MARIPOSA – The Mariposa Butterfly Festival kicks off this Friday, May 5 with Taste of Mariposa and hat contest, and the continues through the weekend with a healthy-kids run, competitive trail run, parade, and live music at the Art Park on Saturday and Sunday, May 6 – 7, in historic downtown Mariposa. Every year on the first weekend of May, vendors, ...

YOSEMITE — Yosemite National Park will be celebrating Earth Day, National Junior Ranger Day, Park Rx Day, and National Park Week on Saturday, April 22, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.  There will be booths and activities free for all ages located outside on the Yosemite Village Mall, near the Yosemite Valley Visitor Center. Schedule of activities: 10:00 am – 2:00 ...

YOSEMITE — Yosemite National Park will waive park entrance fees on the weekends of National Park Week, Saturday and Sunday, Apr. 15 – 16, and Apr. 22-23, 2017. National Park Week is a week-long celebration of our National Parks celebrated at National Park Service sites across the United States. Fees being waived for the weekends of National Park Week include ...

FISH CAMP — A website has been created to provide people with information regarding the memorial service planned for Max Stauffer on Saturday, Apr. 8. The site also provides a place where family and friends can leave their thoughts and memories, especially if they are not able to attend. The web address is www.maxmemorial.com. Stella Pizelo will officiate the celebration ...

Contributed by Len McKenzie, YAAS — The rolling foothills of the western Sierra Nevada encompass a richly diverse and scenic natural and cultural heritage. The Sierra Foothill Conservancy (SFC), a local land trust founded in 1996 in Fresno County, now plays a significant role in protecting the natural resources, working lands, cultural traditions and rural character of this area’s expansive ...

YOSEMITE – Yosemite Conservancy is providing $12 million in support to Yosemite National Park for 34 projects in 2017 including building a new trail to the Mariposa Grove of Giant Sequoias along a historic stage-coach route, restoring bee, butterfly and hummingbird habitat, and studying species in Ackerson Meadow, the newest area of the park. “Incredible work is being done in ...

Do you know that feeling when you see your first spring wildflowers of the year in our foothills? It’s that time of the year and it was a real thrill for me, especially when I saw those beautiful California Poppies waving in the breeze. This is one of those hikes that you can only do with the Sierra Foothill Conservancy ...

YOSEMITE — Yosemite National Park is moving forward with repairs to the damaged Big Oak Flat Road (Highway 120 West) leading to Yosemite Valley. Severe storms have impacted the road and it continues to be unsafe for vehicular travel. The road has been closed since late February between Crane Valley and Foresta. The Federal Highways Administration has selected a contractor ...

YOSEMITE LAKES PARK — District 5 Supervisor Tom Wheeler will be hosting a Town Hall meeting tonight, Tuesday, Feb. 28, from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Blue Heron in the YLP Clubhouse. On the agenda is a discussion of the Neighborhood Watch Program by Madera County Sheriff Sgt. Larry Rich, and a presentation on Measure L – the proposed ...

OAKHURST — The newly reorganized Board of Directors in charge of Fresno Flats Historical Park wants community members and visitors alike to know they are open from dawn to dusk daily, and are now offering newly reduced rates at very competitive prices with newly reduced fees. In some cases, the cost for rental of facilities for parties, weddings, graduation celebrations, meetings and special ...