Calendar for Wednesday May 7, 2008 edition

(Updated: Wednesday, May 07, 2008, 6:21 PM)

Sunday, May 4 to May 8

* Mariposa Symphony Orchestra concert, "Welcome Spring!", 2:30 p.m.; Music from Beethoven, Boccherini and Herold, Golden Valley High School Auditorium, Merced. $6, adults; $4, students. Information: Mariposa Arts Council, (209) 966-3155.

Wednesday, May 7

* Spring Awareness Day at the Oakhurst College Center, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.; Counselors and staff will be on hand with information about financial aid, scholarships and other educational benefits offered. Oakhurst College Center off Crane Valley Road (426). Free. Information: (559) 683-3940 or www.oakhurstcenter.com.

* Author Signing at Oakhurst Branch Library, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.; Author Lori Mazzola will sign "Tales of the Tree People - To Tree or Not To Tree." Copies available for sale, and a portion of the sales will be donated to the library. Information: www.freewebs.com/mamazzola.

Thursday, May 8

* Manzanita Garden Club meeting, 10 a.m.; carpool at the Sierra Star parking lot at 9:30 a.m.; A demonstration of how to create Bonsai plantings will be presented. At the home of Nina Strickland. Information: Barbara, (559) 683-6114.

* Yosemite Area Audubon Society program, 7 p.m.; Golden Gate Raptor Observatory director Allen Fish will present a slide program, "Twenty-Five Years of Raptor Gazing at the Golden Gate." Mariposa Methodist Church parish hall; 6th Street between Highway 140 and Bullion Street. Free. Information: (209) 742-5579.

* Duplicate bridge, 10 a.m.; Whittenburg Hall, Oakhurst. Information: Paul, (559) 658-8952.

Friday, May 9

* Veterans of Foreign Wars Post No. 8743, 5:30 p.m. dinner, 6:30 p.m. meeting; RSVP for pre-meeting dinner. Oakhurst Senior Center; 49111 Cinder Lane. Information: (559) 683-3989.

* Senior Singles Dining Club (55-plus), Call for location and time; Still short on men. Call for this month's time and location. Information: Shirley, (559) 658-0056.

Saturday, May 10

* North Fork Sierra Art Hop, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Participating galleries: Grimmer Gallery, Williams Gallery West, Stavast Studio/Gallery, Paul Henry Abram Photo Studio and Community Art Gallery, Stellar Gallery, The Looney Bin, Timberline Gallery. Oakhurst and North Fork Information: (559) 877-2487.

* Poker Run and Bikers for Christ Ride to benefit Helping Hands, Check in from 9 to 10:30 a.m. at Thunderstrike Motorcycles; Raffle prizes. Benefits local, nonprofit organization which provides free pregnancy testing and parenting classes. Oakhurst Community Park and Yosemite Lakes Community Church. $20 per rider includes run pins, barbecue and live music. Information: Ed Tannehill, (559) 877-2257 or Bill Rice, (559) 676-0086.

* Yosemite Area Audubon Society birding trip to Yosemite Valley and Foresta, Meet at 8 a.m.; Suitable for beginners. Bring binoculars, field guides, water and lunch. Public welcome. At Midpines County Park along Highway 140 to carpool. Park pass or $20 entrance fee is required to enter the park. Information: (209) 742-5579.

* Veteran's Standdown, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.; Veterans Helping Veterans will have veteran counselors, a physical therapist, a physician's assistant and benefits advisors. Boots and gear, hamburgers and hot dogs available free. Sierra Pines Church, Hwy 41 to Hwy 49 west, Church is three miles ahead on the right, Oakhurst. Information: (559) 658-8939.

* New Merced River Plan Workshop, Details at www.nps.gov/yose/parkmgmt/cip.htm; Discuss implications of court decisions and new direction and scope of the plan. Yosemite Information: Elexis Mayer, (209) 379-1377 or elexis_mayer@nps.gov.

* Bass Lake Broom Bash, 8 a.m. to noon; Volunteers to remove broom bushes. Tools, safety equipment, refreshments provided. Meet in Pines Village Park, Bass Lake. Information: Judy, (559) 642-3310.

Sunday, May 11

* Northern Mariposa County History Center breakfast, 8 to 11 a.m.; Special omelets served for Mother's Day for $7. The usual breakfast of eggs, pancakes, ham or sausage and fruit plus coffee, tea or hot chocolate is available.

Dessert raffle and free breakfast drawing. Proceeds go to history center. 10301 Highway 49, Coulterville. $4 Adults; $3 children; $15, family of four. Information: (209) 878-3015 or email nmchc@inreach.com.

* Spaghetti With Eddie, 7 p.m.; Includes homemade meatballs, garlic bread and Caesar salad. Charity special benefits Mat Sands' "Mat for Mayor" campaign for the Harry H. Baker Boys and Girls Club. $7 per plate The Oak Room Bar, Oakhurst.

Monday, May 12

* Strawberries and Pearls: Victorian Tea by the Wild Wonderful Women and Friends., 11 a.m.; Silent auction, raffle and fashion exhibit included. at Time for Tea, 40282 Highway 41, Oakhurst. $17.95 per person, reservations required. Information: Mary, (559) 641-5911 or punkyboo@sti.net.

* Duplicate bridge, 10 a.m.; Whittenburg Hall, Oakhurst. Information: Paul, (559) 658-8952.

* Coarsegold Community Center Bingo, Doors open at 5 p.m., Bingo begins at 6:30 p.m.; Food and drink available. 35610 Highway 41. Information: Agnes (559) 683-5646.

* Community Food Bank Neighborhood Market, 9 to 11 a.m.; No pre-bagged items. Visit the market and choose waht fresh produce, perishables and other food you would like. Some items limited. Bring bags with you. Stoney Creek Baptist Church, 35300 Hwy 41, Coarsegold Information: Patsy or Jim at The Village Thrift Shoppe, (559) 658-8412.

Tuesday, May 13

* Mountain Area Parkinson's Support Group, 9:30 to 11:30 a.m.; Yosemite Bank, in Raley's Shopping Center on Highway 49, Oakhurst. Information: Alan Rodely, (559) 658-8696, Ext. 412.

* Oakhurst Women's Connection luncheon, noon to 1:30 p.m.; Betty Neals presents her paper doll collection. Laurie Oswalkd of Aunt Laurie's Cooking School shares a recipe for success. Sweetwater Steakhouse, Oakhurst. $12 inclusive. Information: Kathleen (559) 658-8705 or Karen (559) 683-4580.

* Alzheimer Caregivers' Support Group, 10 to 11:30 a.m.; For individuals caring for persons with Alzheimer's disease or dementia. Oakhurst Lutheran Church, Crane Valley (426) and Black Roads, Oakhurst. Information: Valley Caregivers, (800) 541-8614 or Carol, (559) 683-4045.

* Long-term Care Workshop, 10 a.m. to noon; For caregivers considering or planning for long-term care placement. Oakhurst Lutheran Church, Crane Valley (426) and Black Roads. Free to caregivers. Information: Valley Caregivers, (800) 541-8614 (559) 224-9154.

Thursday, May 15

* Duplicate bridge, 10 a.m.; Whittenburg Hall, Oakhurst. Information: Paul, (559) 658-8952.

* Oakhurst Seventh-day Adventist's Christian School Visitors Day, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.; The SDA church is located along Crane Valley Road (426) at the corner of Ecco Valley Raod (423) Information: (559) 683-7020.

* Ride Your Bike to Work Day, all day; all locations

Saturday, May 17

* Community Roadside Litter Clean-up, 8 a.m. to noon; Trash bags available at the Oakhurst Branch Library, the Coarsegold tepee, the North Fork Post Office and the Bass Fork Minit Mart Areas in most need are in North Fork: 200, 221, 223, 274, 222, 225; Oakhurst: 426, 425B, 222, 427: Coarsegold: 400, 415, 416, 417, 420: Ahwahnee: 600, 628. Leave bags well off the road in a safe place for trucks to pick up, Mountain Area. Information: (559) 877-3424.

* Bass Lake Broom Bash, 8 a.m. to noon; Volunteers to remove broom bushes. Tools, safety equipment, refreshments provided. Meet in Pines Village Park, Bass Lake. Information: Judy, (559) 642-3310.

* Central Valley Writers' Workshop, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.; The workshop will focus on "Breathing Life into your Characters." Proceeds will benefit the June 7th Writing Symposium and the Friends of the Chowchilla Library. Chowchilla library, corner of Third Street and Kings Avenue. $25, materials included in fee. Information: CVWW President Glenna Jarvis (559) 665-7381 or president@centralvalleywriters.com.

Saturday, May 17 to May 18

* Madera Vintners Association Spring Wine Trail Adventure, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Taste a diverse array of vintages. Also barrel tasting and pre-bottle samples of new wines. Self-guided tour of eight wineries, Madera County and Mountain Area. $20 passport wine glass, to be purchased day of event. Information: (800) 613-0709 or maderavintners.com.

Sunday, May 18

* Mountain Pianists meeting, 2 to 4 p.m.; Prospective members welcome. At the home of Dawn Hoover in Coarsegold. Information: Lucie Richter, (559) 683-0352.

* Ladies of the Elks yard sale, 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.; Item donations appreciated. Oakhurst Elks Lodge at Hwy 41 and Bass Lake Road (222) across from the Mountain House. Information: (559) 683-7997.

* Spaghetti With Eddie, 7 p.m.; Includes homemade meatballs, garlic bread and Caesar salad. Charity special benefits Mat Sands' "Mat for Mayor" campaign for the Harry H. Baker Boys and Girls Club. $7 per plate The Oak Room Bar, Oakhurst.

Monday, May 19

* Duplicate bridge, 10 a.m.; Whittenburg Hall, Oakhurst. Information: Paul, (559) 658-8952.

* Coarsegold Community Center Bingo, Doors open at 5 p.m., Bingo begins at 6:30 p.m.; Food and drink available. 35610 Highway 41. Information: Agnes (559) 683-5646.

Tuesday, May 20

* Review of the Comprehensive Interpretive Plan, Call for details. Looking at the stories and issues that connect people to Yosemite, focusing on interpretation. Yosemite Information: (209) 372-0642.