COUNTY — A staff member from the office of State Senator Tom Berryhill will hold Mobile District Office hours in area communities on Wednesday, May 11. Staff will be available to hear from the public their opinions on legislation, or to help with problems individuals may have with state agencies such as DMV, EDD, and others. The office hours will be held jointly with ...

YOSEMITE  — Organizers of the country’s largest series of travel shows announced the “Best of Show” winners of its record-breaking Los Angeles Travel & Adventure Show held at the Long Beach Convention Center earlier this year. The 2016 “Best of Show Regional Pavilion” award given out by Unicomm, LLC, went to Yosemite Experience. The Yosemite pavilion encompassed almost a complete ...

MARIPOSA — The National Wildlife Federation’s California Director, Beth Pratt-Bergstrom, will be signing copies of her new book, “When Mountain Lions Are Neighbors: People and Wildlife Working it Out in California,” on Thursday, May 19 at a special reception at Savoury’s Restaurant in Mariposa from 5-7 p.m. Pratt-Bergstrom, a long-time Midpines resident, has worked in environmental leadership roles for over ...

COUNTY — The Department of Transportation (Caltrans) reminds local drivers that blasting operations on State Route 41 have resumed this week and will continue periodically Monday through Thursday, between the hours of 9 a.m. and 2 p.m., weather permitting. Motorists should expect delays of up to 20-30 minutes, however, delays could be shorter or longer depending on the amount of ...

We were on the hunt for those beautiful big white blooms of the dogwoods. We headed to Yosemite Valley to see what we could find. Where: Yosemite National Park Distance: 7.25 Miles Difficulty: Easy to Moderate Elevation Range: 3,983 to 4,285′ Date: April 26, 2016 Maps: El Capitan and Hetch Hetchy Reservoir Topographic Quads As we drove in, we were watching ...

COARSEGOLD — What’s a smile worth? It’s something many of us take for granted — the typically upturned corners of the mouth for a little grin, an amused expression showing pleasure, the joy we convey with a toothy laugh, without even thinking about it. One little girl in Coarsegold doesn’t take any of that for granted, because right now her smile lives only in ...

BASS LAKE — Paddle your way to cash and prizes on beautiful Bass Lake as Bass Lake Boat Rentals hosts their first annual “Paddle Palooza” on Saturday, May 7. “This is a great day for everyone who wants to have some fun on a paddle board — referred to as a ‘SUP’ in our biz — kayak or canoe,” says ...

YOSEMITE — Yosemite National Park, through Yosemite Conservancy, recently received a donation of 26 examples of Julia Parker’s basketry. These pieces were collected through the years by Elvira “Ellie” Nishkian, from San Francisco, who was active in many charitable causes and was instrumental in the formation of the Yosemite Fund, which is now known as Yosemite Conservancy. Nishkian’s family felt ...

SIERRA NATIONAL FOREST — Watch out! Falling trees are a hazard when traveling in the forest, and this year’s die-off will require visitors to be on their guard even more than usual. While it may seem incredibly obvious on its face, reminding ourselves to practice good situational awareness is important. It’s easy to become complacent. The Sierra National Forest warns ...

YOSEMITE — Visitors to Yosemite National Park can revel in its natural wonders like never before through Yosemite Conservancy’s guided Outdoor Adventures involving high country camping, bird watching and backpacking, among 60 unforgettable experiences offered in 2016. “Our Outdoor Adventures are led by naturalist guides who share lifetimes of experience and insider knowledge of the park,” said Frank Dean, president ...