NORTH FORK – Over a year from the time the Madera County Board of Supervisors approved the conditional use permit for a Verizon Cell Tower in North Fork, residents can finally phone home. Verizon customers all over North Fork are reveling in the fact that can now make a cell phone call from La Cabana or Slim’s Koffee Shak in ...

OAKHURST – Anyone driving by the Mountain House Restaurant in recent days may have noticed the activity in and around the property. “The demo work is underway,” says North Fork resident and project coordinator Vince Smith. “This is a major rebuild, and the Mountain House is on its way back.” When the restaurant closed in late 2009, the area lost ...

NORTH FORK — If you’ve ever had the pleasure of massage therapy for any reason, you’re probably aware of how beneficial the process can be. It’s essential to overall well-being, believes Karen McAleece, who is certified as both a Structural Integrationist and and Swedish Massage Therapist. Her business, “Time to Align,” is located in the North Fork Center for Harmony.

OAKHURST – Mariposa Martial Arts Academy (MMAA) celebrates the grand opening of their new location in the Silver Creek Plaza at 40879 Highway 41 in Oakhurst. Festivities will take place on Saturday, July 13, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., and will include loads of healthy fun for kids of all ages (that means grown-ups, too).

OAKHURST – Branches Books has launched their “limb” of an national reading program sponsored by independent bookstores for the summer of 2013: Give Me Summer! Give Me Books! The goal is to create a vibrant community reading program that brings independent bookstores and schools together to read great books.

OAKHURST – Everyone is invited to join in the celebration at The Moment Gallery grand opening and artist reception on Sunday June 30 from 1 – 4 p.m. at 40680 Hwy 41. The Moment is a new gallery, performance space and lounge envisioned and manifested by industrial artist Otto Jeffrey. There’s bound to be something for everybody, including visual and ...

OAKHURST – It hasn’t been long since Sierra Lanes closed and a sizable crew has already been gutting the former bowling alley in preparation for a the Grocery Outlet store that’s scheduled to open later this summer. A local construction crew was hired to demo the interior, with instructions to salvage the lanes, machines and equipment. Much of what was ...

OAKHURST – Billing itself as “America’s Diner,” Denny’s is always open, 24/7, and now they will be open in Oakhurst. The brand new restaurant, located in the newly remodeled ‘Ol Kettle building at 40650 Highway 41, will open Sunday, June 30, at 4 p.m.

NORTH FORK – Things are progressing on the new Verizon cell tower just outside the Cascadel Woods gate, but not fast enough for many residents. When construction began in mid-April, the completion date was stated as about two months. So when two months came and went, we contacted Verizon for more detailed information about when the tower would go online.

OAKHURST – A Haven of Rest Bed and Breakfast in Oakhurst and Yosemite’s Sierra Mountain Lodge in Ahwahnee received word from Trip Advisor recently that they had earned the Certificate of Excellence award. The accolade, which honors hospitality excellence, is given only to establishments that consistently achieve outstanding traveler reviews on TripAdvisor, and is extended to qualifying businesses worldwide.