All entries by this author

Navy Pride: One of Nation’s First WAVES Looks Back on Her Groundbreaking Role

Sep 15th, 2012 | By
Navy Pride: One of Nation’s First WAVES Looks Back on Her Groundbreaking Role

A 91-year-old Sonoran recalls a remarkable time in her life, when she and a handful of other adventurous young women signed on to become the U.S. Navy’s very first contingent of WAVES – Women Accepted for Volunteer Emergency Service.



Quilting Sisters Piece Together a Loving Home

Jun 15th, 2012 | By
Quilting Sisters Piece Together a Loving Home

As experienced quilters, Jamestown sisters Katey Barbee, Flo Daley and Judy Fitzmorris skillfully fit assorted pieces of fabric into balanced, intricate designs. As a family, they’ve done the same – taken assorted personalities, talents and creative passions and fit them together in the next phase of their lives. For the past 15 years – after
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The Gift of Second Chances

Mar 15th, 2011 | By
The Gift of Second Chances

When Bobby Medina left gangs, prison and drugs behind, he found hope, love and a new life. Yet his mission to help others find the same remains a struggle against long odds.



Adventures on the Wind: Balloonist Bob Kinsinger

Sep 15th, 2010 | By
Adventures on the Wind: Balloonist Bob Kinsinger

Bob Kinsinger always intended to be a world traveler. It’s a passion he has nurtured his whole life. Now 87, the retired university and foundation administrator has crisscrossed the globe dozens of times – very often floating slowly beneath a colorful hot air balloon in hundreds of trips to more than 30 countries. He has
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Resources for Grandparents

Jun 15th, 2009 | By

Grandparent support and information Grandparents Raising Grandchildren Support Group Services: Drop-in support group meets twice monthly, 9-11:30am, second and fourth Wednesdays, Sonora Blood Bank conference room, 850 Sanguinetti Rd. Contact: JoAnn Pechota, Licensed Clinical Social Worker, 588-0298 AARP Grandparent Information Center Services: National and state clearinghouse of information and resources for grandparenting issues Contact: (888)
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The Second Time Around: Grandparents Raise a New Generation

Jun 15th, 2009 | By

A handful of Tuolumne County grandparents agreed to share their stories with Friends and Neighbors about “the second time around” – raising their grandchildren. Often there are complex legal, emotional and financial issues involved. Heartbreak is nearly always at the core of these situations, social workers say, but love finds a way.



How to Teach an Old Dog New Tricks

Mar 15th, 2009 | By

“They love to work and they love the attention. It’s a great way to bond and they need that at any age.” – Sherry Galka, trainer



Archive Provides Safe Haven for History

Sep 15th, 2008 | By

Not many people have a building named for them while they’re still alive. Tuolumne County Historian Carlo De Ferrari was given just such an honor in 1999, with the dedication of the Carlo M. De Ferrari Archive. The two-story building, behind the county library on Greenley Road in Sonora, is a state-of-the-art records management facility
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Carlo De Ferrari: Mr. History’s Lifetime Legacy

Sep 15th, 2008 | By

As part of a Gold Rush family, it’s only natural that Tuolumne County native Carlo De Ferrari grew up with a keen interest in prospecting. But he’s spent a lifetime digging for nuggets of a different sort – the retired clerk-auditor is Tuolumne County’s official historian. His 32 years in county service gave him both
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