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

tjack Lavers, who is running for the 26th Assembly District, will be the guest speaker for the Porterville Area Republican Assembly on Thursday, Feb. 22. Lavers who is a sixth-generation Central Valley rancher and small business owner, says he knows how to run a business and balance budgets, and will take that knowledge with him to Sacramento if elected. Additionally, Dr. Anthony Martin — who is running for the Tulare Office of Education — has confirmed that he will be our second guest speaker of the evening. PARA’S new meeting location for 2018 will be at Tony’s Pizza, right next to Town and Country Market, 1304 W. Olive Ave., Porterville. This assembly will start a 6 p.m. sharp. For more information, contact A.L. “LUCKY” Lucketta, PARA president, at 784-PARA or send e-mail to president@ pa-ra.org. ta meet and greet for new Porterville Recorder Publisher Bill Parsons is scheduled for 4 to 6 p.m. at The Recorder’s office, 115 E. Oak Ave., Porterville. tthe Springville Community Club’s monthly meeting is Thursday, Feb. 22 at 1 pm at the Springville Veterans Memorial Building. Greg and Judi King will be presenting a program on Personal Safety at Home and While Shopping. Visitors and new members are always welcome. For information, call 539-3840.

FRIDAY

tthe Nutrition on the Go program will host a food distribution

event from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Feb. 23 at the former Masonic Lodge, 2440 W. Henderson Ave., Porterville. The only stipulations are that residents be 18 years of age and that the food is not resold for profit elsewhere. Because the program receives its food supplies through a partnership with Community Food Bank (CFB) of Fresno, community members will be asked to register on their first visit by providing their name, number of people in household, and nationality — demographic information CFB needs for grant applications.

SATURDAY

tthe 56th annual Buck

Shaffer Spectacular is just around the corner, scheduled for 7 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 24, with a theme of “It’s a Disney World,” at the Porterville Memorial Auditorium, 465 W. Olive Ave., Porterville. Tickets are $15 per person and available at the following locations: Valley Adult Day Services, 227 E. Oak Ave., Hanson Travel Ideas, 311 N. Second St., Porterville Chamber of Commerce, 93 N. Main St., K-TIP Radio, 1660 N. Newcomb St., Porterville Recorder, 115 E. Oak Ave., and Jeff’s Music, 342 N. Porter Rd. tthe Springville Farmers’ Market is held each Saturday from 8 a.m. to noon in downtown Springville. Fresh, local fruits and vegetables, home-cooked foods, hand-crafted articles and collectables are offered. For booth space or information, call Ralph at 544-4069. tthe Porterville City Library holds introductory computer classes on Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. For more information on services and programs, go to the Library at 41 W. Thurman Ave., call 784-0177, or visit www.portervillelibrary.org and www.facebook.com/ portervillelibrary.

SUNDAY

tthe 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. tveterans Benefit Breakfast is from 8:30 to 11 a.m. on the first Sunday of every month at the Porterville Elks Lodge on the corner of Morton and Main. Public is welcome. For more information, call 784-1342.

TUESDAY

tthe 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.

MARCH 1-31

tthe “We’re Egg-cited about Spring” minireading program at the Porterville City Library is for all ages and runs March 1-31. Sign ups are underway. Participants will receive a reading log and bookmark. For every five hours of reading accomplished, they can redeem their reading log for an entry into their fabulous raffle. The Easter Bunny will also be hopping over to visit the Porterville City Library for single or group photo opportunities. A 4x6 photo print will be provided for free if you bring an unopened, unused school supply (one picture per family). People can also use their own camera. The donated items will be delivered to children in the community. Photo opportunities are as follows: Tuesday, March 20, 11 a.m.-1 p.m. and 4-5:30 p.m.; Thursday, March 22, 3-5 p.m. (for special needs children, by appointment); Saturday, March 24, 10 a.m.-12 p.m.; Thursday, March 29, 3-5 p.m. For more information on services and programs, visit the Porterville City Library at 41 W. Thurman Ave., call 7840177, or check out www. portervillelibrary.org and www.facebook.com/portervillelibrary.

MARCH 2

tcongressman Kevin Mccarthy, R-CA 23rd District, has announced a monthly staff mobile office in Porterville on Friday, March 2. The mobile office will be held from 10 to 11 a.m. in the Centennial Plaza Conference Room, 15 E. Thurman Ave., which is across the street from Porterville City Hall. This is one hour earlier than the usual time. A staff member from Mccarthy’s office hosts each mobile office held throughout California’s 23rd Congressional District. This time provides an opportunity for constituents in the local community to conveniently visit and share concerns on important issues, current events and discuss casework matters regarding problems with federal government agencies. Cole Karr, Mccarthy’s field representative, will meet with visitors in Porterville. For more information, contact Mccarthy’s district office at (661) 327-3611.

MARCH 3

tzonta Club of Porterville’s 14th annual Evening of Art and Wine, 6-9 p.m. on Saturday,

March 3, will feature local artists Steven Ball and William Bishop along with several wineries. Tickets for the event are $35 each and include wine tasting, an array of delectable hor d’oervres, entertainment, and Stafford’s Famous Chocolates sampling. In addition to Ball and Bishop’s artwork being available for purchase, a centerpiece of the Evening of Art and Wine is the gourmet appetizers prepared by Zonta members. Many popular savory dishes will be available. Joining us again this year is Fresno State Winery. Fresno State has the first licensed winery for a university that is part of their education program. Fresno State student winemakers have been recognized for producing quality wines and have received many awards. Other wineries being featured are CR Graybehl Wine Company, Hearst Ranch Winery, Vintage Cowboy, AVS Wines, plus many more. Raffle prize drawings will be held throughout the evening. Zonta’s Art and Wine opportunity drawing includes a 50 inch TV donated by Walmart Distribution, a $500 gift certificate from Harris Home Furnishings, and artwork donated by Ball and Bishop. Additional items include, Fun Packs (dinner and concert) provided by Eagle Mountain Casino, and a Michael Kors designer handbag. Those and many more prizes will be offered throughout the evening. Both silent and live auctions will also take place featuring jewelry donated by Horowitz Jewelry, a three-night stay for up to nine people in a Pierpoint vacation home, a week stay for two at a Las Cabos (Cabo San Lucas) resort, a party for 50 at Nuckols Ranch, and a Sunday dinner for eight overlooking the Tule River in Springville. Event tickets are $35 and available at Harris Home Furnishings, OACYS Technology, Porterville Family Crisis Center, Stafford’s Famous Chocolates (after Feb. 14) or by contacting Valerie Simonich, 784-9076; any Zonta Club member; or online at Eventbrite.com.

tspringville Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 9499 invites all former Porterville VFW Post 2001 members to a Meet and

Greet from 10 to 11 a.m. on Saturday, March 3, at the Porterville Veterans Memorial Building, 1900 W. Olive Ave. The Porterville post was combined with the Springville post in 2017. This is an opportunity for former Post 2001 members to get involved with local veterans activities and to meet Springville veterans. For more information, call Frank Wittich at 783-3547.

tthe Tulare County Museum will host its Third Annual Main Street

Jamboree from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on March 3. The free, family-friendly event is packed with fun, educational activities for guests of all ages to learn more about the Museum and the Tulare County community. The theme of this year’s Jamboree is “A Walk Down Memory Lane.” Guests can look forward to experiencing a blacksmith at work in front of a real blacksmith shop from Ducor, a woodworking demonstration, model trains, and a mini car show put on by the Visalia Trailers and Car Club. Join the Jamboree at the Tulare County Museum in Mooney Grove Park, located at 27000 S. Mooney Blvd. in Visalia. Museum entrance is free, though Mooney Grove Park will charge a $6 entrance fee per vehicle at the front gate. Seniors enter the park for free.

MARCH 7

tthe 14th annual Stars

in the Hills prom will be held on March 7 at Granite Hills High School. The event is sponsored by the Porterville Breakfast Rotary Club. The prom is an event for developmentally disabled high school students in the Porterville, Lindsay and Terra Bella areas who are enrolled in the Tulare County Office of Education program. The prom will be held from 7 to 9 p.m. on Saturday, March 3. For more information, call Janice Castle at 7824300, ext. 3144.

MARCH 9

tthe Monache High School baseball team’s annual “Meet the Marauders” dinner, raffle and silent auction will be held at 6 p.m. on Friday, March 9, at the Porterville Veterans Memorial Building. Tickets for the fundraising dinner are available from Monache High School for $30 each or a table of eight can be purchased for $200. Meet the Marauders night is Monache baseball’s main fundraiser for the year and all money raised will be used to improve the quality of the team and facilities. While the players have been working hard to maintain the fields, Monache is in need of annual equipment and facility improvements. If anyone has any questions or if Monache’s athletic director and head baseball coach AJ Watts may be of any assistance, contact him at 7933899. You may also contact one of this year’s event coordinators for information, Melissa at 310-3386 or Veronica at 719-8785. A committee member will pick up any donation or it can be mailed to: Monache High School, Attn: AJ Watts, 960 N. Newcomb, Porterville, CA 93257.

MARCH 10

tparks and Leisure Services is hosting its annual Spring Fishing

Derby on from 9 to 11 a.m. March 10 at the Murry Park Pond. Young anglers, ages 2-15 years old, are invited to enter the competition to showcase their skills. Trophies will be awarded to the top three children in each of the two age divisions, as well as to the biggest fish of the day. Participants must be able to reel in their own fish and provide their own rod and bait. Pre-registration wristbands can be purchased for $3 at the Heritage Center, 256 E. Orange Ave. The event sells out every year so don’t wait until the day of the event. For more information, call the Heritage Center at 791-7695, visit the City of Porterville website or check out Parks and Leisure Services on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram for all the latest updates.

MARCH 17

tjon Micah Sumrall, who is the lead singer and primary song writer of the Christian rock band Kutless, will give the keynote address at this year’s Man Alive Men’s Christian Conference on Saturday, March 17. The annual event draws hundreds of men to share experience and worship together. It will be held on Saturday, March 17, at the Porterville Nazarene Church at 2005 W. Olive. It will begin at 6:30 a.m. for registration and breakfast. The main session begins at 8 a.m. and the event will conclude at 1:30 p.m. This year’s event is entitled “A Time to Engage.” Man Alive was founded in 2009 by Milt Davis and has grown in stature every year. It is a Christian Men’s Conference for the men of Porterville and the Central San Joaquin Valley. Tickets are available online or at 38 W. Morton Ave., weekdays from noon to 2 p.m. Ticket prices are $30 for adults and $5 for teenagers. For more information, visit Manaliveevents.org or call 853-9900 or 791-1833, or learn more on Facebook.com/manalivechristianmensconference. In addition to Sumrall’s address, there will be several breakout sessions for attendees.

MARCH 31

tgiovanni’s Pizzeria will hold a Kids Fest and Egg Hunt event on March

31 at the Porterville Sports Complex, 2701 W. Scranton Ave. Although the event, which is set to run from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., is geared toward kids ages 2-12, there will be plenty of activities for the whole family to enjoy. Such activities include an egg hunt, a petting zoo, a 100-foot giant slide, obstacle courses, a teacup ride, jumping dune buggies, spinning wrecking ball, face painting and bounce houses. There will also be informational booths, food vendors, local performers and E & M’s Reptile Family. Wristbands for the event are $5 for those purchasing them in advance and $7 the day of the event. The price of the wristbands includes all rides and games, but excludes the egg hunt. Wristbands for the egg hunt are sold separately. Wristbands may be purchased in advance from 8 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., Monday through Friday at the Heritage Center, 256 E. Orange Ave. There is no cost to enter the park. Thousands of eggs filled with toys, candy and special prizes will be up for grabs at the annual Spring Egg Hunt. There will also be a special appearance by the Bunny. The cost for the egg hunt is $2 for those paying in advance, and $3 at the event. Wristbands can be purchased at the Heritage Center. During the egg hunt there will be no baskets allowed in the egg hunting area for kids ages 4-9. Parents are not allowed in the egg hunting area, and all hunts will begin on time. For more information about the egg hunt, call the Heritage Center at 791-7695. For more information, call 7827521 or e-mail agraybehl@ci.porterville.ca.us.

ONGOING

tthe 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. tthe 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. tthe 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.

tthe 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.

tgame 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. tsergeant 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.