Page 7 - Mid Valley Times 8-29-19 E-edition

Cox hands out books at Sanger Academy, speaks at Rotary
By Mike Nemeth
Mid Valley Times
U.S. Rep. T.J. Cox did something decidedly uncharacteristic of his staunchly formal day job alongside 434 other members of the House Chamber.
He played rock, paper, scissors with a group of second-graders. Then he read from a kids book that riffed on the subject, and his listeners all crowded around him at the front of Martina Montano’s class at Sanger Academy on Aug. 23.
“Ilikereadingbecause I can take a fantastic trip,” Cox said. Then he asked them what a nation was. When they responded with some pretty straightforward
an ice-breaker at Rotary. He mentioned that he forgot his congressional pin. It was on his jacket, which he didn’t need in Sanger’s heat that day.
He explained that the pin is designed for every member of Congress with the number on the back regarding their seniority. There are 435 members of Congress and each one gets a pin for each session. The current one is the 116th.
The problem is Cox’s pin stands out. “I’m punched 434,” he said. "That’s next to last.
“It was the last race called in the country,” he said of his own close battle with incumbent David Valadao, who started serving in 2013.
SeeTJCoxonpage A8
party
bit. And people started coming from every direction, drawn by the sound of her voice and her upbeat set list.
“Thanks to the Elizondos for putting on this event and making such good food,” Moreno said between songs. Her daughter Kambria Alessadra Tovar, who is pushing 3, danced with other children and generally impressed the audience with her poise as her mom performed.
Last year’s event pulled in about 600. But Moreno said this year was even better. “Another year, bigger crowd,” she said. “Bigger and better every year.”
Tacos were 75 cents.
Sanger boxer Manuel “Chaparrito” Cortes said he would definitely order some. He regularly frequents the store and has tacos. Recently, he ordered a plate of three or four then ordered another after consuming everything in front of him. He said later he has eaten 15 or so at
SeePartyonpage A9 'Hooray for Hollywood' opens at River City Theatre in Reedley
Mike Nemeth / Mid Valley Times
WhilehomefromWashington,D.C.,U.S.Rep.TJCoxhandedoutbooksfromtheLibrary of Congress surplus book program at Sanger Academy Charter School. Principal Mark Coleman and staffer Jewely Lickey picked the titles after a trip honoring their school.
connecting with residents. Even small ones. On this particular day, he not only stopped to deliver three cases of books that Principal Mark Coleman and another staff member had selected from the Library of Congress surplus books program.
But Cox also spoke to Sanger Rotary, touching on a number of hot-button issues that included tackling veteran suicide, protecting at-risk homeless people and finding solutions to pressing water supply issues that threaten farm country in the central San Joaquin Valley.
One topic, decidedly not controversial, was one Cox brought up as
imagination.” of Congress, was back Cox, like many of home — in his 21st
answers, to their delight
he threw in a little
twist. “It’s called the his fellow members congressional district
Mi Linda Tierra throws a block
By Mike Nemeth
Mid Valley Times
Javier and Erika Elizondo, like the year before, worked many hours in advance to prepare for the third anniversary party Aug. 24 celebrating their little neighborhood store, Mi Linda Tierra, at 930 J St. in Sanger.
And, again, the entire Elizondo family appeared to play a role in the five-hour-plus event that took over half the block and drew musicians, vendors and a big chunk of the neighborhood population out to celebrate the historic store that served the area for many years. Mi Linda Tierra operated previously as Mar-Y-Tierra, but the original business closed. The building stood empty for years, just a shell of its former glory, before Erika remodeled and reinvigorated the kitchen with her signature barbacoa, tacos and wet burritos.
Juanita Adame / Mid Valley Times
Erik Valencia and Lana Rotan discuss upcoming perfor- mances on the afternoon of Aug. 18.
Early on that evening Erika gave a status report. “Busy,” she said. “Just busy, busy,
And they did.
Once singer Krystal
Moreno began performing, the heat, which was somewhere in the low triple digits, appeared to ease off a
Mike Nemeth / Mid Valley Times
Sanger singer Krystal Moreno inspired dancing in the streets at Mi Linda Tierra's block party celebrating its third year in business in Sanger. The event had music, food, prizes and vendors. Sanger Mayor Frank Gonzalez even stopped by and shook a lot of hands. He did not dance. Below right, store owner Javier Elizondo addresses the crowd. Hundreds showed up. And more came when the heat finally eased off later on the evening of Aug. 24.
busy. Even though it’s hot, I’m grateful for everybody coming.”
By Juanita Adame
Mid Valley Times
Preparations were underway inside Reedley’s historic River City Theatre on the afternoon of Aug. 15 as performers geared up for their upcoming show “Legends Hooray for Hollywood.”
“This is really an ensemble show. We have a couple of group numbers we do in the beginning like ‘Hooray
for Hollywood,’” said Erik Valencia, the show’s director. “Personally I’m going to be performing ‘When you wish upon a star,’ from Pinoccio.”
Valencia said his group always receives a warm welcome from the community.
“This year we’ll be doing a Hollywood theme,” he said. “Last year we did ‘Legends Icons,’ and the year before that it was ‘Legends One Hit
Wonders.’”
Other performers
include Reedley native Lana Ratan and Jeff Lusk.
Ratan has been performing on stage for the majority of her life and said it’s something she enjoys.
“I’m really excited,” Ratan said. “I get to be in the show with my sister, my fiancé and a couple of my friends. It’s really fun to put together different numbers that we can
all do.”
Lusk said he feels
good to be back on stage and the legends series are fun shows they enjoy performing.
“The audience really gets involved, Reedley really likes it,” Lusk said. “Essentially what this is — it’s kind of a jukebox musical. Erik hand picks the songs he wants to put on stage and really ties it together with an
See Reedley on page A8