FOOD & DRINK — Whether your family’s ideal summer day consists of swimming, hiking, biking or simply enjoying the sunshine, all that time in the heat calls for a sweet way to cool off. It’s hard to beat a homemade treat loaded with favorite summertime flavors that’s as cold and creamy as it is sweet and delicious. For a lighter, ...
Read More »Home & Garden
Valley Residents Encouraged to Prepare for Wildfire Smoke
MOUNTAIN COMMUNITIES — The 2022 wildfire season has arrived in central California with isolated grass and wildland fires threatening to bring smoke into the San Joaquin Valley. The San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District is encouraging residents to be prepared and plan now for potential poor air quality due to wildfire smoke that might reach the Valley as we ...
Read More »Swap Household Devices and Lower Your Carbon Footprint
HOME & GARDEN — In every room of your home, you’ll likely find numerous devices, appliances and fixtures that rely on the electric grid for power. Collectively, they affect your carbon footprint more than you may realize. Converting to lower carbon alternatives can help you be a better steward for the environment while reducing your reliance on electricity. “As a father, ...
Read More »Recipes of the Week: Pork Chops & Roasted Chicken Tostadas
Recipes courtesy of Marcia Stanley, MS, RDN. FOOD & DRINK — After a long day in the classroom or at the office, it’s tough to top bringing the family together with a home-cooked meal. When evenings are busy with homework and activities, however, there might be little time left for complicated dishes. Take those schedules on with a menu of ...
Read More »Over the Garden Fence: Oak Tree Care in the Summer
By Ron Allen, UC Master Gardener, Mariposa County Right now we are in the midst of extreme, widespread drought. One telltale indication is that oak trees in Mariposa County are dropping their leaves. What should one do? It’s a good time to review proper oak tree care during dry spells. You don’t need to do much, but you should avoid ...
Read More »Use Color to Create an Inviting Refuge in Your Home
HOME & GARDEN — If ever there was a need to create a tranquil escape from the chaos of the world, the time is now. Converting your living space into a soul-soothing refuge may be easier than you think as a serene color palette is often all you need to shift the mood of your home. Incorporating colors inspired by ...
Read More »Air District Board Approves Clean Air Rooms Pilot Program
MOUNTAIN COMMUNITIES — The Valley Air District Governing Board unanimously voted last week to launch a pilot Clean Air Rooms program. The pilot program, which should open in a few weeks, will provide approximately 1,500 free residential air purifier units with one additional replacement filter to residents throughout Valley disadvantaged communities. The goal of the program is to help mitigate ...
Read More »Recipe of the Week: Kona Pineapple Chicken Kebabs
FOOD & DRINK — The end result of perfectly cooked chicken is a mouthwatering meal that smells just as good as it tastes and beckons loved ones to the patio. To achieve that juicy, tender flavor that brings family and friends together, it’s important to keep a few safety and grilling tips in mind. Maximize Your Budget For a flavorful ...
Read More »PG&E Turns on Enhanced Powerline Safety Settings
MOUNTAIN COMMUNITIES — Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) said today that its Enhanced Powerline Safety Settings (EPSS) now protect approximately 3 million people, or more than 1 million customers, who live in high fire-risk areas within the company’s service area. The safety settings turn off power within one-tenth of a second when a fault, such as a tree limb ...
Read More »Congratulations to the UC Master Gardener Class of 2022
By Tery Susman. We are proud to introduce the new ‘crop’ of UC Master Gardeners of Mariposa County, Class of 2022! We graduated on May 13th after 17 weeks of extensive training both online and in-person. We had weekly zoom lectures on everything related to horticulture, from below the ground, up! We learned how roots, shoots, soil, water, insects, weeds, ...
Read More »