Page 7 - Reedley Exponent 6-21-18 E-edition

The Reedley Exponent BPanorama
Uncle Ephus to perform benefit concert for RCTC on June 30
See B2
Section | Thursday, June 21, 2018 www.reedleyexponent.com
Exploring the outdoors
The View From Here
I am horri- ble at goodbyes. After four
years and nine months as a journalist at The Exponent, I am leaving for a new job opportu- nity.
To say fare- well to Reedley isn’t easy.
Felicia Cousart Matlosz
By Felicia Cousart Matlosz
felicia@midvalleypublishing.com
When Park Ranger Tim Hol- zem told a class of Great Western Elementary fourth-graders that they could name anything new they found on their BioBlitz in the mountains, the “ahhhhs” were im- mediate and enthusiastic.
“It would be pretty awesome if you could,” said Holzem, who’s a ranger for the Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Park Service. He spoke to the fourth-graders in Mary Ann Bumpas’ class in a preliminary visit on May 14 – as well as Laura Perales’ fourth-graders – before they visited the Grant Grove area on May 21.
"They were just so thrilled about being up there and learning about everything around them and wanting to experience it all."
– Mary Ann Bumpas, fourth-grade teacher at Great Western School
Great Western students, whose school is in a rural area north of Reedley, already have enjoyed Rangers in the Classroom visits. With BioBlitz, they would look for things that crawl or fly or grow. Those categories cover a broad range of possibilities out in the wil- derness, from reptiles to birds to plants to fungi.
This particular BioBlitz pro- gram is part of the National Geo- graphic Society’s efforts across the country. According to the NGS website, a BioBlitz “is an event that focuses on finding and identifying as many species as possible in a specific area over a period of time.
“At a BioBlitz, scientists, fami-
LEFT: Great Western Elementary fourth-graders participated in a BioBlitz on May 21 in the Grant Grove area.
Pictured here with two park rangers are (from left) Ethan Fischer, Ricardo Rios (behind Ethan in the hooded sweatshirt), Joshua Avila, Cherie Wood, Ciara Rivera, and Citlali Lopez.
Photo Contributed
Life is a series of destina- tions, some intentional, some unexpected. I came to Reedley through former Exponent editor Doug Hoagland, a longtime friend and one-time colleague at another Central Valley newspaper. The op- portunity to work with Doug again was too appealing to pass up. Once I got here, I found myself also working alongside colleagues who are caring, talented and fun.
Since that first day in Septem- ber 2013, I’ve covered what makes Reedley splendidly distinctive from other communities – its gem of a local theater group in Reed- ley’s River City Theatre Company ... the bustling Fiesta weekends each October, with the popular parade and activities ... the 2014 opening of the state-of-the-art Reedley High School Aquatics Complex ... the Kings River Quilt Festival, with its sheer beauty of colors and designs ... the marvel of Reedley College’s Speaker Se- ries and the prominent writers who participate (I still can’t be- lieve I saw Jane Smiley and Joyce Carol Oates here) ... the dazzling holiday cheer of the Electrical Farm Equipment Parade ... and anything involving Reedley High School’s Pirate Marching Band, a glorious sight every time those student musicians and color guard members step onto a field for a performance or appear in a pa- rade.
I also wrote features stories about people. Space (that dreaded nemesis of reporters everywhere) won’t permit me to name all of you whose engaging stories have touched me or made me smile and laugh. You allowed me the privi- lege to share your experiences, and I thank each of you for your generosity and trust.
And there have been moments personal to me, such as Ron Sura- bian adding me to his “Happy Birthday” list of people to sing to on their birthdays. (I intentionally don’t answer so that it’s saved in my voice mail.) Or Jean Clemons sharing a list of books that she’s read and hoped I would enjoy. (Jean, I’ve read four of them so far and promise to get to more!) Or my regular delicious lunches at The Reedley Sandwich Shop, where owner Jessica McCahill and her team graciously wel- comed me my first week in Reed- ley. Or, the opportunity to watch and admire Mark Norwood (the former artistic director of RCTC and former theatre arts coordina- tor for the Kings Canyon Unified School District) encourage and draw out the best in his actors and performers, young and older.
So, I circle back to that word “destination.” I believe things hap- pen for a reason.
There are some people you meet because you were meant to meet, and relationships develop. You may never see each other again, but the memories and im- pressions will endure.
As I said, I am horrible at goodbyes. My new job will be communications director for Assembly Member Joaquin Ar- ambula, whose district includes Reedley. So, I do hope our paths cross somewhere down the road. I would love to chat and catch up on things.
Until then, just a few more thoughts from me: Find a destina- tion you love and explore it regu- larly (I’ll gladly mention mine one more time: London) ... Read a good book (preferably in hard- cover and underline favorite pas- sages and write in the margins) ... Be kind ... Be curious ... Listen (really listen) ... Be nervous about change but don’t be afraid ... En- joy a hearty laugh with the people you cherish.
lies, students, teacher,s and other community members work together to get an overall count of the plants, animals, fungi and other organisms that live in a place.”
To give Bumpas’ students an idea of the massive scale of the BioBlitz quest, Holzem asked them: “How many plants, animals and oth- er living organisms on Earth have been identified and given a scien- tific name?”
The answer: 1.75 million.
But how many species do scien- tists estimate are on Earth?
That would be a staggering 7 million.
A week after the visit from
See BIOBLITZ page B8
RIGHT: Romeo Peralta and Lismarin Serrano were two of the Great Western Elemen- tary fourth grade stu- dents who participated in the May 21 BioBlitz.
Felicia Cousart Matlosz / The Exponent
Reedley (Fresno County) CA 93654
Great Western fourth-graders participate in BioBlitz at Grant Grove
RHS Folkloric Dancers' 30th annual festival
The Reedley High School Folkoric Dancers presented their 30th annual festival on May 27 in the campus Performing Arts Theatre, with special guests El Ballet Folk- lorico de Oro. The RHS dancers, under the direction of Carlota Rosas, and El Ballet Folklorico de Oro presented dances from differ- ent regions in Mexico.
A few former RHS folkloric stu- dents performed with the current dance ensemble. Diana Juarez, RHS Class of 2017, said she helps Rosas and that “I love to show people our culture.”
LEFT: These Reedley High students performed in the festival. They are (from left) Lizbeth Calvillo, Cerani Valencia Garcia, Dulce Ornelas, Leydy Garcia, Venecia Gutierrez and Maria Franquiz Hernandez. BELOW: Two dancers from El Ballet Folklorico de Oro perform at the May 27 program.
BELOW LEFT: Reedley High School folkloric dancers perform the
first dance of the show, from the Michoacan region.
Photos by Felicia Cousart Matlosz / The Exponent
I wish you all the very best!