News reports from Southern Adventist University; Andrews University; California’s Central Valley; Keene, Texas, and Tulare, California:

From a “green” Southern Adventist University Facebook update:

In November of 1919, Southern Adventist University’s administration met and voted green as the official school color. That means this month marks 100 verdant years! Today, our campus celebrated by wearing green and enjoying evergreen and lime cupcakes and cookies. #ForEverGreen

Andrews University welcomed Nikki Renée Daniels, currently playing Angelica Schuyler in “Hamilton” at the CIBC Theater in Chicago as a special guest at a University Forum meeting today. According to a Facebook update from the university, Daniels was interviewed by Charles Reid, associate professor of voice and artist-in-residence in the Department of Music. Daniels also taught a masterclass to a group of Andrews students during her visit to the campus.

The Business Journal reported that the Leapfrog Group gave three hospitals in the Central Valley area of California top grades for patient safety. Two of these facilities were Adventist Health’s Selma and Hanford hospitals, both of which received “A” ratings. The Leapfrog Group surveyed 2,600 hospitals throughout the country.

According to the Cleburne Times-Review, the Keene, Texas, Citizen of the Year award was given to Keene Adventist Church Senior Pastor James Winegardner and his administrative team on October 28.

“This year’s citizen is also citizens,” said Chamber President Paul Gnadt. “A group of a specific assembly who lead this organization and whose vision and creativity has energized this town and made a difference in the quality and meaning of life. The Keene Adventist Church operates a community foodbank, kids eat-free backpack program at Keene ISD, a clothing outlet for needy families, exercise classes for seniors and all ages, a program that provides transportation to anyone to anywhere within 10 miles of Keene for those who need to go to the doctor or grocery store.

“It all translates into feeling good about life in Keene. Whether or not you are a member of this particular organization, in Keene you’re going to do business with somebody who is. So, the Keene Chamber of Commerce Citizen of the Year is Keene Adventist Church Senior Pastor James Winegardner and the administrative team at the church.”

The Visalia Times-Delta reports that Adventist Health has broken ground on a rural health clinic in Tulare, California. The groundbreaking comes just a year after Adventist Health Tulare opened its doors as Adventist Health took over a facility that had declared bankruptcy under a different hospital system. The rural health clinic will provide primary care, specialty care and dental services. It is projected to open in October 2020.

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