HOME & GARDEN — Whether you’ve purchased a new house or are just looking to invest in what is likely your largest asset, home improvements can make your living space more comfortable, functional and stylish. Homebuyers are looking for practical home amenities that allow them to live, work and play – such as dedicated home offices, backyard retreats, home gyms ...

PETS & ANIMALS — Dogs can provide a sense of comfort for their pet parents, and spending time together can help create a strong bond, reduce stress and positively impact mental health. In fact, according to a survey from Mars Petcare, one in three pet parents got a new pet during the pandemic, with 36% saying they did so to ...

By David Perez, student journalist for Minarets Press While it isn’t the most likely of connections to be made, there is a measurable correlation between COVID-19 and mental health. On the surface level, it may seem ridiculous, but if you analyze the course of events that led to where we are now, it’s not. Being isolated, having virtually nothing to ...

For the interactive 360° VR experience, go to: https://www.virtualyosemite.org/virtual-tour/#node263. Here at 12,400′ elevation on the Mt. Dana trail, you’re only 600 feet below the summit. There is very little plant life, as you are well-above the timber line in the alpine zone. Weather here can deteriorate rapidly. On this day, the sky was completely cloudless and temperatures were in the ...

Who is making an appearance on my Critter Cam? I have had Trail Cameras, also known as Critter Cams, set up around my house for close to 20 years and love discovering who is paying me a visit. I thought you might like to meet a few of my Critter Cam friends so I uploaded some of them to YouTube ...

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Five Yosemite National Park employees and two members of the public were honored by Secretary of the Interior David Bernhardt at the 74th Honor Award Convocation Ceremony in Washington, D.C. for heroic actions, courage and professionalism in the line of duty. For their actions taken during three separate rescue operations, Park Ranger Aaron Smith, Park Ranger Jack ...

MADERA COUNTY — The community is invited to take a short trip and see the night sky, as the Central Valley Astronomers, Inc. take over the grounds at Millerton Lake to set up telescopes for viewing the heavens. Observe planets, stars, galaxies, Nebulae and more on Saturday, Aug. 24 from 8 – 10 p.m., when sunset is at 7:40 p.m., ...

I had never gone birding. I don’t know why. I just never did it. I had never been to Clark’s Valley, not far from Jerseydale, but I had seen it on a map. The Sierra Foothill Conservancy was offering a class with both of these new adventures and I headed out on their Docent-led hike to learn something new. I ...

A great workout with beautiful flowers and a ton of history! This hike was right up my alley on a cooler day between raindrops. Where: Bureau of Land Management (BLM), Merced River Recreation Management Area Distance: About 9 miles roundtrip to the gate but you can go shorter or longer Difficulty: Moderate to Strenuous Elevation Range: 1,138′ – 2,835′ Date: ...

12/21/2019 @ 8:20 pm - The winter solstice, also known as midwinter, occurs when one of the Earth's poles has its maximum tilt away from the Sun. It happens twice yearly, once in each hemisphere. For that hemisphere, the winter solstice is the day with the shortest period of daylight and longest night of the year, when the Sun is [...]