Brett Favre returning to Green Bay?!  I thought he retired!!!  As much as I enjoy watching Favre’s skills on the field- I had come to terms with him retiring.  Now he has had a change of mind and is back.  I can’t help but wonder if that is fair to the starting quarterback Aaron Rodgers and all the other teammates who have been preparing themselves for a season without Favre in the picture?  Don’t get me wrong, it is great to see Favre back but I would like to know how Green Bay Packers will be able to accept him as their leader once again.  I hope the team will be able to pick up where they left off with or without Favre behind the center.   The only thing I don’t want to see is Brett being traded.   I would die to see Brett go to the Minnesota Vikings.  Favre is a Packer and forever will be. 

A BBQ competition here in Mariposa?  On September 20 the 2^nd Annual “BLAZIN HOG” BBQ Competition will be held at the Mariposa County Fairgrounds.  Not only will there be food, lots of good food (I suspect), drinks and music but there will be other activities for children.  What a great event to take the entire family to and know that all proceeds will benefit the JCF Hospital Foundation.   If you want more information regarding this event log onto www.blazinhog.com. Enjoy the food!

Are you looking to do something new for a change?  The Golden Chain Theatre is a great way to spend an evening full of fun and entertainment.  Now through September 14^th, they are currently presenting Love, Sick, and Montezuma’s Gold.  Opening night, August 2, is already SOLD OUT!!  The Golden Chain Theatre has a long history in Madera County’s Oakhurst area.  It is a 19^th century historic and melodramatic theatre.  This theatre located on Highway 41 just north of town in Oakhurst has been around 1965 when community members thought that Oakhurst needed something to offer its tourists on their way to Yosemite National Park.  For more information and tickets log onto http://www.goldenchaintheatre.org/ 

My favorite thing to do in August is to hike up to the top of Fresno Dome in Eastern Madera County and lay back to watch the Perseid Meteor Shower.  The night sky will be filled with grazers and shooting stars.  There can be up to 60 shooting stars per hour.  They are best viewed at pre-dawn but can be seen all night long.  Fresno Dome is a perfect place because it is quiet and peaceful, away from any lights, and just a short drive up Sierra Sky Ranch Road.  This meteor shower takes place every year in mid August.  I look forward to this annual event and can’t wait to share it with my children.

What are the benefits of living in one of Eastern Madera County’s little communities rather than in a city?   I am sure you asked this same question when you were making the decision to relocate.  Having grown up in the mountains and moving to the city for college, I now look back at my childhood and realize its many benefits, some of which I took for granted.  Living in a small town where you saw familiar faces in the grocery store and waved at the passing cars is something special that you don’t always have in the city.  I realize now how lucky the children are to attend one of our small mountain schools.  With the small classes, teachers are able to give the students more individual instruction, they are able to keep a better tab on the progress levels, and can easily differentiate instruction to meet the many diverse needs in the classroom.  Not to mention our high schools competitive athletic programs.  Our small mountain towns offer fresh, clean air and unforgettable sunrises and sunsets.  Living in Oakhurst, Coarsegold, Ahwahnee, Bass Lake, Fish Camp, Raymond, or any other of our communities there are many outdoor activities to take part in.  You can go hiking, camping, backpacking, fishing, swimming at the lake or a local river, water skiing, wake boarding, jet skiing, snowboarding, snow skiing, or many of the other activities; all this just a short drive away.  These are just a few of the many benefits the small communities of Eastern Madera County have to offer.  Eastern Madera County is a great place to raise a family.

The Beauty that Surrounds us

Yosemite National Park is one of the most beautiful places on Earth.  We are so fortunate to have it in our own backyards.  Any day of the year we can visit the valley and enjoy many of the wonderful activities it has to offer.  Just a short drive from Oakhurst, Bass Lake, Coarsegold, Mariposa, Fresno, Merced, or anywhere in the Central, San Joaquin Valley and you can be surrounded by some of the most amazing scenery you will ever experience.  While in the valley you can enjoy hiking, biking, fishing, horseback riding, rock climbing, swimming in or floating down the Merced River, backpacking, bird watching, camping and much more.  Take a day, get out of the heat, and enjoy what we are so fortunate to have in our backyard. 

Have you forgotten about our local Oakhurst Library?  Our library, tucked behind the fire station on Civic Circle Dr., is often forgotten about and overlooked.  However, you may want to stop by and visit Madera’s Oakhurst Branch Library and see what summer fun they are offering for everyone.  Every Thursday at 10:30 kids can enjoy preschool story time.  In addition to story time, there have been magicians, music, storytelling, and other organized activities.  The library is offering summer reading programs and craft classes for children grades K-8.  The library is not only for the children; adults can enjoy poetry presentations, lectures, art exhibits, concerts, and the relaxing sounds of their grand piano.  The library is a place for all to enjoy.  Stop in and check it out.

Sierra Vista Scenic Byway We wake up every day to breathtaking views of the Sierras.  But who of us has ever experienced the hidden beauty that lies in the mountains we see every day?  The Sierra Vista Scenic Byway is just over 65 miles and takes you to nine stops of breathtaking scenery.  These stops include: Redinger Overlook, Jesse Ross Cabin, Mile High Vista, Arch Rock, Jackass Meadow, The Balls/Portuguese Overlook, Globe Rock, Cold Springs Summit, and Fresno Dome, my personal favorite.  This scenic byway takes you through beautiful countryside where you can enjoy hiking, camping, fishing, swimming, bird watching and so much more.  On your way you will pass through North Fork, the exact center of California.  Take a day and truly enjoy what is around us hiding in our picturesque mountains.  A great reference sight for more information is http://www.byways.org/explore/byways/2300/itinerary/58139.   

COLLIN RAYE is COMING to TOWNChukchansi Gold Casino in Coarsegold, California is hosting Collin Raye August 1^st.  Collin Raye has earned five Platinum Albums, he has had fifteen #1 hits and twenty-four top 10’s.  He has an amazing voice that captivates audiences of all ages.  It is not everyday a talented musician comes to Madera County.  I would encourage all those living in the mountain areas of Coarsegold, Oakhurst, Ahwahnee, Bass Lake, Raymond, North Fork and those in Fresno, Clovis and neighboring cities to take a night to enjoy the music performed by Collin Raye.  Ticket prices range from 20 to 30 dollars and can be purchased at the Gallery Boutique or at ticketmaster.com.  You will receive a $5 discount when showing your Rewards Card at the Gallery Boutique.  To find out more about Collin Raye log on to http://www.collinraye.com/ .  In addition to attending an amazing show, you will have a chance to win $500 for more information on how to win “Post Show Dough” log onto http://www.chukchansigold.com/entertainment/index.html .  

Surviving the Heat Wave

With record breaking temperatures, what can we do to keep cool?  We are so lucky to live in the mountain community; there are many places to go and activities to do to avoid the heat.  Cooling centers are opened to the public at the Coarsegold Community Center, Oakhurst Sierra Senior Center, in North Fork and Mariposa.  If you are looking for some fun, indoor activities try visiting Chukchansi Gold Resort and Casino for food, fun, and entertainment, going the Met Cinema to watch a movie, or visiting the local Oakhurst branch library.  If you have children, the Children’s Museum is a great place to take the kids as well as Have a Ball which is an indoor sports arena for kids of all ages.  If you are looking for an outdoor activity to keep you cool, consider driving to Yosemite Valley or Mariposa Groves for a hike, cooling off with a swim at Bass Lake or renting a boat or jet ski to enjoy, or you could visit the pool at Yosemite High School’s Baker Swim Complex.  There are many ways to stay cool in our mountain community.  Use your imagination and let me know what other ideas you can come up with.