MediterraneanGrocery Wholesalers in Fresno, CA

When Davey Helm first saw Fresno’s Playland, he thought it was too far gone.

The 68-year-old amusement park seemed long neglected. It had sat empty through the pandemic and was in need of more than a little TLC.

Then he started asking around.

“The allure was the look of people’s faces,” says Helm, a third-generation amusement park operator who took over operations and reopened a renovated Playland in June.

“It was endearing to them,” he says.

“I really want to be a part of something like that.”

But attendance at the park has been low and attempts at fundraising have fallen flat and without help, Helm says he’ll have to close Playland again at the end of the year.

“I’m worried,” he says, flatly.

“It’s going to be a parking lot by this time next year.”

Helm and Sons has already put in $600,000 in facility upgrades and repairs to the park’s original rides. Another $250,000 is likely needed to repave old walkways within the park. And maintenance aside, ticket sales aren’t keeping up with payroll for the park’s 41 employees, says general manager Candace Cuisinier.

“We’ve been doing everything we can, night and day,” she says.

The park has lowered prices, adjusted hours and offered specials and other events, including community days, when it dropped admission to $1, or let guests in for free, just to get them in the gates.

And those days have done well, drawing in thousands. But typically, the park sees 200-500 people daily on weekends.

On weekdays, that number can drop to 40 for the day, Cuisinier says.

Prices are currently $10 on weekdays and $15 on weekends, and there are some special events on the horizon.

For Halloween, Playland will be open from 2-10 p.m. with free admission to anyone under 17 dressed in a costume. There will be candy at each of the rides, two haunted mazes and a pumpkin patch with $5 pumpkins for sale.

“We’re just trying to get the word out,” she says.

The story is slightly different at Playland’s sister park, Storyland.

That park is planning $1 million in new exhibits for 2024, including a pirate ship and a Jack the Beanstalk exhibit, says Bruce Batti, board chair of the nonprofit Storyland/Playland, which oversees both parks.

The board signed its operating agreement with Helm and Sons, in part, so it could put its focus on Storyland and that has been successful.

The board is aware of the struggles at Playland. Some of the attendance issues, Batti says, might be bad timing; reopening during the hot summer months and then immediately having to compete against other entertainment, like The Big Fresno Fair.

“We had high hopes and continue to have high hopes,” Batti says. Helm and Sons is a proven operator in the amusement industry and put a good deal of money and passion into the park. Any long-term success (or failure) will be navigating market issues and finding a viable business plan, he says.

“It won’t be because of lack of effort and resources.”

So far, donations to the park have been slim.

Playland has held two fundraisers since reopening, but was raised only $6,000, Helm says. A meeting is scheduled with Fresno Mayor Jerry Dyer to discuss how the city might be able to help the park, and the company is looking at how to expand private donations, possibly even grant-funding.

“I need some help,” Helm says.

“I don’t want this thing to go away.”

Playland is not the only Fresno institution to find itself struggling.

The Fresno Art Museum is currently in the midst of a “severe cash flow crisis.”

In an email earlier this month under the subject line “silence is not an option,” Executive Director and Chief Curator Michele Ellis Pracy made a plea to the public.

”The Museum is not receiving its usual support from our community, and I need to ask for your help to bring in funding right now,” she wrote.

The museum hoped to raise $100,000 in October. That’s typical of what’s needed each month to support the museum’s $1 million annual budget.

According to the letter, that money is needed immediately so that the museum can honor field trips for 10,000 Fresno Unified School District (and other districts) school children as well as private events booked at the museum. It’s also needed to ensure the museum’s phone, internet and security systems remain running.

“These obligations are set in stone,” Ellis Pracy wrote.

“Our Museum is a nonprofit business, and it cannot remain open or vital without money to operate.”

For followers of art culture in Fresno, the news brings up memories of the loss of the Fresno Metropolitan Museum, which operated in downtown for 25 years before shutting its doors in 2010.

The Boot is finally coming back to Clovis East.

Was it a long wait? Try 14 years.

The Bee’s sixth-ranked Timberwolves got the upper-hand on No. 12 Clovis en route to a 49-34 victory in the high school football rivalry known as the Battle for The Boot, a Tri-River Athletic Conference game at Lamonica Stadium.

Prior to Friday’s game, Clovis East’s last win against Clovis was in 2009 — a 31-0 victory.

“They were talking all that talk,” Clovis East wide receiver Tommy Nix said. “We just wanted to make history and show out. That’s all.”

Clovis made it interesting late in the fourth quarter when Deagan Rose connected on a 50-yard touchdown pass to Jacob Saldate.

Clovis East answered when Nix returned the kickoff for a touchdown to seal the game.

Timberwolves coach Brandon Nagle liked how his team responded.

“I’m so proud of these guys,” he said. “We still have work to do. We got Buchanan next week and they’re a tough team.”

The Central High football team is thinking about a TRAC championship.

But the only way the fifth-ranked Grizzlies can get a share is if they beat top-ranked Clovis North next week.

Central handed its business Thursday, defeating Clovis West 27-15.

“We’ve been playing hard,” Grizzlies coach Kyle Biggs said. “Kids worked hard. It’s good to see that they can see the fruits of their labor coming out. Doing the little things right to get wins.”

Central quarterback David Marquez was efficient as he completed 14 of 18 for 229 yards, but his running also helped the Grizzlies as he rushed for two touchdowns.

Central’s defense was equally strong. Jamari Carter had a game-sealing interception return for a touchdown that went 55 yards in the fourth quarter.

The Broncos, meanwhile, had no trouble against Buchanan in a 28-3 victory.

Jackson Cinfel rushed for two touchdowns and McKay Madsen opened the scoring with a 1-yard run.

Clovis North built its lead to 13-3 after a 63-yard pass by Mario Cosma to Vincent Cordoba in the second quarter.

The Broncos are looking to become outright TRAC champions for the first time since 2014.

This story was originally published October 21, 2023, 5:00 AM.

If you are looking for a spectacular show this weekend, look up to find the Orionid meteor shower shining bright through Saturday and Sunday night.

The shower is expected to peak at 8 p.m. ET Sunday, but visible meteors are expected to streak across the sky all weekend long at a rate of 10 to 20 per hour, according to EarthSky, and can be seen from all parts of the world during the night.

The best time to spot a meteor will be in the early hours of the morning, when the radiant, or the point where the meteors appear to originate from - in this case constellation Orion - is at its highest at around 2 a.m. in any time zone, but Dr. Ashley King, a planetary science researcher with the Natural History Museum in London, said that meteors will start appearing as soon as it gets dark.

This weekend, the moon will be in its first quarter phase and will set near midnight, according to the American Meteor Society.

That means its luminosity will slightly interfere with meteor visibility, King said.

"You'll want to wait for the moon to set," King said. "Even if you're in a city, you should be able to see a few meteors - it's really just a case of looking at the sky and being patient."

To have the best chance of spotting a meteor, King suggests going outside for at least 10 to 20 minutes before stargazing to let your eyes adjust to the low light. If possible, it is ideal to get away from light pollution and find a spot with a clear view of the dark sky, King said.

The Orionid meteors come from one of the most famous comets, Halley, which is currently near the middle of its 76-year orbit around the sun.

While the comet won't make its appearance in Earth's night sky until 2061, it leaves a trail of debris behind that our planet passes through every year, resulting in the Orionids.

In early May, Earth passes through a different section of Halley's orbit trail, resulting in the meteor shower known as the Eta Aquariids.

"What you're seeing are little comet dust grains that are traveling really quickly," King said. "When they enter the atmosphere, they get heated up and vaporize, and you get that bright streak - and that's what we call a meteor."

The Orionids tend to be bright and fast-moving, 148,000 miles per hour (238,183 kilometers per hour), according to NASA. Because of this high speed, the Orionids often make long trails in the sky - visual evidence of the dust being released by the meteors as they are heated up, King said.

Occasionally, meteor showers can have an unexpected spike in their meteor rates.

From 2006 to 2009, the Orionids saw anywhere between 50 to 75 meteors per hour, according to the American Meteor Society.

Normal rates are expected this year, but there is always the possibility of a surprise, the organization notes on its website.

"Not only are they spectacular it's exciting to see the bright streaks across the sky, and it's not something you see every day but this is dust grain that formed just over 4.6 billion years ago," King said. "This is dust from the birth of the solar system."

After the Orionids peak, the hourly rate of visible meteors will begin to slow down until the shower ends on November 22.

If you miss the peak this weekend, there are five other meteor showers left to catch this year:

Southern Taurids: Nov. 5-6

Northern Taurids: Nov. 11-12

Leonids: Nov. 17-18

Geminids: Dec. 13-14

Ursids: Dec. 21-22

There are three full moons remaining in 2023, according to the Farmers' Almanac:

Oct. 28: Hunter's moon

Nov. 27: Beaver moon

Dec. 26: Cold moon

On Oct. 14, people across North, Central and South America were able to encounter an annular solar eclipse. During the event, the moon passed between the sun and Earth creating a "ring of fire" in the sky. It was the last solar eclipse event until 2024.

A partial lunar eclipse, however, will take place on Oct. 28 and will be viewable in Europe, Asia, Australia, parts of North America and much of South Africa.

This eclipse occurs when part of the moon passes into Earth's shadow, allowing the shadow to be visible on the moon for a short period of time.

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FRESNO, Calif. (KFSN) -- After failed attempts during contract negotiations, the Fresno Teachers Association filed a claim against Fresno Unified with the California Public Employee Relations Board on Friday.

It centers around a number of communications made by Fresno Unified Administrators.

That includes email communications and announcements discouraging participation and making threats for those with the intent to participate in a potential strike.

"We take our educators' rights very seriously. And what we have here is a district that openly gives directives, if you will, to intimidate our educators," said Manuel Bonilla, president of the Fresno Teacher Association.

Fresno Unified Chief Communications Officer Nikki Henry says the district plans to respond to FTA's claims in the coming days.

"We are absolutely respectful of our teacher's right to engage in a concerted work stoppage," said Henry.

The California Public Employee Relations Board will listen to both sides and determine if an investigation needs to be conducted.

Meanwhile, the district is preparing for the possibility of a strike.

On Wednesday, the school board approved over three million dollars to help cover the costs of a strike.

"Making sure that our schools stay open, safe, and full of learning. These are the additional materials, supplies, hands-on-deck that we need to make that happen," Henry explained.

Bonilla says he's disappointed by that decision.

"You could not spend that money and invest that money into the classroom and into our educators and avoid this altogether," Bonilla said.

The district's strike readiness plan includes $2 million for curriculum, $451,000 for health services, $176,000 for safety and security, and $410,000 for substitute hiring and orientation costs.

Officials say they need fewer than 2400 substitute teachers if every Fresno Unified school teacher goes on strike. The substitute teachers will go through the hiring process, which includes a background check and being fingerprinted. Then, they will go through a four-hour orientation.

Early estimates show classroom sizes will grow by adding five additional students to each class

The district says it depends on attendance.

Right now, it's estimated that 86% of students will continue to come to class.

"Our values are that our kids are able to work toward achieving their greatest potential. And we can only do that if we have our schools open," Henry said.

"Kids are our focus. And we are want to also make sure that we are having the best quality educators in those spaces."

The FTA president says the two groups are in talks to meet next week for more negotiating.

The final vote on whether or not teachers will authorize a strike is expected to be released by Monday.

What's at stake?

The Fresno Unified teachers union filed an unfair practice claim against the district Friday while the clock's ticking until the union releases strike vote results.

While the Fresno Unified community waits to see whether teachers will strike, tensions continued to mount Friday after the union filed an unfair practice charge against the district with California’s Public Employment Relations Board.

In the claim, the Fresno Teachers Association accuses the administration of intimidating teachers from participating in a strike, citing labor laws that protect their right to do so. It references written communication from a principal and the district’s chief communications officer, Nikki Henry, in its complaint.

“Fresno Unified is really in panic mode,” said FTA President Manuel Bonilla in an interview Friday afternoon, “and we see the district is actively endorsing intimidation of our educators.”

Fresno Unified confirmed receiving the charge and reviewing the allegations Friday afternoon.

“The district respects the rights of its teachers to engage in concerted activity,” Henry said in a text to Fresnoland, “and will respond to the charge.”

The charge comes two days after the union launched a strike authorization vote to determine whether the union’s roughly 4,000 teachers will walk off the job in pursuit of higher pay, class size caps, and reduced special education caseloads.

Union leaders expect to have votes tallied by the beginning of next week.

The district meanwhile plans to keep schools open for the over 70,000 students in the system in the event of a strike. The school board Wednesday gave their stamp of approval to allocate roughly $3 million toward strike preparations – $410,000 of which will go toward hiring substitutes at a rate of $500 a day.

Henry said that Fresno Unified had roughly 2,200 substitutes certified, finger-printed, and background-checked as of Friday. They anticipate needing 200 more to cover classrooms but plan to deploy management staff who aren’t part of FTA to fill in the gaps.

Fresno teachers criticize district spokesperson, school principal

In the charge filed with PERB, the union shared examples of written communication from district administrators that the union says intimidates teachers against exercising their right to strike.

One of these was a message from Henry to all district employees on the day of the union’s strike vote, stating that “District admin can ask staff if they plan to come to work in the event of a work stoppage.”

Her message added that “no staff member will be reprimanded or negatively affected in any way” no matter how they respond.

The union said the message instructed administrators to “improperly interrogate employees about their intent to participate in a potential strike.”

They’re hoping PERB will order the district to cease and desist from interfering with teachers’ right to participate in a strike.

But this is hardly the first example of tension between Fresno Unified and the teachers union in this bargaining cycle.

The district and union participated in mediation and a fact-finding hearing in early September after declaring an impasse in negotiations with PERB.

Don Raczka, author of the fact-finding report that followed the hearing, wrote that both parties engaged in “disrespectful behaviors” during the mediation process and called for a restoration of trust through the “Interest Based Bargaining” approach to negotiations.

Both Superintendent Bob Nelson and Bonilla have spoken to the erosion of trust on both sides leading up to the union’s strike vote.

What else should parents know?

In addition to keeping schools open during a strike, Nelson said Wednesday that buses will still take students to and from school.

The Fresno Teachers Association primarily represents the district’s teachers, social workers, and nurses. Other employees like bus drivers, represented by separate unions, aren’t legally allowed to participate in a “sympathy strike” due to language in their own contracts and could be disciplined for walking off the job, Nelson said.

Meanwhile, extracurricular activities like sports games and field trips are likely to be canceled. The district may make an exception for high school sports, Henry told Fresnoland on Wednesday, but only if they can do so safely.

Students who stay home from class during the strike will not have their absences excused, district leaders shared Wednesday.

Grades students receive during the strike will be recorded per usual and won’t be made up or modified after the fact, the district shared in September.

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