Page 5 - Mid Valley Times 8-8-19 E-edition

Mike Nemeth / Mid Valley Times
This PowerTronic turntable is part of the selection.
Woman's Club stages annual rummage sale
By Mike Nemeth
Mid Valley Times
Mary Jane Marquez sat on the stage of the Sanger Woman’s Club going through boxes and discovered a p a r t i c u l a r l y impressive cream and sugar set, complete with salt and pepper shakers and a napkin holder.
“Cute,” she said. But she didn’t want it for her future household. She called over Boy Scout Kyle Phillips- Ricci to transport the goods to the appropriate table.
On Tuesday, Marquez and fellow SAM Academy mentors Eric Contreras and Juliana Leon Garcia helped members of the Woman’s Club unload, sort and generally make sense of boxes upon boxes of donated stuff that will be on display as the Sanger Woman’s Club annual Rummage Sale returns from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. Aug. 10 and 11 at the group’s clubhouse on the corner of P and Seventh streets.
Expect a large selection of clothing, household items, furniture, treasures and a raffle. All p r o c e e d s g o t o community service projects.
“This year, we’ve got a whole store of antiques to be raffled and for sale,” said Bobbi-Ann Phillips, who was sorting and folding bedding. She
By Juanita Adame
Mid Valley Times
A “first day of school” observation nearly five years ago prompted the creation of a now successful program on the Reedley High School campus called Pirate Days.
Pirate Days is for incoming freshmen. It is a week-long event and usually held two weeks prior to the first day of school.
The goal of the program is to familiarize students with the campus by giving tours, playing games and exposing them to the various
Juanita Adame / Mid Valley Times
Freshmen learn how to navigate Reedley High.
a bigger campus of almost 2,000 students.” Pirate Days has helped calm the nerves of many incoming
freshmen.
This year it helped
students like Zachariah Lampa, Makenna Gobbey and Jacob Rocha.
Lampa attended Riverview School his eighth grade year. Gobbey attended St. La Salle Catholic School during eighth grade. And Rocha attended T.L. Reed K-8 School before he became a freshman.
“Taking the tours, and them talking to us and showing us
where everything is. That’s how Pirate Days has helped me,” said Lampa. “Finding my classes might be challenging. That’s why I’m here walking the campus and looking to see where they are.”
Gobbey said she still is a little anxious but added that Pirate Days has definitely been a benefit.
“I’ve gotten used to the campus and met new people, and that has definitely helped. So I will be ready for the first day,” she said.
Rocha, who is playing football for Reedley
See ReedleyonpageA8
See Rummage on page A8
Pirate Days continues to make a difference
challenges that starting high school can trigger.
“Five years ago, it was interesting to see freshmen here on the first day of school, looking lost,” said Minerva Resendiz, a student transition liaison at the school. “The main reason we
created Pirate Days is so the students here at Reedley High School know what the school looks like, what coming here feels like. But more than anything, we are trying to relieve some of the anxiety and stress of having students coming from smaller schools to
Sanger man has dancers on TV
By Mike Nemeth
Mid Valley Times
Alex Murillo played basketball when he attended Sanger High under coaches Dean Nicholson and LaVern Lotspeich.
When he graduated in 1967, he joined the Air Force and shipped out to Vietnam.
“One tour was enough,” he said of his time in Indochina.
But this story isn’t a look back at his war record or even about basketball. While Murillo spent four years in the service, the decisions he made as a newly minted civilian propelled his career and his interests into a completely different direction. And now his students appear to be dominating a reality TV show.
Murillo, who had joined the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter- day Saints before enlisting, chose three colleges he wanted to attend. He won
Mike Nemeth / Mid Valley Times
Alex and Robin Murillo stand beside student Eddie Hoyt.
procured his MBA from Central Michigan University. Then in 1991, a group in Orem, Utah convinced him to start a studio that would focus not only on dance, but theater and voice.
He did. And the resulting venture, Center Stage Performing Arts Studio, now has three of its students in the top 10 final contestants on the Fox reality TV show “So You Think You Can Dance.” The Center Stage alumni include siblings Ezra and Stephanie Sosa and Eddie Hoyt.
“It’s an amazing run to see the success of these students,” Murillo said. “It’s been incredible.”
Murillo is no stranger to success in the entertainment business. He did some TV shows while in Hawaii. Think “Book ‘em Danno.” And he said, “Don Ho became a friend of mine.” In addition, two of his kids appeared in “High
School Musical.” And Julianne and Derek Hough are longtime students of his.
“All seven (of my children) have gone into singing, dancing and acting,” he said.
Murillo, who has a pilot’s license, plans to attend some of the upcoming “So You Think You Can Dance” shows. They film on Saturday, airing at 9 p.m. Mondays.
Jess Murillo said his little brother has accomplished quite a lot and has a passion for the arts that extends to all of his kids. “They were all dancers,” he said of his nieces and nephews. “Jared, his son, has been on ‘Two and a Half Men.’”
Jess, Sanger High class of 1961, also worked in the arts, serving as a high school band director. He toured with a big band across the country, the Young Ambassadors. Jess lives in Sanger.
admission to his dream school of UCLA. But he also had applied to Brigham Young University, the main campus in Provo and on Oahu, Hawaii.
Murillo chose Hawaii. Once there, the business/finance major chose theater as a minor and soon
of our department without being seen by her,” Reid said. “She’s our proofreader, our professional eyes, our double check [person] in making sure everything is the way we want it to go out.”
Reid told the council that Phariss displayed leadership to young employees working with the department.
“We hire many people who are new in their career,” Reid said.
discovered a love for drama and the entertaining arts.
“The rest, they say, is history,” he said.
Queue up the present. Murillo went on to make a bundle in real estate and investment, applying his considerable financial skills. He
Reedley mayor Frank Pinon presents Denise Phariss with a plaque honoring her 22 years with the city.
“Sixteen-,17-year-old that Denise gets young professionals to mentor, be the
SeeMurilloonpage A8 Reedley honors longtime community services worker
By Jon Earnest
Mid Valley Times
The Reedley City Council on July 23 paid tribute to Denise Phariss, administrative assistant with the Community Services Department, who retired after 22 years. Her final day on the job was July 23.
Mayor Frank Pinon presented Phariss with a plaque saluting her for her service.
Sarah Reid, Community Services director, said it was a sad day for her department with Phariss’ retirement. Phariss was a fixture at helping to organize a variety of recreational and community events, including working the main sign-in table at the annual Korky Kevorkian Memorial Fly-In each May.
“It’s rare that something will go out
Jon Earnest / Mid Valley Times
professional example for, have patience with as questions are asked five to 10 times.
“Really, she just takes the time not just for our part-time and seasonal but for our full-time staff. We have appreciated the time that she has given us, and we will greatly miss her.”
In addition to the recognition for Phariss, the council received a
See Phariss on page A8