Bette Jean Mertens passed on February 2, 2021, at the age of 88. The youngest of Arthur and Edith Thorson’s ten children, Bette grew up in the small Iowa farm town of Radcliffe. Her passion in high school was basketball, where she excelled as a guard. Bette was so proud of her teammates and their winning record in a season ...

Old dirt roads led me along the Merced River, by old mines, wildflowers, views, a singing frog and the Love Shack. Starting at Briceburg, I walked up the Burma Road switchbacks then beyond. Where: Bureau of Land Management (BLM), Merced River Recreation Management AreaDistance: About 15 miles roundtrip but you can go shorter or longerDifficulty: Moderate to StrenuousElevation Range: 1,138′ ...

YOSEMITE — Yosemite in the winter offers far less-crowded, and frequently more dramatic views of its landscape than in other seasons. The colder weather of winter keeps many visitors away, but the lack of foliage on deciduous trees can provide more open views. In the linked panoramic image, photographed adjacent to Southside Drive, one can see Lower Cathedral Rock with ...

Recipe of the Week: A delicious Irish Potato Bread recipe to help you celebrate St. Patrick’s Day. From hearty stews to minty pies, St. Patrick’s Day celebrations are all about enjoying the flavors of the holiday. Whether you’re cooking up a full meal or simply serving appetizers, this Irish Potato Bread makes for a simple, tasty snack to feed your ...

FRESNO — Gift cards have become a multibillion-dollar industry, a gift that always fits and stands up to social distancing. Worldwide, consumers spent billions on gift cards last year. However, that total comes with an asterisk — it includes the gift cards on which scammers increasingly rely to extract payment from their victims. An in-depth investigative study by Better Business ...

Kathleen Ruth David, also known as Kathy, Momma, Grandma, Kate, JD’s wife, and Sister #3 was a feisty, hard working, fun-loving, selfless person who always put others needs ahead of her own. Her love for life and her resiliency to keep going no matter what life threw at her was extraordinary. Momma was born Christmas Day in Upland, California. In ...

It’s been quite a year! And yet, Madera County Arts Council has persevered. Check out the video below to see what’s going on.   Meet the Artists: Kate Jackson and ‘New Year / New Normal’ exhibit Their current exhibit ‘New Year / New Normal’ continues. Come in – Mask up – Check it out!

I love walking the same road each week in the spring, admiring the changing wildflower colors, butterflies, bugs and occasional critter. Snake tracks on the road also told me that the rattlesnakes were waking up. Last week I had spotted a few old mines on the map not far from my path and you know me, I had to check ...

By Sal Maccarone The word utilitarian refers to something that is useful, or serves a function. Utilitarian art is something that has function as its main priority, but is at the same time aesthetically pleasing. Like many other artists, I like to think of my own work as utilitarian art. The fact is, many important architectural wonders can be considered ...

How lucky you must be to come across this recipe just in time for St. Patrick’s Day. This one is a twisted combination of mint and sweet chocolate that’s sure to have almost anyone’s taste buds screaming “yum.” This dessert might just be the pot of gold at the end of your rainbow this year. These mint brownies have three ...