OAKHURST – This is the fifth year of the Oakhurst Outpouring, a free community Christmas feast open to everyone. The dinner celebration is planned for Monday, Dec. 23 from 3 – 7 p.m. at the Oakhurst Community Center, and all are invited to attend or participate by providing food, decorations or both. Coordinating the grand event this year is Rebecca ...

MARIPOSA – Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) of Mariposa County has teamed up with local builder Lawson Construction, with the goal that all children in Mariposa County have a safe, loving and permanent home. Lawson Construction is donating a custom built dream playhouse to CASA of Mariposa County who will be raffling it off to raise funds to help neglected ...

MARIPOSA – The Festive Holiday Concert of the Mariposa Symphony Orchestra (MSO) on Saturday, Dec. 21, will honor the memory of Dr. Phillip Smith, founding MSO Principal Tuba player and longtime arranger, composer and dedicated member of the orchestra. The concert will open with Smith’s own composition Elegy and Prayer, which was originally composed to commemorate the anniversary of the ...

MADERA – Mia Summers from Yosemite High School is the winning Courtroom Journalist on completion of the 2013-2014 Honorable Edward P. Moffat Madera County Mock Trial held on December 4, 5, and 10. The Mock Trial is a simulation of a criminal court case in which the students act as attorneys, witnesses, bailiffs and clerks. Attorneys from throughout the valley ...

OAKHURST – Families take note: Santa Claus will be at the Sierra Tel Business Office on Tuesday, Dec. 17, from noon to 4 p.m. Organizers at Sierra Tel invite parents to bring a camera and take pictures while kids talk to Santa about what’s on their Christmas list.

NORTH FORK – Downtown North Fork will be alive with music and fun during the Winter Shindig on Friday, Dec. 13. The Dance Club and Slim’s Koffee Shak will host an evening of karaoke, food and games starting at 6 p.m., and everyone is invited to come out for a wonderful family friendly evening. Along with an open mic and ...

FRESNO – The Central California Animal Disaster Team will be hosting a free workshop on Saturday, Jan. 18, from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. for Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) members and other emergency responders. The purpose of this workshop is to teach CERT members and other emergency responders how to safely and appropriately respond in emergency events involving animals.

MADERA COUNTY – The Madera County Economic Development Commission will hold its annual Economic Summmit Luncheon on Thursday, Dec. 12, from 11:30 a.m -1:30 p.m. at the Madera Municipal Golf Course, 23200 Avenue 17 in Madera. The Madera County EDC hosts this luncheon every year for the purpose of bring the community together to discuss economic impacts on Madera County ...

NORTH FORK – There is now a “Christmas Bazaar” store all year ’round in North Fork. Jennie’s Garden is a new type of specialty shop that opened for business downtown on Oct. 25. “Our shop offers quality handmade and homegrown items made in the USA by over 30 talented artisans and crafters, with more coming onboard,” says proprietor Jennifer Noble.

MADERA – Those following Yosemite High School’s Mock Trial team will want to know that the conclusion of former high school student Rae Concha’s mock murder trial has been rescheduled to Tuesday, Dec. 10, at the Madera Courthouse. In this year’s Honorable Edward P. Moffat Madera County Mock Trial, the fictional case of People vs. Concha, has the defendant being ...