Tulare Nascar Track Will Move Forward
Tulare - Plans for a 50,000 seat Nascar race track will move forward now that the Tulare Agri-Center board has voted to support the big project on land they own east of the Farm Show site. The new race track will have parking for 40,000 cars. At the November 21 special city council meeting, the city is expected to hear about an MOU between Tulare Motor Sports Complex LLC (led by Fresno developer Bud Long), the Tulare Industrial Site Development Foundation and the City of Tulare. The deal has been under negotiation for the past year. The track is expected to attract thousands of visitors to the area and provide a big boost to business locally. The big project will need a full EIR but all entitlements for the multi-million dollar development are expected to be in place before the end of the year. The development required agreement by property owners in the area to agree to a sale at a set price-negotiations that took months. Details and reaction coming next issue December 6.
Assembly Line Builds New Weather Resistant Doors
Visalia - Alcoa owned Kawneer Company will add more than 100 jobs by January as it adds a third shift to their door and window production line. The line will run 24 hours a day beginning in the second quarter.
“Our plans for growth will nearly double our existing full time workforce,” said Norris McElroy, General Manager for the Western Region. “Commercial construction continues to grow at an unprecedented pace and the need for architectural products is growing at record levels and that means good news for our company, our employees and our community.”
Human Resource Manager Rick Remillard says employment at Kawneer is expected to grow more by the end of 2007 when the company will increase from 50 salaried employees to 75 and hourly workers from 100 today to 225.
That would put the aluminum door manufacturer about the same employment level with the 1990s when the company had an extruded aluminum line that was very labor intensive says Remillard. But Kawneer closed that line here in the late 90s and does only assembly and painting here. Forming of aluminum is done in Canada by a sister Kawneer Company. Remillard says Alcoa a few years ago decided to recommit resources to the Kawneer Company and since then the company has been on the grow hitting the US building boom at the right time.
Real estate development, office and retail storefronts all require more fixed and sliding doors and large window frames and the high rise market has been doing well too. “We supply many of the doors and windows for high rises in Las Vegas.” As far as retail is concerned the company does storefronts for Kohl's and did the storefront for the Visalia Kohl's.
Remillard says the current push to increase employment comes from the demand for new weather resistant door and windows from the Gulf Coast where many buildings (and new construction) are being retrofitted to handle hurricane winds and rougher weather. “That's what this new line does,” he says.
Kawneer has some major capital expenses in 2007 he says and building additions in the work that will allow it to move product more efficiently and faster he says. The 225,000 sf plant sits on just under 20 acres with about three acres of that available for future construction.
Remillard says Kawneer will be offering workers between $13.10 to $13.50 an hour along with an Alcoa health plan. Currently the firm has about 75 temp jobs that will be replaced by permanent workers.
Remillard says Visalia's location in the middle of California allows it to set a quick turn around service to supply doors to customers in less than week to the LA or Bay area market. “That makes us more competitive.” Its location near ports allows it to bring in foreign metal when a customer demands it.
Visalia - Chapman University plans to occupy a new 25,000 sq. ft. building next to K-Mart in late 2007 says campus director Dr. Glen Parsons. “We've just about completed our lease signing” says Parsons for the space to be built by the landowner The Uhlmann Group. The space will be a welcome relief says Parson since the current Visalia campus has just 8,000 sq. ft. serving 2,000 to 2,500 students annually. Their current site is on Meadow Lane behind Taco Bell.
“We've operated in the area since 1970 when classes were offered at the Naval Air Station in Lemoore,” says Parson noting the university itself is one of the oldest colleges in California launched in 1861 in Orange, California.
Also in the works is a new 15,000 sq. ft. location for a Chapman Hanford campus at a yet to be determined location that “should open about the same time if not sooner,” Parsons said. “We want to make sure like the Visalia location that the new Hanford location is highly visible.” Parson says the university offers college credit classes in the evenings and is in high demand but its growth has been limited by its lace of adequate facilities. “In Hanford we have current space from the school district,” adds Parsons. The current Hanford office is strictly administrative. Chapman accommodates 1,000 to 1,500 students annually in Hanford.
Parsons says the average student at Chapman is an adult who wants to complete college courses while continuing to work during the day. The college offered 9 week terms to receive classes that amount to three credits. “We tell students that they can take classes 2 nights a week for a 9 week term and end up with 30 credits a year. Using that schedule a person could complete college in 4 years.
Tulare and Kings counties have the lowest percentage of Bachelors degrees for the population in the nation and with the clear financial advantage a four year degree brings increases demand for convenient four year classes both private and public. COS is gearing up to increase four year school offerings through Fresno State over the next few years as well. Likewise in Hanford, COS on the strength of its passage of a general obligation bond, will build a new Hanford campus opening in 2010. On the other hand, West Hills College bond was not approved by voters hurting expansion plans in Lemoore.
By Vicki Plough
Hanford - After failing three times over the past ten years to pass a bond for a new Hanford Center, which would be another campus for the College of the Sequoias, Measure C was approved for a 22 million dollar bond with 59% of the 11,990 voters saying “yes” to this measure.
Measure C will bring many changes for COS, as well as build a facility on 180 acres in Hanford, which will cater to certain college majors, and offer some university transfer level courses. When asked why the past three bonds have failed, Dr. Bill Scroggins, President of COS, said, “Voters were not from the counties that were going to be affected. Voters care about their taxes and their direct benefit, and it's hard for anyone to compromise their taxes.” Dr. Scroggins continued to say that the district is “ecstatic” about Measure C, and the new Hanford center will benefit a lot of people in the area and surrounding areas. Not only will many people benefit from having an additional campus to choose from, but this will also make some room at the Visalia campus to expand some of their current programs, such as nursing and other science programs. There will be room for more students to attend these classes.
COS has been planning to add a Science Technology wing to the campus and new parking structures are in progress. Most science classes have had a waiting list, and many students have been trying for more than one semester to get into these classes. General Education and Nursing requirements include at least one semester of science. According to school officials, many students have graduated later than they had expected to because of the waiting time.
The bond for the new center will pay to build classroom space for the COS police and fire fighter academies as well as classes needed to become a corrections officer. Those classes which are now in Visalia will eventually relocate to Hanford. The center will also have a shooting range, police car drivers training, an extended nursing program, and other classrooms to hold some transfer level and satellite classes. The Hanford center is set to open in the Fall of 2010. Until the opening of the campus, all programs will continue to be offered at the Visalia campus.
Although the new school will hold 2500 students, there will not be enough students in some of the classrooms, or enough room, to offer all classes that the Visalia campus offers, however, the satellite classes would offer more options. Dr. Scroggins said, “This new campus will have two way audio/video capability, so even if only five people show up to take this class, this would be a success. This way, these classes are still offered at the Hanford campus, but no money is spent to hire additional instructors for these classes.” Dr. Scroggins continued to say that , along with saving money, more students ' needs are met by having the option to take these classes.
Although much smaller than the Visalia campus, the Hanford center will also include a bookstore, cafeteria, science labs, and seven full time faculty members.
When asked about any negative impact of the tax, Dr. Scroggins said, “This could affect some of the farmers. This kind of project tends to put a big impact on them and their land taxes.” Property owners in the Hanford District, which includes Goshen, Kings County, and parts of Visalia, will pay approximately $25 every year for every $100,000 based on their property assessed value.
A positive impact for many students will be less miles being driven, according to Tracey Neilsen, student at COS and resident of Hanford. “I have been driving to Visalia everyday for three years now. With gas prices being so high, it has cost me so much money in gas. That's difficult for me, especially since I'm a part time student.” Neilsen continued to say that with the new campus offering some classes she needs, this will save her time and money. “Having this new campus would make so many lives much easier. I would love to only have a five minute drive to school.” Neilsen will be attending nursing classes, and hopes to take these classes at the new campus.
There will be a board of citizens who will help make decisions for the construction and money flow of this project. “This puts power in the hands of people,” said Dr. Scroggins. “This also raises the involvement of the community.”
Besides the Visalia and Hanford campuses, Tulare will see a new COS campus built in the next few years with passage of a state bond this November.
Visalia - Engineers for Wal-Mart have filed building plans for a new 227,000 sf Super Wal-Mart, selling groceries, adding over 75,000 sf to the current store on East Noble. The plans are being reviewed by the city at this week's site plan review process.
The plan shows additions to the current building on both east and west sides as well as the north side entrance area, wiping out several rows of current parking. However Wal-Mart has purchased additional acreage to the east of the store where hundreds more parking spaces will be added.
According to the plan the new store will include about 45,000 sf of new grocery sales space, a 12,000 sf indoor garden area and 112,000 general merchandise space.
The new Wal-Mart site is now 18.35 acres with their addition of some four acres just east to the current store where the former State Regional Center will be demolished.
Because the store will be about a third larger—eating up some of the current parking—the new foot print will have 889 parking spaces compared to 836 today. The retailer is one of the busiest in town and with the addition of grocerieslooks like it will get busier when it opens next year.
Wal-Mart has searched for a site to build a Super Wal-Mart in Visalia but appeared to give up in the past year concerned they might not get the political support from the council to build on a new green site. Instead they are remodeling the old store built in the 80s, to add the grocery component as they have been doing across the nation.
Since Wal-Mart pioneered the idea plenty of others are doing large format grocery stores including FoodsCo with one store here and several stores on the drawing board in Visalia, Food 4 Less with a new store underway on Dinuba Blvd., Winco Foods with a new store under construction on Demaree and Caldwell. Walmart rival Target, who is building a super store selling groceries in Tulare, may want to do that in North Visalia as well. Add to this list all the rest of the grocers, SaveMart who also owns Foodmaxx, Albertson, Vons and the locally owned stores R & N, Best Buy and Youngs. Plenty of choices coming up for your grocery dollar.
Sequoia Ski Resort Sold
Sequoias - Montecito Sequoia Resort—an all season lodge between the two big national parks has been sold to Kings Canyon Park Services in a deal set to close at the end of this month. The 42 acre resort located at 7500 ft. elevation along the Generals Highway is well known as a premier cross country ski destination with 32 marked and groomed trails that extend over 48 miles. Several major events occur in the winter including the well known Chimney Rock race held in January. Winter activities also include ice skating, snowshoeing, tubing and even dog sledding. They typically get several hundred inches of snow a season. In the summer it has been marketed as a family camp with a small lake featuring a variety of outdoor activities such as hiking and fishing as the big draw located not far from several large Sequoia groves.
Founded by Virginia Barnes, its current owner, in 1946 as a girls educational camp, the facility has been marketed out of Aptos for years as an “all inclusive camp with guided activities all year long.”
With a spectacular view of the Great Western Divide, the facility has 36 lodge rooms and 13 cabins. But over the years the tough winter weather has clearly shown on some of the older buildings at the camp and the new owner says they plan some major upgrades. Incoming general manager Don Burton says the place will take on a new name Montecito Lake Resort and a new pricing structure will be instituted. Formerly the resort sought to attract mainly extended stay visitors from the large metro areas while few valley residents even know it's there. As for the facility upgrades, Burton says the company plans to build cabins that feature private baths unlike the rustic cabins there today.
In 1969 a heavy snowfall destroyed most of the buildings at the camp and the place was rebuilt over an eight year period reopening inn the late 70's. While some of the facility is rustic there is a friendly homey charm at the main lodge at Montecito Sequoia with a large fireplace, ping pong tables and even a hot tub to soak after an invigorating winter adventure. Meals are served cafeteria style. The place offers ski and snowshoe rentals as well as lessons and guided tours.
The new owners will be able to co-market their other local mountain facility with Montecito since Kings Canyon Park Services already owns and operates Grant Grove Village, including the newer John Muir Lodge, Cedar Grove Lodge, and Stony Creek, the later being strictly summer lodges.
Likely better capitalized Kings Canyon Park Services may have an easier time keeping access to the Montecito open in winter months when heavy snowfall often closes the road between Grant Grove and Sequoia Park. Access to Montecito is generally easier from the Kings Canyon side through the Big Stump entrance on Highway 180.
The area's other concessionaire Delaware North operates the Wuksachi Lodge in Sequoia as well as Bearpaw summer wilderness motel and a new luxury high Sierra camp down the Big Meadow road near Mitchell Peak just a few miles from Montecito Sequoia.
County Impact Fees Coming in Early 2007
By Miles Shuper
Tulare County - By the end of the first quarter of 2007 Tulare County will adopt impact fees as a major source of funding to handle the needs of a growing population which some say will have the county doubling in less than 30 years.
The fees, which are linked to the cost of new homes and developments, can only be used to offset the impact on new development on existing county services.
More than a year ago Tulare County hired MuniFinancial, a Temecula-based firm which offers financial and economic service to cities and counties to study the issue. The firm is being paid $47,000 for the study which is expected to be complete in early 2007, county officials said this week.
The county currently is working with cities and the building industry to establish the groundwork to set the fees. Last year the county adopted impact fees for subdivision developers to establish funds for future road maintenance.
Supervisors Allen Ishida and Phil Cox have been adamant in urging the adoption of the fees which many cities and counties have incorporated.
Ishida said growth which other areas already have experienced now is hitting Tulare County which he said must prepare to help finance the rising costs of essential services such as law enforcement, fire protection, schools and others including parks, libraries and roads. Cox puts it this way. “People are coming to Tulare County and we have to be prepared for it,” adding that predictions have the county's population doubling by 2050 and possibly even sooner.
“We need to build a new courthouse in Porterville and this mechanism will help us finance it,” says Ishida.
Ishida and Cox also stress the necessity of adopting impact fees to make the county eligible for matching federal and state monies for such needs. Many revenues are contingent on the amount of locally generated monies, they explained.
When the county ordered the study, one county official characterized adopting impact fees as establishing a policy of “growth pays its own way,” a policy which supervisors unanimously supported.
When the board decided to hire the consulting firm, county staff told supervisors a survey of 45 counties showed 19 of them already were collecting impact fees and seven more were considering them. Fresno and Kings counties already have them in place and Kern County has them under consideration, another indication of the growth impacting the San Joaquin Valley.
Eric Coyne, the county's media spokesman, said much groundwork is required before impact fees can be established and county staff has been working on that in conjunction with the consultant working on the study. One factor which takes considerable study is how the funds will be distributed once they are established and collected. The law says there must be a nexus between the new growth and the expenditure of funds for a particular project.
Tribe Hopes to Build $26 Million Dam on South Tule
Porterville - With hopes that a final agreement can be worked out between downstream Tule River interests and the Tule Indian Reservation as soon as next month and a request to fund a feasibility study for a new dam above the reservation, former tribal chair Alec Garfield may be on the cusp of success on a long term dream, an adequate water supply for the reservation.
In recent weeks the tribe got the support of the County of Tulare and the City of Porterville in their request to seek $3 million for the study of a reservoir on tribal land above the reservation village and Eagle Mountain Casino. “We asked Devin Nunes to carry the request and he agreed,” says Garfield who has been working on these plans a long time.
The South Fork of the Tule River begins high in the mountains southeast of Porterville, winds it way down and through the Tule River Reservation then on through the Success Valley to reach Success Reservoir, joining the rest of the Tule.
There was a time that the water would flow unimpeded, continuing on through Porterville then west towards the Tulare Lake.
The lake bed is now mostly cotton fields near the town of Corcoran and Success Dam is slated for reconstruction to meet seismic concerns. While the dam is being rebuilt much more water will go through Porterville and is expected to flood some of the cotton fields of Kings County.
In the meantime, property owners and other water rights holders along the South Fork are looking upstream where the Tule River Tribe is considering building a small dam that might hold water in wet years so that it will be available in dry years, a familiar scenario in Central California and, in this case, representative of a particular challenge for the tribe and its neighbors along the South Fork.
Because, in order to build a dam and store water, the Tribe must quantify its South Fork water rights, something it has been trying to do for many years.
Former Tribal Chairman Alec Garfield has become the tribal expert on water rights, working for a number of years to negotiate with the Tule River Association and South Tule Independent Ditch Company to determine what rights the tribe has to South Fork water.
At issue, in part, is a 1922 settlement of water rights along the South Fork. Although it has a trust responsibility to the Tribe, the federal government did not set forth water rights when it set aside the reservation and, as Garfield says, the "tribe wasn't at the table" in 1922.
Although it has worked closely with a water rights attorney for a number of years, Garfield said the tribe has hoped to accomplish a settlement through negotiation rather than litigation.
And, according to documents presented recently to the Porterville City Council and the Tulare County Board of Supervisors, it appears that a settlement may be close.
"We are optimistic," Garfield said. "Everything hasn't been finalized, but we think we're close.”
Close enough, he said, that the Tribe has asked Congressman Devin Nunes to sponsor a bill in Congress to fund a feasibility study for a dam to be built high up on the South Fork.
Such a study will help determine if a dam can not only provide a secure source of water for the reservation but might also benefit all South Fork water users by allowing water to be stored upstream in high water years and released as needed in dry years.
In a letter approved in September, the Board of Supervisors told Nunes that it has been following the water rights negotiations between the tribe, the federal government, and neighboring downstream stakeholders. A final agreement between the negotiating parties is likely within the next few months, the letter said.
“The agreement between all parties will suggest the construction of a water impoundment facility and water delivery system,” the supervisors wrote.
“These facilities will be based within the boundaries of the Tule River Reservation. A guaranteed and stable supply of water is essential to the interested parties and continued growth within the community.”
“To finalize and implement any agreement between the negotiating parties, it is critical to determine the feasibility of the proposed water storage facility. We encourage you to introduce legislation that would fund a feasibility study to determine the best location and design for a water impoundment facility and delivery system.”
Water isn't the only concern of the Tribe as it works to meet the needs of an increasing population of young people along with older people who would like to return to the reservation.
Although the reservation is quite large, at more than 55,000 acres, much of the land is unbuildable; it is either too steep or too rockylevel land that can pass “perc” tests and support septic tank systems is getting harder and harder to find according to Tribal Chairman Neil Peyron.
In addition to working to quantify and secure its water rights, the tribe has purchased several ranches adjacent to the reservation in recent years, in part for water rights available to those lands and in part to provide more building space. But taking that land into trust for the tribe is a long and expensive process, Peyron said.
Text by Claudia Elliott and John Lindt
Big Party Expected For King of Miniature Roses
Visalia - Visalia loves a celebration and there will be a big one come January 14th—the 100th birthday of the King of Miniature Roses—Ralph Moore.
Initially planned for 200 people, daughter Eleanor Bergthold tells the Voice they are scouting for a new location for the birthday bash because more people are expected to pay a visit to honor one of Visalia's most famous residents. “We are getting notice that at least 100 rosarians are coming in and need accommodations around town,” says the Visalia Visitors Bureau staffer Beth Bruegman. That's flower speak for folks who can't seem to get enough of the seemingly infinite varieties of roses being bred—most of which were developed by Mr. Moore over the years. So modest regarding his rose breeding talent, Moore told the LA Times in a story last year that he is reluctant to take credit for his own creations, saying instead, “I was there when it happened.”
He is still at it reports daughter Eleanor. He is planting new varieties that will be revealed this spring. “His green thumb is still very active,” she insists.
Born in Visalia in 1907 like his father before him, Ralph had lived most of his life here except for a brief stint in Modesto. He has three children—Eleanor, Keith, and Mona who will all be in attendance as well as friends and fans of Ralph's work. Also expected will be friends who for all eternity have their names attached to the roses Ralph has created as he took to the idea of naming his latest variety after people he knew. One is named after the late Visalia historian Annie Mitchell, for example.
To this day, as a botanist and innovator, Moore has developed nearly 400 varieties of plants. But his love of roses has now spilled over into verse. For the past decade he's blossomed into a poet. He is a published poet. His book, “Thoughts of Roses” was published in 2003. What does Ralph write poetry about? You guessed it—roses. “I like to write about nature,” in general, he says, but roses are his favorite. He can be anywhere when a poem comes to him and he scribbles one out on any given day. “I never know when I'm going to get an idea.”
Ralph continues to live near his work at the nursery he founded 70 years ago in February 1937—Sequoia Nursery—Moore's Miniature Roses located at 2519 E Noble Ave. “He started it with just $800,” says daughter Eleanor noting that this is the nursery's birthday too. Eleanor said that the nursery is open to the public and will stay open and Moore will continue to take an active hand “as long as he wants to” although there are discussions with developers to but the acreage. She says Ralph wants to donate all the proceeds to UC Davis where they have promised to continue researching miniature roses. Meanwhile Ralph will have a life estate on the use of the property where he has carried on this botanical labor of love for decades.
Eleanor says the party is being called an “open house” and will be in the afternoon from 2pm to 5pm on January 14th with a program and speakers on the agenda. Besides where to throw the party the only other question is that “we just don't know how big of a cake to get.”
A few years back admirers and the city of Visalia dedicated the Ralph Moore Garden at the corner of Hall and Main St.
New Guest Worker Hope
Tulare County - Farmers enthusiastically welcomed the reelection of Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger and the defeat of several new tax measures they feared would hurt the state's ag economy.
“We know the governor will do a great job in his second term,” California Farm Bureau President Doug Mosebar said. “He's willing to work with both parties to tackle the state's challenges, and so are we. He knows that Californians will continue to enjoy affordable and quality farm products as long as farmers have access to reliable water, expanding markets and a healthy business climate.”
State propositions authorizing bonds to pay for improvements to the state's crumbling infrastructure were successful, including Proposition 1E, which provides $4.1 billion for levee repair and flood control. The four bond measures Farm Bureau supported for investment in public facilities (1A, 1C, 1D, and 1E) passed by large margins.
Proposition 1E is of particular interest to Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta farmers who have suffered levee breaks and flooding in recent years.
Charlie Crabb CFBF Governmental Affairs Division Manager said Farm Bureau opposed Proposition 90 (government property acquisition) which lost, because “we were not comfortable with language in the proposition and felt there were some things in it that might our members. We still have a strong commitment to a solution for reforming eminent domain laws.”
Those candidates Farm Bureau endorsed for state legislative seats won in every race and only a single seat in the 120-member Legislature shifted between parties, a stark contrast to the shift in party control of Congress.
Hope for Ag Jobs
On the national level, where the power shift to Democrats was dramatic most ag leaders say they want to wait and see what it will mean to the farm community. The Democrats picked up at least 29 seats in the House giving them a majority in that chamber. In the Senate they will control 51 seats compared to 39 for the Republicans. The seat change will shuffle key committee chairmanships important to ag.
But tops on ag's priority list is new hope that the change in the House will mean the industry's carefully crafted Ag Jobs bill now finally has a good chance to move forward. The measure has had the support of the majority of Democrats and labor and some Republican backing but many conservative Republicans blocked its passage earlier this year supporting an “enforcement only” policy and funding the erection of a new 700 mile wall on the US/Mexican border.
“We see the Ag Jobs bill being introduced this week in the House,” says Nisei Farmers League president Manuel Cunha in the so-called lame duck session. This week a letter went out to lame duck congressmen urging them to take action on the guest worker Ag Jobs bill that already has wide bipartisan support and the backing of President Bush. Passing the bill in the lame duck session this year “would allow us the time to formalize regulations in the next 6 months so we can put the program into action next year. Otherwise we would have to wait another year before we will have the program up and running.”
Western United Dairymen has long supported the AgJobs legislation on guest worker reform and will push for passage of a reform measure in the upcoming “lame duck” session. “We have supported what is a very good bill in this Congress and believe it has sufficient support to pass before the end of the year,” said Michael Marsh WUD Director. “To wait until the next Congress means you start over with new language, new sponsors and interests who might want a modification here or a tweak there. It could be months before we could rebuild the consensus of support that exists for AgJobs now.”
“In California, we're being hit heavily and they need to understand we need a solution this year,” Luawanna Hallstrom of Harry Singh & Sons said after the Oct. 26 congressional briefing. Agriculture will cease to exist without a steady labor pool, especially in the global market, and states like California and Arizona businesses are struggling to stay afloat with up to 50 percent labor shortages, she said.
Cunha says the departure of some high profile Republicans who have blocked the measure in the past may now see their way to voting for an Ag Jobs bill that affects only the labor needed to pick crops not guest workers for the rest of the US industry a far larger number. “Next year we can tackle comprehensive immigration reform the president supports,” Cunha believes. “If the Republicans do nothing then they are just going to lose more seats.”
AgJOBS would allow up to 1.5 million unauthorized foreigners who did at least 150 days or 863 hours of farm work during the 24-month period ending December 31, 2005 to pay $500 and any back taxes owed to obtain blue-card temporary resident status. This farm employment could be verified with pay stubs, tax fillings, contracts etc, and the legalization program would run for five years.
Blue-card holders, who perform at least 100 days of farm work each year during the five-year period beginning on the date of enactment, or at least 150 work days each year in a three-year period after enactment, could become legal immigrants (a work day is at least 5.75 hours). While in blue-card status, foreigners could also do nonfarm work, travel legally in and out of the US, and get work authorization for their spouses, who would not have to work in agriculture, as well as legal status for their minor children in the US.
Cunha is not optimistic efforts to use the current H2A program to bring in Mexican farm workers will work out. California Citrus Mutual has been assessing whether to try to tap the program.
Back in Congress farmers lost Richard Pombo who was the second ranking Republican on the House Ag Committee but Senator Cardoza, a Democrat from Merced and Jim Costa of Fresno will be on the Ag Committee to watch over local interests a good argument for local farm leaders to at least appear to be bipartisan. Local Congressman Devin Nunes retains his position on the influential Ways and Means Committee as valley advocate. Congressman Radanovich is losing the chair of the House Water and Power subcommittee. Bill Thomas has stepped down with Rep. Kevin McCarthy now representing the seat. On the Senate side farmers will be working with Senator Tom Harkin (D-Iowa) on the shape of the new Farm Bill. He is said to have an appetite for more conservative type programs.
With Democrats in charge and with the support from some Republicans including Mr. Bush, the election seen as bullish news for the crop-based renewable fuels industry with support for more biofuels. In fact the big three car makers were in Washington this week pushing for more ethanol infrastructure funding (e-85 pumps) and it looks like they got the green light.
Visalia Community Bank will build it's sixth branch in the area in the Mary's Vineyard Shopping Center says President Tom Beene. “It will be convenient for residential customers on the eastside of town says Beene. Look for the new “mini branch” and a second tenant to open in about a year.
It's Stark vs. Sunkist in Tulare County Supervisor Court this month in a trial not expected to wind up until mid December. The jury will hear claims by former Sunkist grower Stark Packing Company who pulled out of the co-op in 2001, says that Sunkist favored selective packers and growers in their sales and inspection policies. Former owner Brad Stark was a Sunkist director for years and the firm's founding member. Stark is claiming damages of up to $60 million.
West 198 Cooridor will be back on the front burner next week at the Visalia City Council when council offers the consultants they hired, BMS Design what they want them to do about planning an Ag Enterprise Zone in the West 198 area. “Basically we will give them their marching orders,” suggest council member Greg Collins.
The city is wrestling whether to keep the land formerly occupied by the Visalia Chamber of Commerce at Stevenson and Mineral King a park or move forward on a hybrid plan to allow the relocation of the former Frugulti-Black building. The site to be occupied as an office for the Presbyteria of the San Joaquin and leave the balance in park land. The city wants to clear the Locust and Noble site where the building is located because they plan this block for a future fire station. But some on the council feel the parcel on Mineral King is too small to sandwich in the building.
Dharma's, which billed itself as a cozy hideaway, at 514 E, Main just east of Santa Fe Avenue, has closed but plans call for it to re-emerge as The Bayou Room, a banquet and special occasion facility for Crawdaddy's, the newly opened downtown restaurant. Visalia Restauranteurs, a group composed of Mike and Mark Perry, Troy and Keith Korsgaden and Steve Buchannan, who purchased Dharma's and founded Crawdaddy's, expect the Bayou Room to be opened around Dec. 1. It will feature a menu based on that of Crawdaddy's, a New Orleans style fare and will be available for banquets and special events.
Fresno based Gottschalks has put itself on the sales block making it possible that the department store chain could merge with a rival like Federated Department Stores who owns Macys. That in turn could mean Visalia finally gets a Macy's but the Gottschalk's name goes away. The company's stock went from $6.30 in July to around $11 today. A few years ago it had fallen as low as $1.
SCE wants to extend power coming from its Big Creek hydro plant into the Visalia area grid at its Rector substation west of Farmersville. The new 22kV line would run 20 miles from Lemon Cove to the Rector substation bypassing Farmersville north of 198, much to that town's relief. But not every along it's proposed path is happy. The project would feature 109 steel towers up to 140 feet high. SCE needs to buy 18 miles of 100 ft wide right of way to make it happen. SCE will submit its application to the PUS in December and hopes to begin building in summer 2008 to be complete in 2009. At a public meeting this week Edison will be asked to look at alternate locations including using the existing right of way that runs due north to Big Creek just eat of McAuliff. “They could raise the towers' height and avoid buying new right of way,” says local farmer Brian Blain.
As expected the Visalia City Council approved adding Mearle's to the historic registry a few weeks ago meaning the owner can't make modifications without going through a hearing process. Three entities have contacted the Fresno owner to express interest in buying or leasing the landmark eatery and restoring it. But it remains to be seen what the Kazarian family wants to do and the building just sits there.
Dr. Don Goodyear is the new program administrator for the Sequoia Institute of Higher Education looking to bring more four year school options to Tulare County. A recent report to the city council noted that city funding will help pay $50,000 for the launching of the effort. The institute will contribute $100,000 to remodel the original nursing building on the COS campus for Fresno State classes. CSUF will pay $200,000 to upgrade the classroom space, and an application for $50,000 to market new class offering next fall has been made.
Paramount Farms has donated $4 million to Children's Hospital of Central California to help pay for a 50,000 sf expansion. The farming company includes Paramount Citrus in Visalia.
Olsen Nelson Insurance Services will become part of the Buckman Mitchell Financial and Insurance Services effective Jan. 1, 2007. The announcement was made last week by Rick Nelson and Mark Olsen along with Buckman Mitchell. In a letter to clients the Olsen Nelson firm said “”We are not going away. Our entire staff, Linda, Laura, Jessie, Ann, Jeff, Mark and Rick will continue to take care of your current and future employee benefit needs. The phone numbers will not change, just the name and where we are located. Olsen Nelson, currently located at 4020 S. Demaree, will move into Buckman Mitchell headquarters at 309 W. Main. Nelson said the move will provide clients and staff will greater resources and help continue the high level of services his company has provided. The announcement comes about two weeks after Buckman Mitchell announced plans to develop and move into another downtown location. Buckman Mitchell, one of Visalia's oldest and more prominent downtown businesses will occupy one of three 30,000 sq. ft. 2-story professional buildings along Santa Fe Avenue between Murray and Race Streets. That move is expected to be made in about 18 months.
Southern Tulare County
Tulare County - You've no doubt heard of meals on wheels. Now there are mental health services on wheels. South Tulare County Mobile Services Unit started a few months ago and offers mental health services to outlying rural communities. Towns such as California Hot Springs, Ducor and Earlimart where these type of services have been underserved or unserved are now just a phone call away. North County Mobile Unit or Unidos Para La Salud provides the same services to the northern part of Tulare County which covers towns such as Farmersville, Exeter, Cutler-Orosi,Ivanhoe, Sultana, and Yettem.
Cynthia Reveles, a licensed psychologist, is the Executive Director of the $880,000/yr. program funded through a Prop. 63 grant. “I am thrilled to be in charge of something so progressive,” said Reveles. She works for Kings View Corporation who was contracted by the county to run the program. A handout distributed by the program boasts that they offer “on your doorstep mental health services at no cost to you!” The mobile unit is staffed by case managers and licensed mental health therapists who are bilingual. Reveles added that the program has “flexible funding” which makes services even more available. These programs are intended to “do whatever it takes to assist the client in achieving stable mental health.”
Whatever it takes allows the staff to “provide a wide range of services not normally provided in traditional mental health clinics.” One example she gave is that if, for instance, a family needed new tires for their car in order to be able to bring their children in for counseling the program has funding for the tires. In an outlying community, Reveles said that they were able to help someone in a bad living situation with a rent deposit. The program has also paid for children to be in daycare while a mother attended counseling. Many of the reasons why people don't seek these types of services are taken care of through this funding. “We will go anywhere or even pick people up and take them to the office in Tulare at 201 N. “K” St.,” said Reveles.
In a few months an RV will be added to the program which will function as a traveling office. It will be located daily at various small communities in south Tulare County and a van will transport clients and families to the RV to receive services. The plan is to add a physician assistant who will do health screenings and wellness checks. It will be a comprehensive medical and mental health service. The valley has long been short on psychiatrists so to provide this service the traveling RV will have “telepsychiatry” where a patient is able to talk to a psychiatrist located in the Kingsview corporate office in Fresno, via a big TV monitor. Reveles said she would love to hire a psychiatrist but she has been unable to find one. Recently, she added , they have been talking with other agencies about the possibility of hiring a psychiatrist and sharing the hours between the agencies. She said that the Department of Corrections also uses telepsychiatry. One of their goals is to find a psychiatrist for the mobile unit and the Tulare office. Until this starts, patients have been taken to county clinics if they need to see a psychiatrist.
Judy Francois, Licensed Clinical Social Worker, is the Executive Director of the North County Mobile Unit. They are located at 119 S. Locust in Visalia and can be contacted at (559) 627-2046. She said that their program started in June and they have been using vans like the Tulare program until they receive an RV hopefully in about 5 months which will provide more comprehensive services such as will be in Tulare including wellness checks and health screenings. The Visalia program does have an in house psychiatrist, Dr. Tuason, who is available one day a week at the office on Locust St. At this time, patients are transported to him for services. When the program gets the RV, they will also have telepsychiatry using other physicians outside the area unless a face to face appointment is best for the patient.
Services are available to people who do not have mental health coverage on their medical insurance or who have coverage but for some reason such as transportation or a language barrier cannot access these services. Medi-cal is accepted as well as undocumented workers. The program has been conducting outreach to the communities being served and leaving information about the program at senior centers, schools, health fairs, libraries and rescue missions. Although the program focuses on providing services to the outlying communities, Reveles said that if it were determined that the person would have a problem “accessing or maintaining traditional services” they would be eligible to receive help through the program regardless of where they live.
For more information call (559) 457-9282 or go to the office at 201 N. “K” St. in Tulare. Or call 627-2046 or go to 119 S. Locust for north Tulare Co. services.
2007 Quad Knopf Sequoia Cycling Classic Seeks Sponsors
Visalia - Next spring, nationally recognized bicycle racing returns to the South Valley with the Quad Knopf Sequoia Cycling Classic in Exeter and Visalia, according to Race Director Sheri Clark. Sheri said, “The event is scheduled for March 17th and 18th of 2007. This full weekend event has the potential to draw well over a thousand racers from all over the United States and spectators throughout the Central Valley. A large field of the top Men's and Women's professional racing teams, large prize purses totaling $40,000, and high levels of excitement are expected.”
Bicycle racing in the southern part of the San Joaquin Valley has long been associated with the Sequoia Cycling Classic in Exeter and Visalia, California. 2006 marked the return of the event following a two-year hiatus, and the 17th time professional riders from around the world have joined non-professionals from throughout the western United States in a two-day event of bicycle racing. Linda Klien, Race Committee member and this year's Race Sponsor Coordinator, said “This year's race will be fantastic as the Race Committee is very well organized, preparation has occurred well in advance of the event, and the Committee has hired an exceptional Race Director in Sheri Clark.”
Throughout the years, the race weekend has taken many forms. The Saturday events have traditionally featured various road race and time trial courses in the Exeter area. The Sunday portion of the event has always been the Visalia Criterium, a short 0.7-mile “L”-shaped course winding through the streets of Downtown Visalia, which consistently makes for a fun family outing that features top professional and amateur racers.
A twenty year member of the local Southern Sierra Cycling Club, Mike Camarena said “In the 1980's bicycle racing was a unique event, especially in Central California. In 1985 the race came to this area when the event coordinator contacted the City of Visalia with the request to host the event because the City of Fresno was not yet willing to do so. Since that time, the local event has drawn Olympic Gold Medalists, international riders, and every notable American rider of that era, including Davis Phinney who has won more bike races in the United States than any other competitor. Even Lance Armstrong was here in the early 1990's and took 2nd place in the Exeter portion of the Road Race.”
Mike said that the Southern Sierra Cyclists Club has now embarked on their second year of working with Quad Knopf to build on this ongoing tradition. Mike is the group's direct liaison with the US Cycling Federation and personally worked with them to get the event back on the 2007National Racing Calendar. By doing so, the event is now on the calendar for professional race teams across the United States and riders worldwide and is the third leg of the Central Valley race circuit that starts in Merced, moves to Fresno, and now concludes with the Visalia/ Exeter race on three consecutive weekends.
Mike also commented that, “This event is a rare opportunity for recreational bicycle riders to participate with, and ride the same course as the professional riders. The Exeter portion of the weekend is open to all riders who want to register since it is an individual activity where the rider competes against the clock. Further, since the course is local, they can train on it well in advance of the event.”
This year's race will feature a 30-Kilometer Time Trial on Saturday that starts at Exeter High School, heads over the famous Rocky Hill into Yokohl Valley and then back again. Sunday will feature the classic Visalia Criterium that riders have come to love for the fast and wide course surrounded by spectators. Both days will include a Food Court, and Sunday's VIP Pavilion will ensure all VIP's, Sponsors, Volunteers, and Host Families are well-appreciated for their efforts and involvement.
Linda Klein added, “The Race Committee is currently working to secure sponsors to offer an exciting opportunity to have the name of their company associated with a fun and healthy event that will also benefit local communities. They are looking at a budget of $140,000 to do it 'right' with proper advertising, good planning, and big cash prizes to draw cyclists from all over the country. Becoming a volunteer, a Host Family or signing up to Sponsor the race are all incredibly helpful. Sponsors will receive placement in the 8.5 X 11 color program, along with logo placement on T-shirts and jerseys that will be worn for years to come.”
Linda said that early promotion will focus on website access to race information. Higher level sponsors will be included on all webpage designs, providing them nationwide exposure. As dates draw closer and community promotion begins, posters will be printed and placed prominently throughout Visalia and Exeter. A Race Program will be distributed throughout the weekend to riders and spectators which will include all sponsors. All sponsors are encouraged to provide race promotion staff with banners to display at the event. Event Sponsors—those sponsoring a particular race, such as the Men's Pro/1 Time Trial, or the Women's Pro/1/2 Criterium—will be invited to present awards at the podium for their event and take advantage of the great photo opportunity.
Anyone interested in becoming either a business or individual sponsor or otherwise assisting with the race can contact the Race Director Sheri Clark at (559) 285-7932 or email her at sccracedirector@yahoo.com or call, Linda Klein, Sponsor Coordinator, at (559) 636-1609.
Tulare County - Measure R appears to be gaining support as the county continues to count absentee ballots this week. Needing to pass by a two-thirds majority the half cent sales tax now has a 117 voter margin over the two thirds threshold up from a slim 20 vote majority, according to the unofficial count done election night. In their update on November 10th the election department said they still have 6,000 absentee ballots to process and 1890 provisional ballots. The next count will be done on November 17th and if the trend towards support continues the new tax will go into effect in April. It is expected to bring in $21 million a year to repair local roads and fund other transportation projects.
Tulare County's 5th District will have a new Supervisor to represent them replacing the retiring Jim Maples. Car salesman Mike Ennis outpolled Bob Perez (who withdrew from the race for family health reasons) for the seat 51% to 32%. Write in candidate Cam Hamilton, Porterville's Mayor, got 17%.
The hotly contested 30th Assembly District went to Nicole Parra, the Democrat representing Kings and Kern counties and a small part of Fresno and Tulare counties. Parra defeated Republican Danny Gilmore district wide but Gilmore got a 56% popularity vote in Kings County but lost big where Parra was strongest in her home Kern County. Parra will be termed out this time.
California voters do not reflect the state's diversity says the Public Policy Institute of California who notes that 7 out of 10 of the state's likely voters are white (72%) but they make up just 46% of the adult population. Latinos make up just 14% of likely California voters. Latinos already outnumber white voters in Tulare County and will outnumber them in California by 2020. The Institute says the profile of likely Latino voters shows 57% are Democrats, 21% Republicans and 67% are U.S. born.
COS and the city of Tulare got some good news this election with the passage of the 1D bond that will mean $60 million for the new Tulare COS campus. “Construction could start in about 18 months and be complete in 2 to 3 years” says the president of the college Dr. Bill Scroggins. “We will have a full community college in Hanford,” says Scroggins, which will mean more room eventually in the current Visalia campus. For Tulare, the Ag and Vocation classes will relocate to Tulare. Scroggins says plans to sell 100 acres of surplus land there on the open market will move forward in January to raise money for funds for the campus that are not covered by the state bond. The land will likely be bought by residential builders.
Thirty Six Hundred Acre Goshen Community Plan to be Heard
Goshen - The smaller towns in Tulare County don't seem to be worried about any real estate bubble or fears of over built subdivisions the way at least some folks in Visalia feel. Around Springville, Traver, Earlimart, Woodville, Poplar, Tipton, Success Valley and Yokhul Valley to name some, plans are moving forward to build thousands of new homes. Now Goshen is ready to join the party big time with a consortium of property owners/builders working with the county on updating the Goshen Community Plan.
Coming to the board as soon as December 5th will be a final contract with a development group to hire Quad Knopf on a 3,677 acre project study area on both sides of 99 west and east of Goshen say county planner Theresa Szymanis.
“The board of supervisors gave preliminary approval to the idea in May” Szymanis says and now the board will be asked to approve finalization of contracts with the consortium to launch the Environmental Impact Report on the big project, a process that will take one year she says.
Five homebuilders, Mangano Homes, Smee Builders, Centex, Campesi Homes and the Giazomazzi family are jointly paying for the EIR and other studies, “at no cost to the county” says Szymanis. The five builders own about 1230 acres with Mangano owning the largest chunk described by Szymanis as a “square mile” on the east side of the 99 north of Riggin. Mr. Mangano has said the planned mixed use development includes commercial and residential. More of the land on the west side of 99 is included in the plan where Goshen doesn't bump up against Visalia city limits.
The new Goshen plan will expand the community boundary by 3,677 acres but inside the boundary there is still land for development. For example, Pacific Real Estate Holdings will appear in front of the board to rezone nine acres to build 73 new homes. That's next to a 40 acre block owned by Self Help Enterprise that had been donated by land owner—Visalian Russ Doe. SHE Director Peter Carey says the agency is committed to building the town's first community park and recently sold off one acre to Cal-Water, the proceeds of which will go to the park, $50,000. Cal-Water in turn is building a major water tank on Riggin that will help drinking water and fire fighting water pressure in both Goshen and the Visalia Industrial Park.
The above stories are the property of The Valley Voice Newspaper and may not be reprinted without explicit permission in writing from the publisher.
November 15, 2006
