Written by Richard Keg — It’s been a year since my dad’s heart attack, as of about 10:30 p.m. today. To make sure he remembers to always listen to me, I just posted this on his wall: One year ago today, as of about right now, your heart attack started. I remember sitting here and arguing with you, telling you ...

MARIPOSA — The Mariposa County Health Department will be offering flu shots – at no cost – at the following locations: Tuesday, Sept. 19 2 to 3 p.m. – Mariposa Senior Center (for Seniors and Care Givers) Wednesday, Sept. 20 10 to 11 a.m. – Yosemite Wellness Center 12 to 1 p.m. – Yosemite Medical Clinic 3 to 4:30 p.m. ...

MOUNTAIN AREA — Smoke from the Railroad and South Fork Fire burning in both Madera/Mariposa Counties, the Empire Fire burning in Mariposa County, the Pier Fire burning in Tulare County, and all other surrounding wildfires have the potential to affect air quality throughout the entire San Joaquin Valley and foothills above, prompting Air District officials to issue a health cautionary ...

You’re at the beach, slathered in sunscreen. Your five-month-old baby is there, too. Should you put sunscreen on her? Not usually, according to Hari Cheryl Sachs, M.D., a pediatrician at the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). “The best approach is to keep infants under six months out of the sun,” Sachs says, “and to particularly avoid exposure to the sun ...

OAKHURST — Trinidad Reyes, an assistant biologist with the Madera County Vector Control District, says part of his job is “promoting public awareness about mosquitoes in an effort to make our communities safer.” On Saturday, Aug. 12, Reyes will present a workshop at the Oakhurst Branch Library about the lifestyle and habitats of mosquitoes. His presentation is scheduled from 10:30 ...

Submitted by Darlene Kelly — OAKHURST — Local residents may have noticed an unusual flock of “wild geese” proliferating in the area lately, and the size of that flock at the Sierra Senior Center seems to be growing. They can usually be spotted on Mondays or Tuesdays, just past the playing field, beyond the Community Center, off of Road 425B, sometime between 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. ...

MARIPOSA COUNTY — As residents who have lost their homes deal with the aftermath, they are faced with yet another danger. The Mariposa County Health Department warns that cleanup and removal of debris and ash from residential fires may be hazardous. Ash and debris from burned buildings and homes can contain toxic substances due to the presence of synthetic and ...

CENTRAL SIERRA — The forecast for extremely high temperatures has raised concern for the health and safety of Central California residents. The Fresno County Department of Public Health (FCDPH) urges residents to take precautions to avoid heat illness as well as to know the signs that indicate the need to seek medical care. Persons who work outdoors should be aware ...

For years my younger son was a chocolate maker in Portland, gifted in combining flavors to create unusual combos that were remarkable yummy, like chili and orange, lemon with lavender and honey, or curry chocolate. My favorite of all time was dark chocolate sea salt caramels. I still occasional crave that heavenly salty-sweet combo! I have always found it curious ...

Sometimes I find it easier to write in public places, where there is no laundry calling my name. One such time recently, as I was researching a topic, I was also eavesdropping on a gaggle of women comparing their vitamin D test results. Apparently, they had all been told, in the last five years, that they were deficient in vitamin D ...