Corcoran High School graduation is scheduled for 8 p.m. tomorrow (Friday) at the Corcoran Community Football Stadium. Tentatively. Should weather reports produce local thunderstorms—the kind that ruined the Hanford High graduation last Thursday—CHS Principal Chuck Gent and staff have already prepared Plan B: the graduation will be moved up a couple of hours and the ceremony will be held in the main gym on the high school campus.
Things should be easier at John Muir Middle School, with commencement exercises slated in the gym beginning at 4 p.m. this afternoon (Thursday). Following commencement, a dance will be held between 6-9 p.m. at the Mark Twain cafeteria. Only those promoting to high school will be allowed to attend.
Tomorrow, the class will walk over to the Corcoran Family YMCA for swim and a barbecue. Students will be released from the Y at noon.
While the venue for the high school graduation may be in question, the program is not. Student speakers for the event include Steven Maribojoc and Ywecenia Madera, who will present the valedictorian speech, in English and Spanish, respectively; and Lynn Burnias and Juana Sierra, who will present the theme speech in both languages. This year’s graduation theme is "Life Begins Now."
Brandon Flores will make opening remarks, while Jessica Jenkins will present the invocation. Making the farewell speech will be Johanna Panduro. The high school band will provide music and the school’s ROTC program will present the colors.
Gent said the high school expects to graduate approximately 135 seniors.
Should the ceremony be moved to the main gym, Gent said only those guests who have gold tickets will be admitted due to lack of space.

Millions of people around the world have difficulty swallowing their medications, vitamins and health supplements. One of them is the mother of Corcoran’s Jerry Robertson. Not one to stand still when a potential project is at hand, Robertson spent years attempting to come up with a solution.
That patent-pending answer hit the market Monday.
Pill Glide was developed by Robertson, a pharmacist, over a period of years. He wanted to help his mom—as well as customers—who complained about trouble swallowing medications. In fact, according to Robertson, statistics show that 40 percent of people have problems swallowing their pills, tablets and/or capsules.
While still owner of Jerry’s Drugs (and, in fact, owner of three pharmacies in Corcoran, Tulare and Woodlake), Robertson came up with the idea. He came up with the final formulation about three years ago and started the patent process. He thinks the water-based swallowing aid will work from pediatrics to geriatrics.
So does FLAVORx, Inc., which has entered into an exclusive licensing agreement with Robertson to market and launch Pill Glide. FLAVORx is a leader in medication flavoring.
"Taking what we’ve learned from our 14 years of experience in the pediatric prescription flavoring world, and recognizing the tremendous need for a product that will help people of all ages take their tablets and capsules, we’re confident Pill Glide can improve the quality of life for so many people," said Stuart Amos, CEO and President of FLAVORx.
Robertson and his wife, Patty, met with representative of FLAVORx here and at the company’s headquarters in Bethesda, Maryland, while hammering out the deal. Pill Glide now comes in several flavors, including peaches and cream, and strawberry.
It was for sale Monday on Amazon.com, but is expected to be in many stores, here and abroad, within days. Plans are in place to put the swallowing aid in chain pharmacies across the country. Talks are taking place with manufacturers and Europe, as well, said Robertson.
Pill Glide is a water-based liquid that can be sprayed directly into the mouth. The spray coats the tongue and back of the mouth, helping pills, tablets and capsules easily slide down the throat. The help the wide range of people who struggle to swallow their medication, Pill Glide is currently offered in five flavors, including child-friendly bubblegum and grape to the strawberry and peach, and even orange.
All flavors of Pill Glide are sugar free, so they are diabetic safe, are hypoallergenic and do not contain oils. Robertson said he took his time on formulation of the product to make sure there would be no contra-indications with any medications.
One local resident is already a convert.
"I have difficulty swallowing pills," said Linda Sharp, an early consumer of the product. "Before Pill Glide, I would cut my pills into little pieces to help with getting them down. Pill glide has allowed me to swallow quickly and easily."
While helping others, Robertson could be aiding his bottom line as well. FLAVORx expects sales of the swallowing aid to soar, and under the licensing agreement, Robertson will take home 7.5 percent of wholesale income. The amount could be substantial and well into the millions each year.
Robertson, who has lived in Corcoran since 1971, and started his pharmacy career at R&M Drug right out of University of the Pacific’s pharmacy school, said the market may also be expanded to include a veterinary form of flavoring for medications. Any pet owner knows how difficult it can be to get their animals to take pills and capsules. Enter (potentially) a liver-flavored pill coating. Yummy.
It certainly appears Robertson has selected the right company with which to partner on his enterprise. FLAVORx is a global health care company and it’s serious about marketing Pill Glide.
"We area a medication compliance company," Amos said. "Pill Glide further satisfied our mission of helping people lead happier, healthier lives through better adherence."
FLAVORx pediatric flavoring system is already available in nearly all major retail pharmacies, including CVS, Walgreens, Walmart, Target and Rite Aid. Robertson has hopes that Pill Glide will follow. If it does, he feels he will have achieved the goal he set himself.
"I hope this helps some people," he stated.

Stix, Flicks and Sidewalk Pics will be celebrated in downtown Corcoran this summer. The Corcoran Chamber of Commerce will once again host the Stix and Flicks get-togethers, this year with an additional offering: sidewalk art.
Once a month, with opening evening Friday, June 12, the public is invited to Christmas Tree Park for the downtown tnertainment. Beginning at 6:30 p.m., the evening will feature musical entertainment and this year includes an art contest: broken into age groups of age six and under, 7-12 and 13 and over, competitors will be provided their own "block" on the sidewalk and given sidewalk chalk to complete a drawing. Prizes will be awarded in all three divisions.
Once the art contest is complete and the sun is going down, it will be time for the outdoor movie. As in the past, the movies will all be family fare.
There is no charge to participate in the downtown event. Stix, Flicks and Sidewalk Pics will also take place July 10 and Aug. 14.
For more information about the sidewalk art contests, contact the Corcoran Chamber of Commerce at 992-4514.