MADERA – Madera County Master Gardeners will host a free event for home gardeners this month. On Saturday, July 20, from 10 a.m. to noon, attend the “Lavender and Herbs – So Easy to Grow and Use” workshop, presented by Master Gardeners Carol Kennedy, Nadine King, and Anna Wattenbarger.

YOSEMITE LAKES PARK – It was an evening of celebration and community as two new Paid Call Firefighters were pinned and three veterans were promoted and honored at Station #10 in Yosemite Lakes Park on Thursday, June 20. As Station 10 celebrates 30 years of serving the YLP community, Erik Lawson and Sean Kelley joined the ranks of the volunteers ...

COARSEGOLD – Citizens are invited to the fourth Family Freedom Fest on Thursday, July 4, from 11 a.m. – 3 p.m. at the Historic Coarsegold Village. Organizers have planned a free community event that “celebrates and honors our American Heritage, the Declaration of Independence, our Constitution, our Military and the open expression of how we can preserve our freedoms.”

MARIPOSA – Aaron Copland (1900 – 1990) is considered nearly without question to be the greatest American composer of “classical” music who ever lived. The legendary composer of Rodeo, Billy the Kid, Appalachian Spring, A Lincoln Portrait, Fanfare for the Common Man and so many other iconic pieces of music created a unique American musical “sound” that is universally recognizable ...

COARSEGOLD – After two months of residents in the Revis Drive area feeling terrorized by what many were convinced was an arsonist, two of their neighbors have been taken into custody. When a fire dispatch came in at about 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday, June 25, it was for the seventh fire on the cul-de-sac since May, with engines staging at ...

YOSEMITE – Sixty-five people will become naturalized United States citizens at Yosemite’s famous overlook on Thursday, June 27, at 11 a.m. This special ceremony commemorates Independence Day and being a U.S. Citizen. The ceremony will feature Yosemite Superintendent Don Neubacher and representatives from the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services providing remarks and administering the Oath of Allegiance to the new ...

MADERA COUNTY – The Sierra Vista Scenic Byway Association is leading another beautiful and informative tour of one of the many scenic wonders in our own back yard. Explore the Secrets Of Nelder Grove on Saturday, Aug. 10, as 2013 National Forest Service Volunteer of the Year, Brenda Negley shares well known and secret places in Nelder Grove.

MADERA COUNTY – Take advantage of this opportunity to not only spend time on the beautiful Sierra Vista National Scenic Byway, but to learn from the pros about the best way to photograph to amazing vistas, flora and wildlife. Join local photographers Roger Robinette and Gay Abarbanell, with a little help from Joanne Freemire, as they conduct a free photographic ...

YOSEMITE – “Snow Plants,” the latest episode of the popular Yosemite Nature Notes series, has been released. Each episode is about eight minutes and explores interesting and often little known stories about Yosemite National Park. This is the 21st episode of Yosemite Nature Notes. The snow plant, Sarcodes Sanguinea, is a distinctive red plant that grows on the forest floor ...

MARIPOSA – The Mariposa County Sheriff’s Office is asking the public for any information about the unattended campfire that investigators believe may have started the 1,800+ acre Carstens fire in the Midpines/Jerseydale area. The fire started on Sunday, June 16, just after 2 p.m., and has caused wide-spread closures and evacuations, with some 1,000 people being displaced from their homes.