Sierra Tel to host Patriot Day

Jarrod Lyman
Director of Media
Yosemite Sierra Visitors Bureau
(559) 683-4636 

For More Information, Call:  Rima Runtzel – 642-0313

Sierra Telephone hosts Patriot Day

Sierra Telephone recognizes Veterans, active duty military and Emergency Services Personnel on anniversary of terrorist attacks.

Oakhurst, CA. – - Sierra Telephone, located in Oakhurst, would like to invite the public to its annual Patriot Day event on Friday September 9, 2011 at Sierra Telephone – 49150 Road 426 in Oakhurst.  

The event, which begins at 9:00 am, is intended to recognize and show 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 September 11, 2001.  Included will be a special flag-raising ceremony and pledge of allegiance, patriotic music, special performances by elementary and high school groups, 21 rifle salute and taps. 

Guest speaker is Andrew Isolano, currently with the Clovis Police Department, who was a New York City Firefighter during the attack and first responder at Ground Zero.  Veterans, active duty military and Emergency Services Personnel will be presented with recognition gifts.  

Immediately following the event, the Sierra Telephone Safety Awareness Committee will serve All-American Apple Pie and ice cream in the pavilion located behind the Sierra Telephone building.  

Each year following the events of September 11, 2001, Sierra Tel has made a visible statement of patriotism by affixing flags to each of its highly recognizable company vehicles.  The flags are flown from Patriot Day on September 11 through Veteran’s Day on November 11.

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Sierra Sky Ranch Resort hosts renaissance fair

Jarrod Lyman
Director of Media
Yosemite Sierra Visitors Bureau
(559) 683-4636

Sierra Sky Ranch Resort to host Renaissance Fair

Oakhurst, CA. – The popular Sierra Sky Ranch Resort north of Oakhurst is hosting a Renaissance Fair Sept. 3 and 4.

The Golden Age of Revelry will be celebrated 11 am to 7 pm both days. Guests can dine with Her Majesty and her fellow nobles at a royal feast, watch performers recreate renaissance-era life, browse numerous vendors specializing in period products.

Admission only costs a donation of a nonperishable food item per person or a $5 donation to the food bank.

For more information, call (559) 683-8040 or visit www.golden-age-of-revelry.com.

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Yosemite seeks public comment on Mariposa Grove plans

        Yosemite National Park Announces the Public Scoping for the

                      Mariposa Grove Restoration Plan  Plan Calls for Extensive Improvements in Yosemite’s Largest Giant Sequoia

                                   Grove

Yosemite National Park announces the opening of public scoping for the Mariposa Grove Restoration Plan Environmental Impact Statement (EIS).  The scoping period will begin Wednesday, August 31, 2001 and extend through Saturday, October 15, 2011.  Comments will be used to assist the park in a plan that will meet the purpose and need of the project.

The Mariposa Grove is the largest of the three giant sequoia (Sequoiadendron giganteum) groves in Yosemite National Park and was part of the original Yosemite Grant signed by President Abraham Lincoln in 1864 (the rest of the grant included Yosemite Valley).  The giant sequoias are the largest living things and can measure up to 35 feet in diameter and up to 300 feet in height.  There are approximately 500 mature sequoia trees in the grove.

The proposed plan aims to restore the Giant Sequoia habitat in the Mariposa Grove. This would be accomplished through a range of actions including:

   ·  Restoring the natural hydrology within the grove

   ·  Removing unnecessary infrastructure

   ·  Realigning roads and trails in sensitive sequoia habitat

   ·  Relocating the existing visitor parking

   ·  Reducing visitor trampling of soils and vegetation around the giant

      sequoias

The project also seeks to improve the visitor experience within the Mariposa Grove by assessing visitor facilities and transportation.

A public Open House will take place tomorrow, August 31, 2011, and again on Wednesday, September 28, 2011, from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. in Yosemite Valley at the Visitor Center Auditorium. Park staff will be available to discuss the project, answer questions, and accept comments.

Comments can be submitted either in person at public meetings, by mail, fax, or online.

Online comments can be submitted through the Planning, Environment, and Public Comment (PEPC) website at http://parkplanning.nps.gov/yose/mariposagrove

Written comments can be mailed to:

            Yosemite National Park, Superintendent

            Attn: Mariposa Grove Restoration Plan

            P.O. Box 577

            Yosemite, CA 95389

Comments can also be faxed to 209/379-1294

For more information about this project:

http://www.nps.gov/yose/parkmgmt/mgrove.htm

                                   -NPS-

Homegrown Cellars to unveil butterfly house

Jarrod Lyman
Director of Media
Yosemite Sierra Visitors Bureau
(559) 683-4636

Butterfly house to open in Madera

Madera, CA. – Homegrown Cellars is known for their bevy of pomegranate products, but a new attraction will bring added attention to the popular farm. 

Homegrown Cellars owners Alex and Jackie Lehman announced the grand opening of a new 3000 square foot butterfly house at Homegrown Cellars. An unveiling will take place Saturday, Sept. 3 from 10 am until 7 pm. 

Hundreds of butterflies from four species will be in display to start with. Guests will be able to see Monarchs, Painted Ladies, Morning Cloaks and Red Admirals butterflies.

After the grand opening, the butterfly house will be open every Friday and Saturday through October. Future plans for it include breeding of butterflies, and additional species, including exotics. The house will close in the winter and reopen again in March. 

They will also be selling Pomegranate Smoothies, and the gift shop featuring pomegranate products, including their popular pomegranate honey, will also be open. 

Homegrown Cellars is located at 13702 Road 20 in Madera. For more information, visit www.HomegrownCellars.com.

The popular agritourism site is also the kick off point for the inaugural Pomegranate Celebration and Festival which runs October 30 through November 6. More information on that can be found at www.pomfest.com.

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Yosemite fire doesn't affect Highway 41 entrance

Jarrod Lyman
Director of Media
Yosemite Sierra Visitors Bureau
(559) 683-4636

Southern Entrance to Yosemite open

Oakhurst, CA. – As a fire burns just outside Yosemite’s west entrance on Highway 140, the southern entrance to the park, Highway 41, remains open with no smoke.

Highway 41 runs through Madera County, known as California’s Gateway to Yosemite as it’s the most popular entrance to the park. 

“Guests see a lot of the popular spots of Yosemite using Highway 41 to get to the Yosemite, ” said Jarrod Lyman, Director of Media and Communications for the Yosemite Sierra Visitors Bureau, the agency that promotes the southern gateway region. 

“Spots like the Mariposa Grove of Giant Sequoias, which is accessed right at the southern entrance, the Wawona Pioneer History Center, Glacier Point road and Tunnel View are all accessed via the Wawona Road, which is the 41 entrance,” Lyman said.

Yosemite visitors can still easily access the park on Highway 41, which has no impacts from the fire burning at the other entrance. “We have no smoke, no restrictions” Lyman said.

In addition to Yosemite, the southern entrance has other attractions to entertain visitors. The Yosemite Mountain Sugar Pine Railroad is located moments south of the entrance to the park. The historic railroad runs two authentic Shay Locomotives, built in 1928 and 1913, through the Sierra National Forest. They also have a museum on site showcasing the life of the logger at the turn of the century and gold panning lessons.

Bass Lake is also located near the southern entrance. This popular alpine lake offers every water sport one can think of. Bass Lake also has lodging located right on shore, from camping to cabins on up to a full service resort, as well as dining and shopping moments from the water’s edge.

The Madera Wine Trail is another popular attraction located in California’s Gateway to Yosemite. Award winning wineries are located throughout Madera County, from Oakhurst about 12 miles south of the entrance to O’Neals and Madera. 

The region is also home to numerous museums, art galleries and more. For lodging, activities and other travel ideas, visit www.YosemiteThisYear.com. 

“We are open for business,” said Lyman. “California’s Gateway to Yosemite is perfect for your vacation.”