really get connected in our church. We always make sure that we have donuts in GROW classes. While I don’t have any biblical evidence that donuts help with spiritual growth, I have found that there are more smiles wherever there are donuts ….

In week one of our GROW class, we talk about how we can truly know God. This stems from how we can know that we are saved, all the way to the importance of things such as baptism.

This is a great week for people who might not know much about faith, what it means to be a Christian, or even someone who has been saved awhile but wants to brush up on the simple things of God and their faith. In week two, we talk about how we can be so much stronger when we are together in community, instead of being a lone believer in Christianity. This is where people can learn about our groups, studies and other classes that are offered at our church.

We believe that God has made each of us with certain strengths that help us make an impact for good. In weeks three and four of GROW, everyone takes a spiritual gifts assessment to discover these gifts. Then we explore the numerous opportunities and ways to get connected in ministries at Visalia First, discovering exciting and fulfilling ways to use your gifts to serve.

Sometimes the best way to get disciplined with the Lord is to start doing something for Him. When we give back to God with our time and our talents, it is amazing what can happen.

Regardless of where you are in your relationship with God, there is always a place for you to connect and grow. God loves to meet us right where we are, but he never wants to leave us there.

We would love to have you attend our GROW class if you are looking to get plugged in and deepen your relationship with God. Feel free to go to visaliafirst.com/grow to sign up. Classes start the first Sunday of every month.

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VALLEY OAK SPCA TEXT BY DR. LYDIA HOUSE, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

Why Should I Vaccinate My Cat Against Feline Leukemia (FeLV)?

W

hy should I vaccinate my cat against Feline leukemia (FeLV)?

Feline leukemia is caused by feline leukemia virus, but depending on the sub-type of the virus present, it can cause ailments other than leukemia, such as tumors, lymphoma (the most common FeLV-associated cancer) and other abnormal growths and, least commonly, anemia.

The virus suppresses the immune system and, as a result, infected cats may show variable clinical signs such as recurring or persistent infections, abscesses, inflammation of the gums and other tissues of the mouth, fever and lethargy.

Kittens are most susceptible to the virus when exposed, but by 6 to 8 months of age, the immune system matures and it becomes “harder” to become infected.

The virus is transmitted through saliva and blood, therefore grooming, nose-to-nose contact, shared food and water bowls, and bites are common modes of transmission. An infected queen can infect kittens through the placenta, via milk or saliva.

In the early stages of infection, the virus enters the tonsils, then lymph nodes and the circulation. This process takes about a month until cats will have detectable virus in the bloodstream.

Therefore, if you suspect that your cat has been exposed, you have to wait about one month before testing. Later, the virus moves into bone marrow cells and this takes six to eight weeks after the initial infection. There is a latent form of infection in which cats are healthy, but the virus can reactivate at any point in its lifetime. Then, of course, there are cats that always have the virus in an active stage, and more than 50 percent of these cats will succumb to related diseases within two to three years after infection.

There are several testing methods available to you through your veterinarian.

It is recommended that all kittens be vaccinated against FeLV as feline leukemia is almost entirely preventable with two kitten vaccines and a booster one year later. Cats that go outdoors and may have contact with other cats should be vaccinated. Adult cats can be tested prior to vaccination, but vaccinating a positive cat will not change the progression of the disease nor make it less likely for it to infect other cats.

Vaccination is recommended for multi-cat households where new cats are frequently introduced and in households with a FeLV-positive cat. New cats should be tested prior to introduction to a FeLV-negative cat.

Valley Oak SPCA is a 501(c)3 nonprofit, no-kill rescue that operates solely on donations and contributions from our local community. To make an online donation or submit a volunteer application, please visit our website: www.vospca.org.

PET OF THE MONTH

Meet Polo: Hi, I’m Polo! I’m a super sweet and laid-back feline looking for my purrr-fect forever home.

I’m an older guy, but I have so much love and cuddles to give. Am I the guy you’ve been looking for? Adopt me today If interested, contact Valley Oak SPCA at (559) 651-1111.

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THE RECIPE BOX TEXT AND PHOTOS BY SUE BURNS, IT’S OKAY TO EAT THE CUPCAKE

Whoooo’s Ready for Spooky Rice Bowls?

B

usy fall days call for nutritious meals that taste great and are easy to serve. That’s where meals in bowls come into play.

My Spooky Rice Bowls are inspired by Nicki Sizemore’s “formula” in her new cookbook, “Build-A-Bowl.”

“Whole grains + protein + vegetables + sauce …” add up to fun dinners perfect for families on their way to sports, clubs and even trick-or-treating. Veggies in a candy corn color scheme and mysterious black rice (flavorful and extra-nutritious because it contains the antioxidants anthocyanin and Vitamin E) will fuel your little goblins before the onslaught of sweets. You can easily change the ingredients and switch the yogurt sauce for ranch dressing. Got a packed Halloween night schedule? Make your bowls to go in fun take-out boxes for extra points!

SPOOKY RICE BOWLS INGREDIENTS Yogurt Sauce 2/3 cup plain yogurt 1 teaspoon Sriracha sauce 1 tablespoon pure maple syrup Rice Bowls 1 cup black rice 1-2 cups water, as directed for chosen cooking method 1 12-ounce package cubed butternut squash 12 ounces zucchini, peeled, seeded and cubed 1 9-ounce package steamed golden beets, drained 6.5 ounces (1/2 package) cooked turkey sausage, sliced 2 tablespoons olive oil 1-2 teaspoons Garam Masala spice Salt and pepper, to taste 1 tablespoon chopped chives, optional 2 tablespoons pepitas, optional DIRECTIONS Whisk the yogurt, Sriracha and maple syrup together in a bowl and set aside while you make the rice bowls.

Prepare the rice on the stove top according to the package directions or in an Instant Pot/electric pressure cooker, according to manufacturer directions.

While the rice cooks, prepare the vegetables and turkey sausage.

To cook on the stove top: Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat and add the olive oil.

When the oil is hot, add the zucchini and cook, stirring, until softened and slightly browned, about 5 minutes.

Add the butternut squash, beets, Garam Masala, salt and pepper, and cook another 3-5 minutes, until slightly browned and tender.

Add the sausage and cook, stirring, just until it is heated through.

To roast the vegetables: Preheat the oven to 400F. On a large sheet pan, toss both squashes and the beets with the olive oil, then sprinkle with the Garam Masala, salt and pepper; toss gently together and roast for 5-7 minutes, turning once.

Add the turkey sausage and roast 5 minutes more until the vegetables are golden and the sausage is heated through.

To serve, scoop the rice into a bowl and place the vegetables and sausage alongside or on top.

Drizzle with the Sriracha yogurt sauce and top with the chives/pepitas.

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VISALIA RESCUE MISSION TEXT BY AL OLIVER, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, VISALIA RESCUE MISSION

Grace and Responsibility

“W

hy can’t they take responsibility for their own lives and actions?”

That’s the question many people ask when confronted with the issues of addiction and homelessness.

Why, indeed?

That very question is at the center of our 2018 staff training on trauma and the neurochemistry of the brain. When I first came to the Visalia Rescue Mission in 2014 as the new executive director, I was asking the same kinds of questions.

It seemed to me at the time that with the appropriate amount of selfdiscipline, willpower, coaching and encouragement, almost anyone should be able to stop their addictive, selfdestructive behavior, and then move into a productive lifestyle. Was I ever wrong!

For most of us, the way to solve complex problems is to first clearly define the problem and then create a strategic plan to apply the necessary resources to resolve the problem, execute the plan and “Presto!” problem solved! Not so fast!

Why is it that when some people graduate a recovery program, about half of them stay sober for at least three years and the other half seem to relapse within a few months? They have been exposed to the Gospel; they have been taught about the transforming power of the spirit of God; they have learned how to confront and defeat temptation; they have been counseled on their “habits, hurts and hang-ups”; they’ve been attending church, recovery groups; they have demonstrated sincerity, humility, even forgiveness and grace … what happened?

To quote the apostle Paul, “It is not as though the Word of God has failed.”

We are learning that sometimes the relapse and failure is part of the recovery. The accountability and support that is provided by VRM can go

“Get understanding!” Grace does not a very long way in helping an individual provide excuses, but rather it provides who has relapsed a number of times reasoned understanding and “responsediscover the underlying reasons for ability” for our residents, guests and relapse, resolve those issues and even staff to live productive healthy lives self-destructive coping behaviors, and that reflect the life of Christ. begin to emerge as someone who can apply wise principles in daily life and is On Oct. 11, our annual banquet will be able keep triggering emotions of held at the Visalia Convention Center. craving, anger, shame and depression Our speaker will be Cash Lowe from under control. Their response or Grace Networks International. Cash and “response-ability” in the face of his ministry partner, Curt Floski, have temptation to relapse is the key done tremendous research into the component to long-term healing connection between trauma, from addiction. neurochemistry and addiction. Cash is a tremendous storyteller and is an Where does grace come into the engaging and humorous speaker. If the picture? The Gospel teaches us that mystery of addiction is at all interesting grace is a work of God that is done in to you, or if you support the work of the lives of people to make them Visalia Rescue Mission, you do not want spiritually alive and able to respond to to miss this evening.

God in devotion and righteous living. It helps us understand ourselves in light of what God has done INVITE YOUR FRIENDS & JOIN US! for us and to live lives that reflect Jesus Christ.

V I S A L I A R E S C U E M I S S I O N At VRM, we are working to create a “culture of Grace” that brings a heightened understanding of the life of Christ to our residents and a heightened understanding of the THURSDAY, OCTOBER 11, 2018 traumas and abuses VISALIA CONVENTION CENTER that our residents EARLY BIRD TICKET: $40 TABLE OF 8: $320 and guests have VRMHOPE.ORGGBANQUET experienced in their

build a strong FOUNDATI N Banquet

past. This understanding works to “fill in the blanks” or supply the reasons that they adopted a life of addiction.

The Book of Proverbs tells us numerous times

GUEST SPEAKER

LIVE TESTIMONY

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COLLEGE PREP TEXT BY MISSY YAVASILE, INDEPENDENT COLLEGE CONSULTANT, SOAR COLLEGE PLANNING AND CONSULTING

College Advice?

Make the Most of High School

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nother year of high school is well underway, and it is important for students to keep things in perspective as the school year unfolds. High school should be a time of fun and growth, both academically and socially, and your high school experience can earn you more choices when it comes to college selection.

What can you do to make your high school years special and productive?

It is important that students take their education seriously. Grades do matter, particularly if you plan to attend college. Whether you are college-bound or not, it is still important that you challenge yourself.

Throughout your life, you will be expected to do your best, and sometimes that is not easy. High school is a good time to start the challenge.

Take the AP class that everyone says is tough. Don’t be afraid of the teacher who everyone says is “hard.” Step up to the challenge, as life will continue to offer you challenges beyond high school and college.

Get involved. If you are not in a sport or music, find something else that you can get involved in. Maybe it

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will be ASB, FBLA, FFA, dance or another club that you would enjoy.

These activities are where you will hang out with your friends, have fun and find a place to belong. It does not matter what you choose to do, but do it with passion and enjoy. An added bonus will be talking about it in your college applications.

Try to be satisfied with your niche.

Don’t worry about trivial difficulties, and always try to “see the glass half full.” A positive attitude can help you get through a negative situation. Use your friends as sounding boards when things are not going well. If you are struggling with a class, get help. Meet difficulties head-on by seeking the support that you need to be successful.

Many of your teachers are willing to help you at lunch or after school.

Despite what some students think, most teachers really do want to see their students succeed.

Help others. You can volunteer in your community, your church or at school. Maybe you can tutor students who are having trouble with a class that is easy for you. Helping others always makes you feel good about yourself.

It is also important that you take good care of yourself as you travel through high school. Eat right and get as much sleep as possible with your level of academic and extracurricular involvement. Try to learn good timemanagement skills so that you don’t stress yourself out with those lastminute assignments.

Finally, I will give you my favorite advice: Don’t do anything stupid! What am I talking about? You know. The crazy things that teens sometimes like to do. When you choose to do things that have consequences, be sure that you understand the consequences of your choices and be ready to pay the price – whatever that might be. Clearly, some choices can have more serious consequences than others – such as drinking and driving.

Parents: Try to let them go a little.

Be a parent, but don’t micromanage.

It won’t be long and they will need to have the skills to take care of themselves.

Students: Have fun. Work hard. Get involved. Do your best. Make lots of friends. And don’t do anything stupid!

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CHARACTER COUNTS! TEXT BY KELLEY PETTY, CHARACTER COUNTS! COORDINATOR, TULARE COUNTY OFFICE OF EDUCATION

Sophomore Success

JALISSA MAGAÑA, SOPHOMORE, TULARE TECHNICAL PREPARATORY HIGH SCHOOL, TULARE Jalissa Magaña has no problem owning her past. During middle school, she was severely truant and failing all of her classes. As a high school freshman, she was expelled. “If you can think of it, I probably tried it,” Jalissa admits.

her first day at Tulare Tech Prep.

“Jalissa has worked so hard – from just trying to fit in last year to becoming a straight-A student and role model for others this year. She is always willing to help in any way and is loved by all of her teachers and many friends.”

Close friend Marlene Romero agrees, saying, “Jalissa has a big heart. No matter what's going on in her life, she will stop and help me when she sees I need it.

She's the kind of friend that motivates me so I can be successful, too – just like her."

Jalissa may be a friend to many, but she doesn't allow the needs of her friends to distract her. Her maturity and intelligence keep her in school and on track. And she's doing her best to meet that goal of college acceptance letters!

Now in her sophomore year at Tulare Tech Prep, Jalissa attends school every day, earns excellent grades and is a positive leader on campus. With goals of being a better student and person, Jalissa shares, “I'm not going to lie – this is hard. Temptations will always be around me. I just have to remember what my old ways used to feel like and where it got me. And I don't want to go back to that.”

Jalissa now realizes how important it is to keep her priorities straight.

“My plans are to be the first in my family to go to college. I am doing better now, but things could change.

I still need that support to stay on track.” Jalissa isn't afraid what others think when she reaches out for help. “I need that someone to call me out when I need it. Ms. Rocha is like that one leg up when I feel like I'm falling down.”

Liz Rocha has known Jalissa since

SARAH HUNT, SOPHOMORE, TULARE WESTERN HIGH SCHOOL, TULARE Staying involved in high school was important for Sarah Hunt, a sophomore at Tulare Western High School. It looks as though she has definitely accomplished just that.

The Mustang staff appreciates Sarah for a multitude of reasons: “She is a member of our marching band, jazz

band, junior varsity volleyball team, enrolled in History Honors and English classes, and completed her freshman year with a 4.0 GPA. She is a great example of a leader who strives for greatness while helping others.”

Through her quiet and respectful demeanor, Sarah credits her opportunities to be involved as the reason she succeeds. “Band actually helps me become a better student in all subjects, and playing volleyball provides a great opportunity to lead a team and build friendships,” she says.

There is plenty of research supporting the benefits of playing a musical instrument, and Sarah sees how that applies to her success in such a busy schedule. “I think the commitment I have in practicing my part shows my perseverance so that when it comes to marching or any performance, I have memorized the music, the footsteps and the routines to the best of my ability.

This effort helps the whole band execute with excellence. We are like a sports team; we all have to master our part in order to compete and succeed.”

Sarah makes time to support others as well. This year, she is the flute section leader in the band and captain of the junior varsity volleyball team. Both music and volleyball have been part of her life since fourth grade. Through her passion and skill for both, she leads with her actions and patient kindness to help others master their music, timing or skill.

“As a section leader or team captain, it’s on me to help my section or my team be motivated so that we perform our best whether it be on the marching field or on the volleyball court,” she says.

It is no surprise that Sarah’s interest in teaching and music are part of her future plans. With her passion for both, any school would be very fortunate to have her join their campus.

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MEET A LOCAL TEXT BY DR. JOHN SULLIVAN, SMILE CENTRAL VALLEY

Randy Groom Occupation/Title: City Manager for the City of Visalia

How did you end up here in Visalia?

I had moved around a bit as a child.

I attended high school in Clovis and had transitioned to Fresno State when I was first hired by the city of Visalia, in the Police Department, in 1985. I commuted from Fresno for the first four years while I completed my degree at Fresno State.

How did you get your start in this line of work?

My first real job (after part-time prep cook in a pizza parlor and a remarkably short stint in a peach packinghouse), and my first government job, was working in the Crime Analysis Unit at the Fresno County Sheriff’s Office while I was still in high school.

Why are you passionate about your work?

It is a calling. I enjoy working with people, even when solutions are difficult and one side or the other is likely to go away unhappy. I dipped my toes in the private sector pool for a few years, but it was quickly obvious that my calling is in the public sector.

What is the most challenging thing about your job?

Every issue we deal with has a constituency. Every debated topic has two opposing sides, if not more. We deal with complex, multifaceted 16

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problems that don’t always have clear, easy, inexpensive solutions. And … everything we do is scrutinized through the much clearer lens of hindsight.

Tell us about a single moment when you realized this was the right occupation for you: Every day, there are moments that reinforce that I can make a tangible difference, that I can do something to improve our systems and services in some way that hopefully makes our work a little better – and moments that make me question why in the world someone would want to do this job.

If you had to choose another career, what would it be?

Within my 33 years of work in local government, I have done many different jobs – many careers within a career. There are many I would go back to. But to be consistent, I have said all along that if I had to do it over again, I would be a firefighter.

Tell us a little about life outside of work (hobbies, family, travel): I have been married to my high school sweetheart for 33 years, and we have three grown children, with grandchildren now in the picture. Our travel tends to revolve around family. For the past several years, I have been involved in

wilderness search and rescue as a K9 handler with my second-best friend, Bandit. That work is all volunteered time, travel and resources, and has taken most of my Saturdays for a few years.

What is something most people don’t know about you?

Over the years, I have managed to become involved in a variety of unexpected things.

I suppose something many don’t know is that I enjoy a cool weekend morning motorcycle ride (and, no, I’m not a Harley guy).

What about Visalia makes this a great community to live and work in?

Visalia’s greatest strength has been its ability to grow into a town with big-city amenities with small-town relationships and values. We aren’t a small town anymore, but we continue to act like it. I think that makes the best of both worlds.

Bonus question: If you were stranded on an island, what three objects would you take with you?

My search-and-rescue training might suggest a list like a signaling mirror, a fire-starting device and a fishing rig.

But the best answer I recall over the years is a helicopter, a barrel of fuel and an instruction manual.

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TULARE COUNTY LIBRARY TEXT BY JONATHAN WALTMIRE, ANNIE MITCHEL HISTORY ROOM LIBRARIAN

'Banning Books Silences Stories. Speak Out!'

E

very year, Tulare County Library and libraries across the country celebrate Banned Books Week to shine a spotlight on books challenged or banned in schools and public libraries. This year, Banned Books Week ran Sept. 23-29 with the theme of “Banning Books Silences Stories. Speak Out!” Libraries use this event as a way to celebrate our freedom to read as part of our First Amendment rights.

Banned Books Week was launched in the early 1980s after the Supreme Court case Island Trees School District v. Pico ruled that schools could not ban books solely because of their content.

Soon after, the American Library Association’s Office of Intellectual

559-635-1144 www.salseranddillard.com

Freedom created Banned Books Week to foster discussion about banned and challenged books. A challenge is an attempt to remove or restrict materials based on the objections of a person or group, while a ban is the actual removal of the item.

Every year, the American Library Association compiles a list of the most challenged books based on information it receives from libraries throughout the United States. In 2017, 416 books were challenged or banned nationwide, with the top 10 being “Thirteen Reasons Why” by Jay Asher, “The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian” by Sherman Alexie, “Drama” by Raina Telgemeier, “The Kite Runner” by

Khaled Hosseini, “George” by Alex Gino, “Sex is a Funny Word” by Cory Silverberg and Fiona Smyth, “To Kill a Mockingbird” by Harper Lee, “The Hate U Give” by Angie Thomas, “And Tango Makes Three” by Peter Parnell and Justin Richardson, and “I Am Jazz” by Jessica Herthel and Jazz Jennings.

Like many other libraries and book communities in the United States, Tulare County Library celebrated Banned Books Week with displays highlighting books from current and historical attempts. The event brought together readers and libraries in support of the freedom to seek and express ideas, even those that are considered unconventional and unpopular.

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VUSD TEXT BY TODD OTO, ED.D, VUSD SUPERINTENDENT

Renewing Our Commitment

C

an you tell which of these is a photo of a classroom at our newest elementary school?

The left photo is of a classroom at Goshen Elementary; the middle photo is of a classroom at Riverway Elementary; and the top right photo is of a classroom at Royal Oaks Elementary – so the answer is the middle photo.

I'm hoping that you struggled with choosing which was the classroom at our newest school because this past summer, we completed modernization projects at Royal Oaks and Goshen that brought many classrooms at those schools up to the same standard as Riverway, our newest school. We are very proud of the impact that this work has had on the classrooms that we were able to upgrade. Every modernization project is unique, for classrooms at each of our schools differ somewhat and require different approaches to bring them up to current standards.

What you see in the first photo, from Goshen Elementary, are an epoxy floor treatment, new tackboard on the walls, increased whiteboard space and improved instructional technology, including multiple flat-screen TVs and new furniture. The second photo, from Royal Oaks Elementary, reflects similar improvements, except for flooring that

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will be upgraded later, but goes one step further with the “cloud” ceiling treatment that provides for improved acoustics and incorporates adjustable LED light fixtures that allow for illumination to be set to the best advantage for any activity. What these two photos show is that these modernized classroom interiors are the equal of the classrooms in our newest elementary schools.

Every summer, our maintenance and operations teams take advantage of the extended break to take on large projects. These projects typically include roofing, carpet replacement, painting, electrical or data work, and so forth. During some summers, however, we undertake modernization projects that are far more comprehensive than usual summer work.

“Modernization” is the phrase that the state uses to identify and fund schools that qualify for upgrades.

Schools qualify for modernization funding based on age and enrollment.

In general, when a permanent school facility reaches its 25th year (or when a portable building reaches its 20th year), it qualifies for funds from the state for improvements. We use modernization funds to ensure that students who attend our older facilities have the same experiences as those who attend our

newer schools. This strikes at the heart of equity, for students should have the same opportunities in every way at each of our schools, without regard to the age or location of the campus.

You may not know that we receive matching funds from the state for school construction and modernization.

New schools receive a 50-50 match (we receive 50 cents for every 50 cents we spend on a new school), and we receive a 60-40 match for schools that are modernized (we receive 60 cents for every 40 cents we spend on upgrading schools). I've said this many times, but it's true: Through this matching system, the state is saying, “We really like when you build schools, but we like even more when you take good care of the schools you already have.”

Modernization is an important part of the life cycle of a school. The changes visible in these photographs reflect an investment of money and time, and although modernization is certainly inconvenient for a staff during construction, that inconvenience is outweighed by the fact that these classrooms now reflect our standard for function and are ready for the next 25 years of service to the children of their neighborhoods, our district and our community.

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PRO-PT Rotator Cuff Tears: Management Without Surgery

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ne of the most common causes of shoulder pain and stiffness is a rotator cuff tear. Studies show that 20 to 30 percent of people between the ages of 60 and 80 years

STEFFANI RICH, MPT, OCS, CPI

have a tear, and more than 60 percent of people over the age of 60 years will have a tear that has no pain symptoms.

Those numbers are astounding!

Most people will seek surgery as treatment; about 250,000 rotator cuff repairs are performed each year in the U.S. Recovery from surgery is not easy and can be very painful. Patients can expect a four- to six-month recovery period that involves physical therapy to restore normal range of motion and a return to activities. Often, patients in the work force will need to plan time off from work immediately following surgery.

So what other treatments are available for a rotator cuff tear?

Physical therapy has been shown to reduce pain and restore function in patients with rotator cuff tears. Recent studies indicate that 72 to 75 percent of people who chose conservative management, including physical therapy instead of surgery, were able to resolve pain and continue the activities of daily living without difficulty.

That’s great news!

So what can a person expect from physical therapy to treat a rotator cuff tear?

First, let’s look at the function of the rotator cuff.

It is made up of four small muscles that surround the shoulder and help move the arm. Without the help of these muscles, the shoulder joint does not move correctly and can damage the tissues in the joint. This damage creates pain, inflammation, loss of motion and muscle weakness.

Physical therapy creates a program aimed at alleviating pain, reducing inflammation, and restoring the motion and strength needed for daily activities.

All programs include a prescribed exercise program specific to each patient’s weaknesses and mobility loss, as well as patient education on managing symptoms at home.

Other treatments such as manual techniques or ice/heat may also be needed to help achieve the goal of resuming all activities without difficulty.

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VIRTUAL VALLEY Reducing Risk: Don’t Get Hooked by Phishing Scams “Exchange Server has blocked this message. Click to open safely via OneDrive.”

W

ithin this supposedly official university email was an indented copy of another email, supposedly from a student. The quoted message included the subject of a message that I had sent to a class earlier that day. Everything looked genuine, including a precise copy of the university’s technology support signature line complete with logos.

At first, I assumed that the student might have an infected computer and that the university’s server was protecting me as it should. In fact, the student was infected … but the alert on my screen was not from the university.

This email was a phishing scam that hijacked the student’s address book and emailed several of his contacts with university addresses.

Phishing refers to fake email or chat messages, often linked to a fake website, that hook the reader and encourage the offering of user accounts and passwords.

When I clicked the link in the fake email, Safari attempted to open a site matching the university’s email service.

The page asked for my account and password. Thankfully, Apple’s Safari browser and my Bitdefender security suite both stopped the process before I entered my password.

“This website appears to be fraudulent.” A large red exclamation point and warning alert box appeared.

Ignoring such warnings leads too many people to sites where they willingly enter account names and passwords.

Respect security warnings.

In July 2018, Google and Apple began warning users when websites failed to meet new security standards.

That July deadline saved me a great deal of heartache and embarrassment.

Those at the university who didn’t update their browsers or clicked to

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ignore security warnings were less fortunate.

Recognizing that hackers often mimic Google applications, the company implemented security improvements within the Chrome browser. Apple implemented similar features in Safari. These companies now require up-to-date security on all websites or they block the site.

An important part of the security measures is SSL or Secure Socket Layer connections. SSL requires encoded keys (extremely long random numbers) before a network server exchanges data with a client. A website obtains an approved SSL certificate and installs that public key on the server. The certificate, a small file, includes data about the security provider and an expiration date.

The provider, the certificate key and expiration dates must all pass tests or the

site is blocked as untrustworthy.

When a browser user enters an address or clicks a link to an address, the browser asks the intended website to confirm that it has a current SSL certificate and public key. The browser then quickly contacts the certificate provider to confirm the key. The entire process takes a fraction of a second.

Security warnings rely on users respecting the alerts. Google is considering stricter blocking because many users ignore alert messages.

Setting up a phishing attack like I experienced is complex and time-consuming. It was the same type of attack that fooled the Democratic National Committee during the 2016 campaign.

The malware reads contacts from an address book and attacks only those

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TEXT BY C. S. WYATT

from the target organization. Then, official-looking emails are sent without the initial victim knowing. These emails link to a fake website, something less obvious than “university.ru” or “gmal.com.” When the next set of victims then volunteer account information, the attack multiplies.

The website I was sent to included “secure.exchange.” in the name. Fake sites trick victims because companies and organizations now subscribe to many external online services. I’m accustomed to seeing long addresses that indicate service providers. The outsourcing of information services by organizations makes it difficult to determine what are legitimate addresses.

Safari and Bitdefender each required that I approve “university. desire2learn.com” and many other such addresses at the start of the school year. Currently, eight service providers with complex addresses appear in my approved list of certificates.

Reliance on Google, Microsoft, Amazon and dozens of specialty software as a service (SaaS) vendors means that the university almost invites phishing attacks.

Large organizations are bound to have at least one “John Smith” with a mail account. Using lists of the 1,000 most common names, hackers send carefully designed and tempting emails to that initial set of potential victims.

Once they have the account information for a dozen users, the attack multiplies like a real cold virus does. If each victim leads to four more, and so on, it soon becomes likely that someone in authority will give away account credentials.

Web users, website operators, browser developers and many others must share responsibility for security because any gap leaves us all vulnerable.

Users must update their operating systems and browsers. Also, change passwords every three months and do

not reuse passwords or pass phrases within two years. In Safari, the most secure sites’ names appear in green in the address bar. In Chrome, the secure sites show a lock icon before their names. Clicking on the lock icons in either browser’s address bar reveals information about the SSL certificate.

Do not trust any site that a browser cannot verify. If there isn’t a lock icon or green text, the site might be part of a scam.

When a presumed university service offered an expired certificate, I did not assume that this was a mere technicality. Warnings and red exclamation points protect you only if you respect those alerts.

Website security teams must keep SSL certificates current and secure.

Cheap and free certificates lack the best security features. It is a race against time, measured in milliseconds, to expire credentials and issue new keys to block attacks. The ever-changing public and private key schemes add overhead to Internet communication, but that’s a small and imperceptible cost to protect data.

In our embrace of cloud apps, we place a lot of information behind easily stolen account names and passwords.

Companies contracting with SaaS providers need to recognize that these platforms offer large targets. I use one account name and password to access university (and student) information.

Banks and hospitals are only slightly more secure.

That important data are vulnerable behind easily stolen passwords should worry everyone.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Visalia native Scott Wyatt has completed his Master of Fine Arts in Film and Digital Technology at Chatham University in Pittsburgh, PA. Scott has several additional graduate degrees and was a visiting professor of business communication at Carnegie Mellon University.

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KIDS' LIBRARY TEXT BY LEE LITTLEWOOD

Nonfiction Books Wow With Facts

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ome young readers prefer reading real facts in their books; others learn a lot from exciting nonfiction tales. These books introduce youngsters to horses, elephants, extreme weather and 14 extraordinary young women.

“How to Be an Elephant” by Katherine Roy; David Macaulay Studio/ Roaring Brook Press; 44 pages.

Elephants need all the appreciation they can get. Who wouldn't love a majestic creature with intricate family dynamics and an incredibly amazing lifestyle?

Subtitled “Growing Up in the African Wild,” Katherine Roy's lush picture book introduces a newborn elephant that has to learn – quickly – how to walk and rumble and drink and dine. Roy does an amazing job portraying the precarious journey that the baby takes on and provides detailed information on how her family assists so vitally. From how important a mother's milk is to how the baby's adult relatives' voices can reveal her identity and emotional state, Roy's incredible facts educate kids on the complicated yet naturally thrilling dynamics of an elephant herd. She researched “How to Be an Elephant” with a Kenyan expedition and up-to-date scientific research. (She read 100 books on elephants!) Roy's fantastic watercolors are a beautiful backdrop to such a treasure trove of truly fascinating information on one of nature's most breathtaking and complicated species.

The animal-loving writer adds an author's note, further reading and film recommendations, as well as her research sources, map and trip itinerary.

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“Horses” by Seymour Simon; HarperCollins; 32 pages.

Seymour Simon is a prolific name in the world of children's science education books.

His nonfiction picture books are bold, with up-close, vivid photographs and large, clear text on white backgrounds.

With “Horses: All About Their Strength and Speed, Their Foals, Breeds and More!” Seymour updates his muchadmired book with new science and photographs to show how beautiful, amazing horses have continued to play an essential role in the lives of humans.

Simon's photo essay begins explaining the long, storied history about horses and presents a gorgeous photo of a horse galloping in front of a sunset, as well as a horse cave drawing.

He tells how horses were brought to America 500 years ago by Spanish explorers and even includes a hilarious picture of a horse smiling and showing off his big, yellow teeth.

Simon's latest is a top-notch, perfect must-have book for all horse lovers.

“Al Roker's Extreme Weather,” HarperCollins; 42 pages.

Al Roker, weatherman on the “Today” show, concocted this photo essay of extreme, breathtaking weather photos and facts. Perfect timing, as the last year has seen its share of tragic, record-breaking weather events. Set up in a scrapbook-like array, Roker begins by introducing himself and his storied

career. He makes sure to mention the importance of safety and taking precautions. He then divides the picture book up into “Predicting the Future,” “Storms,” “Dangerous Conditions,” “Aftermath” and “The Final Word” (about the importance of science and news and spreading the word about weather and climate change). He adds in a section about the biggest, deadliest, most extreme storms, followed by a glossary and how to learn more.

Older readers interested in storm stories will enjoy the thrilling book “A Storm Too Soon: A Remarkable True Survival Story in 80-Foot Seas” by Michael J. Tougias, published by Henry Holt, adapted from the adult novel about four intrepid Coast Guard members who braved a savage sea storm in order to find stranded sailors.

“Shaking Things Up: 14 Young Women Who Changed the World”

by Susan Hood; HarperCollins; 36 pages.

Thirteen stellar women children's book illustrators come together to create this artsy, inspiring, lovely collection of some of history's most trailblazing young women, one as young as 6 years old. From 13-year-old Mary Anning, who unearthed an important prehistoric fossil, to 21-year-old Maya Lin, who designed a war memorial and then had to appear before Congress to defend her right to create it, Susan Hood's inspirational poems are magnificent. Her encouragement to young girls to shake things up makes a super-smart gift for children. The artist contributors are stunning as well.

C U LT U R E , C O M M E R C E A N D C O M M U N I T Y I N V I S A L I A A N D T U L A R E — T H E H E A R T O F T H E S O U T H VA L L E Y

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Our Shop This is a quick glimpse of our shop and its personnel.

Let's start with Patrick, who works a few hours a week and helps ease the load of picking up parts, cleaning and helping out on jobs. Tari, our first female tech trainee, good to have her with us. Next is Mike; he does general repair and always brings a smile, which we need at times in our field. Jason runs the service desk and is like an air traffic controller directing repairs, parts, phone calls, estimates. This is a very demanding position. Then we have Rafael, our newest tech; from simple to complex, it is done. Lori is our office manager, always watching my back. She likes to be called our “Uber” driver, shuttling customers and making them feel welcome. Finally is Shawn; hard to make this place go without him. Multi-talented; just give him a tired Jeep and watch him make it feel like new.

I am thankful for this crew and their talents.

Till next article – leaving this a.m. to go see my “Little Man,” our grandson Joel and the people he lives with.

Blessings to All,

Jim and Staff

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C U LT U R E , C O M M E R C E A N D C O M M U N I T Y I N V I S A L I A A N D T U L A R E — T H E H E A R T O F T H E S O U T H VA L L E Y

CRAFT CORNER TEXT BY IMAGINEU CHILDREN’S MUSEUM

Marbled Vase

D

o you ever have a hard time finding the perfect fall décor for your home or family get-togethers? Try out this Marbled Vase with a simple tealight candle or a bundle of fall flowers. It’s an inexpensive, creative and fun way to get the look that expresses your style!

WHAT YOU WILL NEED • Vase (found at the dollar store) or a Mason jar • Craft acrylic paints • Brushes • Scissors

• Plastic baggie • Mod Podge Outdoor glue or clear acrylic sealant • Raffia or ribbon (optional)

DIRECTIONS 1. To begin, clean out the inside of your jar/vase with warm water and dry it well.

2. Now, use your paintbrush to dab generous amounts of paint to the inside of the jar/vase. Repeat this process using the various colors and applying generously.

3. Once you have a light coat of paint covering the jar, add a few generous globs of paint to the inside. These paint globs will fall to the bottom of the jar/vase. That is OK; they won’t be there for long!

4. Next, add a teaspoon of water to the jar/vase. Don’t go overboard as a teaspoon is all you need.

5. Place a lid on the jar if you have one. If not, a plastic baggie will do.

(Place the baggie over the top of the vase and twist the side to make it tight.)

6. Now comes the fun part! Start shaking! Shake the jar/vase vigorously so that the paint will move and spread.

7. Remove the lid or baggie. Use your paintbrush to touch up any areas that the paint missed.

8. After the paint has dried, now you need to seal it with a coat of Mod Podge Outdoor or clear acrylic spray.

9. Optional: Wrap a ribbon or strands of raffia around the neck of the jar/vase.

10. Add flowers or a tealight candle for the finishing touch.

Happy Crafting!

ImagineU Museum’s upcoming events: Halloween Village, Oct. 31, 3-7 p.m.; Lego Robotics Tuesdays and Thursdays, Funky Physics, Night at the Museum the last Friday of the month and lots more to come. Please call the museum for more information (559) 733-5975 or visit our website at www.imagineumuseum.org.

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C U LT U R E , C O M M E R C E A N D C O M M U N I T Y I N V I S A L I A A N D T U L A R E — T H E H E A R T O F T H E S O U T H VA L L E Y

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C U LT U R E , C O M M E R C E A N D C O M M U N I T Y I N V I S A L I A A N D T U L A R E — T H E H E A R T O F T H E S O U T H VA L L E Y

TULARE CHAMBER

T

he Tulare Chamber of Commerce exists to serve its members and residents by advocating for and engaging in efforts to encourage economic opportunity and business prosperity. The Tulare Chamber supports businesses by building partnerships, providing educational opportunities, and advocating for its members and community.

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3 1. Located at what was formerly Tagus Ranch, 99 Palms Inn & Suites was purchased three years ago and the new owners have been making significant improvements to the property. The renovations and grounds improvements were celebrated with a ribbon-cutting ceremony. The rooms are spaciously arranged around the courtyard, which features a swimming pool. One of the deluxe rooms has hand-painted murals on every wall. Back in the day, Tagus Ranch hosted celebrities including Ray Charles, Ricky Nelson and Jerry Lee Lewis. To learn more about 99 Palms Inn & Suites, visit www.99palmsinn.com.

2. Grandma’s House, an after-school tutoring program and preschool, celebrated the grand opening of its seventhand eighth-grade Math Academy with a ribbon cutting.

A special remembrance and dedication was held to honor Kevin Blain’s memory and the contributions he made to Grandma’s House. For more information on the programs offered, call (559) 687-0925 or visit grandmas-house.org.

3. The Tulare County Fair hosted the September Business After Hours Mixer as a kick-off to the fair, which was held Sept. 12-16. Attendees were treated to a Mexican fiesta.

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5 grounds that can be rented for special events.

For information on the fairgrounds, call (559) 686-4707 or visit tcfair.org.

4. The Tulare Chamber Ambassadors collected school supplies for children who are displaced from their homes in situations such as foster care or emergencies. The chamber would like to thank the individuals and businesses that generously donated to this cause.

5. Maria Lango and Crystal Liu interned at the chamber this summer through CSET. The chamber is always grateful for the opportunity to have students help in the office and to give youth the opportunity to learn work skills and interact with professionals. Crystal and Maria were wonderful additions to our office and even helped us celebrate International Waffle Day. Crystal is attending UC Davis this fall, majoring in biological science, and plans to become a physician assistant. Maria is attending COS majoring in anthropology, would like to go into the Air Force and plans to be a forensic anthropologist/pathologist. Thank you to Black Bear Diner for providing the delicious waffles for our staff and interns.

PHOTOS SUBMITTED BY THE TULARE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

C U LT U R E , C O M M E R C E A N D C O M M U N I T Y I N V I S A L I A A N D T U L A R E — T H E H E A R T O F T H E S O U T H VA L L E Y

VISALIA CHAMBER

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he Visalia Chamber of Commerce serves as the local “voice of business” as it advocates for businesses throughout Visalia.

Each month, the chamber facilitates a variety of events to support and further the success of the community.

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4 PHOTOS SUBMITTED BY THE VISALIA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

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1. The Visalia Chamber would like to congratulate Krystal Rodriguez from Mitchell Insurance Services on being named Ambassador of the Month.

Krystal attends many chamber functions representing her company and promoting the work of the chamber. We are thankful to all of our amazing ambassadors!

2. The Visalia Young Professionals Network hosted a great mixer at Burgerim, a new restaurant located on Mooney Boulevard. The Visalia Young Professionals hosts quarterly mixers throughout the area to help young professionals get more connected and engaged in the community.

3. The chamber was honored to attend the ribbon cutting for Galisa Haus, a boutique nail salon. The facility was beautiful, and the employees were generous and hospitable. Ribbon cuttings are a great way for new members to meet other members and promote their businesses.

4. The Emerge program has just completed five of its 12 classes. One of the classes was focused on “Marketing on a Budget.” Thank you to Kim Batty from KB Concepts for bringing her knowledge and experience to share with everyone.

We would also like to thank our other speakers who have participated in this program: Robert Ainley (Dowling and Aaron Inc.), Don Sharp (Buckman-Mitchell Insurance) and Brett Sutton (Sutton and Hague Law Corp.).

5. We would like to congratulate the Visalia Convention Center on hosting an outstanding Business After Hours mixer in September. The hula theme was a big hit, the food was delicious and everyone enjoyed watching the hula dancers perform.

After Hours mixers are the perfect place to meet new people and build your business network.

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C U LT U R E , C O M M E R C E A N D C O M M U N I T Y I N V I S A L I A A N D T U L A R E — T H E H E A R T O F T H E S O U T H VA L L E Y

CROSSWORD 9 Hot place 10 Sediment 11 Scat great 12 Europe’s neighbor 13 Freshman subject 16 Order of whales 20 Star-shaped 22 Pertaining to counting 23 Crucifix letters 26 Cape of Good Hope discoverer 27 Adams, of song 28 Pub missile 29 ___ of Orleans 30 Cartoonist Peter ___ 31 Letter opener 32 ___ glance 33 I ___ Rhythm 34 Lyric writer of 33 Down 38 Farm structure 43 Sofas 45 Goblin 46 Play beginning 48 Masks 49 Furious 50 Celebrity 51 Butterfield 8 author 52 Off the wall 53 Certain degrees

Wish You Were Here ACROSS 1 Surfeit 5 Baird the puppet maker 8 A Kennedy 12 Capital of Jordan 13 A Guthrie 14 Kind of eye 15 Virgin Islands postmark 17 Valley 18 ___ a Song Go Out of My Heart 19 Lab burner 20 Berger, of films 21 Jersey shore postmark 24 Regret 25 Required 28

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29 32 35 36 37 39 40 41 42 44 46 47 54 57 58 59

___ X : Turner film It’s ___!

Actress Lupino You ___ There Portugal postmark Broadcast ___ jiffy Lariat Desirable quality Of the back Broke fast Cape Cod postmark Holiday word After eras ___’s life!

Jai ___

54 TV sitcom 60 62 63 64 65 66 67

Florida postmark Revue piece German graybeard Old coins of Scotland Sharpen Journal ending Do as ___ . . .

55 Northeastern Nevada town 56 Maugham story 60 West, of Hollywood 61 ASCAP counterpart IN CLOVER - SEPTEMBER ISSUE

DOWN 1 Coloring agent 2 Swiss writer: 1821ñ81 3 Trumpet blast 4 Differ add-on 5 Mustang 6 Sacro extender 7 Smoked salmon 8 Cheap whiskey

LOOK FOR YOUR ANSWERS IN THE NEXT ISSUE

C U LT U R E , C O M M E R C E A N D C O M M U N I T Y I N V I S A L I A A N D T U L A R E — T H E H E A R T O F T H E S O U T H VA L L E Y

100,000 Reasons to Vote for Craig Wheaton Because all kids are not the same!

Hired by Jim Vidak as Deputy Superintendent, Dr. Wheaton’s experience includes positions as high school counselor, community college instructor, high school coach, teacher, student adviser, assistant principal, elementary school principal, district curriculum director, and superintendent. He has been with Tulare County Office of Education since February 2016 serving as Deputy Superintendent.

Just a few of our community leaders and educators who endorse Craig Wheaton for Superintendent of Schools: Barry Sommer, Education Psychologist, Director of Advancement LUSD

Ralph Porras, 2016 President, Association of California School Administrators

Don & Shelly Groppetti

Dave Humerickhouse, Charter Board Member

Eric Shannon Pete Sherwood

Todd Oto, Superintendent VUSD

Don & Linda Sharp

Bob Aquilar, Principal

Donna Martin, Past Board Member VUSD

“I believe in and insist on accountability. I support strict school safety measures and high standards of financial integrity to make sure our tax dollars are spent in the classroom.”

— Craig Wheaton

Marie Pinto, Administrator Cindy Jacobsen

Go to www.WheatonForSuperintendent.com • Craig@WheatonForSuperintendent.com PAID FOR AND AUTHORIZED BY WHEATON FOR SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS 2018. FPPC NUMBER: 1401451

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C U LT U R E , C O M M E R C E A N D C O M M U N I T Y I N V I S A L I A A N D T U L A R E — T H E H E A R T O F T H E S O U T H VA L L E Y

GOINGS-ON Breast Cancer Ride Take part in the Lost Girls Motorcycle Club’s annual breast cancer ride to benefit the club’s Mammogram Fund. There is a “women’s only ride” and a men’s/couple’s ride. The cost is $25 per person, which includes lunch and a raffle ticket. The club was founded in 2006 as a nonprofit.

When: Oct. 2, registration 8 a.m., ride at 10 a.m.

Where: Starts at the Kaweah Delta Breast Imaging Center and ends at the 4-K Bar Ranch in Exeter for lunch.

Contact: lostgirlsmc.com or call Sunny at (559) 967-3974

Fiestas en la Plaza Join us for a celebration of Visalia’s diversity honoring Latino culture. This event will entertain all who attend with traditional folklorico dance performers, mariachi music, dancing, children’s activities, community service booths and local Mexican cuisine.

When: Sept. 30, 12:30-4:30 p.m.; Oct. 28, 12:30-4:30 p.m.

Where: Garden Street Plaza, 300 E. Main St., Visalia Contact: (559) 713-4365 or recreation@visalia.city Library Fundraiser Exeter’s Friends of the Library will hold its first Christmas Tree fundraiser, with a 7-foot fully decorated community holiday tree be awarded Dec. 4.

Tickets go on sale Oct. 2 at $1 each, six for $5 and 15 for $10. Donate a new or gently used ornament through Nov. 30. An ornament crafting day for children is scheduled Oct. 13 during the Fall Festival.

When: Oct. 2 to Nov. 30 Where: Exeter Branch Library, 230 E. Chestnut Ave., Exeter Contact: (559) 592-5361 30

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Taste of Downtown Visalia If you know Downtown Visalia, you know we have the best food around.

Come out and enjoy food from more than 30 amazing restaurants. We will have wine and beer tasting, too! There will be live music to enjoy while you walk the beautifully lit Downtown streets.

When: Oct. 2, 5-8:30 p.m.

Where: Main Street, Visalia Contact: (559) 732-7737, info@downtownvisalia.com Woodworkers Exhibition, Reception Arts Visalia will present both the annual 3-Dimensional Form and Function Exhibition, entitled “The Woodworkers,” and 2-dimensional artist Mikayla Gutierrez in October. Free admission.

When: Exhibition runs Oct. 3-26. Gallery hours noon-5:30 p.m. WednesdaysSaturdays. Opening reception Oct. 5, 6-8 p.m.

Where: Arts Visalia Visual Art Center, 214 E. Oak Ave., Visalia Contact: (559) 739-0905, artsvisalia@sbcglobal.net

Round Up Join Happy Trails Riding Academy and enjoy a cowboy picnic BBQ, music, wine buy, parade of horses and a silent auction. Tickets: $35, tables: $280 When: Oct. 5, 6-9 p.m.

Where: Happy Trails Riding Academy, 2773 E. Oakdale Ave., Tulare Contact: Leslie Gardner, (559) 688-8685 Valley Oak SPCA Annual Wine & Wags Gala, Auction You're invited to attend Valley Oak SPCA's ninth annual Wine & Wags Gala and Auction, where you will enjoy a delightful evening of wine and food tasting, live and silent auctions. Hors d'oeuvres and wine/beer tasting and a full cash bar are available. Proceeds support Valley Oak SPCA's no-kill animal rescue mission. Must be at least 21 years of age.

When: Oct. 5, 6-10 p.m.

Where: Visalia Wyndham, 9000 W. Airport Drive, Visalia Contact: www.vospca.org Western Round-Up The Visalia Mighty Oak Chorus invites you to come out to its Western RoundUp for a tri-tip BBQ dinner, silent auction, country music band, and chorus and quartet singers. $20.

When: Oct. 6, 5 p.m.

Where: Ritchie Barn, 16338 Ave. 308, Visalia Contact: Rod Robinson, (559) 8022500, visaliamightyoakchorus.org

C U LT U R E , C O M M E R C E A N D C O M M U N I T Y I N V I S A L I A A N D T U L A R E — T H E H E A R T O F T H E S O U T H VA L L E Y

Plowing Through Time The Tulare County Historical Society presents Plowing Through Time, celebrating 70 years. There will be refreshments and history talks, a barbecue featuring tri-tip, chicken and sides prepared by the Happy Cookers, and live music by the Fabulous Studio Band of Porterville High and more. Proceeds benefit the preservation of historic farm equipment. Tickets: $50.

When: Oct. 7, 3:30-6 p.m.

Where: Tulare County Museum, Mooney Grove Park, 27000 S. Mooney Blvd., Visalia Contact: Peggy Bragg (559) 786-4972.

Tickets: Lari Ohmen, (559) 799-1164 Annual Exeter Car Show Join the fun at the 11th annual Exeter Chamber of Commerce Fall Festival Rick Mosley Memorial Car Show. There will be hot rods, bikes, classic cars and more. Free admission.

When: Oct. 13, 9 a.m.-3 p.m.

Where: Downtown, North E Street, Exeter Contact: Exeter Chamber of Commerce, (559) 592-2919 Veterans Fundraiser A Combat Veteran's Hope, a Visaliabased organization for combat veterans of all generations, is holding a yard sale fundraiser. All items will be donated by members and the community, with proceeds to help the group continue its mission to empower combat veterans through engagement with each other and their community.

When: Oct. 13, 7 a.m.-noon Where: Veterans Memorial Building, 609 W. Center Ave., Visalia Contact: www.acombatveteranshope.org

A Night to Remember Embrace culture through the arts and reflect on the event's emphasis on entertainment from different cultures.

There will be Native American dancers and drummers, Filipino dancers, solo harp music, country musician Patti Torrey and a full dinner. There will also be wine tasting, chocolate sampling and more! $50.

When: Oct. 13, 5-11 p.m.

Where: Nuckols Ranch, 13144 Road 216, near Porterville Airport Contact: Linda Hinojosa, lin_hinnie@yahoo.com, (559) 544-7325 An Evening on the Red Carpet Join as we walk the red carpet with local and national celebrities during the Visalia Emergency Aid Food Pantry’s third annual “Evening on the Red Carpet.” The event includes silent and live auctions, fine food and dancing.

Proceeds benefit the food pantry.

Tickets $75 per person.

When: Oct. 13, 6-10 p.m.

Where: Giant Chevrolet Cadillac, 1001 S. Ben Maddox Way, Visalia Contact: veac.org Annual Legacy Dinner Join ProYouth in celebrating Pat Hillman at the sixth annual Legacy Dinner. Each year, ProYouth provides 16,000 children with after-school enrichment programs, all in a safe and innovative learning environment.

To become a sponsor or purchase tickets, visit www.proyouthexpandedlearning.org.

When: Oct. 18, 5 p.m.

Where: Visalia Convention Center, 303 E. Acequia St., Visalia Contact: www.proyouthexpandedlearning.org

Springville Apple Festival Come to the Springville Apple Festival.

This annual event is appealing to all age groups. Since 1980, the small event has grown to be an impressive and wellknown festival drawing thousands of people every year. There will be food, refreshments, entertainment, music and vendors. Free admission.

When: Oct. 20-21 Where: 35680 Highway 190, Springville Contact: springvilleapplefestival.com Annual Pink Tea Party Please join us as Kaweah Delta raises awareness and celebrate those whose lives have been touched by all types of cancer. Featuring guest speaker Karen Mills, an ovarian cancer survivor and comedian. Cost: $30.

When: Oct. 21, noon-3 p.m.

Where: Visalia Convention Center, 303 E. Acequia Ave., Visalia Contact: (559) 624-2098, www.kaweahdelta.org/pinktea Annual Harvest of Handwovens Education, craft show, fashion show/ bridal, general, community event, for the family. Handweavers of the Valley present their 39th annual Harvest of Handwovens Show & Sale, featuring a fashion boutique and yarn shop as well as handwoven garments and household items for sale. There will also be used books and equipment available. Enjoy a raffle, demonstrations of spinning, weaving, felting, bead weaving, colorblending and dyeing of fibers. Specialty yarns for sale. Free admission and parking.

When: Oct. 27, 10 a.m.-3 p.m.

Where: Exeter Veterans Memorial Building, 324 N. Kaweah Ave., Exeter Contact: Nikki Crain, (559) 561-4048 or www.hwotv.org

If you would like to have your event considered for a free listing in our “Goings-On” section, please email your submission to direct@dmiagency.com. Please note, we do not guarantee listing of any submission. Submissions must be received six (6) weeks before publication.

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C U LT U R E , C O M M E R C E A N D C O M M U N I T Y I N V I S A L I A A N D T U L A R E — T H E H E A R T O F T H E S O U T H VA L L E Y

WARREN REPORTS TEXT BY WARREN GUBLER, VISALIA MAYOR

2018 Public Opinion Survey

S

ince the late 1970s, the city of Visalia has annually conducted some type of public opinion survey to gauge public satisfaction with city services. Originally, it was conducted via mail, followed by a phone survey, then in-person surveys.

Starting in 2017, a combination of in-person and online surveys were conducted, both in English and Spanish. Questions regarding Visalians' overall satisfaction with city services, use of city facilities and ideas to make Visalia better were included.

The 2018 in-person survey was conducted on Saturday, April 7. The online survey was conducted via Survey Monkey between Feb. 26 and April 13.

The in-person survey was conducted by members of our Citizens Advisory Committee, members of the police VIP program and city staff, with tables set up at grocery stores within each quadrant of the city. The results were reported to the Visalia City Council at its meeting on Aug. 6. The information contained in this article is derived from the staff report as well as from the PowerPoint presentation at that time.

In 2018, 1,289 responses to the survey were received. Of those, 92 percent were registered voters, 74 percent owned their own home, 60 percent identified as Caucasian, 25 percent identified as Hispanic, with the balance being from other ethnic groups.

Of the responses, 42 percent ranked Visalia's quality of life as high, 7 percent

as very high and 42 percent as average.

Interestingly, as reported salary range increased, the respondents were more satisfied that Visalia had a high or very high quality of life. As to Visalia's safety rating, 85 percent believed that our city's efforts in providing a safe community ranged from average to very high, and 66 percent rated police service as good or excellent, a 10 percent increase from the prior year.

As to fire services, 80 percent of those respondents who have had fire contact rated fire services as good or excellent, up 3 percent from the prior year.

Besides police and fire safety, 39 percent of the respondents believe that the next most essential services were road maintenance, 29 percent traffic signs and signals, 11 percent park maintenance and 10 percent recreation activities. According to the survey, 54 percent believe that bus services were good to excellent, 63 percent believed that garbage and recycling collection was good to excellent, and 52 percent believed that park maintenance was good to excellent.

Similar high marks were received for recreational activities, the Convention Center, community services for seniors and services for disabled people. As to the Convention Center, 64 percent of the respondents had attended events there in the last year. Again, the higher the income level, the more times respondents had attended events there.

In the last year, 79 percent had attended a city park, and 46 percent had utilized

city trails. Additionally, 47 percent had attended at least one Rawhide game in the last year.

As to the issue of homelessness, 50 percent rated the city's response to the issue as average to excellent, while 41 percent believed that Visalia could do a better job. As to recommendations to address the homeless issue, the top vote-getter was the work program, which the city has already implemented.

Other ideas included shelters, mental health services and relocation.

The ultimate question was "What is the most important thing that the city should be working on to make Visalia better?" The top vote-getter was homelessness, then gangs and safety, and roads. Some major takeaways were that crime, drugs, gangs and safety were mentioned more frequently than the prior year. Road maintenance is still a concern in northern Visalia, but southern Visalia is more focused on crime and litter.

Overall, the results of this survey appear to show that most Visalians are pleased or at least satisfied with the quality of life in our community. There is still much work to be done to address the issues raised and discussed. We thank the CAC, the VIPs and all who volunteered to conduct this survey.

Rest assured that the council and city staff will continue to strive to address these issues so that Visalia continues to be a place where people feel safe and we have a high quality of life.

If you have questions or topics regarding the city that you would like to have addressed in future articles, please email me at warren.gubler@ visalia.city. For past articles, visit directfromwarren.blogspot.com.

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