Page 12 - Mid Valley Times 2-20-20 E-edition

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nating letter read. Matthew Casa-
rez, Junior Citizen of the Year for 2020, re- ceived three letters of nomination for his position. The Reedley High School senior has been involved with the school's marching band, jazz band. Constitution Club, Leo Club and yearbook committee. Outside of school, he has been involved as an ambassador with the Reedley Chamber and Redeemers Church, and he also served on the Reedley Fiesta Commit- tee organizing a student talent show.
In addition, Casarez has an Instagram page which he uses to let his followers know what is going on throughout the city and at the high school.
Les Schwab Tires, the Large Business of the Year, has been open in Reedley for four years, and in that time the business has been involved sponsoring
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According to city of Sanger’s Community Development Director Tom Navarro, one of the options considered was to allow commercial de-
Jon Earnest / Mid Valley Times
Ken Baker, director of Hope Now Ministries and pastor at Heritage Church in Reedley, spoke at the dedication of the Faith House emergency shelter in Reedley in November 2018. Baker last week was named Reedley Citizen of the Year for 2020 by the Greater Reedley Chamber of Commerce.
ley Police Chief, was nominated and then se- lected as Safety Profes- siobnal of the Year for his involvement in the community above his police work, including with the Reedley Ro- tary and organizer for the annual Reedley Fi- esta Parade.
"Chief is a wonderful man leading our PD and keeping our city safe," stated one nominating letter.
Educator of the Year Luke Thomas, an advanced placement economics and world history teacher at Im- manuel High School, has excelled in helping boost students' aver- age AP test scores and also has led multiple mission trips for the school to other coun- tries.
Adrian Encinia, co- owner with Matthew Tuttle of Gnardog CrossFit in downtown Reedley, has helped im- prove the wellness and vitality of residents as Health Professional of the Year.
priority for the city is getting the North Acad- emy Avenue corridor shovel-ready.
“The next step here is really to get infra- structure out there,” he shared. “We want it to be shovel-ready. We want to be able to provide devel- opers with the land that they want so they can build here and make this a success.”
Past studies, in which the city of Sanger partic- ipated in a countywide market study focusing on highway corridors, revealed several par- cels that were ideal for development but lacked the needed infrastruc- ture for development.
One idea that the city is looking into, and re- cently completed a feasi- bility study on, is that of a hotel near the intersec-
"They truly care about their members and the community," a nominating letter stat- ed. "They do numerous fundraisers such as [thje] annual fundraiser for the Joe Lusk Foun- dation. They have also done for fallen fire- fighters."
Finally, Grace Mat- suura with the Reed- ley Executive Center is being recognized for the center's role in providing accessible and affordable office space in downtown Reedley.
Tickets are on sale for the annual Awards Gala, which will be held in the Reedley College cafeteria. There once again will be musical entertainment at the event, and this year will include the Hall of Fame induction of Greg and Karen Mus- son along with the other annual awards.
For ticket informa- tion, contact the Great- er Reedley Chamber of Commerce at (559) 638- 3548.
tion of Academy and SR 180. The hotel, the study found, would serve both visitors to the city of Sanger as well as tour- ists visiting the national parks.
The EIFD feasibility study would allow the city to establish a financ- ing district, a borrow based upon the value of future land use, as op- posed to current, paving the way for shovel-ready projects along the corri- dor of North Academy Avenue, up to SR 180.
“Infrastructure is of great importance to continuing the efforts and actually developing out there and not just annexing and seeing it sit for years and years,” Navarro said.
A report from the study should be available in about two months.
multiple local events, sports teams and FFA programs.
Mennonite Quilt Center, the Small Busi- ness of the Year, has built a solid reputation by spreading the city's name to out-of-towners
velopments to build the needed infrastructure as it was approved over time. But, because it was clear, based on market- ing efforts, that most commercial interest are those closest to the inter- section of Academy and
with increased events. One nominating letters said the center and its staff of mostly volun- teers "probably brings more shoppers to Reed- ley than any other shop in town."
Juan Fonseca, own-
Highway 180, that op- tion would not serve the city’s best interest.
“Unfortunately, that’s a hard thing to do,” said Navarro. “Especially when they set their tar- gets on the corner of Academy and 180 and they have to drag infra-
er-operator of Pro- Script Pharmacy in downtown Reedley, has operated his small busi- ness for five years and earned multiple nomi- nations for Entrepre- neur of the Year.
Joe Garza, Reed-
structure all the way from the city limits a mile away. That’s very difficult for a developer to actually do.”
Navarro said, though the city is looking into grants such as EDA (Economic Development Assistance) grants, the
Thursday, February 20, 2020 | A12 |
Mid Valley TiMes
A Palm Village Annual Fundraising Event
Join the fun and enjoy great food with the people who live and work at Palm Village!
Feb. 25th, 2020 4:30-6:30 PM
(559)638-6933│PalmVillage.com
Free will offering and donations will support our Living Legacy Fund.
The Living Legacy Fund at Palm Village, insures that we can continue to provide care, health services, and a safety net for seniors who have outlived their resources.
703 W. Herbert Avenue │ Reedley, CA
COA #170 Lic.#100404809 We do Business in Accordance with the Federal Fair Housing Law
Haveastoryidea?
Email tonews@midvalleytimes.com or call 591-4632, 638-2244 or 875-2511
Business & Community Awards Gala
“TAKE FLIGHT IN REEDLEY”
Saturday, Febuary 29, 2020
Reedley College Student Center
Featuring Musical Entertainment
Assisted Living & Assisted Living Memory Care Units
Now Available!
A Continuing Care Retirement Community (559)638-6933│PalmVillage.com
703 W. Herbert Avenue │ Reedley, CA
COA#170Lic.#100404809
We do Business in Accordance with the Federal Fair Housing Law
Social Hour - 5 p.m.
Dinner & Awards Presentations-6p.m.
Semi-Formal Dress Code
Tickets $55 per person or $400 per table of 8
For Tickets Call Chamber Of ce at (559) 638-3548
06682
05592
05643