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Grants pay for a better Oakhurst

Funds for community

Brian Wilkinson

(Updated: Thursday, October 29, 2009, 1:46 PM)

Seven of the 23 Picayune Rancheria of the Chukchansi Indian Community Grants, totaling $202,240, will be presented to organizations in Eastern Madera County. Those seven recipients include the Sierra Senior Center, Oakhurst Area Chamber of Commerce, Yosemite Sierra Visitors Bureau, The Oakhurst Boys and Girls Club, Junior Livestock Committee, Golden Chain Theatre and the Sierra Lions Club of Oakhurst.

The annual Community Grant Awards were announced last week at the Madera County Board of Supervisors meeting.

A dinner will be held 6 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 11, at Chukchansi Gold Resort and Casino, to make the formal presentations.

"This is fantastic," said Ruthann Schiller, president of the Sierra Senior Society, who have been awarded $45,000. "Now we can spruce the senior center up so it will look a lot better."

Schiller said the funds will be used to repair a portion of the roof that leaks water in the winter, paint the inside and outside of the building and replace floor tile in the entry way, main hall and kitchen. They will also be able to replace the old carpeting in the library with tile.

Mary Lou Finley, president of the board of directors for the Golden Chain Theatre, said her eyes lit up when she heard the news of the theater receiving a $22,240 grant.

Finley said so much needs to be done at the theatre, the board will prioritize the projects. She said the areas that need immediate attention include electrical upgrades, lighting, the sound system, carpeting and the stage curtain that has not been replaced in more than 40 years. "We pray that curtain will keep together every time we open it," Finley said.

The complete list of grant recipients is as follows: Eastern Madera County Chamber Foundation

Civic Circle improvement: $35,000. Sierra Senior Center

Repair & improvements: $45,000. Madera Ranchos Volunteer Fire Department

Mobile support unit: $95,000. Madera Ranchos Volunteer Fire Department

Lab equipment: $25,000. City of Madera Parks & Community Service

Tech acquisition for Youth Center: $85,000. Central California Children's Hospital

Van for pediatric rehabilitation patients: $93,989. Raymond-Knowles School

Portable staging: $25,000. City of Chowchilla

Parks & Recreation restroom project: $60,000. Eastern Madera County Chamber Foundation

Golden Chain Theatre restoration: $22,240. Sierra Lions Club of Oakhurst

Eye exams and prescription lenses: $25,000. Madera South High School

Chukchansi Gold Wrestling Invitational: $82,500. Fairmead Project

Land for Senior Center: $31,000. Madera Community Hospital

Mammography: $62,000. Eastern Madera County Jr. Livestock Committee

Ag youth support: $25,000. Chowchilla Madera County Fair

Fair facilities replacement: $45,000. First Tee of Greater Fresno

Program expansion -- Madera & Native Americans: $50,000. California Health Collaborative

Screening and referral: $25,000. Stephens Elementary, Chowchilla District

Literacy technology project: $40,000. Yosemite Sierra Visitors Bureau

Relocation and retrofit expenses: $25,000. Boys & Girls Club of Oakhurst

Triple Play Program-coaching, equipment and supplies: $25,000. Martha Diaz Women's Shelter

Shelter improvement: $25,000. Chowchilla Chamber Downtown Project

Chowchilla Holiday Festival: $25,000. Webster Elementary

Computer lab: $25,000. Grant Award Expense

Awards dinner: $3,271.

The grants are available to local agencies, schools and nonprofit organizations. The money comes in part from a $12.5 million settlement between Madera County and the Picayune Rancheria, which ended a three-year dispute and four lawsuits over taxes.

The ruling required $1 million in grants to be distributed throughout the county each year for 10 years. The 2009 grants are the third payment.

For more information on the grant program and applications, go to www.madera-county.com and click "recent notices" than on "community grant program."