Page 12 - Sanger Herald 2-15-18 E-edition

Spelling
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By round six, only a handful of spellers remained. Empty white chairs dominated. The auditorium was quiet.
Pressure increased with every word.
At one point, a contestant put her hand to her chest, took a breath and spelled the word. Correctly as it turned out.
Round six took down all but Andrew Warren and Kevin Narang. Sirena Ponce, a sixth-grader from Fairmont Elementary, earned third place.
Just before competition started, Sarah Acosta and Aiden Gustin, both sixth- graders from WAMS, had both been a little nervous. Then their faces lit up when they spotted each other. They said they just knew the other from spelling.
Behind them was Amrit Singh, a seventh-grader from their middle school. He was due to compete in the next bee. He reviewed pages of words prior to his being called up on stage. “It’s a good idea,” he said.
Aiden and Sarah made it to the third round.
To get an item into the calendar, email details to nemethfeatures@gmail. com or call Mike or Sharon at 559-875-2511.
A ribbon cutting is planned to mark the completion of renovations at Sanger Park at 11 a.m. Feb. 15. The park received upgrades to its bathrooms, pavilion and stage. Park lights were upgraded to LEDs. Details, 559-876-6300 ext. 1210.
The Reedley/Sanger Tea Party plans to meet at 6:30 p.m. Feb. 21 at the School House Restaurant at Highway 180 and Frankwood Avenue. The topic is “United Nations 2030: A Recipe for Global Socialism” and includes video and discussion. The group meets every third Wednesday of the month at the same location.
The Sanger Eagles’ taco nights have resumed. Taco nights are the first and third Mondays of the month. The crab feed starts at 5 p.m. Feb. 17 but the $60
Mike Nemeth / Sanger Herald
In the seventh-eighth contest, Amrit Singh, right, placed first, Sydney Peter second and Fernando Espinoza third.
much less how to spell it,” he said of his final word.
Kevin won. He still had that slight wide-eyed look, like he’d just survived a bomb blast or earthquake. “I’m feeling like the pressure’s been relieved,” he said.
His formula was simple, he said. He studied. A lot. And in Arita Sodhi, he had a good coach. “Every day I did some,” he said. And he said, after getting his bearings a bit, that he’s ready for the next round of the bee, where the words just get harder to spell.
“I’m confident,” Kevin said.
Mark Coleman, principal of Sanger Academy Charter, where Kevin attends school, said he was very proud. “An amazing kid,” Coleman said. “He showed a lot of poise. He
Delilah
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Valentine cake pops. Elizondo said she and
Kulow and Rea have been repeating the Valentine’s ritual for years — three in her current location and
was awesome. Those last few words, I don’t know if I’d heard them before.”
The older kids sat at tables and spelled out the words on paper. Only the younger kids went to the microphone one at a time. And because of that the seventh and eighth grade competition moved a bit quicker.
Spell master Gault was still the one in charge, rattling off words like amputation, peroxide, jauntily, despondency, quantum and calamine. The audience didn’t get to see the sweating, anguish and mental suffering that participants experienced.
After Gault uttered the words repugnant and vociferous, the second bee ended. Amrit had won. Eighth-grader Sydney Pete from Fairmont was second, and Fernando Espinoza
earlier when she owned her other shop, which operated out of a strip mall on the southeast corner of Seventh Street and Academy Avenue.
“I just dip and they package,” she said. “We do our midnight taco run. We blast music. This year we
from Hallmark Charter was third.
Sydney said she second- guessed herself. “I spelled it right the first time, but I re-spelled it,” she said.
Sydney will move on and said she “definitely” plans a lot more studying. At that moment, her teammate Abigail West said, “I’ll help you.”
Amrit said studying was tough at first but got easier and he got through “two study packets” of material. As for the next round, he said, “I feel excited, happy, scared. Because it’s going to get tougher from here.”
The reporter can be contacted by email at nemethfeatures@gmail.com or by phone at the Herald at (559) 875-2511.
may even get out earlier.”
The reporter can be contacted by email at nemethfeatures@gmail.com or by phone at the Herald at (559) 875-2511.
sponsored by the nonprofit Community Volunteers Central Valley. Plant Give & Take is free to the public, and organizers say all types of plants, seeds and cuttings for the home garden will be exchanged. The idea is to give what you have and take what you need. Local gardening experts will also be on hand to answer questions. Details, Margie Reisz at 559-227-9947.
For the Blossom Days Festival on March 3, the Sanger Chamber plans to announce the first- ever Blossom Queen. Nominations are currently being accepted. Details, 559-875-4575.
AMVETS has brought back its chili dogs from 5 to 8 p.m. the first and third Wednesday of the month. So that will be Feb. 21. Everybody who’s anybody will be there. Come early. It’s popular. There will also be kraut dogs, mustard dogs and Frito boats. The meals will be served the second and fourth Wednesdays of every month. Details, George 559-286-5667.
The Sanger branch of the Fresno County Library has a lot going on. The Big Read this year is “The Latehomecomer: A Hmong Family Memoir” by Kao Kalia Yang. Residents are encouraged to read the book and participate in discussions and special events. Builder’s Club for creating Lego masterpieces is 3 p.m. Feb. 28. Hmong Folktales is 6:30 p.m. March 7. Diabetes Prevention Classes are from 6 to 7 p.m. March 7 (the first Wednesday of the month). Come Play with Me, which caters to children up to 3 years old and they are read to and participate in different activities, is 10:30 a.m. every Friday. Preschool story time is at 10:30 a.m. every Thursday. Read to a Dog with Vinny! is every other Saturday. The library is at 1812 Seventh St.
Gift
Those watching the event felt the quiet intensity of the auditorium. Nobody wanted a slip up.
By the time Andrew and Kevin faced off, they had experienced and spelled correctly a half dozen
words each. That number climbed immediately as both nimbly spelled each of the rest: toucan, mizzle, abdicate, jute.
And, of course, others. Weirder words.
Andrew stumbled first. “I
SANGER HERALD
4B THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 2018 didn’t know what it meant
Sanger News & Community Calendar
tickets must be purchased by Feb. 9. Fish fry starts at 5 p.m. March 3. Cost is $12 and reservations required. St. Patrick’s corn beef dinner is 5 p.m. March 17. Second crab feed is April 7. Breakfasts will be from 8:30 to 10:30 a.m. every second Saturday of the month. The location is 225 J St. Details, Jim Batten 559- 875-6820 or Denny Noller 559-392-1936.
The Sanger branch of the Fresno County Public Library will be closing sometime in March for interior renovations, especially to the bathrooms to make them compliant with Americans with Disabilities Act requirements, said Terrance McArthur, an official with the library. The library should reopen sometime in the summer for the summer reading program, he said.
In the meantime, Sanger Friends of the Library is making possible a series of three classes on Magic. Leading the classes will be
Mike Nemeth / Sanger Herald
Sanger mayor Frank Gonzalez handed a check for $1,250 from the Latino Mayors and Elected City Officials of Fresno County to Julie Mendoza, director and chief executive of HOPE Sanger. Gonzalez said the nonprofit that feeds Sanger's homeless population and has converted the former Rose Motel into a shelter to provide temporary housing deserves the money. Gonzalez is a member of the elected officials group. "I've worked with Julie and HOPE Sanger," he said. "And I just wanted to make sure it would get into the hands of the right people who could truly use it." Mendoza hugged him. "Positive things are coming out of this facility," she said. The nonprofit has additional services coming and is working with Poverello House in Fresno to coordinate them.
WORSHIP IN SANGER
illusionist Bryan Patrick, a frequent performer at the summer entertainment programs offered by the organization. The final class will be held at 11 a.m. Feb. 17 in the Sanger library meeting room, 1812 Seventh St. Participants must be 12 or older and must pre-register. Class sizes are limited. And meetings by Friends of the Library take place every third Tuesday of the month. They start at 6 p.m. at the Sanger Branch of the Fresno County Library. Details, Kent Sani 559-930- 4306.
Teams wanted. Epic Adventure Quest, which
is fashioned after the CBS TV show “The Amazing Race,” is staging an event like a scavenger hunt from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. March 3 in downtown Sanger to go along with the Blossom Trail Festival — after the morning’s races. This is a partnership between the Sanger Chamber and the organization Healthy Epic Living. Teams of four will go from checkpoint to checkpoint to uncover clues that will lead them to the next station. Participants will need to use brain and brawn to figure out how to move forward, just like the show. Cost is $20 per team. Sign up
at healthyepicliving.com. Details, healthyepicliving@ gmail.com.
Prayer Rally at HOPE Sanger 10 a.m. to noon Feb. 17 at 502 L St. Event includes live music, testimonials and message from a Sanger pastor. Details, 559-875-7677.
The Blossom Wine/Beer Tour Bus is ready to ride again this year. Riders get to enjoy the Blossom Trail in comfort Feb. 24 and 25. Guided tour with wine and beer tasting and lunch. Cost is $60. Details, sangerchamber@gmail.com or 559-875-4575.
The 11th annual Plant Give & Take will be held from 9 a.m. to noon March 10 at the Veterans of Foreign War Post 8900 picnic area, 3585 N. Blythe Ave. west of Highway 99 in Fresno. The event is
Church
Directory
CREMATION Did you know that through membership in our local organization, all cremation arrangements can be planned in advance? Call for free pre-planning portfolio or refer to web site.
Cremation Society of Central California
3037 Tulare Street • Fresno FD 1374
559: 237-3579 800:299-3658
www.TheCremationSociety.com
Family owned and operated since 1977
Serving ALL of California
Pre-plan or immediate service – 24 hours
Complete Cremation $895
For information about how your church can advertise their services call 875-2511.
CALVARY CHRISTIAN FELLOWSHIP
1128 N. Street, Sanger
Sunday Service 10:30 a.m. Sunday School 10:30 a.m.
Have FAITH In God. Mark 11:22
Pastor and Mrs. Masis Kayaian Call (559) 392-3391
CHURCH OF CHRIST
1518 Cherry Street (Corner of “P” Street) Sanger, CA 93657
SUNDAY - Bible Study 9:30 a.m. Worship 10:30 a.m. Evening Worship 6:00 p.m.
Wednesday - Bible Study 7 p.m. CLASES EN ESPANOL - 9:30 a.m. Call 875-8270 / 960-8982 Para Espanol
Certi cates Available
$25 Off 1st Cleaning $10 Off 2nd Cleaning $10 Off 3rd Cleaning
$45 Off!
892-1098
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