Page 8 - Reedley Exponent 10-11-18 E-edition

SURABIANS Continued from page A1
dents the fourth Wednesday of each month for the past 13 years. But it’s always been a labor of love for the man with a distinct, clear tenor voice.
“I’ve had friends whose parents or grandparents were ill and I’d make a run up to Fresno and sing to them,” he said. “You don’t think about it or hesitate, because it’s the right thing to do.”
Carol has said Ron needs to get a card that says “at a drop of a hat,” because he’s singing by the time the hat hits the ground.
“There now are people who have in their instruc- tions that he is to be called [to sing] when they die,” she said. “So he has become the funeral singer.
“You’ve heard of the wed- ding singer? He’s the funeral
singer.”
•••
Ron’s bench press accom- plishments are another story altogether. At about age 13 or 14, the famous Charles Atlas 98-pound weakling ad in the back of the comic books mo- tivated him.
“Because I was short and fat and I didn’t like it,” he said. His mother became concerned that her son was crunching the door jams at home with his isometric and isotonic workouts, so she bought him a set of weights for Christmas.
“She created a monster. I had a stereo console in the liv- ing room and I’d turn on the
SCCCD Continued from page A2
so that they may provide internships to our local students and hire them directly upon graduation.
In general, local small towns hire first responder graduates from the community college system. If more of our local small-town community college students had transportation to and from campuses and to the towns they live in, then we would have a win-win situation by creating our local community residents into first responder hero’s or nurses. In turn, our local small-town commu- nity college students would have
music and roll weights under the stereo,” he said. “I’d stay up until 11 or 11 at night lift- ing, and finally she chased me out of the house and into the garage.”
While Ron played football and threw the discus dur- ing his days at Reedley High School, it was in his 40s that he went into competitive lift- ing. His muscle build wouldn’t allow for power lifting, so he kept with regular bench press and won AAU state champion- ships for his age group After semi-retiring, he started com- peting again when he reached the 50-54 age group.
Ron won AAU national and world championships in 1998 in drug-free competi- tion. He then competed in a masters competition in Ba- kersfield that featured lifters using steroids. Still, he placed fifth out of 29 lifters with a best lift of 457 pounds.
Ron tore his shoulder in 2000, ending his competi- tive lifting days. He had hip and back problems in recent years, but on the advice of his doctor began light lifting to rebuild muscle and ease the pain. After being unable to walk regular for about 20 months he has regained mo- bility.
•••
Carol made a name in
education during her 32 years career. She started in the Kings Canyon Unified School District in a specialty program for young expect- ant mothers. She worked for two years, using her physical education background to ac- company young mothers-to-be
2018 REEDLEY FIESTA ACTIVITIES
access to good paying jobs and help local small-town economies thrive.
If elected, what is your prima- ry goal for the district and Reed- ley College to achieve in the next four years?
Nishinaka: We have had a histor- ic eight years at Reedley College. A record number of degrees and cer- tificates were awarded at our May 2018 commencement ceremony. The college also was ranked #2 “Best Community Colleges in California” by schools.com (college was praised for the high number of transfer stu- dents to 4-year colleges, student-
faculty ratios and our programs which offer great student services, especially for first-generation col- lege students from disadvantaged backgrounds).
With the opening of the new aca- demic year in August, Reedley Col- lege is in the 92nd year of providing premier education for the Greater Central California Region. I am ea- ger to continue promoting Reedley College Vision 2025’s motto — “We Motivate and Inspire Students to Succeed,” and ground my priorities and goals for the college and dis- trict: increased student completion rates, seamless transfer programs, workforce readiness, diversity in
AS LOW AS
equal opportunity employment, funding two-year Promise Pro- gram, construction of all Measure “C” and “E” Bond projects, opening of the new Reedley Middle College High School facilities, partnerships with education, business-industry and public agencies, construction of the Reedley College Center for Fine and Performing Arts, and Madera Community College Cen- ter becoming the 115th California Community College in 2020. All of these goals are achievable within a balanced budget.
Gomez: My primary goal is to be a strong steward of your funds ensuring that every penny is spent
wisely and efficiently.
I will work to ensure critical
classes are available to prepare our kids for jobs in the thriving agricul- ture sector, the healthcare industry, public safety and emerging oppor- tunities in technology.
I will champion greater acces- sibility to ensure equal opportunity for all rural students to attend and succeed in college and become part of a vibrant workforce and econo- my.
Finally, I will be a tireless advo- cate for Reedley College and will use my business sense to advocate for rural communities in Fresno County getting their fair share of the pie.
The Reedley Exponent A8 Thursday, October 11, 2018
Jon Earnest / The Exponent
Ron and Carol Surabian stood outside their north Reedley home on Oct. 4. The couple is this year’s Fiesta King and Queen, and will be coronated on Friday, Oct. 12, at the bandshell in PIoneer Park.
rade always meant getting to the high school, march- ing down the street with the band,” she said. “Picking up anything that fell off. Getting everything back. Waiting for the parents to come and pick them up and making sure they got home safe.”
•••
Now, the Surabians make
the rounds entertaining with their music. Ron sings while Carol plays the piano. Long- time neighbor Betty Crum was Ron’s accompanist for a number of years before her death in 2016, and Carol has picked up the duties.
“The main thing we pre- pare for is musical shows we do,” Carol said. “It’s the ma-
jority of our activities. It’s not that easy to prepare a show.”
Other duties include the joy of time with their grand- children — four girls and four boys. That includes babysit- ting two of the younger grand- children.
While the Surabians hope to travel some day, eventual- ly making a trip to Armenia, they love Reedley.
“It’s a great place to raise kids,” Carol said.
“The one thing I’ve liked about this town, is usually, no matter where you go, what store you walk in, everybody’s friendly,” Ron said. “That’s what I like. I’ll walk up to people I don’t know and I’ll say ‘Hi.’”
on walks off campus and at a house that’s now on the site of the Reedley High School swim complex. She also did knitting and crocheting, building a large collection of items.
“The idea was to make sure girls wouldn’t fall through the cracks. There were some guidelines,” she said.
After two years at Orosi High School teaching French, mathematics and PE, she took a break to start her fam-
ily with Ron. When Carol re- turned to the classroom she taught English, social studies and reading (among other sub- jects) for 28 years at Washing- ton Intermediate School in Di- nuba before retiring.
Carol was band president for the Reedley High School PIrates Marching Band for five years when their two daughters, Jennifer and Shel- ley, and son David all played in the band.
‘To me, the [Fiesta] pa-
Friday, Oct. 12
10 a.m. — The annual Diaper Derby at Sierra View Homes.
Registration begins at 9:45 a.m.
4 to 10 p.m. — Food, craft and information vendor booths will be open at Pioneer Park, G Street between 8th and 9th streets. 6:45 p.m. — Coronation of Fiesta King and Queen Ron and Carol Surabian will take place in the bandshell at Pioneer Park.
Saturday, Oct. 13
6:15 a.m. — Registration for the 10th annual Rabobank Fiesta Walk/Run. Events begin at 6:55 a.m. with the non-competitive
5-mile walk, with competitive walk and runs to follow.
10 a.m. — Annual Fiesta Parade begins at 8th and G Streets. Parade commences along G Street. There will be a Parade Sweepstakes Trophy for top overall entry and prizes for each parade class. Also, the Reedley Rotary Club will offer a $500 prize for the top elementary school float trophy.
12:30 p.m. — The milestone 50th annual Fiesta Frog Jump takes place. Entry fee is $1 per person. Grand marshal Eddie Vasquez continues his streak as one of the event volunteers. 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. — Food, craft and information vendor booths will be open at Pioneer Park.
Ongoing through the weekend — Artwork of Reedley students will be displayed in the windows of downtown businesses along G Street between 9th and 13th streets.
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