Page 10 - Sanger Herald 6-7-18 E-edition

Lifestyles
SANGER HERALD • 2B • THURSDAY, JUNE 7, 2018
Taft, Kings River graduate
Sanger
By Mike Nemeth
Sanger Herald
Jose “Too Tall” Vacio stands out in a crowd.
And that’s just what he did the evening of June 1 outside the west door of the Washington Academic Middle School auditorium with the rest of his class from Kings River High in the final moments before graduation was to begin. The 2018 graduating class of 23 Taft High seniors also milled around in the afternoon heat.
It gave Vacio, at an imposing 6 feet 4 inches, a chance to talk about what comes next. “Find a job,” he said. “Study to be an engineer.”
Vacio said he plans to attend Reedley College in the fall and continue his undergraduate degree at Fresno State. He also mentioned Cal Poly as a possibility for his masters. His preferred field would be industrial engineering, he said.
A very sharp-dressed Tony Subia accompanied the students, 56 of whom were soon-to-be Kings River alums. “Too Tall stepped up,” Subia said. “Very proud of him. Role model.”
Then Subia, who works maintenance at the schools, said Vacio wasn’t the only role model. He mentioned Vivian Escamilla, who was one of four student speakers. “Leaders,” he said. “Very good students.”
And to the students, he raised his voice and said, “You guys did it yourselves. You guys had to do it.”
Subia said to see them looking so good in their mortarboards and gowns brought him a lot of pride. “They came through a lot of stuff,” he said. “They
To get an item into the calendar, email details to nemethfeatures@gmail. com or call Mike or Sharon at 559-875-2511.
The Sanger branch of the Fresno County Library has a lot going on despite not being open. The Sanger Library Outdoor Fun shows areplannedat10and11:30 a.m. directly outside the library in the park. Drum Circle with Johannes “Ice” Quilitz is June 15. E&M Reptiles with snakes, lizards and more is June 22. Bubble Show with wild
A Word About Forgiveness — Part 1
Have you ever taken a guilt trip?
God did not create you to live with guilt. In fact, there’s a myth that says feeling guilty makes me more spiritual. Absolutely false! Guilt is not required for holiness.
God did not design your body to handle guilt, He designed it and intends for you to live guilt free. Guilt really messes up your body. It messes up your mind. It messes up
Mike Nemeth / Sanger Herald
Jose Vacio shoves his arms in the air as principal Rick Church declares Taft and Kings River seniors graduates.
roots are grounded.” Daisha Vela, who plans
to attend Reedley College, said she and her fellow graduates succeeded through a combination of hard work, personal commitment and pride. “This high school diploma is a wonderful tool in this world,” she said. “Most of my classmates come here with the intention of returning (to Sanger High). But what they find is a family.”
Vela singled out every teacher and school employee and recounted an anecdote for each and talked about what made them special. And Navo and Church, too. “You are an inspiration,” she said.
Each graduate was given a yellow rose, which they were told was symbolic and should be given to somebody along the way who helped them get to this point.
Elias Munoz said he would give his to “one of my teachers.”
Dominguez initially said she’d give it to herself but then, with a smile, handed it to her mom, Monica Gutierrez, who said, “I’m proud of her. She’s motivated.” And on the subject of Dominguez becoming a success? “Yes, definitely,” Gutierrez said.
Vacio said he planned to give his rose to Miguel C. Torres, his uncle. “He’s always been there,” Vacio said. “Very inspirational. We’ve always been very close. Like brothers.”
Vela gave her rose to her grandmother.
The reporter can be contacted by email at nemethfeatures@gmail.com or by phone at the Herald at (559) 875-2511.
Mike Nemeth / Sanger Herald
improved their grades.” Kings River and Taft serve as the Sanger Unified School District’s alternative high schools. Helmed by principal Rick Church, the schools feature smaller classes and teachers who, judging by the praise heaped on them during the graduation ceremony by their students, do a fantastic job of preparing their students who didn’t quite make it in the conventional school setting
for their next challenge. Math teacher David Kilborn joked with and slung praise at every graduate as he or she walked into the auditorium
child adventures is June 29. And Fridays from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. the mobile or pop-up library services will be available. The library is at 1812 Seventh St. Details, 559-305-7130.
Sanger offers a junior lifeguard program again this year thanks to a Wonderful Co. grant. Participants work to develop skills to meet lifeguard course requirements, such as in-water rescue and other basics. The course is open to ages 13 to 17, costs $50 and runs from June 19 to
your relationships. Guilt is a problem in that it creates all kinds of fears.
There’s the fear of “I may be found out. If somebody finds out what I have done, I’m toast.” Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, the guy who wrote all the Sherlock Holmes novels, was quite a prankster. One time he sent an anonymous note to 50 prominent Englishmen in Great Britain. The note simply said, “All is found out. Flee at once.”
Within 48 hours, 25 of those people had left the country.
A lot of people carry the fear of being found out and
and down toward the stage. He wasn’t the only one. All the teachers appeared to be doing the same.
Church spoke about students continuing their lives and their stories as they strive to fulfill their purpose. “As you start your journey, throw away that store-bought map and use your own,” he said, likely referring symbolically to a paper fold-up map that nobody uses in the era of Google.
After a couple more comments, Church brought out a small black towel and wiped the sweat from his bald head. “This is a tradition,” he said, getting
July 27. Register at the Sanger recreation office, 1700 Seventh St. Details, 559-876-6300, option 2.
The Central California Asthma Collaborative’s 5th Annual 5K Bubble Fun Run for Asthma Awarenss takes place from 8 to 11 a.m. June 9 at Woodward Park in Fresno. All proceeds help the Asthma Home Visitor’s Program, which is dedicated to helping low-income and minority families in the San Joaquin Valley region receive better asthma management tools. Andrea Andrade, Miss Nuestra Belleza USA 2018 and California’s Miss Congeniality 2018, will be officiating. Register online
a laugh.
“You will fail at some
point,” Church said. “But failure is just life trying to move you in another direction.”
Picking the right direction would be the challenge. Andrea Hurtado, the first of the student speakers, said her class had overcome barriers and she wished her fellow graduates nothing but the best. She addressed her audience in Spanish as well. “We have persevered,” she said. “Each one of us.”
Escamilla, who is going to Fresno State, chose to single out not only Church for praise but also outgoing
at https://runsignup.com/ Race/CA/Fresno/Asthma5 KBubbleWalk?remMeAtte mpt=.
Sanger’s Movie Night in the Park continues this summer. Show times are 8:45 p.m. Here’s the lineup: June 16 “Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales” at City Annex, June 23 “Despicable Me 3” at Community Pool, July 7 “Paddington 2” at Community Pool, July 14 “The Legend of Tarzan” at City Annex, July 21 “Star Wars: The Last Jedi” at City Annex, July 28 “Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle” at City Annex, and Aug. 4 “Coco” at Community Pool.
Summer Fun at the
superintendent Matt Navo. “None of this would have been possible without (them),” she said. She also praised her mother, Maria, for her help. “We will each keep pushing forward as we always have. Now is the time to take the next step.”
Sierra Dominguez also plans to attend Fresno State. “My vision was to graduate as an Apache,” she said. But Taft’s smaller classrooms, its guidance and “endless support” proved better, she said.
“Our failures and setbacks will only make us more determined,” Dominguez said. “Stand strong and make sure your
Sanger News & Community Calendar
PASTOR’S CORNER
Community Center continues again this year. For children 5 to 12, it includes two-week sessions 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday
“Father, forgive them for they do not know what they are doing.”
When you fully understand the meaning of Jesus saying these words, you can live the rest of your life guilt free. In Psalm 32 David says, “When I refused to confess my sins, I was weak and miserable, and I groaned all day long. ... My strength evaporated like water in the summer heat. Finally, I confessed all my sins to you and stopped trying to hide them. I said to myself, ‘I will confess my rebellion to the Lord.’ And you forgave me! All my guilt it gone.”
through Friday in four sessions: June 11 to 22, June25toJuly6,July9to July 20 and July 23 to Aug. 3.
When we finally come to God and say, “God I need you to forgive me,” and He wipes out all our guilt, it’s such a relief.
Next Week: Part 2 — How do we deal with Guilt?
Pastor Sam Estes is city advance director and facilitates the Sanger Community Task Force that meets the first and third Tuesdays every month. He can be reached at pastorsam51@gmail.com.
being rejected by others. “If my wife, if my husband knew about my past or my boyfriend or my girlfriend knew about my past, they’d leave me in a second.”
tell that story to?” Next, the fear of judgment. That God’s going to judge me for the wrong things that I have done. The truth is: “God wants you to live guilt free!” Many people are still stuck in the past and don’t know how to let go of regrets, secret shame and guilt that God never intended for them to carry. Here’s the wonderful news. It is the word forgiveness. This is demonstrated when Jesus went to the cross. His first word from the cross was,
This 1956 Chevy 210 was spotted just off N Street in downtown recently. The car is a four-door classic.
It is the fear of rejection. Then the fear of retaliation. If other people knew what I’d done, they’d get even with me. If other people knew what I’d done, I’d get in trouble.
So, you’re always looking over your shoulder wondering, “Who did I tell this story to, and who did I
Pastor Sam Estes