The forum will be at the Tulare County Office of Education, 6200 S. Mooney Blvd., Visalia. Doors open at 6 p.m. The forum will be from 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m.

The three candidates for SD 12 will be attending;

• Louis Miramontes (Republican), Aviation Mechanic
• William Brown, (Libertarian), Social Worker/Businessman
• Nathan Magsig (Republican), County Supervisor/Businessman

The two candidates with the most votes in the June 2 primary will advance to the general election on November 4. The last date to register for the June 2 primary is May 18. Ballots should be arriving in the mail the first week of May.

State Senate District 12 includes parts of Kern, Fresno and Tulare counties.

The candidates have agreed to address questions directed to them by the sponsoring organizations and accept questions from the audience that have been screened.

Sponsors are:

• League of Women Voters of Tulare County
• American Association of University Women
• Valley Voice online newspaper.
• Tulare County League of Mexican American Women
• Sun-Gazette newspaper

The event will be streamed by the Valley Voice and posted on their facebook.

The post State Senate District 12 Candidates Discuss the Issues at May 12 Forum appeared first on Valley Voice.

While the galleries are filled with beautiful orchids, the artwork of Amie Rangel and Martha Sterling will be on display May 1 – 30, 2026. An Opening Reception will take place Friday, May 1, 5:00 pm – 7:30 pm. The Main Gallery showcases Evidence of Coveted Chaos by Amie Rangel featuring mixed media artworks responding to the balancing act of the life of mother, artist, and career woman. You have the chance to meet Amie Rangel during her free Artist Talk on Saturday, May 2 starting at 2:00 pm. Festival of Seasons, the artwork of Martha Sterling, will also be on display in the Feature gallery. Martha Sterling is a classically trained painter inspired by impressionism who captures the beauty of nature and human interaction.

Registration for Young at Art: Summer Youth Art Classes opens April 25th! Register your young artist age 5 – 17 for up to 6 weeks of creative fun and expression. Classes are a great way to get the kids out of the house and spend some time in the studio with other artists their age. Different classes each week! Full and partial scholarships are available. Art class starts June 8th! Check the website for more information: www.artsvisalia.org/education.

Escape the heat of the summer by visiting Arts Visalia this June. The Main Gallery will showcase California Trishelle, an autobiographical exploration through print and mixed media artworks of Trishelle Jefferey’s relocation from Salt Lake City, Utah to Fresno, California. Journey with her through the change in culture, location, and internal beliefs that has shaped who she is from a migration across the states. Take a step into the Feature Gallery to find a humorous and funky print, poetry, and art doll exhibition by Indiana-based artist Jolynn Regeluth. Regeluth’s work explores a universal human nature in an earnest yet humorous way. See both exhibitions free of charge June 5 – 27, 2026. Be the first to see the show during the Opening Reception on June 5 from 5:00 pm – 6:30 pm.

Art workshops for kids, teens, adults are available at Arts Visalia. Enrollment and class information can be found online at artsvisalia.org or stop by during our open hours.

Visit ARTS VISALIA, 214 East Oak Avenue, Visalia, California, Wednesdays through Saturdays, Noon to 5:30 p.m.

Follow ARTS VISALIA on Facebook and Instagram and check out our website at www.artsvisalia.org

Contact ARTS VISALIA at 559-739-0905 or Info@artsvisalia.org

Support ARTS VISALIA Invest in the Arts at www.artsvisalia.org/support-us or mail your donation to P.O. Box 251, Visalia, 93279

The post Arts Visalia presents: Evidence of Coveted Chaos by Amie T. Rangel and Festival of Seasons by Martha Sterling appeared first on Valley Voice.

Del Lago Residents Object

The crucial zoning change, city officials said, is necessary to complete a state-required update of the housing element of the city’s general plan. That update is already years overdue and has been underway since 2022. Yet the move still triggered a last-minute outcry by those living in the subdivision that surrounds the rezoned parcel.

The rezoning and updated report to the state were approved April 21 in a 3-1 vote.

A handful of residents of the Del Lago subdivision in northeast Tulare turned out Tuesday night to voice concerns about the zoning change before the council made its final decision. Speaking about the hypothetical increases in traffic and crime that could result from living near multi-story apartment complexes – as well as the loss of privacy and degradation of the neighborhood’s calm atmosphere – they asked the city to preserve the status quo.

“The winery was quiet. It didn’t throw loud parties,” said Del Lago resident Devin Tucker. “It didn’t cause problems. And now nine years later, they’re talking about building multi-level apartments and adding a lot more population to a neighborhood. And that’s just not something we’re interested in. I don’t think that’s a good move.”

Besides upping the area’s housing density, the council also approved giving the owner of the acreage the right to develop the land without City Hall’s OK, as long as the project meets the city’s design standards and fits the new zoning designation.

Those who objected believe it’s too great a degree of freedom.

“A future project that fits the zoning could move forward by right without any other public hearing,” said Trisha Dean, whose Del Lago home is adjacent to the 10-acre plot. “So tonight might be the only opportunity families get to speak before something that much larger and more intense is placed directly behind our homes. This is a big ask of us.”

The land under review is surrounded on three sides by the Del Lago subdivision. Its fourth side faces onto Mooney Boulevard north of Prosperity Avenue. The area is in City Council District 4 and represented by Dennis Mederos. He was not in attendance at Tuesday’s meeting.

No Plans Yet to Develop Rezoned Area

Following the council’s action Tuesday, City Hall no longer has any say about how the property can be developed in the future, no matter what income level it’s aimed at. Any properly zoned high-density housing project has to be allowed to move forward.

However, Mario Anaya, the city’s director of community development, said that doesn’t make it a free-for-all. Any potential future builder must meet the city’s established rules for any project that they propose. And there’s not a construction proposal on the table yet.

“One thing the public should note: There’s no specific project now,” he said. “And even though there’s not a discretionary process in the future if this rezoning is approved, projects still have to go through site-plan review.”

In the meantime, Mayor Patrick Isherwood said the council is aware of neighbors’ safety and quality-of-life concerns, and they intend to review and update city ordinances to preserve the neighborhood’s quiet atmosphere.

“How can we button that up?” Isherwood said. “How can we address those concerns so that when a project comes in front of us, we have these additional items further addressed? We can work through that.”

Vice Mayor Steve Harrell wanted definite protections in place, and he would eventually cast the only no vote against adopting the zoning change and approval of the state-mandated update to the housing element of the city’s general plan.

“I would be more comfortable with something that’s more concrete, that we’re going to protect these people’s privacy, do something about traffic control, traffic calming measures and things like that,” he said. “To be perfectly honest at this point I cannot support this.”

Tulare Experiencing State-Ordered Growing Pains

Rezoning the 10 acres in question presented a perfect opportunity for Tulare to complete and submit a state-required update to the housing element of its general plan. Adding the pocket of high-density housing was the final piece needed to meet the Regional Housing Needs Allocation (RHNA) requirement for the California Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD).

A city’s RHNA (pronounced ree-nah) is an examination of the city’s housing needs based on income and household size. The HCD requires all cities to update their version on an eight-year cycle, and there are eventual consequences for missing the deadline. When Tulare fell short of the high-density requirement by 95 acres in 2018, HCD threatened legal action and fines.

Despite beginning fact-finding in 2022 for the current RHNA, the city is now years behind schedule.

“Each year they seem to have more requirements, and this sixth cycle, if you ask any planner in California that’s worked on it, it was really a gauntlet,” Anaya, the city’s community development director, said. “It took a lot of effort, a lot of years to put together. In hindsight, we would have started earlier. Because here we are kind of behind. We should have had the new one adopted in 2024, so we’re about two years late.”

Tulare wasn’t the only tardy city in Tulare County. Eventually under the umbrella of the Tulare County Association of Governments (TCAG), every city in the county joined forces to complete the more than 500 pages of data needed to satisfy the HCD. During the four-year-long process, the city received only one written comment until the final approval process began.

The update to the housing element of Tulare’s general plan was reviewed by the city’s Planning Commission last month, unanimously approved and then forwarded to the city council. It came with a recommendation of adoption.

Too Much Power and Outdated Outlooks

Despite the state mandate requiring cities to address the housing needs of all their citizens, there was still the claim it represents an overreach of state authority the city should perhaps ignore.

“All I’m asking is to maintain it the way it is, regardless of what Sacramento is trying to push on us,” Del Lago resident Tucker told the council. “Sacramento will be changing soon, because we have an election coming up. So the policies we have now may not be in place in the future.”

While pushing back against the notion that high-density housing leads to bad outcomes, such as increased crime, Councilwoman Terry Sayre said old and familiar biases seemed to be at the root of some of the objections to the rezoning plan.

“I also represent the West Side, and so I’m aware of some of the feelings that are traditional in Tulare about the difference between west and east sides,” she said. “I don’t think the tracks actually delineate people’s worthiness. It’s a mindset that’s been in Tulare a long time.”

According to the TCAG Sixth Cycle report for 2023-2031, Tulare has 4,749 households in total. Of those, 1,435 (30.2%) have very low incomes of less than 50% of the area median income (AMI). Another 884 households (18.6%) have low incomes of 50% to 80% of the AMI; 677 households (14.3%) have moderate incomes of 80% to 120% of the AMI; and the largest and richest portion – 1,753 households (36.9%) – have incomes greater than 120% of the AMI.

Tulare grew by 16.7% between the 2010 and 2020 census counts. That’s more than three and a half times the rate of Tulare County’s growth, and nearly three times the growth rate of the entire state. Yet 77.4% of Tulare’s housing is single-family detached homes.

“We don’t have a lot of variety in our housing stock,” Anaya said. “We kind of produce a lot of the same type, and the needs in our households have changed over the decades, so we’re kind of seeing that bear out a little bit with the data.”

The official conclusion is Tulare needs a wider variety of housing options for all income levels. The county as a whole also needs a greater diversity of housing types. Single-family detached homes make up 75% of available housing, compared with 57.7% statewide.

The post Tulare OKs high-density housing zone besides high-end Del Lago appeared first on Valley Voice.

The forum will be at the Goshen Village No. 1 Community Room, 309940 Road 72, in Visalia.

Doors open at 6 p.m. The forum will be from 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m.

The three candidates running for supervisor District 4 have all been invited:

• Eddie Valero, incumbent;
• Rudy Mendoza, mayor of Woodlake;
• Ian Bakke, chief operating officer of Bakke Ag Services of Tulare.

The two candidates with the most votes in the June 2 primary will advance to the general election on November 4.

District 4 includes the unincorporated communities of Badger, Cutler-Orosi, Elderwood, Goshen, Ivanhoe, London, Monson-Sultana, Seville, Three Rivers, Traver, and Yettem. The cities represented in District 4 include Dinuba, Woodlake, and a small portion in the northwest corner of Visalia.

The candidates have agreed to address questions directed to them by the sponsoring organizations and accept prescreened questions from the audience.

Sponsors are:

• League of Women Voters of Tulare County
• American Association of University Women
• Valley Voice online newspaper.
• Tulare County League of Mexican American Women
• Sun-Gazette newspaper

The event will be simultaneously translated into Spanish for those who request it and streamed on the Valley Voice Facebook.

The post Tulare County Supervisor District 4 Forum to be held on May 7 appeared first on Valley Voice.

The award will be accepted by Barr’s daughters, Dana Barr-Galante and Lisa Allen, on May 8, 2026, at the 29th Annual Once Upon A Dream gala, the fundraiser that supports CASA’s mission of speaking up for the neglected and abused children of this county in juvenile court. The gala, with the theme of A Night in Monte Carlo, will be held at the Visalia Convention Center featuring gaming tables, a gourmet dinner prepared by The Vintage Press, live and silent auctions, and early access and expedited check-in for VIP guests. Doors open at 5:30 p.m.

Barr’s achievements were many, but her start was humble as she first joined the organization in 1995 as a volunteer to help with fundraising activities. She was hired as the organization’s executive director in 1998 and retired in 2016. Along the way she created strong and lasting partnerships with key agencies including Child Welfare Services, Tulare County Juvenile Court and the Child Abuse Prevention Council that have helped CASA not only endure but flourish.

Her tireless work in support of CASA of Tulare County led to her being appointed in 2007 by the Chief Justice of California to the California Judicial Council’s Family & Juvenile Law Advisory Committee. She was named Woman of the Year in 2006 by the Visalia Chamber of Commerce; in 2014, they also presented CASA with its Nonprofit of the Year Award. Under her direction, CASA also earned an Outstanding rating from the Judicial Council of California, the California CASA Association and the National CASA Association.

Her work and the strong reputation she built for CASA has attracted hundreds of volunteers over the years, allowing the organization to serve hundreds of children each year. Because of this, foster youth with a CASA volunteer graduate from high school at a 100% rate, more children thrive in loving homes, and the entire community is strengthened.

More than anything, it was her friendships and connections that rooted her permanently in this community.

“Marilyn’s tireless efforts have touched the lives of thousands of children, truly changing their trajectories and giving them hope for a brighter future,” says Alberto Ramos, executive director for CASA of Tulare County. “She also had a profound effect on my own development as a leader, and I am honored to carry on the mission of CASA with my own great team.”

In honoring Barr, the Board celebrates not only an exceptional individual, but someone who represents CASA with integrity, dedication and heart.

“CASA of Tulare County has become the organization it is today because of the strong foundation Marilyn built through her vision, leadership and unwavering commitment to the children we serve,” says Enrique Benavides, president of the Board of Directors for CASA. “She cultivated meaningful connections at local, state and national levels, ensuring that CASA’s impact would endure for generations. Presenting the Carpenter Champion For Children award to her daughters will be among the highlights of the evening.”

To attend the gala, purchase tickets online at www.casatulareco.org, or download a sponsorship packet. Information is available online or by calling the CASA office at 559-625-4007.

About the Carpenter Champion for Children Award

Named in honor of Mike and Joan Carpenter — whose Carpenter Family Children’s Foundation, Inc. provided both the vision and the foundation for CASA of Tulare County, as well as its permanent home — this award celebrates individuals, families and businesses whose generosity reflects the same selfless, transformative spirit of the Carpenter family. This enduring honor stands as a lasting tribute to those whose dedication to children and to CASA of Tulare County makes a meaningful difference, while inspiring others to carry that legacy forward.

CASA of Tulare County

In Tulare County, CASA of Tulare County screens, recruits, trains and supports CASA volunteers to advocate for children in foster care. Within the foster-care system in California, volunteer court-appointed special advocates are matched with a child or sibling group, and advocate on their behalf in court, in schools, in health care settings and in the community. Aside from their time spent with the child, CASAs communicate with all the other adults in a child’s life – teachers, doctors, lawyers, biological families, social workers and caregivers. With the knowledge they gather, they request important services for a child, such as counseling, tutoring, physical therapy or medical services. They also submit written reports to the court, which can be entered as evidence in the case and upon which dependency judges rely to make important decisions about the child’s future.

About California CASA Association

California CASA, a private, nonprofit organization, is the statewide association that serves and supports a network of 44 local CASA programs. California CASA provides training, raises awareness for the need for CASA volunteers, and promotes legislation that benefits children in foster care. The 44 independent, nonprofit organizations, appointed by their local Superior Courts, are in 53 of the state’s 58 counties — locations where 99% of California’s foster population live. California has more children and youth in foster care than any other state in the nation – approximately 80,000 in a year. Currently, only 16% of California foster children (13,000) have a CASA volunteer advocating on their behalf, but California CASA and its Board of Directors have set a 10-year visionary goal to provide CASAs for every child who needs one. For more information, please visit www.californiacasa.org.

The post Once Upon a Dream Gala, Champion for Children Award announced appeared first on Valley Voice.

The National Federation of State High School Association stated in a press release, “Girls’ flag football had the biggest gains in 2024-25…with 68,847 girls participating in the sport last year – an impressive 60% increase from the previous year.” In California, that translated to an 84% increase in participants in its second season, according to the CIF. VUSD is committed to expanding access for female student-athletes to participate in interscholastic athletics, develop leadership skills, and strengthen their connection to school. Girls’ flag football is launching at the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) and National Collegiate Athletic Associations (NCAA) Division I, II, and III collegiate levels this spring, and is slated as an Olympic sport in 2028 – creating hundreds of thousands of dollars in available scholarship opportunities for students across the state.

“We are excited to offer a sport that is rapidly growing across California and the nation.  A number of schools in our area have also shown interest in offering girls flag football and we look forward to building a competitive schedule for the upcoming school year,” added John Perez, Visalia Unified Director of Athletic Programs.

Expanding opportunities like girls’ flag football supports VUSD’s Forward 2030 Strategic Plan, which prioritizes ensuring every student is connected to at least one meaningful activity that fosters belonging and engagement. To gauge interest, three VUSD middle school teams came together during the 2025-26 school year, competing against each other. Interest far exceeded expectations with nearly 100 8th grade girls competing. In addition, all 8th through 11th grade girl students were surveyed with majority interest in flag football and beach volleyball in close second.

“We recognized an opportunity to truly listen to our students and provide something both meaningful and achievable – something we know they’ll embrace,” said Superintendent Kirk Shrum. “This isn’t just about adding a new sport; it’s about opening doors to scholarships, building lasting friendships, and shaping futures.”

Additional information regarding girls’ flag football team formation, coaching opportunities, and student participation will be shared with families and school communities as the launch date approaches. VUSD remains dedicated to providing meaningful extracurricular activities that support the academic, social, and emotional success of all students and athletes.

The post Visalia Unified expands athletic opportunities with launch of Girls’ Flag Football in 26-27 appeared first on Valley Voice.

• Amy Cha
• Adriana Espinoza
• Erica Gonzalez
• Yanet Hurtado
• Daisy León
• Keeanna López
• Teresa Ruiz
• Jayson Tabucao
• Joaquin Zavala

The post Sierra View Medical Center celebrates first graduating class of SVMC Nursing Education Pathway, powered by Unitek College appeared first on Valley Voice.

The University Center project was made possible by the passage of Measure C, a voter-approved bond passed in 2022 to support new educational facilities and workforce development initiatives across the South Valley Region. Construction on the new building is now underway and is expected to be completed in time for the Fall 2028 semester.

The University Center will expand partnerships between College of the Sequoias and four-year universities, allowing students to complete bachelor’s and potentially master’s degrees locally. Since 2017, the college has partnered with California State University, Fresno to offer programs through the Fresno State South Valley campus in Visalia. More than 3,700 students have already benefited from this partnership, demonstrating strong demand for expanded university access in the region.

Despite a strong transfer pipeline, Tulare County remains the second largest county in California without a public four-year university, and the region ranks among the lowest in the state for bachelor’s degree attainment. The University Center aims to address this gap by expanding local access to four-year degree pathways, reducing the need for students to relocate or commute long distances to complete their education. The project will also support regional workforce development by helping local employers access a larger applicant pool of graduates.

Community leaders, college officials, students, and regional partners are invited to attend the groundbreaking ceremony celebrating the beginning of construction and the next phase of higher education expansion in the Central Valley.

The post College of the Sequoias breaks ground on University Center at Visalia Campus appeared first on Valley Voice.

This special event will take place on Sunday, April 26, 2026, at the historic Fox Theatre Visalia, offering audiences a first look at the program ahead of its national broadcast debut on PBS KIDS.

Designed for young learners and families, Wowsabout follows the adventures of puppet friends Ronald and Roxy as they explore the natural wonders of national parks, meet real park rangers, and inspire children to discover the world around them.

A One of a Kind Family Experience

• In person appearances by Ronald and Roxy puppets
• Live appearances by Jim Henson puppeteers
• A special screening before national release
• Hands on activities and crafts
• Meet and greet opportunities
• Junior Ranger inspired experience

“This premiere is more than a screening. It is an opportunity for families to connect with nature, storytelling, and learning in a meaningful way,” said Robert Mollison, President/ CEO at Valley PBS.

Community Collaboration:

The event is made possible through partnerships with regional organizations committed to education, family engagement, and outdoor exploration.

Sponsors include Visit Visalia, Sequoia Parks Conservancy, and The Source LGBT+ Center, whose support helps connect families with the natural beauty and educational experiences of Sequoia National Park and the surrounding region.

The post Valley PBS to host Central Valley premiere of Wowsabout, with live puppet appearances, at Visalia Fox appeared first on Valley Voice.

“This is a wonderful experience and a big change going from AGUA Youth to advocating as a leader and mother since now my kids keep me motivated. I don’t want them stressing that they can’t drink the water and they should be comfortable where they live,” said Miriam Sanchez, East Orosi AGUA Member. “Communities need to keep speaking up and when one community wins, we are not fighting for just us, we are fighting for all Californians to have clean water.”

In 2005, residents formed the community based organization Vecinos Unidos (Neighbors United) in response to the contamination of their water. This group then engaged in advocating for safe and affordable drinking water solutions and through a Preliminary Engineering Report decided that connecting to Orosi Public Utilities Board (OPUD) was most sustainable. In their efforts to implement that solution they were met with collaboration from Tulare County, and support from the State Water Boards to issue mandatory consolidation orders. In 2024, community oriented leadership in OPUD showed their support for the project marking full support for solutions to be implemented today.

“Today did not start now, it started years ago with trips to Sacramento because East Orosi refused to accept that other communities should have clean water and not theirs, navigating uncertainty year after year,” said Supervisor Eddie Valero with Tulare County Board of Supervisors. “In 2022 Tulare County stepped in to help the East Orosi Water System and alongside strong collaborators we see hope renewed. We need communities to stay engaged and continue holding us accountable to advance the Human Right to Water.”

The State Water Boards were also a critical partner in funding technical assistance for this project through the Safe and Affordable Drinking Water Fund (“The Fund”) established in 2019 when Governor Gavin Newsom signed SB 200 (Sen. Monning) into law. Since then, The Fund has provided $2.3 million for technical support that set the groundwork necessary for the success of the consolidation project. The fund has also mobilized $15 million applied to a variety of projects that include hauled and bottled water, technical assistance, and water system repairs responding to community needs, exactly what SAFER was intended to do.

“Today’s groundbreaking is a significant milestone because of how hard and long you, the community of East Orosi, had to fight to make it happen. But you persevered, you advocated, and above all, you built partnerships with the County, Orosi PUD, and the State Water Board. Today, the promise of having safe drinking water in your homes is finally becoming real,” said State Water Board Chair E. Joaquin Esquivel at today’s groundbreaking. “Our commitment to East Orosi is unwavering, because it is in communities like East Orosi, which have gone without safe drinking water the longest, that California keeps its promise to make access to safe, clean, affordable water a human right.”

As a result we are seeing real change take shape for an unincorporated community in an agricultural area of Tulare county. Up to 106 households homes will now be connected to safe drinking water as part of a long term solution, a relief to over 400 residents who have been relying on bottled water. This progress also gives hopes for other communities who are looking towards tools like SAFER to achieve reliable long term solutions.

Today’s success is only possible because of community leadership, political will, regulatory support, and local collaboration. The SAFER Program and Proposition 68 have been critical for communities and local leadership to make progress on the Human Right to Water. We need to keep supporting efforts that make a difference and this means we have to work together for a future where SAFER is fully funded and where we keep breaking ground on infrastructure projects until all Californians have safe water.

The post East Orosi celebrates groundbreaking to achieve safe water appeared first on Valley Voice.