YOSEMITE — Since 1928, visitors have enjoyed ice skating in Yosemite National Park. The tradition continues, and right now the Half Dome Village Ice Rink offers night skating under the stars. On Wednesday, Jan. 10, the Half Dome Village Ice Rink hours of operation were updated to reflect the following times: Monday through Friday the rink is open 1:30 – 7 ...

BASS LAKE — The nonprofit group Helping One Woman (HOW) will convene for the first time this year on Wednesday, Jan. 17 at Ducey’s, to honor Lauren Steinglass. The evening of food, fundraising and friendship begins at 6 p.m. and takes place upstairs in the bar and grill. Lauren is a single mother of two beautiful children, James and Emma, whose ...

OAKHURST — Madera County residents will want to know about the Waste Tire and Electronics Amnesty Day event on Friday, Jan. 12 in Oakhurst — that means, free tire disposal and you can get rid of all the old computers, keyboards, stereo equipment and the like that clutters up your space. It’s required that residents make a reservation for this ...

OAKHURST — The Regular​ ​Meeting​ ​of​ ​the​ ​Yosemite​ ​Unified​ ​School​ ​District Board​ ​of​ ​Trustees will take place on Monday,​ ​Jan. ​8,​ beginning at 6:30 p.m. with a Call to Order, Approval of Agenda, and Public Comment Regarding Closed Session Items, followed by a Closed Session and resuming with an Open Session at approximately 7:45 p.m. The meeting is scheduled for the library at ...

MOUNTAIN AREA — The National Weather Service is reporting that heavy rain and gusty winds will develop over much of central and southern California by Monday, Jan. 7, which may result in debris flows and mudslides due to the recent wildfires. Winter Storm Warning  In Yosemite, a Winter Storm Warning is in effect from 10 p.m. Monday, Jan. 8 to ...

YOSEMITE — Tuolumne Winter Rangers Laura and Rob Pilewski are celebrating their seventh season in the park. Here’s their second blog post of the season from Wednesday, Jan. 3. New snow: 0 inches [as of yesterday] Total settled snow depth: 3 inches (at 8,600 feet) High temperature: 56°F (December 29) Low temperature:  17°F (December 30) Ski Conditions and Weather  The average high temperature for the ...

OAKHURST — District 5 Supervisor Tom Wheeler will hold his first Town Hall meeting of the new year on Thursday, Jan. 11, at the Oakhurst Community Center from 6 to 8 p.m. On the agenda are updates from the Madera County Sheriff’s Office, and Cal Fire and Madera County Fire. Madera County Clerk-Recorder Rebecca Martinez will talk about changes to ...

CALIFORNIA — NBC television host Ellen DeGeneres is inviting local firefighters to attend a taping of her show as a way to say “thank you” for the service they provide, statewide. Ellen took time in her first broadcast of the new year to thank the people who responded to fires that threatened the Santa Barbara-area home she shares with Portia ...

OAKHURST — A growing group of locals from towns around the foothills are meeting monthly for a vegan potluck dinner, and all those who wish to participate are welcome. “Anyone who is curious at all about healthier eating or ‘what does a vegan eat,’ or anyone who is slightly open to being exposed to something different than the status quo ...

MARIPOSA — Mariposa County residents are invited to a Community Forum in order to share their opinions and hear ideas about health in Mariposa County, at a Community Health Assessment held on two days at two locations. The Community Health Assessment event will be held on Thursday, Jan. 18, from 1:30 – 2:30 p.m. at the Mariposa County Government Center ...