By Bob Cane

Staff Writer

“We are making history, tonight,” approximately 336 members of the Delano High School Class of 2013 were told, Friday, as they became the last of approximately 889 to 900 17- or 18 – year-olds to complete America’s coming-of-age ceremonies and graduate from Delano’s three comprehensive high schools, last week.

Delano, the oldest and largest of the schools, gave diplomas to approximately 336 seniors; Cesar Chavez High School, just nine-years old, came in second, with about 289 to 290 graduates; and Robert F. Kennedy, the baby of the family, had about 276 in its third commencement class.

In her brief address, DHS principal April Gregerson reminded the graduates that they made up the 100 th graduating class, and read the names of the six girls who  graduated in that first commencement class, in 1913.

The actual 100 th anniversary of the school was marked all last year, with State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Torlakson as a special graduation speaker.

Gregerson urged her charges to follow in the footsteps of those first graduates, who achieved honors in various fields, and reminded the graduates of the DHS graduates’ contributions to education, the sciences, law ,political life, farming, opera and other musical forms, the Olympics and professional sports, and  other fields, over the years since they.

Reciting some lines from a poem by John Milton, Gregerson reminded the graduates of “the precious nature of time,” and the need to use their time  to the best advantage, and “reset” when they face disappointments.

When thick fog defeated champion swimmer Florence Chadwick of in an attempt to swim San Francisco Bay, one mile from her goal, she “reset’ the time, noticed when she reached that point, on her next attempt, and pushed forward harder.

Always keep your personal “shore line” in view, and never give up until you have reached it, Gregerson said.

And Supra Valedictorian told his fellow graduates to develop the will to succeed, and remember those who “you have left behind.” Leave them a legacy and a trail to follow, he said.

Shade Staples, a counselor, addressed the class as Most Respected Teacher. He was “humbled” when he learned of his selection, he said. A DHS graduate, he “always wanted to come back to Delano High School and give back to the community what DHS gave to him.

“Whatever you do, always exhibit the high standards of respect and loyalty you have learned here,” Staples said. Farmer Don Hiett was the alumni speaker. Welcome addresses were delivered by Selena Garza, Brenda Cervantes, Grace Garo and Roxan Flores.

Speakers at the CCHS graduation, on June 6, were students Fernanda Martinez, Principal Ben De Leon, Senior Class President Louis Ramos. Supra Valedictorian Maya Gutierrez, and Most Respected Teacher (and Kern County co-Teacher of the Year) Alex Gonzales.

And Robert F. Kennedy, the newest of the schools, led off the graduation season, on June 5, with Student speakers Dendie Powao, Balentin Lugo, Maria Isabel Castro, and Alonso Ortiz Rosales. Kelly Lawler was the Most Respected Teacher, and principal Adelaida Cervantes Ramos introduced the board of trustees.

Superintendent Rosalina Rivera spoke at each of the ceremonies and participated in awarding of diplomas.

By Bob Cane


Staff Writer

Developers of the Delano Market Place are continuing to find Taiwanese investors who are interested in developing properties in Delano, the developer of The Delano Market Place said, during a break in a VIP tour of the city, Wednesday.

David Liu, of YK-America, an El Monte –based firm with connections to Taiwan, made the comment while waiting to meet with an all-day tour of the various projects aimed at introducing First District County Supervisor Mick Gleason to the Market Place and other local developments.

Accompanying Liu were Penelope Wu, a Pasadena-based real estate broker, and Tom Tsong Ming Liaw, an Orange, California-based representative of the Taiwan Overseas Compatriot Affairs Commission.

Both Wu and Liaw said they were in contact with Taiwanese investors who were interested in making investments here.

Liu and his guests, Delano Police Chief, City Manager Maribel Reyna and others met up with a city bus carrying Gleason, Mayor Joe Aguirre, two other city council members, and members of the Delano Chamber of Commerce,  as it stopped, at the Market Place, for a lunch provided by The Aviator Casino.

It has been “ long nine years” that YK-America has been trying to get The Market Place the Walmart Superstore which now anchors it built, Liu told the group; and during that time, some of the original proposed tenants have pulled out. However, YK has also recently begun work on a companion development just across Woollomes Ave., and a few feet to the west.

That development, to be anchored by a movie multiplex, will probably go a little faster, because it will not be stalled by the four years of litigation which delayed the Market Place project.

A local group and the city of McFarland sued the Delano and the Market Place developers on the grounds that environmental studies on the impacts of the Market Place project did not adequately consider adverse effects on existing merchants in Delano, nearby Tulare County communities, and McFarland.

A Kern County Superior Court eventually dismissed the suit.

“You’re planting your seed now; all of this will be watered,” Councilwoman Grace Vallejo told Liu, Wednesday.

Vallejo also told the group how enthusiastically she and local developer Max Bacerra were greeted at a convention of developers, inn Las Vegas, recently.

She said she and Bacerra had a number of promising meetings with people very interested in coming to Delano. At one point, she said, she and Bacerra were walking the Popeye’s restaurant chain, and she commented that she would like to see a Popeye’s in Delano. The representative in the booth was talking to someone but overheard the comment.

“Are you from Delano?” he asked. When they said yes, he said “Wait a minute, please; I’d like to talk to you.”

Delano’s name has been getting out, Vallejo said, repeating a comment she made to the city council a few days before.

Bacerra, principal of Maximum III Company, hosted the Wednesday tour., which highlighted “the growth of activity in the Delano area in the recent years” with the aim of giving Gleason “a glimpse of all of the positive qualities and outstanding characteristics Delano has to offer the Kern County and San Joaquin Valley area.”