Hanford Insider

Rob Bentley
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Welcome the Hanford Insider, I’m your host Rob Bentley. I’m a lifelong resident of Hanford and I’m very involved in the local history scene and podcasting so I decided to start this show as a resource to Hanford area residents for covering issues, promoting events, sports, and reflecting on some local history. Tune in each Monday for a new episode. Please help me get the word out about the show by sharing on social media, or telling a friend. For more information about the show, you can find me on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, X,  or Threads at @Hanford Insider.  If you have a show idea, be sure to email me hanfordinsider@gmail.com  If you are part of an organization that needs help getting the word out to the community, let’s work together.

  1. 1 DAY AGO

    Hanford Insider: Hanford Multicultural Theater

    Send me a text and give me feedback on this episode! A theater can be a building—or a beacon. We sit down with volunteer tech lead and musician Ted Hillman to reveal how Hanford Multicultural Theater Company turned a small downtown space into a living hub for acting, improv, comedy, puppetry, and a fast-growing music scene. From the company’s early nomadic years to its permanent home on North Douty Street, Ted shares how one simple idea—the Jam Lab—helped break the “no scene here” myth by removing barriers and inviting musicians to create together on the spot. You’ll hear how providing a backline drum kit and reliable sound turned an open mic into a collaborative improv night where strangers become bandmates, teens find mentors, and working artists connect with players for paid gigs. We dig into the power of improv to spark trust, why all-ages participation builds a resilient arts community, and how clear, consistent programming—from acting classes to marionette theater—brings more people downtown. Along the way, we round up city council highlights, including a million-dollar Urban Forest Master Plan grant, groundwater planning, and a proposed e-mobility ordinance, plus a full sports update with playoff seeds, upsets, and next matchups across basketball and soccer. This episode is a playbook for growing culture at street level: start with access, remove friction, and welcome everyone from first-timers to seasoned pros. If you’re local, you’ll leave with concrete dates, links, and ideas. If you’re listening from another city, you’ll hear a model worth borrowing—one stage, many voices, real momentum. Enjoyed the show? Subscribe, leave a review, and share this with a friend who needs a stage—or a reason to start. Got an event, score, or story we should feature? Email HanfordInsider@gmail.com and let’s get it on the calendar. You can find the Hanford Insider at www.hanfordinsider.com and on social media at @hanfordinsider Thank you for supporting the show!

    21 min
  2. Hanford Insider - February 9, 2026 - Mayor's Wrap Up

    9 FEB · BONUS

    Hanford Insider - February 9, 2026 - Mayor's Wrap Up

    Send me a text and give me feedback on this episode! A live federal update turned into breaking good news: Hanford secured an extra $2 million for the Grangeville Boulevard Grade Separation Project, closing critical gaps in right-of-way and utility work that keep rail safety and traffic flow on track. We walk through what this funding unlocks, why timing matters for infrastructure, and how federal partners like Senator Alex Padilla helped put momentum behind a high-impact local project. From there, we shift to people and policy. After a strong slate of interviews, we appointed Cecily Esparza, Parvio Gill, and Lisa McAlwaink (as an alternate) to the Planning Commission—key roles that shape land use, housing, and the day-to-day look and feel of our neighborhoods. We also spotlight Main Street Hanford’s annual report, celebrating the steady work of downtown marketing, events, and business support that fuels small business growth and stronger community ties. We then dig into two decisions with long-term stakes. First, we authorized a consultant to build an agricultural mitigation program and feasibility study, inviting growers, landowners, and residents to help balance farmland preservation with smart growth. Second, we advanced a proposal to raise the Transient Occupancy Tax from 8% to 12%, channeling visitor dollars into essentials like public safety and parks. With the measure headed to the June ballot, we explain how TOT works, why our rate hasn’t changed since 1985, and what an update could mean for local services and quality of life. Want the details and the rationale behind each move? Listen to the full recap, subscribe for more Council updates, and share your take—should Hanford update the visitor tax to support core services? Your feedback helps shape our next steps. You can find the Hanford Insider at www.hanfordinsider.com and on social media at @hanfordinsider Thank you for supporting the show!

    4 min
  3. Hanford Insider - Katelind Donahue - "The Writer's Haven"

    8 FEB

    Hanford Insider - Katelind Donahue - "The Writer's Haven"

    Send me a text and give me feedback on this episode! A town grows when people show up for each other, and this week we spotlight how Hanford’s energy is fueling real creative work. We kick off with quick hits around the city: a new city manager sworn in, downtown speakers set to bring music to Irwin, Douty, and 7th, and educator honors that remind us how much local champions matter. The community calendar overflows with film at the Fox, exhibits at the Carnegie Museum, and a comic con at Fraternal Hall—proof that there’s always a reason to step out and connect. Then we sit down with Katelind Donahue to unpack Writer’s Haven, a grassroots group that turned online writing sprints into a living, breathing space for aspiring authors. Katelind shares how a love for library shelves and a push from her mom evolved into a Starbucks conference room filled with laptops, notebooks, and quiet resolve. Every other Saturday, six to ten writers lock in for two hours, draft pages, and trade encouragement. We talk about why long-form storytelling still matters in a scroll-first world, how fantasy worldbuilding demands patience and care, and why community can be the missing ingredient between idea and finished chapter. We also explore the craft itself: the surprising benefits of handwriting for memory and character voice, the way stress can be shaped into scenes, and how simple structures like timed sprints help writers of every level—from first drafts to query-ready manuscripts—stay consistent. Katelind introduces Garden of Honey, her faith-centered podcast focused on prayer, emotional regulation, and healing, and shares how to connect on Instagram and Facebook, with virtual sessions coming soon for those outside the area. We wrap with a full local sports roundup to keep you current heading into playoff season. If this story moved you, follow the show on your favorite app, share it with a friend who needs a nudge to write, and leave a quick review to help more neighbors find us. You can find the Hanford Insider at www.hanfordinsider.com and on social media at @hanfordinsider Thank you for supporting the show!

    30 min
  4. Hanford Insider: How A Historic Bakery Shaped A Town And Sparked A New Chapter In Community Business

    1 FEB

    Hanford Insider: How A Historic Bakery Shaped A Town And Sparked A New Chapter In Community Business

    Send me a text and give me feedback on this episode! A bakery that once fed a town now feeds a different kind of hunger: connection, service, and shared memory. We follow Maccagno’s from a 1949 brick landmark with 20‑foot ovens and loading docks to a living hub for local business, events, and civic pride. We start with Hanford’s roots—six bakeries in the 1920s, immigrant craft shaping taste, and bread as a public good—and trace the Maccagno’s expansion from 200 loaves a day to more than 4,500. Economic shifts and new shopping habits eventually dimmed the neighborhood bakery model, but the stories lingered: a rumored rum cake recipe made by feel, friendly faces behind the counter, and a building that held a Cold War secret in its 12‑inch concrete basement walls. When Jeanette Sasser stepped in to acquire and restore the space, she found ovens, racks, and even fallout rations, then transformed the site into a creative engine for JH Tackett Marketing. Jeanette and new owner Amory Marple open up about preserving artifacts, curating photos, and treating the building as a public trust. When the pandemic upended daily life, the team kept printers running late, supplying restaurants, hospitals, and schools with clear signage and launching print‑pack‑ship programs to honor graduates and frontline staff. Their story shows how local businesses can evolve without abandoning their mission to serve. We also preview Maccagno’s role in the Carnegie Museum’s Hanford walking tour and a countywide exhibit celebrating the architecture, industries, and people that shaped Kings County. If you care about local history, small business resilience, and the power of place, you’ll find plenty to savor here—no oven mitts required. Subscribe, share with a friend who loves hometown stories, and leave a quick review to help more neighbors discover the show. You can find the Hanford Insider at www.hanfordinsider.com and on social media at @hanfordinsider Thank you for supporting the show!

    30 min
  5. Hanford Insider: How Tightening Residency Verification Aims To Balance Programs, Class Sizes, and Opportunity at our local high schools

    25 JAN

    Hanford Insider: How Tightening Residency Verification Aims To Balance Programs, Class Sizes, and Opportunity at our local high schools

    Send me a text and give me feedback on this episode! What happens when a growing city meets crowded classrooms and a patchwork of feeder schools? We sit down with HJUHSD Superintendent Victor Rosa and Assistant Superintendent Bobby Peters to talk candidly about enrollment trends, residency verification, and why balance across Hanford High, Hanford West, and Sierra Pacific matters more than ever. We start with the pulse of Hanford: park repairs after Winter Wonderland, a new mixed-use development near Freedom Park, and the city’s choice for a new manager. Then we zoom into the high school landscape. Rosa and Peters explain how years of loose transfers—especially during Sierra Pacific’s early ramp-up—created expectations that don’t match today’s realities. Sierra Pacific is beyond full, Hanford High is classroom-full, and Hanford West still has room. To steady the system, the district is tightening proof of residency, requiring matching documentation across identity, housing, and utilities while verifying records against assessor data and historical addresses. They’ve moved from easy uploads to in-person review nights and added an anonymous tip line to investigate obvious mismatches and AI-altered documents. Program access stays front and center. Athletics, clubs, and academics are largely comparable across campuses, with unique options like NJROTC and the Medical Academy supported through transfers or lotteries, and advanced classes accessible via busing when enrollment is small. The leaders make a clear case: distributing students fairly keeps class sizes manageable, prevents one school from hoarding talent, and ensures every campus can field strong teams, ensembles, and advanced coursework. They also address the rise of club sports that unofficially align with a single school and encourage families to build with their true home campus early. Looking ahead, construction at Sierra Pacific will add capacity, and the district is scouting land for a potential fourth high school down the road. Until then, the path forward is practical: accurate documents, aligned addresses, and a community commitment to fair placement. Want the details or need help? Visit hjuhsd.org, reach out to district staff, or stop by the office to get placed correctly. If this conversation helped you understand how enrollment and residency shape opportunity in Hanford, follow the show, share it with a neighbor, and leave a quick review so more locals can find it. You can find the Hanford Insider at www.hanfordinsider.com and on social media at @hanfordinsider Thank you for supporting the show!

    34 min
  6. Hanford Insider: How A Brewery, A Builder, And A Vision Aim To Transform Downtown Hanford

    18 JAN

    Hanford Insider: How A Brewery, A Builder, And A Vision Aim To Transform Downtown Hanford

    Send me a text and give me feedback on this episode! A 19th-century courthouse is about to get a 21st-century heartbeat. We sit down with builder and BarrelHouse Brewing co-founder Kevin Nickell to unpack the real work of revival: clearing decades of debris, rebuilding plumbing and electrical systems, modernizing accessibility, and protecting the building’s neoclassical Romanesque beauty while preparing it for modern life. Kevin shares how a contractor’s mindset, sharpened by the 2008 downturn and years of hands-on operations, informs a pragmatic plan to turn a landmark into a daily destination. We trace the roadmap: stabilize the basement and core utilities, lease the basement and second floor to offset carrying costs, then launch an upstairs anchor with BarrelHouse and a strong food partner that draws consistent foot traffic. It’s intentional design for spillover—every visitor walks past ground-floor businesses, creating discovery and demand. Kevin also breaks down the difference between the courthouse and the Bastille, why structure matters, and how preservation rules shape smart choices like removing tired awnings while keeping the exterior intact. If you’re a local entrepreneur, this is your nudge. Early tenants can secure space as systems come online, benefiting from reduced friction and thoughtful base build-outs. Kevin’s team has already proven the model at the Wealth Building, where upgrades, fair pricing, and reliable maintenance helped coffee, retail, and service businesses grow. Add community news, a robust events calendar, and a full sports rundown, and you’ve got a snapshot of Hanford’s momentum and what it takes to keep it moving. Subscribe, share with a neighbor, and tell us: what business would you bring to the courthouse? You can find the Hanford Insider at www.hanfordinsider.com and on social media at @hanfordinsider Thank you for supporting the show!

    33 min

  7. 11 JAN

    Hanford Insider: Community Updates, MLK Day Celebration, And Local Sports Highlights

    Send me a text and give me feedback on this episode! A new year only counts if the community moves with it. We open the season by catching you up on City Hall’s biggest storyline, celebrating neighbors doing extraordinary work, and inviting you to a Martin Luther King Jr. gathering designed to bring Hanford together in a real, human way. First, Rob breaks down the city manager search—from 46 inquiries across seven states to a focused shortlist and why interim manager Chris Tavarez now stands as the lone candidate. We share what this means for continuity, accountability, and the upcoming council announcement. Then we zoom in on public space: Kings County Library’s multi‑million dollar renovation centered on ADA accessibility, HVAC, and plumbing upgrades. It’s practical, overdue, and vital for turning the library into a reliable, inclusive hub for students, families, and job seekers. Our guests, Paula Massey and Carolyn Hudgens of Women with Visions Unlimited, bring heart and detail to the MLK Day celebration at the Hanford Civic Auditorium. Think breakfast community time at 9 a.m., a powerful 10 a.m. program with speakers, praise dancers, poets, musicians, plus information booths and craft vendors. They make a compelling case for why honoring Dr. King is a “people thing”—a chance to replace online division with face‑to‑face connection, memory, and shared purpose. We also shout out the Hanford Police Activities League Boxing Club for being named the top USA Boxing club by win percentage, a testament to discipline and community support. Eric rounds it out with a full sports rundown: clutch Sierra Pacific boys wins, Hanford High and Hanford West navigating tough stretches, and girls’ basketball and soccer setting the tone for league play. It’s the kind of scoreboard that gets you into the stands and cheering for the kids you know. If this resonated, share it with a neighbor, subscribe to the newsletter at HanfordInsider.com, and leave a rating so more locals can find the show. Have a tip, event, or result? Email HanfordInsider@gmail.com and tell us what deserves the spotlight next. You can find the Hanford Insider at www.hanfordinsider.com and on social media at @hanfordinsider Thank you for supporting the show!

    16 min

  8. 31/12/2025 · BONUS

    Hanford Insider: Mayor Kairis' Wednesday Wrap Up for December 2025

    Send me a text and give me feedback on this episode! City decisions rarely feel urgent until they touch your block, your commute, or your kids’ route to school. This week’s wrap brings it all home with quick, plain‑spoken highlights from Hanford’s council meeting—what changed, what’s next, and how you can plug in without scrubbing through hours of video. We start with a simple promise: official, rotating wrap‑ups on the city’s Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube so you can get the facts fast. From there, we dig into a surprisingly powerful quality‑of‑life win: renewing crow abatement downtown with Main Street Hanford and Hawk on Hand. Cleaner sidewalks, safer walkways, and a more welcoming core help local shops and events thrive through the winter roosting season. Then we celebrate our fire department—six well‑earned promotions and seven new firefighters stepping forward after an eight‑week academy focused on vehicle extrication, mass casualty response, and real‑world skills that save minutes when minutes matter. On the policy side, we unpack three consent approvals that punch above their weight. A solar facility at the wastewater treatment plant with Optera Energy Services is set to cut operating costs and emissions at one of the city’s most energy‑intensive sites. Renewing work with federal partner Thorn Partners keeps Hanford competitive for grants and programs that fund streets, safety, and infrastructure. An amended lease with the Valley Community Small Business Development Center keeps startup support in our historic train station, where founders can access coaching and capital readiness close to transit. Safety takes the spotlight with a new ordinance for bicycles, e‑bikes, and e‑scooters—clear rules plus enforcement tools designed to protect riders and pedestrians after five injury collisions this year, including one fatality. We also point you to the Kings‑Tulare High‑Speed Rail Station Transit Oriented Development Plan at hanfordca.gov/HanfordConnected, a guide for walkable growth around the future station. Finally, we share dates you’ll want on your calendar: the city manager candidate meet and greet, Winter Wonderland, and the next council meeting. If this quick tour helps you feel more connected to the work, follow our socials, share the episode with a neighbor, and leave a review with the topic you want us to explain next. Your questions shape what we cover next time. You can find the Hanford Insider at www.hanfordinsider.com and on social media at @hanfordinsider Thank you for supporting the show!

    4 min
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About

Welcome the Hanford Insider, I’m your host Rob Bentley. I’m a lifelong resident of Hanford and I’m very involved in the local history scene and podcasting so I decided to start this show as a resource to Hanford area residents for covering issues, promoting events, sports, and reflecting on some local history. Tune in each Monday for a new episode. Please help me get the word out about the show by sharing on social media, or telling a friend. For more information about the show, you can find me on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, X,  or Threads at @Hanford Insider.  If you have a show idea, be sure to email me hanfordinsider@gmail.com  If you are part of an organization that needs help getting the word out to the community, let’s work together.

Information

  • Creator
    Rob Bentley
  • Years Active
    2023 - 2026
  • Episodes
    134
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Hanford Insider
  • Show Website
    Hanford Insider