Do you have your poker face on?

You're Invited

By Al Joyal

(Updated: Friday, March 28, 2008, 4:22 PM)

North Fork gallery a poker run stop

The North Fork Community Art Gallery has been closed for the winter months, but with the arrival of spring, the hibernation is over. The art gallery and gift shop now has a new Web site, will be a stop along the upcoming poker run during the Southern Yosemite Automotive Film Festival and will celebrate a grand re-opening reception. The art gallery's Web site is www.communityartgallery.com. While at the site, consider signing up for the gallery newsletter.

On Sunday, March 30 at noon, the gallery will be the lunch stop for the poker run. Come on out and view as many as 50 vintage, classic and fun cars participating in the film festival, and don't forget to stop at the art gallery as well.

On Thursday, April 10 from 5 to 7:30 p.m., there will be a grand re-opening of the art gallery, complete with refreshments and a no-host bar, along with some great values in art and gifts. The gallery features many talented local artists, including: Joan Brumley, Dot Morris, Phyllis Overstreet, Sharon Bortugno and Vernon Tallmon, who makes "treasure boxes."

Following the April 10 celebration, the gallery will resume regular hours of Saturday and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. and will also be a participating gallery with the Sierra Art Hop on the second Saturday of each month.

The art gallery is located three-quarters of a mile east of North Fork on the Mammoth Pool Road (225) at the old sawmill site. For more information, call (559) 877-2487.

Meet author Giacomazzi

Sharon Giacomazzi, a Sierra hiker and backpacker, is the author of two books: "Exploring Eastern Sierra Canyons: Sonora Pass to Pine Creek" and also "Trails and Tales of Yosemite & the Central Sierra." Meet her at Willow Bridge Books in Oakhurst on Saturday, March 29 at 2 p.m. Her lecture will highlight three local hikes and their history, including the Lewis Creek National Recreation Trail (one of my personal favorite local hikes), Nelder Grove and Browns Ditch.

In her first book "Trails and Tails of Yosemite and the Central Sierra," she provides guides to 60 local excursions.

In her second book, "Exploring Eastern Sierra Canyons: Sonora Pass to Pine Creek," she discovers the hidden beauty of the Eastern Sierra's wondrous canyons and tells the details of local history, campgrounds, resorts, where to find the best wildflower blooms, autumn color displays, waterfalls and much more.

Giacomazzi is a Sierra hiker and backpacker and an avid history buff and born storyteller. Her written works have appeared in the Yosemite Highway Herald newspaper and also Sierra Heritage and California Explorer magazines.

For more information call (559) 692-2665 or visit the Web site at: www.willowbridgebooks.com .

Choral festival returns

The Sierra Choral Festival will be held April 11 and 12 at Sierra Vista Presbyterian Church in Oakhurst. Conductor and composer Allan Robert Petker will again direct the festival.

The Sierra Choral Festival is for singers from the Mountain Area, who will work with Petker on five different anthems of different styles.

Family members of the singers and the general public are invited to the program at Sierra Vista Presbyterian Church at 4:30 p.m. on Saturday, April 12 to hear choral and special music.

Singers who wish to participate may receive a registration form by contacting Catherine Walker at (559) 658-7376. The festival registration fee for singers is $45, which includes the music. The public performance on April 12 is free to the general public.

Al Joyal can be reached by e-mailing aljoyal@sti.net.