July 2, 2009

Ken Riggs Passes Away

The flags over City offices will be lowered to half staff in memory of former Councilman Ken Riggs who died Wednesday morning at the age of 92.
Mr. Riggs served on the City Council from July 9, 1984 until Aug. 12, 1990.
The flags will remain at half staff until after funeral services have been conducted for Mr. Riggs.

July 1, 2009

“Flying 4 Food”
Great Lakes Airlines’ Food Drive to Benefit the Merced County Food Bank

CHEYENNE, Wyo., June 29, 2009 – Great Lakes Aviation, Ltd. (OTC Bulletin Board: GLUX.OB – news) is helping in the battle to fight hunger with their “Flying 4 Food” campaign to benefit the Merced County Food Bank.

Did you know that 1 in 8 Americans are at risk for hunger? From children and seniors to the working poor, millions of Americans are either hungry or nearing hunger. Today many public food-assistance programs and private organizations strive to meet the nutritional needs of these vulnerable Americans. Great Lakes Airlines and the Merced County Food Bank are asking for your help.

Throughout the month of July, bring a non-perishable food item to the Great Lakes counter and you will be eligible to win one of 4 round trip tickets between Merced and Ontario. Donate as much as you like, however only one entry per person / per week is permitted. Donations will be accepted Monday through Friday from 6 a.m. – 6 p.m. at the Merced Regional Airport, 12 Mcready Drive. Weekend hours are limited. Please contact Great Lakes Regional Sales Manager, Kassi Mohlenkamp at 307-432-7018 with any questions.

July 1, 2009

Independence Day weekend

The City of Merced offices will be closed Friday, July 3, 2009, to celebrate the Independence Day weekend. Trash collection will not be affected by the closure. We wish everyone a safe and sane Fourth of July weekend.

2009 Small Business of the Year

The 2009 Small Business of the Year tends to leave a really good taste in your mouth. And he knows about food from the ground up.
When the owner of the small business of the year came to the United States, he spent the first 5 years here working in the fields. He spent nearly 40 years working for another company learning the ins and outs of the business. While he was working, he attended college and earned a bachelor’s degree in corporate law, with a minor in business administration. (Need to check if he got a master’s from CSUS.)

He has 16 employees, and they always seem to great you with a smile. He empowers his employees so they grow as people and as professionals.
This company also helps students in the local jobs programs earn money, and find out if the field is a career they want to stay in. The company has participated in and hired students and graduates from ROP and Merced Adult School.
This is one of the companies that reaches out in so many ways. While you can find its products at its Downtown Merced location, they often show up at weddings, dinners and fundraisers around Merced County and beyond. Creating a sense of place in Downtown Merced, one can enjoy dinner while listening to smooth jazz in the evening.
They are active in numerous organizations including the Merced County Chamber of Commerce, OLM School, and CPBC.
The 2009 Small Business of the Year Award goes to Fernando’s Bistro. Fernando Palomino please come down to get your award. It’s not as tasty as one of your dinners, but we hope you will still savor it.

2008 Mid-Sized Business of the Year

The 2008 Mid-Sized Business of the Year is a locally grown product, that is probably organic, too. When it started up, the first manager stored the money in a shoe box in his apartment, and took loan applications in his bedroom.
The company has always had a focus on schools and continues it today with the kiddie play area in each of its branches.
The firm has 84 employees in four locations, with 69 of them working within the city limits. Two of its employees have worked there for more than 35 years, and 8 of the employees have been there for a quarter of a century.
There is a philosophy of promoting from within, and almost everybody starts at the bottom and works their way up. The CFO started as a file clerk while still in high school and the CEO started as a part-time file clerk while attending Merced College.
This firm pays for on-going educational opportunities for job-related advancement, employees can sell unused sick days for cash and there are a variety of training programs available to staff.
The roots in the community stretch beyond its employees. It is a sponsor of the METV program offered through the Merced County Office of Education. It also is a major sponsor of the Merced County Academic Decathlon, an event that showcases the educational talents of our youth. It also sponsors all of the sober graduations, and the Educator of the Year program.
It supports numerous school athletic teams, FFA, 4H, and school bands.
Beyond schools, it is involved in sponsorships or fundraising for the Merced Zoological Association, the Merced Symphony, the Merced multicultural Arts Center, Castle Air Museum, Playhouse Merced, the Mariposa Museum and many more.
The organization has a philosophy of “people helping people.”
So, people, please help me in recognizing the 2009 Mid-Size Business of the Year, the Merced School Employees Federal Credit Union. Nancy Deavours, please come up here.

2009 Large business of the year

The 2009 Large Business of the Year can trace its roots back to 1935 and the California Gold Rush Country. It is a place where you can get just about anything that you really need, and you will get it with a helpful smile.
In 1990, it started its operations in Merced, and has found it to be a golden opportunity. It has 105 colleagues on the payroll and the majority of them live in the community. Those folks are incredibly civic minded, devoting countless hours of volunteer time to their local schools, churches and community organizations.
The company pays top wages in the industry and also has an outstanding benefit package for employees. It hired ROP students, it hired YOP students, it hired UC Merced students, it givens lots of our young people an opportunity for a job.
It operates a non-profit organization to provide food for the needy, absorbing all of the overhead costs. It sponsors a Relay for Life team, and assists the American Cancer Society in other ways. It is a proud supporter of the Merced County Fair Junior Livestock Auction, helping to further the agricultural education of the youth in our region.
Nationally, this company was named No. 1 in its field for three consecutive years by Consumer Reports. Locally, it received the “Readers Choice Award” from the Merced Sun-Star, along with other awards selected by readers. It has been named “Business of the Year by the Greater Merced Chamber of Commerce.
That’s not surprising because this company has been a pioneer in the industry. It was the first company to have a pre-packaged meat department. And it was the first to blend groceries and a drug store to create a superstore.
The store’s philosophy is “Celebrate food. Celebrate life.” Please celebrate with us as the Large Business of the Year Award goes to Raley’s. Henry Chow, please come down and accept the award.

There were other success stories in Merced that also were recognized and they included:
Allen Huddleston, Sports Illustrated
Janet Ramsey, Business and Professional Women's Association
Bishop's on the Square, Bon Appétit
Merced College Swim Team
Merced ArtHop
Playhouse Merced
Merced Mall, 40 years
Merced Kiki Raina Tahiti Fete, 30 years

Merced is filled with success stories, they just don’t seem to get the constant media attention that some of our bad news receives. But it is the good news, the accomplishments and achievements, that make our community the wonderful place it is today to live, to work, to raise a family.
ALLEN HUDDLESTON, SPORTS ILLUSTRATED
Lately when a national magazine pays attention to Merced it is for the wrong thing. Sports Illustrated got it right. The magazine profiled a young man at Merced High School by the name of Allen Huddleston. Allen was the Central California Conference MVP in basketball this year after averaging 31.5 points per game, 4.9 rebounds and 2.6 steals. He broke the school record of 1,707 points with a career 2,117 points. Allen is heading to the University of the Pacific on a scholarship.

JANET RAMSEY, BUSINESS AND PROFESSIONAL WOMAN’S ASSOCIATION
Speaking of magazines, Janet Ramsey is an account executive at Quebecor World where she serves as a liaison between magazine publishers and the company. She just became the California Business and Professional Woman's President. Janet has been active in the organization for the past 35 years in California and also in Illinois. She also is the captain of the Quebecor American Cancer Society Relay for Life team, an active with the American Heart Walk.

BISHOP’S ON THE SQUARE, BON APPÉTIT
In France and other parts of Europe, getting listed in the Michelin Guide is the highest of honors. Here in the United States, getting the nod from Bon Appétit magazine is much the same. So when Bishop’s Café in Bob Hart Square in Downtown Merced received a write-up in Bon Appétit, Marshall Bishop was ecstatic and foodies in the Merced County were thrilled.
MERCED COLLEGE SWIM TEAM
With temperatures in the triple digits, most of us think of a pool as someplace to cool off. At Merced College, it’s the opposite. The Merced College Swim Team is hot when they hit the pool, and they proved it over and over this season. And they finished their hot streak by winning the Central California Conference Title. Everybody agrees that is pretty cool.
MERCED ARTHOP
It started as an idea to bring art to the people. Put some art works in Downtown Merced stores, let people mingle around the works and the artists, and see what happens. What happened is ArtHop and the enthusiasm and heart from the creators have turned it into a major Downtown Merced event. In partnership with the Merced County Arts Council, the ArtHop just received a $40,000 grant from the James Irvine Foundation.
PLAYHOUSE MERCED
One of the top tests for performers is whether they can take their work on the road to different audiences. Playhouse Merced will be hitting the road this winter as it presents “A Christmas Carol” at the Gallo Center in Modesto. The highly acclaimed and extremely entertaining company has two other performances scheduled for the center. It’s off, off Broadway, but moving closer.
MERCED MALL
When it first opened, it was a lot like UC Merced – lots of cows. But the Merced Mall had a vision, and it has the foresight to understand what direction Merced was going to grow. As the City grew, so did Merced Mall, and now it is the shopping destination for the City and the region. After 40 years in business, the Mall keeps on changing, just like its customers, to make sure it is offering what you want.
MERCED KIKI RAINA TAHITI FETE 30 YEARS
Kiki Raina Fete is celebrating 30 years of drawing people to Merced from throughout the state and across the nation. It even has international visitors. This event fills up our hotel rooms, packs our restaurants and creates lines at our gas stations. And not only does it showcase the talents of our local dancers, it has carved a little island of Polynesia in Merced. Aloha!

June 30, 2009

From left, Jorge Aguilar, with the Fresno Unified School District, Sharon Twitty, with the Merced County Office of Education, Jack O'Connell, State Superintendent of Public Instruction, Kandy Woerz and Linda Erikson, both with the Stanislaus County Office of Education, attended the ARCHES (Alliance for Regional Collaboration to Heighten Educational Success) luncheon in Sacramento on June 24. O’Connell, and key staff from the California Department of Education, met with about 20 leaders from regional P-16 (preschool through higher education) councils across the state to discuss how the groups might increase collaboration between institutions, and the CDE, to solve common educational problems — especially the academic achievement gap. “As resources for education continue to shrink in the state, collaboration is imperative in order to make ends meet across all sectors of public education,” said Twitty who works as an assistant superintendent at MCOE.

PHOTO COURTESY THE MERCED COUNTY OFFICE OF EDUCATION

June 30, 2009

There will be no Downtown Merced SummerFest this week, as the community celebrates the long Fourth of July weekend.
SummerFest will return to Downtown Merced on Thursday, July 9, with farm-fresh produce, entertainment, arts, hand-made crafts and lots of fun..

June 26, 2009

Cardoza provisions assist agriculture in new Clean Energy Act

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Congressman Cardoza announced several key legislative provisions today that will aid Valley agricultural interests. The provisions were included in the American Clean Energy and Security Act, which the House of Representatives passed today with Congressman Cardoza's support.

The legislation establishes a national comprehensive program to reduce greenhouse gasses by investing in clean energy technology, providing incentives for industry to reduce carbon emissions and establishing a pollution cap-and-offset system. It would be similar to the one currently in use by San Joaquin Valley air regulators. Agriculture operators would receive credits, which could be sold or traded, based on their ability to reduce air pollution.

There are no mandatory requirements for agriculture operators. However, the program provides financial incentives for them to take voluntary steps to reduce pollution.

After Cardoza raised concerns about the role of the Environmental Protection Agency in the program, House negotiators rewrote the bill to establish the U.S. Department of Agriculture as the sole agency in charge of implementing and operating the agriculture and forestry emissions offset program. USDA will be able to capitalize on its nationwide network of field offices, research capabilities, scientific experts and conservation partners to establish and operate the agriculture and forestry offset program.

"This is a significant win for the agriculture community," said Congressman Cardoza. "In addressing climate change, the USDA has a staff with a long history of working with agriculture and understanding its unique needs."

Congressman Cardoza also negotiated language directed toward farmers who grow crops with undetermined potential to capture and remove carbon emissions from the atmosphere, a process referred to as sequestration. The language would direct USDA to conduct research into new and innovative carbon sequestration techniques so that all farm operations can participate in the offset program.

"It's important that our policy decisions in Washington translate into real benefits to our farmers and producers at home," said Congressman Cardoza. "This bill only works because we took the extra time to develop a role for agriculture and the country will be better for it."

Under the provisions:
* Participating producers who carry out practices that sequester or avoid greenhouse gas emissions through non-till farming and avoid deforestation will be available to earn offset credits. Producers who have previously participated in voluntary offset programs, such as the C-CAR program in California, will also be eligible to participate and earn offset credits for activities with continuing benefits.
* Producers who have chosen to participate in USDA existing conservation programs, such as EQIP, will not be penalized or barred from the incentive program.
* The agriculture and forestry sectors will be exempt from the bill's greenhouse gas emission reduction requirements.

June 25, 2009

Representing San Joaquin, Stanislaus, Merced, Madera, Fresno, Kings and Kern Counties of California

Reps. Cardoza And Costa Announce U.S. Interior Secretary Salazar Will
Visit Valley This Sunday

WASHINGTON, D.C.-Today, Congressmen Dennis Cardoza (D-Merced) and Jim Costa (D-Fresno) announced that Department of the Interior Secretary Ken
Salazar will arrive in the San Joaquin Valley on Sunday, June 28th, 2009. Salazar will be joined by Deputy Secretary David Hayes and Bureau of Reclamation Commissioner Mike Connor.

The San Joaquin Valley has been especially hard hit by drought in the past few years. Additionally, water deliveries to Valley farmers from the San Joaquin Delta have been curtailed by regulators who have placed an undue amount of blame on famers for declines in fish populations to the north.

Since President Obama took office in January, Congressmen Cardoza and Costa have requested that the incoming Interior Secretary come to the San Joaquin Valley.

"I am grateful for Secretary Salazar's visit to the Valley," said Congressman Dennis Cardoza. "The Central Valley simply cannot continue down its current path. This regulatory drought is destroying our farmers, our families and our local economy. Further, we are facing a genuine risk of having to import additional food to supply our nation.

I look forward to providing Secretary Salazar with as much insight as possible about the extreme hardship in our agricultural community and look forward to the assistance that he is capable of providing."
"This trip by Secretary Salazar is a result of weekly talks with our offices and the Department of Interior regarding the drought and the impact on our Valley. The Secretary knows about the hundreds thousands of acres of fallowed fields, the high unemployment and the possibility
of a fourth year of drought," said Costa. "The lack of water has rippled into every facet of our economy. We now have those who normally sow and reap our nation's food, standing in food lines to feed their own families. As part of this important visit, I will be explaining to the Secretary the need for both short and long term water solutions in California, which include repairing the Delta, improving water supply and quality, and environmental restoration."

Further details of the Secretary's visit will be announced in the coming days.

June 25, 2009

SummerFest keeps growing in food, fun and festivities

The word on the streets of Downtown Merced is “More”: more food, more art, more fashions at the Downtown Merced SummerFest. The SummerFest runs from 5 to 8 p.m. (and maybe later) on Thursday, June 25.
Tri-tip sandwiches, pastries and desserts and chili cheese fries have been added to the munching options at the SummerFest, along with the Asian cuisine and kettlecorn already available. Handmade jewelry will be on display and come down to watch a henna “tattoo” artist at work.
There will be plenty of farm-fresh produce available, along with a variety of honey and nut products. And this week there will be a fashion show of summer wear and June bridal gowns from Downtown merchants starting at 6:30 p.m.
The surf sounds of Gidget and the Moon Doggies will be echoing through the downtown from 5 to 7 p.m. at the Bob Hart Square, followed by the cool jazz of Rudy Moreno from 7 to 9 p.m.

The ever-popular Guitar Hero competitions and Wii games will continue to be held during the festival, and younger kids will enjoy the bounce houses, face painting and bubble-blowing.
SummerFest will take place on Main and Canal streets, and Bob Hart Square from 5 to 8 p.m. Sponsored by The City of Merced and the Downtown Improvement District, the event will run through Aug. 20th, skipping July 2 (Independence Day) and July 23 (Fair Week).
For information, go to the Summer Fest MyPage at MyMerced.com or call Maria Mendoza at 385-6827.

June 25, 2009

Valley foreclosure workshop will be held in Atwater on Friday

WASHINGTON, D.C. - The No Homeowner Left Behind network will conduct a workshop Friday June, 26th at the Atwater Community Center, 760 East Bellevue Road. The event is planned from 3 p.m. to 8 p.m. A similar event planned for Modesto on Saturday has been combined with the Friday event in Atwater.

The workshops are open to the public and provide an opportunity to receive information about home preservation, as well as opportunities to work with lenders.

The events are being offered through a joint partnership of No Home Owner Left Behind. The group consists of government and nonprofit partners with a shared goal of helping individual homeowners prevent foreclosure.

Members of the partnership have been conducting the workshops throughout the San Joaquin Valley since June of 2007.

In addition to HUD approved counselors, representatives from Fannie Mae and Chase have committed to attend.

June 24, 2009

Students Host a Very Special Performance at the Merced Multicultural Arts Center

Students from the Merced County Office of Education and the Merced Multicultural Arts Center’s Enrichment Center will host a very special performance for family, friends and the community.
The performance is the culmination of the summer arts program, which includes MCOE’s Orthopedically Handicapped and Deaf and Hard of Hearing Programs and the Enrichment Center.
The Enrichment Center is an arts-based adult day program for people with developmental disabilities (a program of the Merced County Arts Council). The Enrichment Center provides instruction in and a forum for the exploration of visual arts, theater, music and dance.
“This year our theme is essence. … we’re focusing on smell, taste, touch and sound,” said Amber Kirby, creative writing instructor for the summer youth program with orthopedically handicapped students at the arts center.

Merced County Arts Council Enrichment Center student Jose Miguel Castaneda, of Planada, performs at the 2008 VSA Showcase at the Multicultural Arts Center in Merced.

Photo by Nathan Quevedo Courtesy Merced County Office of Education

Kirby feels it’s important to help students see the achievements made by people with disabilities over time, so she has posted a timeline of the Disability Rights Movement from 1817 to 2008.
“One of the things that I’m focusing on is making the kids understand that they’re not as limited by obstacles as the might feel,” Kirby said.
Dance instructor and choreographer, Pattee Russell-Curry (who is a registered dance/movement therapist), has taken the theme of “essence” in other directions.
In particular, one dance deals specifically on the transitions and “deaths” of life, which make up the essence of us all. Other dances express the essence of being included in a society of variety and uniqueness. Some of these movement experiences come directly from the ideas of the students themselves as they have grown and have learned to take more and more risks expressing themselves in movement.
The program is sponsored in part by VSA arts of California, which helps make art accessible to people of all abilities.
The performance will be held at 10 a.m., June 30 in the main theater on the first floor at the Merced Multicultural Arts Center, 645 W. Main St., and is free to all.
On the third floor of the arts center, there will be activities for younger attendees beginning at 8:30 a.m.
The students will also have self-portraits in the lobby at the arts center.
For more information about the event, call (209) 388-1090.

June 24, 2009

Reserve Now for Free Fair Tours for Kids

MERCED – It’s a very cool field trip that gives kids an exclusive behind-the-scenes tour of the 2009 Merced County Fair and it’s free.
Hands-on ag education is the goal of the one-day only event. The fair is offering special tours of exhibit buildings and the Old MacDonald’s Farm for children’s groups from area schools, Scouting organizations and summer recreation programs.
The fair is July 21-26 and reservations for the free one-hour tours are available now for Thursday, July 23 from 9 a.m. to noon. Junior Fair Board members greet youngsters when they arrive and assist with tours. Tours are offered before the fairgrounds open to the general public, so kids get a chance to experience the farm and exhibit buildings when there’s more elbowroom.
The fair's theme is “Catch The Buzz,” and many of the exhibits at Old MacDonald’s Farm and Petting Barn and the Merced Animal Medical Center Ag Exhibits Building will feature bees, one of the county’s top agricultural products.
At Old MacDonald’s Farm, kids can get up close to live bees at work in an observation beehive. There also will be lots of displays about insects and everything from killer bees to colony collapse disorder, the mysterious disease that’s killing bees.
4-H youth are putting together the educational displays again this year at Old MacDonald’s Farm and Petting Barn. They’ll also be conducting experiments and giving kids a chance to look at the world through a microscope.

June 22, 2009

New bill encourages solar energy use

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Congressman Cardoza has introduced legislation that seeks to encourage the use of solar power by homeowners and ensure an economic incentive for users. The Solar Opportunity and Local Access Rights Act (SOLAR Act) seeks to cut through the bureaucratic and financial red tape that prevents many potential solar energy consumers from participating in this clean, proven, renewably energy source.

"As our nation seeks to address energy and climate-change issues, many of us are seeking individual ways to participate in the solutions," said Congressman Cardoza. "This is an environmentally responsible and economically-feasible way to do so."

The SOLAR Act would remove legal and monetary barriers to net metering, paving the way for residential and commercial solar energy installations. Net metering allows homeowners the opportunity to use solar panels to produce their own power and then sell any excess electricity back to the utility grid. Under this legislation, a homeowner can also purchase power from the grid when needed. Net metering tracks the production and purchase and calculates the difference for the homeowner and the utility company.

The SOLAR Act also prohibits practices that discourage or prevent the use of solar technology. The bill also prohibits unreasonable permit fees and prevents homeowners associations from denying residential access to solar energy systems.

Currently, 42 states and many local governments have adopted varying net metering policies. The SOLAR Act would provide a national standard for the use of this clean technology and allow more Americans to harness the sun's natural power.

June 20, 2009

Financial Services Committee commits to assist with Valley economic devastation

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, Financial Services Committee Chairman Barney Frank and several other Committee members pledged their support to work with Congressman Cardoza to address the economic devastation facing the San Joaquin Valley.

"I could not be more appreciative of Chairman Frank's support. We have overcome a significant hurdle," said Congressman Cardoza.

Congressman Cardoza has proposed legislation that would establish Economic Disaster Areas as a means of directing federal aid to areas that have been hardest hit by the recession.

On Friday, the Financial Services Committee heard testimony from Congressman Cardoza, as well as Los Banos Mayor Tommy Jones, about the cumulative impact of record-high foreclosure and unemployment rates, drought, and crashing dairy prices. Following the testimony, several members of the committee acknowledged the extreme difficulties faced by San Joaquin Valley residents.

Chairman Frank expressed his commitment to working with Congressman Cardoza to find a means of directing funding to the region.

"We are going to make a serious effort to do this," Chairman Frank announced.

Congressman Cardoza hopes to submit formal legislation within the coming weeks.

"We have much work to do," said Congressman Cardoza. "However, today we made significant progress in educating Congress about our Valley, and our unique challenges."

June 19, 2009

Rep. Cardoza pushes bipartisan protection of San Joaquin Valley water supply to House floor

WASHINGTON, D.C. - In response to the June 4, 2009 National Marine Fisheries Service biological opinion on the Central Valley Water Project and California State Water Project, Congressman Cardoza threw his full support behind an amendment to prevent the opinion from taking effect.

Congressman Devin Nunes (R-CA) introduced an amendment to the Fiscal Year 2010 Commerce, Justice, Science appropriations bill to prohibit funds from being used to implement the recently-released biological opinion. Cardoza, a member of the influential Rules Committee, persuaded his colleagues to protect the Valley's interests and ensure that the Nunes amendment would receive a vote on the House floor today.

"The Central Valley is at jeopardy with the flawed biological opinion," said Congressman Cardoza. "I totally support the amendment and feel very strongly it should have its day in court as the short-sighted solution of continuing to curtail pumping is only worsening a man-made drought and imperiling the lifeblood of the San Joaquin Valley."

The opinion stated that the current pumping operations in the Central Valley Water Project and California State Water Project should be changed to increase the long-term survival of winter and spring-run Chinook salmon, steelhead, the North American green sturgeon and Southern Resident killer whales. The whales rely on Chinook salmon runs for food.

Recommended changes in water operations will impact an estimated 5 to 7 percent of the available annual water moved by the federal and state pumps, or an estimated 330,000 acre feet per year. These changes come on top of water cuts to Valley farmers and cities already this year, which have had major negative impacts on the San Joaquin Valley's economy.

"I am grateful for the support of so many of my colleagues on this, including House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer."

The amendment ultimately did not pass, with a margin of 208 to 218.

Congressman Cardoza added, "ESA's regulations have had crippling effects on the water supply throughout the San Joaquin Valley. I am extremely disappointed by the outcome of today's vote, but the highly charged debate proved this is a critical issue worthy of consideration on the floor. This is far from the end. I will continue to do everything I can - including working with my colleagues in a bipartisan manner - to ensure that water is flowing throughout the San Joaquin Valley once again."

June 18, 2009

Measure C Citizens’ Oversight Committee

The City of Merced is accepting applications for the Measure C Citizens’ Oversight Committee. The Committee reviews projected revenues from Measure C, a one-half cent sales tax approved by voters, and recommends proposed expenditures to City Council.
The Committee consists of three voting members from each of the three existing Policing Districts of the City, for a total of nine voting members. There are also ex-officio members representing the various recognized municipal employee bargaining units.

Applicants must be registered to vote in the City of Merced and reside in the Central Police District, an area located between Bear Creek and Highway 99. A map is available at the City Clerk’s Office or at www.cityofmerced.org.
Applications are available at the City Clerk’s Office, 678 W. 18th Street, Merced, www.cityofmerced.org or by calling 388-7100. The deadline for applications is 5 p.m. Wednesday, June 3.

June 16, 2009

The G Street/BNSF Railroad Undercrossing

The G Street/BNSF Railroad Undercrossing Citizens' Advisory Committee for the City of Merced will meet at 6:30 p.m. Thursday, June 18 in the Senior Center Conference Room, 755 W. 15th St. The meeting is open to the public.

The committee will review project design elements such as fencing, landscaping, railings, lighting and walls for the planned undercrossing.
The agenda and background material for the meeting is online at www.cityofmerced.org. Look under Public Information.

June 15, 2009

David Gonzalves named Development Services Director

Acting Director of Development Services David Gonzalves has been appointed permanently to the position by City Manager John Bramble. Gonzalves, 43, has been serving as the acting director since July 2008. The position had been previously held by Jack Lesch, who retired from the City last year.
As the Director of Development Services, Gonzalves will oversee the operations of the Planning Department, Inspection Services, Engineering Department, Housing Department and Code Enforcement. The position pays $113,181 a year.
“Dave has the experience, education and talent to lead the Development Services Department through these challenging times,” said City Manager John Bramble. “Dave will work well with his staff, the public and the building community to make sure Merced continues to be an excellent place to live, work and raise a family.”

Gonzalves’ appointment comes as the City is updating its General Plan, bringing the Wal-Mart Environmental Impact Report through the public hearing process and distributing federal stimulus funds that are going to housing and homeless programs.
Gonzalves was hired in December 2007 to serve as the City’s Chief Building Official after 17 years of working for Merced County. As the City’s chief building official he supervised the staff handling building, zoning, plan checking and Code Enforcement.

When he left the County, Gonzalves was the assistant director of the Planning Department. He started at the County as a fire prevention technician in January 1991. He became a building inspector and then served as the supervising building inspector for a decade.
A Merced High graduate, Gonzalves holds an associate’s degree in computer science from Merced College and a bachelor’s of science degree in Applied Studies from California State University, Stanislaus.
Gonzalves is married to Jacqueline Laura. A Merced native, he enjoys water and snow skiing, golf, fishing, hunting and NASCAR races.

June 15, 2009

Valley foreclosure and economic crisis receive Financial Services Committee hearing

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Congressman Cardoza said today that his economic disaster legislation, and issues related to the dire economic situation of the Central Valley, will receive a hearing in the House Financial Services Committee. Cardoza said Chairman Barney Frank has scheduled his legislation for a hearing at 1 p.m. on Friday, June 19. Chairman Frank made the announcement following a recent meeting between top Democratic leaders and U.S. Housing Secretary Shaun Donovan.

The meeting was conducted specifically at the request of Congressman Cardoza. Among those present from the leadership were House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer, Majority Whip James Clyburn and several representatives of the U.S. Treasury Department.

"I have continued to fight for the San Joaquin Valley," said Congressman Cardoza. "The meeting was productive. I thank Chairman Frank's assurance that the legislation will receive a hearing, which is among the most crucial steps in advancing legislation in Congress."

Cities in the central part of the San Joaquin Valley have had the highest rates in the nation for foreclosures and unemployment since the recession began.

Congressman Cardoza has introduced legislation that would reduce mortgage payments to below-market rates, for fixed terms, for all qualified homeowners. He has also proposed legislation that would establish economic disaster areas, a means of directing federal resources to communities hardest hit by the recession.

"We are one step closer to seeing the relief we deserve in the Valley," said Congressman Cardoza.

Other California Representatives present for the Thursday leadership meeting were Maxine Waters, Chairwoman of the Financial Services Subcommittee on Housing and Community Opportunity; George Miller, Chairman of the House Democratic Policy Committee and Xavier Becerra, who serves as Vice Chair of the House Democratic Caucus.

June 15, 2009

Atwater FFA Leadership Prepares For “Amazing” 2009-2010

“Atwater FFA – Where Amazing Happens” is geared as the 2009-2010 Atwater FFA theme as advisors and chapter officers gathered this past weekend at Lake McClure for the annual Chapter Officer Leadership Retreat. The primary goals of this three day retreat are to plan the calendar, identify goals to help strengthen and continue the growth of its members and program, and strengthen team building skills.

“Our officer team starts the school year with focus, vision, and enthusiasm in leading their organization and our students,” said FFA advisor Beth Knapp. This year’s officer team hopes to encourage leadership, expand personal success, increase participation from current members, and strengthen recruitment of new members. This year’s chapter theme of “Atwater FFA – Where Amazing Happens” reflects the continued growth, expansion, and productivity of the Atwater High School Agriculture program, FFA, and the agriculture students. The officer team is focused on generating enthusiasm and encouragement in students taking advantage of the numerous opportunities agriculture and agricultural education has to offer students in pursuing their personal, educational, and career goals. “The skills you learn in FFA go beyond agriculture,” said FFA Chapter President JD Brownwood, “We have an exciting school year ahead of us and we’re looking forward to getting our chapter members enthused and involved.”

Some of the highlighted goals for the 2009-20010 FFA school year include the completion, expansion and renovation of the agriculture shops and classrooms. “We have numerous opportunities and resources thanks in part to the continued support of our school administration, school district, and our community in strengthening and developing student skills in our agriculture pathways.” said agriculture mechanics instructor Sam Meredith.

The new officer team is very excited and ready for the challenges that the 2009-2010 school year holds for them. This year’s officer team includes, JD Brownwood, President; Lilly Reyes , Vice President; Laura Gonzalez , Secretary, Collette Wilcox, Treasurer; Mekayla Coughran, Reporter; Jackie Vasquez , Sentinel, and Stefani Dias , Historian. Atwater FFA also has students representing the Merced-Mariposa FFA Section as sectional FFA officers with Terilyn Bettencourt serving as sectional President and Nikki Schiber as sectional Secretary.

For more information on the Atwater High School Agriculture Department and highlights of this event, please log onto the Atwater FFA website at www.AtwaterFFA.org.

Written by: Mekayla Coughran, Atwater FFA Reporter
Photo by: Dave Gossman, Instructor / FFA Advisor

June 13, 2009

Public Hearing on the 2009-10 Budget

The Merced City Council will conduct a public hearing on the 2009-10 budget Monday, June 15. The City's general fund budget has declined by $12 percent this year. reflecting changes in the national and local economy. To make up the difference, more than 75 jobs have been eliminated or frozen, and 14 staff members are scheduled to be laid off. Departments have cut their budgets by 12 to 15 percent to deal with the decline in revenues.
A public hearing also will be held on the budgets for City maintenance district.

Also on the agenda are reports on an appeal of interest and penalties by owners of the Ramada Inn, an update on the G Street and Bellevue Road landscaping and awarding a $1.8 million bid for resurfacing Olive Avenue from Highway 59 to G Street.
The Council meets at 7 p.m. in the City Council Chambers on the second floor of the Merced Civic Center, 678 W. 18th St.
The complete agenda and support material is on the City's web site at www.cityofmerced.org and a copy is available for review outside the Council chambers prior to the meeting.

June 12, 2009

USDA announces first exports under dairy incentive program

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Congressman Cardoza announced today that the US Department of Agriculture has accepted the first bid for the recently activated Dairy Export Incentive Program.

The DEIP program was activated in May with the Congressman's strong support and following several conversations with Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack. It removes surplus dairy products from the national supply by subsidizing dairy exports. The program is expected to help dairy operators who have struggled with increased operating costs in recent months.

The USDA's Commodity Credit Corporation today accepted four nonfat dry milk bids for export to Asia and the former Soviet Union. The award totaled 6,550 metric tons of nonfat dry milk.

"I am pleased to see this program is now beginning to be implemented," said Congressman Cardoza, who chairs the subcommittee on Horticulture and Organic Agriculture. "I will continue to provide all the support I can to our Valley agriculture interests."

In the past year, dairy operators in the San Joaquin Valley have been hard hit by falling milk prices and escalating operating costs. Many had specifically requested that the USDA activate the far-reaching DEIP.

June 11, 2009

Deadline For Most Fair Entries is June 18

MERCED – Time is running out if you want to be a part of the 2009 Merced County Fair, the county’s biggest annual event.
Don’t miss out on the fun of searching the exhibits for your entries on display and counting up those red, white and blue ribbons. The deadline for most entries is Thursday, June 18.
This year’s theme, “Catch The Buzz,” puts the spotlight on bees, one of the county’s top ag products. Many of the entry divisions from fine arts to special “day of” cooking contests include a class for exhibitors to create an entry inspired by the fair’s bee theme. The 118th Fair, sponsored by the 35th District Agricultural Association, is July 21-26.
The 2009 Merced County Fair Exhibitors’ handbooks include all entry forms and are available online at www.MercedCountyFair.com or can be picked up at the fair office, 900 Martin Luther King. Jr. Way. Office hours are weekdays from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
The free 79-page handbook contains everything you need to know with easy-to-follow instructions on how to submit entries in all the fair’s divisions and categories including fruit and nut crops, holiday decorations, wind chimes, hanging plants, tricks with a mix recipe contest, fabric painting, dehydrated foods, jewelry, collections, paper airplanes and woodworking.

June 11, 2009

Merced Theatre listed on National Register

The Merced Theatre has been listed on the National Register of Historic Places by the National Park Service. The Theatre has been a Downtown landmark since it opened October 31, 1931 with Joe E. Brown starring in “Local Boy Makes Good.”
Being listed on the National Register highlights the historic significance of the Merced Theatre, helps preservation efforts and also makes it eligible for grants to refurbish the building.
The Theatre was designed by James and Merritt Reid, two San Francisco-based architects who built a number of theaters in the Bay Area, including the Grand Lake Theatre in Oakland and the Balboa Theatre in San Francisco. The brothers also designed the Hotel del Coronado in San Diego and the Fairmont Hotel and the Cliff House in San Francisco.
The Merced Theatre could have been the last designed by the Reid Brothers because Merritt died three months after the theater opened and James retired. The Merced Theatre was their only theater project in the Central Valley.
Inside the Theatre, patrons were transported to a Spanish castle courtyard, with blue skies and a cloud machine. There were elegant box seats overlooking the stage, and turrets and spires adding to the motif.
When the Theatre opened it was the first air conditioned building in Merced County and could hold 1,645 people, about a quarter of the City’s population.

For decades it served as a movie theater, graduation auditorium and concert hall for the community. In 1978 it was purchased by United Artists, who gutted the interior of its handcrafted embellishments and turned the stately structure into a four-plex.
The Theatre closed in 2002 and was purchased by the City of Merced Redevelopment Agency. It is currently being restored to its original glory through grants, RDA funds and fundraising efforts by the Merced Theatre Foundation.
The Theatre was listed on the Register on May 1, and it was announced by the National Park Service on June 5.
The Merced Theatre joins a number of other buildings in Merced on the Register: The Merced County Courthouse, the Bell Station Post Office, the Greenbrier House, the Queen Anne Inn, the Tioga Hotel, the Merced County High School and the Bank of Italy (Mondo) Building.
The Theatre Foundation hopes to reopen the Merced Theatre Oct. 30, 2010, the day before the building’s 79th anniversary.
For more information on the Merced Theatre go to www.mercedtheatre.org.

June 10, 2009

Whiskey Dawn to Play Merced Fair

MERCED – Whiskey Dawn, one of California’s hottest country bands, is opening for American Idol finalist and country music star, Bucky Covington, at the 2009 Merced County Fair.
Whiskey Dawn will perform a 20-minute set Saturday, July 25 at 8p.m. before Covington’s 8:30 p.m. concert in the fairgrounds’ CVC/CVT Outdoor Theatre. Whiskey Dawn is regularly featured on 101.9 The Wolf, in Sacramento, and their music can be heard on country radio stations all over the Golden State. The band released its first album, “Dear Nashville,” has performed with Nashville acts including Eric Church and Luke Bryan and has a full concert schedule.

June 10, 2009

More than $15 million in economic recovery funding flows to the San Joaquin Valley

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Congressman Cardoza announced today that nearly $15.5 million will be spent on three transportation-related projects for the San Joaquin Valley and the 18th Congressional District.

"This is yet another step forward in helping to right our local economy, while also addressing important transportation projects for our community," said Congressman Cardoza.

* The San Joaquin Regional Transit District will receive $6.9 million for bus improvements.
* The San Joaquin Regional Rail Commission will receive $2.9 million to rebuild diesel locomotives for the Altamont Commuter Express train. Additionally, the Commission will receive $3.1 million to make rail improvements.

* The Merced County Transit Joint Powers Authority will receive nearly $2.5 million for bus replacement.

"I have been fighting to ensure the hardest-hit economic areas, such as the Central Valley, receive the immediate attention they deserve. I will continue to do all I can to make sure the Valley's many pressing needs are addressed," said Congressman Cardoza.

June 9, 2009

Cardoza, Blue Dogs praise President Obama's call for return to fiscal health and PAYGO

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, Congressman Cardoza joined President Obama and fellow fiscally conservative Blue Dog Democrats at the White House to praise the President for his commitment to return to PAYGO, a policy during the 1990s that is credited with reigning in reckless federal spending and reinstating the first federal budget surplus since 1969.

"The Blue Dogs have been fighting for many years to reinstate the proven fiscal tools that were allowed to expire in 2002," said Congressman Cardoza. "It is more important than ever that we take action to address our nation's spiraling deficit and ensure the nation is on a track toward fiscal health. I could not be more pleased to hear the President's remarks today and his commitment to restoring the fiscal discipline that is sorely needed."

PAYGO, or "pay-as-you-go," requires that any new spending increases or tax cuts are fully paid for. The United States currently has a deficit of almost $11.4 trillion. Much of the new debt being accumulated is held by foreign countries, such as China.

Although the House of Representatives has a rule requiring PAYGO, President Obama today called on both the House and Senate to pass legislation ensuring this fiscal tool is a statutory requirement. Under the President's proposal, in order to spend a dollar, Congress must offset the cost.

If at the end of a particular year Congress has not paid for all the legislation it has enacted, cuts are automatically triggered from certain mandatory programs. This is the first piece of legislation that the Obama Administration has officially transmitted to
Congress, signaling the President's commitment to ending years of irresponsible fiscal policies.

Congressman Cardoza has long championed the issue of cutting deficit spending. Along with fellow Blue Dog Democrats, he has especially called for PAYGO.

"This is a great step toward bringing the country out of the abyss and putting it back on the road to fiscal responsibility and recovery," said Congressman Cardoza.

In a meeting following the President's announcement today, Congressman Cardoza again raised his concerns with senior White House staff over the economic situation that currently exists in the San Joaquin Valley, one of the hardest hit regions in the country.

June 8, 2009

Top FFA Point Winners Go Down River

Twenty-seven Atwater FFA students earned a trip rafting down the Stanislaus River on June 7th in recognition of being 2008-2009 Atwater FFA Point Award winners. The FFA Point Awards system was developed in order to recognize and award those members who are most active in various FFA activities throughout the year.

These year’s recipients visited Knights Ferry and the Sunshine Rafting Adventure Company. “The river and scenery was awesome!” said FFA member JD Brownwood, “My favorite part of the trip was squirting and splashing water on my classmates.” The trip represented an opportunity for staff and students to enjoy the year’s end and enjoy each other’s company on a fun-filled summer day.

“These students represent the ‘cream of the crop’ within our chapter and it was nice to reward their efforts and contributions to our program with this trip,” said FFA advisor Beth Knapp.

Atwater High School students who attended the 2008-2009 Atwater FFA Point Award trip included Joslyn Apodaca , Hector Ayala , Terilyn Bettencourt , James Bray , John Brownwood , Ali Copeland , Mekayla Coughran , Sasha Delmuro , Stefani Dias , Gilberto Garcia , Laura Gonzalez , Lauren Navarro , Richard Ornelas , Paul Ortiz , Stephanie Quintana, Lillana Reyes , Mason Rose , Grant Rose , Nicolette Schiber , Vannessa Sevilla , Amanda Solis , Mary Thao , Mai Kia Vang , Jose Vargas , Jackelyn Vasquez , Kia Vue , and Christina Willman.

For more information on the Atwater High School Agriculture Department and Atwater FFA, please log on the website www.AtwaterFFA.org .

Written by: Mekayla Coughran, Atwater FFA Reporter
Photo by: Dave Gossman, Instructor / FFA Advisor

June 8, 2009

Carnival Rides, Admission Savings are Sweet

MERCED – Saving money is sweet and fairgoers can get a honey of a deal by buying 2009 Merced County Fair Carnival ride discount coupons now.
Fairgoers can save big bucks on the fun at the fair’s Carnival and Kiddieland and on general admission tickets! Advance sale carnival discount coupons and advance sale discount general admission tickets are on sale now at the Merced County Fairgrounds Office and online at the fair's website, www.MercedCountyFair.com through 5 p.m. Monday, July 20.

Advance sale carnival discount coupons and advance sale discount general admission tickets also are available at the Merced Mall Customer Service Desk and the tickets will be sold at the Merced Flea Market on four Saturdays in June and July. The fair is July 21-26. The 2009 Fair theme is "Catch The Buzz," a celebration of bees, one of the county's top ag products.
This offer takes a big sting out of the cost of carnival rides with incredible savings on advance sale carnival discount coupons. Pay-one-price coupons that can be exchanged for an unlimited ride wrist wrap any one day of the fair are available in advance for $23. That’s a giant savings of $7 per person compared to the cost of pay-one-price wrist wraps bought after July 20.
Discount general admission tickets (13 years and over) are just $8, a $2 savings compared to passes purchased during the fair. There are no discount tickets available for child admission. Child admission (6 to 12 years) is $3 and children aged 5 and under get in free to the fair daily. But buying child admission tickets ahead of time will save time waiting at the gate.
During the fair, pay-one-price wrist wraps will cost $30 each. The bracelets are good for one day of unlimited rides, all day, any day of the fair. At fairtime, general admission tickets (13 years and over) are $10.
Butler Amusements, Inc., the largest carnival company in the Western United States, will return to the Merced County Fair again this year. There will be all kinds of Carnival and Kiddieland fun for fairgoers with more than 30 family and kiddie rides as well as cutting edge attractions.

June 8, 2009

Business-Education Alliance of Merced County has Final School Year Meeting at AT&T

The Business-Education Alliance of Merced County (BEAM) will have its final meeting of the school year on Thursday, June 11, to plan the next steps in the partnership that is dedicated to education, workforce development, and economic growth in Merced County.
BEAM is a long-term effort to help make Merced County students more competitive in the global economy by being better qualified for higher paying jobs in industries the county hopes to attract by starting with a quality preschool experience.
In October, 2007, BEAM began to build awareness of the long-term impact of investing in quality early care and education programs, and has continued to grow community awareness of the issue. The June 11 meeting will begin planning BEAM’s goals and direction for the 2009-2010 school year and beyond. BEAM members, which include business and education leaders from throughout Merced County, are asked to bring their thinking caps to brainstorm what they want BEAM to achieve?

Sheilon King-Brock, director of customer care at AT&T in Atwater, and BEAM’s new business co-chair, will host the event at the AT&T Call Center, 1920 Customer Care Way, at Castle Airport, Aviation and Development Center.
The meeting begins with a hosted lunch at 11:45 a.m. There will also be a tour of the AT&T Call Center after the meeting.
For more information on how you can adopt a preschool, or about BEAM, call Carol Greenberg at (209) 201-2590.

June 8, 2009

Community banks receive additional support under new Cardoza legislation

WASHINGTON, DC - Congressman Cardoza introduced legislation today that aims to assist the nation's community banks, ensuring they continue to play a role in the nation's economic recovery. Specifically, the legislation would establish the position of Assistant Secretary for Community Financial Institutions at the U.S. Treasury.

More than 7,500 community banks across the nation account for more than $2 trillion in Americans' bank accounts. Recent reports by the FDIC indicate that even when the biggest banks have stopped lending, community banks have seen an increase in their loans.

"Community banks provide a critical service in our nation's cities and towns. Despite their importance, smaller banking institutions have been subjected to the same far-reaching provisions that larger banks have been subjected to," said Congressman Cardoza.

"We must provide these banks with equal support and afford them special consideration for their unique role when devising national policies and programs."

Congressman Cardoza's legislation was introduced as the Administrative Support and Oversight for Community Financial Institutions Act of 2009.The legislation would also establish an Ombudsman Office for Community Financial Institutions at the Treasury, helping smaller institutions navigate complicated federal programs.

June 8, 2009

Message from Jeff

The latest state budget deficit figure is $24.3 billion. We are now at a dead end and there is no more road to kick the budget-deficit can down.
For years, I and others have warned that you can't keep passing unbalanced budgets. This fiscal crisis was predictable. It was also preventable.
We need to balance this budget without another tax hike – that's the clear message from the voters.
This disaster should ignite massive action to immediately implement real structural budget reform and significantly streamline government.
The state needs to shed billions of dollars of underutilized and mismanaged properties and dump wasteful boards and commissions before considering cutting education or other vital state services.
In the Regular Legislative Session, I introduced Senate Bill 44, which would have abolished the Integrated Waste Management Board (IWMB). That bill was killed in Senate Environmental Quality Committee, so in May, I began the process to introduce legislation in the 3rd Extraordinary Legislative Session to eliminate the IWMB.
Outdated and unneeded state properties that need to be sold include San Quentin Prison, the Los Angeles Coliseum and properties such as the UC's vacation villas in Hawaii and Tahiti.
And we also need to evaluate the over 10 million acres of property and the 22,000-plus structures the state owns and sell those the state can't justify. If it doesn't benefit the state, then the state shouldn't own it.
In addition, we need to prove the worth of government departments and programs – not only their existence, but the number of employees they have as well as the salaries that they are paid. Do we need to have a UC president making $800,000 a year and chancellors who are making $400,000-plus per year?
These are just a few of the reforms that we need to enact right now to get California out of this vicious deficit cycle.

In Case You Missed Jeff in the News
Denham on Fox Business Network
If you missed Fox Business Network's interview May 13th with Jeff on his legislation to sell San Quentin State Prison, you can watch it online by clicking here.

Los Angeles Times Editorial: "Sell San Quentin"

To read the LA Times editorial in favor of Jeff legislation to selling San Quentin, click here.

Denham Addresses Water Rally
In May, Jeff attended the Association of California Water Agencies (ACWA) Rally in Sacramento. He spoke to hundreds of local water leaders and stakeholders gathered on the steps of the State Capitol who were calling for action on long-term solutions to the state's water crisis.
As California faces its third consecutive dry year, Jeff stressed the need for the state to invest in water storage and to make water for families, farmers and workers a priority.

Crime Victims Honor Denham as Legislator of the Year
The Crime Victims Assistance Network (iCAN) Foundation honored Senator Jeff Denham as its "2009 Legislator of the Year" at iCAN's annual fundraiser and awards ceremony in Old Sacramento on May 27.
"We are honoring Senator Denham as our 'Legislator of the Year' for taking on a cause that is very important to us; the California Board of Parole Hearings," said Christine Ward, director of the iCAN Foundation and the Crime Victims Action Alliance. "Senator Denham recognizes the importance of having competent Board of Parole Hearings commissioners that are able to identify those inmates suitable for release, as well as those who were simply saying what they want to hear – talking the talk, but not walking the walk."
"I am very proud to receive this award," said Denham. "I will continue to carefully review the record of every Board of Parole Hearings commissioner up for confirmation to help ensure criminals who are a threat to public safety are not released from prison. "
Denham is also carrying legislation this year (Senate Bill 440) that the Crime Victims Action Alliance is sponsoring. SB 440 would upgrade several felonies to serious or violent status or both, including, stalking, human trafficking and child abuse likely to produce great bodily harm or death.

June 6, 2009

Head Start Participates in USDA’s Free and Reduced Lunch Program

Merced County’s Head Start participates in the United States Department of Agriculture’s Child Care Food Program. The program is available, without charge, to all eligible Head Start participants.
The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits discrimination in all of its programs and activities on the basis of race, color, national origin, gender, religion, age, disability or political beliefs. Persons with disabilities who require alternate means for USDA communications or program information (Braille, audio tapes, etc.) should contact USDA’s TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600.

To file a complaint of discrimination, write USDA, Director, Office of Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, D.C. 20250-9410 or call (800) 795-3272 or (202) 720-6382 (TTY). USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.
For more information on the program, contact Merced County Head Start, 2926 G Street, Suite 201, Merced, CA 95340 or call (209) 723-4771.

June 5, 2009

Merced High School FHA-HERO Students Win Awards

Merced High School students took home several awards for the California Association FHA-HERO.
The competition was held at Buhach Colony High School on February 7, 2009.
FHA-HERO is a career-technical student organization for Home Economics Careers and Technology students in junior and senior high schools or regional occupational centers or programs (ROCP). The state association is also affiliated at the national level with Family, Career and Community Leaders of America (FCCLA).
The goal of FHA-HERO is to help youth assume their roles in society through home economics careers and technology education in the areas of personal growth, family life, career preparation and community involvement.

WINNERS:
Fashion Design
1st place — May Saeturn – 12th grade
2nd place —Youa Moua – 12th grade
Child Development
2nd place — Margaret Xiong – 12th grade
Environmental Conservation
1st place — Stacy Saeturn – 11th grade and Crystal Martinez – 12th grade
Apparel Construction
4th place — Lee Vang – 12th grade

June 4, 2009

Reps. Cardoza and Costa Shoot Down Biological Opinion on The Central Valley Water Project And State Water Project

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today the National Marine Fisheries Service finalized a biological opinion on the Central Valley Water Project and State Water Project. The opinion stated fish populations are in jeopardy without swift modifications to the Central Valley and State Water Projects. Following this release, Congressmen Dennis Cardoza (D-Merced) and Jim Costa (D-Fresno) released the following statements.

"Today we are one significant step closer to importing foreign produce to feed the United States," said Congressman Cardoza. "We cannot solve the challenges of the Delta ecosystem by continuing to curtail pumping. This biological opinion is significantly skewed because it only examines the pumps as a single factor in the issues surrounding the Delta ecosystem. We are long overdue for a study that examines all of the various issues affecting the Delta, such as non-native fish that are predators of endangered species, climate change, and pollution such as discharged wastewater. It is imperative we undertake a complete study that identifies all of these factors and then set policy according to a complete set of data. To continue to curtail pumping prevents a true solution."

Congressman Cardoza also added, "At the same time, we cannot overlook the economic implications to the Valley. We have an average unemployment rate hovering near 20 percent. This is one more strike in what is an economic disaster for my constituents."

"This decision is unwise, and will have very serious implications for Valley farmers and communities," said Costa. "Factors leading to the decline of the Delta can be attributed to a variety of factors, including tertiary treatment from sewage facilities in the Sacramento and Stockton area which cause ammonia to drain into the Delta, over 1,600 private pumps in the Delta diverting water without screens, non-point source pollution from the surrounding urban areas, striped bass and other invasive species.

Our state's agricultural community cannot bear the entire brunt of this multifaceted problem. They are always the first to suffer when environmental opinions are released or implemented. I believe that the Delta does need restoration, but not at the expense of agriculture, and especially my constituents."

The opinion stated that the current pumping operations in the Central Valley Project and the California State Water Project should be changed to increase the long-term survival of winter and spring-run Chinook salmon, steelhead, the North American green sturgeon and Southern Resident killer whales. The whales rely on Chinook salmon runs for food.

Recommended changes in water operations will impact an estimated five to seven percent of the available annual water moved by the federal and state pumps, or an estimated 330,000 acre feet per year. These changes
come on top of water cuts to Valley farmers and cities this year, which have had major negative impacts on the San Joaquin Valley's economy.

Dr. Ian Fleming stated in a peer review of the biological opinion that some of the analyses would "benefit from more explicit attention" which includes "the additive nature of stressors and non-linear responses." Cardoza and Costa believe this includes the major other factors that are contributing to the decline of Delta health.

June 3, 2009

FREE SUMMER LUNCHES AVAILABLE TO ALL KIDS 2 – 18 YEARS OF AGE

Winton- The Winton School District is pleased to announce that they will again be participating in the Summer Food Service Program from June 15 – July 16, 2009 (with the exception of July 3). The Summer Food Service Program is a federally funded program of the United States Department of Agriculture. This Program provides all children 18 years of age and under with the same free meal in accordance with a menu approved by the state agency regardless of race, color, national origin, sex, disability or age. Location and hours listed below. For further information please contact Cynthia Stanford, Food Service Director- Winton School District at 357-6585.

Feeding sites are:

Winfield Elementary School
6981 Chestnut Lane
Winton, CA 95388
Lunch Time: 11:30 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.

June 2, 2009

Mariposa County Chamber of Commerce Golf Scramble fundraiser wrap up...

The 2nd Annual Gold Rush Golf Scramble, sponsored by Greeley Hill Market, was played the afternoon of May the fifteenth at the Lake Don Pedro Golf and Country Club. The course, nestled in the foothills of Gold Country, provided the 16 teams a challenging and fun-filled day of golf under beautiful blue skies while raising funds for local non-profit organizations. One such organization is Mariposa County Fire stations 24, 26, and 31.

Upon arrival to the splendor that is the Lake Don Pedro Golf and Country Club, players, supporters, families and friends were greeted in the cavernous main lobby where pleasantries and golfers handicaps were exchanged with Chamber President Maryann Huff, Chamber Executive Director Peter Schimmelfennig, Golf Committee Chair Debbie Cook and a bevy of other chamber supporters.

Mulligan's (a golfer's do over of flubbed shots) and other extra games were available for a modest fee, all in the name of fun and fundraising. The Gold Rush Scramble used a shotgun style where each team is sent to a different hole to tee off. Players received the green light to begin play promptly at 1:00 pm by club pro Bill Cloud and the festivities began.

Coldwell Banker agents Berit Brown and Kim Medeiros officiated the Vegas hole game where a balls proximity to the hole resulted in a cash prize. Hole #14 paid $15,000 to the first person to hit a hole-in -one during the tournament. A Hole-in-one on the Huff Electric sponsored hole nine would garner a $250 pro shop gift certificate. And nothing happens in Don Pedro without a coyote of some kind, so yes, the Coyote Howl Committee sponsored the Coyote Howl hole on tee #9 before the tournament offering golfers a chance for dinner tickets to the Coyote Howl Dinner Dance.

After the tournament, golfers gathered for dinner in the windowed dining area overlooking the course The award's banquet dinner sponsor, A1 Concrete's Frank Shannon, welcomed Executive Chef Brian Krediet who prepared Barbequed Tri-Tip with a honey mustard sauce, and a citrus marinated chicken breast for the 90 plus guests.

During dinner, guests were encouraged to browse the many raffle and live auction items and were given the opportunity to purchase raffle and 50/50 drawing tickets. Peter Schimmelfennig , the evening auctioneer, caused a moment of bidding frenzy, as he and firefighter Debbie Cook unraveled a roll of raffle tickets as they pranced around the room goading bidders to ever-higher levels. The excitement peaked with a bidding war between Greeley Hill Markets' Jesse Figueroa and Bill Bailey from Allied Auto & AC Delco "This is all about raising funds" Huff shouted excitedly as she accepted a personal commitment from Bill Bailey for his $500.00 winning bid. Bailey is a constant supporter of our area and can be found at many community events. Maryann Huff awarded Bill the prestigious chamber trophy topped with a Santa Clause. "Bill is our Santa Clause for all seasons" Bill graciously accepted his trophy and to the laughing crowd stated simply, "Thank you, but I couldn't let Jesse beat me."

The evening ended with guest casting a vote for this year's recipients of a portion of the funds raised. While Mariposa County Fire was the major recipient, the chamber invited North side clubs and organizations to submit a short essay explaining why their group should benefit from this fundraiser. The guests read these essays during dinner and Schimmelfennig, with his official clap meter, lead the room in a clap off to identify a
winner. The Shindig Committee won 1st place, leaving the Community Connection and the Northern Mariposa County History Center tied for 2nd place.

The Mariposa County Chamber of Commerce would like to invite these groups to attend the Coulterville Fire Brigade 40th Annual Deep Pit BBQ on July 4th, in Coulterville Park, noon to 6 p.m. In the afternoon, around 4 p.m. the Chamber will present the checks from the golf tournament to the individual organizations. Until then the amounts shall remain veiled in secrecy. So plan on attending to find out firsthand how much the Mariposa County Chamber of Commerce's 2nd Annual Gold Rush Scramble will give to these community-based organizations.

Congratulations to this year's trophy winners: First Place went to Harrison Rector, Mitchel Domingos, Troy Trigo, Paul Stone. Second Place was won by Greg Crane, Bob Perez, Marta Hetz, Marilyn Bestion. Third Place to Matt Foraker, Roger Brunelle, Marc Fossum, Paul Peiretti.

Special thanks to Debbie Cook as Golf Committee chairman for her tireless all out effort to make this event a true success. Thanks to our sponsors Greeley Hill Market, A1 Concrete, Huff Electric, Tri-County Realty, Yosemite Bank, Coldwell Banker Premier Real Estate, Kellogs Supply, Mercy Medical Transportation, Lyle & Suzanne Turpin, JL Bustos, DDS, Inter-County Title, Granite Dell Gardens, Coldwell Banker Mountain Leisure Properties, Lyon Towing, San Joaquin Drug, Merced Ranch Supply, Coulterville Community Club, Richesin Iron works, Napa Auto Parts, Black Oak Casino, Guaranty Bank, Del Taco, Don Epps Concrete, Historic Hotel Jeffery, Pioneer Market, Foothill Express, Merced Elks Lodge #1240, River Rock Inn, Fosters True Value, Northside Signs, Kautz Family Vineyards, Pitco Foods, Chocolate Soup, Mariposa Brewing Company and Steve Cook.

Special thanks also go out to our volunteers Michelle Turpin, Michele Sliker, Sandra Richesin, Joy Kitchel, Mylynda Morey, Caprice Epps, Mary Ann Avalos, Kathleen Love, Berit Brown and her daughter Hanna.

Thanks to Lake Don Pedro Golf and Country Club General Manager CoralainePorter, Pro- Shop Manager Martha Hetz, Course Pro Bill Cloud and the extraordinary staff members whose contributions made this a first rate event. Thanks again from the Chamber.

June 1, 2009

Merced Police Chief Russ Thomas is retiring from the force

City Manager John Bramble has announced that Merced Police Chief Russ Thomas is retiring from the force. Chief Thomas was hired on March 31, 2006.

“It is with deep regret that I announce the retirement of Police Chief Russ Thomas. In his 3 ½ years in Merced he has done an exceptional job guiding, molding and shaping his department into a law enforcement agency that is well-suited to deal with the public safety issues of the 21st Century.
“Russ Thomas worked hard to increase the educational and management skills of the Department staff. The chief helped the Department focus on Community Oriented Policing and become customer service oriented. As staffing levels rose, Chief Thomas made sure that the new members of the Department had the training and equipment necessary to safely patrol our streets.

“The Chief will take advantage of the City’s “Golden Handshake” early retirement program that will save additional police positions and allow for some restructuring of the management staff. He has agreed to be available to the City after his July 17 retirement to assist us while we recruit a new chief. A decision on the recruitment process has not been made at this time.
“While we are sorry the Chief is leaving, he leaves behind a legacy of positive policing, excellent morale and thorough training. The Chief’s fingerprints will remain on the Department for decades,” Bramble said.

May 29, 2009

Student of Stockton's Webber Institute named winner of Congressional art competition

WASHINGTON, DC - Liliana Nunez, a junior at the Webber Institute of Stockton, has been named as the winner of the 18th Congressional District's Annual Art Competition.

Her acrylic painting, titled "Purple Mist," depicts Stockton's famed waterfront and recreation area. It was selected as the winner by a panel of judges convened by Congressman Cardoza that included professional artists and gallery curators.

The painting will be displayed for one year in the frequently used tunnel space between the U.S. Capitol and the Cannon House Office Building in Washington, D.C. The impressive annual exhibit represents the combined efforts of Members of Congress, students, and teachers who encourage their students to enter the competition.

The winner from each Congressional District is invited to a Capitol Hill reception in July that highlights their accomplishments in conjunction with the hanging of their artwork.

"I am pleased to congratulate Liliana and recognize all of her hard work," said Congressman Cardoza. "My office received a significant number of entries. I know that the judges had a difficult time selecting a winner from such quality work. I appreciate all of the participation from our community's young artists."

May 28, 2009

Congressman Cardoza urges VA Secretary to address GI Bill benefits for California veterans

WASHINGTON, DC – Congressman Cardoza has joined several of his colleagues in requesting that the Secretary of Veterans Affairs personally intervene in a matter that is keeping some California veterans from using their GI Bill college tuition benefits at private colleges. At issue is a dispute over the meaning of the words “tuition” and “fees.”

In 2008, Congress passed the GI Bill for the 21st Century. Under the expanded GI bill, private colleges within a state are to be reimbursed at the highest in-state rate of tuition charged at public colleges.

However, the State of California does not charge “tuition” for public colleges; it instead charges “fees.” The VA has made a narrow, literal interpretation and determined that “tuition” and “fees” are different. As a result, and because of its narrow definitions, the VA has determined that California public colleges do not charge “tuition.” As such the VA will not reimburse private colleges through the GI Bill, meaning California veterans are having to forgo their GI Bill benefits at private institutions.

Congressman Cardoza raised the issue with 15 other California Congressional members in the letter to VA Secretary Eric Shinseki. The letter requests that the Secretary immediately resolve the matter, noting that veterans are already being denied their benefits.

“When I and other members of Congress passed the new GI Bill, our intent was to increase the assistance to veterans and service members seeking to further their education, not to have these new benefits stuck in a morass of bureaucratic red tape,” said Congressman Cardoza. “The fact that veterans attending private colleges are not able to use the tuition benefit they are entitled to flies directly in the face of the expanded GI Bill’s intent and is an insult to the service they provided for our country. Frankly, this is government at its worst.”

Congressman Cardoza has also co-sponsored a bill seeking a legislative fix, and is working with Democratic leadership and the California congressional delegation on ways to resolve this matter as quickly as possible.


The text of the letter is as follows:

The Honorable Eric Shinseki Secretary U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
810 Vermont Avenue, NW Washington, DC 20420

Dear Secretary Shinseki:
It has come to our attention that California veterans seeking reimbursement from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) for tuition at private universities as part of the Post-9/11 GI Bill will not be reimbursed at all and are in effect denied for such benefits. However these benefits will be afforded to all other eligible veterans in every state but California.

The Post-9/11 GI Bill requires the VA to pay each veteran's private university tuition based on the highest in-state undergraduate tuition rate at a state operated school in the state of enrollment. The State of California is constitutionally barred from using the word “tuition” and instead uses the word “fees” to describe the cost of matriculation at public universities. It is reasonable to assume that these two words are interchangeable. Unfortunately, based on this simple semantic difference, the VA has determined that since California does not use the literal term “tuition,” the state has a $0.00 level of reimbursement for tuition claims at private universities. As such, our veterans will be denied these critical benefits, and put at a great disadvantage in comparison to veterans in other states.

Please understand that the denial of such benefits to California veterans was most certainly not the intent of Congress when passing this landmark legislation. As you know, more veterans reside in California than any other state in the country; the denial of benefits to them due to word choice is unacceptable and will have real consequence on the effectiveness and success of the overall program.

We ask that you personally intervene to ensure the VA resolves this issue as soon as possible, since veterans in California seeking reimbursement for these critical benefits are already being denied. We look forward to your quick response and the speedy resolution of this issue.

Sincerely,

MIKE THOMPSON
Member of Congress

HOWARD BERMAN
Member of Congress

MARY BONO MACK
Member of Congress

LOIS CAPPS
Member of Congress

DENNIS CARDOZA
Member of Congress

SUSAN DAVIS
Member of Congress

DARRELL ISSA
Member of Congress

DORIS MATSUI
Member of Congress

HOWARD “BUCK” McKEON
Member of Congress

GARY MILLER
Member of Congress

GEORGE MILLER
Member of Congress

DEVIN NUNES
Member of Congress

DANA ROHRBACHER
Member of Congress

LUCILLE ROYBAL-ALLARD
Member of Congress

HENRY WAXMAN
Member of Congress

LYNN WOOLSEY
Member of Congress

May 27, 2009

Jose Feliciano to Perform at Merced Fair

MERCED -- Jose Feliciano, the Grammy-winning Latin artist known for mega-hits including “Light My Fire” and “Feliz Navidad,” will perform Sunday, July 26, wrapping up six nights of headline entertainment at the 2009 Merced County Fair.

The first Latin artist to cross over into the English music market, Feliciano is a gifted guitarist with an impressive list of accomplishments including 45 gold and platinum records, 16 Grammy nominations and six Grammy Awards.
Each night of the fair, July 21-26, a headline entertainment act will perform in the CVC/CVT Outdoor Theatre. All Outdoor Theatre concerts are at 8:30 p.m. and are free with the price of admission.
Sawyer Brown, the legendary country music band, opens the fair Tuesday, July 21; The Beatles Project, a band that plays The Beatles’ music the way it would sound today, performs Wednesday, July 22; WAR, the multi-platinum-selling band that combines soul, Latin rhythms, jazz blues, reggae and rock, entertains on Thursday, July 23.
On Friday, July 24, KANSAS With Native Window, will rock the fairgrounds. The 70s band continues to win over a new generation of fans since their classic mega-hit “Carry On Wayward Son,” is included in the Guitar Hero II XBOX 360/PlayStation 2 game playlist. Bucky Covington, the country music star and American Idol finalist, performs on Saturday, July 25.
The 2009 Fair theme is "Catch The Buzz," a celebration of bees, one of the county's top ag products.
Feliciano was born blind, to humble beginnings in Lares, Puerto Rico. One of 11 boys,
his family immigrated to New York City when he was 5 years old. He taught himself to play the accordion when he was 6 and went on to teach himself to play guitar by listening to records.

May 27, 2009

Merced County Fair Names New CEO

MERCED – Thomas D. “Tom” Musser put himself through college working at his hometown fair, he booked events at San Francisco’s Cow Palace during its heyday and he’s served as the manager of several fairs, rescuing each one from debt and boosting attendance.
Musser, 57, was recently hired by the Merced County Fair Board of Directors following a search that began in March. He will replace Robin Hauck, who served as the Merced County Fair’s CEO for more than three years. She was hired in October 2005 and resigned March 31 to take the position of Deputy Manager at the Nevada County Fair in Grass Valley. She moved back to the area where she grew up to be closer to family and an ill relative. Pat Kress of Santa Maria is currently serving as the fair’s Interim CEO.
Musser will be paid $79,342 a year and will join the fair staff by July 1 as the Designee CEO and assume full responsibility Aug. 1. He currently lives in Vancouver, WA where he was the Executive Director and Fair Manager of the Clark County Fair in Ridgefield since 1994. Under his 14 years of leadership, the fair eliminated its $4 million debt and increased attendance. Last year’s 10-day event had 265,000 attendance. Despite its deep ag roots, he said the fair, which built an 18,000 seat amphitheater and a 114,000 square foot exhibit hall, shifted its focus from the fair to non-fair events. “The fair was going in a direction that wasn’t working for me,” he said.
Musser served as the Manager of the Madera District Fair in Madera from 1989 to 1993 and became familiar with the Merced County Fair and its excellent reputation. “It’s a great fair, the community still cares about the fair and it’s a well-maintained fairgrounds,” Musser said, adding, “That means a lot to me. This is an opportunity for me to help the fair grow even further and take it to the next level. I am excited about coming to a fair that honors fair traditions while creating new memories.”
Born and raised in Ukiah, Musser worked at the Redwood Empire Fair from the age of 12, starting out cleaning stalls and picking up litter. He continued to work there most summers saving money for college. He graduated from Cal Poly in 1974 with a degree in Industrial Arts. He planned to teach, but after taking a fair management class he decided to pursue a career in the fair industry. He was hired by the San Mateo County Fair as an assistant manager before receiving his college diploma.

May 27, 2009

Wheeling to Wellness Bike Rodeo Lets Students Check-in, Receive Bikes

Special Education students will return to the Merced County Office of Education on Saturday, May 30, for a Wheeling to Wellness Bike Rodeo and to check in on their health goals since the inception of the program last November.
Catholic Healthcare West, the parent company of Mercy Medical Center Merced, awarded MCOE’s Special Education department $13,300 last year to help students with physical fitness.
From that grant came Wheeling to Wellness: a recreational bicycling club with physical fitness as its primary goal. The target population is special education students who are 16- to 22-years old. The goal of the program is to reduce excessive body weight for special education students in that age range.
Funds from the grant were used to purchase two- and three-wheeled bicycles and related safety equipment for 30 students in the program.
Additional students will be given bicycles on Saturday.
Physical fitness is monitored by periodic weigh-ins and personal records showing the number of hours the students have ridden with their designated adult “bike buddies.” To enhance bicycling safety, students will be required to participate in a bicycle rodeo organized by Merced Police Department Lt. Andre Matthews.

Students will also be expected to attend a bicycle maintenance workshop. The workshop will teach students to perform basic bicycle maintenance such as airing the tires, oiling the chain, and adjusting the seat or handle bars.
The program has collaborated with the Challenged Family Resource Center, Kevin’s Bikes of Merced, where the bikes were purchased, and the Merced Police Department.
The event will take place on Saturday, May 30, at noon in the MCOE parking lot, M and 13th streets in Merced.
For more information on the program, contact Pamela Parrott at (209) 385-8383.

May 26, 2009

The City of Merced has posted the draft of its annual budget

The City of Merced has posted the draft of its annual budget on the City’s website. The budget is used as a blueprint for the City’s operations in the 2009/10 fiscal year beginning July 1.
The budget can be found by using the Draft Budget 2009/10 link under Public Information found on the City’s home page at www.cityofmerced.org.

The City Council will hold a budget workshop at 5 p.m. Monday, June 1, to review the budget. A public hearing on the budget will be held at the June 15 meeting, which begins at 7 p.m.
The City Council meets on the second floor of the Merced Civic Center, 678 W. 18th St.

May 24, 2009

Atwater High First School To Receive State Horticulture Program Certification

The Atwater High School Agriculture Department’s Horticulture program became the California Association of Nurseries and Garden Centers’ first state certified high school horticulture program. “This is quite a thrill”, said horticulture instructor Diane Prescott, “This is the compilation of the strong support and efforts of our students, staff, community, and horticulture industry representatives working together to build and create an opportunity for students to explore and get hands on knowledge and experience in a multi-billion dollar horticulture industry at the high school level.”

The CANGC application process has been ongoing at Atwater High School for the past five years. “The application requirements are extremely thorough and extensive,” said Atwater High School Agriculture Department Chair Dave Gossman, “Each year we have been chipping away at implementing, renovating, and upgrading the specific requirements.” With over 350 high school agriculture programs, Atwater High School is currently the only high school in the state to accomplish this recognition.

The application requirements include having a functional, operational, and productive greenhouse, shade house, soil bins, storage facilities, mother stock, rose and tree pruning labs, vegetable plots, turf plots, landscape plots, cut flower growing area, and a variety of tools and equipment. The school must have at least two horticulture related courses (AHS has Floral Design and Horticulture). The school must attend at least one yearly horticulture trade show, have at least one state competitive horticulture or floriculture judging team, and hold at least one plant sale that generates at least $1000 profit. A scholarship foundation must be established to support students furthering their education in the horticulture field and must have students currently employed in the horticulture field while in high school.

At least 20% of the agriculture students must have a horticulture related (SAE) project and a variety of horticulture resources must be made available for students/staff.

Cal Poly Horticulture professor and CANGC representative Dan Lassanske presents Atwater High School Agriculture Department instructor Diane Prescott the CANGC High School Horticulture Certification plaque.

“Much of the application process had to do with upgrading and expanding the facilities,” said Prescott, “We’ve had numerous community and industry support that made this opportunity possible.”

The Atwater High School Agriculture program has doubled in size from 300+ individual agriculture students in 2006-2007 to a record 725+ individual agriculture students for the upcoming 2009-2010 school year. “With the support of our district and community, we’ve been able to expand opportunities for students to gain personal, educational, and career skills to enhance their successes. In turn, the students have bought into our program and are taking advantage of it’, said Gossman.

The Atwater High School Agriculture Department will be experiencing a complete classroom, facility and equipment renovation this summer totaling over a million dollars. This opportunity was made possible through a combination of state grants, state modernization, and the recent school bond measure. “We’re excited for our students and the opportunity to have a state-of-the-art educational facility to strengthen and expand hands-on learning and skills,” said Gossman.

Written by: Lilly Reyes, Atwater FFA Reporter
Photo by: Dave Gossman, Instructor / FFA Advisor

May 22, 2009

Congressmen Cardoza and Costa Hail Implementation of the Dairy Export Incentive Program

WASHINGTON, DC - Following months of work by Congressmen Dennis Cardoza and Jim Costa, the USDA announced today that it will activate a far-reaching subsidy program that has been sought by Valley dairy operators since last year when the industry was hit with significant economic challenges. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack made the announcement this morning in Washington, D.C.

"This is a tremendous win for San Joaquin Valley dairies. There is still much work to be done for our agriculture community and our economy but this is an enormous victory. This will significantly reduce the stark gap between revenue and expenditures for our struggling dairy operators," said Congressman Cardoza.

"Dairy families in our Valley are struggling to stay in business. They've endured high feed prices, surging fuel costs and declining markets due to the economic downturn. This announcement could not have come at a more important time," said Costa.

The Dairy Export Incentive Program (DEIP) helps U.S. dairy exporters compete with prevailing world prices. It also encourages the development of international export markets in areas where U.S. dairy products cannot compete due to subsidized dairy products from other countries.

In the past year, dairy operators in the San Joaquin Valley have been hard hit by falling milk prices and increased operating costs. They have specifically requested that the Department of Agriculture activate the far-reaching DEIP, which had not been in effect since 2004 because market conditions were relatively strong until last year.

"This is going to go a long way in returning the health of the industry," said Ray Souza, President of Western United Dairymen. "Congressmen Cardoza and Costa have been working on this issue for some time and have been champions for us. Without their work we wouldn't be where we are today."

Congressmen Cardoza and Costa first raised the concerns over dairy prices and DEIP with Agriculture Secretary Vilsack in February, shortly after his appointment by President Obama.

May 21, 2009

Congressman Cardoza aims to increase business opportunities for Valley veterans

This week, with Congressman Cardoza's support, the House of Representatives overwhelmingly approved the Job Creation Through Entrepreneurship Act of 2009. The bill represents a major effort to provide established small businesses and entrepreneurial start-ups the needed tools and resources to grow and create jobs.

An important piece of the bill calls for the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) to establish a Veterans Business Centers program. This will provide entrepreneurial training and counseling specifically targeted at veterans wishing to start a small business.

Congressman Cardoza successfully included an amendment in the legislation that would waive a local matching-fund requirement to establish veterans business centers in the areas hit hardest by the recession. This will make it easier to establish centers in areas such as the Valley and gives veterans faster access to start-up assistance.

"Small businesses are the engine of our economy. This bill is another big step forward in helping drive small business growth and economy recovery in the Central Valley. Further, our nation's veterans have earned all of the assistance we can provide them. This is a win-win all around," said Congressman Cardoza. "I will continue to fight to bring economic recovery efforts to the Valley and to support those who have sacrificed on behalf of our great nation."

May 21, 2009

Congressman Cardoza encouraged by FDA's pistachio safety announcement

WASHINGTON, DC - The U.S Food and Drug Administration announced today that it has updated its advice to consumers on pistachios, stating that consumers should return to enjoying the nuts unless they are from Setton Pistachio of Terra Bella Inc.

In March, the FDA issued a warning that consumers should avoid pistachios due to fears of Salmonella contamination. Following that announcement, Congressman Cardoza, Chairman of the Agriculture Subcommittee on Horticulture and Organic Agriculture, conducted hearings about the FDA's response to the warning and the subsequent recall of products.

"The FDA has a responsibility to protect the health of our nation's consumers. However, in their fervor to protect public health, they ruined the health of our hometown agricultural economy," said Congressman Cardoza.

No illnesses have been confirmed as a result of contaminated pistachios. Setton has stopped all distribution of processed pistachios and issued a voluntary recall.

"The FDA's initial response appears to have been based more on panic than on science and appropriate data," said Congressman Cardoza. "The bureaucratic wheels must move more efficiently within the departments tasked with monitoring our food. Although the FDA has taken a significant step to right this wrong, it has come much later than it should have."

The FDA has provided a searchable database of affected products at http://www.fda.gov/pistachios/ and will continue to update the public.

May 19, 2009

Congressman Cardoza announces selection of San Joaquin County as site of new VA health care center

WASHINGTON, DC - Congressman Cardoza announced that the Department of Veterans Affairs has selected San Joaquin County as the preferred location to build a new, multi-specialty Ambulatory Care Center.

"Throughout the selection process I supported both San Joaquin County and Stanislaus County to house the clinic. I offer my sincere congratulations to San Joaquin County. This will ensure new and improved services for veterans throughout the Valley."

Designating the county to build the new facilities is part of a process that began more than five years ago to evaluate VA health care and ensure that services are located near veterans. Today, more than 80,000 veterans reside in the Central Valley.

The new Ambulatory Care Clinic in San Joaquin County will provide new services such as radiology, pharmacy, dental, optometry, audiology and physical therapy.

The VA intends to have these facilities open in 2015. The facility will be co-located with a new 120-bed Community Living Center.

"As I have said so many times, we owe our veterans an enormous debt of gratitude for the sacrifices they have made," said Congressman Cardoza. "I will continue to work with the VA and veterans groups to do all I can to ensure they have what they have rightfully earned."

May 19, 2009

Regional Occupational Program Students Place at Annual Skills USA Competition

Three Merced County Regional Occupational Program students took home honors at the regional level for their work in TV production, interview skills and advertising design.
Through SkillsUSA, an organization designed for students in industrial, technical and health trades, students took home golds at a competition at Ceres High School.
SkillsUSA activities are integrated into classroom instructional programs and provide leadership and personal development as well as competency-based knowledge, skills, and attitudes for entry and advancement in graphic arts occupations. SkillsUSA has proven to be very successful when it is accompanied by classroom instruction and on-the-job training.
Every year, ROP students compete in a variety of leadership and skill areas, including advertising design, desktop publishing, media production and job interview, among others.

This year, three students took gold medals at their regional competition held at Ceres High School.

Adrian Hernandez: Gold - Video (TV) Production; Job Interview Alyssa Ybarra: Gold - Advertising Design; Job Interview Raquel Purganan: Gold - Advertising Design

For more information on the SkillsUSA, contact Marty Rose at (209) 381-4569 or visit www.skillsusa.org.

May 19, 2009

Congressman Cardoza hearing reviews federal food safety standards

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Congressman Dennis Cardoza, Chairman of the House Agriculture Committee's Subcommittee on Horticulture and Organic Agriculture, held a hearing this week to review the current strategies
and standards used by the horticulture and organic sectors to prevent, monitor and control potential food safety hazards.

"In general, we have the safest, highest quality food supply in the world. However, there are times when the system fails," said Congressman Cardoza "Part of the problem may be that there are currently 15 different federal agencies tasked with monitoring the safety and security of our food supply. It is imperative that we bring our food safety requirements up to date for the benefit of producers and consumers alike."

Among the witnesses to provide testimony before the committee were producers, growers, third-party auditors and representatives of the USDA and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

May 18, 2009

Livestock Exhibitor Deadline is Friday

MERCED – Friday, May 22 is the date to remember for independent junior exhibitors to qualify to enter their sheep, swine or goats at the 2009 Merced County Fair.
That qualification deadline is 60 days before the fair, which is July 21-26. The 2009 Fair theme is "Catch The Buzz,” a celebration of bees, one of the county's top agricultural products.
Independent junior exhibitors entering market animals in the fair must give fair management a copy of their birth certificate or driver's license as proof of age. This is a local requirement.
According to state requirements, independent junior exhibitors entering market animals must provide fair management with a photo of their animal, appropriate proof of ownership, permanent tag, tattoo and/or hog ear notch information.
State rules for California fairs require independent juniors who want to exhibit market sheep, goats, or swine at the fair must be at least nine years old or in the fourth grade by January 1, 2009.

May 17, 2009

Tenaya Teacher Wins CaliforniaStreaming Photo Contest with Picture of Newborn Son

Tenaya Middle School teacher Michael Vasquez has won the CaliforniaStreaming Digital Photography Contest in Merced County for a photograph of his newborn child.
Merced County Office of Education Coordinator of Media & Technology John Magneson delivered the good news to Vasquez, along with his prize: a brand new Apple iPod.

Tenaya Middle School teacher Michael Vasquez, who won the CaliforniaStreaming Digital Photography Contest, submitted this photograph taken at Clovis

The 2009 contest theme is “Life,” and guidance from CaliforniaStreaming Web site suggested that contestants “Be guided by your imagination.”
Vasquez submitted a photograph taken at Clovis Community Hospital in Clovis, at the moment his third son was born.
Vasquez said of his submission: “By some miracle of circumstances, this photo was 1 out of 12 taken during the birth process, and it is the only photo with the light and dark contrast.”

Winners will have their photographs incorporated into a collectable CaliforniaStreaming art poster to be distributed to California classrooms. Many of the submitted photographs will be integrated into a common database to be shared with other California students.
For more information on CaliforniaStreaming, visit www.californiastreaming.org.

Right, Merced County Office of Education Coordinator of Media & Technology John Magneson gives Tenaya Middle School teacher Michael Vasquez, who won the CaliforniaStreaming Digital Photography Contest in Merced County, an Apple iPod and print of the picture Vasquez submitted. (Photo by Nathan Quevedo Courtesy Merced County Office of Education)

May 15, 2009

Downtown readies for Cap&Town ’09 Festival

The JumboTron goes up tomorrow afternoon, along with the booths and canopies. And even before the 5 o’clock hour, the aroma of food being barbecued and grilled will be wafting through Downtown Merced.
All of this is for the Cap&Town Festival that runs from 5 to 10 p.m. Friday and from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday. The two-day event is a salute to all of the graduates in the area, plus a welcome to First Lady Michelle Obama. She will be speaking to the graduates at UC Merced Saturday.
The First Lady’s speech will be broadcast live at 1:30 p.m. Saturday on the JumboTron in Downtown for all of the people who can’t be accommodated on the University campus. Additional viewing is available at the Merced Civic Center, 678 W. 18th St. and also at the Boys and Girls Club, 615 W. 15th St.
Billed as “The Ultimate Block Party”, the festival is open to everyone and will include locally grown products such as nuts and honey, live music, kids’ activities, a 3-on-3 hoop tournament, art vendors, artisans and craftsmen. All activities are free except for the tournament entry fees.

A section of Main Street has been temporarily renamed, “Green Street,” to highlight the new technologies that are revolutionizing America. The Segway personal vehicles will be demonstrated there, along with solar power display, hybrid vehicles and members of the City’s Bicycle Commission.
Food from established downtown restaurants will be available at the event, along with succulent treats sold by area non-profit groups. Local students and churches will be cooking up egg rolls and tacos, cotton candy and other refreshments offering visitors a taste of Merced.
Activities for the two days range from kids jumping in bounces houses to adults playing Human Bowling. (Seeing is believing it.)
Kids activities include tykester favorites, the Ball Pit, a Velcro Wall (no, you can’t leave them attached), a toddler obstacle course and an NBA Slam Dunk Challenge.
There also will be showings of “Finding Nemo” and “Aladdin” during the festival on screens in Downtown.

May 14, 2009

Watching First Lady Michelle Obama’s commencement address

People have the choice of watching First Lady Michelle Obama’s commencement address at the UC Merced campus on their TV or computer at home, or share the moment with a crowd in Downtown Merced.

The speech also will be broadcast live on a JumboTron in Bob Hart Square in Downtown Merced during the Cap&Town Festival. Other big screens in the square will also show the address. The address also will be available to the public at the Merced Civic Center, 678 W. 18th St. and the Boys and Girls Club of Merced, 615 W. 15th.
The Cap&Town Festival runs from 5 to 10 p.m. Friday and from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday on Main Street, from M Street to Martin Luther King Jr. Way.
The Merced County Office of Education and METV plans to carry the live feed from the UC Merced campus Saturday, beginning at 1:30 p.m. It will be televised on the Public, Educational and Government channels on the Comcast cable network, Channels 95, 96 and 97.
The entire Saturday commencement will be webcast by the University and available for the public at two sites, ucmerced.edu and commencement.ucmerced.edu.

May 13, 2009

Golden Valley DECA students win 2009 DECA National Marketing Education Honor

Three Golden Valley High School seniors earned national honors for marketing in April at the DECA International Career Development Conference in Anaheim.
Kang Moua, Yer Moua and Derek Vang, all part of Golden Valley DECA, are the recipients of the 2009 DECA National Marketing Education Honor Award. The three seniors proved they were top in the nation by demonstrating leadership, participation in community service, local chapter involvement, and outstanding academic achievement. Only six awards were given in California.
This award, given annually by DECA, a national association of marketing students, recognizes achievement in academic excellence, leadership skills, DECA involvement and school and community service.

Award recipients must be a DECA member in their senior year of high school with a cumulative grade point average of 3.2 or better for each of the high school semesters.
For more information on DECA, contact Mary Whited at (209) 385-8371.

May 13, 2009

Get Dad some Sikaflex sealant

Start shopping for Father’s Day this month at the City of Merced’s semi-annual Surplus Property Sale. There are all sorts of items available for bid that will send that “I Love You” message to that special Dad.
There are TVs to bid on, DVD players, and lots of comfy chairs. And for that handy Dad, there are several pallets of “small engine parts,” “wastewater treatment goods” or “police car goods.” If you really want to impress Dad, bid on the nine cans of Sikaflex sealant. You know he will give you a warm “thank you” even if he doesn’t know what to do with it.
Or you can go the traditional Dad route and bid on the pool table, the hoops game or air compressor that ever father needs.
There are also a variety of cars and pickups available. Before the vehicles can be registered, the winning bidders must get smog certificates.
There are lots of computers and laptops, but all of them are missing hard drives for security reasons. Scanners, printers and monitors also are available.

A bid packet listing the 198 lots up for sale is available at the City Purchasing Office. It is also on the City’s website, www.CityofMerced.org, listed under the Public Information.
Most of the property may be inspected at the Purchasing Office, 2525 O St, between 9 to 11 a.m. and 1 to 3 p.m. Monday through Friday.
All items are sold “as is” and there is no warranty or guarantee on the items. Bidders are expected to inspect the items before submitting a bid. Proposals will be accepted until 10 a.m. Thursday, May 28 at the Purchasing Office. In most case winners must pick up their equipment within 14 days. Payment must be made in cash, cashier’s check or money order. No personal checks. Additional details are available at the Purchasing Office.
For additional information on the sale contact Pam Whala at 385-6833.

May 8, 2009

Merced County Board of Education honors Classified School Employees

The Merced County Board of Education and the Merced County Superintendent of Schools, Lee Andersen, honored Merced County classified school employees who were selected as candidates in the California Department of Education’s Classified School Employees of the Year program.

From left, Merced County Office of Education classified employees James Wilson and Josephine Whitaker, and Merced River School District classified employee Lorrie McDowell. Not pictured is Merced County Office of Education classified employee Victoria Ferreira. The group was honored by the Merced County Board of Education and Merced County Superintendent of Schools, Lee Andersen, for being candidates for the California Department of Education's Classified Employee of the Year program.

The candidates were honored at the May 4 board meeting at the Merced County Office of Education.

Honorees are: Josephine Whitaker, Merced County Office of Education, for Support Services and Security; James Wilson, Merced County Office of Education, for Maintenance and Operations; Victoria Ferreira, Merced County Office of Education, for Para-Educator and Instructional Assistance; and Lorrie McDowell, Merced River School District, for Office and Technical.

Whitaker was honored as the top state school classified employee for Support Services and Security.
State Superintendent Jack O’Connell will formally honor Whitaker and other award recipients May 19 at a recognition luncheon in Sacramento. The luncheon coincides with California’s observation of the Classified School Employee Week, which is May 18-24.
For more information on the awards, visit www.cde.ca.gov/ta/sr/cl/index.asp

May 7, 2009

Get Your Fair Exhibitor Handbooks Now

MERCED – From arts and crafts created with recycled materials like light bulbs to a commodities mural competition with a $150 first prize, the 2009 Merced County Fair’s Exhibitors’ Handbook is buzzing with something for everyone.
The handbooks are online at www.MercedCountyFair.com and can be picked up at the fair office, 900 Martin Luther King. Jr. Way. Office hours are weekdays from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Entry forms are included in the handbooks and the forms are no longer color-coded, so you can make copies to share with family and friends.
The free 79-page handbook contains everything you need to know with easy instructions on how to submit entries in all the fair’s divisions and categories including vine crops, amateur gardens, wind chimes, tricks with a mix recipe contest, weaving, dehydrated foods, ceramics, jewelry, oil painting, alternative art photography and woodworking.
The booklet is mailed to everyone who exhibited at the 2008 and 2007 fairs and 4-H and FFA members receive handbooks from club and chapter leaders. The handbook provides all the details on livestock rules and judging.
The 118th annual fair, sponsored by the 35th District Agricultural Association, is July 21-26. The deadline to submit most entry forms is Thursday, June 18.
“Catch The Buzz” is this year’s theme and the spotlight is on bees, one of the county’s top ag products. Many of the entry divisions, including the fine arts and special “day of” cooking contests, invite exhibitors to create an entry inspired by the fair’s theme. There’s also a new honey and bee products category with classes including comb honey, beeswax and toiletries made
with beeswax or honey.
Also new to this year’s handbook is the Commodity Murals category under Junior Agriculture-Horticulture, sponsored by California Women for Agriculture’s Merced Chapter and the Merced County Farm Bureau. The mural must depict bees, the annual theme commodity of the Merced County Fair.

May 6, 2009

Local Horticulture Team Wins State Championship

The 2009 California FFA State Champion Nursery and Landscape judging team composed of Atwater FFA members Stefani Dias, Christina Willman, Lilly Reyes, Terilyn Bettencourt, and (coach) Diane Prescott.

The Atwater FFA Nursery and Landscape judging team won the 2009 state championship during the FFA State Career Development Event (CDE) finals at Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo on Saturday, May 2th. This is the first FFA championship in the area of horticulture in the school’s history and earns the team the right to represent the state of California at the National FFA Finals in Indianapolis, Indiana this upcoming October.

“This was not only a championship earned by the students, but also the community as we have had tremendous support in providing the students resources to succeed!” shared FFA Advisor/Coach Diane Prescott. The Nursery and Landscape team has been competing all season at various college and university FFA Field Days. They remained undefeated throughout the year. Last year the team Placed 4th in the state and decide to take to the next level. “With last year’s finish, our goal this year was to win the championship,” said team member Stefani Dias, “It shows that effort, commitment and determination pay off.”

The Nursery and Landscape contest is composed of five categories including identification on 100 plants, transplanting, oral reasons, judging and general knowledge about the horticulture industry. The four team members all placed within the top five of the state with Stefani Dias earning 1st, Terilyn Bettencourt earning 2nd, Christina Willman earning 3rd and Lilly Reyes earning 5th overall.

The remaining Atwater FFA judging teams provided the school’s strongest finish at the state level with five judging teams placing in the top four of the state. The Milk Quality and Dairy Foods team placed 2nd in the state overall with Lauren Navarro placing 3rd high overall and her teammates Mai Kia Vang, Mary Thao, and Collette Wilcox placing 5th, 6th, and 7th individually in the state overall. The Light Horse judging team placed 3rd overall in the state with Nikki Schiber earning 4th place overall individually. The Land judging and Ag Mechanics teams placed 4th high overall and the Floriculture team in it’s first year as a team placed in the middle of the pack of a very competitive contest. “There are over 350 high school agriculture programs that are capable of bringing their team(s) to the state finals each year. Only the best show up to compete,” said FFA advisor Sam Meredith, “Our student’s dedication, commitment, and efforts have put Atwater FFA on the map as one of the top high school agriculture programs in the state.”

Written by: Lilly Reyes, Atwater FFA Reporter
Photo by: Dave Gossman, Instructor / FFA Advisor

April 29, 2009

KANSAS is Coming to the Merced Fair

MERCED – Their mega-hit, “Carry On Wayward Son,” helped KANSAS sell millions of albums and the band that got its start in the ’70s has won over a new generation of fans since the classic song is included in the Guitar Hero II XBOX 360/PlayStation 2 game playlist.
Fans can hear “Carry On Wayward Son” and other hits live at the 2009 Merced County Fair when KANSAS With Native Window performs Friday, July 24 at the fairgrounds’ Outdoor Theatre. All fair headline acts are free with the price of admission.

KANSAS

Each night of the fair, July 21-26, a headline entertainment act will perform in the fairgrounds’ Outdoor Theatre. Sawyer Brown, the legendary country music band, opens the fair on Tuesday, July 21; The Beatle’s Project, a band that plays The Beatles’ music the way it would sound today, will perform Wednesday, July 22; WAR, the multi-platinum-selling band that combines soul, Latin rhythms, jazz blues, reggae and rock, entertains on Thursday, July 23 and Bucky Covington, the country music star and American Idol finalist, performs on Saturday, July 25. Jose Feliciano, the Grammy-winning Latin artist known for hits including “Light My Fire,” and “Feliz Navidad” will wrap up the fair on Sunday, July 26. All Outdoor Theatre concerts are at 8:30 p.m.
The 2009 Fair theme is "Catch The Buzz," a celebration of bees, one of the county's top ag products.
KANSAS’ “Carry on Wayward Son” is one of several songs on the Guitar Hero II game for XBOX 360 and PlayStation 2’s “Amp Warmer” songlist along with songs by legendary bands KISS, Nirvana, The Police and Van Halen. Several million copies of the hugely popular game have been sold.
During their career, which was launched in 1976, with “Carry on Wayward Son,” KANSAS has sold more than 20 million albums and continues to tour worldwide. The song is one of the band’s signature tracks on “Two for the Show: 30th Anniversary Edition,” which restores the full-length, original 1978 two-LP concert album for the first time in the digital era. It also includes a second CD that contains 10 previously unreleased live cuts from the 1977-78 tour.

April 21, 2009

Beatles Project Will Play Merced Fair

MERCED – From “She Loves You” to “Come Together,” The Beatles Project is devoted to playing the music of The Beatles and they’re coming to the 2009 Merced County Fair.
The five-man band is scheduled to perform on Wednesday, July 22 with an 8:30 p.m. concert in the fairgrounds’ Outdoor Theatre.
All fair headline acts are free with the price of admission. The 2009 Fair theme is "Catch The Buzz," a celebration of bees, one of the county's top ag products. The fair recently announced Sawyer Brown, the legendary country music band, opens the fair on Tuesday, July 21 and Bucky Covington, the country music star and American Idol finalist, performs on Saturday, July 25. The fair’s remaining headline entertainment acts will be announced soon. The fair is July 21-26.
The Beatles Project members are Tom Clarkson, on guitar, vocals and harmonica; Anthony Parber, plays bass, guitar, harmonica and does vocals; Tom Salles performs vocals and plays guitar and keyboard; Jim Sanders plays guitar and sings and Greg Spearance plays drums.
All five are veteran musicians who have played in a variety of bands. They all live in the Merced area, with the exception of Parber, who calls the Bay Area home. When the band isn’t practicing or performing, Clarkson sells real estate; Salles is a music teacher for the Dos Palos/Oro Loma Joint Unified School District; Sanders is a Merced City Councilman and heads up the Tagbusters, graffiti abatement program; Spearance works for Merced Union High School District’s vehicle maintenance department and Parber is a U.S. government statistician in San Francisco.
The Beatles Project started performing two years ago. “We’re not a tribute band or a stage show and we don’t dress like The Beatles,” said Tom Salles. “It’s all about the music. We
just want to celebrate their music and have a good time doing it.”
The Beatles Project works hard at performing the Beatles’ music the way it would sound if they were touring today but with the technological advances that weren’t around in the 60s and 70s. “When they performed at the big venues like Shea Stadium and Candlestick Park they had a couple of speakers, one on either side of the stage, aimed at the audience and the fans got to hear the Beatles through a couple of speakers. The Beatles didn’t have speakers coming back at them, so they would play and sing, but they couldn’t hear themselves,” Salles said.
“While you may be missing all of the screaming of the original fans, you hear what would have been played if they had the technology to pull it off then.”
The Beatles Project show features selections from the Beatles early period such as “I Should Have Known Better,” “She Loves You” and “We Can Work it Out,” through their later songs including “Come Together,” “Get Back,” “Magical Mystery Tour,” and “Abbey Road.”
The group’s shows feature a video production that’s used as a backdrop and includes film clips of the Beatles and light show effects mixed with live concert shots.
“We’ve had a great response from the community. Wherever we go we’re drawing a crowd,” Salles said, adding, “People of all ages come to our shows – we get people who grew up listening to the Beatles music when they were still together and young people who’ve discovered their songs.”
“The Beatles Project is the Lads from Liverpool's twin brothers,” said Dave Luna, Program Director for Oldies 97.5 KABX in Merced. “Our radio station has sponsored many Beatles Tribute bands that work on looking like the fab four, but not many have worked on the live sound of the Beatles. The Beatles Project has the "sound of the Beatles" as if they were performing today. When they perform at a KABX event you can find folks singing along. The Beatles Project is like a new pair of Beatle boots,” Luna said.
The Beatles Project has played at several Merced venues including the Merced Multicultural Arts Center and they put on a sold out fundraiser show for the Merced Theatre Foundation at the Merced Theatre. They’ve also done concerts at the Fox Theater in Visalia and at Fresno’s Tower Theater. This will be the band’s first appearance at the Merced County Fair. “We’re very excited about playing at the fairgrounds’ Outdoor Theatre,” said Salles.
For information, call the fair office at 722-1507 or email to Info@MercedCountyFair.com or fax at 722-3773. Visit the 2009 Merced County Fair’s website, www.MercedCountyFair.com

April 20, 2009

WAR Coming to Merced County Fair

MERCED – WAR is returning to the 2009 Merced County Fair.
The multi-platinum-selling band is scheduled to perform on Thursday, July 23 with an 8:30 p.m. concert in the fairgrounds’ Outdoor Theatre. WAR’s last appearance at the fair was in 2004 and they packed the house.
All fair headline acts are free with the price of admission. The 2009 Fair theme is "Catch The Buzz," a celebration of bees, one of the county's top ag products. The fair recently announced Sawyer Brown, the legendary country music band, opens the fair on Tuesday, July 21; The Beatle’s Project, a band that plays The Beatles’ music the way it would sound if they were touring today, will perform Wednesday, July 22 and Bucky Covington, the country music star and American Idol finalist, performs on Saturday, July 25. The fair’s remaining headline entertainment acts will be announced soon. The fair is July 21-26.
WAR has been making its original brand of music for more than 30 years. One of the most popular funk groups of the ’70s, WAR combines soul, Latin rhythms, jazz blues, reggae and rock all wrapped up in package that’s laid back and upbeat. The Los Angeles-based band’s sound continues to capture the heart and soul of America’s streets.
Lonnie Jordan, the founding member of WAR, sings lead vocals and plays keyboards for the seven-man band. The other band members are: Salvador Rodriguez, vocals and drums; Marcos Reyes, percussion; Francisco “Pancho” Tomaselli, bass guitar and vocals; Fernando Harkless, saxophone and vocals; Stuart Ziff, lead guitar and vocals and Mitch Kasmar, harmonica and vocals.
WAR recently released “The Very Best of War,” their 24th album. The two-CD set features 34 of their best songs that sound as fresh as the day they were recorded. The collection includes, “Why Can’t We Be Friends?” “All Day Music,” “The Cisco Kid,” “The World Is A Ghetto” “Spill The Wine,” and “Slippin’ Into Darkness.”
Although WAR’s song lyrics are sometimes political in nature, the racially mixed lineup’s music has got a sunny, laid back vibe. Lots of other musicians and other folks in the music world have been inspired by the band’s unique Afro-Cuban, jazz-funk character.
WAR continues to be “rediscovered” as contemporary recording artists sample their music including Janet Jackson’s “You” (Cisco Kid) TLC’s “I’m Good At Being Bad,” (“Slippin’ Into Darkness”), Macy Gray’s “Do Something” (“Heartbeat”), Smash Mouth’s take on “Why Can’t We Be Friends,” Korn’s version of “Low Rider” and Redman/Method Man’s “Cisco Kid.” WAR’s timeless melodies continue to be heard on a variety of radio stations around the country.
WAR was created in the late 1960s by producer/songwriter Jerry Goldstein and British singer Eric Burdon, who was living in Los Angeles and looking for a new group after several years with The Animals. Together with WAR they recorded the albums “Eric Burdon Declares WAR” and “The Black-Man’s Burdon,” which became cultural touchstones of the ’60s.
After Burdon left the group, WAR’s career skyrocketed as their unique sound and message about the troubled times of Vietnam and racial strife, spoke to millions of Americans. “We tried to be entertaining while also spreading the word of peace, harmony and brotherhood,” said Jordan, who has been with the band since it was founded. “Our instruments and voices became our weapons of choice and the songs our ammunition. We spoke out against racism, hunger, gangs, crimes and turf wars, as we embraced all people with hope and the spirit of brotherhood.”
For information, call the fair office at 722-1507 or email to Info@MercedCountyFair.com or fax at 722-3773. Visit the 2009 Merced County Fair’s website, www.MercedCountyFair.com

March 26, 2009

JLM Alumni, Community Leaders Celebrate Class 5 Graduation

MERCED – Junior Leadership Merced Class 5 celebrated its graduation this last Thursday, March 26th, 2009 at the Merced Senior Center at 6:00pm. Junior Leadership Merced (JLM) began 5 years ago and is based on the adult Leadership Merced class, which is currently in its 24th year. Both leadership programs are affiliated with The Greater Merced Chamber of Commerce.
JLM Class 5 had 18 graduating students – the most since the program began. The students are juniors and seniors from Merced, Atwater, and Livingston high schools. Also for the first time, this year’s graduation ceremony will include alumni from Classes 1-4, as well as community and school leaders from Merced, Atwater and Livingston.

Unlike the Leadership Merced program, JLM students do not pay a fee to participate in the program. It is funded almost entirely by a generous donation from Farmer’s Insurance Group Federal Credit Union.

Ramon Rai
Jami Ries
Josh Rivard
Mayte Ruiz
Meghan Woodall
Ken Xiong