Community – The artwork of 14 student artists kicks off a new decade in the 2022 Healthy Air Living Kids’ Calendar. The District’s annual calendar, designed to educate and inspire the public to live a Healthy Air Life and reduce air pollution in the San Joaquin Valley, is a full-color, bilingual wall calendar, featuring clean-air messages and drawings of students ...

WISHON — Virginia Walton Pilegard of Wishon, California, passed away January 13, 2022, at the age of 79.  She was born on December 21, 1942, in Fresno, California, to Ralph and Helen Walton and was raised in foothills of Hildreth, California. While working in Jones Store at Beasore Meadows, she met the love of her life, Richard Pilegard, and they ...

Mountain Communities – On January 22, 2022, from 9 a.m. – noon, Caltrans will have staff on site to accept household waste and approved debris at no charge across the street from Semper Speed & Marine at 10854 CA-41, Madera, CA 93636. Open to Madera City/County residents only. The following items will NOT be accepted at this location • Treated ...

OAKHURST–It’s going to be an awesome week. Temperatures in the 50’s and 60’s, mostly clear skies, a free-admission day to Yosemite National Park as well as a whole host of activities to feed mind, body and spirit. Enjoy the week. Be sure to check on events listed to make sure they will take place. A number of events are being ...

MOUNTAIN COMMUNITIES — We made it! The past two weeks have been very busy with the holiday season and a rare winter storm with very low elevation snow.  There have been traffic collisions, hazards and many disabled vehicles on our roads.  There were also some power outages sprinkled in too.  For me this has meant that I’ve been furiously posting ...

OAKHURST — To artist/sculptor Norma Rogers, turning 90 doesn’t mean she plans to slow down any time soon. In fact, she may just be hitting her stride. Norma is the apex of what so-called “seniors” can achieve when they have the drive. After all, at 68, she entered California State University Fresno’s art program at 68 and earned a master’s ...

OAKHURST–Included in this week’s events writeups are events taking place in Yosemite National Park. For us locals, this is arguably the best time of the year to visit our neighbor to the north–fewer crowds, spectacular vistas and the majesty of the valley ringed by snowcapped mountains. Who knows? You might even get to see some frazil ice if the conditions ...

Mountain Communities – In continued preparation for the Federal Communications Commission’s (FCC’s) adoption of 988 as the new three-digit number to be used nationwide to reach the National Suicide Prevention and Mental Health Crisis Lifeline, 11-digit dialing is being implemented. However, callers must continue to dial 1-800-273-TALK to reach the Mental Health Crisis Lifeline until July 16, 2022. For 988 ...

Message from the Madera County Sheriff’s Office of Emergency Services: Mountain Communities – The Madera County Sheriff’s Office of Emergency Services, in partnership with Madera County Public Works Road Department, will continue tree mortality project work. 1/5/22- Tree crews will continue work along Road 222, in the Bass Lake Annex area. Upon completion, they will move to Road 221. 1/4/22- ...

Yosemite – The January Quarterly meeting will be a conversation with public land managers from California State Parks, Bureau of Land Management, US Forest Service as well a speaker/volunteer leader from Recreate Responsibly California Coalition. 9:30 a.m. – Community Open Mic Chat 10:00 a.m. – Main Meeting Topic 11:00 a.m. – Yosemite National Park Update The past 20 months through ...