International Agri-Center’s AgVentures! Learning Center, the Tulare County Farm Bureau and UC Cooperative Extension are partnering to bring AgVenture Day! an education enrichment program for 4th graders from Tulare and Visalia city schools to explore farming, food and fun.

The first AgVenture Day! will take place on Friday, May 31, from 9:30am to 1:30pm at the International Agri-Center at 4500 S. Laspina Street in Tulare.

This event will educate students on our abundant agricultural industry, teach them to make healthy food choices and open students’ eyes to how their food is produced in Tulare County.

Kaweah Delta Health Care District will celebrate the completion of its helipad today from 10-11:30 a.m. under the helipad in the main parking lot at Kaweah Delta Medical Center, 400 W. Mineral King Ave.

The $2.7 million helipad is expected to be fully operational by late summer.

Currently, Kaweah Delta staff are undergoing several months of intensive training to access patients who arrive by helicopter, said Dr. Nichole Meissner, Director of Trauma at Kaweah Delta. “The helipad’s installation will have far reaching effects for the region,” Dr. Meissner said. “It will help trauma victims get treatment faster and treatment in the first hour has a significant impact on survival, especially when it comes to trauma.”

With the helipad, a person who is traumatically injured in Springville could land at Kaweah Delta in just 12 minutes.

Nearly 600 third-, fourth-, and fifth-grade students from across Tulare County will celebrate this Arbor Day at Mooney Grove Park.

They will learn about the importance of, and care for, trees in the environment. Topics including seeds, insects, mulch and the water system. Local environmental experts from organizations such as SCICON and the University of California’s Master Gardeners conduct these fun-filled, activity-based lessons.

Additionally, students tour the County museum and learn about the rich agricultural history of our valley.

They will also plant a tree at Mooney Grove to help with the park’s restoration. Each student will not only learn how to plant trees properly, but will be given their very own tree seedling to take home and plant with their family!

Teachers also participate in the environmental lessons.