Sierra Star early deadlines

Due to the Labor Day holiday, the Sierra Star will have early deadlines this week.

Sept. 6 classified ads are due Friday, Aug. 31 and display ads for Sept. 6 are due by 3 p.m. Aug. 30. The office will be closed for the holiday Monday Sept. 3.

New date for Baker

A joint request by the prosecution and the defense for a continuance in the trial of Harry Baker for committing a lewd act with a minor was granted Aug. 23 by Fresno County Superior Court Judge Houry Sanderson. The settlement hearing phase of the trial will be held at 8:30 a.m., Thursday, Oct. 25, in Fresno County Superior Court.

Baker, the owner of Sierra Telephone, was arrested Oct. 5, 2009, for allegedly committing a lewd act with a 13-year-old girl in May 2007 in a Fresno hotel room.

Baker, 84, has maintained his innocence since his arrest and has told authorities he was the victim of a blackmail scheme by the girl's family, paying $250,000 over a video tape that the alleged victim and friend made in the hotel room without Baker's knowledge.

It has been estimated that when the trial gets under way, it could last for two to three weeks.

Coarsegold Peddlers Market this weekend

The 29th annual Coarsegold Peddlers Market will be hosted by the Coarsegold Historic Village off Highway 41 this weekend, Friday, Aug. 31 through Monday Sept. 3.

The entire Coarsegold Village will be filled with vendors from throughout the western United States offering antiques and collectibles from many time periods of U.S. history. There will also be food and craft booths. Admission is free.

Parking will cost $3 per vehicle with a portion of the proceeds benefiting local fundraisers.

Market hours are:

12 to 7 p.m., Friday

8 a.m. to dusk, Saturday and Sunday

8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday

Details: (559) 683-3900 or visit coarsegoldhistoricvillag.com.

River cleanup

Mountain Area residents are invited to help cleanup the Fresno River in Oakhurst 9 a.m. to noon, Saturday, Sept. 8. The cleanup is being held in conjunction with the Great Sierra River Cleanup sponsored by the Sierra Nevada Conservancy in coordination with the California Coastal Cleanup Day.

Those wishing to help should meet in the parking lot of the Sierra Star on Crane Valley Road (Road 426) at 9 a.m.

Details: Sandy Brinley, (559) 6837027.

County election poll workers needed

If you are interested in serving as a paid poll worker on Election Day, Nov. 6 and you are a registered voter, you may qualify to work at the polls.

Polling locations in Eastern Madera County include Yosemite Lakes Park Clubhouse, Coarsegold Community Center, Ahwahnee House of Worship, Oakhurst Community Center, Mountain Government Center at Bass Lake and North Fork Elementary School.

Poll workers serve on Election Day from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. and must provide their own transportation to and from the polls. Spanish speaking poll workers are also in demand.

Applications are available online at madera-county.com/index.phpelectionsdept/elections-forms-a-docs, or by calling the elections office.

Details: Madera County Elections Division, 1-800-425-0509, (559) 675-7720.

Parade entries still being accepted

The Mountain Heritage Days Parade will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 15 to celebrate Oakhurst's 100th Anniversary. Parade entries are still being accepted from businesses, community service groups and individuals.

Parade entry forms are available at fresnoflatsmuseum.org or at Oakhurst Giftworks, Sierra Star, Fresno Flats Museum and Oakhurst Area Chamber of Commerce.

Entries being taken for Sluice Box Derby

The popular Sluice Box Derby, open to children 4-14 years of age, will be held at Saturday, Sept. 15 during Mountain Heritage Days.

This year, derby co-chairpersons are Jackie Byers and AnnaDell White, both members of the Sierra Lions Club.

Other service clubs involved in the derby are the Kiwanis, Knights of Columbus and Sierra Historic Sites Association.

Sluice box gravity-powered racers will be provided to children who want to participate but do not have their own sluice box. Entry fee is $2 per driver. Entry fee for children with their own sluice box is $10.

The Derby, the 11th that has been held, will be from 1-3 p.m. on Indian Springs Road (418) behind Fresno Flats Historic Village and Park.

Age divisions: Age 4-7, 8-10 and 11-14. The top three finishers in each division will receive trophies and all children will receive a small plaque for participating.

Madera County 5th District Supervisor Tom Wheeler will serve as derby announcer.

Complete rules and regulations, construction plans and entry forms are available at any event sponsor including Oakhurst Feed and Pet Supply, the MET Cinema, Dorsey's Hallmark, Yosemite Bank, Bank of America and at the gift shop at Fresno Flats.

Details: Jackie Byers, (559) 683-7071, AnnaDell White, (559) 641-2339.

North Fork chamber economic forum

The North Fork Chamber of Commerce will host an Economic Forum, 9 a.m. - 12:15 p.m., Saturday, Sept. 22, a collaboration of economic resources, business owners and aspiring entrepreneurs coming together to share information.

"This event will feature opportunities for business owners to look at what resources are currently available to them to assist with business expansion," said Scott O'Brian Marsh, chamber president. "Along with that, business owners will have an opportunity to join roundtable discussions with others in similar economic conditions networking to exchange ideas about possible future ventures."

O'Brian Marsh, owner-operator of Slim's Koffee Shak, said the forum will also provide aspiring entrepreneurs the opportunity to engage with local start-up and financial resources.

"There will be several opportunities available to get assistance in business plan development and access to start-up capital," O'Brian Marsh said.

A $10 registration fee for the forum will include continental breakfast, materials and a barbecue luncheon.

In addition to the chamber, supporting sponsors include the Madera County Economic Development Commission, Central Valley Business Incubator, North Fork Rancheria of Mono Indians and the Yosemite Sequoia Resource Conservation Development Council.

The chamber is seeking additional $50 sponsors to support the forum.

Attendees are asked to register by Sept. 19 at info@nort -fork-chamber.com.

Details: Scott O'Brian Marsh, (559) 877-6300, scottmarsh_@hotmail.com

Coarsegold PTA Walk-a-Thon

The Coarsegold Elementary School PTA is hosting a Walk-a-Thon fundraiser on Sept. 28, that will take place on campus during school hours. The Walk-a-Thon fundraiser will raise funds to improve school site facilities and provide academic enrichment opportunities.

Tax deductible sponsorship levels include a $50 bronze sponsorship that provides business listing in print and on event t-shirt that will go home with more than 500 students, staff and parents. A $75 silver and $100 gold sponsorships are also available.

Details: Aurda Hammerling. (559) 760-7892, Heather Wilbour, (559) 676-5588.

String orchestra to perform Sept. 9

The Oakhurst Community String Orchestra, under the direction of violinist Tim Johnson, will perform their Spring Recital at 4 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 9 at Oakhurst Lutheran Church, located at the intersection of Crane Valley Road (426) and Black Road.

Music includes scores by Beethoven, Pachelbel and Bach.

The all-volunteer group of musicians, now in their second season, play violin, cello and string bass instruments and rehearse every Tuesday at 6:30 p.m. at Glacier Home School Charter and Mountain Home School Charter, 41267 Highway 41, Oakhurst.

Details: Tim Johnson, (559) 301-0033.

Jack Gyer memorial and reception at Methodist Church

Following a celebration of life gathering at 11 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 8 at New Community United Methodist Church in Oakhurst for Jack Gyer, who died Aug. 1, a reception will follow at the Methodist Church, 49223 Crane Valley Road (426).

Patriot Day Sept. 11

Sierra Telephone is holding its annual Patriot Day event at 9 a.m. Tuesday Sept. 11 at Sierra Telephone, 49150 Crane Valley Road (426).

The public is invited to the event that recognizes and shows appreciation to all veterans, active duty military and emergency services personnel for their dedication to our country and to our communities, as well as to honor the memory of those who lost their lives on Sept. 11, 2001 in the attack on New York's Twin Towers.The event will include patriotic music, 21 rifle salute and the playing of taps.

Immediately following the event, the Sierra Telephone Safety Awareness Committee will serve complimentary apple pie and ice cream in the pavilion located behind the Sierra Telephone building. A tri-tip lunch will also be available for purchase from American Legion Post 110 with to-go plates available, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Agenda: Grinding America Down

The movie "Agenda: Grinding American Down," will be presented at 1:30 p.m. Sept. 9 at the MET Cinema. Sponsored by Salt and Light Ministry, Oakhurst/Coarsegold Tea Party, the documentary looks at the subversion of America, the systematic "grinding down" of American culture and values over several decades.

The documentary shows the steps the Communist Party said were necessary to destroy America's patriotism, morality and faith.

Details: Salt and Light Ministry, (559) 877-6200.

Thrift shop 50% sale

The Wonderful Treasures Thrift Store, located at 40691 Highway 41, will hold a 50% off sale on selected merchandise, Aug. 31 - Sept. 3.

All proceeds from the store benefit Mountain Area non-profit organizations including the Vintage Museum, Boys & Girls Club of Oakhurst and Yosemite High School scholarships.

Details: (559)641-2987.

Summer pruning/fall planting workshop

A free workshop on summer pruning and fall planting will be held at 1 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 9 at True Value Homecenter, 40596 Westlake Drive off Highway 49 in Oakhurst.

Learn to how properly prune native deciduous and evergreen trees, shrubs and roses using the right tools as well as how to plan and prepare fall planting beds. There will also be instruction on how to clean up perennials and ornamental grasses.

Details: (559)683-7117.

Camarena Health open house

Oakhurst's new Camarena Health will hold an open house mixer with hors d'oeuvres, no-host bar and ribbon cutting ceremony from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 11 at their new building next to the Sierra Star, 49169 Crane Valley Road (426).

Details: (559) 664-4000 or info@camarenahealth. org.

Spam appears as UPS

A spam email is going around that appears as if it is from UPS, claiming that a package cannot be delivered. However, this link is spam and should not be clicked on.

Correction

In a story about the fall programs at the Boys & Girls Club of Oakhurst, it was noted that membership to the club is $40 per week. The correct membership fee is $40 per month. Waivers for the monthly fee are available to qualifying families.