OAKHURST – Oakhurst resident Dave Wolin was appointed to the MD22A Sewer District Oversight Committee by the Madera County Board of Supervisors at their regular meeting on Nov. 26. Wolin currently serves on the Oakhurst Community Advisory Council and Madera County Film Commission and chairs the Eastern Madera County Economic Development and Eastern Madera County Emergency Preparedness Committee.

MOUNTAIN AREA – Bird lovers, photographers and any interested parties are invited to join the National Audubon Society’s 114th Christmas Bird Count (CBC). The CBC is an annual international bird census that began on Christmas Day in 1900. It now numbers more than 2,500 individual counts, and will be held throughout the area between Dec. 14, 2013, and Jan. 3, ...

Submitted by the North Fork Chamber of Commerce Dear Eastern Madera County Residents and Business Owners, Mountain Area Chambers of Commerce organizations are comprised of volunteers who dedicate their time and expertise to revitalize our economy. We believe the quality of life we enjoy as residents parallels that warm, nurturing feeling families get when they visit Eastern Madera County.

Submitted by the North Fork Chamber of Commerce EASTERN MADERA COUNTY – On Monday, Dec. 2, the North Fork Chamber of Commerce released a letter encouraging residents to ‘Think Local First’ this holiday season and support local business. The letter, which cites data from a recent consumer study, describes how money spent locally helps build sustainable communities, and explains how ...

MARIPOSA – Brazil conjures up many images among Americans — Rio de Janeiro, the Amazon, tropical rainforests and abundant, exotic animals, especially its stunningly colorful birds. The largest country in South America, Brazil is home to a hugely rich diversity of avifauna — more than 1,800 species of birds, more than 200 of them endemic (found only there). Sixty percent ...

MADERA – Make it and take it! Madera County Master Gardeners invite you to a Holiday Wreath Workshop, hosted by Master Gardeners Jill Cholewa, Linda Sloan, and Judy Hecht. The workshop takes place on Saturday, Dec. 14, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Madera Community College Center, 30277 Avenue 12 in Madera, in the Cafeteria Building, Room TM ...

FRESNO – The Valley Performing Arts Council, in partnership with Fresno Grand Opera, will bring to life a magical holiday tradition with its presentation of “The Nutcracker” at two performances on Thanksgiving weekend. The ballet will be performed Saturday and Sunday, Nov. 30 and Dec. 1, at 1 p.m. at William Saroyan Theatre in Fresno, and will feature 37 professional ...

MADERA COUNTY – Before making plans to set up camp at a big box store in Fresno for Black Friday, consider making it a very happy holiday season for your friends and neighbors by doing any shopping you can at your local businesses. Saturday, Nov. 30 is the fourth year marking Small Business Saturday, dedicated to supporting small businesses across ...

MOUNTAIN AREA – The National Weather Service in Hanford has issued a wind advisory for the Sierra Nevada and the foothills beginning at 7 p.m. Thursday through 4 a.m. on Saturday above 2,000 feet elevation. The advisory is in effect for Mariposa, Madera and Fresno County foothills, with northeast winds at 20 to 35 mph with gusts up to 50 ...

OAKHURST – The Great Wall of Coarsegold was once again a discussion item at the Town Hall meeting in Oakhurst last night, and it seems that this time the fix is in. District 5 Supervisor Tom Wheeler told the crowd that by noon on Friday, Nov. 15, the final permits would be in place and the wall would start coming ...