MADERA COUNTY — Ready for a little more love in your life? The Madera County Animal Shelter is having its annual kitten and cat special during the month of August, so you still have time to stop by. Qualified persons may adopt any kitten or cat for only $35, and that includes the spay or neutering, all up-to-date shots, de-worming, ...

OAKHURST — Are you hungry and don’t feel like cooking, or do you want to help support one of the most important local organizations around? Oh, you want to do both? Well that’s great, because Vision Academy of the Arts is holding a drive-through dinner to benefit its annual high school scholarship fund. To date, Vision Academy has given more ...

BASS LAKE — Stand up paddle boarding is a fast growing sporting activity that provides a host of health benefits, including strength building and reducing stress. Summer isn’t over, so consider starting your morning off with paddle board yoga in the marina at Miller’s Landing at Bass Lake. The fun and relaxing practice takes place on Tuesday mornings at 7 a.m., and continues all ...

OAKHURST — Are you an author or do you want to be an author? Do you love to read? The Oakhurst Library will be hosting their 3rd annual Authors’ Faire on Saturday, Sept. 24. The event has become so popular with our mountain communities, say organizers, the library decided to move it to a bigger venue after more than 200 people attended in 2015. This ...

Alicia’s story My name is Alicia Arce, age 27, and my husband is Omar Arce, also 27. He is a Senior Firefighter for Sierra National Forest Engine 51, based in North Fork. I have been married to Omar for three years but together for six. Our daughter Hope Liana is 3 ½ and is an absolute joy. We gave her this name because ...

WASHINGTON — The Internal Revenue Service today warned taxpayers against telephone scammers targeting students and parents during the back-to-school season and demanding payments for non-existent taxes, such as the “Federal Student Tax.” People should be on the lookout for IRS impersonators calling students and demanding that they wire money immediately to pay a fake “federal student tax.” If the person ...

Written by Maureen Walling — MADERA COUNTY — When disaster strikes, be it fire, accident or a medical emergency, we all count on our firefighters to be there in minutes to render aid. But what happens if the nearest fire station has no one available to respond? What if the station in your area is closed because there are no ...

NORTHERN HEMISPHERE – There’s almost always reason to celebrate, and here’s yours for the next two nights: a light will shine brightly over the foothills as the full “Sturgeon Moon” rises above. The full moon in the wee hours of Thursday, Aug. 18 is known as a sturgeon moon, so named by some Native American tribes in the Great Lakes and Lake Champlain, since the ancient ...

Written by Sheila Smith — Perhaps you’ve heard about the rising popularity of Tai Chi. Maybe you’ve seen a sampling of its slow-motion movements. Perhaps you’ve heard it has many health benefits. It is the most popular form of group exercise in the entire world. What is it all about? What is Tai Chi? Tai Chi is an ancient form ...

OAKHURST — With the 20th Annual Mountain Heritage Days coming up a month from now, exciting plans continue to be made and fun work days are approaching. For anyone interested in joining in with preparation, arranging for a booth, having a float in the parade, or volunteering to help out on the day of the event, there’s still some time ...