Editorial: Thumbs up, thumbs down

Thumbs up to California Chrome, the Valley-bred horse who flew down the track to a five-length victory in the $10 million Dubai World Cup. The winner of the 2014 Kentucky Derby and Preakness finished second last year in the world’s richest horse race. This time, the 5-year-old was ridden by Victor Espinoza, who was aboard American Pharoah for last year’s Triple Crown sweep. California Chrome, the 2014 Horse of the Year, won $6 million in Dubai and now tops the earnings list after his third straight victory.

“It’s the dream of a lifetime for me. It doesn’t get better,” trainer Art Sherman told The Associated Press. “The Chromies (fans) will be going crazy (back home).”

He is headed for the farm now to unwind, and the ultimate goal is winning the Breeders’ Cup Classic in November at Santa Anita.

Thumbs down to the Corporate Compliance Center for trying to solicit Valley businesses, encouraging them to comply with their California Corporations Code filing obligations by submitting fees and documents to them rather than by filing directly with the Secretary of State’s Office. Their charge is $150. According to Blair Looney, The Bee’s columnist for the Better Business Bureau, this business has an “F” rating with BBB.

Looney says the solicitations tend to have one or more of the following characteristics:

▪  Appear similar to a Secretary of State Statement of Information form

▪  Contain an official-looking seal

▪  Imply that failing to return the form and pay the fee may place the entity in legal jeopardy, or cause the entity’s filings to be in default or noncompliant status

According to Looney, the Secretary of State’s Office advises that these solicitations are not being made by it or any other government entity. No business is required to go through another company in order to file its documents with the office. Businesses that receive fraudulent solicitation letters or that have paid the company and received a fraudulent certificate can file a complaint at BBB.org and at the Secretary of State’s Office, www.sos.ca.gov/notary/file-complaint.

Thumbs up to Visalia Realtor Diego Espinosa-Martinez for being named one of Realtor magazine’s annual 30 Under 30 honorees and the first from the central San Joaquin Valley to be selected as a finalist.

The magazine is a publication of the National Association of Realtors, which recognizes the industry’s rising young stars nationally who show success, skill, creativity and leadership in their areas. Espinosa-Martinez sold 48 homes in the first eight months he had his real estate license and sold 100 homes at age 23 while attending Fresno State to earn a finance degree.

His ambition was fueled when his father died. Diego was just 18, leaving his mother and five siblings broke. His property investment company is called VARO-Real Investments and he is a member of the Kevin Blain Real Estate Team for Keller Williams Realty.

He is helping his siblings attend prestigious universities across the country and in London and has set up a $1,000 scholarship at Mt. Whitney High School, his alma mater. He owns a small plane and takes flying lessons. His hard work in the fields when he was young provided better lessons in the value of a dollar than any college class he has attended, he says.

Thumbs up to Fresno State for opening its Clothing Closet this week. Even a short chat with hiring executives in the Valley shows that many students are unprepared to dress for the workplace, showing up for interviews in flip flops and torn jeans. The closet initiative will provide students with free professional clothing for interviews, career fairs and first jobs. It is in the Career Development Center Room 103 of the Frank W. Thomas building.

Closet hours are Monday-Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. and there is a changing room to try on garments. To donate, drop professional clothing off at the center or call the office at 278-2381 to arrange pickup at a university loading zone. Items should be professional and less than 5 years old, clean and ready to wear. There is a special demand for smaller men’s clothing. Receipts for tax deductions are provided.

This story was originally published April 1, 2016 at 8:37 AM with the headline "Editorial: Thumbs up, thumbs down."