By Carol Lawson-Swezey

“The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few.”—Luke 10:2

86-year-old Betty Calloway choked back tears when she recalled how a group of youthful strangers painted the outside of her house over a scorching hot July week.

“Before my husband got sick and died, he would keep up the house, but no one’s done it since,” said

Betty. “Those kids so impressed me with their hard work and insisted I share lunch with them. They helped me spiritually and were so wonderful. Two of those girls came all the way from West Virginia to work so hard to help a stranger.”

Soo CloviS, Continued on page 14

Pet Tips, Page 5Central Valley Motorsports, Page 7Let’s Talk Clovis, Page 10Dining Guide, Page 9

Community Calendar, Page 15Log of Shame, Page 16Featured Recipe, Page 20Spotted Owl, Page 21

Sassanos’ give thanksto employee

World ChangerS, Continued on page 8

World changers –changing the city one act at a time

Clovis Roundup2491 Alluvial Ave Ste. 540Clovis CA, 93611

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Special Fishing Event at Sycamore Island a Success

FRESNO, CA - Trout Un-limited and the San Joaquin River Parkway and Conser-vation Trust celebrated Free Fishing day by hosting a spe-cial fishing event at Sycamore Island on July 6. Fifty cars were spread across the Syca-more Island property, which borders the San Joaquin River and includes a number of indi-vidual ponds.

The special event started at 6 am and featured representa-tives from the California De-partment of Fish and Wildlife, raffling off prizes and a fish-ing clinic at 11 am. The Roo-sevelt High School Bass Fishing Club was also on hand to help clean up any debris at the event.

California Mentor, one of the event sponsors awarded a number of prizes that ranged from pens to handbags to free park entry to a grand prize of an an-nual fishing license.

Long Xiong, who won the annual fishing license from California Mentor remarked, “I love fishing, so it’s great to have a place like this (Sycamore Island) so close to home.”

The California Department of Fish and Wildlife offers two Free Fishing Days per year. This year July 6 and Sep-tember 7 were designated as the Free Fishing days – the Saturdays follow-ing Independence Day and Labor Day. While not required to have a fishing li-cense on those two days all regular fish-ing regulations such as bag and size lim-its, gear restrictions, report card require-ments, fishing hours and stream closures remain in effect. California residents 16 years and older must pay $14.61 for a daily sport fishing license or $45.93 for an annual license.

The San Joaquin River system that lines the northern boundary of Fresno of-fers excellent fishing. Sycamore Island staff cites great catfish, bass, trout and pan fish along the San Joaquin River. The California Department of Fish and Wildlife planted 3,500 pounds of trout earlier in the year at Sycamore Island.

Sycamore Island staffers said an an-gler landed a six pound bass the previ-ous week however he didn’t offer the exact spot where the fish was caught.

Mike Grove, a Sycamore Island em-ployee remarked it was, “really an ex-ceptional day,” for attendance in the park.

Sycamore Island is one of a number of properties that is being developed for public use along the San Joaquin River by the San Joaquin River Parkway and Conservation Trust.

In addition to fishing, the San Joaquin River offers numerous recreational op-

portunities such as hiking, biking, horse-back riding, bird watching, kayaking and picnicking.

The San Joaquin River is also under-going a comprehensive long-term pro-gram that will restore water flows to the San Joaquin River from Friant Dam to the confluence of the Merced River and restore a self-sustaining Chinook salmon fishery. The multi-million dollar program will involve numerous state agencies, non-profits, private organizations and private industry to make sure there is an equitable balance of water maintenance in the Cen-tral Valley.

“Restoring the San Joaquin River is about more than just bringing back salm-on and making water supply for agricul-ture more reliable,” said Steve Thao, San Joaquin Valley Outreach Coordinator for Trout Unlimited. “A living river provides more opportunities for families to fish and otherwise enjoy the great outdoors together, basically in Fresno’s back yard. Plus, revitalizing the river will help revital-ize the Fresno area, as the river restoration program is creating new jobs and boosting economic activity.”

The July 6 event was just one example of organizations such as Trout Unlimited as part the San Joaquin River Partnership, educating the public about the vast op-portunities the San Joaquin River offers to Central Valley residents. Thao, from Trout Unlimited says they will hold more events in the future and encourages the public to come out and enjoy one of the Valley’s greatest natural resource.

For more information about Trout Un-limited or the San Joaquin River Restora-tion Program follow us at facebook.com/tusjr

Captions: Long Xiong wins grand prize of annual fishing license. Photo courtesy Xiong Family

The Roosevelt Bass Fishing Club helped pick up trash along the San Joaquin River

Read the Fine Print on Your Credit Card Offer

If you’re careful about the way you use it, your credit card can provide great ben-efits. What’s just as important, though, is to make sure there are no strings attached when you get your card in the first place.

All of a sudden, credit card offers are proliferating – in the mail, online, in ads –

and there are all kinds of new “deals” to entice you to apply for one card or another.

One thing is for sure, it’s the fine print that matters most. Be sure to read through it when you consider applying for a new card. If you’re looking for a card that ben-efits you, here’s what you should be look-ing for:

Low Rate – Look for a low rate credit card from a reputable institution that has not increased rates to their cardholders in some time. These days, most credit cards are offered with no annual fee, but usually the Annual Percentage Rate (APR) is high-er. That means you could pay far more in interest charges than on annual fees.

Penalties Add Up – Be sure to read the fine print and watch out for penalties. Some penalty rates – for example, being late on a payment – can cause your APR to skyrocket to 25% APR, 30% APR, even higher! Being late on just one payment can cause your rate to go up indefinitely!

Fees – Often times fees can sneak up on you when you’ve least expected it. One national institution charges a fee for a bal-ance transfer, adds a higher APR on the balance of the transfer and proceeds to add another $40 to the monthly minimum pay-ment just for carrying a balance!

Paying Fees – Some cards purposely do not include an over-limit fee or other fees in the monthly minimum payment – this means you could inadvertently skip paying these fees in your monthly payment, which can cause your account to be over-limit again and again, thereby compounding the issue – and the fees!

Calculating Interest – If you usually carry a balance on your credit card, pay close attention to how the interest is calcu-lated on your new card offer. Commonly, cards

are calculated on an “average daily bal-ance” which can give you a certain “grace period” before incurring interest on the daily average. A growing trend is the “two cycle” system that, if you pay in full one month but only partially the next month, you’ll be charged interest for both months!

Promotional Rates – Everyone receives

promotional offers – you’ve probably seen 0% for a short period of time. These offers can be worth taking advantage of, espe-cially if you have cards with high balances and high rates. A word of caution: be sure to find out what transactions apply to the promotional rate, such as purchases, bal-ance transfers, etc., and what the rate will be on those balances once the promotional offer expires.

Rewards – Rewards cards provide the extra benefit of getting something in return for using your card. Rewards are a great way to receive extra benefits for your ev-eryday shopping.

Manage Your Credit – It’s okay to have more than one card; experts agree that two or three credit cards are enough for the average family. Use your cards wisely, in moderation, and do not get too deep in debt. Here are five steps to follow that can help you manage your credit cards sensi-bly:

1. Pay off monthly – whenever possible pay more than the minimum

2. Understand how your credit card works

3. Never give personal information like PIN numbers online or on the phone

4. Live within your means – curb your expenses.

5. If you do find you are having finan-cial troubles, turn to a trusted source, such as a reputable financial counselor.

At Fresno County Federal Credit Union, members have access to a full range of vi-tal financial services, including low rate VISA Rewards credit cards (with rates that cannot exceed 18% APR), budget manage-ment tools, online and mobile banking, and checking accounts that are free of monthly payments – no strings attached. Members receive highly personalized service and the essential services needed to manage finances with ease.

For more information about member-ship in Fresno County Federal Credit Union, or the low rate VISA Rewards pro-gram, visit online at www.FresnoCU.com.

Shaver Lake Fishing ReportBy Dick Nichols

The action slowed some at Shaver Lake this past week. Guide Dick Nichols, of Dick’s Fishing Charters said that he was down to 2 limits a trip this past week, down from 3 or 4 the previous weeks. He said the kokanee bite is still the main staple of fish with 8 kokes to 2 trout. “You have to find them, change depths and some cases colors of tackle. Trout Busters be-hind Mountain Flasher’s on the side poles down about 24 feet and Kokanee Trout Busters and Captain Jack’s Super Hooch-

ies behind mini Mountain Flashers at 55 feet have been his best tools for catching fish. He said that he had to fish more than his normal 5 hours this week to finish a couple limits. Others Shaver regulars like Mike O’Connell, of Tollhouse and David Dungy of Shaver, have connected with a couple limits this week using similar tack-le and techniques. The island and Black Rock have been the most productive for Nichols, Dungy and O’Connell.

Doing well with Nichols last week were Dr. Robert Bennett and his son Mason from Clovis, among several other parties.

Bank fishermen have had some success in the road 2 area with Power Bait and still fishermen anchored in the Tunnel Creek area have caught a few trophies.

The leading fish for the Shaver Lake trophy Trout Project’s Summer Derby is a 6 1/2 pounder.

Surface water temperature has dropped to 71, down from a high of 74 degrees. The water capacity dropped to 61%. Accord-ing to SCE Biologist Stephen Byrd, the level should remain the same into the Fall.

Dr. Robert Bennett and his son Mason from Clovis, display their string of mixed kokanee and trout caught with guide Dick Nichols, of Dick’s Fishing Charters on Shaver Lake. They caught the

final fish of their 2 limits after the picture was taken.

Dick Nichols owner of Dicks Fishing Charters

Long Xiong - Winner of the Annual Fishing License

Clovis Roundup August 1, 2013 Page 5

Is a guinea pig the pet for you?Rather than open their home to a dog or

cat, some people would prefer a different type of companion animal. Some peruse the pet store and become enamored with the whiskered face of a guinea pig. But before making an impulse purchase, it’s wise to research the needs of guinea pigs to determine if one would be the right fit in your home.

Larger than hamsters and smaller than bunnies, guinea pigs seem the ideal pet for someone looking for a small animal that doesn’t require a lot of room or constant attention. According to veteran rescuer Vicki Palmer Nielsen of the Jack Pine Guinea Pig Rescue in Stacy, Minnesota, even prospective pet owners who do their homework do not always understand what it is like to live with guinea pigs. Guinea pigs require attention and are not the type of pet that will simply sit around and be content all day.

There are things prospective guinea pig owners should know before beginning the adoption process.

What is a guinea pig?Guinea pigs are not from New Guinea,

nor are they a variation on the pig. They are members of a family of rodents called caviidae, abbreviated to cavy, which are native to South America. This rodent family has fewer members than most other rodent families. Cavys have short, heavy bodies and large heads. Guinea pigs, like other cavies, are herbivores, meaning they feed on grasses and leaves.

Guinea pigs may measure 8 to 10 inches in length and weigh between 1 to 3 pounds. For a rodent, they are relatively large, and they can live anywhere from 4 to 8 years.

Level of careGuinea pigs will require a cage large

enough for them to roam around. Many of the cages marketed for guinea pigs are actually too small. Err on the larger size when getting a cage. Avoid a fish tank because it prevents adequate ventilation and the guinea pig can suffer heat stroke.

Guinea pigs should also be allowed out of their cages each day. They should be able to stretch their legs and explore. Daily socialization and interaction is also necessary to help a guinea pig become less skittish and accustomed to handling.

The cage will need to be thoroughly cleaned once a week, and may need to be spot cleaned every few days. As with other rodents, urine and feces will buildup in the bedding of a cage and become quite smelly if not maintained.

Guinea pigs also need weekly or daily grooming depending on the length of their fur. Routine nail clipping and ear cleaning are also recommended.

It is important to note that guinea pigs are social animals and may do well and be most happy with another guinea pig. Therefore, you may want to have two

cavies of the same sex kept together, which doubles the amount of upkeep.

Guinea pigs and childrenMany guinea pigs are purchased as

pets for children. In general, a guinea pig should be reserved for a child age six or older. Guinea pigs have small bones and they can be easily crushed or injured if dropped. Careful handling is a necessity, so only capable children should be trusted with carrying or holding the guinea pig.

Through constant, gentle handling, the guinea pig will become tame quite easily. Although unlikely, during extremely stressful situations a guinea pig could scratch or bite.

Some adults and children are allergic to guinea pigs, so it is important to determine if there is an allergy present before buying or adopting an animal.

Guinea pigs can make wonderful pets for families who have the financial ability, time and patience to care for these delicate animals.

About thisPublication

Clovis Roundup is a publication that is published every other Thursday and

distributed weekly by Clovis Roundup Inc.throughout Clovis and surrounding areas.

Donna Melchor - Publisher/Editor, (559) 472-6443,

editor@clovisroundup.com

Ken Melchor - Vice President(559) 285-6687

kmelchor@clovisroundup.com

Mike Long - Advertising Sales(559) 917-4472

mikelong@clovisroundup.com

Billy Xiong - Ad Design and Production(559) 289-8725

ads@clovisroundup.com

Butler Web & Design - Online Coordinatorwww.ButlerWebAndDesign.com

Joaquin Hernandez - Photo Journalist(559) 779-2409joaquinh@aol.com

Contributing WritersCarol Lawson-Sweezey - Featured Articles

Peg Bos - Let’s Talk ClovisDon Curlee - Ag at Large

April French - Police Log of ShamePaul Hinkle - Central Valley Motorsports

Dick Nichols - Fishing ReportDr. Edward Trevino - Featured Articles

Sam Fragoso - Dispatches from a Movie Theater

Accounting ServicesTeresa Stevens - Certified Public Accountant

(559) 326-2029teresa@tmstevenscpa.com

The Clovis Roundup is a custom publication.2491 Alluvial Avenue Suite # 540

Clovis, CA 93611 | (559) 326-2040www.clovisroundup.com

To submit events for the CR Calender,email calendar@clovisroundup.com

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Spotting Spotted SpurgeYou may or may not know what spotted

spurge is, but chances are you have seen it in lawns and especially flowerbeds during the summer months. Spotted spurge (Euphorbia maculata) is a summer annual broadleaf weed that in native to the eastern United States and is extremely common here in central California.

It grows very close to the ground and forms a dense mat of pinkish-red stems, deep green leaves with a purple spot in the center, and a center taproot pegging it to the ground. The taproot may extend down as far as 24 inches! If the plant is pulled or broken, a white, milky latex-like sap will ooze out. This sap can be irritating to sensitive people’s skin. Leaves are in opposite pairs along the stems and the flowers, stems, fruit, and leaves are covered with tiny hairs.

Spurge usually starts geminating here in late March or April as the soil temperatures reach 60 degrees F, but really thrives when soils temperatures are 75-85 degrees F. With a little water and some light the seed will germinate successfully. UC Extension literature states that it can produce viable seed within 5 weeks of germination, but I swear that it seems more like overnight. A single plant can produce thousands of seeds that can germinate immediately if the conditions are right. If you have ever pulled up spurge plants you can see the massive amounts of seed left behind on the soil surface. Ants like to help move these around, too. Maybe they like the shade it produces or perhaps it is a source of food for them.

Now we know what and when to look for in our search for spotted spurge, but how do we reduce its presence in our landscapes? Culturally, we can watch for

weeds in plants and soils we purchase to add to our landscape. Try to pull, hoe, or spray plants before they have a chance to go to seed. Mulching the soil surface with 3-4 inches of bark chips can also reduce weed germination by shading the soil below and reducing the needed sunlight for germination. Anything less than 3 inches is only cosmetic in terms of weed control. In lawns, thin areas should be filled in with sod or reseeded and then fertilized and mowed at 2 inches or higher to increase the competitive edge over the spurge.

Pre emergent products like Amaze, Preen, or Dimension applied starting in March will significantly reduce spurge populations through root inhibition. Multiple applications may be needed for season-long control. Post emergent products come in both selective (broadleaf herbicides for lawns) and non-selective types such as Roundup where sprays must be carefully directed to hit the weeds only.

Spurge will be here for years and years to come. If you would like to know more about spurge or other weeds that you wrestle with you can call Weed Man at 559-266-1624 or visit our website at Fresno. WeedManUSA.com.

4 ways to conserve and save at the gas pump

Fuel prices have traditionally been at their highest during the summer months. That’s unfortunate for vacationers and road trip enthusiasts who must budget the cost of fuel into their vacation expenses. Those costs can be considerable, especially if gas continues to hover around $4 per gallon as it has for much of 2012.

But as costly as gas has become, drivers can still mitigate those costs by employing a few strategies aimed at increasing their driving efficiency. The following are a few ways drivers can offset high fuel costs regardless of the time of year.

1. Maintain a consistent speed. Thoughit might be hard to maintain a consistent speed when driving during rush hour, it should not be too difficult to do so when hitting the open road. If most of your driving is done on the highway, go easy on your engine by maintaining a consistent speed. The easier you are on the engine, the less taxed that engine will be and the less fuel it will need as a result. If going on a long road trip or if your daily commute involves long stretches of highway driving, rely on your vehicle’s cruise control function to make things easier on your engine and conserve fuel.

2. Don’t drive when you can walk orbike. It might sound simple, but the best way to conserve fuel is not to use it at all. During the warmer months, walk or ride your bicycle when performing local errands. This is especially beneficial during the summer, when gas prices are typically higher. Save a few gallons of gas by running errands on foot or on your bicycle. If a physical condition makes it hard for you to walk or bike, make use of public transportation when you need to travel locally.

3. Obey the speed limit. The open roadentices many drivers to put the pedal to the metal, but driving over the speed limit is both illegal and expensive. The U.S. Department of Energy notes that drivers pay an additional $0.31 per gallon for every five miles they drive over 60 mph. Since gas prices have already hovered around $4 per gallon for much of the year, drivers would be wise to obey the speed limit and conserve their fuel as well as their money.

4. Don’t make your vehicle into atraveling closet. Many drivers keep excess materials in their cars, whether it’s a cooler for picnics, a set of golf clubs or an old baby stroller. Excess weight will rear its ugly head at the pump. The DOE notes than an extra 100 pounds in a vehicle can reduce its miles per gallon by as much as two percent. Before hitting the highway, check your trunk and the backseat and remove any unnecessary items.

Drivers spend a considerable amount of money at the gas pump each week. But a few simple strategies to conserve fuel can save money and help the planet at the same time.

Clovis Roundup August 1, 2013 Page 7

Central Valley Motorsports- SPONSORED BY HEDRICKS CHEVROLET -

By Paul Hinkle

The higher temperatures are still hanging around; it wouldn’t be July without them. At least we didn’t break the record of twenty-one consecutive days with triple digit temps. Let’s hope that August will be a little easier on us and with less humidity.

For those that just want to go out and have fun showing their car without all the stress of preparation and the competition of showing, there are a couple of car

events in Clovis to enjoy.

On Friday nights the Clovis Missionary Baptist Church puts on the ‘Friday Night Hot Rod Gathering’ on Fowler just north of Alluvial. After work, drive your rod there around six o’clock; park under the shade and

meet with other car enthusiasts. With a donation you can enjoy

hamburgers, hot dogs and ice cream. Proceeds from this event support mission trips.

On the 3rd Saturday of the month you can cruise to the park located on the corner of Clovis Avenue and Sierra Avenue anytime between 4-9 pm. ‘Park in the Park’ is a community event for all car enthusiasts to meet and have fun. The last two shows of this year will be held Saturday

August 17th and September 21st. The July 20th show was made possible by donations from Clovis Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram, Fresno Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram and Fiat of Fresno. Food was donated and cooked by Don Wagner and his wife Barbara. Everyone had a great time hanging out at this low-keyed event.

The 113th Congress in their 2nd Session dedicated Friday July 12th as SEMA National Collector Car Appreciation Day with S. RES. 176. Hundreds throughout the country did something for this event. A few of us locals got together for a cruise that ended at the Clovis Farmers Market on Pollasky.

UP COMING EVENTS: Aug. 1st – 3rd California Classic Car Auction Burbank, Aug. 2nd Rods on the Bluff, Aug. 4th-11th Hot August Nights Reno, Aug. 10th American Legion Fresno Federal Post 509 Car Show, Lake Isabella Classic Car Show, Aug. 16th -17th Clovis Elks Hot August Daze and Aug. 17th Parking in the Park Clovis 4:00pm, Aug 23rd – 25th The 27th West Coast Nationals Pleasanton, Aug. The 1st Annual Bass Lake Car Show, Budweiser’s 2nd Annual Super Car Show Tulare County Fair Grounds, Aug. 31st Paso Robles Classic Car Show, September 1st Cambria Car Show, Sept. 7th The 11th Annual Run of the Gold Classic Car Show Oakhurst, Sept. 8th Grandparents Day, Summer Send-Off Car Show Tulare, Sept. 15th Coarsegold Classic Car Show, Sept. 21st Park in the Park Clovis, Chowchilla Classic

Car Show, Selma Parkn The Park Car Show, Sept. 28th Spoke & Rods Fresno Fair, Calvary Chapel Car Show Visalia.

If your club or organization is putting on a car show or motorsports event, please send your information to clovismotorsportsjamboree@gmail.com or call me at (559) 970-2274. I’m also looking for interesting cars and events to

share with everyone.

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World ChangersBy Carol Lawson-Swezey

Betty was one of 30 homeowners who were “blessed” with youthful volunteer help through World Changers, a volunteer ministry of Lifeway Ministries of the Southern Baptist Convention. The organization’s philosophy is to “Change the City and Change the World” by youth demonstrating their faith with constructive and beneficial good deeds.

The students, who range in age from 7th grade through college, and their volunteer leaders scraped paint, cleared landscaping, repaired fences, roofs and wheelchair ramps and completed general repairs on homes of needy families. Two groups spent a week each toiling in our hot summer heat, paying their own expenses, a minimum of $250 each, to come to Clovis to provide help and hope to area residents in need. They also paid their own transportation.

The City of Clovis has teamed up with World Changers for the neighborhood upgrades for the past ten years. The City provided materials for the local projects through federal Community Development Block Grant funds. City businesses also donated supplies and food including Lowe’s, Fosters Freeze, Cravings, Classic Catering and the Institute of Technology Culinary School. The City also identified the 30 families most in need of the assistance. In the past ten years, the young people have helped 202 lower income people/families and the Salvation Army in Clovis. The World Changer organization has been serving cities nationwide for the past 23 years, and this summer fanned out nationwide to 82 cities.

The groups usually stay at schools and churches in host cities and often rely on local churches and businesses to feed them. This year’s teams bunked at Clovis North High School.

The two groups which served Clovis were here from July 15 through July 27th and numbered over 300 volunteers. Each week’s group of students was divided into 15 teams, serving 15 homes. The

volunteers came from five states including Arizona, California, Nevada, New Mexico and West Virginia and sported team names like Cool Caulkers, Wrecking Crew and Paint Chips.

John Yoon, 16, from San Ramon, and Aimee Park, 18, of Fremont, were both alumni of former mission trips and couldn’t wait to return.

“I feel God has blessed me so much

and I want to share the good word and His love,” John said.

“I always had a great experience in Clovis,” said Aimee. “Clovis feels like the Holy Ground.”

Cousins Mikayla McCann, 18, and McKenzie Hammack, 14, and friend, Claudia Vasquez, 15, came from Smith Valley, Nevada, to lend a hand.

“This has been the best experience,”

said Mikayla, who has volunteered for four tours. “You experience such emotional and physical growth. We’re tired but grateful.”

Former volunteer Landry Vaught, 19, now serves as one of the four paid staff. He hails all the way from Yorktown, Virginia and has seen his late nights and endless responsibilities blossom into remarkable growth and deep appreciation from the recipients.

“We can see what difference one week can make.” Landry said.

Lauren Annin, a local Clovis volunteer who served as the project coordinator, said that the project is a Godsend to those homeowners who don’t have the resources or the ability to make their own repairs.

Daniel and Pauline Collins, both 82, live on social security income and could not have afforded to have their home painted.

“The kids and supervisors were fantastic,” Daniel said. “They kept working through the heat and we were so happy with the results. We couldn’t have asked for anything else.”

Daniel said they gave a donation, what they could afford, to the organization, but found their experience priceless.

Overall it was a win-win-win situation. The homeowners got much needed repairs; the youth learned invaluable lessons and the city had help in making itself better.

“World Changers allows the city to stretch its resources so that the City can assist homeowners in need and improve neighborhood conditions, the partnership of over ten years has proven to be valuable in making Clovis a great place to live,” said Andy Haussler, Clovis Housing Program Manager.

At the closing ceremony for the Week I volunteers, Clovis city councilman Bob Whalen thanked the volunteers for “expressing God’s love through their acts.”

“We in Clovis think of ourselves as citizens of the promised land,” Bob said. “Thank you for helping us realize that.”

Clovis Roundup August 1, 2013 Page 9

Ag at Large – Rumination redo: Gut response in cattle under studyBy Don Curlee

Instead of try-ing to contain the gas emitted by cows after they belch, researchers are working on preventing inces-sant bovine burp-ing in the first place. Blessed re-lief may result.

Methane gas is being emitted by nearly eight million dairy cows in California as we speak. Not one of them means any harm or an affront to human sensitivities. Burping and passing gas are essential parts of digestion and ru-mination, even for happy cows. For those that might be stressed or upset the internal emanations might be more pronounced.

But the level of methane gas is bother-some for the environment and healthy liv-ing and breathing by humans. Cows are not its only source, but since so many of them live in California’s fertile valleys ef-

forts are under consideration to diminish its production at the source.

The research that might lead to breed-ing less dyspeptic dairy animals is being undertaken at the University of Aberdeen.. It is part of a $10 million program under the stomach-tightening heading of Romi-nOmics.

One of the project’s early findings,, after studying a herd of 25 dairy cows, is that some produce more methane than oth-ers in the daily digestive process. So far, so good.

John Wallace, who is heading the study, said: “Our work suggests there is consider-able variability between individuals, with some producing more than others. The finding has led the team to ask whether the animals that are low emitters emit low levels under all circumstances, or whether their methane output increases when they are stressed or uncomfortable.

Plans are for the study eventually to extend to1, 400 animals, with the goal of determining which animals have small

impact on the environment. The research team has stated that it is not strictly moti-vated by environmental concerns.

“The real hope is to increase the effi-ciency of cows and other ruminant, meth-ane producing animals,” a report from the research team says. “The team says that between two and 10 percent of such ani-mals’ energy is used to produce methane. Minimizing this wouldn’t just help the en-vironment, it would lower feed costs,” that report continued.

Fine-tuning the digestive systems of ruminants such as dairy cattle is just the kind of project that might appeal to some wacky environmentalist dreamers. Who knows what outlandish methods might be proposed to help them achieve their goals?

But established dairymen and other cattlemen may be willing to give the Ab-erdeen project more than a passing glance as long as animal efficiency is part of its equation. Lower feed costs might be one of its results, or increased milk production another.

In California, where cow happiness is a major element, the link between meth-ane gas production by the cows and their attitudes and self satisfaction should be of wide interest. Is it possible that some sort of cow meditation might be prescribed?

Might this become a movement, cen-tered in the Bay Area of course, in which cows are encouraged to “chill out” by whatever means, kick back and avoid belching while producing more milk, all the while displaying satisfied expressions and casual postures.

If a substantial measure of success is reached, the world beyond beckons. Burp-ing and belching moose, elk and deer are logical converts to burpless existences. And who can forget the antelope at play?

So idyllic is the view of a world without belching ruminants that some developer is sure to want to construct a gated commu-nity in their midst. At that point the cows and their ruminant friends become the vic-tims of human pollution. Time for another study.

Natural causes of air pollutionThe air we breathe is very often taken

for granted. Harmful pollutants in the at-mosphere can pose a significant threat to human health. When air quality is compro-mised, people, animals and the ecosystem can pay the price.

A study from Scottish researchers found that something as simple as jogging near heavily traffic can reduce blood flow to the heart. Air pollution has been shown to reduce lung function in both children and adults and may put children at increased risk for ear infections.

While the burning of fossil fuels and other manmade chemicals cause a sub-stantial amount of air pollution, there are natural causes of air contamination as

well. Here is a look at some of the more surprising causes of air pollution.

* Pine trees: Plants and trees help fil-ter the air and provide clean air. However, research from Neil Donahue, director of Atmospheric Particle Studies at Carnegie Mellon University, determined pine trees can contribute to air pollution. Biogenic particles form in the atmosphere when gas emissions from the pine trees react with airborne chemicals. These biogenic parti-cles can muddy the air. The hydroxyl radi-cals produced by the trees react with aero-sols already in the atmosphere. According to research that replicated what happens in nature, hydroxyl ages the particles in the air, altering their properties and concen-

trations and producing three times more particulate matter than what was originally released into the atmosphere. These small particles can influence cloud formation and rainfall and affect human health.

* Wind erosion: The United States De-partment of Agriculture says wind erosion works by picking up loose particles of dirt and soil and distributing them through the air. The particles land on surfaces or in wa-ter supplies. Dirt particles can be breathed in and cause respiratory problems. Wind erosion may be most prevalent in areas that are drought-prone.

* Volcanos: Volcanic eruptions sendlots of gas, soot and ash into the air. Sulfur dioxide, carbon dioxide and carbon mon-

oxide are just some of the gases pushed into the atmosphere. These materials can be harmful when inhaled, and they can mix with water vapor to produce acid rain.

* Radon: Radon is a naturally occur-ring, odorless radioactive gas. Radon is re-leased into the atmosphere and ground wa-ter through evaporation from the Earth’s crust. The Environmental Protection Agency says radon is the second-largest contributor to lung cancer after smoking.

* Natural decomposition: Methane isproduced when organic material decom-poses. The EPA says methane is the second most prevalent greenhouse gas emitted in the United States.

Page 10 August 1, 2013 Clovis Roundup

“Let’s Talk Clovis”, the John Ghilotti Family By Peg Bos, Clovis Museum

John Ghilotti was born in the city of Grosio, Italy (northern part of Italy) on November 11, 1871. Jobs were scarce in Italy. John and his brothers traveled the world in search of new opportunities. They worked in the diamond mines in South Af-rica.

The Boer War erupted while he and his brothers worked in the Transvaal (South Africa Republic) area. They were captured by British troops and became prisoners of war for several months. They eventually returned to Italy. As a young man John had learned the trade of stone cutting and fin-ishing. He took great pride in his profes-sion.

Ghilotti sailed to South America and visited the United States several times prior to locating here. He arrived in San Francisco in 1905 and moved to Clovis just before the destructive 1906 San Fran-cisco earth quake.

The Academy Granite Company was opened in 1903. Granite was cut into slabs of five inches or more thick and was sent to Raymond, CA to be finished. In 1914 a second quarry was opened called Doyle, Gill, Doyle and Co. Their rough stone was carried to Clovis by wagon.

Doyle & Co. operated a granite finish-ing business northwest of the corner of Third and Clovis Ave near Clovis Lum-ber Company. The granite from Academy (still in operation) produced one of the best grades of granite in the country. The black columns and the window sills at the 1912 Clovis Museum were installed by the Doyle Co.

John worked for them as stone cutter and a tool sharpener. In 1921 the company became Doyle & Ghilotti. In the 1920’s the company was incorporated as Superior Granite Company by nine working part-ners with Ghilotti as secretary-manager. John retired at age 79 years in 1950.

Superior was a major employer in Clo-vis and reached a peak of twenty-five or more employees. The company closed in

1955 and all the machinery was moved to the Raymond Granite Company.

John’s wife Mary was born in Sondrio, Italy in 1879. She was a chef for the Coun-selor of Italy in Sondrio for ten years. She met John in 1910 and they corresponded by mail for five years. She married him on February 20, 1915 in the city of San Ra-fael, CA.

Their son Julius Caesar was born in Clovis on Dec. 7, 1915. He worked as a cabinet maker for the Hollenbach Lumber Co. in Fresno for over 25 years.

Their daughter Anne was born on Sept. 28, 1918 in Clovis. The family lived in a home on Fourth Street adjacent (directly east) of The First State Bank (now Clovis Museum). Dr. M.S. McMurtry had his of-

fice next to their home.Anne graduated from Clovis High

School in 1937. She completed an 18 month course from 4C’s Business College in Fresno. Anne worked for Fred Kurz Mo-tors, Fresno Ford Co., Valley Ford Sales and Friendly Ford. She purchased her first car (Chevrolet) in 1946.

Anne enjoyed dancing and would go to the Fresno Rainbow Ballroom each Wednesday night. Moyers Stage (bus stop at Mission Café on Pollasky) would provide her transportation. She would re-turn at one in the morning. She joined the Smooth Dancers in the 1950’s during the “big band era”.

She is quoted in The Clovis Indepen-dent Senior Spotlight article in 2002: “I

have seen Clovis grow from a hick town to a big city. Some of the Pollasky street stores I remember are Clovis Furniture, Valla’s Grocery, the 5 and 10, Clovis Bakery, Belle Quinn’s dress Shop, Emil’s Barber Shop, White Front Café and Travis Pendergrass’ Drug store next to the Mis-sion Café. I can’t forget George Gage’s drug store on Clovis Avenue.”

In 1921 John built the family home at 105 Pollasky (southeast corner of First and Pollasky). The first floor of the house was made of granite and the second floor of wood. The side walks were formed by scraps of granite. Anne lived in the family home until her death in 2009.

The family is part of our rich heritage.

Superior Granite Co. 1921 era, between 3rd and 4th east of Clovis Ave.

Clovis Roundup August 1, 2013 Page 11

Page 14 August 1, 2013 Clovis Roundup

“Soo Clovis” - Sassanos’ employee marks 50 years By Carol Lawson-Swezey

Same man-same store-same job.For a half century, Bob Parks has been

showing up to work in a family business in which he is not family, but could be.

The Clovis native has worked at Sassano’s Men’s Wear since he was 19; day in, day out, year in and year out. Believing in the business. Caring enough to help it grow.

“I tease Bob that he’s my older brother,” said store owner Greg Sassano. “He’s family, no doubt.”

Bob started working at the store on August 3, 1963, the same day that Greg turned five.

Bob has worked alongside three generations of Sassano men- first Lawrence (Shorty) Sassano, the son of the original owner, then his son Les and now, grandson Greg. Since Les suffered a stroke five years ago, Bob manages the store three to four days a week while Greg comes in on his days off from PG&E.

Bob is as much a Clovis landmark as is the men’s wear store. He was born and raised in Clovis and lived a few doors down from his future wife in an apartment down the street from Sassanos. He recalls when a theater stood where Clovis Appliance now stands.

Sassanos, the western and men’s wear store, is a Clovis legend. The original store was opened as a shoemaker’s shop in 1907 by the Sassano family, was closed briefly during the Depression, and then reopened in 1932. Since then it has been the western wear center of Old Town and one of the city’s oldest businesses. It specializes in hats, work boots, blue jeans, bib overalls and shirts ranging in size from small to 4X.

Loyalty runs deep, not only for customers, but for employees as well.

“Bob is the best employee you could ever have,” said Greg. “He’s never sick, he’s very humble. After my dad had his stroke, he helped keep the business going. If not for Bob, we wouldn’t still be in existence.”

There are few old timers in Clovis that

don’t know Bob. “You can’t go anywhere without

someone recognizing my dad,” said Danielle Davison, his younger daughter. “Dad started working part time at Sassanos and just kept staying. He loves that family. He might as well be a Sassano himself.”

Danielle said her father has great pride in the city of Clovis and being part of the history and longevity of the store. She recalls spending childhood days at the store and lining up the family’s chairs outside the store for VIP seating to see the Christmas and Rodeo parades. New generations continue the tradition with Danielle’s husband, Lance, and sons, Logan, 5, and Mason, 4, her sister Keli and the rest of the Parks and Sassano family.

“Our families still watch the parades from out front,” Greg said. “We open the store for a few hours on Rodeo Day and then close the rest of the day for the parade and the events.”

Bob and his wife, Diana, have been married for 36 years. They met when Bob came into Ralph’s Drug Store, at Third and Tollhouse, where Diana worked, to get an ice cream. Bob told Diana about a vacant apartment on Pollasky Avenue, a few doors from his, a building which still stands. Good strategy to get closer to the girl next door. It might have been love at first sight but it was a long courtship. They married six years later.

“I remember the pretty young girl (Diana) coming into the store to see Bob,” Greg recalled. “Next thing I knew they were married.”

Greg himself got married two years later.

The Parks had their two beautiful daughters and Bob graduated from Fresno State with a degree in Social Welfare. But jobs in that field were scarce and Bob liked working at the store, the Sassano family was good to him and he had his own family to support, so he stayed.

BoB parkS, Continued on page 22

Clovis Roundup August 1, 2013 Page 15

Travel with the Clovis ChamberYou are invited to an informational

meeting about the travel opportunities through the Clovis Chamber of Commerce. In partnership with Clovis Chamber members Altour, Chamber Discoveries and the Perfect Vacation, local residents have the opportunity to see the world.

Trips and tours will take you to Costa Rica, London, Prague, Vienna and Budapest as well as Spain’s Costa Del Sol and the French Rivera. If you want to stay closer to home, explore Branson’s Musical Holiday, New York City, the Mississippi River, Alaska or the colors of New England.

The meeting will be held on Tuesday, August 20th at the Clovis Veterans Memorial Building from 6 to 7:30 pm. Please RSVP by calling 299-7363 or e-mail at fran@clovischamber.com.

For more information, visit www.clovischamber.com.

Clovis Blood DrivesClovis Blood Drives for early AugustPINT FOR PINT BLOOD DRIVE

KICK-OFF AT SIERRA VISTA MALL

The 26th Annual ABC-30/Baskin Robbins Pint for Pint Blood Drive kicks off with a special two-day event on Fri-day, August 2, from 8am to 6pm and Saturday, August 3, from 8am to 4pm at the Sierra Vista Mall in Clovis and at all the Fresno Blood Centers and the Visa-lia Blood Center. All donors who give at any of these locations will receive a voucher for a FREE Pint of Baskin-Robbins Ice Cream AND a FREE Com-memorative T-shirt plus Fresno Griz-zlies game discounts.

The drive will take place in the Sierra Vista Mall at Center Court, at the North Fresno Donor Center at 1196 E. Shaw Avenue, #102; North Fresno center at 1010 E. Perrin Avenue; Jenny Eller cen-ter at 4343 W. Herndon; and at the Visa-lia center at 1515 S. Mooney Blvd. The

center at First and Shields is no longer in operation. The centers operate from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Friday and 9 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. on Saturday, except that Visalia closes at 1 p.m. on Saturday.

Prior to this major drive, the blood centers will all be offering donors at the centers a vintage T-shirt of their choice through the end of July.

For additional information, please call (559) 389-LIFE (5433) or visit www.do-nateblood.org .

Institute of Technology, Inc. – Tues-day, August 6, 11 a.m. – 8:00 p.m., 564 W. Herndon, Clovis. Donors will receive a voucher for a free pint of Baskin Rob-bins ice cream plus Fresno Grizzlies game discounts.

College Community Mennonite Breth-ren Church – Sunday, August 11, 8:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m., 2529 Willow Avenue, Clovis. Donors will receive a voucher for a free pint of Baskin Robbins ice cream plus Fresno Grizzlies game discounts.

-AUGUST-Old Town Clovis Farmer’s Market

Friday Evenings, August 2nd, 9th, 16th, 23rd, & 30th

Every Friday evening in August, Friday Night Farmer’s Market is in full swing in the heart of Old Town Clovis. Sample a cornucopia of fresh, delicious fruits and vegetables, grown here in the nation’s

finest agricultural region, each in the peak of season! This weekly event also offers live entertainment and special activities

for kids.Time: 5:30 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.

Place: Old Town Clovis, Pollasky Avenue, between Third and Fifth Streets

Free Admission www.oldtownclovis.org

Blue Grass in the ParkFridays, August 2nd, 9th, 16th, 23rd &

30th Time: 6:30 to Dusk

Location: The park adjacent to the Clovis Senior Center and the Veterans Memorial

Building (808 4th Street)Cost: Free to All

Contact the Clovis Senior Center for more information at 559-324-2750

Fig Party at the Farmers MarketFriday, August 2nd

BOOT and The California Fig Advisory Board bring a new “Party” to Old Town!

A beautiful fact about figs: Although considered a fruit, the fig is actually a

flower that is inverted into itself! We will celebrate this tasty “flower” in true Old

Town styleTime: 5:30 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.

Place: Old Town Clovis, Pollasky Avenue,

between Third and Fifth StreetsFree Admission

Contact: Business Organization of Old Town (BOOT) at (559) 298-5774

“Let’s Talk Clovis”Tuesday, Aug 13th at 7pm

Mattox Family by Jack Mattox, 1960 Clovis High graduate. First Clovis High graduate to play professional football.

Clovis Veterans Memorial Building, 453 Hughes at 5th Freedom Room

Sponsored by Clovis Museum / Free to Public

Hot August Daze Car & Bike ShowFriday & Saturday, August 16th – 17th Hot August Daze is held at the Clovis Elks Lodge in Old Town Clovis. The

event begins Friday night with the Clovis Cruise and Sock Hop dinner/dance. Saturday morning, Hot August Daze

continues with a car and motorcycle show that features some of the most amazingly

beautiful custom and stock vehicles to be seen in Central California. Proceeds

from the show benefit the Elks Purple Pig Project. This is a major fund that provides

equipment, therapy, etc. for disabled children in California.

Place: Clovis Elks Lodge, 535 Woodworth Avenue, Clovis

Time: Friday night sock hop and dinner dance begins at 6:00p.m. Saturday Car and Bike Show 8:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.

$20.00 prior to Aug 2, 2013 and $30.00 day of show

For more information contact the Elks Lodge at (559) 299-9111, or

Boyd Pierce at (559) 260-4381 or bpierce1@pacbell.net

A Night to RememberSaturday, August 17th at 7pm

A Gala evening of Dinner and Dancing to raise funds for the Band’s trip to

Normandy, France to participate as one of a few bands selected to play at the 70th

Commemoration of D-Day-June 6, 2014Dancing to Joe Lenigan’s Band, live

auction, and catering by Pardini’s Liberty Ballroom-Clovis Veterans

Memorial District Building 808 Fourth Street in Clovis

$100 per person Black Tie Optional For Info & Tickets call CVMD 559-299-0471

-SEPTEMBER-Old Town Clovis Farmer’s Market

Friday Nights, September 6th, 13th, 20th, & 27th

Friday Night Farmer’s Market is in full swing in the heart of Old Town

Clovis through September 12. Sample a cornucopia of fresh, delicious fruits and vegetables, grown here in the nation’s

finest agricultural region, each in the peak of season! This weekly event also offers live entertainment and special activities

for kids.Time: 5:30 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.

Place: Old Town Clovis, Pollasky Avenue, between Third and Fifth Streets

Free AdmissionContact: Business Organization of Old

Town (BOOT) at (559) 298-5774.www.oldtownclovis.org

Blue Grass in the ParkFridays Night, September 6th

Time: 6:30 to DuskLocation: The park adjacent to the Clovis Senior Center and the Veterans Memorial

Building (808 4th Street)Cost: Free to All

Contact the Clovis Senior Center for more information at 559-324-2750

“Let’s Talk Clovis”Tuesday, Sept 10th at 7pm

Happy Jack Hawn by Gary ColeClovis Veterans Memorial Building, 453

Hughes at 5thSponsored by Clovis Museum / Free to

Public

2013 CLOVIS CALENDAR

“Nutcracker” Auditions in September

The Lively Arts Foundation invites all valley dancers to audition for the Central California Ballet’s 2013 community production of “The Nutcracker” on September 7th in the Fresno State Dance Studio (Shaw and Maple).

• Ballet students, ages 8 to 12, will audition from 11:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

• Intermediate/Advanced students (ladies bring pointe shoes) will audition from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. with callbacks from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m.

• Girls, ages 6 to 9 with ballet/gymnastics experience, will audition for Bon-Bon roles from 5 p.m. to 6 p.m.

• Boys (ages 8 to 14 – acting experience is a plus) are encouraged to try out for the Party Scene from 6 p.m.

to 7 p.m. More info: www.livelyarts.orgNote: “NUTCRACKER” performances

will be held at the Saroyan Theatre on December 13-15, 2013.

County Library to provide Internet access to residents

The Library is pleased to be able to provide Internet access for the residents of Fresno County. This allows those who would otherwise not have access the ability to apply for jobs, conduct research, communicate with loved ones, and gain entry to the vast world of information and entertainment the Internet has to offer. While the overwhelming majority of all Internet access is used for these types of legitimate activity, the Library does open its doors to all members of society and as such may incur the occasional wrongdoer.

Consistent with the Children’s Internet Protection Act (CIPA), all Library computers are filtered. This includes personal smartphones, tablets, or laptops used in the Library via the Library’s WiFi connection. By using the Library’s computers or WiFi connection, all customers agree to obey all local, state and federal laws, including but not limited to copyright, fraud, obscenity and privacy legislation.

No access is ever granted to Web sites displaying unlawful images. Any evidence

of an individual using the Library’s resources for illegal purposes would result in termination of the customer’s rights and the inclusion of local law enforcement.

“Unfortunately, unscrupulous individuals attempting to thwart the Library’s filters might employ the use of file-sharing software previously downloaded onto their personal devices,” said Laurel Prysiazny, County Librarian. “We are ever vigilant, maintaining the latest in filtering systems; however, we are never 100 percent protected.”

The Library is cooperating fully with the Fresno County Sheriff’s Office in all current and ongoing investigations. Law enforcement will be conducting trainings to teach Library staff how best to support their efforts. The Library is also working with the vendors that supply their Internet filters to ensure the most effective restrictions are in place.

To view the entirety of the Library’s Computer & Internet policy, please visit http://www.fresnolibrary.org/about/compuse.html.

 

Page 16 August 1, 2013 Clovis Roundup

Log of Shameby April French-Naten

July 10, 2013Oh, how youth has its drawbacks! In the spark of an invincible moment, a young man decided he would steal from a local grocery store! Loss prevention called police and they were able to catch him before he pulled out of the parking lot. Not only was he arrested for stealing, but he also had his vehicle towed! I wonder if this has put a reality check on the whole “I’m an invincible teen” façade.

July 11, 2013A man was pulled over for swerving and booked into custody when officers discovered that not only did he have no driver’s license but he was drunk as a skunk! He is greatly regretting the decision to make just one more beer run!

July 12, 2013Two subjects ran into a popular Chinese food restaurant, cut the line, and proceeded to steal a full bag of food that was sitting up near the cash register, already paid for by another customer! Stunned, no one was able to catch them, and they got away scott free with fried rice and orange chicken!

July 13, 2013An employee at a local drug store called to report a petty theft that was caught on tape in the oral hygiene isle. Unable to catch the little thieves, police responded to the call and took a report to determine what was stolen. Turns out that the twisted weirdo’s stole several electronic toothbrushes. Is there a black market for electric toothbrushes? Huh, I had no idea!

July 14, 2013A citizen called to report a petty theft from their home that happened while they were away. Someone (or 3 someone’s) walked up to their front porch and stole 3 out of 4 of the chairs to their patio furniture. Really? 3 out of 4? You better hope their OCD doesn’t set in or they will be back for that 4th chair!

July 15, 2013Some controversy was sparked out in the country when a woman called to complain about a neighbor’s dog. Officers responded to find two neighbors bickering because the dog of neighbor A waits every morning for his owner to go to work, then sneaks over to Neighbor B’s yard to be with his girlfriend; a sassy black Lab! Neighbor A did receive a citation and they are going to have to find a way to keep the dog on his own property, but you can’t stop love! I will not be surprised if this is just the beginning of the neighbors’ feud!

July 16, 2013A silent alarm was activated over on West Teague when some out of control juveniles decided they would be super cool and shatter the glass to a business. Because the alarm was silent, and at age 14 no one is all that bright, they were dumb enough not to high tale it out of there before the cops swooped up on them. The cops arrived just in time to book them all and release them to their very angry mother’s!

July 17, 2013A college student called to report a theft from his apartment’s back patio. Often time’s folks will call police in a panic when they have been victimized before thinking it through. Officers were very surprised to discover that the stolen item in question was the young man’s home grown Marijuana plant. Come again? That’s like being mad that someone stole the bike you just stole! Probably outta just hang your head and cut your losses, not call to have a police report taken. Just a thought.

July 18, 2013A concerned passerby called the police to report garbage being dumped into a nearby field. Unfortunately, he wasn’t able to get the plates of the truck doing the dumping, and it was gone when police arrived. The littering suspects pushed a propane tank out of the bed of the truck! One has to wonder if perhaps his neighbor ticked him off so he took his propane tank and relocated it! No points for littering but 2 points for payback creativity!

July 19, 2013At nearly midnight, officers responded to a report of an injured person on the 400th block of Pollasky. They arrived to find a small crowd around a man that had sprained his ankle. He was also arrested for being drunk in public. Apparently, he was blitzed enough that he just plum missed the curb when attempting to cross the street to his car, stepped off and hurt his ankle in the gutter!

July 20, 2013A man in the 1800th block of Herndon called to report an unwanted person outside of his home. Officers went out in an effort to keep the peace and ask the woman to leave. Before they let her go they went ahead and ran her driver’s license, and turns out she had a warrant. Needless to say, she did indeed vacate the premises, only in the back of a police car instead of in her own sporty Mercedes!

July 21, 2013On a lovely Sunday afternoon a woman walked into a local department store, went straight over to the appliances department, took her time picking out a top of the line blender, and proceeded to put it in her purse and attempt to walk out of the store. Unfortunately for her, she didn’t realize that the man in the same isle was the store manager, and she was caught red handed. I’m guessing there was no margarita’s at her Sunday family BBQ that night!

July 22, 2013An elderly gentleman called to report that he was a victim of fraud when he discovered someone had used his credit card to the tune of $300! Somehow, a crook obtained his credit card number and was able to order tickets to a local water park for themselves and obviously multiple family members. He assured officers that he had no need to visit a water park, and proceeded to spew Irish curses at the unknown suspects as they took the report!

*The above Police Logs are loosely based on actual events. The names have been changed to protect the innocent. The circumstances have been created and embellished for your entertainment.

ACROSS 1. Droop 4. Rested in a chair 7. Thai (var.) 10. Draw out wool 12. Coatis genus 14. Taxis 15. Beige 16. Supplementing with dif-ficulty 17. Capital of Norway 18. A personal written history 21. Cologne 22. Australian flightless bird 23. Lowest freeman; early Eng. 25. 18th C. mathematician Leonhard 28. Cabinet Dept. for homes 29. Languages of Sulu islands 33. More scarce 35. Before 36. Swiss river 37. Actress & director Lupino 38. Edges 41. Thousand Leaves prefec-ture 44. Soldier hero of Spain El ___ 45. Gains through work 47. To the front 49. I (German)

50. Price label 51. Barack’s 1st lady 58. Drench with liquid 59. Child (scot.) 60. “Aba ____ Honeymoon” 62. Disappearing shade trees 63. Cricket frog genus 64. Union busting worker 65. A priest’s liturgical vest-ment 66. Previously The Common Market 67. Upper left keyboard key DOWN 1. Point midway between S and SE 2. Genus of birds 3. Personal spiritual leader 4. Japanese rice beverage 5. Eared owl genus 6. Wood oil finish 7. Hyphen 8. Competently 9. Equal, prefix 11. Broad-winged soaring hawks 12. A collection of star systems 13. Be in accord 14. Links subject & predicate (linguistics) 19. Paddles

20. Asian river between China and Russia 23. Physicists Marie or Pierre 24. Excessive fluid accumula-tion in tissues 26. _____ Dunlap, pageant titleholder 27. Made again 28. Norse goddess of death 30. A waterproof raincoat 31. Express pleasure 32. ___ Lanka 34. Radioactivity unit 39. Clay blocks for building 40. Linear unit 42. Conductor tools 43. Whale ship captain 46. Queen who tested Solomon 48. Good Gosh! 51. A gangster’s girlfriend 52. Unstressed-stressed 53. Draw through holes 54. Old Italian monetary units 55. Musician Clapton 56. Ceremonial staff of author-ity 57. Fabrics of camels or goats 58. A very large body of water 61. Basics

*See our next issue for Crossword

Answers*

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Clovis Roundup August 1, 2013 Page 17

Clovis Fire Department Contains Home Fire

Clovis Fire Department responded to a single-story home fire at 2128 Vartikian Avenue early Saturday evening. Initially reported at 5:30pm by one of the residents, Clovis units arrived within four minutes reporting heavy smoke and flames coming from the outdoor patio area and eves of the home. Residents of the home were able to verify that everyone had safely evacuated allowing additional fire personnel to extinguish the blaze that had spread into the attic, a bedroom and adjacent bathroom. Other arriving units quickly secured utilities, vented the roof, and established a water supply for crews battling the fire on the exterior and interior of the home. Based on a preliminary investigation, the fire appears to have originated on the patio area near a barbeque. While evacuating, one resident did sustain injuries and was transported to the hospital and no injuries

were reported from fire personnel. Initial estimates place the damages to the home at $150,000 including personal belongings.

Seven units and twenty-one personnel, including resources from the Fresno Fire Department, Clovis Police Department and Clovis Emergency Response Team volunteers responded to the incident. Local family members are supporting and housing their loved ones displaced from the fire.

Residents are reminded to always take appropriate safety precautions when grilling outdoors. When grilling with propane or gas, always ensure connections are sealed and follow manufactures instructions. Always keep a fire extinguisher near you when grilling, never leave the grill unattended and safely dispose of ashes after they’ve cooled in fire safe container.

ABC Grant Designed to Stop Alcohol-Related Crime/Sales

to Minors

The California Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC) this month awarded the Clovis Police Department a $35,500 GAP (Grant Assistance Program) grant as part of a yearlong agency partnership to curb alcohol-related crimes in the city and stop the sales of wine, beer and spirits to teenagers in Clovis. This grant will provide for more officers on the street in a special enforcement capacity to ensure public safety.

The GAP program was created in 1995 to strengthen partnerships between ABC and local law enforcement agencies. The program is designed first to educate businesses on how to reduce alcohol crime, and secondly to enforce the law by putting bad operators out of business, keeping alcohol away from minors, and bringing penalties such as fines, suspensions or revocations against businesses that violate the law.

Under the grant, Clovis Police and ABC officers will work together on sting and enforcement operations throughout the year. Operatives, between the ages of seventeen and nineteen, will serve as decoys and attempt to purchase alcohol from bars, restaurants and stores. Other details will include working with bar owners to catch minors presenting false IDs at bars (carries a fine for violators),

patrol details targeting juvenile/minor alcohol parties and inspections of ABC licensed businesses.

The grant also provides for education to licensed businesses, additional training for patrol officers on enforcement of alcohol related laws, and outreach to schools and juveniles in the community on the dangers of alcohol.

Tip of the DayDaytime burglaries occur more often in the summer. Lock

windows/doors before leaving, and report suspicious people and vehicles in your neighborhood immediately! Contact the non-

emergency line at 559-324-2800.

Page 18 August 1, 2013 Clovis Roundup

Teams compete for Top Dog in Ice cream eating contestBy Carol Lawson-Swezey

Sticky, gooey and a cold mess, but for true ice cream connoisseurs, the first Fresno State ‘Dog Bowl Ice Cream Contest’ was a frozen treat lover’s dream come true. The contest at the Rue and Gwen Gibson Farm Market’s 7th annual Fresno State Farm Festival on July 13 pitted 13 teams of four in a competition to eat 12 scoops- two pounds- of the award winning Fresno State ice cream in the fastest time. The massive concoction included a mound of whipped cream, sprinkles and even a massive dog bone shaped chocolate bar.

The “Garbage Guts” team of Rob Wike, Bruce Henderson, Brandon Williams and Dakota Daffron finished their mountain of creamy bliss in one minute and 59 seconds, reports Jodi Raley, lead student manager of the market. Dakota will be a freshman Mechanical Engineering major at Fresno State in the fall.

It wasn’t all guts and glory; the team had a strategy, said team leader Bruce

Henderson. “First we kicked the bone (chocolate) off, ate the top layer and then started shoveling fistfuls of ice cream in our mouth.” They ended with Bruce finishing off the candy bar and the team slurping up the remains of the melted ice cream off the table. It was not a pretty sight.

“It took longer than we thought,” Bruce admitted.

The team was awarded a trophy in the shape of a dog feeding bowl and each received a Gibson Farm Market gift basket containing an assortment of Fresno State Farm products including raisins, Bulldog Bark Bars, coated almonds and raisins, free ice cream scoop coupons, bowling coupons, Wild Water Adventure tickets and gift cards for the Kennel Bookstore on campus.

Other teams did their best to give “Garbage Guts” a fight. Fresno State frat brothers, Victor Rodriguez, Daniel Ward, Jaime Maturino and Juan Alejandre, from

Alpha Sigma Phi, came in second. They prepped for the event by eating at buffets and completing an inaugural competition at the “Buffalo Wild Wing” contest where they had to eat 12 of the hottest wings the restaurant offers in six minutes.

“Everyone survived,” Daniel said.A team from Fresno State’s International

Business Association, Kimberly Delgadillo, Danielle Piele, Alexandria Mendoza and Gloria Flores, decided to join the completion as a “good summer activity” and looked up techniques on the internet.

The youngest team ranged in age from 6 to 13 and included Aidan Mitchell, Xavier Johnson, Justus Garcia and the old man, Luke Phillips, 13. The youngest all girl team “Sassy Scoop” was comprised of cousins Courtney and Bella Williams and Olivia and Grace Colangelo.

“We practiced by eating ice cream as fast as we could,” said Courtney. “We wanted to do the contest to challenge ourselves.” The girls were scheduled to attend a family BBQ after the contest where more ice cream was on the menu.

Nearly 1,500 people attended the farm festival, held for the first time in the new Gibson Farm Market. The event included compl imentary samples of

products produced and sold at Fresno State as well as a ticketed wine tasting and food pairing in the afternoon.

But the ice cream competition was the cherry on the topping.

Even Dr. Joseph Castro, the new president-designate of Fresno State, participated in the dog fight. Dr. Castro’s team, “Prez-Des Dogs,” was made up of daughter Lauren and sons Isaac and Jess. Castro’s wife Mary served as team manager.

“This was a great, successful activity to help showcase not only the university’s farm market and our AG students, but the Central California agricultural region,” said Dr. Charles Boyer, dean of the Jordan College of Agricultural Sciences and Technology, who sponsored the event.

“We were so glad our president-designate and his family joined in the fun. We teased him that this was the last leg of the presidential hiring process. He, and his family’s team, passed with flying colors.”

Clovis Roundup August 1, 2013 Page 19

Dispatches From A Movie Theater‘Fruitvale Station’ – 3 stars out of 4On the night of January 1st, 2009,

Oscar Grant‘s life was unjustly taken by BART police officer Johannes Mehserle in Oakland, California, leaving behind his longstanding girlfriend and 4-year-old daughter. He was 22-year-old.

While Grant has perished, his story and spirit lives on in ‘Fruitvale Station’, a dev-astating dramatization chronicling the final hours before his death.

Rising star Michael B. Jordan (‘Chron-icle’) plays Grant, a former convict who - upon his release from prison - is met with the temptation of devolving back into drug dealing game: a lucrative busi-ness he knows he can excel in. But like any story of redemption, Oscar wants a better, cleaner life for not only himself, but also his family.

To put his wife and daughter through another prison sentence would mean more abandonment. However, the road the so-briety and civility is not paved with the type of money selling marijuana has to offer. Oscar must choose – as he dutifully does on his final day – between right and wrong.

‘Fruitvale Station’ does an affable job – with its new age aesthetic (i.e. every time Oscar texts someone on his phone, we see the messages enlarged onto the screen) – not painting Grant as a martyr or a saint. He’s a deeply flawed human being, and filmmaker Ryan Coogler never forgets that.

As a result ‘Fruitvale Station’ comes off as a gripping, authentic day in the life examination of a man attempting to finally do right.

‘The To-Do List’ – 1.5 stars out of 4With high school ending and college

at Georgetown on the horizon, virginal scholar Brandy Klark (Aubrey Plaza) has a sexual epiphany when she awkwardly locks eyes with a hunky, guitar playing college student named Rusty Waters (Scott Porter).

To become an erudite student on sexu-

ality, Brandy creates a “to do list” filled with sexual acts she’s determined to experience by the end of the sum-mer. Aside from in-tercourse, most of these acts are ones this paper (or any paper rather) will not permit me to print.

Unfor tuna te ly ‘The To Do List’ makes a fatal mis-step with the Bran-dy character: her sexual awakening is unbelievable. As in, I don’t buy for a second that an intelligent and attractive woman like Clark would spend four years of high school and not tap into her pent-up sexuality. When she sees Rusty she’s im-mediately turned on. But the film acts as if she’s never been exposed to an attractive male before.

Alas, ‘The To-Do List’ goes on, and Brandy embarks on her sexual odyssey with the help of her friends and colleagues at the pool she’s employed at for the sum-mer (run by Bill Hader whose wife, Mag-gie Carey, wrote and directed the film).

Set in the 1990s, this is a clearly defined R-rated comedy. It’s crass and raunchy, with enough jokes containing fecal matter, urine, and butter rubbed on genitals (don’t ask) to make you gag. On occasion Plaza evokes some laughter. But by in large, ‘The To Do List’ is a mildly amusing, va-pid comedy tackling material that’s been covered before in far better films.

‘R.I.P.D.’ – .5 star out of 4If you’ve seen the advertisements for

‘R.I.P.D.’ then you probably presumed Robert Schwentke’s banal sci-fi/action movie was going to be terrible. If so, your presumptions are absolutely accurate.

Jeff Bridges and Ryan Reynolds play two deceased officers who serve the Rest In Peace Department, a place for dead cops to morally redeem themselves before final judgment (Heaven) by pro-tecting Earth from destructive creatures refusing to move into the afterlife.

If that plot description confused you, just look at this way: “R.I.P.D.’ is essen-tially a watered-down reimagining of ‘Men In Black.’ Except less humor, less budding chemistry between its two lead actors, and less special effect work that actually works.

Everything you enjoyed about Will Smith and Tommy Lee Jones cracking wise as they fought off extraterrestrial enemies in ‘MIB’ is stripped away in ‘R.I.P.D.’ – a lazy knockoff that Hol-lywood studios have repackaged and dumped into theaters at the tail-end of summer with reckless abandonment, hoping and praying that audiences will be gullible enough to purchase an over-priced ticket. My advice to you all: don’t.

Sam FragosoFounder & Editor-In-Chief of Mov-

ie Mezzanine. You may follow me on Twitter @SamFragoso

Fans Invited to Movie Night

on the Field at Bulldog Stadium

Fresno State welcomes fans to walk the stands and watch a movie on the turf

FRESNO, Calif. - The Fresno State Athletic Department will host Movie Night on the Field, a free event for the public, on August 3rd at Bulldog Stadium. As selected by fan vote on the Fresno State Facebook page, Remember the Titans will be featured at 8:30 p.m., gates open at 7 p.m.

Prior to the movie, new and future season tickets holders are invited to take part in “Select a Seat” from 7:30 pm to 8:25 p.m. with ticket representatives on hand to help with any questions. Bulldog fans will have the opportunity to walk in the stands and choose from the remaining available seats with assistance from the staff. Fans can take this chance to sit down and get a first-hand view of the seat of their choice for the 2013 football season.

Once fans have chosen their seats for the upcoming season they will be asked to make their way to the turf. Fans are encouraged to bring blankets or chairs for the viewing of the movie. No outside food or beverages are permitted, with the exception of sealed water bottles. Concessions will be open at the south entrance of the stadium and cooling stations will be set up for fans to enjoy.

Parking is free in the blue lot and overflow will be directed to the white lot.

“Discover Fresno State Football” - 2013 Fresno State football season tickets are now on sale and can be ordered online at gobulldogs.com or over the phone at 559-278-DOGS (3647). The official home of the Fresno State Bulldogs is 940 AM ESPN Radio.

Page 20 August 1, 2013 Clovis Roundup

1990 N Fowler, Clovis, CA 93619SW Corner of Shepard and Fowler

Business Hours: M-F 10-6:30 p.m. • Sat. 9-6 p.m. • Sun. 10-5 p.m.

559-256-1390www.themeatmarket.com

Tri Tip TuesdaysCooked Tri Tip, Choice

of Side and a 2 Liter

Pepsi Product.All for $20 + Tax

Offer Good All Day TUESDAYS.

FAMILy FEATURES

W arm weather is welcome for a variety of reasons, but for many of us it signals the season for dining al fresco. Whether stepping out back onto a porch or patio,

or planning a picnic at the beach or park, the food is the star.

These recipes showcase exciting flavors and easy preparation. One way to liven up outdoor menus is with unexpected ingredients, such as pickled beets. They add flavor, color and nutrition to a variety of dishes. Aunt Nellie’s line of pickled beets tastes homemade — only the peeling and pickling are done for you. Just open the jar and you’re on your way to fabulous appetizers, main dish wraps and, even, dessert. For a colorful vegetable side, a can of READ 3 or 4 Bean Salad is the perfect base. Just add fresh vegetables cut into thin strips and toss with a quick dressing. Dine al fresco — cheers to fresh air and fabulous food.

For more delicious recipes made with Aunt Nellie’s products, visit www.AuntNellies.com. Additional ideas for READ salads can be found at www.ReadSalads.com.

Bean & Vegetable Salad and Beef & Horseradish Wraps

Herbed Eggplant & Beet DipMakes 8 servings (approx. 1/4 cup each)Preparation Time: 30 minutes Cook Time: 15 minutes 1 jar (16 ounces) Aunt Nellie’s Sliced Pickled Beets, drained 2 tablespoons olive or canola oil 1 medium eggplant (about 1 pound), cut into 1-inch pieces 1 cup chopped onion 3 cloves garlic, sliced Salt Coarse ground black pepper 1/2 cup plain nonfat yogurt (Greek or traditional), optional 1/4 cup thinly sliced fresh basil 1 to 2 teaspoons chopped fresh thyme leaves Pita chips, fresh vegetablesCoarsely chop beets.

In large nonstick skillet heat oil over medium heat until hot. Add eggplant, onion and garlic; cook 15 minutes or until vegetables are tender, stirring frequently. Add water, 1 tablespoon at a time, if mixture seems too dry or begins to stick. Salt and pepper, as desired.

Place eggplant mixture in bowl of food processor; process until mixture is chopped and combined. Measure out 1/2 cup chopped beets; set aside. Add remaining chopped beets to eggplant mixture. Process until dip is desired consistency.

Transfer dip to serving bowl. Stir in yogurt, if desired. Stir in herbs and reserved 1/2 cup chopped beets just before serving. Serve with pita chips and vegetables for dipping. If not served immediately, cover and refrigerate up to 6 hours. Allow to stand about 15 min utes before serving if chilled.

Spicy Beet, Fruit & Nut BarsMakes 28 barsPreparation Time: 25 minutes Bake Time: 20 minutes 1 jar (15.5 ounces) Aunt Nellie’s Harvard Beets 1 package (15.25 ounces) spice cake mix 1 cup packed light brown sugar 1/4 cup canola or vegetable oil 1 large egg 1 cup dried mixed fruits, chopped if necessary 1/2 cup chopped walnuts, pecans or almonds (or a combination), toasted Confectioners’ sugarPreheat oven to 350°F. Drain beets. Puree beets in food processor or blender until smooth; set aside. Line 15 x 10 x 1-inch baking pan with aluminum foil. Spray lightly with nonstick cooking spray.

Place cake mix in large bowl. Add pureed beets, brown sugar, oil and egg. Beat on low speed of electric mixer 2 minutes or until com-pletely combined, scraping bowl as necessary. Stir in fruits and nuts.

Spread dough evenly in prepared pan. Bake 20 minutes or until pick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool completely. Sprinkle with confectioners’ sugar. Cut into bars.

Spicy Beet, Fruit & Nut Bars

Herbed Eggplant & Beet Dip

Baby Beets & Olives

Baby Beets & OlivesMakes 6 servingsPreparation Time: 15 minutes 1 16-ounce jar Aunt Nellie’s Whole Baby Pickled Beets, drained 3/4 cup assorted pitted olives 1 to 2 tablespoons orange zest 1 clove garlic, minced 1/2 teaspoon cracked black pepperCombine all ingredients in medium bowl. Serve at room temperature or chilled

Bean & Vegetable SaladMakes 4 servingsPreparation Time: 30 minutes 1 can (15 ounces) READ 3 or 4 Bean Salad 2 cups vegetables, cut into thin strips* 1/4 cup very thinly sliced red onion, optional Cracked black pepper Chopped parsley, optionalDressing: 2 tablespoons reserved bean salad liquid 1 tablespoon apple cider or wine vinegar 1 tablespoon olive oil 1 large clove garlic, mincedDrain bean salad; reserve 2 table spoons liquid.

For dressing, combine reserved bean salad liquid, vinegar, oil and garlic. Whisk until combined.

In large bowl, toss together drained bean salad, vegetables and onion, if desired. Toss with dressing. Season with black pepper and stir in chopped parsley, if desired. Serve at room temperature or chilled.*Cut vegetables into thin strips about 2 x 1/4 inch. Vegetables can be one or a combination of: carrot, celery, bell pepper, cucumber, zucchini, yellow squash, or other favorite vegetable.

Smoked Salmon & Beet WrapsMakes 4 servingsPreparation Time: 30 minutes 1 jar (16 ounces) Aunt Nellie’s Sliced Pickled Beets 2 tablespoonsfinelychopped red onion 1 to 2 tablespoons capers 1 to 2 teaspoons lemon zest 1/2 cup spreadable chive cream cheese 2 largesoftflourtortillas (10- to 12-inch diameter) 8 slices smoked salmon 1/2 cup baby spinach leavesDrain beets; chop. Discard beet liquid. In medium bowl, combine beets, onion, capers and lemon zest.

Spread 1/4 cup cream cheese evenly over each tortilla, leaving 1-inch border. Place 4 salmon slices over cream cheese; press lightly. Top each with spinach. Sprinkle beet mixture evenly over spinach.

Roll up. Wrap each roll tightly in plastic wrap. Refrigerate up to 4 hours.

To serve, remove plastic wrap; cut each tortilla into 2 pieces.

Beef & Horseradish WrapsMakes 4 servingsPreparation Time: 30 minutes 1 jar (16 ounces) Aunt Nellie’s Sliced Pickled Beets 1/2 cup shredded carrots 1 tablespoon prepared horseradish 1/2 cup spreadable cheese (such as goat cheese or herb/garlic soft cheese) 2largesoftflourtortillas(about10-to 12-inch diameter) 10 green onions (green part only) 10 thin slices deli roast beefDrain beets; chop. Discard beet liquid. In medium bowl, combine beets, carrots and horseradish.

Spread 1/4 cup cheese evenly over each tortilla, leaving 1-inch border. Arrange 5 green onions (do not chop) on each; press lightly into cheese. Place 5 slices beef on each tortilla covering green onions, then sprinkle beet mixture evenly over beef.

Roll up in parallel direction of the green onions. Wrap each roll tightly in plastic wrap. Refrigerate up to 4 hours.

To serve, remove plastic wrap; cut each tortilla into 2 pieces.

Clovis Roundup August 1, 2013 Page 21

Spotted Owls and the Spotty Sciences that Spawned Them:5 Questions

By Dr. Bob Zybach, Ph.D.Program Manager, www.ORWW.org

June 19, 2013[Note: This is the text version of an il-

lustrated article written for the current is-sue of Oregon Fish & Wildlife Journal.]

Spotted owls have now been in the news for more than 40 years; were listed as an endangered species via the Endangered Species Act in 1990; have been actively managed since 1992 by classification of millions of acres of federal forestlands in Washington, Oregon, and California as “critical habitat” – and have still declined in population at an estimated rate of 2-3% a year ever since.

No one will argue that these results are based on political decisions that have had unexpected and wide-ranging cultural, biological, economical and aesthetic re-percussions, particularly in the Pacific Northwest. Some have even referred to these circumstances as a “major social ex-periment.” According to federal legislation and much of the popular press, spotted owl legislative decisions have been based on the “Best Available Science,” the “new-est” scientific information, and “scientific consensus.”

But were they really? And even if true, was all of this “newest science” used to make wise or thoughtful legislative de-cisions? Efforts to stabilize or increase spotted owls numbers have cost American taxpayers tens of billions of dollars; been partly responsible for unprecedented num-bers of catastrophic wildfires; caused the loss of tens of thousands of tax-produc-ing jobs for western US families; created economic hardships for hundreds of rural counties, towns, and industries; and indi-rectly resulted in the deaths of millions of native plants and animals.

Was that part of the plan? Should we continue down the same path to “recovery” that has resulted from these decisions? My personal concern is not the politics in-volved in making such decisions – that’s what politics are for. My concern is that the scientific process is being misused and degraded via such politics, thereby reduc-ing public faith in the credibility and capa-bility of science in general and scientists in particular. Also, I think the public should be directly involved in such decision-mak-ing processes and not continue to leave it up to university and agency committees and the courts. Lawyers on both sides of the table get paid in these disputes, and so do politicians and government scientists – it is just the loggers, truck drivers, sawmill workers, foresters, engineers, tree planters, and construction workers that are left with the consequences.

The American public has been told that the scientific information used to drive spotted owl political decisions has been “peer reviewed,” often with the declara-tion that it is the latest and best informa-tion available for making such decisions (and thus leaving “science” and scientists as scapegoats when things don’t work out; i.e., “politics”). The quality of peer-re-viewed science, however, depends on the chosen method of review, the qualifica-tions of reviewers, and the review criteria – which are typically expressed as a series of questions.

The US agencies in charge of managing public resources have not been forthcom-ing about the scientific information and quality of peer reviews used to drive their policies and decisions. There is no logical reason the American public has been ex-cluded from this process, nor is there any logical reason to continue such exclusion. The following five questions are intended to begin a more transparent and scien-tifically credible review of the “science-based” management decisions involv-ing spotted owls. These criteria are just as valid for public discussion as they are for scientific review, and I believe should become part of the public debate on these animals.

1. Are Spotted Owls Even a Species?This is a trickier question than you

might suspect. When I was a kid in pub-lic schools, I was taught that animals that could biologically breed and produce vi-able offspring were considered the same species. A few anomalies such as lions, tigers, horses, and burros usually stretched

the limits of these discussions; otherwise, viable offspring was the rule. The Ameri-cans who taught this basic approach to biological taxonomy were members of the same generation that passed the Endan-gered Species Act in 1973, as spotted owls were first being introduced to the general public. What was the principal intent of this legislation? More importantly, how were they defining “species?”

The most common owl in North Ameri-ca is called the “hoot owl” or “barred owl.” It looks and sounds almost exactly like a spotted owl, occupies the same range, and has successfully bred and produced vi-able young with spotted owls. Are spot-ted owls, therefore, just the western-most cousins of the brown-eyed hoot owl fam-ily? Or did some committee of nameless scientists give them separate Latin names that somehow transformed them into sepa-rate species?

And if they really are the same species, shouldn’t this whole “critical habitat” op-eration be shut down ASAP and the people who assembled it be held accountable?

The analogy I have been using for sev-eral years is probably not politically cor-rect, but makes this key point in terms most audiences can relate to: “there are far greater variations in physiology, vocaliza-tions, coloration, preferred habitats, diet, and appearance between a Pygmy and a Swede than between a barred owl and a spotted owl.” Sometimes some people seem uncomfortable by this comparison, so potatoes, red and yellow roses, or Ger-man shepherds and French poodles can be substituted as discussion points if the audi-ence is more familiar with those species.

The point is, humans have mastered selective breeding and domestication of many species of plants and animals – and now we are trying to do the same thing with a particular group of wild owls. The public, at least, should know what it is spending such enormous sums of money on – and if it’s only to breed a particular variety of common hoot owl, shouldn’t that information be known and perhaps re-considered?

2. What is so “Critical” About “Habi-tat”?

In 1992, the federal government des-ignated several million acres of Pacific Northwest forests as “critical habitat” for spotted owls, thereby fundamentally changing the management methods and focus of our public forests. These lands were no longer managed by the US Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management foresters, but rather put into the hands of US Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) bi-ologists – who declared them off-limits to logging and most other commercial activi-ties. These same lands had been used for subsistence and recreation by generations of American families, and for hundreds of generations of local Indian families before them. Now it was being made into a mas-sive and unprecedented reserve for a single species: spotted owls.

These so-called “critical” properties were designated by dozens of 2.7 mile-diameter “crop circles,” supposedly based on the “home range” of a nesting spot-ted owl. The final result was much like the cookies or biscuits shaped for your mom with drinking glasses or teacups when you were first learning to bake. The circles mostly correlated to owl sightings and were concentrated in public lands the USFWS did not want logged. Thus, about seven million acres of some of the world’s finest timberlands were abruptly removed from management for human uses for the first time in history. These designations were transformative and unprecedented, yet quickly adopted without independent scientific review or substantive public dis-cussion.

Environmental activists and some sci-entists have long claimed that spotted owl habitat used to exist in far greater amounts before 1940 than it does now – therefore, spotted owl numbers must have been greater in the unknown past than they are now. This is a baseless assumption that cannot be documented and therefore needs serious critical examination before accep-tance – much less widespread adoption at

an enormous cost to taxpayers or treatment as a “fact.”

In 1996, I wrote a research report for a Portland, Oregon law firm dealing with this issue. My study area was the Colum-bia River Gorge, including thousands of acres of private and federal forestlands along both Oregon and Washington sides. My findings showed – and documented – that spotted owl “habitat” (by current definitions at that time) was unlikely ever more than 5% or 10% of the total study area during any time since the 1790s. Sub-sequent research of two million other for-ested acres in western Oregon have yield-ed similar documented findings.

There is no demonstrated correlation between owl populations and artificial designations of “critical habitat” zoning. These areas appear far more critical for the survival of agency biologists and ecolo-gists than for owls of any stripe or spot. Predator-prey relationships seem to have much more to do with owl populations than forest structure – an assertion borne out by efforts used to restore endangered condor populations, which are kept and bred in cages, and by the fact that at least one agency wildlife biologist caught and kept a spotted owl as a family pet for 30 years.

3. Are Barred Owls a Living Example of “Natural Selection?”

“Darwin’s Finches” are 15 species of closely related birds, but with entirely dif-ferent beaks and feeding habit,s adapted to their local environments. These birds, and their individual variations, were first noted by Charles Darwin in his exploration of the Galapagos Islands in 1835, and were instrumental in the development of his the-ories of biological evolution and “natural selection.”

Darwin’s finches aren’t really finches at all, but passerines: members of an or-der of songbirds and perching birds con-taining more than 110 families and more than 5,000 species – including Darwin’s 15 finches. Passerines are the second most numerous vertebrate families on the plan-et, following bony fishes, and the basis for most subsequent findings and theories re-garding evolution.

In the mid-1900s, Darwin’s thoughts on natural selection were being refined into “ecological niche” theory, a system-atic look at “how ecological objects fit to-gether to form enduring wholes” (Patten and Auble, 1981). It is basically an effort to systematize Darwin’s theories so they can be diagrammed and programmed into mathematical computer models.

Spotted owls were first described in California in 1857, in Arizona in 1872, in Washington in 1892, and in Oregon in 1914. Barred owl were first described in 1799 in the eastern U.S., expanded their range westward to Montana in the 1920s, and were interbreeding with spotted owls in Western Oregon and Washington by 1975. From all historical perspectives, it appears as if two isolated populations of hoot owls – western and eastern – have co-incidentally expanded their ranges during the past century or so, and have now joined together to form viable hybrids that are re-placing former spotted owl populations. How is this any different than Europeans and Africans colonizing North America and replacing Native American popula-tions as they “expanded their range?”

In 2007 the US Fish & Wildlife Service began a long-term program of systemati-cally killing barred owls in order to main-tain the genetic purity of local spotted owl populations. You can use dogs or roses – or humans – as analogies here to see how arti-ficial breeding precedence is being used. Is this god-like attempt to control evolution simply another human effort to artificially produce desired breeding characteristics, or some kind of ecological niche theory testing opportunity?

Depending on the rationale used to justify these actions, the next questions become: “Is this method logical or practi-cal?” And, “How much does it cost?”

4. How Reliable Are Computerized Predictive Models?

Modeling isn’t rocket science – it isn’t even a science. Computer sciences made

rapid gains in quality during the 1970s and 1980s, with one result often being mod-eling predictions accepted as reasonable substitutions for actual field observations and independent analysis – especially by other modelers.

Wildlife models are almost exactly the same thing as “Sims” computer games, but with a lot more acronyms and algorithms in their attempts to mimic actual life, and then predict the future. Making predic-tions and comparing them with actual out-comes is a hallmark of scientific method-ology, but when predictions are based on unstated assumptions, unproven theories, and “informed” speculation – all typical modeling characteristics – then the prod-uct can be little different than any other computer game. Models are a very useful tool for summarizing current knowledge and suggesting possible futures, but they have proven no more capable of predict-ing future conditions and catastrophes than ancient oracles or modern religious leaders and politicians; or most scientists.

In his book ”Best Available Science (BAS): Fundamental Metrics for Evalu-ation of Scientific Claims” (Moghissi et al. 2010), Dr. Alan Moghissi categorizes computerized predictive models into five basic types. Those typically used to model wildlife populations and habitat correla-tions he terms “primary” and “secondary” models. Despite their inherent weakness-es, he observes that society “has no other choice” but to use primary models in mak-ing certain decisions. Regarding second-ary models, however, he states, “a society that bases its decisions on these models must accept the notion that it may waste its resources.”

Often, the only people said to be “quali-fied” to assess models and modeling meth-ods are “other modelers.” The results have not been good. It is time to shine some daylight on this industry and have actual environmental scientists and concerned members of the public take a better look at “the man behind the curtain.”

5. What Do Government Scientists Say About Owl Recovery Plans?

Certainly, if the US government was going to spend billions of our dollars, ruin the economies of hundreds of our com-munities, and kill millions of wild plants and animals in the process, they would have at least used “peer reviewed” science – and been transparent in their methods – wouldn’t they?

In 2007, a number of prominent univer-sity and agency scientists that had helped create the spotted owl “recovery plans” were asked, in essence, by USFWS to review their own work. Not surprisingly, they decided it was pretty good stuff and – despite declining spotted owl numbers – we should be doing more of it.

The “Scientific Review of the Draft Northern Spotted Owl Recovery Plan and Reviewer Comments” was written by Ste-ven Courtney, Jerry Franklin, Andy Carey, Miles Hemstrom, and Paul Hessburg, sev-eral of who also appear prominently in their review bibliography – often for work done for, or used by, the USFWS. Despite the obvious potential for bias with this ar-rangement, the work was conducted open-ly and transparently and resulted in several useful observations and recommendations, including:

*Current models of owls and their habi-tats are largely heuristic. Hence decisions on important issues such as reserve size, spacing, etc., must be made with relatively weak predictive tools.

*The approach of the Draft Recovery Plan for designating habitat goals is deep-ly flawed. However the need to set locally appropriate and sustainable habitat goals remains a valid goal.

*The threat from wildfire is underesti-mated in the Draft Recovery Plan . . . This threat is likely to increase given both cur-rent forest conditions, and future climatic change.

Conclusions 1) Federal spotted owl regulations have

been implemented during the past 25 years at an enormous cost to American taxpayers

Spotted owl, continued on page 22

Clovis Roundup August 1, 2013 Page 22

What A Pain!By Dr. Edward Trevino

Every day, we go about our business, unbeknownst to us there are little micro-wor lds that exist. We really don’t have a clue that things are actually going on in our lives. Some of the

things that happen are things that affect our body. Some of these are things that could cause deleterious situations for us. A lot of times we can have a health issue without even knowing it exists.

Usually a health issue will start and be asymptomatic. Health issues start at the cellular level but that doesn’t occur to us. So, how can we know we have a health situation? The body is able to tell us to

be aware. Some of the cues are visual, aural, and most common is physiological. We are made aware by having a feeling or sensation that says, “Hey, Hello, something’s going on.” What do we call these sensations? We call them, “Pain.” The dictionary describes pain as “physical suffering or distress.” Pain can come in many shapes, forms, and levels. We need to look at is why at any certain point there is no pain. An analogy would be standing in a room with smoke and the smoke alarm hasn’t gone off yet. It won’t go off until it reaches its specified level or potential which initiates the alarm. But, there is still danger. The body is no different. It must reach its potential before it will tell you that something is going on. How about a heart attack? When it starts to hurt, do you think that the heart problem started at that exact moment? I think not. It had been brewing for a while until it reached its potential. Did you have anything to

complain about or be concerned with until that happened? No. What if the problem was detected before it caused the attack? You probably didn’t have any pain before, but what about after you had the procedure to correct it. There would be pain after having the corrective procedure. Would it last over a period of time? Yes. This begs the question, “Would you blame the surgeon for the post-surgical discomfort?” I doubt it. You would, more than likely, be happy that they corrected the problem. Pain or discomfort is part of the healing process. If you had knee replacement surgery it would be the same. You would first have to stretch, do therapy before you would walk, and it would be a long time before you could run. But all that discomfort would not be considered the physician’s fault. Again they would probably be revered for their ability to get you back on the road.

Dentistry is no different. Many times

we hear “My teeth weren’t hurting. So, there must not be anything wrong.” Would you tell the heart surgeon the same thing after taking a MRI? Radiographs are one of the diagnostic tools which the dentist uses to assess. If you don’t take care of the condition, the problem will exacerbate and could become detrimental. We know that pain will arouse our attention to let us know there is a problem, but it is also part of the healing process to let us know our limitations during the process. It is our body’s way of keeping us posted and is the indicator for keeping us aware of our body’s condition.

If you have any questions or comments, you may contact this writer at:

Art of Design Implant, Cosmetic and Family Dentistry

Edward A. Treviño, D.D.S.1040 E. Herndon, #102Fresno, CA 93720559-230-0809

Gilroy Garlic Bowl title belongs to Central California

Fresno State is bringing home the garlic.

University Dining Services Executive Chef Erik Debaude and his sous chef, alumnus Bryan Kramer, were crowned the first Gilroy Garlic Festival Garlic Bowl champions today when their two recipes beat out chefs from San Jose State University (second place) and University of California, Berkeley (third place).

They battled this afternoon in the inaugural garlic cooking competition at the 35th Gilroy Garlic Festival‘s Cook-Off Theater as part of the three-day event that draws more than 100,000 visitors to Christmas Hill Park in Gilroy.

The Fresno State chefs used several student products, including Fresno State sweet corn and olive oil from the Rue and Gwen Gibson Farm Market for their winning dish. They had one hour to

prepare, plate and serve the two dishes — each incorporating six cloves of fresh garlic — to a panel of five judges.

They earned a $5,000 cash scholarship for Fresno State and bragging rights as the first Gilroy Garlic Bowl champions and will bring home the perpetual trophy to display for the year. They will be invited back to defend their title next year.

Recipes for the two dishes — “Fresno State Corn and St André stuffed Crêpes with Tarragon and Lavender Garlic Cream Sauce” and “Seared Duck Breast with Red Currant Sauce, Garlic Purple Mash Potatoes with Beet Croustillant, Stuffed Fig with Chive and Garlic Goat Cheese” — are published in the 2013 Cook-off Cookbook sold at the festival.

The Fresno State recipes are also posted online at www.FresnoStateNews.

Spotted OwlContinued from page 21

– particularly those living in rural timber-dependent areas of the western U.S.

2) Current plans are a proven failure. Targeted owl populations continue to de-cline despite an unprecedented public in-vestment into their maintenance.

3) Barred owls and spotted owls may be the same species, in which there is no logical need to continue managing for the survival of either one. Or, they may be dif-ferent species, and we are simply witness-ing natural selection in progress.

4) The scientific basis for these plans should be considered in full light of pub-

lic and scientific review before they are continued much longer. The methods by which agency modelers and university theorists apparently dictate federal policies should also be reconsidered.

5) Scientific research and review teams dealing with spotted owl and critical habi-tat issues should also include scientists with an understanding of current and his-torical roles of people in the environment, such as landscape historians and cultural anthropologists.

Bob ParksContinued from page 14

“The good Lord works things out,” Diana said. “When Bob’s dad got so sick, he had to come and go to give him his medicine. The Sassanos made allowances for his personal life.”

Bob took as much pride in the store as if it was his own- he can always be counted on to know what the customer wants.

“He knows his customers so well that he has clothes waiting on the counter for them before they even finish getting in the door,” said Greg.

“Bob loves seeing the people,” Diana said. “Some longtime customers have been coming in for years. They’ve become like family to him.”

Diana worked for Merrill Lynch for 39 years until she was laid off last year. She keeps busy with her grandkids and helping her sister, Bineta, who has been ill. Bineta, or Bunny, calls Bob “the quiet strength of the family.”

Diana knows that Bob still plans to keep working as long as he has his health or at least until Greg can retire and take over the shop. She knows it’s already been a half century labor of love; decades of memories and friendships which have passed so quickly.

“It is almost a surprise to him that it has been this long,” Diana said. “Time has flown by. He’s seen so many changes in Clovis- so many old businesses and buildings are no longer here. There aren’t many people who stay in one place for 50 years. Bob has such loyalty to the idea of Clovis, especially the way it was 50 years ago, and loyalty to the Sassanos and the customers he’s grown to love.”

“My dad has a great heart,” Danielle said. “He’s put a lot of love and time into Sassano’s. It’s come to define him in many ways.”

Safety first when grilling this summerFor many people, Memorial Day marks

the unofficial start of summer. That means the return of weekend getaways to the beach and the reemergence of the backyard barbecue.

Summer grilling season is the perfect time to gather with friends and family in a laid back atmosphere where formal attire is forgotten in favor of flip flops and T-shirts. But as relaxed as a backyard barbecue can be, it also can quickly turn into a potentially dangerous or unhealthy situation, especially when the trusted grillmaster doesn’t take the following safety precautions regarding his grill and the foods he’s preparing.

* Don’t let foods sit out for hours. The United States Department of Agriculture advises grillmasters to refrigerate or freeze meat within two hours of purchasing it. Leaving food out next to the grill for a few hours increases the risk of foodborne illness. Though it might be more convenient to keep foods within spitting distance of the grill when you’re preparing to host a barbecue, you could be putting yourself and your guests at risk if food is

left out too long.* Change cooking tools and plates when

foods are cooked. When transporting food from the refrigerator to the grill, make sure the plate or containers you use to transport uncooked food are not used again until they have been thoroughly washed. Never use the same plate for preparation and serving. The same goes for tools like spatulas and tongs. Bacteria from uncooked foods can attach themselves to plates and cooking utensils, so cooked foods should always be picked up with clean tools and placed on clean plates before serving.

* Cook foods to the correct temperature. Undercooked foods are unhealthy and can cause significant health problems. The USDA recommends grillmasters cook these popular barbecue foods to minimum temperatures:

- Hamburgers -- 16O F- Poultry -- 165 F- Beef -- 145 F- Ground meats -- 160 F- Pork -- 145 F- Lamb -- 145 F* Keep a fire extinguisher on hand.

When grilling, you’re cooking foods over an open flame. This is true if your grill is a gas grill or a more traditional charcoal grill. The presence of open flames is a safety risk, so keep a fire extinguisher on hand in case a fire unexpectedly starts.

* Grill away from your house. Grills play a role in thousands of home fires every year. When placed too close to a home or in a poorly ventilated area on your property, the risk of a fire increases dramatically. When grilling, always choose a well-ventilated area, avoiding enclosed areas such as a covered patio, that’s a significant distance away from your home. This reduces the risk of the home lighting on fire should a grill fire erupt.

* Go easy on the lighter fluid. Lighter fluid can be very dangerous, especially for those grillmasters with a happy trigger finger. When using a charcoal grill, look for charcoal that already contains lighter fluid and needs only a lit match to light. If you must use more traditional charcoal, use only a minimum amount of lighter fluid and never apply additional fluid once the fire has started.

Grilling season has arrived and backyard barbecues have once again taken center stage. When grilling this summer, be sure to take certain precautions to protect against foodborne illness and fire.

Clovis Roundup August 1, 2013 Page 23

Community rallies around pacemaker recipientBy Carol Lawson-Swezey

Dion King is not looking for a handout, he just wants to live. He can feel the electronic beats in his heart slowing down day by day and needs to have another surgery to replace his failing pacemaker.

King has had an electronic pacemaker since age 16, after he was found to have sick sinus syndrome, a heart rhythm disorder. A second pacemaker was implanted at age 25 which was expected to last longer but has been rapidly deteriorating. He was told a month ago that it would most likely stop working by late August.

The dilemma is this. He needs a pacemaker but he has no insurance and can’t afford to pay for the procedure. He is grateful that the Fresno Heart and Surgical Hospital has agreed to waive its costs and the cardiologist has discounted his services but he estimates that the other outstanding costs will run about $20,000.

The 33 year old cement truck driver is one of millions of Americans stuck in the middle of the health care crisis- not insured but not qualified for government help because he is working. King recently suffered a series of layoffs. He worked for a firearms store for seven years before he was laid off in 2009. That followed two more jobs and two more layoffs. He went to truck driving school and got his license and in March got a job as a construction company driver. He admits that because he forgot to turn in the paperwork for the insurance then, he will have to wait until the company’s open enrollment period. At that time he was healthy.

But he needs that pacemaker now. His parents, Debbie and Kenny King, offered to mortgage their home but King couldn’t accept that. Neither could he accept quitting his job so he could apply for Medical. Both his mom and fiancée, Brooke Phillips, said they haven’t been able to sleep worrying that the pacemaker would stop and threaten King’s life.

The family made it their mission to spread the word through Facebook and radio and television media, and scrambled

to raise the necessary funds. They raised more than $12,500 on the www.gofundme.com web site and had a series of car washes and raffles to raise additional funds.

The car washes on July 13 and 14, attracted dozens of volunteers and hundreds of supporters, some who knew King but others who were total strangers. Wayne Hutchison of Wayne’s Mobile Car Wash & Detailing brought his truck to help on Saturday.

Wayne had been touched by Dion’s story on the news and was inspired to help. The former video and camera photographer had also been laid off and couldn’t find work in his field. He decided to turn his side car washing business into his livelihood several years ago. He could relate to being out of work with no insurance.

“I was moved by Dion’s story. It seemed so genuine and tugged at my heart,” Wayne said. “I had the time and the resources and equipment so I thought- why not? I was jamming through those cars and was tired and hot but felt fantastic helping.”

Local businesses also came through. BC’s Pizza from Clovis sent over lunch both days for the volunteers and coupons for the donors. Strangers donated water and snacks for the crew and Mo from the Johnny Quick on Bullard and Fowler offered his property for the car wash.

Following the car washes, the “Save Dion” team met their goal.

“There was such an outpouring of support and affection,” King said. “It was unbelievable.”

King said it’s been difficult to accept help but feels he has no choice. He’s supporting himself, his fiancé and her three young sons. If the money raised exceeds what he needs for the surgery, King said he will donate it to another worthwhile cause.

King was scheduled for his surgery July 29th and after a week off for R &R plans to be back on his feet and back to work.

“This outpouring of kindness has raised my faith in humanity,” King said. “I never

thought I’d be in this situation, but I am. I’m not trying to get it (the pacemaker) for

free; I’m just trying to get it done.”

Clovis Roundup August 1, 2013 Page 24