Page 7 - Mid Valley Times 8-26-21 E-edition

Thursday, August 26, 2021
The View From Here
The best thing about Friday nights dur- ing the fall is the high school foot- ball games. Growing up in Sanger,
Juanita Adame
By Juanita Adame
Mid Valley Times
More than a hundred people attended the Sanger Farmer’s Market in down- town Sanger on the evening of Aug. 28.
The event included ven- dors, food, music and the much anticipated Taco Eating Contest.
The winners were deter- mined by who finished 10 ta- cos in the shortest amount of time.
This year’s taco eating contest winner was Andrew Cuevas. Cuevas has won the title for three years in a row. Also announced during the event was this years Taco Throwdown Champion.
“We are ready to an- nounce Sanger’s Taco Throw- down Champions for 2021,” said Karen Pearson with the Sanger Chamber. “We have our mayor, Eli Ontiveros, here, and we are going to walk the trophy over to the winner."
The Vega Brothers were this year's champions.
The Sanger Farmers Mar- ket will continue next week with the theme "Night at the Tropics." Vendors applications are still accepted, for more in- formation contact, (559) 875- 4575.
and attending Sanger High, high school football games were like Sunday service for us.
Every Friday night, without fail, the entire town knew that football was tak- ing place.
Wherever we were in town, we could hear the cheers and applause coming from Tom Flores Stadium.
It’s not much different here in Reedley. Fall is here, school is back and Friday nights are once again filled with excitement. The sta- dium lights at Sal Gonzalez field are turned on and ev- eryone knows it’s game time. So, on the evening of Aug. 20, I grabbed my gear and made my walk toward the field. I hadn’t taken pictures of a football game since 2011.
I wasn’t there to neces- sarily take football photos, I wanted to grab some video of students and band mem- bers. Being on the sidelines of the game brought back a rush of memories.
Like I’d mentioned, the last time I took photos of a high school game was back in 2011. Dick Sheppard was the editor at the time of the Sanger Herald. I was in charge of covering sports. That meant Apache football.
I was so scared to be on the field those first few times. Dick taught me to stay a few yards ahead of the play, always facing the quarterback.
“That angle makes for the best photos,” he would tell me. "During field goals, stand behind or at an angle of the field goal post to en- sure a great kick photo."
I couldn’t help but think of Dick during Reedley High’s game on Aug. 20 against Hanford West.
If there is one thing he loved, it was Friday night football. As a matter of fact, the last game at Sal Gonzalez field I attended was in Au- gust 2019. Long before any of us knew what COVID-19 was and how it would change our lives forever.
The game was Reedley High vs. Sanger High. We have always been longtime rivals, so of course I made it a point to attend. Dick was there as usual support- ing his Apaches and taking photos on the sidelines. That was the last game I ever saw him at. Highschool games
SEE COLUMN on page A8
Juanita Adame / Mid Valley Times
ABOVE: Alessandra Schletewitz, with Schletewitz Family Farms weighed some fruit for customers during the Sanger Farmer's Market on the afternoon of Saturday, Aug. 21.
BELOWATRIGHT: KarenPearsonandBrandiRaubfogelwiththeSangerChamberofCommercesmiled for a photo during the Farmer's Market.
Sanger Farmer's Market in full swing
"We hope everyone can make it out to our Farmer's Markets in downtown Sanger."
Karen Pearson Sanger Chamber of Commerce
Reedley celebrates 'Friday night lights' with home game
Parlier learning director celebrates birthday
Photo of the week
Photo Courtesy / Parlier Unified School District
Facultyandstaffcelebratedthe birthdayoftheParlierHighschool Learning Director on the morning of Aug. 23. "Happy Birthday to Mr. Javier Martinez, we hope you are having a wonderful day," the district announced on their Facebook page.
Contributed
A photo of Layla and Alex Nino holding their newborn son was sent in by Michelle Marie Rodriguez. Layla has been battling CO- VID-19 pneumonia and successfully delivered the pair's healthy baby boy on Aug. 19. Have a photo you'd like featured? Email juanita@midvalleypublishing.com.
Reedley High School students cheered on the varsity football team in the Pirate Pit during the Aug. 20 home game against Hanford West at Sal Gonzalez field.
Juanita Adame / Mid Valley Times