Page 5 - Mid Valley Times 9-30-21 E-edition

Thursday, September 30, 2021
RC Aviation Program receives $1 million
The View From Here
I rushed
out of my car
and hoped
that first
I wouldn’t
get anoth-
er parking ticket, and second, I’d make it on
time for the check presentation.
The Aeronautics Build- ing at Reedley College is hidden. I will admit that I once missed a story from walking around the campus looking for it.
This time I had a better idea of where it could be so I went behind the gym and in the distance heard some faint voices and clapping, I was definitely on the right track.
As I walked up to the ceremony I saw a large hangarwithits entrydoors wide open. Inside the han- gar a few small Cessnas parked neatly (tail side in) along the inside. Seeing those small planes brought back a few memories.
I was reminded of the two times I flew in a Cess- na. Both times were equally as terrifying.
Once during a story. It was an impromptu flight, the pilot was showing me something and said, “Come on, I’ll show you how this thing works!”
I reluctantly stepped in and once we were in the air, I remembered why I was reluctant about stepping into the small plane.
It waved back and forth and felt like at any moment its propeller could go out.
The second time, my then 12-year-old daughter took a young pilots work- shop and at the end of the day, she was able to fly the plane, assisted by the pilot of course. She was sitting next to him, the pilot was actually flying the plane and she was just helping.
I was sitting in the back and I felt like it was the smallest interior of a plane I’d ever been in. She grabbed hold of the controls and the plane dipped.
Like I said both equally as terrifying. After I came out of my flashbacks, I be- gan listening to the reason why I was there, the presen- tation of the check.
This money would go to the aviation programs at the college, to help future pilots pursue their dreams of one day flying their own aircrafts.
"The positive impact this will have on students of the program is beyong mea- sure," said Jason Asman, an instructor at the college.
Good luck to all the stu- dents this funding will help.
By Juanita Adame
Mid Valley Times
College and community leaders gathered in front of the Aeronautics Building on the morning of Sept. 22 for a presentation of a $1 million dollar check from Assembly- member Joaquin Arambula to Reedley College’s Aviation program.
“The rest of the United States should catch up with what we are doing here in Reedley,” said Arambula dur- ing the ceremony.
The $1 million check will be for assistance to the Avia- tion Maintenance Technol- ogy and Flight Science pro- grams.
According to the Aram- bula office, he was able to secure the funding in this year’s State budget to help ex- pand job training and career opportunities in the region.
“I want to tell you where
Juanita Adame
Danny Jimenez / Contributed
From left, Joaquin Arambula, District 31 Assemblymember and Jerry Buckley, Reedley College president stood in front of the Aeronautics Building on the morning of Sept. 22 during the presentation of a $1 million dollar check to help the aviation program.
Return of annual prom at Reedley Senior Center
Dinuba's Raisin Day Parade
Photo by Juanita Adame / Mid Valley Times
Members of the Dinuba High School Marching band as well as the flag and letter squads were some of the highlights during this year's Raisin Day Parade and Carnival held at Rose Ann Vuich Park in Dinuba from Sept. 24 through Sept. 26
Photo of the week
Contributed
This photo of twins Emily and James Chapa posing in their Reed- ley High band uniforms before a Pirate home game was submit- ted by Hector and Monica Chapa. The twins are freshmen at RHS and are excited to be playing for the Big Green Marching Ma- chine. Have a photo you'd like featured? Email juanita@midval- leypublishing.com.
this idea took spark, and it really started with you Presi- dent Buckley and the efforts that you did with the state of the college during this past
year at Reedley College,” said Arambula.
“I had a privilege of being able to attend and hear about the work that you are current-
ly doing.”
Arambula was joined by
Reedley College President Jerry Buckley and several other community leaders.
Contributed
The Reedley Senior Center's annual prom was held on Sept. 24 and its theme was the "Roaring Twenties."
Contributed
More than 80 guests came out and enjoyed the night. Meals were provided by Sierra View Homes and entertainment by Faculty Five.
Contributed
Along with food and entertainment guests were able to enjoy pro- fessional photos by Blossom Trail Photography.