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Established 1909, Dinuba, California
Thursday, April 12, 2018
50 Cents
State treasurer, governor candidate John Chiang stops in Dinuba
By Jackson Moore News@thedinubasentinel.com
The South San Joaquin Valley League of Cities met at Ridge Creek Golf Club Dinuba on April 12 with a special guest - California State Treasurer and gubernatorial candidate John Chiang.
Representatives from South San Joaquin Valley cities and organizations, Dinuba city officials and Leadership Northern Tulare County were in attendance and given the chance to meet Chiang. Chiang then spoke to the audience for about an hour explaining his background and work as state treasurer, then fielding questions of concern from officials of cities in the area.
The event was organized by the South San Joaquin League of Cities president, Dinuba Vice Mayor Kuldip Thusu.
Chiang is the son of immigrants from Taiwan. He told the audience, “I felt incredibly fortunate that in one generation you can have immigrant parents who come from not much, that
when I got elected to the state board of equalization, you could have a child get elected to one of the 12 highest state-elected offices in the state of California.”
About his visit to Dinuba, Chiang told the Sentinel, “I love coming to this region and I’m going to make sure the good people of the Central Valley don’t feel that they are forgotten in Sacramento. We have a lot of talented people and extraordinary opportunities. If we leave any community behind, we’re not doing what we’re supposed to be doing.”
Concerns from local city leaders that were asked to Chiang included questions on water issues such as the state's delta tunnels project and funding for groundwater agencies, city unfunded liabilities, the possibility for funding local redevelopment agencies, police protocols and funding drinking water for rural communities.
Thusu also asked Chiang about a potential bill that would
See Chiang, Page A6
Jackson Moore | The Sentinel
California State Treasurer John Chiang speaks to an audience at Ridge Creek Golf Club Dinuba on April 5.
Orosi High students
gain experience
through tax season
e trip of a lifetime
Contributed
Top left: The Dinuba High Madrigals are pictured outside of Central Park. Bottom left: The Dinuba High Madrigals on the stage of Carnegie Hall.
Above: A photo of the One World Trade Center taken by a member of the group, where they later sang on the top floor.
DHS Madrigals recap New York excursion
By Jackson Moore News@thedinubasentinel.com
It’s nearly the end of tax season. That realization may bring stress to some, but for a group of Orosi High School students the tax season has been one of opportunity and experience.
Through the CSET (Community Services Employment Training) tech- connect program, Orosi youth are handling a portion of the community’s taxes themselves. OHS students in the program become IRS certified and then apply their knowledge in the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance program.
As of March 19, the CSET Orosi VITA site already had 100 tax forms accepted, saving the community an estimated $15,000 in services had they paid to have their taxes done elsewhere. The greater Tulare County had a total of 1,937 free taxes filed and accepted. There are requirements to qualify for the free taxes - primarily having a family income of less than $54,000.
CSET senior program specialist Miguel Castaneda said, “They are capable of all preparing taxes. They prepare taxes for free for the community and we’ve been doing it here in this area since 2009. They’re the ones that put up their time - it’s volunteer community hours so they do it for free ... they are giving back to their communities.”
OHS students are now required to complete community service hours as part of their graduation requirements, but most students in this program go above and beyond the hours they need.
One OHS senior, Ana Torres, said of the program, “The way I found out about this program is by my dad ... because he does his taxes right here. He’s been telling me, but I never had the interest in going until last year ... We prepare taxes, we help people for free, so we get our community service hours done so that helps us. What really interested
me is you get another experience, a new opportunity - some other skills you wouldn’t normally have."
Castaneda explained, “Once they become IRS and VITA certified, they actually are capable of applying to the IRS and they have a higher percentage of being hired during tax season. It’s a big plus for them.”
OHS junior Fabien Bribiesca is considering a profession in the field after his experience. He said, “I’ve thought about it, but I don’t know. I think it will be a big advantage because I have experience.
“It’s strange because I didn’t even know what this was with taxes or what taxes are, even thought about taxes or anything. But when I got into the program I realized how taxes are made, how people do them, what people needed, and when I do my taxes I know how. It really helps you. It really gets you to know how reality is in the real world when it comes to taxes. It was a good experience. I never thought I would have this experience, but I’m glad I did.”
Torres said she plans to be a teacher, but enjoyed and appreciated the experience. She said, “It’s been a really nice experience because you get to help people out and you get new skills that people don’t have. People say, 'Oh, you prepare taxes? How do you do that?'" It’s been a really nice experience and you get to meet a lot of new people.”
Some alumni of the program have even continued to do taxes in college for fellow students through the VITA program, Castaneda said.
“Some of the seniors enjoyed actually preparing taxes and they just love helping people - They’re awesome,” Castaneda said, “It doesn’t only help from within themselves, but to see other things, be hands-on, get job opportunities ... It’s a pleasure having all these young minds in this community that care so much for their community that give their own personal time to give back."
By Jackson Moore News@thedinubasentinel.com
The Dinuba High School Madrigals are still recouping from their extraordinary trip to New York, highlighted by their performance at the world-renowned Carnegie Hall.
The agenda for the 24 DHS students and 17 accompanying adults included a rehearsal and performance at Carnegie Hall as part of a 300-student group consisting of high school choirs across the country. They also spent time at Central Park, being clinicked and evaluated at nearby Central Presbyterian Church. The group also saw two Broadway shows, did a dinner cruise around the Statue of Liberty, visited Times Square and visited One World Trade Center where they sang on the top floor.
Of the trip, Dinuba High senior and
Choir President Calista Domingcil said, “My favorite part would be performing at Carnegie Hall. Every performer wants to perform like that and Carnegie Hall is just the best place you could possibly do it. To say you performed there was amazing.”
Of her favorite moments, DHS senior Olivia Hayes said, “One of the parts that I really loved was when we got to go to the One World Observatory and obviously the Broadway shows, they were amazing.”
Both Domingcil and Hayes agreed that the camaraderie amongst themselves, as well as meeting students from other high school choirs across the country, were among the highlights.
Domingcil explained, “It was so cool to see how other people run their choir and what their style is. It was such a positive environment, commenting on what we
like about each others’ performances - usually festivals are just about ratings ... we really appreciated that.”
Hayes added, “It was super fun, I’m really glad we got to go. I’m kind of sad it was toward the end of the year because I’m a senior and I feel I got really closer to the other kids. Now I’m sad there’s only two months left.”
Another point that many of the students agreed with was the vast differences between the New York experience and the Dinuba experience.
Hayes said, “I’m pretty sure there were a lot of kids that were culture shocked. I could definitely tell the difference. The people there are different and very diverse."
Domingcil added, “It was definitely fast-paced over there which not a lot of
See Madrigals, Page A2
Rick Curiel | The Sentinel
By Jackson Moore News@thedinubasentinel.com
This year’s April 21 Dinuba Relay For Life event will feature an inspiring story of faith and battling cancer by one of Dinuba’s own, Luminaria Speaker Marion Buller.
Buller, who lived in Dinuba for about 40 years, has been diagnosed with three different cancers over the last 20 years. She was twice declared “cancer-free,” but is now battling once again.
Buller first told her story at Dinuba First Baptist Church earlier this year, where she previously worked as the Director of Children’s Ministry.
“I just had this feeling that I wanted to share my testimony,” Buller said. “Pastor Tom Carter gave me an opportunity,
bowed out of the pulpit, and I took it. I was the church service that day ... If I could help somebody else by sharing what I had gone through, I needed to do that.”
Before Buller ever felt the effects of cancer, she suffered a life-threatening event of another kind. At the age of two years and nine months, Buller said she disobeyed her mother while playing in the back seat of her family’s vehicle. Buller accidently caused the door to open and fell onto the road. A truck was traveling behind her and Buller explained, “The rear axle struck the top of my head and cracked it open from ear to ear.”
Buller was driven more than 50 miles to a life-saving surgery that earned her the nickname “miracle child.”
The incident helped lead Buller to develop a strong faith at a young age, which would ultimately help her lean on God in hopes of more “miracles” as an adult.
Buller moved to Dinuba with her husband in 1976, serving Dinuba First Baptist Church in the Sunday school and coordinating a community Vacation Bible School.
In 1999 she was diagnosed with cancer for the first time, breast cancer, which required a mastectomy and six rounds of chemotherapy. Five years later she was declared cancer-free, but in 2005 cancer was found in her thyroid. She was treated and declared cancer-free for a second time.
In 2016, Buller was rushed to the
See Relay, Page A2
Luminaria Ceremony speaker Marion Buller is pictured outside the Sentinel.
Luminaria Ceremony speaker sure to inspire
If you go...
• What: Dinuba Relay For Life
• Where: Claud Hebert Field at Dinuba High School
• When: Saturday, April 21 from 9 a.m. to 11 p.m.
Luminaria Ceremony - 7:30 p.m.
thedinubasentinel.com
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