Mariposa Gazette

‘Under Our Skin’ returns

Fri, 03 Feb 2012 22:51:49 +0000

Mountain Crisis Services, Inc. is holding its eighth annual Valentine's Day benefit show on Feb. 10 and 11 at 8 p.m., indoors at the Mariposa County Park Amphitheater.

Workshop focuses on climate change

Fri, 03 Feb 2012 22:51:49 +0000

On Wednesday, Feb. 22, the community can learn about climate change and the challenges it presents to invasive pest management. Participants will learn how climate change will have impacts on California agriculture that will result in winners and losers in terms of not only crop success, but also in the pests and weeds that will challenge agriculture.

Park releases Half Dome EA

Fri, 03 Feb 2012 22:51:49 +0000

Yosemite National Park has announced the availability of the Half Dome Trail Stewardship Plan Environmental Assessment for public review. Public comments on the plan will be accepted from Thursday, March 15.

NPS inks rehab pact

Fri, 03 Feb 2012 22:51:49 +0000

Yosemite National Park has announced the signing of The Ahwahnee Comprehensive Rehabilitation Plan Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI). The FONSI records the decision of the National Park Service to adopt a long-term plan for the rehabilitation of The Ahwahnee (described as Alternative 3 in environmental assessment released for public review in July 2011).

JJC gets new members

Fri, 03 Feb 2012 22:51:50 +0000

Butterfly Festival begins its planning

Fri, 03 Feb 2012 22:51:51 +0000

The Mariposa Butterfly Festival is seeking volunteers for the upcoming three-day event that takes place during the first weekend in May. The Festival brings thousands into the community to celebrate the beauty, fantasy, and spirit of the county and town’s namesake “Mariposa” (which means “Butterfly” in Spanish).

Bike events will benefit Habitat

Fri, 03 Feb 2012 22:51:53 +0000

The second-annual Tour de Habitat event happens Feb. 5 and 11.

Last year, the event was the largest fundraiser ever for Habitat for Humanity of Mariposa County. The organizers, Charlotte and Earl Heitzmann and Tom Medema, hope to surpass the $10,000 that the event brought in last year.

Blake Alston returns to Storytelling Festival

Fri, 03 Feb 2012 22:51:53 +0000

On the second weekend of March, audiences at the Mariposa County Arts Council’s, 25th Mariposa Storytelling Festival, will welcome back master storyteller, narrator and singer Charlotte

Tomato Fest seeks growers for next fall

Fri, 03 Feb 2012 22:51:53 +0000

The Mariposa Tomato Fest will be held Sept. 29 and 30. At last year’s event, there were 25 varieties of Mariposa-grown heirloom tomatoes displayed for tastings.

Organizers are looking for heirloom tomato and heirloom pumpkin growers.

Lions’ crab feed is Saturday

Fri, 03 Feb 2012 22:51:53 +0000

The annual Mariposa Lions Club Crab Feed will be held Saturday, Feb. 4, at the Mariposa Fairgrounds in Building A. A no-host bar opens at 6 p.m., with dinner served at 6:30 p.m. by members of Mariposa’s FFA. Take-out orders will be available from 5 to 6 p.m. Dinner includes over one pound of crab legs, potato salad, coleslaw, and garlic bread.

Rotary gets ‘axed’

Fri, 03 Feb 2012 22:51:54 +0000

CONTRIBUTED BY T. Foster

“Custom Made Timber Sport Items, reads the card of a man.” That man is Craig Pinkerton, and his passion is hatchets, axes, doublebits, spearheads, chops, and any number of hacks.

Book fair set at JCF

Fri, 03 Feb 2012 22:51:54 +0000

The John C. Fremont Hospital Employees Association has announced that the Books-R-Fun vendor will again be on hand on Tuesday, Feb. 7 from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., in the board room at John C. Fremont Hospital.

The book and gift fair is open to the public.

Soroptimist backs Manna House effort

Fri, 03 Feb 2012 22:51:54 +0000

Manna House, a nonprofit organization that provides emergency food to all in need, is the most recent recipient of a donation from Soroptimist International of Mariposa. Soroptimist is an international volunteer organization for business and professional women who work to improve the lives of women and girls in local communities and throughout the world.

Community conference set

Fri, 03 Feb 2012 22:51:54 +0000

On Saturday, March 17 the community at large is invited to an all-day conference at the Mariposa County Fairgrounds entitled “Ever Better Community.” Organized by a group of local residents, the aim of the meeting is to explore all the ways in which local efforts can and do strengthen the community.

Vandals damage graves at Mariposa Cemetery

Fri, 03 Feb 2012 22:51:56 +0000

By Jill Ballinger GAZETTE EDITOR

Vandals did some serious damage at the Mariposa Cemetery recently, and more damage has been found this week. Last week, sheriff’s deputies investigated the initial report that included the damage of three rock and marble tombstones.

Steel speaks at Lincoln Dinner

Fri, 03 Feb 2012 22:51:56 +0000

The Mariposa County Republican Central Committee’s annual Lincoln Day dinner will be held on Saturday, Feb. 11, 5:30 p.m. at the Mariposa Fairgrounds. The featured speaker is Shawn Steel. He currently represents California at the National Republican Party.

Off-Broadway play sets horror in “Yosemite”

Fri, 03 Feb 2012 22:51:56 +0000

By Erik Skindrud GAZETTE REPORTER

A pair of New York critics are not giving “Yosemite” their thumbs-up—at least not the dramatic version now playing at a small theater in the city.

“Aimless” is the word the New York Post uses to describe the play, which features a boy digging a grave in the Sierra foothills. Two younger children, apparently broken by poverty, watch the spectacle unfold.

‘Dabbles’ will offer food, mix of services

Fri, 03 Feb 2012 22:51:57 +0000

By Erik Skindrud GAZETTE REPORTER

Dan and Rachael Ostler wanted a change from San Jose, but first they needed to decide where to move.

The couple met at Yosemite’s Curry Village in 2009. They knew they wanted to be near the Park—but where, exactly?

“Oakhurst, felt like a big truck stop,” Dan said last week.

Chamber presents honors

Fri, 03 Feb 2012 22:52:00 +0000

The Mariposa County Chamber of Commerce honored its business, business man and business woman of the year, along with volunteers of the year at the annual installation dinner last Friday night.

Audubon program will focus on future of National Parks

Fri, 03 Feb 2012 22:52:00 +0000

CONTRIBUTED BY Len McKenzie

Writer Wallace Stegner called national parks “...the best idea we ever had.” A uniquely American contribution to world culture, the national park concept began to emerge in the late 19th century with the creation of Yellowstone, Sequoia and Yosemite National Parks. The U. S.

Foundation schedules fundraiser

Fri, 03 Feb 2012 22:52:01 +0000

John C. Fremont Hospital Foundation and Savoury’s is presenting a “Wine and Chocolate at Savoury’s Restaurant” fundraising get together.

Those attending can enjoy good company, wine, appetizers and chocolate. The date is Feb. 8, 5:30 to 8:30 p.m.