County's Green Side
Route
will go along foothills out of Visalia
Tulare County - As hoped, the smaller communities of Farmersville, Exeter, Strathmore and Lindsay will be along the Stage 5 route of the 2010 Amgen Tour of California that will begin in Visalia and end in Bakersfield.
Also getting a part in the race this year will be Porterville as the racers will travel along the base of the Sierra Nevada foothills on Thursday, May 20.
“Quite frankly, it should be a spectacular race with a real European feel - hills, racing through small communities, beautiful scenery, especially after all this rain,” said Leslie Caviglia, Visalia deputy city manager.
“It's going to be amazing,” she added.
One of the most anticipated professional cycling races in the world, the 2010 Amgen Tour of California will be staged over eight days and will travel more than 800 miles of California's scenic roads, highways and coastline drives. Running May 16 – 23, the race will visit 16 host cities for official stage starts and finishes, with communities along the route getting the chance to see a lineup of some of the most elite, recognizable athletes and teams in the world.
Last year, Visalia played host to a start that wound its way west to the eventual finish in Paso Robles. This year, Visalia again will be a start host, but the route will take an easterly direction, heading higher into the foothills south of Porterville and eventually dropping into Bakersfield and finishing at Bakersfield Community College.
Last year's race was held in February and while the Visalia leg had by far the most beautiful weather, many of the stages were done in rain and wind. May should be much better this year and as Caviglia pointed out, the good amount of rain so far should make the hills lush and green.
According to race officials, the start this year in Visalia will be at Main Street and Garden at 10:45 a.m., instead of on Acequia as it was last year. However, as was the case last year, the 70-plus riders, including Lance Armstrong, will make several laps downtown and then head out of town before the actual race begins at Walnut and Lover's Lane.
“Walnut and Lover's Lane is mile zero,” said Lindsay City Services Director Michael Camarena who helped design the route. He explained that is where the racing will begin.
Camarena said he was extremely pleased with the route.
“This is where our preference was. It gets Visalia and Tulare County included as well as the cities along the foothills involved,” he said.
Once the race starts, the riders will head east on Road 192 (Filbert Road) which will take the pack past Farmersville High School. The route then turns onto Pine Street into Exeter and by Exeter High School and then eventually onto Highway 65 to Highway 137 and then onto Hermosa St. into Lindsay.
“We expect our true roundabout to be completed at Hermosa and Elmwood Avenue,” where the riders will have to negotiate the European-style roundabout, he said.
Riders will go by Jefferson School, near Washington School and then out of town on Orange Belt Drive and past Strathmore Elementary as they head east on Avenue 196 that will take them to Road 256 before heading over Rock Hill into Porterville.
In Porterville, the route will go past Los Robles Elementary, Citrus High School, Roche Avenue School and Santa Fe School before heading out of town on Plano Street, which becomes Old Stage Road. The riders will go onto Morton Avenue to Main Street and right through the downtown to Orange Avenue and Date Street where they will get back on Plano and head south.
Camarena noted that Old Stage Road is the actual route the old stagecoaches used to take and that it will take the riders on a windy ride along the foothills where cattle graze.
At Fountain Springs, where the historic Fountain Springs Saloon sits, the riders will turn east again onto Road 264 for about four miles before they turn on Jack Ranch Road and eventually into Bakersfield.
“The May timing of the 2010 edition of the Amgen Tour of California is going to allow us to visit some challenging new areas of California that previously were not possible due to the weather,” said Andrew Messick, president of AEG Sports, presenter of the race. “Through these fun and creative videos that the host cities have put together, we are going to be able to showcase the challenge and beauty of our 2010 route.”
Stage 4 will conclude on May 19 in Modesto.
Visalia - During last weekend's city council retreat Mayor Bob Link called on the city to come up with a local stimulus plan to jump-start the local economy.
While it will be far different from anything the federal government has attempted, Link said the city needs to do something to get people working again.
Unemployment in Visalia has hit 11 percent – 17.5 percent in the county - and Link said it is important to stimulate jobs.
“I believe we have an opportunity to create our own stimulus,” he said. One way he is proposing to accomplish stimulating the local economy is suspending or lower building impact fees - mainly on new housing. He called on staff to come back with a plan in March.
“Payback is in sales tax and property tax (revenues),” said the mayor of the benefits of a stimulus package. He added, that more importantly it will help put people back to work.
“It also makes a statement to the community – that this council is concerned with the economic stability of the community,” he added.
Glenn Morris, CEO of the Visalia Chamber of Commerce, endorses the idea.
“We're obviously very supportive,” he said. “We're actually working on a proposal” that would include a stimulus for the retail sector of the community as well.
Link said any efforts locally will have a positive impact, but he is conscious that any such efforts should not penalize city staff or departments and that any plan must “pass legal requirements.” An example, he said, is the city cannot simply suspend business license fees for some and not all.
Vice Mayor Amy Shuklian is very supportive of the idea, but wants to make sure any plans do not hurt the city financially and that there are some assurances the plans will work.
“I'm totally receptive to listening to see what we can pull together,” she said.
She said any plan would have to have widespread impact. “My fear is people think the city is only doing something for developers,” she cautioned.
Morris said the chamber would like a plan such as a gift card or discount cards that can be earned by purchasing a large item - such as a home or vehicle - that could be used at local retail outlets. He said the cities of Clovis and Palmdale have successfully tried such programs.
Shuklian said she would be willing to look at something like that as well. “We need to look around. I'm for it, but we have to implement something that works.”
Link said any plan would be for a short period of time, but long enough to lower the unemployment rate. It might only target the housing sector, but could be expanded, he said. Shuklian said any suspension of fees would not include school or public safety impact fees.
“Basically, it would lower the cost of building a project,” Link said. With land values down, construction costs down, and if fees were lowered, then housing would be very attractive in Visalia, he said. It is estimated that fees on an average-size new home in Visalia run about $20,000.
Morris said any plan should help to restore the confidence of consumers. “What is it going to take to get the economy back on track,” he asked. “It's consumer confidence,” he answered.
State Economy
Tulare County - In Tulare and Kings counties where the dairy industry is king, it probably did not come as news that the dairy industry has such a huge impact on the state's economy, but even the figures released by the California Milk Advisory Board are staggering for Central Valley residents.
The study released last week showed that California's No. 1 agriculture commodity was responsible for creating 443,574 jobs and $63 billion in economic activity for the state during 2008. The same study in 2007 showed California dairies created $61 billion in economic activity and 435,000 jobs for the state.
Tulare County is the center of the state's dairy industry, with nearly 494,000 cows milked in the county in 2008, according to the state Department of Food and Agriculture. Kings County is also a big player in the milk industry with nearly 184,000 cows in 2008. Between Tulare and Kings counties, there are 485 dairies, nearly a fourth of the number in the entire state.
The typical California dairy cow and farm stimulates a positive ripple effect throughout the state, according to the research conducted by J/D/G Consulting Inc., an independent dairy industry research firm based in Florida. Specifically, a typical dairy farm in California generates $33.1 million in economic activity and 232 jobs in the state, including 'on-the-farm' and 'beyond-the-farm' jobs like milk tanker drivers, grocery store clerks, feed farmers and employees at milk processing and cheese plants, among others.
When compared to the impact of other notable California industries, the dairy industry provides more economic stimulus and jobs to the state yearly than either the motion picture/television or wine industries. The most recent statistics available for these industries show that the motion picture/television industry contributes $35 billion and 208,230 jobs (2007) and the wine industry provides $59 billion and 330,000 jobs (2008).
“This research offers a perspective on how vital the dairy industry is to California with every dollar from production and sales of California milk contributing to the economy,” said Stan G. Andre, CEO of the CMAB. “In addition to providing one of the four food groups that feeds our local communities, a typical dairy cow generates more than $34,000 in economic activity and a herd of 100 cows creates 25 jobs for California residents each year.”
Richard Cotta, CEO of Visalia-based California Dairies Inc., one of the state's largest milk processing companies, knows firsthand how big the diary industry is in the state.
“I think it's very, very significant, especially in the Valley,” he said, adding that most dairy jobs are year round and many provide health benefits and are well-paying.
However, when most think of the dairy industry as barns and cows, it is much more. Cotta said there are hundreds of thousands of jobs related to the dairy industry.
“Just in our own plants we have 1,000 truck loads a day. If you have that many come in, you have a lot going out as butter, cheese and other products,” he said.
No. 1 Here
In Tulare County, where milk is the No. 1 commodity and was valued at $1.8 billion in 2008, farm jobs make up for about a third of all jobs. The majority of those farm jobs are directly or indirectly tied to the dairy industry, as well as those in manufacturing and transportation.
California's dairy families were responsible for producing more than 41 billion pounds of milk in 2008, a figure that is expected to exceed 46 billion pounds by 2020.
According to the study, in 2008 California had 1,905 dairies with 1.8 million dairy cows that supplied milk to 117 dairy processing plants, which produced cheese, fluid milk, ice cream, butter and other dairy products that carry the Real California Milk and Real California Cheese seals. These seals help consumers identify dairy products made with milk from California dairy farms. Since the introduction of the Real California Milk seal in 2007, awareness of and purchase intent for California dairy products has increased significantly.
Other highlights from the study:
· The California dairy industry created 443,574 jobs in 2008 accounting for approximately three percent of the jobs in the state.
· California's dairy industry generated $63 billion in economic impact in 2008 as compared to $61.4 billion in 2007, a 2.6 percent increase overall.
· The typical California dairy farm in 2008 generated $33.1 million in economic activity and produced 21,869,370 pounds of milk, an increase of more than nine million pounds since 1998.
· The typical California cow in 2008 generated $34,165 of economic activity, and produced 22,344 pounds of milk.
· California's total milk production has grown from 27.6 billion pounds in 1998 to 41.2 billion pounds in 2008. Tulare County cows produced 10.7 billion pounds of that total.
To Save City Icon
By Miles Shuper
Visalia - The recent graffiti assault on the aged iconic Mearle's Drive-In on Mooney Boulevard has ignited a resurgence in the effort to preserve the famed building which has become an eyesore.
Public outcry over the graffiti and vandalism incident was so strong city officials responded by calling out the city's anti-graffiti task force to paint over the gang-style paintings, short-circuiting the code enforcement process which had been started.
That action, at least for the time being, eased the pressure on the property owners, the Kazarian family of Fresno, from potential fines for having the site declared a public nuisance and subject to stiff financial penalties, up to $500 per day, until the problems were resolved.
The latest vandalism was just one of several since the famed local site was closed in August, 2006. Vandalism and neglect resulting in flipped over “for lease” signs, a torn down fence around the parking lot, broken windows and the graffiti have taken a toll. Weeds and potholes scar the surfaces where classic cars of the '50s, '60s and '70s once parked and where several generations of area residents gathered to munch hamburgers, show off their cars, flirt and simply be seen. It was the epitome of the era perfectly depicted by George Lucas in “American Graffiti.”
Annie Silva, who heads the Save Mearle's group which reportedly is in the process of becoming a non-profit organization, says it would be so devastating for Mearle's to disappear forever. She suggested those offering to help or to join the Save Mearle's campaign to call 734-5521 ore 625-1218.
Mearle's has long been a noted Visalia landmark and a major piece of the city's social culture, says Silva, a College of the Sequoias sociology instructor who patronized the drive-in for many years. It's important, she said, that Visalia be known as the home of Mearle's than known for gang violence, a place ranking at the top of teen pregnancy rate and unwed mothers as well a staggering unemployment rate.
Mearle's, built in 1940, simply is more than just a location known locally, its fame is worldwide, she says citing photographs, television spots and print ads featuring the site in many countries.
Terry Ommen, the county's leading historian and a Mearle's fan as well as a member of Save Mearle's said, “If we let Mearle's disappear the current and future generations will never be able to forgive us.”
He has suggested a celebration to make another milestone this year for Mearle's.
“We need a big 70th birthday for the old timer” he writes, possible a hint at one of the options being considered by the Save Mearle's group. The anniversary is in September. Ommen says Mearle's represents a lifestyle that likely won't be seen again and that image continues to spread and spread.
In his latest internet Historic Happenings, Ommen's mention of the graffiti tagging garnered a response from Brian Stone who worked as a bus boy for a brief time in the 1990s before moving to the Bay Area in 1998. “We're talking about a historic icon here. When are the owners of this property going to be held accountable and when is the city going to realize that it's about to loss one of the most iconic landmarks in its limits?” Stone wrote.
Later he told The Voice, “I've seen pictures of Mearle's in lots of different places on the internet, etc. My thoughts are that there aren't very many places left in the U.S. like it and definitely none as photographed and that in itself should make Visalians proud and also make them want to preserve it. Not only is this place Visalia's history, its part of an iconic generation that needs to be cherished not left to crumble.”
Ommen also cites a current Cargill Corporation commercial promoting “Fritter French Fries” in which a brief shot of Mearle's appears early in the 30-second ad focusing on the role of the French fry in American culture.
Both Silva and fellow Save Mearle's member Susan Mangini said this week talks are continuing among the property owners, the City of Visalia and others, an encouraging sign that Mearle's still could be resurrected in some manner. Silva said calls and e-mails continue to come to her and others from persons wanting to help in anyway they can. Silva said the owners say they will entertain an offer for sale but no prices have been discussed. Friends of Mearle's members have expressed frustration with a lack of movement to get serious considerations underway.
The rundown condition of Mearle's has been a hot topic since it's closure but the graffiti tagging seems to have brought the issue to a near boiling point. Silva reported receiving at least five to six calls per day for several days after the weekend rampage.
City officials were bombarded by outraged citizens demanding quick action resulting in the eradication of the graffiti, an action seen by some observers as simply a band aid approach to the issue.
That action came about the same time RK Limited, the Kazarian's corporation, was notified by certified mail, dated Feb. 14, that the property was in violation of codes for being “in a condition detrimental to public health, safety and general welfare.”
It also states the site has “become unsightly or in such condition of deterioration or disrepair that could cause damage to proximal properties or improvements.”
After the Jan. 22 deadline, the owners were to be fined $100 for the first day non-compliance, $200 for the second day then $500 per day for each day thereafter.
However officials dispatched graffiti crews to paint over the gang signs that covered even the top of the art deco style tower holding the Mearle's neon logo.
The code enforcement issue reportedly is on hold following the city cleanup, a move Mayor Bob Link said was a direct result of calls for action by citizens enraged by the eyesore conditions.
The Kazarians, who ponied up $700,000 at auction outbidding the local group, have been unsuccessful in leasing or selling the property which has been given a historic site designation blocking its demolition. The Kazarians claim they want to see the landmark drive-in somehow preserved.
Although they failed to buy the property, the Save Mearle's group was able to get the site declared a historic location preventing its demolition.
Silva and about a dozen others say they have been receiving a flood of calls and other messages pledging support for the efforts and offers of help in various ways but haven't come up with a specific course of action for the Save Mearle's campaign. One member of the group said a fund-raising campaign is among the options being considered.
After the auction, Michael Kazarian, grandson of the owner Ralph L Kazarian, said there were no specific plans for the property but claimed demolition of Mearle's wasn't a consideration at least for the near future. Despite at least two offers, nothing has happened.
Michael Kazarian said tough economic times make it extremely difficult to find investors. One of the members of Save Mearle's hinted that an aggressive fund-raising campaign is among the ideas being considered once a non-profit organization is legally formed.
Supervisor's Seat
By Miles Shuper
Guerrero, who served eight years on the Visalia Unified School District Board of Trustees until he was defeated in November, is the seventh person to announce his candidacy for the position. Worthley, currently board chairman, is seeking his fourth term in the June 8 primary election.
Guerrero said recent disclosure of supervisors and other county officials perceived charging meals and vehicle use reimbursements to the county and other issues convinced him to run. Guerrero said the county's actions relating to the use of Measure R transportation sales tax revenues for potential use in purchasing rail equipment also is a major issue which needs to be looked into.
Measure R funds, he said, should only be used for roads and highways, the way voters intended when they passed the one-half cent tax.
Guerrero, 52, who lives between Ivanhoe and Yettem, says he has been a District 4 resident since 1957, longer than some other candidates, and he knows the needs and concerns of that area. He said some of the other candidates, which he did not name, have moved into the district so they could run.
Guerrero, married and with three adult children, works for Proteus and oversees the agency's gang violence suppression operations in addition to working at the Wittman Community Center in Visalia.
He said another concern is that supervisors have been violating the spirit of the Brown Act, the state's open meeting policy, even though they have denied conducting business while having lunch together while claiming business expenses.
In addition to Worthley, other announced District Four candidates are Erika Paine, Ruben Macareno, Donny Barton, Maggie Florez and Brian Rouch.
Guerrero said he intends to take out nomination papers and file for candidacy within the next couple of weeks.
If none of the seven candidates receives more than 50 percent of the vote in June, the top two finishers will face off in November.
SECOND FRONT PAGE
What's New
Visalia PD on YouTube. People can catch the updated version of the General Motors' On-Star commercial featuring an incident in Visalia last year. Film crews actually came to town to film officers, dispatchers and even the victims in the carjacking that ended when On-Star was able to disable the vehicle in front of police. Chief Colleen Mestas said the commercial is already being shown on the East Coast, but hasn't been shown yet out West. People can catch the video on You Tube at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M7Ov0MB7ANI.
Plans for a University Phoenix campus on West Noble Avenue in Visalia have been scaled back, but are moving forward again. The square footage of the complex has shrunk to 18,000 s.f., about half of what it was once proposed and instead of two-story buildings, the campus will now consist of single-story buildings.
Visalia will soon have its own freshly grown corn stand. Neil and Martha Kasbergen plan to sell their freshly grown corn at a small stand at Avenue 272 just off of Mooney. They got the OK to proceed with their plans from the city Site Plan Review Committee recently, but it will be a couple more months before the corn is available.
Tulare County has spent $158.4 million in federal stimulus funds to rank 17th out of the state's 58 counties in befitting from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. Kings County has spent $79.5 million to rank 27th, according to the California Partnership for the San Joaquin. According to the partnership, $1.4 billion has been spent within the eight-county region on 1,182 projects.
Permits for 36 new homes were pulled in the city of Visalia in January, up 89 percent over January of last year, but overall building remains down. The total number of building permits issued by the City was down 8 percent, from 231 in January 2009 to 212 in 2010. Total valuation of all permits was $8,058,013, down $1.9 million from January of last year.
To provide hands-on clinical experience, the College of the Sequoias Veterinary Technician program is leasing a facility at 442 South Goddard in Visalia, the site of the former Visalia Veterinary Hospital.
Pacific Ethanol, Inc. is back on the NASDAQ stock market. The company had fallen out of the market because its stock price fell below $1 a share, but now is above that mark. The local ethanol company must maintain a minimum closing bid price of $1 per share to remain being listed.
Scores of Tulare County residents may have money coming to them and not know it. The state recently announced that $50 million worth of IOUs issued during last year's fiscal crisis, including $752,587 in the Central Valley, have not been cashed. The state began mailing letters to 90,000 recipients of the IOUs last week. Tulare County residents are reportedly owed $158,485 and Kings County residents $34,488.
Visalia - The direction the new Visalia City Council will take came into focus during last weekend's retreat.
A more aggressive, business friendly, yet fiscally conservation course was laid out by the council, which has three new members.
Elected in November were Mike Lane, Steve Nelsen and Warren Gubler. They joined Amy Shuklian, who was elected in 2007, and Bob Link, who is beginning his 12th year on the council. Departed were three council members with more than 40 years of council experience between them.
“This is a new era, a new economy and a new culture,” began Mayor Link at the start of the two-day session which saw the council members lay out their vision on a variety of issues - from building permits to the Highway 196 scenic corridor.
Link said time was of the essence.
“For my perspective, this is a two-year council. In two years you could have two new people,” he said, adding he was going to push to get a lot done in the next 24 months.
“I believe this council will have more effect on the city in the next 24 months than past councils have had for the last 20 years,” he concluded when the retreat wrapped up late Saturday afternoon.
City Manager Steve Salomon, acknowledging how tough the past two years have been because of the poor economy, cautioned the new council to be fiscally conservative, saying, “Even if the city does not add any new spending, it is still spending more than what is coming in.”
Last year the city dipped into its reserves for more than $5 million and, while the financial position for the city has improved, it will probably dip into reserves for another $1 million or more this year.
With a broader look, the council identified five areas it is most interested in. They were economic development, West Visalia/Scenic Corridor plan, a local stimulus plan (see page 1 story), streamlining the building permit process and anti-gang efforts.
Some of the bigger issues tackled at the retreat were ag land mitigation and the Highway 198 scenic corridor.
Ag Land Mitigation
Several of the council members said there should be no steps taken in preserving ag land until the council decides on a policy. That was in response to a developer recently paying more than $300,000 into an endowment as a condition of annexation to preserve ag land - money that now will likely be paid back.
The city has wrestled for years with an ag mitigation plan designed to purchase undeveloped land and preserve it forever as ag land, using money paid by developers when they annex into the city.
The proposal has been strongly opposed by both the Tulare County Farm Bureau and the Home Building Association and was tabled last year.
However, the current general plan encourages such a program and the state has expressed concerns over the loss of ag land.
City Attorney Alex Peltzer agreed with Darlene Mata of the Visalia Community Forum that no money should be collected until the council establishes a policy.
Lane, noting it is a critical issue and the need to preserve ag land is important, said a better way to preserve farm land is with “strong urban boundaries” and effective planning.
“I want to send a clear message that
yes, we want smart growth, but we also want people to invest
in our community.”
Nelsen, Shuklian and Gubler agreed. “I don't like
a fee or a tax,” Gubler said, adding the $300,000
charged one developer sounded like a tax to him.
In the end, the council agreed to further study the proposal, but until a decision is made, there would be no fees charged. The council also eliminated the limitation placed on the size of parcels to be annexed as well.
Scenic Corridor
Mike Lane Sr., father of the council member, said he was on the city planning commission when a West Highway 198 Scenic Corridor plan was presented, but that the council basically ignored what the planners came up with.
Mayor Link agreed, saying the corridor is too important to be a part of the general plan update just beginning. That process could take up to three years. Link proposed the council tackle the issue now.
“I don't think we need to reinvent the wheel,” added Nelsen, suggesting the previous plans are good place to start.
Other Issues
Measure T - Agreed to study adjusting Measure T to allow the building of the city's next fire station in the northwest portion of the city - near Tulare Avenue and Akers Street - rather than in the southeastern portion of the city as the plan states. Fire Chief Mark Nelson said the city's growth has been more in that northwestern area and that adding a station there would allow firefighters to respond to all incidents within five minutes.
Business Research Park - Agreed to study the area along Plaza Drive between Highway 198 and Hurley Avenue to ensure that development there blends with the Plaza Business Park Mangano Development Company is developing between Hurley and Crowley avenues.
Permit Process - Instructed staff to come up with ways to streamline the process to speed up projects in the city. “The message I want to get it we are open for business,” said Lane.
By Steve Pastis
Visalia - More people are having their computers repaired rather than replaced in this tight economy, but that isn't translating into windfall profits for local computer repair businesses.
“When the economy went to crap, the repair business went up because nobody wants to replace their computers,” said Randy Claussen, sole proprietor of Claussen Enterprises in Porterville, which also provides wireless, high-speed Internet. “Before, it was a throwaway world.”
He said his computer business is the same as it was before the recession, but the focus has shifted from sales to repairs. “A $200 repair sounds better than a $500 or $600 computer.” But he believes the slow sales may be temporary.
“All this does is delay when there's going to be a surge in sales,” Claussen said, explaining that there is a continuing demand for increased computer memory and speed. “All you're doing is kicking the can down the road.
“Or people who have two or three computers in the home may just downsize,” he said. “They may say we can get by with one computer like we used to.”
Claussen's computer repair traffic increased after the holidays, mainly from an increase in computer viruses. “Everyone had relatives from out of town,” he said. “Naturally, they're going to download things and browse sites they shouldn't.”
A lot of people also had problems with their computer hard drives following a power surge last July, according to Claussen, who said that brought a lot of hard drives into his shop. “SCE had a power surge and blew them out all over town,” he said.
Business at Custom Computer Solutions is “not too bad,” according to its owner, Joseph Nottingham. Most of his company's business is cleaning computers. His customers' computers are experiencing “more bugs and 'malicious-ware' than actual breaking down,” he said. He added that his computer sales have decreased.
“I think that sales have slowed down because people don't want to fork out the money to buy new computers,” he said. “In place of that, they are repairing what they have.”
Nottingham, who has been in business for 12 years, said that he didn't lower his rates because of the recession or competition. In-store repairs are $60 per hour and repairs done at a customer's site are $90 per hour. “Those have been my hourly rates for a long time,” he said.
“Business is steady and moving upwards” at Total Knowledge Computer Service in Visalia, said Matt Kerr, who doesn't think the recession has been a factor in increasing the number of repairs.
“I don't know if you can say it's helped,” he said. “What we're probably seeing is that more people are relying on their computers.” He added that more businesses are also using computers.
“It's inexpensive compared to a building or a vehicle,” he said. “A computer is a cheap alternative to hiring someone.”
Kerr said business “feels about the same” as it did before the economic downturn. “We've always had businesses that like to use their computers for five-plus years,” he said, explaining why his company hasn't felt the recession. “It could be that we're in that five-year window.”
Meanwhile, other computer repair shops haven't noticed any increase.
“I would say it's flat,” said Joe Galba, owner of PC Teks in Visalia. “The computer repair business is growing but it's also becoming a commodity because you make less money per unit. Five or six years ago, you could bill $50, $60, $70 or $75 an hour. You can't get away with that anymore. You have to stay competitive.”
The main competition, according to Galba, is from “online portals” that people find by doing computer searches. “They get these technicians who sign up with them and will work for nothing,” he said. “They're not qualified and they're driving the market down.”
In response to the market, PC Teks moved out of its building and also started concentrating on telecom work, installing phone systems for businesses. Telecom is now 70 percent of the company's business, according to Galba.
Tulare County - Storm after storm has turned what was a three-year dry spell into at least an average year and average years generally mean plentiful snowpack.
Tuesday's storm may be the last for a while, but since the rain season began in October rainfall has been average at worst.
“Average years tend to be plentiful years,” said Tulare Irrigation District Manager Paul Hendrix. He said by far there are more dry years (below average rainfall) than wet years, but really wet years push up the average.
“We've been really close to average,” agreed National Weather Service meteorologist Michael Bingham. He said before Tuesday's storm rainfall on the Valley floor was slightly above average.
Rainfall in Visalia to date is more than 6 inches – nearly 7 inches in Fresno - about average for this time of year, but the snowpack is slightly better.
Hendrix said that the latest snow survey on the Kaweah River watershed showed the snowpack at 120 of normal.
According to the State Department of Water snow sensors, the snowpack at Farewell Gap as of Monday was 7-feet-8-inches. At Quaking Aspen above Porterville it as slightly less at just under 7 feet.
Statewide, as of Tuesday, the water content of the snowpack was 110 percent of average for the date and 76 percent of the April 1 average. In the southern part of the state the average was 113 percent and 130 percent up north where most of California's surface water begins.
Hendrix said it is shaping up as a good year.
“If we continue with this pace we'll get awfully darn wet by March,” he said, adding it has been an encouraging start in light of three below average years. “An average year is a pretty good year,” he said.
However, Hendrix and Bingham both said that El Nino is waning, but Bingham said that does not necessarily mean the rain will stop. Average rainfall in Fresno for March is 2.20 inches and .75 inches in April.
“You can still have average rain after it (El Nino) is gone,” said Bingham. And, he said because El Nino has been moderate, the state has been lucky to get the amount of precipitation it has. “A moderate El Nino can be a dry year,” he explained.
Projections are right now that the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation will supply 100 percent of Class 1 water down the Friant-Kern canal to eastside users and possibly 25 percent of Class 2 water. Hendrix said that Class 2 water would be used to help recharge the underground water supply.
“Hopefully, this will be a rebound year,” he said.
The above stories are the property of The Valley Voice Newspaper and may not be reprinted without explicit permission in writing from the publisher.
February 11, 2010
