Page 7 - Mid Valley Times 2-6-20 E-edition

The View From Here
It still
amazes me.
No matter
how many
times I’ve
heard an auctioneer
during a live
auction, I
become in-
trigued at
how they can talk so fast.
So, when I had the op- portunity to attend the an- nual St. La Salle benefit fun- draiser on Feb. 1, I figured what a perfect time to speak to an auctioneer and learn all about their craft.
The benefit auction is held the first Saturday in February. It draws a large crowd. Locals and out of town visitors fill the Reedley Community Center to bid on student made items. It’s al- ways a lot of fun.
The professional auction- eer this year was Michael Imbrogno.
I learned that Michael has been doing it for years.
I was curious to know how Michael created his craft and what made him interested in it. By the way, when he speaks, he does so at a normal pace.
Michael said it did take some practice to learn the cadence. He said at time’s he’d stand in front of the mirror and practice for hours until it was perfect.
Watch for my full story on the event and Michael in an upcoming issue of the Mid Valley Times.
Also, this weekend, be- fore I went to watch the Su- per Bowl, (sorry Niner fans) I was picking up some gro- ceries at the Gong’s Market in Sanger.
As I walked in, I noticed a large head of lettuce hang- ing by the door. “That’s dif- ferent,” I thought to myself.
Walking in I then ob- served a drum, near the drum, a young man dressed in a dragon costume.
“We’re here to do a tra- ditional Chinese New Year’s celebration inside the store,” he said.
The dragon dance is part of the tradition.
After some research I learned that this is the year of the rat.
According to chinese- newyear.net the Zodiac signs play an integral part in Chi- nese culture, and can be used to determine one's for- tune for the year, marriage compatibility, career fit, best times to have a baby, and so much more.
In all, I learned some in- teresting details about this holiday. Thank you to the dancers who brought the event to Sanger, and Happy Chinese New Year!
Mid Valley Times
Customers at the Gong's Market in Sanger enjoyed a Chinese New Year's Celebra- tion on the morning of Feb. 2.
The Chinese New Year begins on the first lunar cal- endar and continues through the 15th of the first month. During the Chinese New Year, several traditions in- cluding the dragon dance are performed.
A dragon dance, complete with a drums and firecrack- ers began at the entrance of the store. The performance dancers circled the entire perimeter of the store before exiting. A lettuce offering wasgiventothedragon. The dragon then "spit" the lettuce back at spectators symbol- izing the spread of good for- tune and prosperity.
Juanita Adame
Sanger Gong's celebrates Chinese New Year By Juanita Adame
Juanita Adame / Mid Valley Times
A cashier working at the Gong's Market in Sanger participated in the Chinese New Year celebration with a "lettuce offering" , the dragon then spit the lettuce back out representing the spread of prosperity and luck for the new year. The traditional dance was held inside the store on Feb. 2.
Dinuba and Orosi High students receive FFA Blue Jackets
Mid Valley Times
FFA students from Dinuba and Orosi High were awarded their FFA blue jackets on Jan. 22 as part of Tulare County Farm Bureau’s Blue Jacket Bonanza held at the Exeter Memorial Building.
The Tulare County Farm Bureau’s Education and Scholarship fund awarded a total of 47 jackets.
Students from Dinuba High that received their jack- ets were John Fernandez, Isabell Garcia, Jennifer Oli- vares and Isabella Ramirez. Orosi High students were Adriana Alvarez, Annali Del Rio, Kenet Fuentes, Gabriela Garcia Barajas, Brillit Gasca, Isabella Gonzalez, Sebastian Lua Ochoa, Alexandra Nuñez, Jazmine Rodriguez, Bryan
See FFA on page A8
Contributed
DHS Students: Pictured from left to right are John Fernandez, Isabell Garcia, Isabella Ramirez, and Jen- nifer Olivares
Reedley's Erik Valencia selected as Business Street's 40 under 40
Photos Contributed
Erik Valencia, left, executive director for the Greater Reedley Cham- ber of Commerce, stood with Lance Cardoza, president and CEO of Business Street Media Group, after Valencia was honored at Business Street's "40 Under 40" networking event on Dec. 5 in Fresno. Valencia was one of 40 regional business professionals under the age of 40 recognized for 2019.
MVT Staff Report
Erik Valencia, executive di- rector for the Greater Reedley Chamber of Commerce, was selected as one of Business Street's "40 Under 40" honor- ees for 2019. Valencia, enter- ing his third year as executive at the "Ultimate Networking Event" ceremony on Fresno on Dec. 5.
The reception honored 40 Central California business professionals in the private and public sectors under the age of 40. Valencia — who be- gan his position at the cham- ber in late August 2017 — was joined by 39 other Under-40 business professionals from around Fresno and Madera counties.
In his two-plus years with the chamber, Valencia has helped oversee and work on additional community events formerly handled by the now-
defunct Reedley Downtown Association.
"I would like to say that I am humbled to be selected to such a select group of indi- viduals in the Central Valley," Valencia said. "I am very ap- preciative to Chief Joe Garza and the Reedley Rotary Club for nominating me. For them to recognize me for my efforts in the community is an honor."
"I am humbled to be selected
to such a
select group of individuals in the Central Valley."
- Erik Valencia