WHAT’S ON tap

AS THE WEEKEND APPROACHES, IT’S TIME TO BEGIN PLANNING FOR SOME REST AND RECREATION. HERE ARE SOME OF THE EVENTS AND ACTIVITIES COMING UP IN THE NEXT WEEK.

TODAY

the last chance to pre-register for the

Veterans Day Run is Thursday. The annual race takes place on Saturday in downtown Porterville before the Veterans Day Parade. It features a 10K run, 5K run, 5K walk and free kids fun run. The lowcost entry fee is only $20 for runners and walkers. Plus, there is a discounted rate of $10 for veterans and those in active military duty. Registration includes a bib, long-sleeved commemorative shirt that is designed special each year and other race swag. The race is chip timed with start and finish in front of Porterville City Hall. Medals will be awarded to the top three finishers in each age category and prizes for the top overall male and female finisher in each event. Register online at www.ci.porterville.ca.us or in person at the Heritage Center, 256 E. Orange Ave., and Porterville City Hall, 291 N. Main St. Preregistration will close at 5:30 p.m. on Thursday. The registration price increases $5 on the day of the race. Day-of-registration will take place from 6-6:45 a.m. For more information, call 782-7521.

community meeting

for residents of Sequoia Crest, Camp Nelson, Ponderosa, Pierpoint Springs, Cedar Slope, and Upper Tule scheduled from 6-7 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 9, at the Springville Veterans Memorial Building, 35944 Highway 190. The Tulare County Fire Department will present information about the potential for slope failures and road closures during flooding or heavy snow in these regions which experienced heavy fire activity during the Pier Fire this summer.

FRIDAY

lindsay Night Market 2017 season is almost finished. The market is held each Friday from 5:30 p.m. to 10 p.m. in downtown Lindsay from March through mid-november. It features food, vendors and other activities.

porterville Elks Lodge

TGIF dinner is served at 6:30 p.m. every Friday at the lodge on the corner of Main Street and Morton Avenue. The first Friday of the month is steak night. Cost varies. Public welcome. For more information, call 784-1342.

SATURDAY

the 99th annual Porterville Veterans Day Parade steps off at 10

a.m. Saturday. Leading the parade will be grand marshal Rick Elkins and 2017 Veterans Day Queen Brianna Torres of Porterville High School. This year’s theme is “Over There — Remembering World War I.” The parade route is down Main Street, beginning at Morton Avenue and continuing south to Orange Avenue. Joining Miss Torres on the Queen’s Float will be her court: Princess Calista Spohn of Porterville High, First Attendant Jasmyn Franco of Monache High, Second Attendant Abygail Saieva of Porterville High and Third Attendant Shelby Whinery of Porterville High the Old Timers’ Tea, also known as the Veterans Day Tea, will begin at 11 a.m. at the Historic Women’s Clubhouse at 265 N. E St. the anual Buck Shaffer

Band-a-rama will take place Friday at 2 p.m. at Granite Hill High School’s Rankin Stadium. The Band-a-rama will feature 14 high school and middle school bands and nearly 70 majorettes and twirlers. At 1 p.m. there will be a pre-show featuring Woodlake, Robert F. Kennedy, Orosi, and Delano high school bands performing their field shows, and at 2 p.m. before the parade of bands begins around the field, Scout Troup No. 132 (Scout Adviser Don Valdez) will carry a large American flag around the football field stopping in front of the stands for the “Pledge of Allegiance” led by Veterans Day Chairman Don Dowling. All bands will then march around the track playing selections of their choice and moving into their designated spots on the field. Pastor Kevin Roach from Porterville First Congregational Church will offer the invocation. PHS band director Jim Kusserow will direct the massed band, over 1,000 students will perform patriotic music in honor of veterans. Dowling will serve as emcee. The 2017 Miss Porterville and her attendants will be introduced just before the event begins. After the mass band performance, four bands will perform their field shows — Granite Hills Grizzly Band, Monache Marauder Band, and the Porterville Panther Band. A spot in the show will be given to majorettes of all the bands twirling together at one time to the “The Navy Song Anchor’s Aweigh” and “The Marines’ Hymn.” Joining the majorettes will be other teams from the area. The Band-a-rama is expected to be over at about 4 p.m.

SUNDAY

the Tule River Historical Museum is open to the public from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. on Sundays and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Tuesdays with no admission charge. The museum houses a collection of vintage lumber mill and farm equipment. Antiques from local families are on display in the 1860 Murphy House and in the main museum. For more information, contact Betty Harding at 539-6314.

TUESDAY

the Tule River Historical Museum is open to the public from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. on Sundays and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Tuesdays with no admission charge. The museum houses a collection of vintage lumber mill and farm equipment. Antiques from local families are on display in the 1860 Murphy House and in the main museum. For more information, contact Betty Harding at 539-6314. the Farmers Market

will be open Tuesdays from 8 to 11:30 a.m. through August along Main Street. Shoppers can expect 2430 booths selling fresh produce and other commodities, plus information booths set up by area agencies and organizations. Admission is free. Interested farmers can apply at www.visalifarmersmarket.com.

NOV. 18

the 17th annual Knights of Columbus No. 2329 of Porterville

Golf Tournament will be held on Saturday, Nov. 18, at River Island Country Club. Check in is 9 a.m. with a shotgun start at 11 a.m. The format is a four-person scramble. Entry fee is $100 per person and includes green fees, cart, tri-tip lunch. Cash prizes will be given to first, second and third places. There will be lots of tee and raffle prizes. Merle Stone Chevrolet will give away a new car for a hole in one. All proceeds from the tournament benefit Catholic and community charities. Hole

sponsorships are available. Participants may pay on day of the tournament. For more information or to sign up, call Gil Domingo at 788-7272 or Jason Baranek at 350-0839 or visit online www.portervillekofc.org. the Nasty Habits 6th Annual Toys for Tots Car

Show is set for Nov. 18 in the Pizza Factory parking lot, 897 W. Henderson Ave., Porterville. The show is from noon to 4 p.m. with roll-in from 8 to 11 a.m. Vehicle entry fee is $25 or $15 with an unwrapped toy. There will raffle prizes and top 40 awards. the Catholic Daughters of America will hold its annual Christmas Bazaar soup and saladbar luncheon from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Nov. 18 at Dillon Hall, 385 N. F St. in Porterville. Doors will open at 9 a.m. and lunch will be served starting at 11 a.m. Luncheon tickets are $10 for adults and $5 for children under age 12. Perhaps the highlight of the event will be the raffle drawing, during which attendees can enter to win a $300 gift certificate to Town & Country Market, a $100 gift certificate to La Fuente, and a $100 gift card to Target. ttrinity Lutheran Church’s 34th Annual Holiday Bazaar is coming. The bazaar will feature opportunity drawings for a colorful quilt, a large gift basket and a sketch by a wellknown artist. These are displayed behind the women. The bazaar will also include crafts, white elephant items, baked goods and much more. It is open from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., Nov. 18. The church is located at 764 W. Henderson Ave. For more information, call 784-6604.

ONGOING OCT. 1-DEC. 31

The City of Porterville will conduct its annual

“Food For Fines”

campaign Oct. 1 through Dec. 31. This program is designed to exchange non-perishable food items for library fines. One food item equals $1 in fines, up to $10 per card. The cans of food and other nonperishable food items received must not be damaged or expired and all items must have an expiration date. Patrons who have library accounts that have been sent to collections cannot participate. The objective is to collect enough food to contribute to the needs of the local community. This year the library will partner with the Porterville Kiwanis Club, a non-profit organization that coordinates an annual family food basket giveaway. Patrons without fines who want to donate are encouraged to do so. For more information on services and programs, visit the Porterville City Library at 41 W. Thurman Ave., call 784-0177, or go to www. portervillelibrary.org and www.facebook.com/portervillelibrary. the Porterville Historical Museum, located at 257 N. D St., is open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Thursdays through Saturdays. Admission is $5 for adults and $1 for students. Children age 6 and under are free. Friends of the Museum and sponsors are also free. For more information call 784-2053, go to www. portervillemuseum.org ,or visit the museum’s Facebook page. the Zalud House Museum is open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Thursdays through Saturdays. Admission is $2 for adults and 50 cents for children. The garden is available for special events. For more information, call 782-7548 or the Heritage Center at 791-7695. the Porterville Art

Association gallery is located at 151 N. Main St. Hours are 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Wednesdays through Saturdays and admission is free. Art work is changed every two months. The gift shop features items handcrafted by members. The PAA gallery is located at 151 N. Main St. Hours are 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday and admission is free. For more information, call 784-4323. porterville Art Walk

is held the first Friday of each month in downtown Porterville. Ten or more venues including galleries, studios and businesses will open their art exhibitions from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. Participants can meet the artists, listen to musicians

and poets, and enjoy receptions and beverages. The gallery is located at 151 North Main Street; everyone is welcome and admission is free. the Porterville Chamber of Commerce hosts First Friday

Coffee events the first Friday of each month. The events are held at Galaxy 9 Theatres at 631 N. Indiana St. beginning at 7 a.m. First Friday Coffee is designed to bring people together to network with other businesses. There will be coffee and snacks followed by a short program.

game Day is the first Saturday of each month from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. in the community room on the second floor of the Porterville City Library. Gamers of all ages and skill levels can play popular board, video and card games.

sergeant Shepherd, the new costumed mascot for the Porterville Police Department, is available to appear at youth-oriented meetings and events. The mascot’s purpose is to spread the motto — “Stand Up and Speak Out!” According to the Police Department, Shepherd will be encouraging the community to “Stand Up” for family, friends and community, and “Speak Out” against drugs, bullies and crime. To check Sergeant Shepherd’s availability for events targeting youths in the community call Sgt. Rick Carrillo at 782-7563. the Porterville Youth Center offers free recreation for youths after school. The center is open from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Friday and is located inside the Heritage Center at 256 E. Orange Avenue. The Youth Center offers a stimulating environment for youths ages10 to 18 and there are no registration fees or monthly costs. The Youth Center’s game room features pool and pingpong tables, game consoles, foosball, board games and more. Members can also enjoy arts and crafts, organized sports and regular adventure trips. Access to the Margaret J. Slattery Children’s Library located inside the Heritage Center offers students a computer lab with Internet access. A quiet classroom is also available for homework assistance. Parents and children must be present when enrolling. Visit the Youth Center for a tour, or visit the City of Porterville website or call 791-7695 for more information.