OAKHURST — When Christel Hays opened Sierra Global Tech (now Oakhurst Business Center) back in 2018, she had a somewhat self-serving purpose that would benefit others, as well. She wanted a local store that could offer everything she needed in one stop. She especially didn’t want to travel to Fresno to accomplish tasks she felt should be available locally. Since ...

Mountain Communities – Year-end summary of homes sold in our mountain area in 2021 taken from California Regional Multiple Listing Service Statistics shows an increase over 2020. We had 731 homes (single-family residential properties) in 2021, up from 711 in 2020. Our local median selling price was $400,000 compared to $345,000, up 15%. Prices ranged from $100,000 to $3,850,000. The ...

BASS LAKE — On May 5, 2021, Mark Choe and Shahnaz Sodager Choe forged a life partnership with their wedding at Bass Lake’s Pines Resort, which Choe manages. Now they have created an additional partnership, Gold Stars Behavior Therapy, with a mission to teach confidence-building skills to children dealing with autism and their support parents. Shahnaz Choe heads the therapy ...

OAKHURST–If you know, you know. If you don’t, you need to.  Social media can be an incredible time suck or the biggest boon your business has ever seen. It all depends on you.  The feeling of being overwhelmed and not knowing where to start is real. With Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn, TikTok…the list goes on and on – where do ...

OAKHURST–You could say that Edward Guzman is the face of Sierra Ambulance. He has worked there since May, 1991, when he started as a paramedic, and in subsequent years he’s moved up to Operations Supervisor and then General Manager/Executive Director since 1997. That’s all about to change. Ed’s retiring as of December 31, 2021. Aaron Sundstrom, Operations Manager for the ...

OAKHURST–Happy 85th Anniversary to Walt Bannon Drilling. In today’s world, business longevity often means 20 years. Eighty years is unheard-of. But 85? Unbelievable. But that’s what Walt Bannon Drilling celebrates this month. Not only that, but it’s a family-owned and operated business that traces its lineage back three generations. Owner Chris Duncanson is the grandson of Walt Bannon and the son ...

OAKHURST — Jennifer Moss calls herself a serial entrepreneur. She’s had multiple businesses over the years, many very successful and a few that didn’t work out. She considers the not-so-successful learning lessons that have led not to discouragement but to bigger opportunities such as the one she has just created. Jennifer strives to make Metta Yosemite a central place for ...

MARIPOSA — The Board of Directors of the John C. Fremont Healthcare District recently conducted their annual evaluation of Matthew Matthiessen, the District CEO. During his evaluation, Matthiessen not only declined a merit increase but requested the continuation of a salary reduction that he had already started to take a year and a half earlier. Shortly after COVID-19 hit in ...

YOSEMITE — Development is moving into the Yosemite National Park market with the acquisition of two hotels in Oakhurst, California, and a contract on a third. OTO, which is part of The Johnson Group, has purchased Fairfield Inn & Suites by Marriott Oakhurst Yosemite and Holiday Inn Express & Suites Oakhurst-Yosemite Park Area from a family of independent hoteliers. The ...

AHWAHNEE–Camp Pacifica could be one of the least-known landmarks along the drive from Oakhurst to Mariposa. It resides at a sometimes-hard-to-see turnoff on the north side of Highway 49 almost at the end of the four-lane, just before the highway dips down to the bridge crossing the east fork of the Chowchilla River. If you aren’t watching for the driveway, ...