AHWAHNEE — Yosemite Area Audubon Society invites the community to attend a free, hands-on Mammal Workshop, covering mammals of the foothills. Topics for discussion during the workshop include: Kinds of mammals present in our area Techniques for sampling small mammals with live traps Setting up camera traps Examining bats and recording their echolocation calls This is a two-part workshop that ...

COARSEGOLD — As a cherished tradition within the Coarsegold Rodeo community, the Exceptional Kids Rodeo returns to the Coarsegold Rodeo Grounds this year on Saturday, May 5 at 10 a.m. Families from the special needs community are invited to attend a unique program which enables exceptional kids of all ages to take part in rodeo-themed games and activities, before the ...

COARSEGOLD — As Grand Marshals for the Coarsegold Rodeo, Randy and Rhonda Shockley bring experience and awareness to the venerable position, and they say they’re surprised and honored to be recognized in this manner. The Shockleys love the local rodeo, which Randy has been attending since 1974. Together, they’ve been involved in the event for six years, volunteering their time ...

By Brian David (Mariposa Master Gardener) This year I am welcoming wasps and inviting insects to invade our garden. I am experiencing a paradigm shift (a fundamental change of underlying assumptions). It started when I heard, “Not all insects are bad. In fact, of the 92,00 species that have been identified in the United States, about 87,000 (95%) are either ...

Contributed by Len McKenzie – Birdwatching, or birding, has been soaring in popularity in recent years, becoming one of the fastest-growing pastimes in North America. Among the myriad reasons for its widespread appeal, across demographic as well as geographic boundaries, are the fascinating behaviors birds display in their daily habits, seasonal patterns and social inter-actions. Many of those behaviors, embedded ...

MARIPOSA — Mental health is essential to everyone’s overall health and well-being, and mental illnesses are common and treatable. So much of what we do physically impacts us mentally – it’s important to pay attention to both your physical health and your mental health, which can help you achieve overall wellness and set you on a path to recovery. May ...

OAKHURST – Firefighters and their families turned out in big numbers for the annual Madera County Fire Department Paid Call Firefighter (PCF) Appreciation Luncheon on Sunday, Apr. 29, at the Oakhurst Community Center. Every year, Cal Fire firefighters serve up a BBQ lunch of tri-tip and chicken, and mark the achievements and milestones of members of the Madera County Fire ...

OAKHURST — Does the idea of turning on a computer send a chill down your spine, or maybe setting a password makes you want to pass out? Take heart: beginning Wednesday, May 2, the Oakhurst Branch Library will once again offer a free basic computer skills class, and members of the community are invited to sign up now. It’s basically ...

OAKHURST — Register now for a free class to get your California Boater Card. The class will be taught by members of the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary on Saturday, May 26, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. in the Oakhurst Grill banquet room. Study materials and tuition are free for this class only. Please reserve your spot ASAP as seats ...

By Ashley Davis — O’NEALS — No spring is complete at Minarets High School without the annual Keep It Native Day. Not familiar with the event? It first started as a youth conference six years ago, which turned into a mini-pow wow and conference for teens and children. In 2013, Brandon Lourence named it as Keep It Native, which has ...