Yosemite National Park’s day-use reservation system remains in place through Sept. 30, 2021, but there are still many ways travelers can access the grandeur.     OAKHURST, CA, (JUNE 23. 2021) –  California’s tourism sector is roaring back to life, and although the rest of the state is easing restrictions, Yosemite National Park has not announced changes to the temporary day-use reservation system. ...

MADERA COUNTY, CA. – After thirty years of working at Madera Animal Services, Cindy Avila was promoted to director in July of 2020. Among her many goals was to make operations more efficient. She began to envision an online tool for animal control officers which highlighted which areas had the highest number of strays being picked up, loose dog calls ...

SACRAMENTO – The California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE) is seeking assistance from landowners, Registered Professional Foresters (RPFs), and natural resource professionals with its annual cone crop survey and cone collection efforts, including locating developing cone crops on native California Conifers. These efforts support the CAL FIRE Seed Bank at the L.A. Moran Reforestation Center, whose mission ...

It had been a year and a half since I had a weeklong horseback adventure and it was time for a road trip to south central Utah, horse camping at Capitol Reef National Park. I recently received the sad news that the horse camping outfit called Hondoo Rivers & Trails would be having its final season this year. I had ...

By Bob Labozetta (UC Master Gardener, Mariposa) Sweet melons are cucurbits, along with cucumbers, pumpkins, and squash. They similarly enjoy a long, warm summer — something we have plenty of in the Sierra foothills. Here, they can be directly seeded in fertile, loamy soil that has reached at least 65℉ – 70℉. You can plant 6 seeds in small hills, ...

During summer months, it’s common for many people to want to spend as much time outside enjoying the weather as possible. From the minute they wake up to when the sun goes down (and beyond), nearly everyone wants to take advantage of the warm summer heat. Especially kids, who often want to enjoy their break from school for the year. ...

William Louis Armstrong (Bill) passed away peacefully on March 18, 2021, after a long struggle with COPD. Not one to give up, he was planning a tour of Long Beach days before his passing. He is survived by his daughter Melloney Bradley (Chris) and grandson Ben of Coarsegold, CA; and his siblings, Sandra Finstuen of Long Beach, CA, John Armstrong ...

Patricia Norfleet Bradley (Patty) was born to Laverne and Nellie Norfleet in Bell, CA, on April 15, 1952, the youngest of three children. Patty lived in Downey, CA, until her dad died when she was twelve years old. She and her mother then moved to Anaheim, where Patty attended Western High School and worked part-time at Casa Grande Convalescent Home. ...

YOSEMITE NATIONAL PARK REQUIRES DAY-USE PASS TO ENTER PARK OAKHURST – You’ve planned a trip to Yosemite. It’s on your bucket list.  All your gear’s together, maps, reservations at a local hotel outside the park. You’ve done a bit of research on where to go and what to do. You’re all set, or so you think. You reach the park, ...

I really missed those wonderful hikes with the Sierra Foothill Conservancy and when they listed a few of them recently as part of fundraising for land conservation efforts, I jumped at the chance. I had been on several hikes to and up on top of the Table Tops in the spring but never when the wildflowers weren’t the star of ...