For the last few years The First Congregational Church of Fresno, also known as the Big Red Church, has been presenting Halloween on Van Ness, Thrills and Chills Scary Music Concert—a fun night of Halloween music for the community and a way to help raise money for the restoration of their pipe organ.
I sat in silence for several minutes after Chief Harmon left. Inside of me was a battle between excitement and anxiety. I was thrilled that I had been given the chance to talk to the chief, yet a little shaken by his warning—not that I intended to let it stop me.
The third church to be organized in Reedley in the 1800s was the First Methodist Episcopal in 1890. The congregation first met in the home of Charles Gummow, but was able to open the doors of a new church building on the corner of 13th & F streets in 1892.
After Henry’s visit, I tried to work on my sermon, but the renewed excitement hadn’t translated to the written page. The pile of crumpled paper in the wastebasket was a sign of my frustration. At about five, I gave up, hopped on my bike, and headed for my apartment.
Not long ago, Danielle, was homeless. She had returned to Dinuba in her desire to be closer to her two sons, who lived with their father. "I had previously been in a battle with both alcoholism and personal issues. My life had seemed hopeless, but I found hope in Jesus Christ. So, I put my life in His hands."
We crossed the street and went inside the bike shop. Alex was leaning over a bike with a young boy, and I was once again struck by his resemblance to his uncle Henry.
“You see, Manuel, if you keep skidding to a stop with your bike you’re going to go through a lot of tires. I don’t think your mom will be thrilled with that.”
Kingsburg has made way for many young musicians in the past, and while many high school bands are typically started in high school one local band, This Side of Light, had their start long before that. What was a simple performance at the very end of a sixth grade talent show, segued into a band that has been writing and performing ever since that first moment on stage.
When I was a kid, I remember watching a cartoon called Yogi’s Ark Lark. In this series, Yogi Bear traveled around in an ark with a group of other cartoon characters looking for “the perfect place.” The theme song talked about how they were on their way to a perfect place where the skies were blue, the fields were green, the water sparkled and the air was clean.
The second church to be organized in Reedley was the First Baptist. The congregation was organized at Wahtoke School in 1888. They met at the school and then in the vacant United Brethren Church until they opened their doors on the corner of Eleventh and E streets in 1891.
The last football game I had been to was in high school, more years ago than I cared to think about. It was the Saints game where my dad bought me the cap. As a teenager, I played baseball and later discovered ice hockey—which was now my personal favorite. But this particular football game was yet another Kingsbury tradition just as important to the town as the Fiesta.
