Do you sit at home watching cooking shows and salivating over the food you see being prepared? Do you know even know how to boil water?  Or are you cooking skills just average, so that you are ready to kick it up a notch?

No matter what your skill level, you can learn how to cook like a pro at the three day Spring cook classes being held at Erna’s Elderberry House Restaurant. These classes don’t require advanced knowledge, or even basic knowledge. All they ask is that you wear shoes you’ll want to stand in for a while and that you come ready to have a good time.

There is a session this week (March 5-7) and another next week (March 12-14). Class is in session from 8:30am-4:00pm each day.

Participants will get a recipe book, hands-on training, learn about how to combine food and wine, plus a lunch and a six course dinner each day.

To learn more contact Christina Overbraugh at 559-683-6800.

Erna’s Elderberry House Restaurant in the kitchen
48688 Victoria Lane
Oakhurst, CA 93644

The word canteen can be traced to French, Italian, and ultimately, Latin and Greek. It may have started as the Greek word kanthos, meaning corner of the eye. Somehow this word is thought to be related to the Latin canthus/cantus, which means iron tire. This lead to canto (corner) and cantina (wine cellar) in Italian. That getting closer to the canteen we know. In the French, cantine can refer to a bottle case.

Where could the iron tire have come from? Maybe for the iron rings that adorn wine barrels.

Flash forward to 18th century English where a canteen could have been a chest for carrying bottles or cooking utensils, a flask for carrying something to drink, a mess kit, and finally a bar or general store at a military post. These are the sort of canteens we are used to hearing about.

The Happy Burger in Mariposa sponsors a canteen that kind of combines several of these definitions. Canteen Coffee Time takes place Mondays from 6:00 am to 10:00 am. This free gathering is for veterans and their spouses. So there are beverages and it is a place for military people to gather, kind of like they would have at a bar or general store on a military base.

Judy and Phil Alexander invite you to join them at their family run Bed and Breakfast.   Luxury and serenity, what more can you ask for?  You will enjoy beautiful unobstructed views of the 4,000 foot mountains that are surrounding the Oakhurst basin.  Come and enjoy the mountain sunsets and starlit evenings.  Wildlife abounds.  Visitors will enjoy watching the birds soaring and the deer meandering.

There are three spacious yet cozy rooms, all with private entrances and private baths.  Each antique accented room in nicely decorated and has a queen size bed.  Each room is based on double occupancy.  All rooms are equipped with a refrigerator, coffee pot, microwave, LCD TV and wireless internet access.  Patrons will also enjoy a lovely continental breakfast.  Snacks, hot and cold cereal, fresh fruit, and cheese and rolls are provided for your enjoyment.

The most luxurious room available is Room 1.  Here you will love the views from the three five foot windows.  An absolute treat is their spa which has complete privacy and is located just outside of the room.  Enjoy sipping wine and staring at the stars while having a good soak.  Very romantic and very relaxing!

Room 2 has an expansive private deck.  Patrons will enjoy the views of mountain vistas and the Oakhurst city lights.  This room has a shower/tub combination with lovely decor.

Room 3 has a beautiful three tiered rock waterfall in a private arbor that is covered in Wisteria.   Expect to fall sound asleep to the wonderful sounds of the babbling waterfall located just outside.  This spacious room has a shower stall and many mirrors to reflect the outdoors.

All of the rooms are very affordable.  Prices range from $110 to $145 when you book a two night stay.  Reservations are required in advance.  If you are interested in visiting the Vulture’s View Bed and Breakfast, call (559) 683-8470 or visit www.vulturesview.com .

Welcome to Eastern Madera County News! This Community Blog was created in order to give the Eastern Madera County Community a free, interactive and comprehensive communication site that serves as a one-stop source for Community news and information. This Community blog offers constantly updated, pertinent news provided by Community bloggers represented by local organizations active in our community including civic organizations, schools, charities, general business, and many more. Best of all, anyone can join in on the conversation! Our Community Calendar provides information on upcoming events and activities important to our community. Comments are welcome, so let us know what you think! If you would like to join as a contributor to this site please contact Brandon Fairbanks at (559) 683-3595.

Oakhurst has a tea room once again.  Time for Tea has just opened and area residents could not be happier.  Owner Laurie Flanagan has put her brilliant skills to work again and has returned to the tea room trade, much to the delight of her fans in the area.

This tea room has a special flare.    It is a cute (but not to cute), girlie kind of establishment that will make you want to come back again and again.  Patrons will enjoy beautiful dishes with the characters from Alice in Wonderland.  Your taste buds will be satisfied with the delectable and savory treats that are served.

There are several rooms available to make your time special.  There is a Victorian Room with tables by the fireside.  The “Fairy” room and the “Alice” room are sure to delight your own little princess.

You will find the Time for Tea at Crain Valley Road (426) and Highway 41.  Look for the teapot silhouette over the door.  The tea room is open on Monday’s from noon until 3:00 p.m. and Tuesday – Saturday from 11:00 a.m. through 4:00 p.m. Reservations are encouraged by calling (559) 683-4535.

Whether you are looking for a quaint place to stop and relax or a fun adventure to experience with your little girl, you are sure to enjoy this wonderful establishment!

The Cat’s Meow in Oakhurst, CA is your headquarters for paper, crafts, and all things connected to rubber stamping. Whether you’re new to stamping and other crafts or you’ve been an enthusiast for years, they have what you need. Stop by to see their selection of inks, pens watercolor pencils, pens, embossing powders and paints.

You can also find any and everything to fill up your scrapbook there as well: high- quality paper, scrapbooks, extra pages, basic tools, charms and many types of embellishments.

If you’re looking for ideas, they have samples, magazines and books to inspire you and of course the staff is very knowledgeable.

They not only provide you with the tools to complete craft projects, they can teach you how to complete them as well.

On Saturday, December 8 from 9:30-10:30 you can participate in a class that will feature the Stamp of the Month. This being December at The Cat’s Meow, this month’s stamp is Snowball the Cat. When you buy the stamp you can attend the class at no charge.

Then on Saturday, December 15, they will offer a free Procrastinator’s Workshop. You know you’ve got some half-finished projects at home, so come on out. Nothing solves the problem of unfinished craft projects like some help and a little friendly peer pressure. If you want to get those handmade Christmas gifts ready for this Christmas, you are going to need a little help.

Go to http://www.catsmeowstamps.com/ for more information and to see a schedule of upcoming classes.

If you missed your opportunity last weekend, you have yet another chance to enjoy some great fun in Madera County.  Come celebrate Christmas in the Mountains on its final weekend!

Local crafters, shop keepers and artisans welcome you to join their Christmas celebrations.  The festivities began last weekend and will continue December 7th through December 9th.

Patrons will enjoy experiencing the simplicity of Christmas past in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada Mountains.  There is something planned for everyone in the family in the communities of North Fork, Oakhurst and Coarsegold.

Come and enjoy the fresh mountain air with local artisans, candy makers, storytellers, and music makers.  You will also encounter roving carolers throughout your travels.  Whether you visit for one day or the entire weekend, your family is sure to have a wonderful time!

Motorists will be greeted by paintings of woodland critters. Your children will be able to enjoy Breakfast with Santa, photos with Father Christmas and Santa, and storytelling hours.  There will be a shuttle service available to Yosemite National Park as well. 

Visitors will be able to purchase their “passport” (a holiday bracelet) for $5.00 which will open the doors to special gifts from restaurants, shops and hotels during their visit.  These bracelets will be available at stores displaying a pine cone decal in their window.

The Vision Academy of the Arts is sponsoring this event.  They are a non-profit organization.  Their main purpose is to promote art in the mountain area.

If you are interested in attending any or all of the fun events scheduled, visit (http://www.visionacademy.org/CITMschedule.htm) for more information.

When we think of giving at Christmas time, we often think of material goods, rather than services. Professionals who give of their time and talents offer the type of gifts that cannot be wrapped, but are just as meaningful as presents tied up with bows.

For 14 years, Dr. Dennis Jones has provided free dental care for people in the area who lack dental insurance. His partners this tooth-saving venture, Dr. Peter Jones and Dr. Walter Randall, haven’t been at it quite as long, but they are more than willing to help. Since dentists can’t work alone, the rest of their office staff to make this happen.

This year’s free dental day will be Friday, December 7. It starts at 8 am and lasts until noon. People start to get in line an hour before the dental clinic starts and patients are seen on a first come, first served basis. Some years they have had as many as 80 patients.

If you feel as though your teeth are in good order, you can help by donating canned food. It will go to Manna House to help round out someone’s holiday meal.

The dentists’ office is at 48677 Victoria Lane at the Community Medical Center, behind Urgent Care. If you would like to know more about free dental day, contact the office at 559-683-4544.

Black Friday is the day after Thanksgiving and officially starts the Christmas holiday shopping season in the United States.  Black Friday can fall on any date from November 23rd through November 29th,since Thanksgiving is always the fourth Thursday in November.

Most retailers will start decorating their stores weeks before Black Friday in an effort to entice early shoppers into their stores.  Most retailers will advertise their super low prices for Black Friday on Thanksgiving Day.  Stores typically will open very early on the Friday following Thanksgiving.  It is not uncommon for lines to begin forming the night before.  Patrons will put up with the most commonly cold weather to be the first to receive the super bargains promised to them for their efforts.  Once inside the stores, customers will fight and grab for the treasured low priced items they are seeking. Electronics and popular toys are often the most sought after items and may be sharply discounted.  Unfortunately, many stores nationwide will advertise these items, but only carry a few for their customers to purchase.

The term Black Friday has only been traced back to the 1970’s.  In current day, the term “Black Friday” is considered to refer to the time in which retailers are turning a profit (“in the black”).  It was previously regarded “Black Friday” because of the heavy traffic on that particular day.  Target stores nationwide have decided to call the Friday after Thanksgiving, “Green Friday”, because of all of the “green” they will be making.

Most media outlets refer to Black Friday as the busiest shopping day of the year.  Some years, this is a true statement.  At times though, the Saturday before Christmas has proven to be the busiest shopping day of the year.

So if you feel brave; dress warm, grab your coffee or hot chocolate and hit the streets to find some great bargains!

Forming and leading a championship power agent team can be quite a challenge, but it is well within the realm of most ambitious and talented agents. With the right information and some hard work and determination, you can build a team that will more than pay for itself by generating substantial revenue and freeing you up to pursue other opportunities—both personal and professional.

In this session, John Featherston, President & CEO of RISMedia, teams up with Agent Team Coach Ralph R. Roberts and a panel of the top Power Team Leaders from across
North America to reveal what it takes to build and manage a highly successful power agent team.Topics they will address include the following:

• - Structuring your team, from simple agent-assistant teams to more robust teams consisting of listing agents, buyer’s agents, closing coordinators, and more
• - Identifying your needs
• - Recruiting the right talent
• - Transitioning from independent agent to Power Agent Team Leader
• - Mastering the art of delegating
• - Supplying your team with the tools and technologies to succeed
• - Training new team members
• - Keeping the team on track with weekly meetings
• - Compensating your team to ensure maximum productivity
• - Avoiding and resolving conflicts among team members
• - Marketing your team to build a strong brand presence
• - Identifying new opportunities and adding new teams
• - Overcoming the top challenges to operating a successful agent team

This session will also touch on advanced topics of how to promote and expand your agent team:

• - Generating ever-increasing leads through R-Commerce
• - Streamlining operations with the latest technology
• - Building trust through communities with social media and blogging
• - Expanding your talent pool and scaling your business with virtual assistants
  
  

Moderator & Panelists:

Moderator: John Featherston, President and CEO, RISMedia
Agent Team Coach: Ralph R. Roberts

Panelists:

Brandon Fairbanks, Broker/Owner, Montecino & Associates Real Estate
Domenic Manchisi, Team Leader, Prudential Towne Centre Realty
Chip Neumann, Partner, Neumann Real Estate
Wayne Turner, Broker/Owner, Wayne Turner Real Estate Company
Michelle Turner, Second in Command, Wayne Turner Real Estate Company