In continuation from Wednesday’s post.

The cost for a senior is $18, an adult is $22, children 5+ are $11.50 and children under 5 are free.  There are also group and family rates available.  This tour leaves from Shuttle Stop #8 several times per day, from the Yosemite Lodge at the Falls.  You will see the Half Dome, El Capitan, Yosemite Falls, Tunnel View and Bridalveil Falls to name a few.  Plan on spending two hours onboard the bus.

The Yosemite Theater features resident actors Lee and Connie Stetson along with other renowned performers.  You are sure to appreciate their wonderful performances as they entertain with live evening shows.  The theater offers unique experiences about Yosemite’s history.

Tickets can be found at any Tour and Activity Desk and the show dates are subject to change.  For more information call (209) 372-4FUN.

Come and experience the pleasure of the wonderfully packed powder snow that can only be found in the western part of the United States.  Badger Pass is the oldest operating ski area in California.  Take the plunge down the 8,000 foot summit.  Brush up or learn to ski at one of California’s best ski schools, the Yosemite Ski School.  If downhill skiing is not your thing, try your best at cross country skiing.  Yosemite has 350 miles of trails and road for you to enjoy.

Check back on Monday for the conclusion to this post.

So why would anyone go to Yosemite in the winter?   Isn’t it too cold?  The best answer would be because it’s fun!  It is a beautiful destination all year round.  Visitors will be able to enjoy incredible off season rates because there are fewer people visiting the area.  The winter weather is very pleasant and very mild by comparison to other areas of the country.  One of the fun things that you will encounter is the spectacular wildlife.  The trees are bare so you can see so much more.  Deer, raccoons, coyotes and sometimes the occasional bear…oh my!

Many activities are offered for locals and visitors alike at Yosemite in the winter.  Here are some of the fun winter happenings that you might enjoy.

The Yosemite Valley Floor Tour is offered year round.  Keep warm and snug while traveling through Yosemite in an enclosed and heated motor coach.  You will enjoy the large windows that will allow you to experience the incredible views that can only be found at Yosemite.  Visit the famous sites on this two hour tour.  Rangers will gladly share their knowledge of the history, animal life, geology and plants in the region.  Your camera is sure to capture breathtaking views of this naturally beautiful area.

Check back on Friday for Part II of this post.

Sometimes when we are searching for something we forget to look in the most obvious places. Maybe you or someone you know has been looking for work, combing websites like Monster or CareerBuilder hoping to find that perfect job. Or you’ve signed on to get e-mail updates and everyday look in your inbox hoping that today will be the day that you find the message you’ve been waiting to see.

If this is you, don’t forget to look in your own backyard. The job you’re looking for could be posted on a flyer at your local supermarket or grocery store. It could be listed in the “Help Wanted” section of the local newspaper.

Another place you can look is the Human Resource section of the Madera County website. They have plenty of great jobs. The work you’re looking for could be working to help make life better right here in Madera County. There are open and continuous recruitments for a variety of jobs such as: Fire Equipment Manager, Pre-licensed Mental Health Clinician, Associate Civil Engineer, Correctional Officers, Special Districts Road Manager, Agricultural and Standards Inspectors, Office Assistant, and Registered Dietician.

Go to the website to check out some of the great opportunities that Madera County has to offer.

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.

You may have heard that there is thing little thing called an election coming up this year…OK, of course you’ve heard about it. But did you know that you must register to vote by January 22?

California will have its very first February presidential election this year on February 5. Like all primaries, this one is important because it has national and local consequences. We’ll leave the talk of the national consequences to the news outlets, but this is a good time to remind you of how your vote will make a difference right in your own backyard.

February 5 will also be a time when Oakhurst residents can cast their votes in favor of or in opposition to incorporation (Measure C). This post I wrote last year put a bug in your ear about the issue. Iit is time to consider the matter again because now you will be casting deciding votes on the matter.

Visit this website for a list of addresses in the proposed area of incorporation. You can only vote on this issue if you live in the proposed town boundaries.

January 22 is also the final day to turn in paperwork if you wish to be an official write-in candidate for the Oakhurst Town Council.

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!

The Squirrel Cage Theatre Company will be presenting their second consecutive weekend performance of their annual fall dinner show on Friday, November 16th and Saturday November 17th.  The play presentation is called “Shakeup at Sugar Pine.”  Audience participation is encouraged by hissing and yelling at the characters.  The first weekend’s showing was a great success.

The doors open at 5:30 p.m. and the show begins at 7:00 pm. Tickets for this event will be $25 for a family (immediate family only) $10 for adults, $5 for children under 12.  Reservations may be made in advance for tables only.  Individual tickets are available on site the evening of the performances.

The main food dish served on Friday will be lasagna.  The main food dish on Saturday will be stew.  Dinner is included in the ticket price.  Desserts will be an additional cost to guests. 

There will be a sealed bid auction at intermission each night.  Interested parties will bid for a portrait of the Smiley Mountain Band, which is the featured group at this year’s Frank Logar Memorial Gathering of Musicians.  The portrait was completed by North Fork artist, Joan Constable and is completed on torn paper.  The auction will benefit the 2008 music scholarship.  Sealed bids will be accepted at all showings of the play.  The winner will be announced on November 17, 2007.  Winners need not be in attendance to receive their prize.

Joan LeGro Bushnell is the author of the play. She has lived for more than 40 years in Eastern Madera County. She has resided in Teaford, Bass Lake and North Fork.

If you are interested in more information on this enjoyable show, contact:  (559) 877-2129.
 

Here are just a few ways you can help the people at the Madera County Food Bank help those in our community.  Consider creating or adding to:

Thanksgiving Food Boxes…Food boxes are provided to families with special needs during the Holiday season.  Thanksgiving food boxes are distributed to our programs for seniors, Compassion in Action, and at the Food Bank.  Families of 6 will enjoy a wonderful meal provided by the Food Bank.

Christmas Boxes…A family of 6 will enjoy a full holiday dinner.  These dinners are distributed to families and individuals who need assistance during the holiday season.  Boxes are distributed through the Food Bank and other local agencies.  To make certain that all families in need receive assistance, many agencies work together to combine community resources.

The Emergency Food Pantry serves a vital roll for families in need.  This program is geared toward families and individuals who are experiencing a short term crisis.   Clients are interviewed to determine if food will be issued to them.  Pantries keep records and make individual food boxes available.  They also decide when food will be issued.

The Food Bank raises money to purchase food, conducts food drives in the community, and solicits food from the food industry.  They also provide support to 95 emergency food pantries in Madera County.

Ways that you can help out…You could provide an individual monthly contribution to help our local families in need.  Donations are also accepted by groups such as places of worship, businesses, schools and civic organizations.  Organized food drives are also welcome.  Madera County Food Pantry will even provide materials to help you be successful.  Volunteers are always needed Monday thru Friday from 9a.m. until 2:00 p.m.  Another option would be to allocate your United Way donation to the Madera County Food Bank.

If you are interested in donating your time or resources, please contact:  The Madera County Food Bank is located at 904 South D Street, Madera, California 93638.  (559) 674-1482 or visit their website at:  http://www.maderafoodbank.org/

As the holiday season is approaching, so many people begin to collect food for those in need. At the Madera County Food Bank, you will find a wonderful place in need of your donations. “It is the purpose of the Madera County Food Bank to provide and distribute supplementary/emergency food to our community’s low-income individual, families, and Senior Citizens, in a manner that promotes health, self-sufficiency and preserves recipients’ dignity.” http://www.maderafoodbank.org/ This facility offers so much for our community, when and where, it is needed most.

The “Compassion in Action” clients are referred to the food bank by hospitals, service providers, and ministers, etc… This program offers on-going nutritional support to families who suffer from a long term crisis such as Cancer and AIDS. Their need for food is met at the Madera County Food Pantry when they cannot be met elsewhere. Compassion in Action families will receive approximately 70 pounds of food two times per month. The items donated to the family are individualized to better aid in the recovery of the client.

Another great program is SNAPP (Senior Nutrition and Produce Program). This is a service providing bags of food for low income seniors. Not only do they provide a service, but also a social outlet for our seniors. Seniors 55 and over will be given fresh fruit and vegetables each week. Seniors who are 60 and over can receive additional food once a month. They offer many sites for seniors to come together and package food for those in need. For more information, call (559) 674-1482.