Page 7 - Mid Valley Times 2-11-21 E-edition
P. 7

                 Thursday, February 11, 2021
    Blossom Trail opening ceremony held online
  The View From Here
 It was the morn- ing of Fri- day, Feb. 5. With my camera gear in the trunk of my car, I pulled into
Juanita Adame
By Juanita Adame
Mid Valley Times
It took local artist Tamsen Taves nearly 6 hours to com- plete her oil painting show- ing the Central Valley’s peach blossoms, but in the end she said it was well worth it.
Taves was selected as the winner for this year’s Big Fresno Fair’s Blossom Trail Art competition. Her painting will be showcased during this year's Blossom Trail events.
“I was very excited, I was so incredibly honored,” said Taves during this year’s Blos- som Trails Opening Ceremony in Reedley. “I wanted to show the beauty of the Central Val- ley.”
The 33rd annual ceremony was held the morning of Feb. 5 on the front lawn of Reedley College.
“Because of Covid this year it had to be a little dif- ferent,” said Erik Valencia, executive director for the Greater Reedley Chamber of
 the Reedley College park- ing lot and remembered I had no spare change.
I needed at least one dollar in quarters to put in the meter. The last time I forgot to add money to the meter, I walked back to my car and found a blue enve- lope on the windshield, also known as a parking ticket.
The event was scheduled to begin at 10 a.m. sharp. I quickly exited my car and managed to find a quarter in the center console of my seat, added it to the meter and walked over the front lawn of the school.
As I walked up to the where the event was taking place, I saw a familiar face.
“Hi Danny,” I said to Danny Jimenez.
“I am worried for my car, I only added one quar- ter to the meter,” I told him.
Danny explained to me that during events the en- forcement is a bit relaxed, so I shouldn’t worry.
As the ceremony began, Erik Valencia, the Greater Reedley Chamber of Com- merce executive director welcomed everyone and then sang two songs. Great job Erik. I knew he had a singing voice, but I’d never heard him sing live and in person.
After the event was over, I had the opportunity to speak to a young lady named Tamsen Taves. She is the winner of this year’s Fresno Fair Blossom Trails competition.
Tamsen told me it took her 6 hours to finish her oil painting. “This particular painting is an oil painting, but I have also done acrylic and water color in the past,” she said. “I’ve always loved painting, it’s always some- thing I’ve been interested in.”
I was wondering why Tamsen’s last name sound- ed familiar. I couldn’t figure out why until I looked her up on Facebook. Tamsen’s mother is Carrie Kersey Taves, also a very talented artist. I see that their talent runs in the family.
I spoke to Carrie once when we used a photo of her artwork for an unre- lated story. Congratulations Tamsen!
Erik Valencia singing the Na- tional Anthem
Juanita Adame / Mid Valley Times
Tamsen Taves held up a copy of her painting showing the Central Valley's peach blossoms during the Blossom Trail opening ceremony on Feb. 5.
   Juanita Adame / Mid Valley Times
ABOVE: Second grade students at St. La Salle Catholic School held up a quilt that will be auctioned off during this year's event.
ABOVE RIGHT- Students in the fifth grade displayed a hand painted St. La Salle themed corn hole game that will also be part of this years auction.
Dinuba local sworn in to US Space Force
The annual St. La Salle Benefit Auction will be held on Feb. 13 starting at 5 p.m. and will be broadcast on Facebook live. A drive through event for food pickup will also be held for information contact (559) 638-2621. At left is one of the items that will be up for auc- tion. More items on page A8.
Photo of the week
Contributed
A photo of 2-year-old Avett, showing off smile for the camera was sent in by her great grandfather, Jerry Halford. Have a photo you'd like featured? Email juanita@midvalleypublishing.com.
   Photo Courtesy Deissy Sanchez / Facebook Page
Deissy Sanchez, a Dinuba local, was sworn into the U.S. Space Force during the second week of February. Sanchez was featured in the Feb. 4 issue of the Mid Valley Times.
Commerce. “Instead we had a Facebook Live opening.”
Valencia was joined by Buddy Mendes, Fresno Coun- ty Supervisor; Ryan Jacobsen,
the Fresno County Farm Bu- reau CEO; as well as Tammy Wolfe and Karen Pearson of the Sanger Chamber of Com- merce.
“I am really honored to be a part of this, growing up in the valley we see the blossoms
SEE BLOSSOMS on page A8
 Annual SLS auction to be held virtually
     























































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