Page 10 - Sanger Herald 11-1-18 E-edition

Lifestyles
SANGER HERALD • 2B • THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 1, 2018
Operation Christmas Stocking deployed to MidEast
Sanger
By Mike Nemeth
Sanger Herald
Tables were piled high with everything from Red Cross “disaster packs” and playing cards to miniature Bibles with camouflage covers and snacks.
In the center of it all, Bev Cox, Aurelia Ramirez, Delores Gonzalez and about 20 more of their close friends spend most of lunch and the afternoon stuffing all the items that would fit into mostly hand-fabricated Christmas stockings. And Gonzalez and Cox whip- stitched the tops so the items wouldn’t fall out when Santa threw them in the back of his sleigh and took off for the Middle East.
OK. Maybe not Santa. But that’s the idea.
Cox said her crew put
Mike Nemeth / Sanger Herald
Bev Cox and Delores Gonzalez sew up stockings.
grandchildren, and Zachary is the oldest.
Brown-Monroe participated in another program last year called Valentines for Veterans that included active duty personnel, too. Cox said the Red Cross’s disaster packs included a razor and other toiletries, for each stocking.
Brown-Monroe said the soldiers appreciate the sentiment. “I hear nothing but good things from the parents here (of soldiers who return about the packages or letters they receive),” she said. “They (the troops) were happy to get it. (A package or letter) really makes a difference.”
Julius and Judy Zweigle donated the Bibles. Me-n- Ed’s at Jensen and Bethel avenues donated pizza and nearly everybody else brought food to the St.
Mary’s Catholic Church facility where all the volunteers prepared a little bit of Christmas for a select few U.S. troops.
Even Frank Gonzalez, Sanger mayor and Delores’ son, came to help out. He got right to work as did everybody else. There was no dawdling.
“For my guys over there,” Frank said as he filled yet another stocking.
The entire project was done through donated items. In fact, Cox said they had so much stuff that the leftovers had to go to Father Hannibal House at 1401 14th St. in Sanger.
The stockings were a good size but only held so much. Angela Castro brought her sewing machine and accelerated the process of closing off the tops of each stocking.
She set up her machine lickety split and went right to work.
Cox delivered all the completed stockings to the Red Cross early last week. She had started the project with her small army of volunteers earlier in the summer, making the stockings. Each one was personalized to show each recipient he or she was in the thoughts of those back home.
“When we finish this, we’ll start another project,” Naomi Gonzalez said.
This group does not mess around.
The reporter can be contacted by email at nemethfeatures@gmail.com or by phone at the Herald at (559) 875-2511.
Community Calendar
To get an item into the calendar, email details to nemethfeatures@gmail. com or call Mike or Sharon at 559-875-2511.
Reedley College plans a fundraiser for a proposed performing arts center from 5:30 to 10 p.m. Nov. 2 at the Kings River Winery, 4276 S. Greenwood Ave. Cost is $55. Kathleen Mattox and Chieko Delgado are to be among the featured artists at the Sip, Savor, Tapas & Art event. Details, 559-797-5621.
The Sanger Community Task Force meets at 8:30 a.m. Nov. 6 at Proteus Inc., Nov. 20 at Calvary Fellowship Church, Dec. 4 at Life Tabernacle Church, Dec. 18 at Life Tabernacle Church. Details, 559-250- 6433.
The Sanger Veterans Parade starts at 11:11 a.m. Nov. 3 in downtown Sanger.
The Sanger Academy Drama Club presents “Mystery at Shady Acres” at6p.m.Nov.8and9. Tickets are $3 for adults, students are free. Dinner show tickets for the Nov. 9 performance can be pre- purchased for $20 at the Sanger Academy Office. Details, 559-524-6840.
The Silver Stars plan a Thanksgiving potluck at noon Nov. 15 at the St. Mary’s Catholic Church at the corner of Bethel and North avenues. Details, Bev 559-862-5778.
The Sanger Woman’s Club monthly luncheon meetings include Working for Causes that Matter with Julie Mendoza of HOPE Sanger and Jerry Valadez with SAM Academy at noon Nov. 13. The club is at 1602 Seventh St. Details, Liz Hudson 559-779-1569.
Futsal, a form of indoor soccer, is offered from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. every Wednesday until Nov. 28 at the Sanger Community Center, 730 Recreation Ave. Men and women 18 and older encouraged to participate. Cost is $2 for each session. Details, 559- 876-6300, opt. 2.
Tiny Tot football and soccer’s four-week season is to start at 5:30 p.m. for football and 6:15 p.m. for soccer Mondays from Oct. 29 to Nov. 19 at the Sanger Community Center, 730 Recreation Ave. Ages 3 to 5 girls and boys. Cost is $30 for a single sport. Details, 559-876-6300, opt. 2.
By Mike Nemeth
Sanger Herald
Myles O’Brien carried a collection of stories by author H.P. Lovecraft under his arm while attending the grand reopening of the Sanger Library on Oct. 27.
He said one of his favorites by the American author is “Shadow over Innsmouth,” which chronicles the tale of a New England town that hatched a bargain with an undersea population of creatures with horrific implications. O’Brien belonged to a group of NJROTC members who volunteered to help out at the four-and-a-half-hour event.
“I’ve been coming to this library since I was young,” he said. “And to be around all these books — it’s amazing.”
The Sanger Friends of the Library teamed with multiple other groups, companies and individuals and Fresno County Library staff to introduce visitors to Fresno violinist Patrick Contreras, magician Tim Mannix, Hugh Taylor and the Wing Walkers, face painting, free ice cream and science demonstrations from the Fresno State chemistry department.
Mike Nemeth / Sanger Herald
Dermot Donnelly, a Fresno State chemistry professor, works with his crew to demonstrate science at the grand reopening of the library. He's making ice cream with liquid nitrogen.
organization expects to stage fundraisers to raise money for new furnishings in the library.
Dermot Donnelly, a Fresno State chemistry professor, drew a robust audience of adults and quite a few children for his science experiments combining acids and bases. And he even made ice cream with liquid nitrogen, which boiled off and created a low-lying fog that turned the patio into something out of Sir Arthur Conan Doyles’ Baskervilles.
“It’s got a caramelly flavor to it,” he said.
His fans approved. He handed out small cups of the ice cream.
Kat Vang, another of the ROTC students, said the remodel inspired her. “I believe that renovating something is like starting a new generation,” she said. “Because children are born every year, and children are the future.”
And that’s what it’s all about.
The reporter can be contacted by email at nemethfeatures@gmail.com or by phone at the Herald at (559) 875-2511.
together a total of about 135 stockings.
“I’m so proud, I’m humbled,” Cox said. “Sanger is a good community.”
Cox also enlisted the aid of Sarah Brown-Monroe from the American Red Cross Central California
Chapter to distribute the stockings overseas. Cox said 100 of the stockings will go to her great grandson Zachary Cox’s Army unit stationed in Kuwait and the balance would go to troops in Africa or Afghanistan. She has about 30 great
Library celebrates its new look
Hundreds cycled through the library over the course of the day. The production began with a ribbon cutting heralded by Tammy Wolfe, president of the Sanger Chamber of Commerce.
“It’s people having a great time,” said Terrance McArthur, Blossom Trail cluster adult programming librarian. “People are getting to see the changes in the library. And it’s a
chance to show off some of the things we can do.”
The library closed for about six months, reopening in September, while construction crews remodeled the building to make it accessible to people with disabilities and upgraded lighting, carpet and other amenities.
“Bringing those bathrooms up to code was a major accomplishment,”
McArthur said. “This building is 51 years old.”
McArthur wore a bright red velvet jacket. He was master of ceremonies.
Rosa Huerta, president of Sanger Friends of the Library, said she was pleased with how the day unfolded. “This is the first really big event and everybody’s really excited about it,” she said. Huerta said her
AMVETS warns of scammers prowling for victims
By Mike Nemeth
Sanger Herald
Bo Brown gave a heavy- duty trailer to AMVETS Post 98.
The understanding was that the post could either use the trailer, which has a gondola attached, in parades or members could sell it and use the money, said George Willhoite, post commander. Brown gave a similar one to the American Legion in Sanger, he said.
“It’s from 1941,” he said. “Looks like it hauled grapes to the wineries.”
Willhoite said post members decided to sell the trailer and placed a notice on Craigslist. They began negotiations with a buyer, who sounded promising. He accepted the purchase price.
But then it got weird.
“We went back and forth,” Willhoite said, explaining that they communicated with this particular buyer via text.
Mike Nemeth / Sanger Herald
George Willhoite, AMVETS commander, tells a TV crew about how his group was nearly scammed out of a trailer.
from employment scams to prize and sweepstakes fraud,” the BBB said. “In all cases, victims deposit the check and send money back to scammers. BBB warns consumers to be on guard against these serious and pervasive frauds and their perpetrators.”
Willhoite said he called the media to report the attempted trailer theft because he wanted to warn others. “I want to prevent anybody else falling for this kind of thing,” he said. “Whatever you put on Craigslist, don’t believe what you hear. (And) if you catch him, bring him to us.”
He was accompanied by AMVETS members David Flores and Robert Huey. All of them were none too happy the deal fell through, but they expressed frustration that they had been duped. The trailer remains at the post. They caught the scammer in time.
“That money was
going to pay rent through December,” Willhoite said. “Now we’re sitting high and dry.”
The post has had financial difficulties in the recent past.
Willhoite, Flores and Huey told their story to a KMPH Fox 26 news crew. They talked about how the post gives out Christmas dinners and how they work to help out in the community. Willhoite said they’re a proud group and they consider each other brothers.
Willhoite did send one final text to the scammer. It started, “Morning, you SOB.”
He got no response.
The reporter can be contacted by email at nemethfeatures@gmail.com or by phone at the Herald at (559) 875-2511.
The buyer sent them a check. It arrived Oct. 19 at the post office in Sanger. Then Willhoite and the rest of the crew headed for Lemoore for an AMVETS convention all weekend.
Willhoite said his son, George Jr., told him to verify the check. So that next Monday, he did. The staff at Westamerica Bank in Sanger took the check and found that the routing
number was good. A little further digging, however, turned up that the company issuing the check was bogus.
The whole thing turned out to be a scam.
A September study by the Better Business Bureau found that while consumers may write fewer checks, fake check scams are on the rise. “Fake checks are used in a variety of frauds,