Page 9 - Reedley Exponent 4-4-19 E-edition

The Reedley Exponent PB anorama
The latest news and events in the senior community
See B2
Section | Thursday, April 4, 2019 www.reedleyexponent.com
Memorial quilts honor local victims
Reedley (Fresno County) CA 93654
The View From Here
When I walked into the Mennonite Quilt Center Museum on the afternoon of March 27, nothing could have prepared me for the ex- hibit on dis- play.
Juanita Adame
The "Vic-
tims' Memo-
rial Quilts" were on display at the museumthroughApril1. Theonly way to describe this particular set of quilts- each of which displayed the names and photos of more than 400 people who have been killed through some form of violent crime, was overwhelming, somber, and eye opening.
There was information at the entrance of the museum explain- ing how the victims quilts came about and why its an important display.
According to information from The Crime Victim's Assistance Center, the idea for the Memorial Quilts was initiated in 1994.
They memorialize over 400 victims who have lost their lives to a violent crime. It is also a re- minder of the family and friends and other victims whose lives have been forever changed by crime.
I would like to thank the Men- nonite Quilt Center for inviting me over every time they have a new exhibit on display. Thank you for always being courteous when I'm there. You ladies are doing a won- derful job of representing your community, keep up the great work.
Working for the Exponent, I have the opportunity to meet in- teresting people around town.
The people I'm about to men- tion truly made me believe I was seeing double. I first met Albert Rodriguez back in September during Reedley Fire's annual open house. For those who don't know, Albert works as an EMT for Se- quoia Safety Council. Albert was at the open house representing the ambulance company and I was there covering the event.
I interviewed Albert, took a few photos of him near the am- bulance and went on my way. No more than three minutes after our interview, I see "Albert" or whom I thought was Albert, pass right in front of me.
Only difference was, he was dressed from head to toe in a fire uniform. I shook my head think- ing "Wow, Albert sure does change clothes quickly."
I had to do a double take and maybe even a third take. Wait, what's going on here. I looked vis- ibly puzzled. I finally asked my husband David (he worked with Albert) if Albert was a twin. And he confirmed, yes Albert has a twin brother named Marty.
Marty is a fire captain with Reedley. And both the guys work in public service.
I recently interviewed Marty for an upcoming story on the af- ternoon of April 1. Marty laughed when I told him the story of my re- action to seeing both him and his brother at the same location just minutes apart.
A similar situation happened when I saw Renee Delport's twin sister, Rhonda for the first time as well.
I talk to Renee often at school events and when I attended the annual St. La Salle auction back in February, I was certain Renee was there. Sitting in the front row of the auction I thought to myself, Renee's hair looks different. Actu- ally that is Renee, but why does she look different in some way? I kept glaring at Rhonda, and finally texted Renee. "Are you here at the auction," I asked. "I am not, but my twin is," she replied. We also shared a laugh.
Stay tuned for Marty's profile story, it will run sometime this month. Thanks again to all the lo- cal's who let me tell their stories.
I love to talk to and share the stories of the residents who make up this great community.
ABOVE: Joanna Aparicio is shown on one of the Victim's Memorial Quilts at the Mennonite Quilt Center. The exhibit was shown through April 1 and honored more than 450 people who lost their lives to violent crime.
By Juanita Adame
Juanita@midvalleypublishing.com
It's a quilt that no family wants their loved one to be a part of.
"These quilts are representing a person who was killed through some type of violence," said Silvia Rios of the Mennonite Quilt Center. "Either through gun violence, drinking and driving, texting while driving, do- mestic violence.
"And so the family members who have lost these loved ones are given a square size," Rios continued. "So that they can put the remem- brance of their family members on these squares."
Rios said there are more than 400 victims represented on the quilts that date back to 1994.
"We have the great honor and blessing to be able to display these here," she said. "After this, they'll be taken back to their organization in
Fresno, and they'll unveil the new years quilt, the 2018 quilt."
Rios said the main goal of the collection is to have them displayed at the state capital for lawmakers and state officials to see.
"They need to remember that there are families out there who are hurting," she said. "Maybe they will have the opportunity to revisit some of the laws that we have so that maybe they can make some ad- justments. To change laws that need to be changed, so that we don't have to make anymore quilts, and for no more families to be affected."
One of the victims, Joanna Aparicio was killed in 2005 after a night out with friends.
According to an archived Ex- ponent article, Aparicio's body was found in an orchard near Parlier. And a day after Aparicio
See QUILTS page B8
Photos by Juanita Adame / The Exponent
ABOVE: Each quilt represented a year and the victims killed during that year within Fresno County.
BELOW LEFT: The Losev brothers; Alexi, 9, Alexander, 6, and Peter, 2 were killed bytheirfatherin1999. Accordingtonewsreports,VasilyLosev,thefatherof3 boys died of an apparent suicide following the murder of his sons.
BELOW RIGHT: Destinee Ortiz was shot and killed by a stray bullet after a fight broke out at a house party she had been attending in Fresno. She was 15-years- old.
Rummage Roundup will be held this weekend
Staff Report
The annual Reedley Rummage Roundup will be held on Saturday, April 6. The event will begin at 7 a.m. and will continue until 1 p.m. Various local vendors will set up along G Street in downtown Reed- ley.
"We love it because it makes us do our spring cleaning and make money at the same time," said Lillie Valencia during the 2016 roundup.
Valencia said she and her friend, Keiko Hatakeda, have been participating in the rummage sales for about five years. Every year, there is something different.
The "biggest yard sale" in town will feature used items, and hand crafted specialties and so much more.
Vendor space is still avail- able. For more information or to reserve a vendor spot, visit Reed- leyDowntown.com or call (559) 856 - 1222.
File Photo / The Exponent
ABOVE: The annual Reedley Rummage Roundup will be held on April 6, from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Award-winning authors to visit Reedley College
ABOVE: From left, Manuel Munoz and Helena Maria Viramontes.
Photo Contributed / The Exponent
Contributed
Two well known authors will be at Reedley College on Thurs- day, April 4, for a reading of their books, question and answer as well as a book signing.
The event will begin at 7 p.m. inside the Forum Hall. Admission will be free- however, donations are accepted. They are $5 for general admission and $2 for students.
Helena Maria Viramontes is the author of "The Moths," and other sto- ries as well as two novels; "Under the feet of Jesus," as well as "Their dogs came with them."
Viramontes received numer- ous awards and honors including the John Dos Passos Award for lit- erature and the United States Artist Fellowship.
Her short stories and essays have been widely anthologized and her writings have been adopted for classroom and university study.
She is known as a community organizer and former coordinator of the Los Angeles Latino Writers Association. She is also a frequent
See AUTHORS page B2
"Helena Viramontes is the author of
The Moths, she has traveled the country to lecture."