AHWAHNEE – Coolwater Ranch will feature Tony Furtado in the next in their series of concerts, this one set for Saturday, Mar. 1, at 7 p.m. “Tony is an enormous talent,” says host Robin Ralston. “Great voice, great slide guitar player, banjo phenom as well as a great sculptor. Tony is an artist in every sense of the word.” Robin ...

OAKHURST – Don’t miss a special presentation of Ken Burns’s Yosemite: A Gathering of Spirit, a documentary film produced to honor the 150th anniversary of the Yosemite Grant Act. Signed on June 30, 1864 by President Abraham Lincoln, the Act was created to preserved Yosemite Valley and the Mariposa Grove of Giant Sequoias. It was also the first time a ...

OAKHURST – Eric and Michelle Hagen will be leading a new Financial Peace class starting Thursday, Feb. 27, from 6 to 7:45 p.m. at Sierra Vista Presbyterian Church. “I just have a passion for this because I believe so many marriages and peoples lives fall apart because of financial worries and difficulties,” says Eric Hagen.

OAKHURST – New York Times best selling author Dave Burgess is coming to Oakhurst, bringing with him the keys to his book and system, “Teach Like a Pirate.” The “Pirate” professional development team, with Burgess at the helm, will offer the program at the Yosemite High School Theater from 8:30 a.m. to 12 noon, on Saturday, Feb. 15. This event, ...

OAKHURST – Friends, romancers and dancers will have an extra spring in their steps, no doubt, as they celebrate Valentine’s Day in a special way on Friday, Feb. 14. This sweet occasion for singles and couples is the monthly dinner and dance soiree, including live music, held at the Elks Club. Raising the stakes in honor of the lovers’ holiday, ...

MADERA COUNTY – Madera County Master Gardeners will host an event for home gardeners on how to plant and grow summer vegetables and preserve food, on Saturday, Feb. 15, from 10 a.m. to noon. This free workshop is presented by Master Gardeners John Bryan and Barbara Mattice.

FRESNO – The reality is that many businesses are not able to qualify for a traditional commercial loan from a bank. The Valley Small Business Development Corporation is hosting a workshop that will present strategies, options and alternative sources for you to consider in your pursuit of business financing. This workshop is designed for businesses that are up and running. ...

OAKHURST – Are you caring for an aging spouse, friend or relative? Valley Caregiver Resource Center is offering a free, 4-week series of classes designed to help.

MADERA COUNTY – District Attorney Michael Keitz has announced his plans to seek another four-year term. Keitz says he is optimistic about the future, although the recent recession, countywide budget cutbacks, and the early release of inmates through prison realignment has brought unprecedented challenges to his office. “Crime did not go down during the recent economic recession, in fact, it ...

OAKHURST – Vision Academy of the Arts invites the community to attend its most important fundraiser of the year, A Grand Night for the Arts, on Saturday, Feb. 8, at the Golden Chain Theatre.