Time is running out!  Cast your vote by Wednesday, March 19th!  It’s for a good cause!  No, not THAT vote.  Come on down and help support Fresno Flats and the John Wayne Film Festival.

The MET Cinemas will be hosting a fundraising film festival featuring your favorite John Wayne films.  The public is asked to cast their votes from some of his most famous movies of all time.  Ten movies have been selected by Star sports writer Mike Hackworth and reporter Elizabeth Gabriel who are both huge fans of the movie legend.

Fans are asked to pick their top three favorite movies, out of the ten picked, in order of appearance.  The three movies that receive the top votes will be given the prime viewing times at the MET.  Ballots can be dropped off at the Sierra Telephone on Crane Valley Road, the Fresno Flats museum mail slot or at the MET.  They must be dropped off by the close of business on March 19th.

There will only be 200 tickets sold for the April 6th viewing of these movies.  For the $20 ticket price, you will see three movies, chances at prizes for answering trivia questions, raffles, entertainment, and a look-a-like contest.  The Fresno Flats volunteers will serve their famous chili and cornbread and there will be cobbler and ice cream served.

All cowboy film fans are invited to join in the fun.  So come on down for a rootin-tootin good time!  For more information on this fun and worthwhile event, call (559) 658-6001 or (559) 642-2347.

The Harry H. Baker Boys and Girls Club had their 6th Annual Christmas Tree Auction on December 2, 2007.  They are reporting that it was a huge success.  Information will follow soon on their website, as to how much money they raised for their various charities.

If you missed the live auction, you still have a chance to bid on some fantastic items online.  The final day of bidding will be this Friday, December 14th.  Like before, the proceeds will go the The Harry H. Baker Boys and Girls Club.

Bidders are welcome to wage war and try to win a one-of-a-kind original painting that was painted especially for this occasion by artist Joan Brumley.  There are  other items still available for online bidding. Many holiday decorations, a family portrait session, glassware, jewelry, various collectible items, and the book, “Rhett Butler’s People”.

Not only will you find some fun items to put under the Christmas tree, you will be helping this worthwhile organization whose mission is to enhance and promote and the development of boys and girls in the Madera County area.

If you would like to see what see what all the fun is about, visit http://www.supportbgclub.cmarket.com for more information.  Let the bidding continue!

Clearly one of the biggest events of the year in Oakhurst is the Installation Dinner and Dance.  The Chamber of Commerce invites you to join them on Friday, December 7, 2007 at 5:30 p.m..  The festivities will be held at the Pines Resort, Lakeview Room.  Attendees will help welcome into office the new Board of Directors.

The evening will include appetizers, served during the reception with a No Host Bar.  Dinner choices are Prime Rib or Salmon, and will include a salad, wine, and dessert with coffee or tea.

Honoree for the Life Time Achievement Award will be Tommie Underwood.  Winners will also be announced for the “Volunteer of the Year”, “Woman of the Year”, “Man of the Year”, and “Business of the Year”.

After the Installation of Officers, participants will enjoy a night of dancing with Sierra DJ.

Reservations are currently being taken for this event.  The cost is $45 per person, or you may reserve a table for 8 for $360.  You may also sponsor the Installation Dinner for $500.  This price will include a table for 8, an announcement recognizing your contribution with special recognition in the program that is provided to participants.   For an extra $50, you may want to enter the table top decoration contest.  If you are entering the contest, plan on arriving between 3 p.m. and 6 p.m. to decorate your table.  The winner will be announced at the dinner and will receive $100. 

Sponsoring an award recipient’s table is available for an additional $500 donation.  Be sure to notate which recipient you would like to sponsor.  Donations are also being accepted from those who are not able to attend this event.

If you would like to make a reservation or receive more information, call the Oakhurst Chamber of Commerce at (559-683-7766) or visit their website.

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 16, 3:00PMFRESNO FALCONS VS
VICTORIA SALMON KINGSSpecial Appearance by SpongeBob!KidsHoliday Caroling Party on the ice!

The Harry H. Baker Boys and Girls Club will be having their 6th Annual Christmas Tree Auction.  The online auction will be running from November 19th through November 30th.  The live event will take place on December 2, 2007.

A variety of donations are being sought for this event.  They are seeking rare collectibles for the auction.  They would also like to auction off business and personal services.

Some of the items that are available and are listed on the website include, 2 tickets for Great America, 4 tickets to the Falcons Hockey Game, various collectibles including a handmade Santa collectible valued at $200, Nativity sets, items for your home, holiday décor and holiday gift wrap, plus much more.

You may now view some of the amazing trees and wreaths that will be available for live bidding on December 2nd.  Bidding for silent auction items will be available online and will continue into the evening on December 2nd.  Proxy bidding is available to those who are not able to attend the event.  Some online items are available for bidding for up to one week after the event ends. 

The Auction will help the Harry H. Baker Boys and Girls Club and several other local charities.

If you are interested in making a personal donation or attending the live event on December 2, 2007 please call 559-642-0313 or visit their website for more information.

Women don’t need an excuse to love or eat chocolate. But you can celebrate chocolate to your heart’s content at the Chocolate Festival on October 13 and 14.
This chocolate festival is so special that it turns the Yosemite Falls into chocolate. To keep the tradition alive, the site of this year’s yummy annual festival is in Oakhurst, near Yosemite National Park. The festival is billed to be bigger and better than ever. You can indulge your chocolate fantasies and witness other Chocoscientists indulging theirs. You can literally swim in chocolate or enjoy a chocolate tug of war.

Just reading the festival poster is a real treat in itself. It sheds insights into why we love chocolate so much. You will surely recognize yourself in witticisms such as,

“Man cannot live by chocolate alone - but woman can!”
“Life is uncertain - eat dessert first!”

These are better than Forrest Gump’s “life is like a box of chocolates…”

If you hunger for information on how to indulge your chocolate fantasy at the festival of Madera…. Visit festival pdf for delicious chocolate facts and myths.

Here’s to those wild, wonderful wacky women. If you haven’t guessed it already, the event is put on by Wild Wonderful Women & Friends, who sponsors all kinds of events to benefit the community. Visit their website for more on their good works to help young women in the county. Please inquire about festival sponsorships and the Chocolate Festival Queen. Call Beverly Scott at 559-760-7600 for more information.

The 20th annual Smokey Bear Run steps off in scenic Bass Lake, California this Saturday, September 22. Fun for the whole family, the event features a 10K run that is part of the Valley Runner of the Year Series, a 2-mile fun run/walk and 1/2-mile and 1/4-mile kids’ races. The race has been designed for all ages and fitness levels and provisions have been made for wheelchair racers. Proceeds benefit local charities.

Races begin and end at Recreation Point off Road 222 in Bass Lake, California. Racers should check-in at Recreation Point before 7:45 a.m. on Saturday. You can register online or at the event from 6:45 a.m. to 7:45 a.m. Entry fees are as follows:

• Adult: $17 pre-register, $20 race day
• Kids: $7 pre-register, $10 race day

The first races begin promptly at 8 a.m. For a map to the event and race details, visit the race website.

This year proceeds will support the Harry H. Baker Boys and Girl’s Club, Madera County Sheriff’s Search & Rescue, and the Madera County Sheriff’s Explorers Post 104. Come enjoy the great fall weather in beautiful Bass Lake this weekend, get fit and support our community. See you at the race! 

Time to start buffing up the old jalopy; the Oakhurst Run for the Gold Classic Car Show is this weekend. Sponsored by the Oakhurst Sierra Sunrise Rotary Club, proceeds from the annual fundraiser benefit local elementary schools. Here’s what’s in store:

• Friday, September 7. Registration at Oakhurst Lodge followed by a kick-off BBQ from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. BBQ is $12 per person. Check out the hot rods, enjoy the BBQ and rock out to oldies tunes.
• Saturday, September 8. Registration at Oakhurst Community Park starts at 7 a.m.; judging begins at 9 a.m. Visitors can examine a wide variety of sleek classic cars, enjoy live entertainment, sample some great food, and try your chance at the raffles. Make sure you’re on hand for the 2:30 p.m. Best of Show award presentations and cruise to Chukchansi Gold Resort & Casino for the Show of Champions.

For more information, call 559-683-3783 or 559-887-6500 or visit the Run for the Gold website. Proceeds from the Run for the Gold event will provide mini-grants to local elementary schools to pay for materials and supplies not available through normal school funding. During the 2006 Run for the Gold, Sierra Sunrise Rotarians raised over $30,000 for area schools.

Local community leaders will be feted at the 3rd Annual Lifetime Achievement Awards this Thursday, August 23. Hosted by the Madera Chamber of Commerce, this year’s honorees are:

• Bill Alessini of William & Carol, Inc.
• Mary Cruz Chairez of Plaza Flower Shop
• Anna and Lee da Silva of Lee’s Concrete Materials, Inc.
• Jack Perialas of Madera Stationers
• Lyle Sindt of Gateway Travel

The Chamber will also recognize Elmo Del Bianco of Lucca’s Restaurant as its 2007 Memorial Honoree. The annual event will be held in conjunction with the Chamber’s installation dinner scheduled to begin at 6 p.m. August 23 at Holy Spouses Hall located at 3021 North I Street at the corner of 4th and I Streets in Madera, California.

Dinner sponsorships benefit the Chamber’s 2007-08 Memorial Scholarship Fund in honor of Mr. Del Bianco. Additional donations to the scholarship fund may be made by contacting the Madera Chamber of Chamber at 559-673-3563.