MADERA – Brittany Dyer has been Madera County District 5 Supervisor Tom Wheeler’s Chief of Staff since Feb. 2014, and is now moving on to serve as California State Director for American Forests. American Forests is a 143-year-old national non-profit based out of Washington D.C. They have completed natural resource projects including reforestation for many years in California but due ...

OAKHURST — Calling all lovers of classical music for two concerts by local musicians: one in Clovis and one right here in the foothills. Pick your pleasure. Presented by the Sierra Foothill Composers’ Co-operative, the concerts will each feature the music of Vivaldi, Quantz, Mozart, Saint-Saëns, Dvořák, and local composer Barbara Ulman. On Saturday, Jan. 26 presents a concert at ...

The Federal Government shutdown made it a bit harder for us to get up to Yosemite Ski and Snowboard Area (Badger Pass) after a good storm that deposited lots of snow but we were determined to get up there and check out the tremendous views from Dewey Point. Where: Yosemite National Park Distance: 7.57 Miles Difficulty: Moderate Elevational Range: 7,234′ ...

By Ed Bailey — In 2018, members of the of Fresno Realtors Association Multiple Listing Services in the Yosemite Gateway Branch sold 554 mountain area homes (single family residential properties), compared to 639 in 2017, at a median price of $304,950, up 13 percent from $280,000 in 2017. Boundaries for the mountain area include Oakhurst, Ahwahnee, Coarsegold, North Fork, Wishon, ...

MARIPOSA — Prune it, or lose it? Prune it correctly, or lose it? Heck, why should the backyard orchardist worry about pruning anyway? Pruning a tree is the art and science of removing specific branches or stems to benefit the whole tree. A goal of pruning is to remove dead, damaged and diseased branches to help prevent insect & decay ...

By Brian David —  This new year welcomes us into its vibrancy. Air, water; sand, clay and silt pulse with wiggling earthworms, dancing bacteria and exercising fungi. From the soil’s fertile womb our earth births seeds into plants and covers her modest bare ground with carpets green and brown. Three fourths of all plant roots interact in mutually beneficial relationships ...

A good post-holiday workout hike took us up a dirt road on the north side of Redinger Lake. Checking out the wildlife tracks along the way kept our minds occupied while we gained about 2,000 feet in 4.5 miles. Where: Sierra National Forest Distance: 9.19 Miles Difficulty: Moderate Elevation Range: 1,424′ to 3,314′ Date: January 4, 2019 Maps: Auberry Topographic ...

SACRAMENTO – Today, the Department of Water Resources (DWR) conducted the first Phillips Station snow survey of 2019. The manual survey recorded 25.5 inches of snow depth and a snow water equivalent of 9 inches, which is 80 percent of average for this location. Statewide, the Sierra snowpack is 67 percent of average. The results confirm that despite early winter ...

MOUNTAIN AREA — A Winter Storm Watch is in effect this weekend for the Sierra Nevada from Yosemite to Kings Canyon above 4,500 feet, as a storm brings rain and snow to the area. A Winter Storm Watch means there is potential for significant snow, sleet or ice accumulations that may impact travel. The National Weather Service (NWS) says the Winter ...

YOSEMITE — Dozens of volunteers have willingly descended on trails and walkways in one of the country’s busiest national parks to make sure that Yosemite remains pristine and beautiful through the government shutdown. Park employees, residents and volunteers from around the area turned out in droves today to pick up trash all along the public areas, even as park officials announced ...