Last month we at Go Platinum Lending were handing out free pumpkins to past and future clients in a celebration of our anniversary. This month we’re teaming up with Montecino & Associates in an effort to help the Marine Corps Reserve collect “Toys for Tots”. Toys for Tots has been around for 61 years and all the toys and money that we collect here in Eastern Madera County will be given back to the children in Eastern Madera County. We understand that many people are struggling financially this year – but if you are able to spare a few dollars for a new toy, think about the difference you can make for a child when they too have a present to open on Christmas day.

Christmas should be a happy family time – and by no means should it be measured in materialistic wealth. But Christmas should also be the time for joy and smiles. The way “Toys for Tots” works is that the Marine Corps Reserve will distribute the toys to the parents of the needing children. By donating a toy, you will make Christmas a joy for a child or two and also support our Marine Corps reserves.

The new and unwrapped toys can be dropped off in our Coarsegold office at

35285 Highway 41 # C. The gifts can range from $1 to $20 – the children receiving them are all ages from newborn to teens.

The last day for donations is December 12th so don’t wait.

We thank you for your support.

The community of Eastern Madera County is mourning the loss of one of their children. Last week sixteen year old Danny Zabicki lost his battle with cancer. Danny was a sweet and talented young man that was an inspiration to all that knew him. His parents, well known and respected, own one of Oakhurst’s best places to eat, The Crab Cake’s Restaurant.

There will be a fundraiser on Monday, October 27, 2008, from 12:00am to 7:00pm. for the Zabicki family. The event will be held at the Crab Cake’s Restaurant Patio. This will be a great opportunity to honor and remember a fine young man that was taken from us so soon in life.

Our prayers and thoughts go out to this fine family.

For information call Heather 559 676-5056 or Linda 559 683-6993.

This past weekend, while checking out real estate in Eastern Madera County, I decided to take a short drive to Mariposa where they were holding the 2^nd annual Blazing Hogs BBQ competition.  My good friend, Dennis Fairbanks, a Realtor for the Fairbanks Real Estate Group at Montecino and Associates Real Estate, was competing in the contest with his famous ribs and chicken.  Being a retired CHP officer, Dennis joined up with retired officer Dave Huskey and active officer Jim Mann. They call themselves “3 Guns a Smokin”. 

I arrived just in time to see the three chippies running franticly to meet the meat turn in time. With their fancy water smokers and kill to die for rub and sauce, they captured prizes in all categories.

It appears the 2^nd annual Blazing Hogs BBQ was a huge success with proceeds going to help Mariposa’s only hospital, John C Fremont. With record breaking attendance, outstanding entertainment and great weather I am sure next year will be bigger and better.

Next time you drive through the town of Coarsegold drop in the local real estate office and ask Dennis when and where they will be BBQing again, you’ll be glad you did.

RUN FOR THE GOLDCAR SHOW IF YOU LIKE CLASSIC CARS, YOU’LL ENJOY THIS ONE.THE OAKHURST SIERRA SUNRISE ROTARY WILL BE HOSTING THE ANNUAL CAR SHOW THIS COMING WEEKEND, AS FOLLOWS: FRIDAY NIGHTLOCATION: OAKHURST LODGE (HWY 41 AND 426)INCLUDES: A WONDERFUL DINNER OF                                    TRI TIP, HOMEMADE CHILI BEANS, RICE                                     RICE PILAF, SALAD AND GARLIC BREADCOST FOR DINNER: $12.00 PER PERSONTIME: BEGINS AT 5:30 P.M.THE LODGE WILL HAVE A FULL ARRAY OF CLASSIC CARS FOR YOUR VIEWING PLEASURE SO COME ON OUT AND ENJOY THE CARS AND A GREAT MEAL. SATURDAY 8:00 UNTIL 2:00 P.M.THE CARS, APPROXIMATLEY 150, WILL MOVE OVER TO THE OAKHURST COMMUNITY PARK.THERE WILL BE SEVERAL MEAL VENUES FOR YOUR APPETITES WHILE YOU ENJOY THE CAR SHOW. WE LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING YOU THERE.

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!

MUDD Volleyball- Dare you to get dirty. 

Every year in August local fire departments, radio stations, and other organizations put on a MUDD Volleyball tournament.  This fundraiser is guaranteed to be the most fun event you will participate in.  You will laugh harder than you ever had and of course, you will get dirtier than you could ever dream.  It is held in Fresno off of Shaw and 99 near the Island water park.  All proceeds go to the March of Dimes foundation that is dedicated to finding a cause of pre-mature babies.  Put on an old pair of shoes, some old clothes and join us for a day of fun.  This year it will be held on August 23.  For more information contact the Fresno City Fire Department or log on to http://www.eteamz.com/FresnoMuddVolleyball/ . 

Hope to see you there!!!!

If you weren’t able to support earlier “Mat for Mayor” fundraising efforts, such as this past Wednesday’s midnight viewing of “Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull,” you will still be able to lend Mat your support. Mat Sands is running a great campaign and you can be a part of it.

We hear about how politicians hold these fundraising dinners with the per plate cost being hundreds, thousands or even hundreds of thousands of dollars. This is your chance to throw your money around and attend a “political” fundraising dinner. Come out on Sunday May 25, starting at 7pm, for “Spaghetti with Eddie”. When you attend this dinner, to be held at The Oak Room Bar in Oakhurst, you will be treated to homemade meatballs, garlic bread, Caesar salad, and of course spaghetti.

This charity dinner will benefit the “Mat for Mayor” campaign for the Harry H. Baker Boys and Girls club. The cost-$7 per plate-is a bargain because you’ll get to eat well with your neighbors and help support a worthy cause.

Call 559-760-4077 to get more information.

This has to be one of the most entertaining mayoral fundraisers yet.

Come out on Wednesday, May 21 at midnight (yes, that’s right midnight) for a premier of the new movie “Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull” at Met Cinemas in Oakhurst. If you really want to get your Indiana Jones fix, you can come a couple hours before the midnight showing to see “Raiders of the Lost Ark” as well. Doors open at 8pm and the first movie starts at 9pm and there will be an hour intermission between the two movies. The cost for both movies is $15, with $7 of that money going towards the “Mat for Mayor” campaign. While Mat is “running” for mayor, Indy will be running from the bad guys in Peru when the Cold War is at its height.

The fourth part of the Indiana Jones franchise stars (of course) Harrison Ford, Cate Blanchett and Shia LeBeouf. Harrison began portraying adventurer Indiana Jones in the 1980s. The first Indy movie was “Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark”. This was followed by “Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom” and “Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade”, which also starred Sean Connery.

The place to be on May 17, 2008, is Wasuma Elementary School where you can celerbrate life and join the fight against cancer. Each year the American Cancer Society, with the help of many local  volunteers put on the event national known as Relay For Life^®. It’s a time and place where people come to celebrate those who have survived cancer, remember those we’ve lost, and fight back against a disease that touches all our lives.

Join this year and be a part of the celebration and fight for life.

Your involvement will help the American Cancer Society work towards a mission of eliminating cancer and will support much needed services in our community. If you want to be a part of the fight against cancer or your interested in learning more or receiving an invitation, please email Rebecca Morris at rebecca.morris@oakhurstmed.net

The Friends of the Oakhurst Public Library are sponsoring a Book Sale that will take place this weekend, April 19 and 20. Proceeds will benefit the library expansion project.

Our public library system is an amazing gift that our forebears gave us. In the early days of our country there was debate over whether or not to have this system. At that time, some people in Europe and America belonged to libraries by subscription, meaning they had to pay for the privilege of borrowing books.

If you are a bibliophile, you will not want to miss this sale. It is a great opportunity to pick up some books for your own collection and to help out the Oakhurst library. You’ll get books and the library gets the resources it needs to continue as a source of learning and recreation for the community. Some of the books that will be available for purchase are actually out of print, so this is a chance to get books that will be hard to find elsewhere. There will be classic literature, children’s books, travel books and arts and crafts books among the items for sale. Call 658-5639 or 683-3562 for more details.

Oakhurst Public Library
Civic Circle
Oakhurst, CA 93644