Sober Grad Night celebrations are now popping up all around our country.  For years, some seniors have celebrated their completion of high school with unsupervised parties where alcohol is being provided and consumed.  These sober parties offer a safe alternative for teens to celebrate together and still have a fantastic time.

The Yosemite School Sober Grad Night is in need of funding.  They are currently $5,000 short of what they need to pull off their big bash.  The party will begin at 8:30 p.m. on June 11th and will directly follow the commencement ceremony.  Seniors will able to stay up all night and hang out with friends.  There will be games, food and prizes to be won.

Participants are required to check in soon after the graduation ceremony ends at the high school.  This is a “lock-in” party.  If they chose to leave, they will not be allowed to come back into the party.  There will be prizes awarded all night, but only those in attendance will be eligible to win them.

The committee is in need of big ticket prize items.  Suggestions would be a trip, a computer or even a car.  They are also looking for donations of smaller items that college bound students would need.  Suggestions would be blankets, blenders, clocks, microwaves and radios.  Gift cards are also a good idea.

If just one alcohol related crash, one injury, one arrest, or especially one death is prevented, then all the work that volunteers have put into making a fun and safe party for grads, would all be worth it!  If you are interested in helping out this very worthwhile cause, contact Tammy Thacker at (559) 683-4667 ext. 319.

The 2008 Coarsegold Rodeo was a great success. Montecino & Associates hosted a booth and enjoyed seeing many past clients as well as meeting many future clients.  Montecino & Associates handed out flags and candy as well as displayed information on the real estate market and many flyers of our properties.

If you did not make it to this years rodeo we encourage you to visit us next year in beautiful Coarsegold California.

In continuation from the post on Wednesday.

The winter hours for the museum are from 10 am through 4 pm, Tuesday through Saturday and Sunday from 1 p.m. until 4 pm.  The summer hours are from 10 am until 5 pm, Tuesday through Saturday.  The museum is closed on Sunday’s in the summer months.  Admission is $3 per person.  Children under 2 are free as well as those that are members.  They offer prearranged educational group tours for groups of 10 or more for only $1 per person.

Museum membership is always appreciated.  A family can become members for $45 per year and an individual membership is only $15 per year.  Your membership will include a Bi-annual newsletter about what is happening at the museum.  Other membership levels are “Contributor” for $50 and Patron for $100-$199.  Each type of member will enjoy membership benefits plus additional free passes.  Groups can also obtain a membership for only $75 per year.  Some contributions are even tax deductible.

If you are interested in more information or would like to become a financial contributor of this worthwhile museum, contact Jean Hand at (559) 658-5656 at any time.  The museum is located at 49269 Golden Oak Drive, Suite 104 in Oakhurst, California.

In continuation from the post on Monday.

The exhibits teach scientific principles and allow the attendees to learn about the world around them through hands-on fun.  The museum is not the traditional type of collecting museum that is seen in other areas.  There are various rooms for children to explore and learn from.  Children will learn from artistic expression as well as dramatic play.

Visit the Science Room with bones and animals to explore, the Imagination Room, with a stage to perform your act, and the Castle Room.  Experience the thrill of driving an ambulance or fire truck and sliding down a fire pole in the “Emergency Room”.  Kids can pretend they are a doctor, wear a doctor’s coat, see a real skeleton and look through a microscope.  Kids can visit the “ship room” and use their imagination as they sail through the open sea on the huge boat.

Are you looking for a fun and economical place to host your birthday party?  If so, the museum is for you.  For a mere $25 party room rental (for 2 ½ hours) plus $1 per person, you can enjoy the museum and have a birthday party too.  Be sure to bring your own decorations, cake and party favors.  The party room accommodates 30 people.  Members of the museum and children under 2 are admitted free.

Please check back on Friday for the conclusion to this post.

Calling all Mom’s, Dad’s, Grandparents, daycare centers, church groups, scout troops and teachers to visit a super fun and educational place right here in our own backyard!  The Children’s Museum of the Sierra is calling out to you all!

The Children’s Museum is for young children between the ages of 2 and 12 years old.  They provide hands-on exhibits and programs that will encourage the children to learn by doing, creating, imagining and making choices.  The museum operates under the guidance of the Educational Enhancement foundation, which is a private non-profit organization.

Open year round, there are roughly 1,000 local and tourist visitors each month who enjoy the surroundings and challenges that are offered by the children’s museum.

The museum was founded in 1995, by parents and individuals who were interested in bringing specialized programs to the youth of the region.   The funding is generated by admission fees, private contributions, membership drives, grants, special events and gift shop sales.  There are many volunteers that will help make your museum experience the best you and your young one can imagine.  There is currently about 4,000 square feet of exhibit space for the children to explore.

Please check back on Wednesday for Part II of this post.

The annual Easter egg hunt at the Oakhurst Community Park is usually organized months in advance by high school seniors at the Yosemite High School Interact Club.  They have been sponsoring the annual event for the past 17 years.  With everyone feeling the financial hit this year, nobody was able to step up and organize the event. 

Step in, “Have A Ball” business owner, Donna Davis.  With only five days remaining until Easter, she learned that there would be no hunt this year.  With lightning fast speed, she went into full Easter Bunny mode and now the event is back on.  It is sure to be a wonderful success.

With the support of family, the 18th annual Oakhurst Easter Egg Hunt at Oakhurst Community Park will be on Easter Sunday at 1:00 p.m.  There will be hundreds of eggs to be had by the little ones.  There are prizes too.  The park will be separated into two sections.  Kiddos from toddler to four years old will be in one area and kiddos from five to ten years old will be in another area.  Both groups will hunt at the same time.

This kind of community activism is what makes Oakhurst such a special community.  Kuddos to you Donna Davis!  So grab a blanket and a picnic basket and head out for a fun afternoon in the park!

If you have a child or relative that attends school in our area, or even if you don’t, please take some time out to attend tonight’s Showcase of Schools from 4pm-7 pm. As it has been for many years in the past, the event is being sponsored by Sierra Telephone and Yosemite High School.

Remember what it was like when you were a kid, wanting your parents, grandparents, and friends of the family to be proud of you? Well this is a great opportunity for you to show community spirit by going to see some of the great work done by area kids. It is important that these kids see a good amount of foot traffic at events like this so they feel supported.

There will be art work as well as academic work on display, plus musical and dance performances as well. You don’t have to worry about going hungry because the Yosemite High School FFA Club will be on hand with scrumptious things to eat.

Call Rima Runtzel at 559-642-0313 with questions.
Yosemite High School
50200 Road 427
Oakhurst, CA 93644

The Tollhouse Community Theatre will present everyone’s favorite red-headed orphan on stage. Yes, you can see Annie, Daddy Warbucks, Miss Farrell, Sandy and even Miss Hannigan on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday.

The musical “Annie” is based on the Depression-era comic strip “Little Orphan Annie,” in which an orphaned child manages to remain cheerful despite rather bleak circumstances. Since the strip lasted over so many years, the characters went through all sorts of adventures (although Annie hardly changed in appearance). In the early days, Daddy Warbucks was married, but his wife later disappeared from the strip. The comic strip’s first readers were children, but as more and more adults read it, the storylines become more political.

The musical debuted in 1976 and Annie has been played by many people, including Sara Jessica Parker of “Sex and the City” fame. And Molly Ringwald once played on of the orphans.

Catch all the fun at the Sierra High School Presentation Center, 33326 Lodge Road, Tollhouse. It costs $10 for adults and $5 for students and seniors. You can buy tickets at Subway in Prather and Friant or call 559-855-8856.

Hurry and get your tickets. Thursday…is really only a day away.

Interest in our history, either as a country or locally is important for us all.  The Oakhurst area is rich in history that all area residents should revel in.

The first Saturday of each month, the Willow Bridge Books will now feature their “Did You Know” series to educate children in the public on area information from the past.  Come and find out more information about your community at large.

Find out interesting information about when Oakhurst was called Fresno Flats and why the name was changed. 

Lectures will cover information on area history, local authors, historical events and other interesting topics.  These “history lessons” will begin at 2:00 p.m.  This program sounds like a great way for some scouts to earn a badge!

Willow Bridge Books stocks new books, cards, art and educational toys.  Their mission is to provide community service and a unique shopping experience to area residents and visitors alike.
If you would like to attend these fun and informative sessions call (559) 692-book (2665) for more information. 

Reservations are not required.  The store hours of operation are 10 am until 6 pm, Sunday thru Thursday, and on Friday and Saturday from 10 am until 9 pm.

The North Fork Boosters are looking to crown their Queen of the 2008 Loggers Jamboree.  The Queen will represent the town of North Fork, throughout her year of rein, at a variety of community events.  Two dates are already set for her appearance….August 9th at the annual Mountain Classic Car Show and December 6th at the Christmas Bazaar and Christmas Parade.

The jamboree will be held on July 5th and 6th.  It is held annually to celebrate the logging industry.   Come and experience axe throwing and various sawing contests.  Professionals and amateurs will be competing for the winning spots on both days. There will be a grand parade, a barbeque at Town Hall and the Wood Choppers Ball where the coronation of the new Jamboree Queen will be crowned.

All proceeds collected will go to the North Fork’s Recreation Center.  The center provides free summer programs for children in the area.  They have a baseball diamond; play areas; a swimming hole, complete with lifeguards; recreation center that serves free lunches; and various outdoor activities planned for the kids this summer.

Girls need to be between the ages of 15 and 20, have never been married and have no children in order to run for Queen.   All contestants must attend a dinner on April 5th.  The title is won by selling the most pre-tickets to Sunday’s professional events at the Jamboree.  Normally the Sunday tickets are sold for $6.  Queen candidates sell their tickets for $3.   Besides being crowned Queen, the winner will receive 10 percent of her ticket sales and $100.  She would also be eligible for a $500 scholarship.

So come out and join the fun.  If you need of more information on how to become a Queen, call (559) 841-8488.