Page 2 - Mid Valley Times 3-17-22 E-Edition

Thursday, March 17, 2022
Sanger nonpropfit donates 467
stuffed bears to first responders
| A2 | Mid Valley TiMes
Sanger's Pacheco-Werner
is 31st Assembly District's
Woman of the Year
Contributed
A Sanger-based nonprofit orga- nization last month presented 467 stuffed koala bears to the commu- nity's first responders as part of the Koala for Kids program.
The group, On TRAK, was found- ed in 2019 to provide support to first responders in Sanger. Their latest project, the donation of the stuffed animals, took place on Feb. 15 at the Sanger Optimist Club meeting.
Obituaries
Rosemary
Barajas
Rosemary Barajas of Sanger died March 8. She was 75.
Mrs. Barajas worked as a health aide.
She is survived by one son and three daughters.
Visitation and ser- vices were held March 16 at Wallin's Sanger Funeral Home.
Alex Navarro Estrada
Alex Navarro Es- trada of Parlier died March 9. He was 70.
Mr. Estrada worked as a bus driver for the Parlier Unified School District.
He is survived by his wife, Maria I. Es- trada of Parlier; two sons, one daughter, four brothers, one sister and four grandchildren.
"Thanks to the Sanger Commu- nity, and every one of you in this room, this was made possible. Thank you all for your ongoing support," said Roman Hysell, local business- man and president of On TRAK while addressing the group. "Even if you didn't personally sponsor any of these bears, each of the first re- sponders in the room has played a part in getting these bears into the
Contributed
Assemblymember Joaquin Ar- ambula (D-Fresno) has chosen Tania Pacheco-Werner, co-director of the Central Valley Health Policy Institute at Fresno State and a Sanger resident, as Woman of the Year for the 31st As- sembly District.
The honor is part of the annual rec- ognition by the California Legislative Women’s Caucus of women who are making a positive impact in their com- munities. The honorees are announced in March, which is Women’s History Month.
Pacheco-Werner is an acknowl- edged leader in research and policy efforts regarding the environmental effects of neighborhoods on health. Her work has included studying the effects of air quality on maternal-child health as well as the relationship be- tween air quality mitigation and resi- dential segregation. Her expertise is especially relevant in the 31st Assem- bly District, which includes some of the poorest and most disadvantaged neighborhoods in California.
“Receiving this recognition is so important for me because I know that any recognition I get is also for my family, community partners, and men- tors who help make my work impact- ful," Pacheco-Werner said. "I am proud to live in this district and proud of the community work that is focused on healthy neighborhoods that we have built together.”
Governor Gavin Newsom appoint- ed Dr. Pacheco-Werner to the Califor- nia Air Resources Board in 2020. She also serves on the board for the San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District and has been a member of the American Public Health Association’s
Latino Cau- cus for Pub- lic Health.
Pache- co-Werner also is the co-creator of the CO- VID-19 Eq- uity Project in Fresno County. The proj- ect uses a commu-
nity health worker model and lever- ages partnerships with local medical partners and government agencies to provide a comprehensive pandemic response to the most vulnerable. She also is part of the executive committee for the Fresno economic equity initia- tive called DRIVE, which stands for Developing the Region’s Inclusive and Vibrant Economy.
“Dr. Pacheco-Werner is an excep- tional leader in a field that needs her expertise, knowledge, and insight," Ar- ambula said. "She cares deeply about our region and knows its intricacies because she grew up in the Central Valley and makes it her home. I deeply appreciate her commitment and advo- cacy to address the environmental and health challenges in our region that impact every aspect of life, especial- ly in our minority and disadvantaged communities.”
Pacheco-Werner is a Mexican im- migrant who was raised in the central San Joaquin Valley. She is a medical sociologist by training and received her Ph.D in sociology from the Uni- versity of California, San Francisco. She lives with her husband and son in Sanger in Fresno County.
Visitation and a ro- sary were held March 16 at Wallin's Parlier Funeral Home. A mass will be held at 10 a.m. Thursday, March 17, at Our Lady of Sorrows Catholic Church in Parlier.
Octavia Zuniga Magallan
Octavia Zuniga Ma-
gallan of Cutler died March 6. She was 84.
Mrs. Magallan was a homemaker.
She is survived by five sons, one daughter, 17 grandchildren and 17 great-grandchildren.
Visitation and view- ing will be from 4 to 7 p.m. Sunday, March 20, at Dopkins Dinuba Funeral Chapel. A ser- vice will be at 11 a.m. Monday, March 21 at Dopkins Dinuba Funer- al Chapel, followed by a graveside service at
See BEARS on page A9
Smith Mountain Cem- etery in Dinuba.
Maria Santos
Martinez-Lopez
Maria Santos Mar- tinez-Lopez of Dinuba died March 9. She was 100.
Mrs. Martinez-Lopez had worked as a farm laborer.
She is survived by two daughters, one son, one sister and one brother.
Services were held March 16 at Dopkins Dinuba Funeral Chapel. Interment followed at Smith Mountain Cem- etery in Dinuba.
Rita Meinert
Rita Meinert of Reedley died March 2 at Stanford Hospital. She was 58.
Mrs. Meinert was a homemaker.
She is survived by her husband, Bill Meinert of Reedley, three sons and four daughters.
Visitation will be at 10 a.m. followed by a funeral service at noon Friday, March 18, at Dopkins Dinuba Funeral Chapel. Buri- al will follow at Smith Mountain Cemetery in Dinuba.
Photo Contributed
Dr. Tania Pacheco-Werner.
Eloisa Lara
July 11, 1938 ~ March 4, 2022
Eloisa Lara passed away on March 4, 2022, and is now reunited in heaven with her loved ones.
She is survived by one son Victor and five daughters Mary, Lupe, Erma, Paty and Monica, combined she has 30 grandchildren and great- grandchildren that love her dearly.
A viewing will be on Tuesday, March 22nd at Dopkins, 2200 S. Reed Ave. Reedley from 5 p.m. - 7 p.m. Rosary and
funeral will be held on Wednesday, March 23rd at St. Anthony’s Catholic Church, 1060 F Street, Reedley at 9:30 a.m. followed by the burial
Reedley Cemetery
2185 S. Reed.
A variety of vehicle parts for sale at 16th annual Selma Swap on March 19
Contributed
The 16th annual Sel- ma Swap will be held on Saturday, March 19,
at the Selma Flea Mar- ket, offering antique car parts, motorcycle parts and boats, cars, go-carts, and more, along with
food booths and a vari- ety of collectibles.
The event is open to the public from 6 a.m. to 3 p.m. and will be open rain or shine. Parking is free; admission is $5 per person. Children 12 and under are admitted free of charge when accom- panied by an adult.
Selma Swap is spon- sored by the Reedley Blossom Trail A’s. The Selma Flea Market is lo- cated at Highway 99 and Mountain View Avenue. An ATM is available and the site offers wheelchair accessible restrooms.
“This swap meet fo- cuses on big boy toys like cars, motorcycles, watersport gear and parts for the do-it-your- self person,” noted co- founder Alan Borba.
For directions and details, visit selmaswap. com or call 896-3243.
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