One of the greatest benefits of living in the Mother Lode is the natural beauty that surrounds us. And there’s no better way to enjoy the great outdoors than with family – both young and old. Below are eight one-day outings, suitable for  both grandparents and children. Most are free, or at least low cost,
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It was May 1943, and Larry Singley had just enlisted in the Navy – four days before his 18th birthday. With World War II under way, Singley was immediately sent to Florida for boot camp. So quickly, in fact, that his mother had to pick up his high school diploma at a graduation ceremony the
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At 85, Jim Gullion still has ‘the moves’ honed from 70 seasons on a ballfield. Now he and other granddads are sharing what they know, including Jim’s fitness philosophy: Actions beats inaction every time.

Arthritis ended his violin-playing days, but Dario Cassina’s deep love of music and community lives on.

Composting is about as green as it gets. Using food scraps and yard waste to help the soil in your garden or flower bed not only creates a beneficial fertilizer, but also keeps unnecessary materials out of landfills. Compost is created by the controlled decomposition of organic materials, according to the University of California Cooperative
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Groveland’s Frank Oyung, 78, has worn out a lot of shoe leather and tire rubber on the road to good health. His advice: Keep moving – and keep singing, too.

A long line forms outside the Tuolumne County Senior Center. Inside, boxes of pasta, cans of fruit and bags of vegetables are being distributed to grateful seniors. “I have almost no grocery money at all, so this helps me tremendously,” says Diane Bravo, a 62-year-old Columbia resident. “It makes a huge difference.” She’s not alone.
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Snow is not the only thing that can create an avalanche this winter. For most of us, junk mail has been stuffing our mailboxes as full as the stockings above the fireplace. Online, there are a variety of websites devoted to becoming free of unwanted mail. Each person in the U.S. receives about 560 pieces
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Volunteers are the backbone of the Red Cross, a national nonprofit devoted to disaster relief. What’s not as widely known: how close to home those disasters often hit.

What are the three most important issues facing Tuolumne County seniors? Access to affordable medical care, good public transportation and affordable housing, including assisted-living facilities. That’s according to a “grassroots survey” conducted by the recently revamped Tuolumne County Commission on Aging. The survey, completed by about 300 seniors between January and June, also revealed that:
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