May

Mental Health First Aid Training. Free course open to the public, become a certified Mental Health First Aider. 12 hour overview of mental illness and substance use disorders and how to connect individuals in need to appropriate care. Thursdays, May 10, 17, 24, and 31, 9am-12pm at the Murphys Senior Center, 65 Mitchler Street, Murphys. Reserve a spot: 728-1672.

Wed., May 16
Amgen Tour of California, Stage 4 bike race beginning on Sonora’s Washington St.;  exact start time, road closures TBA, amgentourofcalifornia.com.

Thurs-Sun., May 17-20

Calaveras County Fair and Jumping Frog Jubilee at fairgrounds, 101 Frogtown Rd., Angels Camp. 8am-midnight. Exhibits 10am, carnival rides noon, food, frog jumping  contest. Saturday, Sunday, adults $10; 60 and over $7; 6-12 $5; under 5 free. Thursday, Friday adults $6; 12 and under free. 736-2561,  frogtown.org.

Jumping Frog Jubilee, beginning with a childrens’ parade and frog jump competition in downtown Angels Camp. Info: frogtown.org.

Fri., May 18

New Melones Speaker Series: The Creation of Natural Bridges. Crafts and a presentation begin at 6 pm at the New Melones Visitor Center and Museum, learn the geology, fauna, flora, native and cultural history of Natural Bridges. Free event for all ages, info: 536‐9094 usbr.gov/mp/ccao/newmelones.

“Writing to Get Published,” Free Writing Class Saturdays at the Groveland Branch of the Tuolumne County Library, 18990 Hwy 120, Groveland. Classes will run Sat., May 5 through June 9, 2pm-3:30pm. Class is open to students of all ages, sign up at the library, or by phone: 962-6144.

Sat., May 19

Blessing of the Animals, 10am, Church of the 49ers, 11155 Jackson St., Columbia. Well-behaved, leashed or caged animals receive individual blessing, owners get commemorative certificate. Yappy Hour follows, treats, fellowship, photographer available, costumes optional. Free. 532-6604, 532-2441.

The Calaveras Big Trees Association Free Workshops education and interpretive program: Butterflies. Learn about butterflies at the Jack Knight Hall at Calaveras Big Trees State Park, 10am-12pm. Workshop is free, admission to the Park is $8 per car. Info: 795-3840, or click here.

Wine Tasting Cruise, 4-7:30pm, Pine Mountain Lake, Groveland. Water taxis depart Lake Lodge to lakefront homes for local wine, food samples. Tickets $45, in advance; info, 962-5693, 962-5210.

Twain Harte a la Carte, 5-7 pm, downtown Twain Harte. Local wine, food samples; silent and live auctions. Benefits Twain Harte Soroptomist projects. $35. 586-3222.

Saturdays, May 19-Oct. 20: Sonora Certified Farmer’s Market, 7:30-11:30am Saturdays, Theall and Stewart streets. 532-7725.

Sat.-Sun., May 19- 20

Sonora Art Trails, 10-5 Sat., 11-5, Sun., Self-guided tour of Tuolumne County artists’ studios, workshops. Free maps at Central Sierra Arts Council, 193 S. Washington St., Sonora. 532-2787.

Sun., May 20

Mormon Creek Paddle. Experience New Melones Lake from the water on a ranger-led paddling tour. Look for river otters, bald eagles, osprey and other wildlife. Meet at 10am, Tuttletown Entrance Station. Open to anyone with their own kayak or other non-motorized boat. Each child under 18 must be accompanied by adult. Bring lifejackets, lunch. Limited space, pre-registration required, 536-9094 x236. Special accommodation: 536-9094 x215, or email tneal@usbr.gov by May 15. Free. 536‐9094, usbr.gov/mp/ccao/newmelones.

Tues., May 22

Senior of the Year Luncheon celebrating volunteers, noon, Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 221 Church Hill St., San Andreas. Nominations due May 4. Calaveras County Commission on Aging. $17. Reserve ahead, 754-1495.

Wed., May 23

Parents and Grandparents: Butterflies at the Tuolumne County Library. Children of all ages will discover butterflies collected from all around the world. 3:30 pm in the Community Meeting Room, 480 Greenley Rd., Sonora. Info: 533-5507, tuolcolib.org.

Thurs.-Sun., May 24-27

Strawberry Music Festival, Camp Mather, Mather and Evergreen Roads off Highway 120 near Yosemite. Gates open 8am Thursday. Four-day ticket $200, age 5-12 $60, under 5 free. 984-8630.

Sat.-Sun., May 26-27

Arnold Peddler’s Faire, 9am-4pm, Bristol’s Ranch House Café, Highway 4, Arnold. Pancake breakfast 8-11am both days, $6; More than 60 booths, food, local beers, crafts, collectibles for sale. Free admission, parking. 925-372-8961.

Mon., May 28

Memorial Day Salute, 11am, old veterans section, Columbia Cemetery, Columbia State Historic Park. Prayers, speech, “Battle Hymn of the Republic,” by Columbia Foot Dragoons and Grenadine Belles. Free. 536-1672, 533-3663.

Thurs.-Sun., May 31-June 3

Columbia Diggin’s: Tent Town 1852, 10am-4pm, Columbia State Historic Park. Experience early re-created gold miningcamp. $5 adults, $112 and under. 588-9128.

June

Beekeeping Beginning and Intermediate Classes. Beginning Class, Sat., June 2, 8:30am-4:30pm -Check-in starts at 7:45. Tuolumne CountyFireand AmbulanceAdministrationCenter, 18450 Striker Ct., Sonora. Intermediate Class, Sat., July 21, 10:30am-4pm -Check-in starts at 10:15, Sonora Blood Bank, 850 Sanguinetti Rd., Sonora. Each class: $45 per person or $35 for SFBA Members. Info: 768-5416, sierrafoothillbeekeepers.com.

Fri., June 1

Fundraiser for Rail Road Flat Elementary School, to help fund Enrichment Program (sports, gardening, construction, art, poetry, storytelling, sewing, drama and more). Only 140 tickets will be sold for this event. Includes three-course gourmet Brazilian dinner plus one drink, music by NJR Band and The Motherlode Pluckers, auction and raffle and no-host bar. $35 per person, or $60 per couple, $15 youth. Organized by The Friends of Rail Road Flat School. 754-1032, autumnandahl@gmail.com.

Sat., June 2

Ice Cream Social, 1-3pm, Church of the 49ers, 11155 Jackson St., Columbia. Sundaes, quilt raffle, antique pump organ music. Free, donations benefit Church History Committee, 532-6604, 532-2441.

Sat., June 2

Copperopolis Celebration,CopperopolisCommunity Center,695 Main St.(O’Byrnes Ferry Rd.). Parade, 11am; craft vendors, music. Free. Pancake breakfast, Old Historic Armory 8-10:30am, $6 adults, $3 10 and under. 785-4081.

Wed., June 6

Hero’s Breakfast Honoring Extraordinary Acts of Courage, Doubletree Hotel, Modesto, 7:30-9am. American Red Cross honors community members from Stanislaus and Tuolumne counties. Tickets $65, proceeds support critical disaster relief services. Info: redcrosscrc.org, 523-6501.

Motherload Innovation Summit on Technology (MIST) Conference, 9am in the Dogwood Forum, Columbia College. Day-long conference for beginners and advanced users of Social Media Marketing, lunch provided. Register online at www.mistcon.org, $89. Reduced price is $20 for full-time students and the staff of non-profit organizations, contact 533-1397.Rock for the Track

Thurs.-Sun., June 7-10

Tuolumne Lumber Jubilee, downtown Tuolumne, opens 5pm Thurs., closes Sun. after 4pm tug of war; carnival, logging contests, parade, music, vendors, Soap Box Derby. 743-6796.

Sat., June 9

The Calaveras Big Trees Association Free Workshops education and interpretive program: The Mystery of Bird Song. Learn about birds and birdsong at the Jack Knight Hall at Calaveras Big Trees State Park, 10am-12pm. Workshop is free, admission to the Park is $8 per car. Info: 795-3840, or click here.

Sarsaparilla Roundup, noon-4pm, various locations in Columbia State Historic Park. Food, music, contests. Free. 536-1672.

Rock for the Track Music Festival and Craft Faire, Sonora High School. Opens 5pm, music 6-9pm. Food, crafts, merchant booths. Tickets at gate, $10 adults, $5 12 and under. Benefits installation of new all-weather track at Dunlavy Field. Call regarding booth rental. 533-3732.

“Spotlight on Railtown” Fundraiser at Railtown 1897 State Historic Park, Jamestown. 6pm, local wines and appetizers, tour of the facility, live music, railcar rides and silent auction. Hosted by Tuolumne County’s Rotary clubs, all proceeds benefit the park. Tickets $50, available from local Rotary club members, at the park, and online, railtown1897.org. Info: 984-3953.

Mon., June 11

Drive Thru Dinner, Tuolumne County 4-H, 4-6:30pm, Mother Lode Fairgrounds. This “dinner to go” fundraiser helps send 4-H All Stars and Leadership Team to state conference this summer. Dinner for 4-5 people costs $30: BBQ tri-tip, cowboy beans, green salad, garlic bread. Sponsored by Tuolumne County 4-H Council. For info, call 533-6990.

Senior Expo Slated for Wed., June 13

Senior Expo, 9am-2pm, John Muir Building, Mother Lode Fairgrounds, 220 Southgate Drive, Sonora. Health, social service and other resources for seniors, including financial, insurance, legal, banking, caregiving. Free. Senior Idol Talent Contest, 1pm, call for entry info. Tuolumne County Commission on Aging event, vendor booths available; limited free space for nonprofits. Sandi, 532-1607.

Fri.-Sun., June 22-24

Passport Weekend Wine Tasting event, taste wines from 23 wineries, grapes originating in different regions of the world. One day $30, 3 days $60, calaveraswines.org, 728-9467.

Sat., June 23

The Motherlode Gospel Jubilee, concert and raffle at Sonora High School Auditorium, 420 N. Washington St., Sonora. Featuring The California Melody Boys, Solid Ground, and A New Day, doors open at 5pm, concert begins at 6pm. $10, children under 15 free, call 536-0439 or 559-1908 for advance tickets.

July

Thurs.-Sun., July 12-15

75th Mother Lode Fair at the Mother Lode Fairgrounds. Info: motherlodefair.org

August

Mon., August 20

Fall Adult softball league registration opens. $258.00 per Team registration fee, late fee after Aug. 31, late registration closes Sept. 7. 6 week season with no playoffs, Sept. 25 – Nov. 2. Info: www.tcrecreation.com, 533-6908 or visit the Recreation Dept. Office, 43 North Green Street, Sonora.

Entertainment & Day Trips

For Tuolumne County information, visit the Visitors Bureau website, thegreatunfenced.com.

For a full listing of Calaveras County events, visit gocalaveras.com.

Columbia State Historic Park:  to visit the park online,  click here.

For Amador County, visit amadorcountychamber.com.

Movies

Sonora, http://www.fandango.com/95370_movietheatershowtimes

Angels Camp, http://www.cinemawest.com/agl.html

Riverbank, http://www.galaxytheatres.com/loc_riverbank.asp

Local Theater

Sierra Repertory Theater, East Sonora and Columbia, http://www.sierrarep.org/content.html?season-2010.cgi

Stage 3 Theater, Sonora, http://www.stage3.org/season.aspx

Day Trips

Railtown 1897 State Historic Park, http://www.railtown1897.com

Columbia State Historic Park, http://www.columbiacalifornia.com/

Big Trees State Park, http://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=551

Dodge Ridge Wintersports Area, Highway 108 east of Sonora, 536-5307, www.dodgeridge.com

Outdoor Adventures

Yosemite National Park’s best experts offer outdoor programs aimed at connecting people more deeply to the Sierra.  Learn more at www.yosemite.org, or from the park’s newsletter, Yosemite Guide, available online at www.nps.gov/yose.

Is hiking your passion? For a detailed list of hiking trails in Yosemite and the surrounding area, check out this website: yosemitehikes.com.

Or, you can join the Sierra Club’s Tuolumne Group on foothills hikes.

Special Notices

Signs for Safety

Tuolumne County Sheriff’s Department, through its Community Service Unit, offers low-cost home address signs with high visibility, which can help medical, law enforcement and firefighters get to your home quickly in case of emergency. Cost is $12 for a one-sided sign, $16 for two-sided. 533-5815.

In Search of Volunteers:

Looking for volunteer opportunities? Read the latest issue of Friends and Neighbors for a “Volunteers Needed” listing updated quarterly. Or,  this online directory can link you with local organizations that will welcome your skills and enthusiasm: 1-800-volunteer.org.

You can also call Sierra NonProfit Services in Sonora (533-1093, www.sierranonprofit.org) to chat one-on-one about available volunteer jobs. In Calaveras County, find local volunteer opportunities by calling (209) 754-1699, calaverasvolunteer.com.

Connect with SIRS:

Local chapters of SIR (Sons in Retirement) in Sonora, Twain Harte, Murphys and Arnold offer a chance for retired men to share companionship and activities. The nonprofit organization has some 20,000 members with 150 branches statewide. For information, visit the group’s main website, www.sirinc.org.

Newcomers Welcome:

Two friendly groups invite area newcomers to join them. The Tuolumne County Newcomers Club meets monthly at different locations; dues are $20 per year, plus cost of any event; contact Gina Wein, 532-4864, www.tcnc.org.

Gold Country Social Club meets for lunch the second Tuesday of each month at the Pine Tree Restaurant, 19601 Hess Ave., East Sonora; dues are $12 a year, luncheons $10; call Marion Friary, 532-4144.

Federal Employees:

National Active and Retired Federal Employees Association, Chapter 1285, meets first Wednesday of each month, 11:30am, Pine Tree Restaurant adjoining the Best Western, Highway 108 and Hess Ave., East Sonora. President Bob Graves, 532-6936; Carolyn McCrea, 532-5114.  New members welcome; no meetings are held in June, July and August.

Commissions Serve as Voice for Seniors:

The Commission on Aging (COA) in both Tuolumne and Calaveras counties are seeking new members. The panels serve as a voice for seniors and advise county supervisors on related issues.

• Tuolumne County COA meets at 1:30pm the second Monday of month at Area 12 Agency on Aging, 19074 Standard Rd., Sonora. Ira Uslander, 770-4508.
• Calaveras County COA meets 10am the first Friday of month at Calaveras Senior Center, 956 Mountain Ranch Rd., San Andreas.  For info, Sandy Miller, 754-1495. To apply, call Diane Severud, 754-6059, or go online to calaverascountycoa.org.

Best Friends Available:

Find a loving companion at Tuolumne County Animal Control (694-2730) or the Humane Society of Tuolumne County (984-5489), 10040 Victoria Way, Jamestown. Dogs and cats eagerly await your call. Visit the Humane Society online at hsotc.org.