April & May Local Events

April 8
Sierra Vista Scenic Byway Association Annual Meeting, 7pm, National Forest Ranger District Board Room, 57003 Rd. 225 in North Fork. Guest speaker/singer: Jean Butterfield. Info: Website & 877-7779

April 20
North Fork Earth Day Fair, 10a-4pm, North Fork Mill Site, Info: 877-4620 

May 11
Community Roadside Litter Cleanup, 8am-Noon, Meet at NF Post Office at 8am to pick up trash bags, Info: 877-2361


© Copyright 2013 North Fork News

March & April Local Events

Mar 31
North Fork Town Hall Meeting, 6-8pm, North Fork Town Hall, Meeting with Madera County Supervisor Tom Wheeler. This is the only Town Hall Mtg scheduled for North Fork this year, so be sure to attend and bring your community questions & concerns for Supervisor Wheeler.

Apr 11 ~ Note the Time Change! Annual Mtg now 7pm
Sierra Vista Scenic Byway Association Annual Meeting, 7pm, National Forest Ranger District Board Room, 57003 Rd. 225 in North Fork, Info: 877-7779

Apr 16
Earth Day Fair, 10am-4pm, North Fork School, Info: 877-8663

© Copyright 2011 North Fork News

North Fork Earth Day Fair ~ April 25th

© Copyright 2010 North Fork News

April Local Events

Apr 19
Sierra Vista Scenic Byway Association Annual Meeting, 6pm, National Forest Ranger District Board Room, 57003 Rd. 225 in North Fork, Info: 877-3952

Apr 24
North Fork Volunteer Fire Department Auxiliary Tri-Tip BBQ, 11am-2pm, NF School, Kennedy Hall, $8 adults, $7 pre-sale, $6 seniors, $5 children under 10, Silent Auction, Info: 877-4458, evenings

Apr 24
North Fork Waste Tire Amnesty Day , 10am-1pm, at the old Mill Site, Road 225, Advance Reservations Required, Call: 675-7821


© Copyright 2010 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

New Life In North Fork......Continued

The weather and Springtime has not been cooperating at all this year. It has been miserably cold and unpredictable for us humans for weeks, but still our resident returning sparrows have braved the weather, and have been very busy transporting nest building materials to the nest site. Look closely and you can see two long wing feathers as Mom is tidying up the nesting area.





This year the neighbors and I decided to help out our industrious sparrows, note the mound of nest building material consisting of lint, tiny sticks, fluff, and, string hanging from the red bud tree.



At first the wary sparrows were more cautious than thankful for the scary cocoon looking mound of nest material as it tumbled and twisted in the wind. The sparrows soon discovered, however, that the odd looking cocoon was a much easier way to obtain building materials than darting all over town.

As attested by Dad sparrows mouth full of fluff, our offered up cocoon appears to be a very successful helpful hand.




Here is Father sparrow on the constant look out for danger as Mom is arranging the nest to suit her fancy.




Even Moms need to take a rest occasionally..............




Stay tuned for more reports on our returning sparrow family.


© Copyright 2008 North Fork News

New Life in North Fork

As promised, I am reporting back on the nest building activities under the old weathered roof shake near the corner of my building.

I check daily for activity by the knothole entrance to the nest, but not much has been happening until just recently. A couple of days ago I noticed a tangled remnant of yarn stuffed into the very edge of the knothole. Work on the nest construction has obviously commenced.

Evidence of springtime is everywhere you look. The earth is warming, the tulips in my wine barrel at home are about to explode into blossom, the redbud trees in downtown North Fork will be ablaze with crimson blossoms, and tiny green leaves on the now barren oak trees will be unfolding soon.

Today, when I arrived to open my business, I looked again for any activity near the nest entrance. And, there perched in the redbud tree, just under the knothole, were Mom & Dad sparrow chirping excitedly to each other. One sparrow was slightly built and colorful, the other more rounded and plain. They were obviously partners about to put together a family, and they were checking out the neighborhood.

The sparrows seemed to trust me, so I slowly moved a little closer to get a picture of them chattering at each other. They have just started the nest construction and there will be many more trips back and forth. I may even help them this year by hanging some string and yarn in the tree.

In a few weeks there will be barely audible peeping sounds coming from under that old shake, and tiny feathered heads bobbing up and down under the edge of the roof. I love how nature’s story unfolds right in front of me.

© Copyright 2008 North Fork News

Spring is Here

Herbs, pansies & chard ready for the garden


Spring is here in the mountains. Yesterday was our vernal equinox, or first day of Spring.

The sun is shining brightly and the plants are starting to grow and bloom. The grass, weeds and wildflowers will soon be plentiful and tall.

Spring is nature's signal for new growth and for us to move forward with positive spirit. Planting seeds, nurturing them, tending them and awaiting the promise of our harvest. A busy season full of plans and promise.

Spring is here. May it grow strong and live forever in our hearts.



© Copyright 2008 North Fork News

Spring Forward & Dance

Almond Blossoms

Daylight Savings Time begins early this year. Remember to turn your clocks one hour ahead tomorrow at 2am….or you can change them before you go to bed tonight….

Joggin Jack attended last Thursday’s NF chamber of commerce meeting and reported back that their annual Auction Dinner Fundraiser has now turned into their annual Auction Dinner & Dance Fundraiser. So this is a new and interesting turn of events. Read about last year's Auction Dinner.

When is this new annual event going to happen this year? The date for the Auction Dinner & Dance Fundraiser has been set for Saturday April 19, 2008. I will post more details here in this blog space as the event date grows near. View the chamber of commerce Special Events list for this and other community events.



© Copyright 2008 North Fork News

Springtime in North Fork

Now, one would wonder why a worn out piece of facia board under the eve of my store front at North Fork Hardware would be of such interest, or most especially why this had anything at all to do with the happenings in the tiny village of North Fork.

You can't see much activity quite yet, but very soon new movement will be happening just under the right edge of the old weathered shake you see in the photo. If you look very, very closely, a knot hole can barely be seen under that old weathered shake, and has been the entrance for several generations of sparrows building a home for their newly arriving babies. I have watched this miracle of nature for several years now and always wonder how the next generation finds it's way back to that exact same old knot hole.

I can already see my neighbors and me gathered quietly in wonder watching several trips of the very focused sparrows bringing in nest building materials. It's really quite something to watch, and definitely clear evidence that Springtime is about to arrive in North Fork. And, if we venture too closely to the nearby red bud tree just under the eve, Mom and Dad sparrow will give us a severe scolding. So, we back off and watch like little kids at the wonders of nature unfolding in front of us.

I really enjoy this time of year, the new growth like the daffodils my Mom planted in front of the store last year, and the promise of better things to come. Stay tuned, I'll be submitting progress reports on how our sparrow family and North Fork is progressing as Springtime arrives.




© Copyright 2008 North Fork News