Willis Jewelers Harvey Willis559- 686- 6186Est. 1983Custom Designs Fine Jewelry Diamonds Gemstones Repair218 So. " K" St. Tulare, CA 932740000128212LIVING HERE May 21, 2009| 71www. rvexpress. netR. V. express8335 W. Goshen Ave. • 651- 8080www. rvexpressca. com• Factory/ Extended Warranties• Brake Control & Wiring • 5th Wheel HitchesCall today for a free estimateSome restrictions may applySpecializing in: • Insurance Collision Work• Major Appliance Repairs• Accessory Installation( Awnings, A. C.' s, Antennas, etc.) • Catalog Part OrdersR. V. EXPRESSPropane & FREE Dump StationFwy 99NHwy. 198Goshen Ave. Ave. 304Kelsey Dr. Plaza Dr. Road 80Holiday Inn& PlazaPark2 FREEDump Sites0000127306Propaneliving here COMMUNITIES: WOODLAKEBY GERALD CARROLLgcarroll@ visalia. gannett. como you like the Central Valley but hatethe winter fog? Try on Woodlake forsize, says Bill Lewis, the Tulare Coun- ty town's mayor for the last 12 years. " Our elevation is a little higher, soresidents don't have as much of thatTule fog," Lewis said. That extra elevation also helpsWoodlake's claim to fame — the bestoranges in the world. " We're a small town surrounded by citrus — and olives," Lewis said. In good times, like this year, that leads to a bigpiece of Tulare County's $ 1 billion annual orange crop andmultimillion- dollar olive harvest. " But if it freezes, that means hard times," Lewis said. This year is not a freeze year, it's a prosperous year, starting with the Navel oranges just being harvested, andlater, the Valencias and several varieties of Mandarinoranges. Woodlake's already solid school district will benefit froma local bond measure passed by voters that will allowimprovements and expansion to the city's school system. " And the downtown area is holding its own, eventhrough the economic slowdown," Lewis said." We're look- ing forward to a big rebound this year." Major local events continue in 2009 in much the sameway as previous years — only bigger and hopefully better, Lewis said. As in past years, Woodlake's Fourth of July fireworksdisplay will take place the night before, July 3, which thisyear falls on a Friday, Lewis said. " That gives our local residents a chance to attend a sec- ond area display with friends on July 4," Lewis said. This year's Woodlake Chamber of Commerce ClassicCar and Bike Show is also set for July 18 this year, withCruise Night on July 17. It's one of the biggest events ofthe year locally, certainly one of the most significant forthe spring- summer season. But it's the distinctive Western flavor that peppers mostWoodlake events, including the annual Woodlake LionsClub Rodeo and Parade each spring on Mother's Day. Woodlake City CouncilMeets 6: 30 p. m. on the secondand fourth Monday of the monthat Woodlake City Hall, 350 N. Valencia Blvd., 559- 564- 8055Public SafetyPolice: 559- 564- 3346Fire: 559- 564- 2181UtilitiesWater/ trash/ sewer: City ofWoodlake, 559- 564- 8055Gas: The Gas Co., 800- 427- 2200MiscellaneousPublic transportation: TulareCounty Area Transit, 800- 431- 9711; Woodlake Dial- A- Ride, 559- 280- 2736Schools: Woodlake Union Ele- mentary School District, 559- 564- 8081; Woodlake Union HighSchool District, 559- 564- 8081Library: Tulare County Library, Woodlake branch, 400 W. Whit- ney Ave., 559- 564- 8424Woodlake factsiPopulation: 7,501iWeb site: www. cityofwood- lake. comiPublic transportation: TulareCounty Area Transit, ( 800) 431- 9711; Woodlake Dial- a- Ride, 280- 2736. iSchools: Woodlake Union Ele- mentary School District, 564- 8081; Woodlake Union HighSchool District, 564- 8081. iLibrary: Tulare County Library, Woodlake branch, 400 W. Whit- ney Ave., 564- 8424. CLIP IT | ESSENTIAL INFOWoodlake offers a stunning viewRon HolmanCanada geese gather near the water's edge on the east side of Bravo Lake as the sun sets in Woodlake. D

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