CALIFORNIA LIVING
Communities surrounding the Naval Air Station reflect the many contrasts of California living. County fairs, Independence Day parades, concerts in the park, Christmas tree lighting ceremonies—all reflect a small hometown atmosphere of rural America. Yet, within a 2-4 hour drive are some of this nation’s largest cities and major tourist attractions which draw millions of visitors each year.
To the north lies San Francisco, an international tourist destination with its renown steep rolling hills, eclectic mix of Victorian and modern architecture and famous landmarks such as the Golden Gate Bridge, cable cars, and Chinatown. To the south lies Los Angeles, the 2nd largest city in the United States and home to Hollywood—the entertainment capital of the world.
To the west lies the Pacific Ocean with scenic coastal Highway 1 that connects such spectacular seaside cities as Morro Bay and Monterey. While to the east lies the Sierra Mountain Range—home to three National Parks (Yosemite, Sequoia and Kings Canyon), and world-class skiing at Sierra Summit in the Sierra National Forest.
But from Kings County, where the Naval Air Station is located, you can see neither the mountains nor the ocean. Instead you see thousands of acres of level crop land extending to the horizon—all part of the San Joaquin Valley, sometimes called “the nation’s salad bowl” for the great array of fruits and vegetables grown in its fertile soil.
Kings County - Fruit orchards; cotton fields; grapes and nuts; alfalfa, corn and hay--All grow in profusion in the Central Valley thanks to major irrigation systems and near perfect growing weather. Kings County has a climate typical of that of the San Joaquin Valley floor with hot, dry summers and cool winters characterized by dense fog.
Although the highest recorded temperature reached 116 F in 1933, the warmest month—July—averages 94 F during the day and 65 F in the evening. The lowest recorded temperature was 15 F in 1990, but the coldest months—December and January—average 54 F during the day and 36 F in the evening with no snowfall. The area averages only 9 inches of rain a year, mostly in the winter months.
With over 1,100 farms and ranches in Kings County, approximately 84% of its nearly 1.4 thousand square miles is devoted to agriculture and dairy farmland. Also within Kings County are two major federal land areas—NAS Lemoore and Santa Rosa Rancheria, a 1,806 acre reservation for the Tachi Yokut Indians who have inhabited the San Joaquin Valley area for centuries.
Established in 1934 on about 40 acres of land approximately 4.5 miles southeast of Lemoore, the Rancheria expanded in size over the years to 643 acres by 2008. In May of that year, the Tribal Chairman and U.S. Bureau of Indian Affairs added an additional 1,163 acres of trust land to the Indian reservation.
Kings County was formed in 1893 from the western part of Tulare County, and now has a population of nearly 155,000 people who live primarily in its nine small cities and towns, and seven rural communities.
Public Transportation - Kings County Area Public Transit Agency (KCAPTA) provides routine bus service to the base five days a week, connecting to the nearby cities of Lemoore, Hanford, Visalia and Fresno, with stops at the Hanford Amtrak station. Fares are $1.50 each way. All buses are equipped for handicapped riders. For more information call 584-0101.
Education - Kings County has 14 school districts with 52 public schools, seven private schools and a total enrollment of approximately 28,000 students including more than 2,000 military children. The public school your child attends will be determined by where you live.
There are two non-DoD public schools located on the Naval Air Station—Admiral Akers School for children K-8 and R.J. Neutra School for children K-5. Both schools are part of the Central Union School District.
The Central Union School District is very proud of its history. Its four schools have all been honored as California Distinguished Schools, while its two schools on NAS Lemoore are also listed as National Blue Ribbon Schools. These successes are directly attributable to the commitment, dedication and teamwork of the faculty, staff, parents, students, administration and the Board of Education working together.
The faculty and staff are committed to having the students achieve the state-mandated standards. Central Union School District’s Academic Performance Index Scores (API) speak to the success of its teachers, students and programs. Many of Central’s educators teach and lead quietly, without fanfare, unnoticed. Their highest reward comes from the realization that somewhere there is a young person whose life has been touched and changed.
High school students living on base are bused into Lemoore (7 miles east) to attend Lemoore High School which is part of the Lemoore Union High School District.
Admiral Akers School - Akers School offers state preschool program through 8th grade. Grades 6th – 8th are departmentalized offering math, language, reading, social studies, science, physical education and electives. All grades K – 8th offer academic interventions and differentiated instruction. Akers has two computer labs with additional computers in individual classrooms. The school has speech therapy, resource specialist program and a special day class for those students who qualify.
Additionally, the school has an award winning concert and jazz band. Akers offers a variety of sports for grades 5th – 8th and has many other extra curricular activities.
R.J. Neutra School - Neutra School offers K – 5th grade. Neutra has instituted the “Excel” model for grades 1st – 5th grade, which is an added dose of reading and language arts. Skill groups are developed based upon individual student levels. Through EXCEL students have an opportunity to learn the vital skills or excel at their own level but also have the ability to study grade appropriate material as well. The teachers are able to differentiate instruction to meet all of their students needs.
Neutra has two computer labs with additional computers in individual classrooms. The school has speech therapy, resource specialist program and a special day class for those students who qualify. Additionally, the school has an award winning dance team and conducts several fine arts performances a year. Sports are offered in 5th grade.
Lemoore High School – Lemoore High School is considered by many to be one of the top schools in the valley. It is a comprehensive high school whose curriculum offers an extensive variety of advanced placement honors and college prep courses as well as a broad choice of vocational education courses.
Lemoore High School has an award winning band and choir program, as well as an outstanding drama and forensics program. Its elective courses include agriculture, art, business, home economics, and industrial technology as well as courses from the Kings County Regional Occupation Program.
A Naval Junior ROTC program is available for all students. The goal of LHS is to prepare graduates for the “next step,” be that the world of work, technical school, community college, or a college or university in a technology enriched setting.
To provide students with a well-balanced education, Lemoore High School offers an extensive athletic and student activity program. Student leadership courses are offered and the student government is very active on campus.
The athletic program has produced numerous college and professional athletes. Some of the sports offered are football, volleyball, basketball, wrestling, track, baseball and swimming.
Enrollment - To enroll your child in elementary school, you must go to the front office of the school serving your area. (District office during summer vacation) You will need to have the following information: (1) proof of age, (2) proof of residency and (3) immunization records.
Immunization requirements include five diphtheria (DTP) shots (one after age 4), four polio shots (one after age 4), Two measles shots (both of these must be received after the 1st birthday), and three hepatitis B shots. A chickenpox vaccine is now required or documentation from a healthcare provider stating that the child has had chickenpox.
California added a 7th grade immunization requirement to the California School Immunization Law, effective July 1, 1999. Students entering 7th grade, in public and private schools, will need to have three hepatitis B shots and a second measles (or MMR) shot. A chickenpox shot is recommended if your child has not already had chickenpox, and a Td (tetanus) shot is recommended if your child has not had a booster within the last five years.
State law requires a child to be five years of age on or before December 2 to start kindergarten and six years of age to start first grade at the beginning of the school year.
Nearby Communities - The majority of Naval Air Station’s residents, who live off base, reside in the County’s two largest communities—Lemoore which is seven miles east of the base; and Hanford, the county seat, which is 14 miles east of the base.
Lemoore offers a serene atmosphere which strikes a sharp contrast to the accelerated pace of life in large metropolitan cities. The residents of Lemoore take pride in being the home of NAS Lemoore. The Navy people and their families make significant contributions to both the social and economic fabric of the community and the residents share in their sense of duty and commitment to the nation’s defense.
The healthy climate, modern well-equipped schools and small-town atmosphere make Lemoore an excellent location for raising a family. With 25,000 residents, the city still celebrates July 4 with a parade and festivities in the city park; conducts an outdoor concert series throughout the summer; and hosts a Christmas tree raising celebration and Christmas parade every year.
The Lemoore Parks and Recreation Department maintain five beautiful parks and offer a wide variety of programs such as adult and youth flag football, country and ballroom dance lessons, and yoga and fitness classes. Other available sports include youth basketball, a swim team, Little League, youth football, soccer, and girls’ softball.
A teen center is available throughout the year for students to enjoy pool or foosball, board and computer games, and watch movies. A Youth Sports Complex includes six softball fields and 13 soccer fields. The city also provides one of the best public golf courses in the valley, and an active senior citizens center which is open Monday-Friday.
Business leaders take pride in their downtown area, with the Chamber of Commerce offering a walking tour guide book which features 22 restored homes and businesses including Lemoore’s first hotel, built in 1885; a Victorian and a ranch home built in the 1890’s; a Legion Hall and a U.S.O. building, built for returning World War I soldiers; and the 1924 city hall.
Hanford was only a small sheep camp in 1877 when the Southern Pacific laid its first tracks through town. But add one train depot, and the sheep camp became a village and then town within a few months.
Within a decade, Hanford received its first post office and, in 1891, the town was incorporated. Two years later, when Kings County was formed, Hanford was chosen as county seat since it had a railroad depot and the area’s largest population. Today, it is a bustling town, with 54,000 people who enjoy numerous culture attractions, fine dining out, and a modern mall which features a pillared entrance and old-fashioned street lamps which blend with the city’s historic atmosphere. In addition to major department stores, the mall has more than 60 specialty shops, several restaurants, and an 8-screen movie theater.
Like Lemoore, Hanford takes pride in its restored downtown area and features a walking tour that includes 20 major sites of interest including an 1891 hotel, an 1887 Kings County jail, an 1893 opera house; and an 1896 court house. The Hanford Fox Theater was originally built in 1929 for “vaudeville,” later served as a movie theater, and was restored in 1982 for its current role as a live concert venue, with occasional film screenings and silent film showings with live organist.
With a town square atmosphere, Civic Center Park is the city’s focal point, with mature shade trees surrounding the stately courthouse, an 1897 jailhouse turned restaurant, a historic pillared auditorium, and an antique carousel. The city’s restored 1932 carousel comes back to life every Thursday during “Market Night,” while Hanford’s Civic Auditorium, built in 1925, still hosts community gatherings, entertainment, banquets, craft fairs, and home shows.
The greater Hartford area offers quality education with two high schools, two junior high schools, 15 public elementary schools, and seven private schools.
Fresno – For entertainment, many Central Valley residents travel 40 miles north to Fresno, the fifth largest city in California, where they can enjoy performing arts, culture centers, extensive shopping, fine dinning, and numerous museums. The city also offers festivals, rodeos, and the largest harvest fair in California.
Performing arts include the Fresno Grand Opera with international-caliber productions featuring world-class artists; the Fresno Philharmonic which presents high quality orchestral music to audiences throughout the San Joaquin Valley; and the Selland Arena at the Fresno Convention & Entertainment Center which features concerts, sporting events and family shows such as the Ringling Bros. and Barnum and Bailey Circus. Fresno also has dinner theaters, children’s theaters, small-live theaters, and the Woodward Shakespeare Festival.
At least 22 museums are located throughout Fresno with many being located in historic buildings such as a railroad depot, opera house, mansion, and school house. The Kingsburg Historical Park features a restored village, from the early 1900’s, including school house, fire station, home, barn, and grocery store. Larger museums include the renovated Fresno Metropolitan Museum of Art and Science, and the Fresno Art Museum.
For the young-and young at heart, there is Chafee Zoo which covers 18 acres of land and features more than 125 different species of animals. Information on all of Fresno’s activities, including dates and times for special events, is available on the city’s web site at: www.fresno.gov.
Exploring California – But with Southern California being listed as one of the top tourist destinations in the United States, a newcomers’ choices are nearly limitless. Within a four hours drive, there is something for everyone…Hiking, camping, fishing, and sightseeing in Yosemite, Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks to the east; deep sea fishing, boating, ocean water sports to the west; major cultural activities in San Francisco to the north; and famous entertainment centers such as Hollywood, Universal Studios, Disneyland Resort and Knott’s Berry Farm near Los Angeles in the south.
With so many choices, the biggest problem is selecting attractions which meet your needs and interests.
An excellent starting point for learning more about California’s top recreational attractions are two Morale, Welfare and Recreation (MWR) agencies on base—the Outdoor Adventure Center, and Tickets and Tours. You are encouraged to visit these organizations when planning your next trip or vacation.
While the primary mission of the Outdoor Adventure Center is renting outdoor recreational and camping equipment, its staff can help you select camping and boating areas that meet your needs…and they maintain daily fishing reports from throughout California.
The Tickets and Tours office has literature about recreational opportunities throughout the state, and it offers discount tickets for a wide variety of activities including: Disneyland Resort in Anaheim; Knottsberry Farm, Medieval Times Dinner and Pirate’s Dinner in Buena Park; Universal Studios and Aquarium of the Pacific in Hollywood; Six Flags Magic Mountain in Valencia; Monterey Bay Aquarium, Six flags Discovery Kingdom, and Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk on the Central Coast; and the San Diego Zoo and Sea World in San Diego. It even has discount tickets for Regal Cinemas in the local area.
In addition, Tickets and Tours arranges bus tours approximately three to four times each month to places of interest to Sailors and Marines and their families who are assigned to the Naval Air Station…visits to Los Angeles and San Francisco; to the wine country and Las Vegas; and to amusement parks and TV studios to be a part of the audience.
The staffs at Outdoor Adventure Center, and Tickets and Tours are dedicated to making your assignment to NAS Lemoore a memorable California experience.
