ImagineU Museum Breaks Ground ImagineU Interactive Children’s Museum gives an amazing present to the children of our Valley!!  A groundbreaking of the much anticipated new museum will take place at 603 E. Oak in Visalia at 2 p.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 18th. The new facility will be 15,000 square feet of exciting new indoor exhibits, including the Majestic Oak Tree Climber, the U Fix it Garage, and the Grove Pick and Pack.  The outdoor exhibits include Wonderful Water, and Amphimeadow. ImagineU is one of over 300 children’s museums around the country leading a movement that combines specific learning objectives with play in informal learning environments. The areas of science, art, health and literacy are strong themes in the ImagineU programming –“Crafty Critter Wednesdays,” “Happy, Healthy Thursdays,” “Free Story Hour Fridays” and “Science Explorer Saturdays.” All of the ImagineU interpretative and interactive exhibits correlate with the State Educational Content Standards and help develop essential foundation skills.  ImagineU is the only children’s museum of its kind within a three-hour drive in any direction of the City of Visalia.  It's unique location in Central California—between Yosemite National Park and Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Park and off the 99 corridor—contributes to its success.  The new museum will: Serve the needs and interests of children all over the Valley by providing exhibits that are integrated with school curriculum and regional sustainability topics; Provide programs that stimulate curiosity and motivate learning, and;  Serve as a town square for children and families where play inspires creativity and lifelong learning, and families from various cultural backgrounds can meet.

New Dispatch Center gets green light The Visalia City Council gave the go ahead to begin the design of a $16.1 million emergency dispatch center. The $52.6 million price tag on a joint Visalia Emergency Communication Center and Public Safety facility and difficulties in financing the project convinced Council members to build just the 19, 000-square foot dispatch center. It's estimated that design plans would be out for bidding by the end of 2014, with construction beginning in the Spring of 2015. To view the staff report, click here.

Give 'Change That Counts' Amended ordinance tackles aggressive panhandling   At the Dec. 17 City Council meeting, an amendment to the City's Aggressive Solicitation Ordinance was approved which prohibits solicitation in parking lots during all hours and a nuisance ordinance was also amended to include depositing human excrement in an unsanitary manner as a public nuisance. Soliciting in parking lots will be a municipal code violation regardless of the time of day. Solicitation means any request made in person seeking an immediate donation of money or other items of value. The ordinance doesn't interfere with the rights of parking lot owners or tenants to utilize their property or allow others to use the parking for solicitation with permission. The City, in collaboration with faith-based, service provider and business community partners launched an awareness campaign Dec. 1 entitled: “Change That Counts – Help Those Who Help the Homeless” which is designed to educate the public on how to deal with agressive panhandlers. The campaign will use a variety of different mediums – a website, social media outlets, flyers, bus billboards, and presentations – to encourage individuals to give their money to service providers to provide real help to the truly homeless. “Giving money seems like a compassionate act and it may help people for the moment, but it often encourages destructive habits or stops them from seeking out help that could actually improve their lives," said Visalia Mayor Steve Nelsen. "Instead, give your donation to those who help the homeless get off the streets and take steps to change their lives forever.” Visalia Police Lt. Steven Phillips said it’s easy to confuse panhandlers with those who are truly homeless. “But, according to the U.S. Department of Justice, most panhandlers have places to live, and most homeless people do not panhandle.” For more information on how you can give help those who help the homeless with your money, go to www.helpvisaliahomeless.com. An online list of service providers gives avenues of options for your donation. If your faith-based or service club organization or business is interested in assisting with this effort, please contact Community Relations Manager Nancy Loliva at [email protected] or call (559) 713-4535.

Father-Daughter Dances (yes, there are two) set for March 7-8 Just in time for the holidays, tickets for the 9th annual Father/Daughter dance are on sale now. This year, the event will "Sail Away to Paradise" on two, count 'em, two nights. A limited number of tickets are available for the March 7 and March 8 events. The dance is held from 6 to 9 pm with photos starting at 5 p.m. Tickets are $50 a couple ($25 for additional daughters) and can be purchased at the Anthony Community Center, 345 N. Jacob St. The event is for girls ages 4 to 16 escorted by the man in her life - father, grandfather, etc. For more information, call 713-4365.