OAKHURST — Motor vehicle collisions nationwide are the leading cause of death for teenage drivers, and California has the second highest fatality rate involving drivers between the ages of 15-20. To address these shocking statistics and put teen drivers on the road to years of safe driving, the California Highway Patrol (CHP) offers a free, innovative program called Start Smart ...

OAKHURST — At times, driving appears to be relatively easy, but is in fact a complex skill that may diminish as a person ages. The ability to drive safely is affected by changes in one’s physical and mental conditions. Many of these changes take place as we get older, though in different ways and at different times. To address these ...

Submitted by Susan Rappaport — CENTRAL SIERRA — Intertwined within the larger tapestry of our Sierra foothill communities is the small strand of the Mountain Jewish Community. We are a community made up of individuals who come from diverse Jewish backgrounds with different levels of observance Although we are scattered throughout the towns of Mariposa, Ahwahnee, Oakhurst, Coarsegold, North Fork, ...

MADERA COUNTY – The Madera County Health Department will be offering flu vaccinations at various clinic sites throughout the county during the coming weeks. Everyone is encouraged to “Get the Shot, Not the Flu.” There will be a $5 administration fee for each flu shot, but no one will be refused service if unable to pay. Medicare members are asked ...

We like to hike with our dogs, so where are those great dog hikes in our area? You have seen my dog Sally tagging along with me on some of our hikes. Now is your turn to share your favorite dog hikes for inclusion in dog hikes in our area. I envision a living document that we can add more ...

AHWAHNEE – Oakhurst Sierra Sunrise Rotary tees up on Saturday, Sept. 24 for the Dale Miller Memorial Golf Tournament at River Creek Golf Course. It’s the 26th year Rotary has sponsored the golf tournament in this area. Click on flyer to enlarge. Money raised will go to Oakhurst Sierra Sunrise Rotary to support local charities, say organizers. Sponsors for the tournament include ...

Written by Virginia Eaton —  I had the most wonderful vacation a few weeks ago. We drove up to Mendocino to get my ocean fix and, once we added in the stops for wine tasting and rock shopping, the drive was an all day affair. We played golf the next day, or at least I attempted to play but the ...

OAKHURST — Thanks to a retired archaeologist who loves to sing and strum and is always willing to dig up the right kind of talent, there’s a couple of places every week where singers, songwriters, poets and others can express themselves. Stephan Baldwin has lived in Oakhurst for eight years, but he’s been playing guitar and singing folk songs for over 50 years, ...

YOSEMITE — Yosemite National Park encourages all fourth graders to visit the park for free this year as part of the Every Kid in a Park (EKIP) program. The program gives fourth grade students, and those accompanying them, free access to more than 2,000 federally managed lands and waters. Visit www.EveryKidinaPark.gov to download the pass and obtain more information. “We ...

O’NEALS — What’s the best way to show the progress of an effective education? That’s a loaded question. Some people believe it’s through test scores, while others are convinced that proof of learning is in the action or activity that results from the students’ work. Chawanakee School District’s Minarets High and Minarets Charter are finding a way to answer the ...