Dr. Dow Ransom’s heritage and legacy
One of Madera’s most productive generations was made up of its citizens who were born in the latter part of the 19th century and lived until the 1940s and ’50s. In any historical survey, those individuals will stand out, and none more so than Dr. Dow Ransom. We have written about Dr. Ransom before, especially […]
Bring on the books
A couple of months ago, I wrote an article about the Friends of the Madera County Library, and about the benefits of using our library system. Libraries are important institutions in our society, and they provide quite a number of avenues for learning. I thought I would follow up with you on that last article […]
Fresno fair to offer classic acts
Big Fresno Fair concert tickets will go on sale to its Big Fair Fan Club on May 7 and to the general public May 14. The 2019 Table Mountain Casino Concert Series will feature Christian Nodal, Roseanne Barr, Newboys, and Tower of Power plus WAR, according to communications director Danielle Griffin of the Big Fresno […]
Jefferson, Adams: Political enemies, friends in death
Thomas Jefferson and John Adams may have been political enemies, but their lives were really not all that different. They were co-authors of the Declaration of Independence. They both were elected president of the United States, and with more than a touch of irony, the two men faced the Grim Reaper in an amazing coincidence. […]
Opinion: Saying goodbye to old friends
I lost a dear friend last week. Gary Espinoza, 68, died on April 23, 2019. I met Gary when I was a freshman and he was a senior at Madera High School. We met at a football game. Even though we didn’t have a really strong football program in 1969, the crowd I ran with […]
Opinion: Fires push utility-PUC kabuki dance to absurd levels
For the last few decades, California’s largest utilities and the state’s Public Utilities Commission have conducted an elaborate kabuki-style dance every two or three years, whenever the utilities applied for general rate increases. Now the amounts at stake in these dramatic farces are rising to absurd levels, with all three of the state’s big privately-owned […]
Treat Mom to a nice dessert
I know that not all moms are able to enjoy baked goods due to dietary and health restrictions, but for those who can, I thought I would share some of my favorite recipes. I am a diabetic, but I have it under control enough to indulge in some treats once in a while. One good […]