Reedley Exponent 5-10-18

Reedley High hosts its first College Signing Day for seniors
Panorama
Vol. 129, No. 19 | Thursday, May 10, 2018
Sunny times at Street Faire
Signing day for Reedley College basketball standout
Sports
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Attendees enjoy car show, food, entertainment Staff Report
There were plenty of classic cars and trucks, food and music — and sunny weather — for attendees to enjoy May 6 when the 31st Annual Reedley Street Faire and Car Show was held in downtown Reedley.
For six hours, a steady stream of people walked along G Street between 8th and 12th streets. More than 80 cars and trucks participated in the Nomads Car Show in front of Pioneer Park, with 22 of the entrants receiving special awards in the after- noon.
People sat in personal chairs and temporary bleachers enjoying music at two stages, one on the east side of the 11th and G intersection and the other on the west side of 10th and G. They enjoyed the music from seven different acts.
“I think we had a better crowd this year,” said Lee Ky, one of the volunteers with the host Reedley Downtown Association. “It got a little hot later on, but I think the food and music were popular with people.”
This year’s Street Faire had a return to warm weather after last year’s event was plagued by clouds and morning rain.
Musically, the morning began with the Reedley High School River Rats Dixieland band and the classic rock tunes from the Last Chance Band. Ky said the second performing stage was added this year, and musi- cians were able to play longer sets.
The car show annually competes against a similar show in Morro Bay, but many local vehicles stayed in town with their vehicles. The No- mads club handed out its Top 20
See STREET FAIRE on page A8
Taking to the sky at Fly In on May 12
By Jon Earnest
jon@midvalleypublishing.com
The opportunity to take a free ride in an airplane — as well as a chance to see an experimental elec- tric aircraft — are two attractions at the annual Korky Kevorkian Memo- rial Barbecue and Fly In at the Reed- ley Municipal Airport on Saturday, May 12.
The free event runs from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the airport at 4557 S. Frankwood Ave., about five miles north of town.
Denise Phariss, administrative assistant with the Community Ser- vices Department, said that at least two city-owned airplanes will be based at the airport and any pilots visiting town also will offer rides. That number isn’t known until the event itself, she said.
“We will use the same system as last year for flights,” Phariss said. “They will sign up at the information table. I will give them a ticket. Then they get in line.”
Rides will be cut off at noon whether participants have a ticket or not, so it’s recommended to get there early. The minimum age for children to ride is 8, and availability is limited.
Joseph Oldham, director of the San Joaquin Valley Clean Air Trans- portation Center, will have one of the Pipestrel Alpha Electro battery electric training airplanes on display at the Fly In. He will put on a dem-
See FLY IN on page A2
Council to hold two meetings on 2018-19 budget Staff Report
The Reedley City Council will host the first of two special meetings to hear details on the city’s proposed 2018-19 budget at 6 p.m. on Tuesday, May 15.
The meeting will be in the coun- cil chambers at City Hall, 845 G St.
A workshop will feature pre- sentations and discussion on budget items in four departments: public works, engineering, community de- velopment, and administrative ser- vices. City Manager Nicole Zieba also will speak.
A second special meeting and budget workshop is scheduled for Tuesday, May 29. The council will vote on the 2018-19 budget in June.
Both meetings are open to the public.
TOP: Jan Bechtel, in white shirt, talked with judge Richard Sawatsky as his 1961 Ford Starliner was reviewed May 6 during the Street Faire car show. Bechtel’s car was one Top 20 vehicles recognized at the event.
ABOVE LEFT: Aiden Ramirez, 11, kicked a soccer ball at one of the game booths.
ABOVE MIDDLE: The Reedley High School River Rats performed at the start of the day.
ABOVE: Vintage electrical equipment was on display next to the car show.
LEFT: Children teamed up to pull a Reedley fire truck during the Reedley Relay for Life fire truck pull on G Street between 9th and 10th streets.
Photos by Jon Earnest / The Exponent
A message of HOPE at Mayor’s Prayer Breakfast
HOPE Sanger founder
speaks at annual event
By Jon Earnest
jon@midvalleypublishing.com
Julie Mendoza delivered a mes- sage of service to Reedley commu- nity members May 3 during the Mayor’s Prayer Breakfast at the Reedley Community Center.
Mendoza, the founder and di- rector of social services for HOPE Sanger, was the keynote speaker at the 38th annual event that co- incided with the National Day of Prayer. City leaders and commu- nity members gathered for the 7 a.m. breakfast, which raised $282 in donations for the Community Youth Ministries program.
“Out of ashes, the Lord brought beauty,” said Mendoza, who ex-
plained the origin of HOPE (Help Our People Emanuel) Sanger stemmed from a house fire that her family experienced in on the eve of Thanksgiving in 2008.
“It was an unfortunate tragedy that happened to my family,” said Mendoza, who worked as a secre- tary at the old St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Sanger. “Out of that tragedy, it was brought to my at- tention that there were people in need coming around.”
With help from the communi- ty and friends, Mendoza’s family recovered from the fire. She re- ceived help from the church, and was inspired by that experience to try to give back.
Mendoza began to notice that homeless people would come by the church asking about food, clothes or a meal. She noticed the people would visit other churches in the
area as well to get assistance.
“I thought to myself, ‘Why don’t we all just get together, regardless of our religious orientation, but in faith and join in unity?’” she said. “Then we can all collaborate and bring one central place where peo- ple can come and get all of these items all of the time. With that, HOPE Sanger began, just provid- ing a meal on Saturday in a little area in the [church’s] back office.” Those first meals were simple, peanut butter and jelly sandwiches that eventually grew to serving a hot meal bagged for homeless liv- ing in fields. The giveaways rotat- ed around many Sanger churches, and eventually HOPE Sanger opened a small office south of
downtown to centralize services. Mendoza said having a small
Jon Earnest / The Exponent
Julie Mendoza, right, founder and director of Social Services for HOPE Sanger, speaks as Mayor Anita Betancourt looks on May 3 during the Mayor’s Prayer Break- fast at the Reedley Community Center.
Classified - A6-7 Directory - A5 Legals - B6-7
See PRAYER on page A2
Sports - B3-4 Lights & Sirens - A3 Obituaries - A2-3 Opinion - A4