Page 6 - Sanger Herald 10-25-18 E-edition

SANGER HERALD 6A THURSDAY, OCTOBER 25, 2018
By Dick Sheppard
Sanger Herald
Proving some people - I'm not one of them - can have fun without three cups of coffee before the sun comes up, more than 1,000 Sanger Unified students, administrators, teachers, parents and dignitaries gathered way before the sun came up Tuesday morning on the Washington Academic Middle School (WAMS) practice field to dance, sing and wake the neighbors.
After a dancing tribute to the World Series, lots of cheer- ing, picture taking and a spirit competition - won by Jefferson Elementary School - they broke into groups and began their walks to schools.
The National Walk to School Day is cosponsored locally by the Fresno County Office of Education and the Sanger Uni- fied School District. It's intended to promote a more healthy lifestyle - there were even people dressed as fruits and veg- etables.
The groups walking to school were escorted by principals, teachers and public safety personnel with flashing lights on their vehicles.
Dick Sheppard/Sanger Herald
Jefferson Elementary School won the "Spirit Award" at the Oct. 23 Walk to School event on the WAMS practice field. Principal Sam Polanco and 5th grader Abraham Jimenez accepted the award, Cyndi Dean from the Fresno County Office of Education was photobombing while emcee, Crazy Karen AKA Karen Gaines, reminded everyone that, now that the sun was coming up, the event was winding down and it was almost time to begin their walks to school.
Here are a couple more photos to show you what it looked like at WAMS while you were probably still sleeping or maybe working on your first cup of coffee. There are many more photos, in color, on the Sanger Herald Facebook page.
The sleepy reporter/photographer can be contacted by email at sangerherald@gmail.com or by phone at the Herald at (559) 875-2511.
APPEAL: Councilmember Daniel Martinez criticized Walls's appeal, saying the "pay to play" approach was not business friendly. Continued from page 1A
be putting more pollutants into the air. So, in exchange for approval of the permit it should be required to provide an offset, like more trees for parks to help rid the air of the additional pollutants, Wall reasoned.
Senior planner David Brletic told Wall at the commission meeting and development director Tom Navarro told him at the council meeting
on Monday, that couldn't be done because Algonquin is regulated by the San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District, "And the proposed increase in hours [From 3,300 to 3,600] still puts Algonquin below the standard for emissions approved by the air district."
Wall, at the council meeting, also cited statistics intended to show sig-
nificant health dangers related to living within three miles of a power plant and told the council Algonquin should donate more money to help offset health care costs for the city's most vulnerable low income citizens.
Navarro responded by listing Algonquin's current obligations under a 30 year old settlement: an
annual requirement to plant 250 trees (up to $27,252) per year; pay- ment of up to $13,644 per year to the school district; and payment of up to $13,500 for solar rebates.
Navarro said Wall's evidence of health impacts wasn't relevant be- cause it was based on a study done in Florida and the data were over 15 years old.
Councilmember Daniel Martinez criticized Walls's appeal, saying the "pay to play" approach was not busi- ness friendly.
The reporter can be contacted by email at sangerherald@gmail.com or by phone at the Herald at (559) 875-2511.
HOPE Sanger: Mendoza said HOPE Sanger has strict requirements for those living under its roof. Continued from page 1A
of communication open," she said.
"When you come to live here, she lets you know what the rules are," Cathy said.
Cathy and her husband and several of their children revisited the HOPE Sanger facility that was their home for about six months to talk about their story. With them were Fabian Jr., 5, Emily,
6, and Precious. Jose, 19,
stopped by near the end of the interview. The family includes Jennifer "J-Lo," 12, Giselle, 9, and Richard, 21, who's out on his own.
Cathy said the experience has given her more insight and empathy for those who may be homeless or close to it. She said she and her fam- ily now volunteer whenever possible. She said she went back to work but had to quit after three bulging disks in her back forced her to. The back problem flared again about three months ago and limited her for a time to a wheelchair.
The family still experi- ences financial pressure.
The family car, a 2002 Dodge Intrepid, gave out and they're looking for a new one. Men- doza said they need a van this time, a decent one.
The reporter can be con- tacted by email at nemeth- features@gmail.com or by phone at the Herald at (559) 875-2511.
Cathy Lopez said her hus- band developed a substance abuse problem and had to en- ter into a treatment program.
"It was hard because for 22 years we'd never been apart," she said. "I'd be in tears. I tried to keep myself busy
cooking and cleaning."
She said she received help
sorting through her feelings from her church, Life Taber- nacle United in Sanger.
Fabian Lopez successfully completed his treatment program and is now working seven days a week 13 hours a
day, Cathy said. And when he has time, he takes side jobs finishing concrete, she said.
Mendoza said HOPE Sanger has strict require- ments for those living under its roof. "The key is to stick with the plan, follow the guidelines and keep the lines
Join Us For CFC
A Fall Festival for the Whole Family No Costume Required - Bags Provided
Saturday, October 27, 2018 4:00 PM to 7:00 PM Calvary Fellowship Church 737 Church Street • Sanger
Hot Dogs • CHips • Drinks • CanDy • BounCe Houses • Fun • games
Free
Free
Free
Free