Jim Costa

Mr Speaker, I rise today to honor the life of Maytha Sebasto, a beloved educator, mother, wife, and community leader whose dedication to her students and the Central Valley spanned more than six decades.

Maytha entered eternal rest on August 7, 2026, leaving behind a lasting legacy of service, compassion, and devotion to her family and community. Born in Merced, California, in 1937 to M.O. and Bertha Richards, Maytha was raised in a pioneering Central Valley farming family. She graduated from LeGrand High School in 1955.

Her commitment to education and teaching began early. In 1958 she began her career at LeGrand Elementary School, with a provisional credential. She went on to earn a degree in elementary education from Fresno State in 1960.

In 1961, Maytha joined Fresno Unified School District, beginning a remarkable career that would span more than 37 years. She taught at Tielman, Birney, Columbia, and Ewing Elementary Schools respectively, before joining Ayer Elementary in 1990, where she continued teaching kindergarten until her retirement. An extradentary educator, Maytha, understood the importance of giving children a strong foundation. She brought music, art, culture, and agriculture into her classroom and inspired generations of young students with her creativity, warmth, and love of learning.

Maytha's commitment to service extended well beyond the classroom. She taught catechism at St. Helen's Parish, served as a 4-H club leader, volunteered with the Fresno County Farm Bureau's ``Ag in the Classroom.'' program, and remained deeply connected to the agriculture community she called home. She was also a gifted storyteller, seamstress, watercolor artist, and beloved family chef.

Maytha shared a remarkable life with her husband, Alfred Sebasto, Jr. After meeting at a church party in 1960, they married in 1962 and began their life together while Al was serving in the U.S. Army in Germany. They eventually returned to Fresno County, where they raised their two daughters, Alfreda and Theresa, and worked together on the family farm, cultivating hay, almonds, citrus, and dairy replacement heifers. Their life together was rooted in family, faith, agricultuie, and a deep commitment to one another.

Even after retiring from teaching, Maytha continued to serve others as a substitute teacher for former colleagues, volunteering in agricultural education, working alongside her husband on the farm, and pursuing her love of art and travel. Her kindness, creativity, and devotion to others left an indelible impression on the many students, family members, and friends who were fortunate enough to know her.

Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring the life of Maytha Sebasto and recognizing her extraordinary contributions to generations of students, her family, and the Central Valley community. Her legacy as an educator, farmer, mother, and friend will endure in the countless lives she touched and in the values of service, family, and community that she so faithfully embodied.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor and remember the life of Nancy Ruth Osborne, who passed away on April 8, 2026, at the age of 78.

Nancy grew up in a military family, living on Army bases in Japan, Turkey, and the United States. She graduated from Las Cruces High School in New Mexico, after which she attended California State University, Fresno and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Speech Communications.

She began her 37-year career at ABC30 in 1977, breaking the glass ceiling for young women in reporting by becoming one of the region's earliest women to anchor local television news. Nancy quickly developed a reputation for integrity, compassion, and a deep commitment to the community she served.

Over the course of her career, Nancy co-anchored Action News and wrote and produced ``360'', the San Joaquin Valley's first locally developed television news magazine program. In 1996, after two decades on air, she was appointed Executive Producer of Special Projects. As executive producer, she helped guide station coverage while continuously reporting on public affairs, politics, and issues affecting children and families.

Notably, Nancy covered many important events, such as the inauguration of Ronald Reagan in 1981, Queen Elizabeth II's visit to Yosemite National Park in 1983, the launch of a space shuttle at Cape Canaveral and its landing in the California desert, the aftermath of the Coalinga earthquake, and a story close to her heart: going to sea on the USS Lincoln to report on the pilots and sailors from the San Joaquin Valley.

In January 2004 Nancy returned to reporting full-time. Once again, bringing her experience and expertise to the daily Action News team. While there she co-anchored Action News at Five with her good friend and colleague, Warren Armstrong.

In 2005, the Northern California chapter of the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences inducted the Emmy award-winning Osborne into its prestigious Silver Circle for her commitment of over 25 years to the Fresno television market and the broadcast news industry. She was also awarded the esteemed Edward R. Morrow Award, which commemorates only the best of local broadcasting journalism.

Outside of the newsroom Nancy was deeply engaged in community service and charitable work throughout Central California. She was always particularly passionate about serving the military community.

At the age of 64, Ms. Osborne decided to retire after an injury that left her unable to do the job to her own standards. During her exit interview in 2012, Nancy recounted how much she owed her career to her daily viewers. ``I never would have lasted 20 minutes, much less 20 or 30 years. And it is because of the folks who watched us every day.''

Nancy Osborne was a beloved figure and trailblazer. She was a passionate, accomplished news media professional, who cared deeply for her community and the members of our military who bravely serve to defend our country. She will be deeply missed.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize and honor ABC30 on its 70th Anniversary, a remarkable milestone celebrating seven decades of service, journalism, and steadfast commitment to the people of California's Central Valley.

Since its first broadcast on May 10, 1956, ABC30's predecessor operated out of a small, modest facility in downtown Fresno with limited staff and resources. What began as a local station with humble beginnings has grown into the region's longtime news leader, informing families and shaping the community thorough decades of storytelling.

In the early 1970s, the station entered a new chapter with investments in equipment, staffing, and a new facility that helped launch the Action News format. This approach, emphasizing timely reporting, compelling visuals, and faster-paced coverage, helped ABC30 rise to the top of the ratings, a position it has proudly maintained for generations.

ABC30 has been home to journalists and anchors who become trusted voices in households across the Valley. Longtime anchors such as John Wallace and Nancy Osborne helped build a lasting connection with viewers, not only through their reporting, but through their leadership, professionalism and dedication to the community they served.

The station's legacy is also reflected in its coverage of defining moments in Central Valley history, from the 1976 Chowchilla kidnapping to the aftermath of September 11, 2001, and the 2020 Creek Fire. Throughout each story, ABC30 has remained committed to its mission: to show up for the community and tell the stories that matter.

Beyond reporting, ABC30 has become a familiar presence in the daily lives of viewers, through recognizable faces, iconic music, and community-centered programs. Although technology and the ways people receive news has changed, ABC30's mission has remained steadfast: providing reliable journalism, addressing the issues that matter most to the community, and serving Central California with honesty and dedication.

Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in congratulating ABC30 on 70 years of service in our Central Valley. We honor the station's history, its journalist and staff, and its lasting contributions to our community. We extend our sincere appreciation as ABC30 continues its legacy of trust, news reporting, and public service for generations to come.