By Roger Mitchell — A few years ago, I was attending a wedding reception, talking to a gentleman who seemed to be very knowledgeable regarding Madera County history. Somehow the subject of the oldest dwelling structure in what is now Madera County came up. I had researched that very subject once, and I felt confident when I expressed the view ...

OAKHURST — Branches Books & Gifts is celebrating their 4th birthday on Saturday, Jun. 3 from 9 a.m. – 10:30 a.m. and the public is cordially invited to attend the free, fun, family-friendly event. Branches’ owner Anne Driscoll says people are encouraged to dress up as a favorite super hero and come meet Wonder Woman, Batman and Captain America, while learning tricks of ...

AHWAHNEE — Veterans and all others in the community are invited to celebrate an important new installation at Ahwahnee Hills Regional Park on Flag Day, Wednesday, Jun. 14. Ceremonies begin at 10 a.m. for the dedication of a special monument in honor of veterans of all branches of the United States Armed Forces.  The monument is a project nearing completion, developed by local groups ...

I am really fascinated with seeing our nearby waterfalls while they are roaring with their spring melt and I was in need of a good workout, so I headed up to Yosemite to hike along the Panorama Trail where I could view 4 of these famous waterfalls. And I had a couple of surprises along the way . . . ...

I received a ‘Memory” on Facebook the other day reminding me that I moved to Oakhurst five years ago this week. It was such an adventure leaving Salt Lake City where I had lived for 20 years, raised my children and essentially grew up. I tend not to go backwards into my memories. I would rather look forward to the ...

BASS LAKE — There’s a new theme in the works around the lake this year: play like a local. In order to bring meaning to the message, a handful of local writers and photographers were invited by Visit Yosemite Madera County to spend an afternoon galavanting around the resorts and properties that line Bass Lake, seeking out what’s new this summer and ...

OAKHURST — After more than six months, Nicolas Medina is back at home following a devastating car accident, from which he has recovered beyond all expectation. Now, friends and supporters are invited to a celebration on Saturday, May 27 at the Oakhurst Community Center from 2 – 5 p.m. Let there be cake! “Nicolas was in an accident on Oct. ...

COARSEGOLD — “It’s late but I’m up taking care of my husband’s ventilation and couldn’t sleep. Not that you needed to know that,” Amber Tringali’s message read. “I hope this all makes sense, it is almost two in the morning. The community is throwing us a fundraiser and I feel so incredibly blessed because medical expenses are piling up.” The medical ...

I never imagined the beauty that Nelder Grove held on a day when the floating mist was hiding the tops of the towering Giant Sequoias. Raindrops on dogwood blooms and leaves made me stop and admire them. And, have you ever wondered how some of these big trees got their names? Where: Sierra National Forest, Nelder Grove Distance: 2.1 miles, ...

I owe my ex-husband an apology. He loves black pepper and tops every savory dish placed in front of him with a substantial amount of ground of peppercorn. He said that, aside from the spice and flavor black pepper adds, he really liked the crunch of coarsely ground peppercorns. It bothered me to no end that, before even tasting the ...