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Birds Count on Water
Basin Plan to Protect 22,000 Acres of Private Lands for Wetlands

Tulare County - This year's annual Christmas Bird Count around the Kaweah delta held December 16 got good news – the highest number of birds spotted ever – totaling 2,729 – reports the local Audubon Society. This, despite the fact that until recent days it has been a terribly dry year in the valley. Bird count data has been collected for the past 20 years, says

Visalia biologist Rob Hansen, who helped organize the effort. “We spotted 131 different bird species,” says Hansen – the best ever.

Part of the equation could be the skill of the eager volunteers to record the sitings, says Rob, suggesting the fact that people who care and are skilled can make a difference.

Hansen has carried this credo out in his own work to expand the wildlife habitat in the

Tulare Lake basin – once the home to 570-square-mile Tulare Lake that just teemed with wildlife until it was mostly drained for irrigated agriculture.

Today, these efforts include expansion of nature preserves in our area like the 725-acre Herbert Preserve off the Tulare-Lindsay highway dedicated just a few years ago and this week recharged with rain water. Precipitation in recent weeks has attracted birds that have spotted the seasonal ponds that dot this former pasture land. The preserve is owned by Sequoia Riverland Trust. To state the obvious – the more water that birds can spot flying over the countryside, the healthier the bird count will be.

New Wildlife Area

It's not often that bird habitat makes the “breaking news” but this month there is news in this category.

Hansen has been working as well with the federal Fish and Wildlife Service to finalize a plan for new wildlife area – The Tualre Basin Wildlife Management Area – where Tulare, Kings and Kern counties come together.

The project, located between Pixley, Wasco and Lost Hills (see map), was made final on Dec. 30, 2007 in a public notice. The plan protects 20,000 acres using “perpetual conservation easements” and up to 2,000 more acres that may be purchased for a total of 22,000 acres if local landowners choose to participate. These are private lands that surround existing wildlife areas, including the Pixley National Wildlife Refuge and the Kern National Wildlife Refuge. FWS would buy these easements from willing sellers. The plan would “support the long term viability of private wetlands in the Tulare Basin” along with remnants of vernal pools and slough channels as well as restore some wetlands in targeted parcels.

About 70 percent of the targeted lands are “considered high quality wildlife habitat,” says a FWS report. Migrant waterfowls, including northern pintail ducks, have a long history of using these wetlands.

Our area, the Tulare Basin, needs to catch up with government and volunteer efforts elsewhere in the Central and Sacramento Valleys, says Hansen, that have resulted in the restoration of large expanses of historic wetland habitat that birds have depended on for eons. Now, that's leading to larger populations of migratory birds than seen just a few decades ago.

Population Up

Migratory bird experts say that in the 1980s as more habitat disappeared along the Pacific Flyway, about three million ducks and geese used the corridor that reaches up and down the West Coast from Alaska to South America. Today, the number of birds on the Pacific Flyway is between 5 to 6 million. Numbers of geese species have also increased encouraged by wet years and more importantly, nurtured by restored habitat with water all along their winged migration.

While agriculture drained plenty of those waterways that used to draw these migratory birds over the past 150 years, it's been agriculture, community groups, agencies and tireless volunteers that have made the difference to bring back those habitats, at least to some degree.

“We are behind the curve compared to what they've done in the Sacramento Valley, but we are working on it,” says Hansen.

These efforts include work by irrigation districts like the Lower Tule ID that completed two projects in recent years to benefit wildlife, says general manager Dan Vink. Those projects include one near Terra Bella where ponds were restored by the district and another ponding system near Creighton Ranch on the Westside with water supported by the district that attracts Tri-color Blackbirds – a species that has been on the decline.

All Central Valley Project contractors pay into a fund to replenish wetlands in California – a fund that has gone more to the north valley than the south valley, say contractors who have urged spending of the millions of dollars sent for environmental restoration within the south valley where the Friant contractors (local irrigation districts made up of farmer boards of directors) are located.

Something else that's new is that increasingly, water districts are storing water in ponding basins that double as wildlife habitat. The City of Visalia and Kaweah Delta as well as TID partner on new ponding projects in our area and established a score or more new ones in the past decade.

Some places that have been drained in California, like Owens Lake on the eastside of the Sierra, to produce water for Los Angeles, are full again. In Sacramento, where rice is no longer burned, it decomposes in flooded fields in winter providing miles of lakes for migratory birds.

Locally, Hansen says cooperation between private landowners with the National Resource Conservation Service and the BLM has meant more ponds near Alpaugh and Atwell Island, both on the edge of what was Tulare Lake. Duck clubs have played a part as well, using member monies to restore wetlands in the area.

Duck Club Dates from 1895

One of the oldest duck clubs is Widgeon Land Co., that dates from 1895 and currently owns some 1,500 acres west of Delano, says its president Fran Burgess. “This is part of the old Poso Creek drainage that flowed into Tulare Lake,” says Burgess, noting that his organization maintains the ponds and pays for pumped or surface water through most of the year, using the ponds to hunt two months of the year. Not only do some 27 species of birds visit the area yearly – they give birth and raise their young at the ponding sites. “We're just one of several private duck clubs in the area,” says Burgess, “without our effort, there would be less habitat for both ducks and migrating shore birds.”

The organized effort by Sequoia Riverlands Trust to preserve over 4,500 acres in Tulare County at seven locations has made a difference for birds which use the valley floor and foothill land to nest and forage. This Visalia organization has attracted hundreds of volunteer supporters who want to preserve native lands.

Also, tax monies could expand wildlife habitat in Tulare County. Monies were set aside in the “Measure R” tax passed by voters in recent years to protect critical habitat in the county. In addition, the San Joaquin Valley Blueprint calls for connecting “wildlife corridors” in the south valley, particularly along river channels.

Large permanent bodies of water, like Bravo Lake near Woodlake, provide great bird watching including two nesting bald eagles that live there and seen this year on the latest bird count. The bird counters watched hawks at Slick Rock and birds of prey in Yokohl Valley. New species seen this year for the first time were sitings of red-naped sapsucker and a prairie falcon. While there were many ravens, the varied thrush was absent, says a report on the day's activities.

Increasing wildlife helps draw tourists, helping to justify the cost of wetland restoration, notes a recent study. The back-to-nature movement generated $31 million for California refuges alone. “People can connect to nature and provide an economic benefit to the local economy,” says the study. Six large refuges in California, including Kern NWR, draw 1.8 million people annually for bird watching, typically coming from outside the area.

Tulare County is particularly blessed with its rising foothills to Sierra ecosystems with varied bird species at every elevation. Audubon plans a field trip May 10 visiting Bravo Lake at the base of the foothills and Eshom Valley just above the conifer tree line expected to spot upward to 100 bird species. For more information, call John at 303-9706. To learn more about Sequoia Riverlands Trust, call 738-0211. The Trust owns and operates Kaweah Oaks Preserve east of Visalia.

Car Dealers Ready to Play Musical Chairs

Visalia - Visalia car dealers Frank Serpa and Vic Surroz are coordinating a move of Surroz BMW dealership to its new location off

Plaza Dr. and 198, followed by Serpa's move of his Kia Automotive line from Ben Maddox to Mooney next month.

Surroz is expected to move into his new location in February as the dealership is nearing completion next to his new Surroz Chrysler/Dodge/Jeep dealership on North Neely St. off Plaza. This will be the new home to his BMW car dealership currently housed at 3000 S. Mooney.

Meanwhile, Serpa, who purchased the Mooney property last year, plans to relocate his Kia line to Mooney and is working on expansive plans to make the dealership the location of a One-Stop Automotive service and repair facility with the whole enterprise called Mooney Auto Center.

Besides the service center and new car franchise, Mooney Auto Center will feature late model used cars, says Serpa.

“The idea is make it super convenient for people to drop off their vehicle to be serviced and catch one of our shuttles that will take them to the Mooney malls and return when they want to pick up their car,” says Frank Serpa. “We will do an express lube and oil and car wash to start, with plans to add a body shop and other shops that can do quick service and repair work. The one-stop component may not open until late March,” he says.

In addition to this new location, Serpa will open a new Hyundai dealership in Hanford on Hwy. 198 in March.

Surroz BMW will open in the auto dealership development off of Plaza Drive in late February or early March.

Surroz will move his BMW dealership from South Mooney to the brand new, 1,900-square-foot building on four acres adjacent to the Dodge dealership that moved there two years ago.

Vic Surroz, who along with his father owns Surroz, is excited about the move.

“The biggest advantage is we'll have a brand new facility, with state of the art equipment – sales, parts and service. It will mean more inventory selection. It's just incredible.”

The new dealership is the second to move to the area that has more than 70 acres available for auto dealers. Surroz says he expects others to join them soon, including possibly a new Lincoln dealership and within the next few years, higher end car dealers such as Mercedes, Lexus, Land Rover and more. “You're definitely going to see this auto mall grow, become high end,” said Surroz. “Within the next 3-5 years this is going to be the spot people will want to be,” he added.

He said the new BMW store will also allow him to carry a wider variety of cars, like the M6, M5 and the new 7 Series when it is introduced next year. He said they will also be able to service more cars and the new store gives them plenty of room to grow into. “Eventually, we're going to have to add staff,” he said.

He said the new location will be more convenient for his customers with easy access off of Highway 99 and Highway 198. Right now, the Dodge store offers free shuttle service to its customers, and the BMW store will do the same.

Some Glimmer of Hope for Visalia Real Estate
Resale Activity Picks Up as Interest Rates Fall

Visalia - It may be too early to say for sure, but a number of local real estate sources suggest a pick-up in resale activity in recent weeks in what is traditionally one of the slowest times of the year.

“We're seeing a lot more activity than we were 90 days ago,” says realtor Brad Maaske. Maaske says the inventory of existing homes for sale that had been as high as 2,300 late this summer, is now down to about 1,800. The glut on the market of existing homes is down in part because people have decided to pull their properties that weren't selling, for now.

Buyers are spurred on by the dramatically lower price of homes here, says Maaske. “People can afford a home now,” he says.

Realtor Ed Evans says he has seen the same thing in his ReMax office, partly due to the fact that homes are being priced to sell. The median price of homes sold in December in the greater Visalia/Tulare MLS was $209,500, he says. DataQuick reports as of November 2007 Visalia's median sales price was $245,000, down from $275,000 a year earlier. That compares to a median price for all Tulare County homes of $231,000.

A $200,000 three-bedroom home looks particularly good in a state where the average home costs $500,000 even after the price markdowns of the past year.

Both Evans and Maaske point to the fact that new homebuilders have finally decided not to keep building at the same rate no matter the market conditions. That too, has helped. A glut of unsold used homes combined with the existing new stock had created a why-buy-now attitude among buyers.

“I believe the psychology is changing,” says Evans.

Maaske says he has seen an existing home for sale in southwest Visalia at $122,000 – a sign home prices are to the point that any working person can afford them. Sellers tired of waiting for upper end homes to sell are lowering their price too, and if priced right the buyers are there, says Maaske.

Lane Fye, spokesman for Jordan-Link Real Estate, says “floor calls” coming to the office from interested buyers – ones who don't have a realtor already – have jumped from about four a day a few months ago to eight a day. Jordan-Link also sells new homes and note they had a hand in selling 100 Centex homes over the holidays.

Bill Jordan told the Voice that “buyers are seeing the good deals out there,” in part because “we've worked through the inventory of new homes out there” and “banks finally priced their REOs (foreclosed properties) right.” There are several hundred such bank-owned homes on the market right now.

Below 6%

Helping to change the psychology are lower interest rates seen in recent weeks. “We're looking at 30-year rates of 5¾ (with one point),” says mortgage broker Greg Sherman who recently merged his company with Country Club Mortgage. That's down from 6½ just a few months ago. This is the first time in two years that rates have fallen below 6%. Freddie Mac puts the average cost for a 30-year mortgage at 5.87%, down in the past week from 6.07%. Today's rates were close to what they were back in 2003.

As this paper goes to press, rates are falling further, according to BankRate.

Buyer interest is suddenly making the phone ring, says Sherman who “hasn't been this busy in a long time.”

If rates head lower as expected, the trend could spur refinancing in the marketplace – bullish for the banking and mortgage business that could use some good news. On January 9, the Mortgage Banker Association said lower rates caused mortgage applications to jump 32%. They said 58% of the activity was centered on refinancing. Ironically, the lower rates are due to a stock market weakness seen the past few months that impacts the price of bonds.

New Home Sales Still Slow

Resale of existing homes may be seeing a glimmer of hope but on the new home front, home builders say it's still tough out there.

The area's largest builder, Centex Homes, says while there are “little pockets” of activity that have picked up for awhile, “we remain in the doldrums this month,” says Cliff Ronk, the regional manager of the company. Ronk says the entry level product they produced this past fall is a “bright spot,” especially homes with a yard. “Our high density product isn't moving as well,” as people have discovered they buy an entry level home far more inexpensively than they did a year ago, but would rather have one with a yard. Ronk says the company is projecting a possible slowdown in production this coming fiscal year that starts in March. “We expect to be lower in 2008 than in 2007.”

Even in resale, the trend is not clear and some remain cautious.

Sounding more downbeat, Tony and Mary Salierno of Provident Mortgage say they aren't seeing a run yet. “We know it will turn but the question is when,” says Tony whose business – Provident Mortgage – has been in the market for 37 years. “Our business is down perhaps 50% from where it was a few years ago, but that's because we decided not to be those junk (sub-prime) loans.”

No ball of fire “but steady,” says McMillin Homes Senior Vice President Jim Robinson. “We think 2008 will be a decent year,” he says. Robinson has seen a recent uptick and hopes it keeps going.

Hopes for More Stimulus

Sherman says homes have lost $60,000 to $80,000 in equity and that helps buyers sense they are getting real estate at a bargain price in the Visalia area. Sherman says indications that the Fed could lower rates, perhaps a full point in coming months, will also help change the buyer psychology.

Last week Fed Chief Ben Bernanke said, “We stand ready to take substantive additional action as needed to support growth and to provide adequate insurance against downside risks.” The Fed is expected to slash interest rates half a point at their next meeting at the end of January.

The risk he was referring to is the potential slide into a recession in the U.S., brought on by the subprime meltdown.

There was additional positive news reported last week in that troubled lender Countrywide Mortgage is to be purchased by Bank of America. On the other hand, there is the sobering news that Citicorp lost $10 billion in the last three months of 2007, a sign we may have hit bottom.

All the bad news that could dramatically lower rates will boost buyer activity, says Greg Woodard of Woodard Homes in Porterville. Woodard says the Fed's announcement that it would lower rates has sent a signal to the marketplace that should help local real estate. “Unlike some areas, at least we have a good ag economy” to help bolster the local economy, says Woodard.

Even as real estate and retailers appear to be down – farmers and getting record prices for their commodities.

Also, President Bush and Congress appear to be moving toward a stimulus package that could be in the form of immediate tax cuts or rebates, increased food stamps to help low income people with sky high food bills or extension of unemployment payments that could also help turn the mood around across the country.

One who believes the Valley is set for better times is Kings County Supervisor Tony Oliveira who believes companies are in drastic need to lower their costs and could relocate here because the reduced cost of doing business and living in the Central Valley should mean good times ahead for Tulare and Kings counties.

Jump in Egg Price Highlights Overall
Hike in Food Costs

By Rick Elkins

Tulare County - That little, incredible egg may become the poster child for food prices in 2008.

For anyone who has purchased eggs in the past few weeks has noticed, the price of the oval-shape commodity has gone way up, more than 34 percent higher than a year ago, as of November, and even higher during the holidays.

Overall, according to the United States Department of Agriculture, food prices increased 4 percent in 2007 and are projected to increase another 3 percent this year.

“We're at $1.88 (per dozen),” said Stephen Gong, owner of Palace Food Depot in Tulare. “It was probably half of that last year. We were over $2 (a dozen) during the holidays,” he said, adding that not that long ago, egg prices were .59 to .79 cents a dozen.

The increase in food costs last year was the most since 1990.

It's not just consumers who are being hit. Restaurants are being hurt as well.

Sheryl Lynch, general manager of Perko's on West Noble, said that besides huge increases in the price of eggs, produce costs have risen dramatically.

“Produce is high. I can't even get grapes. Lettuce, cantaloupe, everything is up and quality is not there. It's all coming from Chile. It's kind of scary. I don't know what's going to happen,” said Lynch.

She said for now the restaurant is eating the price increases, but she did not know how long any restaurant can keep from passing its costs on to the customer.

“It's rough on us. It's not affecting the customer right now, but it's affecting us,” she said, adding her eatery purchases 8-10 cases of 15 dozen eggs a week.

She is concerned for those on a fixed income. “What's going to happen to our seniors here?” she asked.

Lorraine Zorn, director of Tulare Senior Services, said she has seen increase in her costs, but not an increase in the number of seniors taking advantage of the meals offered at the Tulare center where they are only asked to make a donation.

Increases in wheat, corn and energy prices are being blamed for the higher cost for food.

“It's feed prices,” said Gong, adding mainly the price of grain and the price of gasoline. He said he is already seeing increases in home cooking oils, especially corn oil. That will trickle down to margarine, which Gong said is going up in price next month.

“If it hasn't gone up, it's going up. It's a bare fact of life,” he said of food costs.

The USDA is projecting price increases for everything from beef to fruit.

“Beef prices are now 4.9 percent above November (of 2006), as higher energy and feed costs have worked their way into the retail market,” the USDA reported in November. Pork and poultry prices are also both up, and dairy products were up 14 percent over November of 2006. Fresh fruit was up 3 percent in November and fresh vegetable costs up 2.6 percent.

The higher prices work their way into bread and cereal costs.

“It's going to be a challenging year for food,” Gong understated, adding that he hasn't seen such price increases in his 30 years in the grocery business.

Mooney Grove Plans Aired, Board Delays Picking Proposal

By Miles Shuper

Visalia - After hearing two proposals by firms seeking the job of crafting the Mooney Grove Master Plan, Tulare County Supervisors Tuesday delayed choosing one, instead asking county staff and community members to make a recommendation. The board set Jan. 29 for a possible decision which could put the highly anticipated Mooney Grove renovation and expansion project into high gear.

The two finalists were The Kleinfelder Team, a Valley based environmental land engineering firm specializing in earth, air water science and engineering, and the Cooper Carry Team, a nationwide architectural and master planning company with an office in Newport Beach. Both companies have been working with Visalia firms in drafting their project outlines. Quad Knopf Inc. is working with Cooper Carry while Provost and Pritchard, an engineering firm, and Sierra Designs, a landscape design company, are working with Kleinfelder.

On July 31, Supervisors directed staff to solicit proposals from qualified firms to complete the master plan and to seek donations from local governments and other parties to pay for the plan. Supervisors directed staff to return Jan. 29 with a negotiated final contract for board consideration.

More than $135,000 has been pledged for that, including $50,000 in the county's 2008 capital projects budget. Another $85,000 has been pledged by the cities of Visalia, Tulare, the Tulare Irrigation District and Kaweah Delta Water Conservation District as well as the Tulare County Association of Governments (TCAG).

Carl Switzer, a long-time member and promoter of the Tulare County Historical Society said he was impressed by both presentations, saying the ideas provide “a wonderful opportunity to take advantage of a project which will offer great opportunities for our children and grandchildren and future generations to enjoy the wonders of such a great park.”

Brian Summers, in charge of county capital improvements, said he also was impressed with both presentations, but expects to be able to make a recommendation by the Jan. 29 meeting.

Major elements of the master plan include a replacement of the current county museum which would be at least double the current 9,000 square-foot facility and the new History of Farm Labor and Agriculture Museum. The Farm labor and agriculture museum is the result of a grant awarded by the California Cultural and Historical Endowment (CCHE) made to the Tulare County Historical Society in partnership with the county. The $1.4 million grant will pay for the design and construction of the new facility which to be located adjacent to the county museum in what officials have termed “Museum Village.”

Other facets of the master plan include potential expansion, concessions, water features, arbors and trails including one along Cameron Creek

A major overhaul of the park's irrigation system approved last year by supervisors is nearing completion. Water is a major factor in the park's renovation, including plans to build a second lake along Cameron Creek which would serve as a recharge basin for the area. This could allow the county to shut off two wells and use surface water in the new lake that would replenish the groundwater. The City of Tulare will benefit over the long term. Tulare has been working with the Tulare Irrigation District to recharge the ground water using federal surface water when available. Park land would be annexed into the TID with the City of Tulare paying fees to the district. Increased use of surface water would allow flood irrigation which could recharge the ground water in addition to providing much needed water for the famed Oak trees many which have suffered from adequate irrigation and care in recent years.

Another major segment of the Master Plan is transportation to, from and inside the park.

Bike and walking trails between Visalia and Tulare will pass through or near Mooney Grove with landscaping and other added improvements. Cameron Creek would be transformed from basically a ditch to a trail system, according to officials from Visalia, Tulare and Tulare County and others. The proposed light rail line linking Tulare and Visalia runs near Mooney Grove and is a factor in the Master Plan design considerations.

Visalia, Tulare County Bus Drivers
Reject Latest Contract Offer

By Steve Pastis

Visalia - The drivers of the Visalia City Coach and Sequoia Shuttle, as well as the Tulare County Area Transit, have rejected MV Transportation's latest contract offer. MV Transportation employs the drivers and has contracts with the City of Visalia and the County of Tulare to provide bus service in the area.

“They did present us with an offer,” said Gary Jenkins of Teamsters Local 517, chief negotiator for the workers at MV Transportation. “We turned them down. We're now setting dates to negotiate.”

“I believe it's up to the union whether they come back to the table or they get an arbitrator or mediator,” said Danny Cadena, manager of MV Transportation in Tulare County.

The most recent contract, which also includes the people who wash and refuel the busses, ran out in December of 2006. Since then, both sides have been working on an “extension,” meaning as long as both parties are willing, things will continue as if the previous contract was still in effect.

According to one Visalia City Coach driver who wanted to remain anonymous, the main issues are salary and health benefits.

Jenkins said that there were more issues than that but would not elaborate. He was asked if there were any problems in the negotiations.

“At this point, I wouldn't say there were any problems,” he replied. “I would just say we're negotiating.”

So far there has been no active discussion of a strike, according to all sources, but everyone agrees that it's not out of the question.

“We know these busses mean life and death to a lot of people because they have a lot of dialysis patients who use them,” the driver said. “We are not looking to strike.”

“MV Transportation has assured us that they're still in negotiations,” said Monty Cox, Visalia Transit manager, who oversees the 43 busses of the city's coach and trolley operations, as well as the 12 busses of the Sequoia Shuttle. “This is the normal process for conducting negotiations. It's nothing out of the ordinary.”

Dan Fox, transit coordinator of Tulare County Area Transit who oversees 12 vehicles, also seems unconcerned about the status of the negotiations.

“We've left that up to MV,” he said. “They're their employees.”

Cox received a call on Jan. 11 from MV Transportation assuring him that the company “will provide busses, mechanics and drivers. They will perform the contract as required.”

The three-year contract between the City of Visalia and MV Transportation is in the middle of its second year and extends through June 30, 2009.

Appeal Filed with City over Hanford Ethanol Plant

Corrected story 1-16-08 by John Lindt

Hanford - The Center on Race, Poverty and the Environment (CRPE) has filed an appeal with the Hanford City Council over city approval of a use permit for the Great Valley Ethanol plant proposed for the Hanford Industrial Park. The City Council is expected to take up the appeal of a Planning Commission certification of the EIR at the Council’s February 5 meeting.

The Valley Voice reported in this week’s print edition that CRPE had filed a lawsuit against the project, which is not correct. CRPE would need to exhaust their administrative remedies before they can file any lawsuit over the project.

“The Valley Voice regrets the mistake,” says publisher John Lindt, who adds “the mistake was mine. We plan a correction/retraction in the January 23 paper.”

Hanford City Planner Cathy Cain says that while the City Council certified the project’s EIR regarding the annexation in December, it was the Planning Commission that certified the conditional use permit on December 11. If the Planning Commission action had not been appealed, it would be final, explains Cain. “Since the city decided to pre-zone this property, it set the stage for two certification processes. It’s a little confusing.”

The Center on Race, Poverty and the Environment did not challenge the city certification of the annexation done by the Council last month.

But CRPE sent their appeal letter in 10 days after the Planning Commission action, triggering this final appeal to the Council. CRPE Executive Director Luke Cole, cited deficiencies in the EIR for the biofuels plant in his appeal.

Cain says if the Council certifies the EIR related to the use permit February 5, a court challenge would have to be filed 30 days later to delay the big project.

Great Valley Ethanol has announced they hope to break ground in April. But proponents of the project expect CRPE to continue their challenges to the EIR.

Critics of the project say the project would emit too much air pollution in a valley that is already a non-attainment area. They also cite high water use and truck traffic.

If CRPE takes the matter to the next level and does file legal action, it would be the first such action by the group against an ethanol plant. The group is better known in the Central Valley as a critic and sometimes legal opponent of the dairy industry here.

What's New

Harry Pappas has sold his Visalia office building on 198 at Chinowth to a couple of Visalia CPAs. The sale included vacant land beside the office building which is Pappas Telecasting's corporate headquarters. The property had been on the market for $3.5 million. Mr. Pappas recently announced the possible sale of some or all of his TV stations. Realtor Brian Hyde represents the owners, Bret Bastrire and Tad Edwards. The new owners plan an additional 8,000-square-foot office on the lot to the south. Also nearby, Fresno developer Mehmet Noyan is working on a plan for a 15,000-square-foot office building on land just to the east of the Pappas building.

Plans for construction of a four-story patient tower at Sierra View District Hospital are on hold pending revisions to the state's seismic requirements. In December, the state said it was re-evaluating the construction standards for hospitals and that some areas, such as the Central Valley, would not have to do seismic upgrades to existing facilities or replace older facilities. Right now, all hospital buildings have to meet state seismic standards by 2015. Tim Lewis, director of marketing and communications for the hospital, said projected costs for the tower have risen from $85 million to $110 million. “We're still trying to decide what to do. We're waiting to see what new seismic rules are. That will determine size and scope of tower,” he said.

Spring semester enrollment at College of the Sequoias was up 11.6 percent over last spring, officials announced on the first day of classes Monday. Enrollment was 10,082 on the first day with three-quarters of the student body continuing students, and 58 percent of the students attending school part-time. Students are taking an average of 9.24 units

Visalia's Automobile Club of Southern California (AAA) office will be moving to the South Packwood Creek Shopping Center by the first of March, confirmed office manager Linda Sommer. The office, which has been at 300 South Burrel St. since 1961, will move in next to the Best Buy store. Sommer said they will more than triple their office space, from 2,700 square feet to 6,500 square feet, have more parking and be more energy efficient. In addition, once the move is complete, the office will expand to Saturday hours. “We'll be open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. six days a week,” said Sommer. “We're very, very, very excited.”

The California Transportation Commission voted last week to move ahead with the Mooney Boulevard widening project. “This project is moving forward,” said Gloria Samaniego, a spokesperson for Caltrans. She said Caltrans will advertise for bids on Feb. 4 and the bids will be opened on March 25. Work on the project to widen Mooney to six-lanes from Noble Ave. to Packwood Creek should begin in late spring. The approval by the CTC was the final hurdle for the project that has been planned for nearly 20 years.

Fresno-based Gottschalks continues to disappoint investors with a sales decline of 13.8% for December, compared to the same month the year before. The department store chain led fellow retailers that also reported slower sales in the month (Macy's down 8%), but Gottschalks results were worse. Gottschalks stock sunk to below $2 before rebounding to above $2 at press time, down from a high of $14 per share this past spring.

The first Clinton and Obama TV ads are out this week playing in the big metro areas. The Democratic rivals are working fast to line up support of key Democratic endorsers this week even as voters are casting their absentee ballots well before the Feb. 5 deadline. Clinton was in L.A. Jan. 11 touring with Mayor Antonio Villariagosa and munching on a taco. Clinton has received the support of key Latinos in the state including UFW co-founder Dolores Huerta and Assembly Speaker Fabian Nunez. Obama has picked up some support in Los Angeles, but the big Democratic names are coming out for Clinton. Obama will be touring the West Coast in coming weeks but it's not clear if we will see him in the Central Valley. He plans to target college campus towns where rallies are scheduled. On the Latino front, Obama has secured the endorsement of Gloria Moreno, Senate majority leader, as local Assembly member Juan Arambula announced the opening of Clinton headquarters in Fresno this week. When Clinton was in Fresno in November, she had no time to meet with farmers, grouses Manuel Cunha. California has 10 percent of the delegate voters to the Democratic Convention. In Tulare and Kings Counties, officials believe turnout will be better than last November because of the widespread interest in the race in which no incumbent is involved. The most recent poll (L.A. Times January 15) has found a 47 to 31 margin for Mrs. Clinton.

On the Republican side, locals are “as confused as they are across the rest of the nation,” says local conservative Brad Maaske who likes Fred Thompson but wonders if he has the strength and support to win. Guiliani has been an early favorite among the farm lobby but that support has waned in the past six months. One rumor is that Governor Schwarzenegger will come out for McCain in the next few days. No sign of a groundswell in the state as of this date. Unlike Democrats, the Republicans will not allow independents to vote in the primary, making it likely the more conservative candidates will be favored. A January 15 L.A. Times poll shows Guiliani's star falling with just 14%, Huckabee with 13% (up from 4% in October) and Mitt Romney at 16%. McCain had just 12%, although that was before his victory in New Hampshire, but now has jumped into the lead at 20%. A Field poll says 32% of Republican voters are born-again Christians getting a boost to former Governor Huckabee.

Troy Korsgaden announced that Sharon Jansma has been named president of Korsgaden Enterprises Inc. For 25 years, Korsgaden has operated the Farmers Insurance Agency and Insurance Brokerage serving Visalia and surrounding communities. The agency has been recognized for 17 consecutive years as a Farmers President Council Member. Korsgaden commented that Jansma has managed the agency operation for the past seven years. Her promotion to president recognized her ability in leading more than 20 staff members and servicing over 9,000 accounts. The agency offers insurance and financial services.

Visalia developer Johnny George has purchased 20 acres from McMillin Homes at the northeast corner of Shirk and Doe in recent days and plans a 12-service commercial project with 28 lots and an 8-acre mini-storage. George has had a second mini-storage project in the works at the former olive plant site on K Rd. in what is expected to be one of the largest public storage facilities around. The building will be two-story with a freight lift, he says, 120,000 square feet total.

Americans might as well get used to paying more of their disposable income for food. That's the message several observers are expressing, including a news report from the International Food Policy Research Institute. The days of falling prices are over, says the report. Many parts of the developing world have strong economic growth and “they want to eat better just like the rest of us,” says Kings County Supervisor Tony Oliveira. Expanding urban population, higher incomes and a global food network are raising demand for U.S.-grown food. “They want the best food and we've got it,” says Oliveira who is a dairyman by trade. The demand has hit cereals but also high value products like dairy, meat, vegetables and fruits – all grown in the Central Valley. Some have pointed to ethanol's effect on corn prices but that doesn't tell the whole story. Speculative transactions have increased commodity price volatility as well, says the report.

Last day to register to vote is January 22 for the February 5 election.

GM has taken a stake in ethanol maker Coskata, it was announced at this week's Detroit Auto Show. Coskata claims it can make ethanol for less than $1 per gallon. The technology it claims to have can be used for a variety of feedstocks. Significantly the Illinois-based firm is backed by Vinod Khosla who helpled launch several other biofuel operations including Cilion, with several plants under construction in the Valley, and Altra Biofuels, with a proposed cellulosic biofuel plant in the works in Visalia.

Governor Gives County Leaders Budget Insight

Tulare County - County elected officials who met with Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger Monday came away agreeing that something needs to be done to corral spending by the state.

The governor came to Dinuba Monday to meet with about 20 county and city officials to push his plan to rectify the state's fiscal mess. Most officials in the county and with cities say the budget cuts proposed by the governor should not impact local governments too severely. However, some of his proposed cuts will be felt by those in health care and education.

Gov. Schwarzenegger has declared a fiscal emergency and has outlined a plan of action to cut spending, but to also come up with a formula that stops the state from spending more than it receives in revenue.

He has made several proposals, including an across the board 10 percent cut to all state departments; cut K-12 school funding by 1.3 percent this year and $4 billion in the 2008-09 year; release more than 22,000 nonviolent prisoners from state prisons and lay of more than 2,000 correctional officers; close 48 state parks; cut Medi-Cal rates to doctors and other providers by 10 percent; reduce CalWORKS welfare program; cut higher education spending by more than $600; and reduce Williamson Act payments by 10 percent.

Councilman Agrees with Plan

“I thought it went fine. It was interesting to get his perspective,” said Visalia City Councilman Bob Link of Monday's meeting.

He agrees with the governor that the Legislature needs to make fundamental changes to how it pays for state services. “We need to change that. We need to make it more even to spend what we bring in,” he said.

The governor said state revenues are actually strong. It is the spending that is out of whack. “We have a shortfall, or I should say, $4.6 billion dollars less revenues coming in than anticipated,” said the governor. “By the end of the next fiscal year, we could have a $14.5 billion deficit...What we can't do is raise taxes,” he vowed.

Schwarzenegger has asked the Legislature to come up with a plan for mid-year cuts within the next 45 days, and then immediately begin to work on the 2008-09 budget. He also wants the Legislature to come up with a plan that ties spending to revenues so the state does not face the same problem in the future.

Link and others were pleased to hear the governor say he does not want to rob from local governments like has been done in the past.

“At this point I would say we're OK. He doesn't believe money should be taken away from cities,” said Link.

“The Legislature has got to spend less. That's the bottom line. That's true with a business, your home. He's on target, the key is getting the Legislature to go along,” he added.

Ed Todd, Dinuba city manager, was pleased the governor chose his city to meet with the local officials.

“He's very personable. He's not hard to talk to. I think he's got a good message. It was an honor to have him come to our town,” said Todd. He said his city's message was simple – “Hang in there.”

Todd agreed that the proposed cuts should not hurt cities.

Tulare County Supervisor Steve Worthley urged the governor to remain firm on his commitment to not rob transportation dollars to pay for the budget shortfall as has been done in the past.

Schwarzenegger said he would not. “Thank you very much for saying that, and we will not take money from those funds,” answered Schwarzenegger.

A breakdown on how the budget will affect other areas of local government.

MediCal Targeted For Cut

“It would impact us,” said Harry Foster, CEO of Family Health Care Network. “He's slashed a lot of dollars out of a lot of different critical health budgets. His cuts are to key programs we rely on - access to critical care, seasonal and migrant worker program, rural health services program,” said Foster.

He said he will be watching the budget process closely and hopes some changes will be made to what he's proposed for health care.

“He's probably barked up the wrong tree with this one. He has really threatened a safety net. He wants to cut adult dental care and a number of optional programs available under MediCal. He wants to cut Medical reimbursement to physicians which would result in fewer physicians who will take referrals.”

Education Cuts Could Hurt

Stan Carrizosa, superintendent of Visalia Unified School District (VUSD), explained that the proposed budget cuts would not affect programs supported by grant funding. Grant funds come with specific requirements, and once approved can't be affected by state budget cuts.

The general fund, however, is unrestricted and vulnerable to the governor's plan. The lion's share of this fund, 85-89%, is spent on people, salaries and benefits for teachers and staff, according to Carrizosa. The VUSD employs over 1,300 teachers, 800-1,000 classified staff and 150 management/administrators.

“What we're hoping is that we can protect programs and we can protect people,” he said. “We don't want to cut services and we don't want to lose employees.”

Bill Scroggins, president of College of the Sequoias, acknowledges that “other segments took harder hits than city colleges,” but he still has major concerns about the proposed state budget cuts.

“The governor's proposal is that the cost of living increase be zero for this coming year and we have real costs that go up each year,” he said. “We have no source of funds to deal with those ongoing cost increases.”

Government Agencies Wrestle over
Tougher Composting Rules

Tulare County - All that bulky green waste collected in your green garbage can each week may not have a place to go next year. Two government agencies are wrestling over rules that could hurt one environmental cause while helping another.

Looking to cut air emissions from composting facilities in the Valley, the Air District is proposing tough new rules on firms that divert green waste plant materials from area landfills and compost them in piles in the open air. This past week, the air district had a preliminary “scoping session” on the rule that could be adopted in final form a year from now.

There are 17 such facilities in the air district boundary, including a handful in Tulare and Kings counties.

Targeted emissions for green waste facilities are volatile organic compounds and the district is looking to cut nine tons a day of VOCs by 2012, which is about a third of all new VOC emission reductions from stationary sources. The air district says the nine tons a day reduction is almost 16% of the emissions for the industry.

But the California Integrated Waste Management Board begs to differ.

According to a December 5 memo from its executive director, Mark Leary – nine tons a day amounts to more like half the total emissions from all green waste operations. The two agencies cite widely different numbers in calculating the air emissions. The memo says the Air District estimates of savings are actually higher than all the emissions for the plants and are lobbying the district to take a fresh look at their numbers.

The Waste Board estimates says composting plants produce as little as 3.1 tons of VOCs or as high as 22.1 tons based on several assumptions but not nearly as high as the air district figures – 53 tons.

The Waste board says a City of Modesto composting facility demonstrated 70% reduction in VOCs by capping the compost with a thick layer of finished compost.

Furthermore, the state board says it is concerned that “many green waste processors within the district boundaries would go out of business rather than spend millions of dollars to enclose operations.” Enclosed facilities can easily cost $3 million per acre and many of the compost plants cover a dozen acres, says the letter.

In response, the California Waste board letter says “simple management practices – such as placing a blanket of finished compost – may be an effective alternative for reducing VOC emissions from green waste.”

Ironically, by making it tougher for green waste operations to make money would make Valley air even worse, since composting facilities divert orchard clippings, for example, that would otherwise be burned in open air.

The battle between recyclers and the air district is reminiscent of the dispute over dairy emissions and now diesel trucks and farm vehicles, and how big a problem that is and whether a solution can be found that allows the targeted industry to stay in business.

First Firkin Pub in Central California to Open in Visalia

By Steve Pastis

Visalia - The first Firkin Pub in Central California, the Firkin & Hound, is expected to open at Packwood Creek in

Visalia in February. The menu will include traditional English pub fare, as well as burgers and sandwiches, and a selection of entrée dishes such as New York strip steak, roasted chicken, fresh fish and salads, and a wide assortment of draft beers on tap and in the bottle.

According to franchise co-owner Dushawn Johnson, the Firkin & Hound will also offer several dishes which aren't easy to find in the area, such as shepherd's pie and Guinness steak and mushroom pie.

“We also hope to be known for our fish and chips,” he added.

“It will have a very, very rich feel to it, however, our price points are in line with restaurants like Chili's and Applebee's with an average $12 to $15 ticket price,” he said.

Stanley Adelson and Ian Fisher opened the first Firkin Pub, the Fox & Firkin, in Toronto in May 1987. The location quickly built a stable of regulars. There are currently over 40 pubs open in North America and more than 150 in development in the United States.

The restaurants have 30 different names, such as Firkin & Fox or Firkin & Frog, to give each their own personalities, Johnson explained. The name of each pub is up to its franchise owner.

Johnson and silent partner, Thomas Taylor, own the territorial rights for Firkin Pubs in Tulare, Fresno, Madera, San Luis Obispo, Monterey and Santa Cruz counties. The Visalia restaurant is their first one to open.

“We're shooting for the first week of February to open our doors,” Johnson said. “We're currently taking applications for 25 full and part-time positions, including hosts, servers, bartenders, cooks and bussers.”

“We plan on opening a store every 12 to 18 months,” he said, adding that Fresno will probably be their next location.

Johnson and Taylor plan to eventually have about 10 Firkin Pubs with at least one in each county that they have the rights to. They are also currently in negotiations for the rights to

Kings County, and are looking to eventually locate a Firkin & Hound Pub in Hanford or Lemoore.

“Lemoore is an underserved community for this type of eating establishment,” Johnson said.

Firkin Pubs originally announced in October 2006 that one of their restaurants was coming to Visalia, as well as Fresno and Merced, with the first of these expected in early 2007. According to Johnson, the year-long delay was due to finding the right place for their business.

“The key to a successful restaurant is location, location, location, so we backed out of a location and took more time in finding a better location in town,” he explained. “Packwood Creek is where everybody is.”

Johnson was a detective for the Visalia Police Department before resigning in October “for business reasons.” He said that being a police detective and owning a pub in town would have been a “conflict of interest.”

The new Firkin & Hound will have semi-private rooms for banquet and private parties, as well as a media room for meetings and PowerPoint presentations. The restaurant's 14 plasma TVs will feature sports and pay-per-view events.

Grants to Plant Thousands of Trees in City

Visalia - Visalia will become a lot greener and shadier with the planting of thousands of trees over the next few years, thanks to three grants totaling $1.2 million the city has secured.

“We were very, very aggressive in getting these grants,” noted Brian Kempf, director of the Urban Tree Foundation in Visalia, which assisted the city.

The three grants are the state Department of Forestry's Green Trees for the Golden State grant, an Environmental Enhancement and Mitigation grant and a state California River Parkways grant. All are administered through the state Resources Agency, which is overseen by Visalian Mike Chrisman, although Kempf said he had no influence over the city getting approval.

Joining the city and the Urban Tree Foundation in applying for the grants was CSET. The city was just notified of the grants and last week the city council approved the contracts with CSET to do the work.

The biggest grant, for $817,400, will provide for significant enhancements to the Ben Maddox Trail Head of the St. John's River Trail. That is a 12-acre site on the east side of Ben Maddox and the river.

Kempf said the money will allow the city to develop a Valley Oak Riparian Forest, “something that was here before the area was populated by Europeans.”

The project will include signage that identifies animal and plant species.

“It's a very good project. It has an educational element to it,” said Kempf. That project is slated to be completed by the end of January 2010.

The second largest project is for $242,000 to plant trees along waterways and in medians throughout town, including 1,550 Valley Oak trees.

The last grant, the $149,800 Green Trees for Golden State, will pay for the planting of 1,450 trees in various locations as well. That project, which will run through March 2010, will provide trees for homeowners to plant in their front yards.

Kempf said the projects will enhance the city.

“Landscape has economic values as well as environmental and quality of life values. It is to improve the community, to make the community as beautiful as possible,” he said.

Along with the tree plantings, the grants will provide jobs for young people through CSET.

“It's huge. It gets kids jobs and off the streets. It gives them skills. It's a good partnership,” said Carla Calhoun, resource development director for CSET. She added that getting young people involved in projects like these helps them to develop a pride in their community.

She said the three projects will provide jobs at any given time for as many as 20 high school students for two to three years. The workers will be paid minimum wage.

Kempf said the beautification efforts will not stop with these three grants. He said the city is seeking another $300,000 to $400,000 in grants and his organization helped secure a $65,000 grant with Visalia Unified School District to replant trees on the district's 33 campuses. Already, he said, they have planted trees on 11 of the campuses, including 100 trees at the Veva Blunt campus.

“The city and schools have been very supportive of this work. They are committed to this,” praised Kempf.

Student Doctors Coming to Tulare County

Tulare County - Within three years, as many as 30 future doctors may be learning and working in Tulare County as part of a partnership between Family Health Care Network and A.T. Still School of Osteopathic Medicine of Mesa, AZ. The goal is for many of those students to put roots down in the county after school.

Harry Foster, CEO of FHCN, said the unique arrangement will send 10 medical students to the county next fall and that number will grow each year until there are 30 students studying here in 2011.

“We're very excited about it actually,” said Foster. “Dr. Chris Kolker [Porterville clinic medical director] introduced it to us. It is a very exciting prospect having medical students here in Tulare County and hopefully we can keep them here,” he added.

“It will positively impact patient care,” said Tim Lewis, spokesperson for Sierra View District Hospital, adding that anything to help recruit physicians to the area is a huge benefit.

The county is facing a severe shortage of doctors, especially family practice doctors. The county has been declared a Health Professional Shortage Area.

“We probably have 60 percent of primary care physicians we need and that's probably going to get worse,” said Foster. “On top of that, fewer students are going into primary care specialty. What we're doing is we're really focusing on down the road and the huge need we have for family care specialists.”

Family Health Care Network is one of 11 community health center campuses in the U.S. that is affiliated with A.T. Still School of Osteopathic Medicine. The school is an affiliate of Kirksville College of Osteopathic Medicine. Both are accredited.

“The goal is to find local mission-driven students who want to practice primary care, then have them return to the local area for their education so they come better anchored in their community,” said Foster, explaining the goal is to grow eventually grow our own doctors.

“We don't have the resources in terms of medical providers to keep up with the population growth,” Foster told members of the County Center Rotary Club recently. He said he and other providers have tried many different approaches to bring doctors to the area, but with marginal success at best.

4-Year Program

The program will place 10 medical students with Family Health Network this fall. Five will study in Visalia and five will study in Porterville. By 2010, 15 will study in Porterville and 15 in Visalia. FHN has already contracted with Tulare District Hospital, Sierra View District Hospital in Porterville and Visalia Medical Group. Foster expects Kaweah Delta District Hospital will soon get on board.

The students, after earning their bachelors degree, will spend their first year of the four-year program at A.T. Still, then their second year in the county studying in the classrooms currently being constructed at FHCN facilities in Visalia and Porterville. The third and fourth years of the program will have them working with one of the FHCN physicians who have privileges with a hospital.

Students finishing the program will be granted their Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (DO), which Foster said is basically the equivalent of a Medical Degree (MD). They will then have to complete their residency and pass their boards before opening up a practice.

“The whole intent is the first year here they'll more or less learn about the community health system – how we provide care and start shadowing folks,” said Foster. “We're going to teach them on a more practical level, places where acquired knowledge and skills will be used,” said Dr. Kolker.

Met Criteria For Selection

Foster said FHCN worked with the National Association of Community Health Centers, about 3,500 systems like FHCN, to develop more family practice physicians, especially those willing to work in rural areas where they are needed.

“They identified those that were larger and accredited by Joint Commission on Accreditation, then the NACHC invited people to submit letter of interest. Then A.T. Still narrowed the list down to 11,” explained Foster, selecting for sites where there is a physician shortage.

Family Health Care Network sees more than 85,000 patients at its 11 sites, most of those low-income people who do not have a family doctor.

Foster said the county could still see one of the University of California medical schools, including UC Riverside or UC San Francisco, to affiliate with Kaweah Delta Hospital in the near future, giving the county two medical schools when it once had none.

“It just might be the stars are aligned,” said Foster.

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