It's Spring & Tulare County is Keeping Busy

Spring has arrived and with it comes new beginnings and opportunities. This has certainly been the case for myself since being sworn in as District Three Supervisor in January.

While my nine years on the Visalia City Council gave me a foundation of the inner workings of local government, being on the board has expanded that foundation tenfold!

Thank you to all the staff and department heads who have met with me and introduced me to the numerous services Tulare County provides. I know I have only touched the tip of the iceberg and look forward to meeting many more of our great employees in the coming weeks.

May is gearing up to be a very busy month.

On May 3 at 9:00 am, law enforcement officers from throughout Tulare County will gather at our Peace Officers Memorial to pay tribute to those who gave the ultimate sacrifice while in the line of duty. If you’re able, I invite you to join us for this very moving ceremony.

As a member of the Mental Health Board, I look forward to the activities in store during Mental Health Awareness Month in May that will bring awareness and help reduce the negative stigma of mental illness. Here’s a portion of the what we have planned for Mental Health Awareness Month:

May 5 - Mental Health Awareness Night at the Rawhide

May 12 - Expressions of Lived Experiences Art Show

May 18 - Wellness and Recovery Champions Picnic

Our Step-Up program is going strong! The Youth Challenge Red Carpet event will take place at the Fox Theater on May 18. We will celebrate and recognize schools and students who took on the challenge to make a difference in their community by implementing projects that will have a positive impact.

A May 22 graduation will bring together youth from Visalia, Tulare, and Porterville who participated in our #LEAD program (Leading, Education, Advocating, and Dedication). #LEAD engages high school students to be leaders and mentors. Participants learn life skills, College and career planning and service learning.