TRAVEL & RECREATION — Wedding season is in full swing as many lovebirds resume their wedding and honeymoon plans coming out of two years of pandemic restrictions. With an estimated 4.7 million weddings expected to take place in 2022 and 2023, according to The Wedding Report, newlyweds are eager to celebrate their special nuptials with once-in-a-lifetime trips. In fact, according ...

By Ron Allen, UC Master Gardener, Mariposa County Right now we are in the midst of extreme, widespread drought. One telltale indication is that oak trees in Mariposa County are dropping their leaves. What should one do? It’s a good time to review proper oak tree care during dry spells. You don’t need to do much, but you should avoid ...

MADERA COUNTY — Please see the attached PDFs from Visit Yosemite – Madera County for the Daily Conditions Report and for current weather conditions. Daily Conditions Report (PDF) Current Weather Conditions (PDF) Some important reminders from the park service Wawona Road Hazard Tree Removal Beginning Tuesday, July 5, park forestry crews will be working along Wawona Road between Yosemite West ...

MOUNTAIN COMMUNITIES — The Sierra National Forest has announced that road work will begin on Monday, July 11. Construction is anticipated to be complete by the end of July. The work consists of patching potholes, improving turnouts, and restoring drainage functions on Kaiser Pass Road (see map below) and Florence Lake Road. Short delays are expected, and the public is ...

MOUNTAIN COMMUNITIES – The Tamarack Sno-Park on the High Sierra Ranger District will be undergoing construction activities July 6 – Aug. 11. See map and schedule below.  July 6: Avison Construction will be grinding/pulverizing asphalt at the parking lot. Traffic will be stopped and allowed to pass through periodically during this operation. July 7 – 11:  Grading and compacting of ...

HEALTH & FITNESS — Poor oral health is common among American adults. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, nearly 65 million Americans have periodontitis, the most advanced form of periodontal disease. According to Harvard Medical School, people with periodontal disease have been found to be at higher risk for cardiovascular disease, chronic respiratory disease, and dementia. Incorporating ...

What is Agrimentalism? All New “Women in Ag” tonight at 7:30 p.m.         Catch a sneak peek of tonight’s season premiere (see below). Bridging the worlds of environmentalism and agriculture. Both are important and need each other‌! ‌Emmy Award Winning “American Grown: My Job Depends on Ag.” Tonight at 7:30 p.m. on Valley PBS. Not in California’s ...

FRESNO STATE — Frances Levine, whose gift to Fresno State of her U.S. poet laureate husband’s extensive personal book collection sparked the creation of the Philip Levine Reading Room inside the University library, passed away in Fresno on June 13. She was 94. The generosity of Frances Levine — known by friends as “Franny” — was emblematic of her life ...

FRESNO STATE — Many college students live with anxiety, depression and other mental health issues, but that doesn’t have to be a barrier to achievement, said Fresno State graduate Andrea Lee. Despite receiving a diagnosis of bipolar disorder just as she started college, Lee recently graduated summa cum laude from Fresno State’s Craig School of Business at age 19, after ...

PETS & ANIMALS — Extreme temperatures and booming sounds can have big impacts on pets. With record-breaking heat across much of the nation, here are some tips to help pet parents keep their furry friends healthy and safe this summer. Heat Heat stroke can occur quickly in animals. Without the ability to sweat the same way humans do, it’s important ...