HANFORD, Calif. , A new interview with longtime Kings County photographer and community leader Gary Feinstein is raising serious questions about the actions, or lack thereof, by Mayor Mark Kairis, Vice Mayor Nancy Howze, and Councilmember Travis Paden after they were allegedly informed about Hanford’s Bicentennial Time Capsule weeks before the City’s public announcement.

Feinstein is not an unknown voice in the community. He is a longtime Kings County photographer, community leader, and well-respected local figure who has covered countless civic events and public gatherings over the years. He was also recognized as Male Citizen of the Year by the Hanford Chamber of Commerce, adding further weight to his account of what he says happened on June 19.

On July 6, Mayor Mark Kairis posted a public statement on his Facebook page stating, “As Hanford’s current Mayor, I was personally unaware of this historic capsule and its stipulated recovery/review date of July 4, 2026, until a few days before celebrating America’s 250th Independence Day.”

That statement is now being questioned because Feinstein says he personally brought the time capsule to Kairis’ attention more than two weeks before July 4.

For 50 years, the opening date was never a mystery. The time capsule was buried in 1976 with the expectation that it would be opened on July 4, 2026, during Hanford’s Bicentennial celebration. Yet when that historic day arrived, the City had no ceremony, no plan, and no announced opening date.

City Communications Director Brian Johnson told The Hanford Sentinel that staff had “a lot going on” and that the employee who normally handled the project was busy with other responsibilities.

Just days later, the City reversed course and announced the time capsule would be opened on July 9, stating that “over the past several days” many community members had expressed interest in seeing it opened.

However, Feinstein’s account introduces a timeline that raises additional questions.

According to Feinstein, he personally spoke with Mayor Kairis, Vice Mayor Nancy Howze, and Councilmember Travis Paden during Hanford’s Juneteenth celebration on June 19. Feinstein said he specifically brought the time capsule to their attention more than two weeks before the July 4 anniversary.

“I told them, ‘We have this time capsule,'” Feinstein said during the interview. “They didn’t seem to know what I was talking about.”

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If Feinstein’s account is accurate, the question is no longer whether City leaders had an opportunity to learn about the milestone before July 4. The question becomes what happened after that conversation.

Did anyone follow up with staff?

Did anyone ask whether the City was preparing for the July 4 opening?

Did anyone raise the issue publicly before the historic anniversary passed?

And after Kairis publicly stated on July 6 that he was personally unaware of the historic capsule and its July 4, 2026 recovery date until a few days before America’s 250th Independence Day, why was there no public clarification from Vice Mayor Howze or Councilmember Paden if they had also participated in the June 19 conversation described by Feinstein?

Those questions remain unanswered.

This was not an unexpected event. The opening date had been established for 50 years. Once July 4, 2026, passed, the community lost the opportunity to celebrate the anniversary on the very day envisioned by the residents who buried the capsule in 1976.