Strike Up The Band

Written by George and Ira Gershwin

Let the drums roll out
Let the trumpet call
While the people shout “Strike up the band”

Hear the cymbals ring
Callin’ one and all
To the martial swing, strike up the band

There is work to be done, to be done
Let’s have fun, fun, fun
You son of a gun of a gun, take your stand

Form a line, oh, oh
Come on, let’s go
Hey, leader, strike up the band!

Come one; come all to the Celebrate America 2008 annual concert.  On Sunday, June 29th at 6:30 p.m. you are all invited to come and listen to the wonderful music that will be performed by the Oakhurst Community Band.
 
Deciding to not have the audience and band members baking in the heat, festivities will instead be held this year at the Yosemite High School Gym.  Come and enjoy wonderful patriotic music such as America the Beautiful and God Bless the USA (one of my most favorite songs).  There will be marches, the national anthem sung, and other patriotic tunes as a salute to the amazing armed forces.  The Oakhurst Community Choir will also take center stage and is sure to wow the audience.

This is a family event and it is FREE.  People are encouraged to bring a picnic and stay for this great Americana show.  Seating will be in the bleachers and the floor for those who have difficulty with the bleachers.  For more information, call (559) 683-4667, extension 371.  There is also a special surprise that is very hush hush.  What could it be?

E-Waste Recycling

Nothing says “thank you” to mother earth like recycling unwanted items instead of throwing them into the landfills.  Many items that people throw away can cause dangerous chemicals to be released into the soil.  Many items that people throw away are not only dangerous, but illegal to put into landfills.  In Madera County, E-Waste Recycling is a top priority once again.

There will be two recycling days coming to the area to help you get rid of those unwanted, yet recyclable, items.  This Saturday, June 28th from 8:00 a.m. until 4:00 p.m. you can drop off your unwanted electronics at the Coarsegold Historic Village.  Items they are collecting include televisions, computers and accessories, telephones, cell phones and microwaves.  The second collection day will be on July 12th from 8:00 a.m. until 4:00 p.m. at the Oakhurst Area Chamber of Commerce parking lot.

If you are unable to make either drop off day, you can call and make arrangements for a free pick up of your electronic items.  If you would like further information, contact the Coarsegold Village at (559) 683-3900 or the Oakhurst Area Chamber of Commerce at (559) 683-7766.

You too can help keep America beautiful!

I have previously written about the ongoing campaign of Mat Sands who is running for the position of honorary Mayor of Oakhurst.  He has come up with some very cleaver and fun fundraisers to help earn money/votes for his charity, the Harry H. Baker Boys and Girls Club.

The Harry H. Boys and Girls club is still in need of your help.  They do not want to close their doors permanently.  They need funding now and they are very grateful for Mat Sand for all the help he has given.

On June 20th, there will be a fundraising event at Sierra Lanes.  The cost is $20 for 2 hours of bowling. There will be music, disco lights and prizes.  Contact Sierra Lanes at 683-2695 to reserve your lane.

On June 21st everyone is invited to a one day opening of the Boys and Girls Club Skate Park.  Come to the KickFlip Challenge.  The event will begin at 12:00 noon and will cost $5 per person.  Enjoy watching pro-skaters, live music and more. Contact Westside Boardshop at 683-3383 for more info.

United First Financial has now joined the campaign.  They are dedicated to their customers who want to debt free.  They are offering a $25 donation to every qualified presentation and $100 to the “Mat for Mayor” campaign, with every program activation.   For more information call, Rick or Jane Cavin at 559-683-2693.  Come on everyone.  Help Mat get elected and the Harry H. Baker Boys and Girls Club re-open to the children who need it most!

You are probably more than aware that gas prices have spiked lately. And you may know that the gas that we use to fuel our cars is made using oil…but what do you know beyond that? Do you know anything about the oil industry itself? What do you know about the oil-rich nations that supply much of the world?
With gas prices climbing, people are doing a lot more thinking about oil and our reliance on it to continue our pace of life.

Like any other product, oil is bought and sold. However, there are political and social factors behind the selling price. There are also environmental factors that affect the oil supply.

If you are interested in learning more about what some people call “black gold,” come out to the Oakhurst Branch Library Reading Room from 7-9 pm on Friday June 20.

There, you can meet with the Oakhurst Democratic Forum and view the film, “The Oil Factor.” After everyone has finished watching the film, the group will discuss just why oil is getting so expensive.

Oakhurst Branch Library
49044 Civic Circle
Oakhurst, CA 93644
559-683-4838

With central heating and other modern comforts, the necessity of quilts has diminished, but that doesn’t mean we need to complete lose the art of making them. Besides keeping people warm, quilts were (and still are) an artistic form of expression. In recent years, the art world has paid more attention to the beauty of quilts. Quilts are also a good focal point for social gatherings.

Since 1980, members and guest of the Sierra Mountain Quilters Association have been coming together to practice and promote the fine art of quilting. They meet the first and third Thursdays of each month. Meetings may include technique demonstrations, videos, a guest speaker or a “Show-n-Tell.” They also hold quilting circles at members’ homes to work on quilting projects.

This coming Thursday, June 19, the Sierra Mountain Quilters Association will be getting together at Whittenburg Hall (Community Church of Oakhurst) from 6:30-8:30 p.m. Attendees at this meeting will be treated to a trunk show by artist Susan Turner. To learn more, you can call 559-693-4586) or visit the group’s website, www.smqa.org.

We know that picking up trash and keeping our local trails clean is not the most glamorous occupation in the world. Although, keeping our natural resources clean does add a certain glamour to the area. With this in mind, this weekend you will be able to help our area sparkle and have a little fun in the process.

This Saturday, June 13 is the American Hiking Society’s National Trails Day. Participants will meet starting at 9 am to spruce up the 3 and half mile trail along with Fresno River, China Creek and Oak Creek. The event, held with the help of the Oakhurst River Parkway committee, starts at the Oakhurst Library parking lot and trash bags, water and tools will be provided. You will need to bring your own gloves, though.

To thank you for your efforts, there will be prizes given to those who attend and a prize for the most unusual item retrieved from the river. Plus, there will be an extra-special prize for people willing to do weed-eating.

You can help solo or bring a long a group. Call Sandy Brinley at 559-683-7027 to learn more.

Mat For Mayor And The Boys And Girls Club Part I Of II

Mat Sands is running for honorary Mayor of Oakhurst.  He has been working hard to reach his goal by winning the most votes…ie…money for his charity.  He is running to raise funds for the Harry H. Baker Boys and Girls Club.  In February of this year, the club had to close its doors to the public due to lack of funding.  They were hoping that this would only be a temporary closing, but so far they are still lacking the funding to continue operations.

The Mat for Mayor Campaign will run until July.  Each candidate had to pick a non-profit organization to support.   Each dollar earned counts as one vote.  The winner will serve as an ambassador for Oakhurst by attending special events and ribbon cuttings throughout the next year.  There are three candidates in the competition.

Mat Sands has had many fundraising activities to date.  There have been spaghetti dinners at the Oak Room Bar, Movie Night at the Met Cinemas, a traditional Hawaiian Luau at the Sierra Sky Ranch and the Iron Restaurant, fundraiser at Jamba Juice, and Bingo with the Kids at the Sierra Lions Club.  On Thursday, June 12, 2008, there will be a Tri-Tip Drive-Up Dinner at the Sierra Star parking lot.  Forget the cooking and enjoy Tri-tip, beans, coleslaw and roll for a measly $10 per person.  Sounds delicious!

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

Have you been at home tapping your toes to the radio or looking wistfully at some of those reality shows that feature dance competitions? Why are you sitting at home? Our area is serving up plenty of opportunities to get out and show off your dance moves.

The Bootjack Stoppers Hall will have a ballroom dance on the third Saturday of each month. You pay just $5 for dancing instruction and $5 for the dance itself. Call Nancy (209-966-5552) or John/Trisha (559-685-3412) to get more details about the dances or to learn how you can join the Big Band Dance Club and save on admission.

There will be a ballroom dance party every fourth Sunday at the Oakhurst Community Center from 2-5 pm. These events are sponsored by Ed Bailey and the Vision Academy of the Arts. A half an hour of dance instruction is included with the $10 admission. The Oakhurst Community Center is located in Oakhurst on Road 425B. Call Lori (559-658-8541) or send an e-mail to Ed Bailey (edbailey@sti.net) and they’ll be happy to give you more information.

Jazz on the Lake at The Pines Resort is back this summer and it is better than ever. No, this is not a one-time event; rather it is many nights of great music and fun spread out over the entire summer. On Friday nights from May 23-August 29, you can relax with delicious food and delightful music.

The exciting news is that this year they have added lawn seats that will be available at a lower cost and the menu has been expanded and improved. The menu will change each week. Here is a sample of some of the dishes: fajitas, barbecue chicken, tri-tip sandwiches and meatballs, corn on the cob, salads, fresh fruit and desserts.

The gates will open at 6 pm on most nights. You can choose package options will prepared food or buy concert-only tickets. You must call head if you want to have dinner prepared. Call the concert hotline at 559-692-8857.

Some of the groups in this year’s lineup include: ‘Nuff Said, Time Slip, Sunset Steel Drum Band, Nite Flite, Time Slip, Horizon and Arrival.

Click here to visit the Bass Lake website and get more details.

If you haven’t decided what to do for Memorial Day, come on down and visit the Coarsegold Historic Village.  They are celebrating Memorial Day by having a Peddlers Market and Antique Show.  There will be food and entertainment as well as antiques, collectibles and treasures to enjoy.

They also hold weekly Flea Markets on the weekends.  There is a leather shop, a blacksmith and a builder of primitive instruments to be seen. 

The festivities have been going on both Saturday and Sunday, but if you missed out, plan on visiting on Monday, May 26th as well.   Call (559) 683-3900 for more information.

And…..

The Oakhurst Chamber of Commerce would like you to also visit the Mountain Area Peddlers Home and Garden Show.  This event has also been going on all weekend, but fun can still be had at their Peddlers Fair on Memorial Day Monday. 

Activities can be found at Road 426 and Sierra Way in Oakhurst from 9 am until 2:00 p.m.   The admission is free to all.  There will be demonstrations and classes from True Value Hardware.  Air Time Inflatables will be available for the kids.  Come experience arts and crafts and learn about various upgrades that are available to your home.  Call (559) 683-7766 for more information.