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Community Briefs for July 29, 2010 edition

(Updated: Thursday, July 29, 2010, 12:00 AM)

Oakhurst Sierra Rotary Club helps Heartland

Oakhurst Sierra Rotary Club recently donated $500 to Heartland's Oakhurst Recycling Center, 39979 Road 425-B.

Lahna Crabtree accepted the $500 donation for Heartland Opportunity Center in Oakhurst. The donation will go toward the maintenance of the recycling center's equipment, supplies and any other training equipment needed for the program.

These funds were raised as part of the Oakhurst Sierra Rotary Club annual fundraising effort to help the community. This is just one of the projects that will help improve the lives of people with developmental disabilities residing in Eastern Madera County.

The Oakhurst Recycling Center has workers that are participants in the Supported Employment Group program that serves adults with developmental disabilities.

Free and reduced school meals

Application forms are being distributed to households in the Mountain Area informing parents of the availability of free and reduced-price meals for school children. To apply for the meals, parents must complete an application and return it to the school their children will be attending.

The information provided on the application will be used to determine meal eligibility and may be verified by program officials.

Schools participating in the meal plan are Yosemite High School, Oakhurst Elementary School, Oak Creek Intermediate School, Wasuma, Coarsegold, Rivergold, O'Neals and North Fork Elementary schools.

Fresno Fair entertainment announced

The entertainment lineup for the Big Fresno Fair will include: Sammy Hagar & The Wabos, Oct. 6; Julianne Hough and Joe Nichols, Oct. 8; Selena Gomez, Oct. 10; Commodores, Oct. 11; Foghat & Blue Oyster Cult, Oct. 12; Michael W. Smith, Oct. 13; The Turtles and Chubby Checker, Oct. 14; Montgomery Gentry, Oct. 15 and Jason Derulo, Oct. 16.

Tickets can be purchased at fresnofair.com or by calling (559) 650-3247.

Fish and Game art contest

The California Department of Fish and Game is sponsoring an art contest for the 2011 design for the state's upland game bird stamp. This is the third art contest since the department reinstated the use of original artwork for the stamps in 2009.

The contest is open to all U.S. residents ages 18 and over. Entries will be accepted from Oct. 25 until Nov. 19.

The species to appear on the 2011 upland game bird stamp is the wild turkey and must depict a male and female pair.

An upland game bird stamp is required for hunting migratory and resident game birds in California. The money generated from stamp sales can only be spent on upland game bird-related conservation projects, education, hunting opportunities and outreach.

The department sells about 200,000 upland game bird stamps annually, including sales to collectors who value the stamps for their artistic depiction of game birds. In addition to the stamps, the department issues signed, limited-edition prints.

The winning artist will be selected during a public judging event to be held on Wednesday, Dec. 1. Details: dfg.ca.gov/upstamp.

No to state Air Quality Element

With a 4-0-1 vote, the Madera County Planning Commission last night declined to recommend adoption of the state-required Air Quality Element during a July 13 meeting.

The "no" votes were based on the commission's concerns that the inconclusive and contradictory science used to support anthropogenic global warming made the need for these regulations questionable.

Furthermore, the report did not do an analysis of the financial impact that these regulations would have on the community, according to Larry Wright, commission chairman.

"Without the science to support the claim of need, and without a financial report to analyze the impacts, the commission felt it did not have enough information to make a recommendation," Wright said after the meeting.

North Fork Pow Wow

The 40th Annual North Fork Pow Wow will be held at Noon, Aug 7 and 8 at the North Fork Recreation Center. Gates open at 9 a.m. and admission is $5 per person.

The event will include Native American dance competitions and craft vendors.

Details: (559) 877-2115, sierramonomuseum.org.

All Yosemite campgrounds open

All campgrounds in Yosemite National Park are open for the summer season. Several campgrounds in the park have been closed since the winter due to seasonal road closures, a heavy snowpack and water saturation.

Multiple campgrounds along the Tioga Road, such as Tamarack and Porcupine Flat, are available to the public on a first-come, first-served basis.

Yosemite Creek, a first-come, first-served campground, will now offer 35 more campsites for visitors. In January 1997, Yosemite experienced a major flood, which severely impacted the entire park.

All campsites on the reservation system are full through the rest of summer. Visitors wishing to camp in Yosemite National Park are urged to arrive early in the day to secure a campsite at one of the many first-come, first-served campgrounds.

North Fork Library to host children's author

Wishon resident Virginia Walton Pilegard will read her new book, "The Emperor's Army," sign copies and supervise a craft session at 10:30 a.m. Aug. 3 at the North Fork Library, 32908 Road 222.

"The Emperor's Army," an Accelerated Reader Program Selection, tells the story of a young boy who makes a groundbreaking discovery. During the rule of China's first emperor, a clever child unearths a clay army, complete with horses, chariots and weapons.

Based on historical facts, this story illuminates Chinese culture and world history. A mathematical equation and a craft for creating clay figurines are included in the book. Beautiful, ancient Chinese-inspired illustrations bring the story to life.

Pilegard is the author of the critically acclaimed "Warlord's Series," which is also set in China. For each book, she conducts thorough research, quizzes Chinese American friends, and corresponds with authorities on various aspects of Chinese life. She has traveled to China twice to continue her research.

Details: Debbie Myers, (559) 877 4229.

Host families sought

International high school exchange students are coming to study in Madera County during the 2010-2011 school year.

For 25 years, STS Foundation, a nonprofit student exchange organization, helps facilitate these relationships.

Two students STS is looking for host families for this year are Stefan and Pascaline. Stefan is a 16-year-old boy from Osnabrueck, Germany. His favorite sport is soccer, which he has played for 11 years at a club in his hometown.

Pascaline is a 17-year-old girl from Pornichet, France. She loves playing the piano and has played for the past 10 years. Pascaline has played tennis for four years and enjoys participating in tournaments.

They are both excellent students and will have their own spending money and health insurance. The host family provides family meals and a safe environment.

Details: Lillian Clemente, (800) 522-4678.

U-Pick at college farm

With seasonal vegetables ripening in the summer heat, members of the student-operated Organic Farm at California State University, Fresno, are hosting three U-Pick Saturdays.

From 8 to 10 a.m., Saturday, July 24, and Aug. 14 and 28, the public is invited to pick their own student-grown organic produce, including cherry tomatoes, eggplant, okra, bell peppers and melons.

Everything will be available at special prices, said Dr. Sajeemas 'Mint' Pasakdee, a soil scientist/agronomist for the California Agricultural Technology Institute at Fresno State who is the organic farm adviser.

Details: Dr. Sajeemas Pasakdee, (559) 278-2828, spasakdee@csufresno.edu.

CHP traffic safety class Aug. 5

A traffic safety class for new and future drivers ages 15 to 19 will be presented by the California Highway Patrol from 5 to 6:30 p.m. Aug. 5 at the CHP office, 3051 Airport Drive in Madera. Officers will teach driving tips to avoid accidents, factors that involve collisions and provisional driver's license laws. Videos and testimonials of accident survivors will be given. Parents are welcome to attend.

Mountain Classic Car Show

The 15th Annual North Fork Mountain Classic Car Show will be held from 7:30 a.m. to 3 p.m., Saturday, Aug. 14 at the North Fork Recreation Center, 33507 Road 230.

Breakfast will be held from 7 to 10 a.m. and costs $6. Vehicle registration is from 8 to 10 a.m. and costs $20 per vehicle, $30 day of show. There will be classic cars, custom cars, street rods, motorcycles, trucks and boats. Judging will be held from 10 a.m. to noon. Awards will be held at 2:30 p.m. Food and adult beverages will be available. Details: (559) 877-2743.