Welcome to the Hanford Insider!

Episodes

Dec. 7, 2025

Hanford Insider: Wreaths Across America

Send me a text and give me feedback on this episode! December in Hanford brings more than twinkling lights—it brings movement, memory, and a community that shows up. We open with the latest city news, from the council’s leadership rotation to a tougher stance on illegal fireworks that scales fines …

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Nov. 30, 2025

Hanford Insider: How A Beloved Storefront Became A City Tradition

Send me a text and give me feedback on this episode! A storefront can hold a city’s memory. We head to the corner of Seventh and Douty to explore how a 19th-century hotel became Hanford Furniture and, ultimately, the canvas for a holiday tradition that still stops families on the sidewalk: the Chri…

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Nov. 23, 2025

Hanford Insider: Muralist Jennifer Butts

Send me a text and give me feedback on this episode! A blank wall can change a neighborhood when the right story lands on it. We sit down with muralist and educator Jennifer Butts to trace her journey from a seven-year-old with a sketchbook to a globe-trotting teacher in Honduras and China, and fin…

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Nov. 19, 2025

Hanford Insider: Travis Paden's Wednesday Wrap Up 11/19/25

Send me a text and give me feedback on this episode! Big changes are coming to Hanford, and the latest council recap connects every headline to real life: safer streets, smarter spending, and a leadership search you can shape. We walk through the East Lacey Corridor’s next phase, where city enginee…

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Nov. 16, 2025

Hanford Insider: Your Guide To Hanford’s Holiday Kickoff: Winter Wond…

Send me a text and give me feedback on this episode! The holidays are officially on in Hanford, and we’re bringing you a front-row seat to everything that makes this season shine. From a redesigned Winter Wonderland with an elevated viewing deck and crackling fire pits to a bigger, safer Christmas …

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Nov. 9, 2025

Hanford Insider: Dallas Poore "Warriors of the Wind" - Veterans Day S…

Send me a text and give me feedback on this episode! Start with city hall, end on the open road. We bring you a fast-moving update on Hanford’s museum agreements, zoning changes, and a grant-funded tree plan, plus a key route change for the Hanford Christmas Parade that adds 2,000 feet of viewing s…

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Nov. 2, 2025

Hanford Insider: Christmas Parade Improvements and Bullpups Dominatio…

Send me a text and give me feedback on this episode! Big traditions don’t stay magical by accident—they’re planned, stress‑tested, and built with neighbors in mind. We open with a crisp look at City Council’s agenda, from the Kings County Farm Bureau briefing to the east‑west cross‑valley rail link…

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Oct. 26, 2025

Hanford Insider: Rob Isquierdo - Reestablishing Stratford

Send me a text and give me feedback on this episode! The week’s headlines feel different when you hear them from the people building the future they want to live in. We sit down with podcaster and community organizer Rob Esquerdo to trace a clear line from storytelling to action: how a classroom-bo…

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Oct. 22, 2025

Mayor Paden's Wednesday Wrap Up of the October 21st Hanford City Coun…

Send me a text and give me feedback on this episode! Quick wins matter, but so do the quiet calls that shape a city’s future. Mayor Travis Paden’s Wednesday wrap-up delivers a clear, helpful tour of the October 21 Hanford City Council meeting—what moved forward, what paused, and why it affects your…

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Oct. 19, 2025

Hanford Insider: CalTrans Plans, Community Events, And Hanford Sports…

Send me a text and give me feedback on this episode! Big projects are finally lining up for Kings County, and the details matter. We sit down with Caltrans District 6’s Alex Aguilera to unpack the planned 198–9th Avenue interchange, how five design alternatives could reconnect north and south Hanfo…

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Oct. 13, 2025

Fire safety, fall events, and a comeback win: a Hanford Insider tour …

Send me a text and give me feedback on this episode! The week bursts with energy—city moves that affect our day-to-day, a stacked fall calendar, a symphony season opener, and a high school football finish that had us on our feet. We also bring a crucial safety story to the front: Fire Chief Daniel …

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Oct. 5, 2025

Hanford Insider: Links for Life & Cancer Awareness

Send me a text and give me feedback on this episode! A small city can change big outcomes when information, care, and community line up. We sit down with Candy Bertaina and Kathy Mittleider from Links for Life, Kings County, to explore how a volunteer-led nonprofit funds the crucial first step in b…

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Sept. 28, 2025

Hanford Insider: Cultural Celebrations - Renaissance Fair and Moon Fe…

Send me a text and give me feedback on this episode! Fall festivities take center stage in Hanford as our community gears up for a season packed with beloved traditions and exciting changes. The 46th annual Renaissance of Kings Fair returns to Civic Park on October 4-5, bringing with it a rich tape…

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Sept. 21, 2025

Hanford Insider: Kings Partnership's Community Services

Send me a text and give me feedback on this episode! Kings Partnership serves as a vital lifeline for Kings County residents, offering an impressive array of free services designed to strengthen families and build community resilience. Program coordinator Jennifer Quinones brings enthusiasm and exp…

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Sept. 18, 2025

Hanford Insider: Mayor Paden's Wrap-Up 9/17/25

Send me a text and give me feedback on this episode! Mayor Travis Paden takes us behind the scenes of Hanford's latest City Council meeting, revealing crucial decisions that will shape our community's future. The Council has approved $325,000 for much-needed repairs to the Hanford Plunge, including…

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Sept. 14, 2025

Hanford Insider: Beyond the Surface: Exploring Hanford's Creative Pul…

Send me a text and give me feedback on this episode! Step into the unexpected cultural richness of Hanford with our exploration of the community's vibrant arts scene. While Kings County might not immediately come to mind as an arts destination, this episode reveals the surprising breadth of creativ…

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Sept. 7, 2025

Hanford Insider: The Fight Against Homelessness

Send me a text and give me feedback on this episode! The Kings County Homelessness Collaborative represents a remarkable coalition of 18 organizations working together to tackle one of our community's most persistent challenges. In this eye-opening conversation, Hanford City Councilman Mark Kairis …

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Aug. 31, 2025

Hanford Insider: Behind the scenes of a historic downtown law firm

Send me a text and give me feedback on this episode! A historic downtown law firm is making waves in Hanford with their commitment to community, clients, and careers. The Griswold LaSalle Law Firm, celebrating 80 years of service, has transformed the iconic Hanford Furniture Building into a thrivin…

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Aug. 24, 2025

Hanford Insider: Remembering Wyland Gomes

Send me a text and give me feedback on this episode! Tragedy often reveals the true character of a community. When Christy Camara lost her son Wyland under horrific circumstances in March 2020, Hanford didn't just offer condolences—it embraced her mission to prevent similar tragedies and honor her …

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Aug. 17, 2025

Hanford Insider: High School District unveils campus improvements

Send me a text and give me feedback on this episode! Step inside the remarkable transformation happening across Hanford Joint Union High School District campuses in this revealing conversation with district leaders Renee Creech, Lance Dowd, and Ben Stidman. Against the backdrop of steady enrollment…

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Aug. 10, 2025

Hanford Insider: Pickleball Fever is Bringing Communities Together

Send me a text and give me feedback on this episode! The fast-growing phenomenon of pickleball has taken Hanford by storm, creating a vibrant community that welcomes players of all ages and skill levels. Our deep dive into this increasingly popular sport reveals why it's captured the hearts of so m…

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Aug. 6, 2025

Mayor Travis Paden Wednesday Wrap Up 8/6/25

Send me a text and give me feedback on this episode! Mayor Travis Paden takes listeners behind the scenes of Hanford's marathon six-hour City Council meeting in this special edition of the Hanford Insider Podcast. What started at 4 PM and stretched until 10 PM covered critical decisions that will s…

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Aug. 3, 2025

Hanford Insider: Supervisor Doug Verboon

Send me a text and give me feedback on this episode! Dive into a fascinating conversation with Doug Verboon, Kings County Board of Supervisor for District 3, as he unpacks the inner workings of county government and shares his vision for Kings County's future. As a fifth-generation resident with de…

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July 27, 2025

Hanford Insider: Honoring Canine Officer Krash

Send me a text and give me feedback on this episode! Have you ever wondered about the deep bonds formed between police officers and their canine partners? This week's episode delves into a touching community initiative to honor fallen K9 officers, specifically Officer Krash who served the Hanford P…

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