Happy birthday, America! The 4th of July is one of the most-anticipated holidays of the summer, with food, parades, and of course, fireworks!

It was on this date in 1776, that the Founding Fathers signed the Declaration of Independence, effectively cutting the colonies’ ties to Great Britain. For years, the 4th of July holiday was observed unofficially. It wasn’t until 1941 that Congress declared it a legal holiday. Here are some other fun facts about this red, white and blue holiday.

*Independence Day was first celebrated in Philadelphia on July 8, 1776.The Liberty Bell sounded from the tower of Independence Hall, summoning citizens for the first public reading of the Declaration of Independence by Colonel John Nixon.

*In 1778, George Washington marked the 4th with an artillery salute and a double ration of rum for his soldiers.

*The lyrics to “The Star Spangled Banner” were written in 1814 by Francis Scott Key and set to the tune of a popular British drinking song.

*Calvin Coolidge, America’s 30th President, was born on July 4, 1872.

*In a weird coincidence, Thomas Jefferson, author of the Declaration and a future President, died on July 4, 1826. A few hours later on that same day, John Adams, another signer and President, also passed. It was the 50th anniversary of the historic signing.

*Fireworks have been a traditional part of the celebration, ever since 1777.

Carpenter ants may seem small and look harmless, but they can do serious damage to anything wooden in your home, including not only furniture but also the very framing and walls that hold up the house. If you are seeing a lot of ants or small piles of sawdust-like material in random spots in or around your home, you are most likely suffering from a carpenter ant infestation.

Ants are very social beings and form large colonies before spreading out to find additional nest sites. They thrive by hollowing out wood, especially in moist or rotten spots, to build their nests and then use their new home in your walls and chairs as a base camp from which to forage for food and water in their nearby surroundings. Indeed, their very presence is a good indication of moisture or rot problems.

In the continental U.S. and in much of Canada, carpenter ants are the most common insect wood destroyer, surpassing even the mighty termite. But while many commercially available chemical pesticides will rid a structure of carpenter ants, homeowners are increasingly steering away from such toxins proven to impact the human nervous, respiratory and reproductive systems.

Perhaps the most economical and effective way to get rid of carpenter ants is by applying boric acid (also known as borax) to their nest sites and surroundings. This natural non-toxic element, mined from below the Mojave Desert in southern California, has a long history of use in exterminating brazen populations of cockroaches, palmetto bugs, waterbugs, silverfish, termites, and, you guessed it, carpenter ants. Beyond just being effective as an all-natural insecticide, boric acid is non-toxic to humans.

About the Museum: The mseum is located on property that once was part of an old horse-drawn-freight wagon road (pre-Hwy 41) and an original historical adobe freight way-station. The 110+ year old building is a “packed adobe” made of mud and rock. After its use as a way-station, it was used for many years as a home. It is currently in the process of restoration and the progress can be viewed by visitors to the museum.The grounds also have a barn that the dedicated volunteers of the organization restored. It now houses the museum. In it artifacts and history of the region can be viewed. Also in the building are the research library and the Historical Society’s office.

Various sections of the museum represent the Coarsegold Market and Supply, a blacksmith and tool shop, a gold-panner hard at work, a tack shop, the kitchen of the Picayune School, an area of Indian artifacts, and an extensive display of pictures and articles about eastern Madera County. The barn has been dedicated to Ethel Kennedy who originally owned the property. The Coarsegold Historic Museum is owned and operated by the Coarsegold Historical Society, an educational nonprofit entity. The Coarsegold Historical Society was formed in 1981 to study and share the wonderful history of Eastern Madera County and the area known as Coarsegold in particular. From research the book As We Were Told was produced. Members interviewed 102 “old time” families (dating to the early 1800s) of the region and complied their stories to share with others. Various books about the area and its legends are available for purchase.In 1994 the Picayune School (in use from 1913 to 1956) was moved to the property. It was an elementary school especially for the local Chukchansi Yokut Indians. Picayune School is the only one-room schoolhouse in the local mountain area to be displayed as a school and is furnished with items dating to the period of its original use. It is now restored and listed on the California Register of Historic Sites and is a designated local Historical Landmark by the Madera County Board of Supervisors.

According to The US Highway Safety Authority, in 2002, 20.9 cars out of 100,000 ended up in fatal crashes. The rate for motorcycles is 66.7 per 100,000.  That means Motorcycle riders are at a much grater risk to be in a fatal crash than a driver of a car.So, why do most motorcycle accidents happen?According to the most comprehensive motorcycle safety studies to date:“The failure of motorists to detect and recognize motorcycles in traffic is the predominating cause of motorcycle accidents. The driver of the other vehicle involved in collision with the motorcycle did not see the motorcycle before the collision, or did not see the motorcycle until too late to avoid the collision.”What’s the lesson here?  Drivers aren’t seeing motorcyclists.  The motorcyclist is invisible.  Most accidents happen because a driver of a car did not see the motorcyclist.  According to the studies, 77% of two vehicle accidents occur in the front positions of the motorcycle. The area behind the driver, accounts only for about 3% of impacts.  Drivers aren’t just seeing motorcyclists; they aren’t seeing them when they are approaching from the front.Taking away the accidents where motorcyclists are speeding, unsafe passing or under the influence, we see that most frequent accident happens when the motorcycle is proceeding straight and a car makes a left turn in front of the oncoming motorcycle. Intersections are the most likely place for these types of accident, with the other vehicle violating the motorcycle’s right-of-way. The likelihood of injury is extremely high in motorcycle accidents, 98% of the multiple vehicle collisions and 96% of the single vehicle accidents result in some kind of injury to the motorcycle rider; 45% resulted in more than a minor injury. Therefore, proper body protection can help if you are in an accident.  How to be safe and lower the risk of injury or death, ride defensively and follow the rules of the road. Make yourself visible to all approaching drivers, (Good rule of thumb, if you can’t see the face of the approaching driver he can’t see you) and always wear proper body protection.Remember - Knowledge is Power – use information to be a safe motorcycle driver and to get the equipment you need to stay safe.  Contact and attend a motorcycle safety class.  Call 1 877 RIDE 411.

With nice weather comes the urge to get out the old nag (not your wife) and go for a ride. Horseback riding is a lot of fun. But like lots of fun things, there are dangers and risks as well as enjoyment when being around horses. To help minimize the danger and risk, there are a few rules I have found to observe. Around the Barn Always wear appropriate clothing. Open-toed shoes are a big no-no in the barn or on the horse. Protect your feet. They are almost as important as your horse’s hooves. Put away equipment. Make sure pitchforks, rakes, etc. are stored properly and not left out where human or animal can trip over them. Clean up. Always sweep after doing stalls, grooming, etc. Pay special attention after the farrier visits and make sure there are no nails left out where they could puncture someone’s foot. Watch out for flying hooves. Most horses will not kick someone on purpose. Usually they are startled or really going after a fly. Avoid walking behind a horse. If you must pass behind, walk close to the animal (so his feet cannot gain momentum) and talk to the animal so there are no surprises for either of you. While cleaning hooves be careful to hold the horse’s leg in a position that is comfortable for the animal and not to the side. Place the hoof down after cleaning rather than dropping it to avoid injury to the animal. Keep animals separate. Be aware of which animals get along and which ones do not like each other. Avoid bringing animals’ close together in confined spaces and respect their personal space. Lead them in. Do not allow horses to charge into the barn at meal times. It may take some extra time, but it is worth it to lead them in one by one and escort them personally to their stall. Use a lead rope. Leading a horse by just the halter is not wise. While 99% of the time this may not be a problem, it’s the other 1% when the horse becomes agitated over an imagined danger and ends up in the next county that can be a problem. Do not leave your horse in a pasture wearing a nylon halter. Nylon halters are actually too strong and if he gets caught on a branch, he could be trapped or worse. If you must have a halter on your horse, use a leather one. On the Horse Use an approved helmet! There are plenty of styles to choose from including safety helmets that look like cowboy hats. Your brain is worth protecting! A helmet can be the difference between brushing the dirt off your pants and jumping back on the horse and a trip to the hospital or worse. Wear sturdy shoes with a heel. Good shoes keep your feet safe in the stirrup especially at those times when balance may be hard to get. Wear long pants that fit. While they should not be loose enough to get caught on anything while riding, your clothes should also be comfortable and not too tight. Check your tack. Every time you ride check your saddle and bridle for problems with stitching or rot. Ideally you should clean your tack every time you ride and store it in a dry area to avoid conditions that may cause decay in the leather or stitching. Make sure your stirrup leather can easily slide out of the saddle and the keeper is down. If you do fall with your foot still in the stirrup, you do not want to be dragged. Make sure the bridle fits well and it has not been readjusted since you last rode. A poorly adjusted bridle can make for a horse with a poor attitude. Tighten the girth before getting on and check it again after riding a few minutes. Make sure it is snug but not over-tight. You should barely be able to slide your hand between the girth and the horse. Horses are a great way to reach responsibility and even great therapy for special needs kids. But kids under the age of eighteen should never ride unsupervised and even adults should not go off without a companion. After all equines are unpredictable animals and should be respected as such.

Fishing season is here and whatever your fishing choice, the Sierra National Forest provides numerous opportunities for stream and lake fishing. For information on fishing regulations make sure to check out the California Department of Fish and Game regulations.Fresh water stream fishing on the Sierra National Forest is open from the last weekend in April through November 15. All lakes are open year around, though access may be limited due to seasonal closure of roads due to snow. All lakes and reservoirs on the Forest are open year around for fishing except were seasonal closures apply, such as Mammoth Pool. Anglers, 16 years and older, who plan to fish in creeks, streams, rivers and lakes need to obtain a California fishing license. This year the fee for an annual license is around $32.00 and can be obtained at local stores. When you obtain a permit make sure to pick up a copy of the Freshwater Sport Fishing Regulation Book, as it provides information on fishing restrictions, the type of hooks and bait you can use, the amount of trout you can catch and possess, and how you must display your license.

Have fun, good fishing and following the CATCH & RELEASE practice is a good thing.

With the warm weather upon us those pestering mosquitoes are coming out. Here are a few tips that may help relieve some of the annoyance. 

Learn about the culture of the Miwok Indians at an authentic Miwork village. Pan for Gold and relive the life of the old west. All this and more can be done in Coarsegold at the Gold Gulch Museum. There is so much to learn and do at the museum, located on Hwy 41, North of Coarsegold at the Broken Bit. Call them at 559 683-8727.

I heard on CNN this morning that “It may be the best time to buy a house in more than four years”.  They said “Home prices have dropped so quickly and so far that valuations - the difference between what a home should cost and its actual price - are the lowest they’ve been since 2004”.  ”Housing valuations are almost back to long-term norms,” said National City’s chief economist, Richard DeKaser. He called current affordability “the best in the past four years.”Here in California we see the decline in home price softening especially in the sought after foothills of the Sierra Nevada’s. Of course these areas attract the retired folks and second home buyers. But as you look around at the values on the market, you can buy well under what it would cost to build.In Mr. DeKaser report, he indicated that out of the markets surveyed, 6% are severely over valued, including Atlantic City and our neighbor, Madera, Calif.  He also indicated that California is among a few other states where there have been the biggest gains of affordability. So, come buy and invest in the foothills of the mighty Sierra Nevada’s.