Organic Stone Fruit Jubilee

Fresh Fruit!

2nd Annual Organic Stone Fruit Jubilee

Saturday, June 20th, 5-8:30pm

$5 Adult Entry fee ~ Children under 12 FREE

at Mokichi Okada Association's Oasis Garden
5790 N. Indianola Av, Clovis, CA
(east of Clovis Av and north of Shaw)

More info (559) 324-0465

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Peaches ~ Plums ~ Pluots ~ Nectarines ~ Apricots
Fruit Pastries & Ice Cream Bars

Fruit Tastings - Tours - Workshops - Music - Kids Kraft Korner

Meet your local organic farmers! Taste the fruit!
Buy a delicious pastry or fruit bar!

For more photos and information from last year's Stone Fruit Jubilee click HERE



© Copyright 2009 North Fork News

June & July Community Events

Main Street, North Fork

Jun 10
Special NF Chamber Meeting - Dinner/Auction Work Session, 5:30pm, at the NFCoC office (inside American Claims Service) on Main St, All Members & Volunteers welcome! Call Steve 877-3088 for more info

Jun 14

NF Recreation Center Clean-Up Day, 8am at the Rec Center, Info: 877-2237

Jun 14

Art in the Garden Tour, 1-5pm, Cascadel Heights Dr, North Fork, proceeds benefit North Fork Library, Info: 877-2387

Jun 20
Organic Stone Fruit Jubilee, 5-8:30pm, Mokichi Okada Assoc Oasis Garden, 5790 N. Indianola Av, Clovis, Adults $5, Kids under 12 FREE, Info: 324-0465

July 4
50th Annual Mid-Sierra Loggers Jamboree
Info: 877-7700, 877-2355, 877-2237

Pro-Am Contest, 11am, Recreation Center, Adults $4 at gate, under 12 Free
Horseshoe Pitching Contest, 12 noon
Grand Parade down North Fork’s Main St, 5pm
BBQ at Town Hall, 6pm, $8 adults, $5 kids under 12
Woodchoppers Ball & Queen Coronation, Recreation Ctr, 8:30pm, $8 ea, $15 per couple

July 5

50th Annual Mid-Sierra Loggers Jamboree
Info: 877-7700, 877-2355, 877-2237

Lions Club Pancake Breakfast, NF Town Hall, 7-10am
Jamboree Main Logging Events, Recreation Ctr, 12 noon, Gates open 10am, presale tickets thru July 3rd $2.00, $5.00 at gate, under 12 Free

July 25

North Fork Chamber of Commerce Annual Dinner & Auction Fundraiser, NF Town Hall, Doors open 5:30pm, Dinner 6pm, Presale tickets $13.00
Info: 877-2410, 877-3088, 877-2332, Dinner/Auction Event Flyer

© Copyright 2009 North Fork News

April & May Local Events

Wildflowers South of North Fork near Auberry


Apr 13
Sierra Vista Scenic Byway Association Annual Meeting & Election, 6pm, National Forest Ranger District Board Room, North Fork, all members and guests welcome, Refreshments will be served, Bring your favorite Scenic Byway photos to share, Info: 877-3952 & SVSBA Website

Apr 18
Squirrel Cage Theatre Spring Show, NF Town Hall, Doors open 5:30pm, Dinner 6pm, Show 7pm, $10 Adults, $5 under 12, $25 Family, Info: 877-2129

Apr 19
North Fork Earth Day Celebration, 9am-4pm, North Fork School & the Tribal Community Center, displays, events, art & music

Apr 25
Bass Lake Annual Spring Clean, Meet at Recreation Point, 9am, Bags/Gloves & Refreshments provided, Info: 683-3353

Apr 25
Annual Tri Tip BBQ, NF Volunteer Fire Dept Auxiliary, 11am-2pm at North Fork School, Kennedy Hall, Tickets: Adults $7 presale/$8 at the door, Under 10 or over 65 $5, Silent Auction & Prize Drawings

May 1
Relay for Life Pasta & Bunco Night, 5:30pm NF Town Hall, Info: 877-3017

May 8/9
Chawanakee Academy Drama Club Mini Melodrama & Murder Mystery, 5:30pm Dinner, 6:30pm Shows, NF Town Hall, $6 adults, $3 children 12 and under, Info: 676-4181

May 12
Squirrel Cage Theatre Poetry Reading at the Library, North Fork Library, FREE, 6:30pm Guitar Music, 7pm Poetry Reading & Open Mic Session. The new North Fork Poetry Club is featured, Info: 877-2129

May 30
Roadside Litter Clean Up, 8am-Noon, Pick up bags and safety equipment at: North Fork Post Office, Bass Fork Minit Mart, Oakhurst Library parking lot, Coarsegold Teepee, Village Corner Store in Bass Lake Pines Village, Free tree seedlings will be given to all participants. Info: 877-3424, 760-1058, 877-2361

May 30
Bunco Scholarship Fundraiser, NF Women's Club, Noon - 4pm, NF Town Hall, $10 presale, $12 at door, Table Reservations & Info Call: 877-4806




© Copyright 2009 North Fork News

Winter in North Fork

Remember that Christmas Tree from the last blog post?

Well now that the weather is warming up a bit and Spring is fast approaching, I thought it would be a good time to share some of our winter weather photos with you. These were all taken in North Fork during the snow fall of February 12-14th. On Friday February 13th alone, we experienced an unusually large amount of snow falling in a very short period of time. About 1 foot of snow fell in just 3 hours at my home's elevation of 3100 ft. I am sure that the higher elevations got even more than that.

Here are a few scenes of Winter in North Fork:

First some views of downtown North Fork on Main Street. Elevation approximately 2600 ft.


Just as the snow is beginning to stick to the street downtown


Coming down a little harder now ~ Buckhorn Saloon lights


The snow view of Sierra Video from North Fork Hardware


Near the downtown area but up just a little higher in elevation is this view that looks like powdered sugar sprinkled over all the trees in the valley.


View looking toward Cascadel and Whiskey Ridge area

Steep and Deep Driveway

A little higher we go now to about 3000 ft elevation. Just look at the snow piled up on that deck railing!

Deck Covered in Snow ~ Another Christmas Tree too

Nature is always beautiful here in the mountain area, but when it snows it can be incredible.

Colorful Little Daffodils Braving the Snow and Ice

Blue Sky Peaking Through the Clouds

Sun Glistening on the Snow Covered Evergreens

More Sun Breaking through the Clouds onto the Snow Covered Scene

We usually do get a few snow days here in North Fork every winter. Usually only a few inches of snowfall that melts in a day or two. Just enough to be beautiful and keep life interesting. Sometimes, however, we can get quite a bit of snow that sticks around for a week or more. These next two photos show how much and how fast we can get snow on occasion.

My driveway at 8:30am just as it is beginning to snow

Same driveway view approximately 3 hours later! One foot in 3 hours!

Winter in the mountains can be a beautiful adventure. Some days it pays to just stay home and sit by the warm fire in the good old wood stove. There was no way I was going to drive my car out of there anyway.

Wood stove heat warms the house and the heart

Stay warm for the rest of the winter. Spring arrives officially 5 days from now on March 20th. I wonder if Mother Nature reads the calendar.

© Copyright 2009 North Fork News

Boy Scout Christmas Trees

If you celebrate Christmas, it's time to get your Christmas tree up and decorated.

If you want a real as opposed to artificial pine tree, I suggest you shop locally for your tree at the North Fork Boy Scout Christmas tree sale located right here in downtown North Fork.

The Boy Scout tree sale is located in the North Fork Library parking lot all day on the weekends and after school lets out in the afternoons during the week. The lot opens for the season on the first Saturday in December.


Library Parking Lot Entrance

These trees are very fresh so they last a long time. They are trees that are cut in the process of thinning to maintain healthy forest growing conditions. So when we buy these Christmas trees, not only are we getting a fresh locally grown product and are helping to support the Boy Scouts, but we are also putting trees that would be cut anyway to good use instead of cutting a tree grown specifically as a commercial Christmas tree.

They have quite a selection of trees in all different shapes and sizes:


Since these are trees that grow naturally in the forest, they each have their unique natural personality. They are not pruned and manicured to all look the same. They are all beautifully different. They fit right in with the spirit of our small town North Fork community. Unique and natural.



They are also inexpensive. A 6 foot tree can be purchased for only $15.

So come on down to the library parking lot and select your favorite tree from the many sizes and varieties available.


Here's a nice one...

After you make your selection, the crew of Christmas Tree Elves is on hand to measure your tree and help you take it to your truck or car. Here they stand at the ready:

Christmas Tree Elves ~ some a bit camera shy...

After tree selection and measurement are complete, this nice man will gladly accept your money and give you a receipt:

Then you can load the tree, or trees, into your vehicle and drive home happily anticipating the decorating process.

We did just that a couple of Sundays ago. We each bought a tree, loaded all 3 of them into our truck and drove home merrily.

The visit to our local Christmas tree lot was pleasant, easy and fun. No long drives, no traffic, no huge crowds. And we felt good knowing we were shopping locally, supporting our local Boy Scouts and also helping to maintain the health of our precious forests.

You really should go check them out and buy a tree!

Merry Christmas Everyone!

© Copyright 2008 North Fork News

NF Market Logging Heritage Mural

Logging Heritage Mural on NF Market


This is a very belated posting with only "so-so" photos about the beautiful mural that was painted on the side wall of our North Fork Supermarket this past summer. I've seen better photos of this mural around, but I snapped the one above just to give you the idea of what it looks like from a distance. Hopefully my inadequate photography will encourage you to go down to NF Market and take a look at the mural in person. The photo really does not do it justice.

The mural project was the vision and under the direction of our own "Joan of Art". She and many, many community members worked tirelessly to complete this mural by the 4th of July holiday and Logger's Jamboree weekend.

Not only were many local artists involved, but also other members of the community who donated supplies and equipment.

Toward the left side of the mural picture there is a "plaque" dedicating this mural to "all who worked in the lumber mill" for the 50 years it was in operation:



Dedication Plaque ~ Click the photo to enlarge it

All along the bottom of the mural are trees that were painted by North Fork folks and each tree is labeled with the artist's name or family name. This is such a creative idea to get more people involved! I love it. Here is a small portion of the tree line close up:


Named Trees

I think the cutest part of the whole mural is how they handled the existing "utility cover box" that juts out from the wall right in the middle of the mural space. You can see it with its lid open in the photo at the top of this post. Here's a close up view showing that the artist turned the ugly utility box into their rendition of a forest fire lookout tower. I think that is just totally creative.


Barbara's Lookout "Tower"

So please forgive my so-so photos and my belated and abbreviated version of this mural's story, and go out there and view the mural for yourself. Remember to stop into North Fork Market and tell them how much you like the mural on their side wall.

It is my understanding that more community murals are in the works. Maybe you will be part of the next town mural project.

© Copyright 2008 North Fork News

Squirrel Cage Theatre Fall Show ~ Nov 14 & 15

"Showdown at the Rainbow Ranch"

From the Squirrel Cage Theatre website:

2008 FALL SHOW: Showdown at the Rainbow Ranch
An original musical melodrama by local author/composer Joan LeGro Bushnell and her partner Charles H. Randall.

Showdown at the Rainbow Ranch, set in the old west of 1898, combines action with romance when dashing young Matthew Merriweather, Wild West Show hero falls head over spurs in love with spirited young Rainbow Heatherton, heir to the Rainbow Ranch. Woven throughout a series of mysterious disappearances and hidden identities are Bushnell’s toe tapping tunes and haunting countermelodies.

If you enjoyed last year’s Shake Up at Sugarpine, you’ll want to hop on board for Showdown at the Rainbow Ranch!

Friday/Saturday, November 7/8,14/15 - Showdown at the Rainbow Ranch, North Fork Town Hall , Doors open 5:30pm, Dinner 6-7pm, Show 7pm. Adults $10, Children under 12 $5, Family $25

Please call to reserve seats for parties of 10 or more, Info: 877-2129
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We attended the show this past Saturday night, November 8th and sat with family and friends at a reserved "table for 10" right up front. The view was wonderful. The food that night was a spicy (but not too spicy) homemade chili with beans, cornbread & salad. Desserts were available for $1. Wonderful pies, cakes and cheesecakes (my favorite!). A full bar was ready to serve you the spirit or soft drink of your choice. The usual coffee and tea were included with the price of dinner.

The music and acting were superb. The melodrama was interesting and funny. The audience was encouraged to boo, hiss, cheer and applaud in all the right places.

The play included some creative special effects such as the romantic heart-shaped red spotlight during a love song between the play's two young lovers.


"Rainbow" & "Matt" sing their love to each other



In addition to the play, we were treated to several other creative performances.

To warm up the audience, the show's emcee, Dave, and his singing partner for the evening, Cassidy, a young woman with a beautiful & clear voice, lead us in song.


Dave and Cassidy sing

Frank, a local masterful story teller, kept us hanging on every word as he told a suspenseful "tall tale" about a guy who just wanted to go fishing, but instead ended up having a great adventure that day.

A returning local favorite was the performance by The Whistlers as shown below:


The Dancing Whistlers ~ a sight to behold!


If you haven't yet seen this year's Fall Show you still have a chance to attend. It is playing next Friday and Saturday evenings, November 14th & 15th at Town Hall. Doors open at 5:30.


See the Squirrel Cage Website for more info or call 877-2129. Don't miss it!


© Copyright 2008 North Fork News