NORTHERN HEMISPHERE — Look up into the clear (we hope) night sky this week for a view of the full Moon that coincides with the first day of spring. The Moon will reach its fullest point this month on Wednesday, Mar. 20 at 6:43 p.m. in our area — and it’s a supermoon. That means, according to NASA, the Moon ...

MOUNTAIN AREA — The National Weather Service in Hanford says a Pacific storm system will move into and across the region Tuesday night, Mar. 19 through Thursday, Mar. 21. Brief high pressure will build over the area Friday, Mar. 22 before another weaker storm system moves across the region Saturday, Mar. 23. Super Full Moon Rises On First Day Of ...

MOUNTAIN AREA — Local author Rachel Mazur has released a new series of nature-based books for young people called The Nature Club. Mazur has worked in the Sierra Nevada since 1991 and moved to the Yosemite area in 2014. Each book in The Nature Club series tells the story of one of the kids in the club and how they ...

YOSEMITE — Ever wonder what it was like to visit Yosemite more than 100 years ago? Find out on this history-themed all day guided adventure in the park organized through the Yosemite Conservancy. Long before automobiles were formally allowed in Yosemite, in 1913, visitors used stage coaches to visit the park and see the famous sights. During Stage Coach Days, ...

OAKHURST — For the past quarter-century local nonprofit Vision Academy of the Arts has awarded over $160,000 to more than 130 local high school seniors graduating in Eastern Madera County, as part of the nonprofit’s dedication to enrichment in education through the arts. Now, Vision Academy for the Arts invites to the community to come out in support of their ...

AHWAHNEE — Friends and neighbors will gather at The Hitchin’ Post on Wednesday, Mar. 20, as the nonprofit group Helping One Woman (HOW) honors Ailene Nicole Thomas. Ailene is a lifelong Mariposa county resident and a Mariposa High School graduate, Class of 2014. Shortly after graduating, say HOW organizers, Ailene met the love of her life: Jonah Seth Mackenzie Thomas. ...

OAKHURST — The community is invited to a free cooking and wellness workshop, Eating Ooooby Foothills, featuring an edible demo by Eric De Jong of Ooooby Fresno and hosted by Sierra News Online. The workshop takes place at Fresno Flats Historic Village and Park in the school room on Sunday, Mar. 24 from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. The theme ...

COARSEGOLD — A group of neighbors in the River Knolls area are both amused and sometimes bewildered by a small herd of cattle roaming the countryside where, normally, no cows would be. Posts about the cows started appearing on a River Knolls online bulletin board almost four weeks ago, and people figure the cattle must have taken advantage of a ...

YOSEMITE — Due to the exceptionally heavy snowpack in Yosemite National Park and the subsequent extensive damage to many park facilities, officials have announced that there will be late seasonal openings to facilities throughout the park. Yosemite National Park experienced significant snowfall over the winter season. The March 1 snow survey showed that both the Merced and Tuolumne River drainages ...

OAKHURST — Among the bountiful offerings of the coming season is this: Oakhurst Community Concert Band presents their Spring Concert on Sunday, Apr. 7 at Mountain Christian Center. Fun-packed and full of excitement, the music for this performance ranges from familiar to inspirational and includes something for everyone, say organizers. The program starts at 3 p.m. and features a special ...