OAKHURST — A college graduation is important to celebrate for any family. Perhaps in this case, there was extra cause for jubilation, as the graduate in question has unquestionably overcome some of life’s challenges with grace and perseverance beyond the usual proportions. Despite being born blind and having been diagnosed early on with autism, Oakhurst native Brittany Donley graduated from ...

BASS LAKE – Centered around breathtaking vistas on the Bass Lake Ranger District, the 5th Annual Yosemite Half Marathon race will take place on Friday and Saturday May 10-11, produced by Vacation Races. New this year is a free shuttle around the Oakhurst area on Saturday, from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m., sponsored by Visit Yosemite | Madera County, so ...

OAKHURST – An Oakhurst acupuncturist who also makes Chinese herbal formulas used to treat thoroughbred race horses felt a personal connection to Saturday’s Kentucky Derby. While Gloria Garland spent most of Saturday clearing brush at Ahwahnee Hills Regional Park, she still found time to watch the 145th running of the Derby. “Wow, what an amazing and contentious race!” she said ...

Mom was celebrating her birthday and requested a day trip over to Moss Landing, just north of Monterey. Walking on the beach, eating fried oysters at Phil’s Fish Market & Eatery and stopping by the vegetable stand on the way home were on her birthday list. Mom’s birthday was a big one and I won’t say just how big, but ...

Written by David Novell – Orangie and Butch were having breakfast together one morning at Butch’s house, in the little nook off the kitchen, enjoying some incredibly delicious waffles that Butch’s mother had made. The boys had slathered them with real butter and homemade plum jelly, as had become the custom whenever they ate at Butch’s. Orangie had never heard ...

Minarets – The Town Minarets, or Media as it was also known, was located near the intersection of Road 400 and Road 406. In the mid 1890s, as Madera County was being carved out of Fresno County, Minarets was considered as a candidate for county seat. Some mountain folks didn’t like the idea of having to travel all the way ...

Warm weather’s spring snow melt is fueling Yosemite’s waterfalls and I couldn’t resist a drive up to Yosemite Valley to check them out. And, what about those dogwoods? Were they blooming yet? Where: Yosemite National Park Distance: About 10 miles to drive my Yosemite Valley Loop, but you can also walk it or take the free shuttle to explore it ...

Written by David Novell – Orangie arranged Teddy, Kitty Kazoo, the Pandas, Webster Webfoot, Sammy the Squirrel and all the other stuffed animals that he and Butch possessed between them — twenty-three in all — in the red wagon that was tied to Butch’s tricycle for a monumental trip the boys had planned. Orangie had felt compelled to do a ...

Written by Tuolunme Winter Ranger Laura Pilewski – YOSEMITE — This is our last post of the winter 2018-2019 season and it is time for us to migrate south to our summer range in Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks. It has again been a great honor and pleasure serving the public as the Tuolumne Meadows Winter Rangers. No two ...

MADERA – April is Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Month and the two-legged folks at the Madera Animal Shelter are saving the lives of more four-legged creatures than at any other time in the organization’s 50-year history. Innovative new programs supported by a large volunteer base have helped the shelter to make dramatic improvements in its “live release” rates in ...