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The Perfect Gentlemen see page 15

SeSummer 2012

James Faifua & the Jukes Music in the Park

Cover Photo Courtesy Michelle White

stillmemoriesphotosite.com

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Shopping l Dining l Art Galleries l Live Theatre Fridays 6 pm to 8 pm Courthouse ParkMUSIC IN

THE PARK 2012

FREEFREE!MAG C OF THE N GHT August 10th In Historic Downtown Sonora

6 p.m.-9 p.m. A GREAT FAMILY-FUN EVENT

Featur ing LIVE MUSIC, STREET PERFORMERS, DANCING, ANTIQUE CARS, STREET ENTERTAINMENT, GAMES, FOOD & MORE

209-532-7725 • www.sonoraca.com

T r o l l e y S e r v i c e

E X P L O R E

SonoraMary Mc Caslin Singing Rails see page 19

by David Mamet

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18767 Main Street • Groveland, CA 95321 • 209-962-4000 • 800-273-3314 • www.groveland.com

THRU JULY 29Stage 3 “Red” THRU AUGUST 19Fallon House Theatre“Carousel” JULY 44th of July Celebration Columbia State Historic ParkTwain Harte Lake Don Pedro

JULY 7Fifth Annual Farm & Ranch Tour JULY 7Ironstone AmphitheaterIndependence Day Celebration JULY 12 TO JULY 15Mother Lode Fair 75th Annual County FairJULY 14Mountain Sage Good Luck Thrift Store Outfit w/ The Trespassers JULY 21 & JULY 22Twain Harte Annual Summer Arts & Wine FestivalJULY 21

Railtown 1897“Mark Twain Ride” JULY 21Ironstone Amphitheater ”Reba” JULY 27

Groveland Hotel “Life in the Fast Lane-Eagles Tribute”

JULY 27-SEPTEMBER 2Sierra Repertory Theatre “There Goes the Bride”JULY 27-OCTOBER 7

Central Sierra Arts Council “The Woven Art of the Andes” JULY 28Ironstone Amphitheater “Kelly Clarkson” and “The Fray” JULY 28Mountain Sage “Dead Winter Carpenters” & “Sweetwater String Band” AUGUST 2Black Oak Casino “Dave Stamey” & “David Bradley” AUGUST 3Ironstone Amphitheater Concert “John Fogerty” AUGUST 4Railtown 1897 State Historic Park

Singing Rails featuring Mary McCaslin. McCaslin represents an unbroken link between traditional American folk-singers and today’s “new folk” singer-songwriters. She is known for her songs about the West, its landscape, and its outlaws and this will be a summer highlight at Railtown 1897.AUGUST 4Rods to Rails in Jamestown AUGUST 10City of Sonora’s “Magic of the Night.” Music will fill the air in historic downtown Sonora with live music, dancing, antique cars, street enter-tainment, games and more. So come join us as Sonora’s nightlife heats up for this Free Summertime event. Call (209) 532-7725 for info.

AUGUST 10Groveland Hotel “The Perfect Gentlemen/Music & Comedy” AUGUST 116th Annual Classic Car Show/Craft Faire 10am-4pm. Cool classic cars, craft booths, music, yummy food, face painting and lots of raffle priz-es. FREE ADMISSION. Fun for the entire family. Hope you will join us for fresh mountain air and fun.AUGUST 11Ironstone Amphitheater“Heart” & “Bachman & Turner” AUGUST 18Family DayCalaveras Big Trees State Park AUGUST 18Mountain Sage “Hot Buttered Rum w/ The Adam Burns Band” AUGUST 24 - 25Sierra View Music Fest OakdaleAUGUST 25Mountain Sage “Darol Anger & Friends” and “Thick Soup”AUGUST 25Railtown 1897 Meals On Wheels FundraiserAUGUST 30-SEPTEMBER 3Strawberry Music Festival AUGUST 31 TO OCTOBER 7Stage 3 “November” AUGUST 31Ironstone Amphitheater Concert“Tony Bennett with Jackie Evancho” SEPTEMBER 7 TO OCTOBER 7SRT Fallon House Irving Berlin’s “I Love a Piano” SEPTEMBER 7Groveland Hotel “I Like It, I Love It” Music of Tim McGraw with Tom Drinnon SEPTEMBER 8Ironstone Amphitheater“Jeff Foxworthy” SEPTEMBER 1549’er Festival & Chili Cook-off GrovelandSEPTEMBER 15-SEPTEMBER 1623rd Annual Quilts & Threads Show SEPTEMBER 22Ironstone Vineyards “Concours d’Elegance”

SEPTEMBER 28-SEPTEMBER 30Tuolumne Writer’s Retreat OCTOBER 5 TO OCTOBER 28SRT “Time Stands Still” OCTOBER 7-28The 36th Annual “Sonora Bach Festival” Youth Festival OCTOBER 13The 36th Annual “Sonora Bach Festival” The Salon Concert

OCTOBER 14Bach Festival Master of Class for Vocalists OCTOBER 20 & OCTOBER 21All Hallows Fantasy Faire Mother Lode Fairgrounds OCTOBER 21The Bach Festival Locals Concert OCTOBER 26-DECEMBER 22SRT “Cinderella”

The Cellar Door RESTAURANT

California Fresh Cuisine

The Groveland Hotel at Yosemite National Park18767 Main Street, Groveland, CA 95321209.962.4000 • 800.273.3314 www.groveland.com

Summer 2012 Tuolumne Count y E v e n t sCALENDAR NOTES: For extended Calendar Listings See: Stage 3 page 14; Yosemite Courtyard Cabaret, page 15; Music in the Park, page 16; Sierra View Music Fest, see page 17; Railtown 1897 page 19.

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CONCEPT, DESIGN & PRODUCTIONPaul Bell

ADVERTISING SALESSonora Chamber of Commerce • Paul Bell

REGIONAL SALESPaul Pieretti, 209.962.4143

EDITORIAL & PHOTOGRAPH CONTRIBUTORSPaul Bell

Meg WerlhofMichelle White

The Tuolumne County Visitors BureauBrad Perks, Marcus Berg, Jim Brunk

Mary McCaslin John DeGrazio, yexplore.com

California State Historic ParksCOVER PHOTOGRAPH

Michelle White, stillmemoriesphotosite.comstillmemoriesphotosite.com

E X P L O R E

EXPLORE SONORA is a joint publication of The Sonora Chamber of Commerce and Paul Bell l Marketing Solutions. Every effort has been made to ensure that all information contained herein is accurate at the time of publication, but neither entity assumes any responsibility for errors, omissions and changes.

THE SONORA CHAMBER OF COMMERCEThe Voice of Commerce, Culture & Community

Mailing AddressP.O. Box 884, Sonora, CA 95370

Vox/Fax: 209.694.4405 WEBSITE

sonorachamber.org or sonorachamber.comE-MAIL: info@sonorachamber.org

The Sonora Chamber of Commerce is a membership organization representing the community of Sonora. As the Sonora Chamber of Commerce, we concentrate our marketing efforts within the Greater Sonora area. The Sonora Chamber of Commerce is also dedicated to raising the awareness of Tuolumne County through tourism, and markets the area as a tourism destination.

PAUL BELL l MARKETING SOLUTIONSPO Box 5572, Sonora, CA 95370Telephone: 209.352.8551paulbell.biz l info@paulbell.biz759050850

SonoraM A G A Z I N E

This Edition of Explore Sonora pays special attention to Railtown 1897, one of the area’s most popular attractions. We encour-age both visitors and locals alike

to discover a bit of our Western History & Heritage this summer and through fall, winter and spring.2 TUOLUMNE COUNTY EVENTSDuring the spring & summer visit the small towns of Tuolumne County and experience the many events awaiting you and your family. Calendar courtesy of the Groveland Hotel.2 MEALS ON WHEELS BENEFIT4 THE GOOD LIFE SPOTLIGHT5-9 THE GOOD LIFEYour Shopping Guide for Sonora and Jamestown, chock full of unique stores and small town experiences.8 DINING/PEOPLEThis issue introduces server extrordinaire, Mark Lewis from Talulah’s restaurant.8 DINING GUIDE9-12 TRAVEL GUIDE PLANNERThis is an introductory guide for 3-Day and 4-Day stays in Tuolumne County. Discover Yosemite and Gold Country.13 GOOD FOOD COMES IN THREESThe Cellar Door Restaurant at the Groveland Hotel, introduces ‘Trios of Taste.’ Satisfy your palate for great food and wine.14 THEATRE GUIDE & SPECIAL EVENTS15 YOSEMITE COURTYARD CABARETThe Groveland Hotel’s summer music series offers something for every musical taste in a beautiful out-door setting on the edge of Yosemite National Park.16 MUSIC IN THE PARKWhat would summer be without great music in his-toric Downtown Sonora, every Friday in Courthouse Park and it’s FREE!17 SIERRA VIEW MUSIC FESTA benefit for student scholarships, this fund-raising weekend event in Oakdale, will soon benefit Sonora and Groveland Students.18 BOOK REVIEW: THE SEVEN SCROLLSLocal Author, Wolf Krismanits, (Father Wolf at the Red Church) is garnering praise for his first novel.19 RAILTOWN 1897 EVENT ‘SINGING RAILS’On August 4th, Folk Singer, Mary McCaslin helps pay tribute to the American West and our heritage.20 CAVE & MINE ADVENTURESHave the BEST Birthday ever!

Voted ‘Best Chinese Restaurant’2009, 2010 & 2011!

Our Community Partner

Live Well. Be Well.

Buy a piece of history to benefit Railtown 1897 & the Red Church.ATOC Rider

SignedBannersFor Sale

Visit gosonora2012.com

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the good life spotlight

The shop is lovely. It’s filled with one-of-a-kind pieces made by local art-ists as well as clothing, art and ac-

cessories that have a definitive feel. The first thing you’ll notice when walking in, is the atmosphere that Lauren Hurley and Lissa Anderson, the owners, have created. The space is warm and inviting, offering

an unparalleled experience for its shop-pers. You’ve reached their promise and are now part of their vision of the shop; a retail retreat. Along with vintage fur-nishings, local art, accessories and jew-elry, you’ll be sure to find clothing suit-able to your tastes. The front part of the store is a boutique, while the back half of the store is a dedicated consignment shop, with something to fit every budget, every taste and aspiration.

As you wander through the shop, favor-ite things might happen to catch your eye. Certainly some of the unique jewelry that is

offered, and many pieces that you’ll realize couldn’t be gotten elsewhere, and you’d best get them now, because you’ll never find them again.

From the art lin-ing the historic stone walls, to the beautiful display of clothing suited for

a high-end boutique in San Francisco, Lau-ren and Lissa have made their shop into something that any woman is sure to en-joy. And it’s in Sonora of all places.

According to the owners of Backspace, “We created it with love...and passion for a beautiful 1880’s gold rush building, and filled it with lovelies. Soft, timeless, versa-tile, wear-in-any-season pieces for your wardrobe. Along with vintage furnish-

Emberz

Great fast, fun, food can be found at one of the best locations in histor-ic downtown Sonora. Emberz is

now the hottest spot in town and proba-bly the coolest place to be seen. The menu includes salads, burgers, sandwiches, piz-za and entrees from Chef Andrew. Old is new again in the full bar, featuring Classic Cocktails that are made fresh with a deli-cious Emberz twist that you’ll have to dis-cover for yourself with a visit.

Emberz sparkles with enthusiasm and just beams food, drink and an evening of fun and good company. The wood-fired pizza oven just beyond the bar has not es-caped the attention of the owners and is decorated with bits of colored glass and ceramic tiles by the entirety of the Emberz staff, which speaks to the commitment of everyone involved in a great dining expe-rience.

The restaurant is within a short walk to shopping and art galleries and is your best-bet for a pre-show dinner or after-show cocktail, just two blocks from Stage 3 Theatre Company.

EmberzLunch & Dinner

Price Range: $$ ($10-$30)177 S Washington Street

Sonora, CA 95370(209) 532-2272

A & M Custom Framing & Gallery

A great frame does more than just protect & enhance the art it sur-rounds. It adds elegance and per-

sonal style to an entire room.A&M Custom framing strives to offer

a wide selection of frames, using conser-vational materials & techniques to cre-atively preserve your precious memories & fine art. We are experienced in all as-pects of framing including canvas stretch-ing, needlework, pastel, photography, prints & shadow boxes.

We also carry art materials in the qual-ity brands you have come to trust, such as Gamblin, Artisan, & Aqua Duo Oils, Win-sor & Newton liquin impasto, watercolor & gouache, Sennelier & Primsacolor pas-tels & pencils, artist quality brushes, water-color paper, & drawing materials.

Visit our small but unique gallery of frames, ready-made frames & original art-work by local artists in its new downtown Sonora location, just past the Red Church, between Camacho’s & Top Cuts Barber.

A & M Custom Framing228 N Washington St.

Sonora, CA 95370(209) 532-7411

aandmcustomframing.com

ings, local art, accessories, artisan jew-elry (including a Jewelry Bar, where you can custom design your own pieces), or have something extra special made by us! Come in. You won’t be sorry...”

Backspace: A Retail Retreat67 South Washington St.

Sonora, CA 95370(209) 532-4894

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the good life fashion, home & garden

Mountain Laurel Florist

Flowers are known to have positive ef-fects on our moods, perhaps because they are a living creation of art. Flow-

ers offer their beauty in return for care and attention. They also express a wide array of feelings and are for just about any occasion. But your flowers have already shared a vital relationship with the florist, who decides which flowers to buy and and how they are cared for prior to the presentation.

It’s the florist and staff ultimately creating those personal touches for that special or spontaneous occasion. Thus, it is the florist who prepares your flowers for you -- not only in the beauty, artistry and style of a bouquet, but also in the care that the flow-ers will expect when they are presented to the intended.

The staff of Mountain Laurel Florist will attend to every need for any occasion. Lo-cated in the heart of historic downtown Sonora, they also offer dried arrangements, a great selection of gift cards, centerpieces, garden décor, potted plants, bird-themed items, mosaic pieces, French milled soaps, and, of course, delivery services.

Mt. Laurel Florist35 South Washington Street

Sonora, CA 95370(209) 532-9533

mountainlaurelca.com

Joan’s Boutique Exploring Downtown Sonora will likely

reveal a pleasant surprise that you might not be expecting to find in such

a small town. Joan’s Boutique at 52 S. Washing-ton St. is owned and personally attended to

by Joan Richardson who’s been a retail mer-chant for more than two decades.

Joan’s store has been a fixture of the community for years and it’s difficult to find women of any age who don’t shop there for that special discovery, whether it’s clothing and accessories or just her pleasant com-pany during any hour of her very long retail day and week, which never seems to deter her from her positive, friendly and out-go-ing demeanor.

What is quickly revealed is Joan’s and her staff ’s readiness to please every custom-er. Everyone is made to feel comfortable, which is exactly what Small Town Cheer is all about.

Joan’s Boutique has been voted ‘The Best Woman’s Boutique/Clothing Store’ for 6 years in a row in the Union Democrat’s annu-al reader’s poll. She and her staff were recent-ly voted Best Overall Customer Service.

Joan’s Boutique52 S. Washington St.Sonora, CA 95370

(209) 533-1550joansboutique.com

Let ‘er Buck! Don’t just be part of the herd— start

a stampede by visiting Let ‘er Buck at the Four Corners intersection of

Bradford & Washington streets. There’s a wide selection of new and quality consign-ment Western wear including belts, boots and hats.

Let ‘er Buck also offers Selix Formal Wear, uniforms (EMS, FIRE, CHP, CDCR), as well as children’s clothing. Because they wear what they sell, you are getting first-hand knowledge of what works! They can outfit the able ranch hand as well as the next Ro-deo Queen. They take exceptional care of their customers, striving to provide the best value, selection, and service in the business. Let ‘er Buck has something for everyone.

Let ‘er Buck Western WearNEW LOCATION68 S. Washington St.Sonora, CA 95370

(209) 533-1144

Sonora’s Favorite Kitchen Store

If you’re looking for anything unique and useful for the kitchen, bath and garden, stop here first— and you’re likely to find

it among their stock of kitchen gadgets, tools and accessories. They carry Nordic Ware, Chantal, BIA Cordon Bleu, Microplane, and more. Decorate a beautiful table with ac-cent brands; TAG, Root Candles, April Cornell, and IHR paper napkins.

The Seven Scrolls By Wolf KrismanitsAvailable at Mountain Home Gifts

134 S. Washington Street, Downtown SonoraBook Signing August 11, 3-5pm at SONORA JOE’S

visit www.thesevenscrolls.com for more information

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E X P L O R E Insuring our community since 1987Business • Home • Auto

Life • Health • Bonds(209) 533-0234

685 South Washington St., Sonora(209) 536-1400

Their indoor Market under the Awning of-fers a selection of gourmet jams, preserves, olive oils, baking mixes, spices, loose and bagged teas and seasonal treats to tempt you. Find your favorite fragrance from their complete line of Crabtree and Evelyn or the Home Thymes collection. Search their Garden section for the perfect accent for your entry, patio, or table. Sonora’s Favorite Kitchen Store also features a selection of Mt. Brow Wine and a selection of wine re-lated products, gifts and gadgets.

Customer Service is their specialty with free gift-wrap on every purchase. They even offer a selection of greeting cards to make your gift complete. Now that’s one stop shopping!

Sonora’s Favorite Kitchen Store98 S. Washington St.Sonora, CA 95370

(209) 588-1400

Tradewinds It’s always an adventure shopping at

Tradewinds. Their main focus is women’s clothing: Better and designer labels (no

more than two years old, or classic, timeless styles) in new or like-new condition. They carry all accessories: Belts, footwear, hats, scarves and jewelry. They also have a small consignment section for men, with an em-phasis on Hawaiian and silk shirts.

Nearly all the home decor items you will see in the store are for sale on consignment. While not a vintage store, you will find a smattering of vintage couture pieces and traditional Hawaiian attire. Since we aver-age over 100 new pieces to the floor daily, you just never know what you’ll find!

Some favorite brands that you’ll find at Tradewinds are: Ann Taylor, Armani, Banana Re-public, Brighton, Cache, Chicos, Liz Claiborne, Coach, Gucci, Anne Klein, and Ralph Lauren to name a few!

Tradewinds 63 S. Washington St.Sonora, CA 95370

(209) 588-8810tradewindsconsignment.com

Scarlet’s Web There’s no simple way to describe what

you’ll find at Scarlet’s Web just above the Four Corners intersection in His-

toric Downtown Sonora. The shop reflects Sonora in a way— everything from wonder-ful collectables, antiques, vintage clothing, consignment or decorative items and you might even find a lovely garden pergola just waiting for you in the middle of the store. You never know, and only an occasional visit is never enough to get a complete sense of the ever-changing inventory.

Housed in one of the most uniquely his-toric buildings in Sonora, the shop inspires one to wander around for that rare, un-usual item or piece of furniture you’ve been looking for.

Suzy, the owner, is constantly on the hunt for items that suit her and her clientele’s in-terests. The inventory changes weekly if not daily. The shop and Suzy’s enthusiasm and joy will always inspire you as you Shop & Stroll along Washington Street.

Scarlet’s Web31 S. Washington St.Sonora, CA 95370

(209) 588-8300

Mountain Home Gifts This unique gift store in Historic

Downtown Sonora carries a wide se-lection of gifts, art, books and clothing

that celebrate life in Sonora, the mountains and the surrounding small towns and foot-

hill communities.If you’re walking, hiking, camping or ex-

ploring, there’s a collection of guidebooks related to the foothills, the Sierras, Yosemite National Park and the region. You can find reproductions of vintage signs

posters, postcards and other memorabilia related to life in the foothills, mountains and Yosemite National Park. There is also a se-lection of cook books.Mountain Home Gifts also specializes in

Sonora branded clothing and merchandise. They also have furniture that can be cus-tomized to reflect favorite memories of your visit, your cabin or home. You’ll even find books by local authors. Mountain Home Gifts carries The Seven Scrolls by Wolf Krismanits (Father Wolf of the Red Church), which is his first novel.

Mountain Home Gifts134 S. Washington St.Sonora, CA 95370

(209) 533-5319

Addictions Spray Tanning & Fashion Sonora’s first and only spray tanning sa-

lon uses vegan-certified, organic, spray tanning ingredients. At Addictions, ev-

ery customer is important, so they make sure that you look your best and that the color compliments your natural skin tone and is perfect after every session. No mat-ter if you want to be bronzed for a special event, vacation or just because you want that tan, now! Addictions Spray Tanning will get it right each and every time without the harmful effects of UV tanning.

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Addictions Fashion features contemporary clothing, shoes, handbags and accessories for women and girls. They carry reasonably priced limited edition collections with new themes launched every week. Featured lines include Naked Zebra, H&G, Miss Chic, Color Story, BLVD, Nine Bird, Lush among many more favorites. Addictions is one of Sonora’s newest, trend-setting boutiques catering to your favorite addictions.

Addictions Spray Tanning & Fashion128 S. Washington St.Sonora, CA 95370

(209) 617-3689sunlessaddictiontanning.com

Sun B.E.A.M.’sBaby & Kids Boutique Sun B.E.A.M.’s is your one-stop shop for

stylish clothing, shoes and accessories for baby up to size 12, diaper bags, baby

skin care, and one of a kind gift items. This is the perfect place to shop and reg-

ister for any occasion.The owners (all moms) feature B.O.B. Stroll-

ers, Citizens of Humanity Maternity Jeans, Petu-nia Pickle Bottom, Charlie Rocket and Mud Pie plus many more brands.

For the expectant mom, Sun Beams car-ries maternity clothing as well.

Sun Beam’s Baby & Kids Boutique

136 S. Washington St.Sonora, CA 95370

(209) 532-5800sunbeamsboutique.com

OPEN 7 DAYS108 South Washington St.

Downtown Sonora209.588.8899

• APPAREL • SHOES

• ACCESSORIES• MANICURES • PEDICURES

• FACIALS • WAXING • BEAUTY

PRODUCTS

Trendz 120 Trendz Boutique

Trendz 120 is an affordable yet posh boutique located in downtown Groveland. This chic boutique has

everything from women’s apparel, handbags, shoes, and cosmetics to feather extensions, spray tans and shopping parties! The owners, Sharon and Candice Smith, have been having tons of fun bringing fashion to Groveland in the last three years, but have now branched out and opened their second location in the Historical Downtown Jamestown.

The Jamestown location, Trendz Boutique, offers the same great fashions at the same great prices as people have come to know and love in Groveland. You’ll love the vintage boutique feel of this location, so make sure to come check it out.

Trendz 12018634 Main St. Suite 3Groveland, CA 95321

(209) 962-6536Trendz Boutique

18258 Main St., Jamestown, CA 95327(209) 984-5056

If the shoe fits

Downtown Shoes is a foot-weary welcome to Historic Downtown Sonora as a new full service shoe

store. Downtown Shoes specializes in comfortable and stylish shoes, boots and sandals for both men and women, along with a fun selection of socks and hand-bags. They pride themselves on the quality of their product lines.

Close to Yosemite National Park, they offer you an opportunity to get yourself a quality pair of hiking, tramping, stomping or plain walking shoes for your exhilarat-ing excursion into our wilderness or just in and around town.

The owners, Rick and Melody, pride themselves on providing exceptional ser-vice and making sure all of their custom-ers are properly fit in comfortable, yet stylish footwear. They also cater to the working men of the area with Red Wing and Wesco work boots and if you don’t

see what you need, they will be a happy to special order them for you. If you don’t live in the area, just give them a call or send an email, as they also offer free ship-ping within the continental United States.

Downtown Shoes4 S. Washington St.

(209) 532-25004downtownshoes.com

4downtownshoes@gmail.com.

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Downtown Sonora172 West Stockton Road(209) 694-8400Junction Shopping Center13769-C Mono Way(209) 532-9400

MOTHER LODE BANK“We’re Local and....Simply A Better Bank”

www.motherlodebank.com

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Be Wok & Sushi Price Range: $$ Beer & WineDine In/Take Out764 East Mono Way Sonora(209) 532-2638

F���-F��� Carl’s Jr.Price Range: $1075 Mono Way Sonora (209) 533-8857

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DiamondbackGrill Price Range: $$ Full Bar/Wine BarDine In/Take Out93 S. Washington St. Sonora(209) 532-6661

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Sonora Joe’sPrice Range: $140 S. Washington St. Sonora (209) 840-4408

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It’s Yo-Good Yogurt Price Range: $$11 S. Washington St. Sonora (209) 785-1188

Legends Price Range: $131 S. Washington St. Sonora (209) 532-8120

Lighthouse Deli 28 S. Washington St. Price Range: $$Dine In/Take OutSonora (209) 532-1631

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Groveland Hotel’sThe Cellar Door Restaurant Price Range: $$$Full Bar/Wine Cellar18767 Main St Groveland (209) 962-4000Christopher’s RistoranteItaliano Price Range: $$ Beer & Wine

160 S. Washington St. Sonora (209) 533-2600

National Hotel & Restaurant Price Range: $$$Full BarJamestown(209) 984-3446

Seven Sisters Price Range: $$$ Full BarBlack Oak Casino 19400 Tuolumne Rd. N.Tuolumne(209) 928-9314

Talulah’s RestaurantPrice Range: $$$Beer & Wine13 S. Washington St.Sonora209-532-7278

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EmberzPrice Range: $$Full Bar/PizzaDine In/Take Out 177 S Washington St.Sonora(209) 532-2272

Artisan PizzaPrice Range: $$83 S StewartSonora(209) 533-0773

All menus subject to change without notice.

Dining Guide server pro�le mark lewis talulah’s

What do you most en-joy about your work?“Talulah’s is so much more than a job. This has to be the most supportive enviornment I’ve ever worked in.”What’s your philosophy for providing great cus-tomer service?“Doing my very best to anticipate a guests needs before they have to ask.”How would you de-scribe your favorite customer?“Anyone who is ready to have a great meal!”What makes a good server better?“A smile and great attitude.”What food do you enjoy preparing for yourself, family and friends? “Anything fresh from my garden.”What’s your favorite restaurant or dining experience.?“Anywhere al fresco!”

Katharine Payne, the owner of Tallulah’s,

sets the stage and her per-formers put on quite an in-teresting show. It’s obvious that each of the employees loves their job, especially Mark Lewis, who can’t wait to put on his “dinner show,” as he calls it.

Comfortable in his skin, he exhudes confidence and joy. Mark wants everybody that comes into the restau-rant to see him, and more importantly, to enjoy their dining experience.

Mark was a frequent cus-tomer and Katharine knew that he would have a posi-tive impact on the atmo-sphere at Tallulah’s, so she personally invited him to work alongside her. He ex-plains that no matter what may be going on in his per-sonal life, he feels a sense of relief at the thought of going to work each day.

Mark shows an hon-est and genuine love for the work that he does.His customer service phi-losophy being that, “a great smile and a great attitude” can brighten anybody’s day. Mark feels that “everybody that walks through the door changes the cast around,” and that’s all it takes to en-sure a positive vibe flows throughout the restaurant.

“It’s a family. I always look forward to working at Talulah’s!”

—Meg Werlhof

Talulah’s RestaurantLunch & Dinner

Price Range: $$ ($10-$30)13 S. Washington St.Sonora, CA 95370

(209) 532-7278Food & Dining Experience

Pictured Annie Stayer and Mark LewisPhoto courtesy Talulah’s Restaurant

dining people

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YOSEMITE

& GOLD COUNTRY

TRAVEL PLANNING GUIDETHE TUOLUMNE COUNTY VISITORS BUREAU • yosemitegoldcountry.com

PHOTO CREDIT: LAURIE CARSON

WILD & MILD ADVENTURESAir Conditioned

VISIT COLUMBIA • SONORA • JAMESTOWN

TROLLEY RUNS WEEKENDS THRU LABOR DAYALL DAY PASS/$4.00SINGLE RIDE/$1.5012 & Under RIDE FREE

when accompanied by adultDIAL-A-RIDE SERVICE TO THE TROLLEY

209-532-0404

Visit www.historic49trolleyservice.com for schedule and details

Trolley Service

PRESENTS

TUOLUMNE COUNTY TRANSIT

Yosemite NATIONAL PARKService from Sonora/Jamestown • Groveland/Yosemite Pines

Smith Station/Buck Meadows Thousand Trails/Big Oak Flat • Crane Flat YARTS.COM • 877.989.2787

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E X P L O R E TRAVEL PLANNING GUIDETHE TUOLUMNE COUNTY VISITORS BUREAU • yosemitegoldcountry.com

No matter what your favorite season is, Tuolumne County

has everything you need to expe-rience the vacation of a lifetime and create everlasting memories! From calm and mild – to wild and spicy, extreme relaxation or adventure begins here! We’ve put together a few detailed Sample Itineraries to help you plan your visit to this amazing county!

3-Day ItineraryYosemite & Gold Coun-try

Here is a great itinerary for a 3-Day Yosemite, Gold Country His-tory & High Country Tour:

Day 1The Yosemite Experience

Visit the Yosemite Gateway Museum in Groveland, see

a spectacular display of the Mi Wok Indian culture, and then continue to the park.

Spend the entire day in awe-

inspiring Yosemite. Use the free trams, shuttle buses, or your car to enjoy the breathtaking splendor of the valley and the diverse wildlife habitat. Climb the world famous El Capitan or Half Dome, hike the same trails as pioneer John Muir, go bike riding, horseback riding, or experience our magni�cent rivers on a peaceful �oat down the Merced River or up to class �ve rapids on the “Wild and Sce-nic” Tuolumne River.

Have a casual or formal lunch in Yosemite Valley. After an un-forgettable day in Yosemite, return to the Highway 120 Corridor and spend the night near the entrance of the park near the Hetch Hetchy Reservoir or in Groveland at a

beautiful, charming historic hotel.No matter where you choose to stay,

a superb dining experience awaits you. After dinner, experience the unique ambiance of the oldest operating saloon in California, the Iron Door.

Day 2True California History

Stop in Jamestown and take a ride through the foot-hills on an authentic old steam train and tour Railtown 1897 State Historic Park and its working Round-house (AKA the movie railroad).

Next stop, Wood’s Creek. Learn to “pan for gold” just as the 49’er miners did.

Have lunch at an

array of popular restaurants in historic downtown Jamestown or Sonora.

On to an informative history lesson at the Tuolumne County Museum in downtown Sonora.

Just up the road, Columbia State Historic Park awaits you. Step back in time and experience the gold rush era of the 1850’s at this thriv-ing restored “living history museum.” Enjoy an educational docent-led tour of the park, go for a ride on a stage-coach (complete with a “hold-up”), go horseback riding, or travel deep into the earth and tour a real working gold mine that has been operating for more than 100 years.

Check in to accommodations in Jamestown, Columbia, or Sonora. From historic bed and breakfast inns and haunted hotels to three-dia-mond comfort, you will be sure to �nd just what you’re looking for in these historic towns,

Continue your historic adventure and top off your day with an outstanding dinner followed by live theatre in Co-lumbia or Sonora.

Day 3The High Country

Head east on Highway 108 and connect to Tuolumne Road.

Stop at an old-fashioned foot-hill Apple Ranch and pick up a piece of “Mile High” apple pie, delicious homemade treats, jams, and fresh-grown fruits and vegetables.

Continue east on Highway 108 to our beautiful High Sierra. Vis-it the Pinecrest area and go for a hike on the- Shadow of the Mi-Wok Trail, Trail of the Gargoyles, Trail of the Ancient Dwarfs, Donnell Vista or the Columns of the Giants

Choose to recreate for the day at Pinecrest Lake and have lunch at the lakeside snack bar or local Resort.

Spend the day swimming, sail-ing, kayaking, or any variety of boating opportunities on a crisp, clean mountain lake. When its time to relax, just hang out on a picturesque beach of Pinecrest Lake.

Check in to accommodations at a country inn or local resort. On the other hand, you may

want to continue east to Kennedy Meadows. Spend your day horse-back riding or hiking and take in the unbelievable, breathtaking views and high country vistas. Plan to picnic in the meadow or try one of the local resort cafes where you will �nd real home cooking! After dinner, spend the evening relaxing under the stars around the camp�re and dream of what you’re going to do the next time you come back to Tuolumne County.

On your next trip rhink about experiencing a cozy mountain cabin for an extended stay.

THE TUOLUMNE COUNTY VISITORS BUREAU • yosemitegoldcountry.com

Photo Credit: Half-Dome, John DeGrazio, yexplore.com

Photo Credit: Briggs Hospitality

Photo Credit: The Historic National Hotel

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4-Day ItineraryWarm Weather Sample ItineraryEve of Day One

Arrive in the historic gold town of Sonora and check into your Hotel.

Stroll downtown antique stores, shops and restaurants. Be sure to visit Legend’s sandwich shop & ice cream parlor for some great food and view awesome mining tunnels dug underneath the city of Sonora by gold-seek-ers in the 1850’s. If you arrive on a Friday during summer, you can walk downtown and catch a

6:00 pm live “Music in the Park” concert performance in Sonora’s Courthouse Park (free).

Day OneTravel approximately 5 min-

utes to Railtown 1897 State His-toric Park in Jamestown to see the “Movie Railroad” where over 300 movies and commercials have been �lmed. Back to the Future III, High Noon, Pale Rider, are among some of the Westerns

�lmed there. Private train rides can be arranged for your group as well. Contact Railtown 1897 State Historic Park for details.

After touring the park, stroll his-toric Jamestown and enjoy lunch at one of its �ne historic restau-rants. Check out their store Gold Prospecting Adventures on Main Street in Jamestown.

Go across the highway from Jamestown to the Jimtown 1849 Gold Mining Camp for a tour and history lesson. See the Long Tom, Rocker Boxes, Grizzly Adams mercantile and many other historical artifacts and replicas. The camp has pic-nic tables and BBQs where you can have your lunch that you brought or bought in town.

Return to your hotel for a lat-er afternoon function or a bit of relaxation before dinner.

For some relaxed �ne dining check out some of Sonora’s top downtown restaurants such as Ta-lulah’s or Christopher’s Ristorante Italiano. Both are available for pri-vate functions as well.

Take in a play (depending on the day of the week at either the Stage 3 Theater in downtown or the nearby Sierra Repertory Theater offerings in East Sonora or Columbia.

Day Two Head up Highway 108 to the Summit Ranger Station at the Pinecrest Lake turnoff where you can get a map that shows �ve interesting trails and vistas that are well marked (free). Try at least one or all �ve (free)::

1) Shadow of the Mi-Wok Trail, easy ¼ mile walk,2) Trail of the Gargoyles, scenic 1

THE TUOLUMNE COUNTY VISITORS BUREAU • yosemitegoldcountry.com

The humble origins of the Historic Gunn House Hotel

Sierra Repertory Theatre’s, ‘Carousel’

Photo Credit: Kennedy Meadows, upper Highway 108

TRAVEL PLANNING GUIDETHE TUOLUMNE COUNTY VISITORS BUREAU • yosemitegoldcountry.com

The Cellar Door R e s t a u r a n T

California-fresh CuisineHistoric Saloon • Cocktails

Savor a lazy morning in the most luxurious featherbed you’ll never

want to get out of, snuggle into one of our cozy bathrobes, enjoy a cup of freshly brewed coffee on our veranda and permit a gracious staff member to indulge your every request. Included in your stay is a morning feast we nicknamed the Innkeeper’s Breakfast.

The Groveland Hotel

18767 Main StreetGroveland, CA 95321

209.962.4000800.273.3314

www.groveland.com

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½ mile walk,3) Trail of the Ancient Dwarfs, pleasant ½ mile walk to unique geological formations4) Donnell Vista, ¼ mile paved trail with magni�cent scenic views5) Columns of the Giants, easy ¼ mile walk.After your morning hike, get

picnic supplies at the store at Pinecrest Lake where you can have a picnic on the beach. If you have energy left, spend a few leisurely hours exploring the lake by taking a mild hike around it, rent a paddle boat, or just relax on the beach, go swimming, read a book or take a snooze on a blanket in the pines.You can go horseback riding

at nearby Aspen Meadows Pack Station where you can ride for one hour for $20 per person.

On the way back to your ho-tel in Sonora, stop for a burger or salad at the Strawberry Inn. Then take another relaxing eve-

ning swim before falling into deep sleep.

Day ThreeDrive past Columbia State

Historic Park across the Par-rotts Ferry Bridge and stop on the west side of the road at the Natural Bridges sign and hike down to the creek (two mile round trip). There are a couple of interesting caverns along the way. If you are a little bit warm, there’s a great place to splash in the water and swim through the caves, especially since you have to hike back up! Return towards Columbia State Historic Park (3 miles north of Sonora and free admis-sion), a Gold Rush town that has survived the passage of time better than the other early settle-ments. Walk along the wooden sidewalks and learn some his-tory while enjoying hand dipped chocolates from the Columbia Candy Kitchen and maybe a

Sarsaparilla at the Jack Douglass Saloon. Some of these venues are available for private functions as well. Return to your hotel for a free evening.

Day Four After breakfast, take a drive into Yosemite National Park (en-trance fee applies) where you can view some of the most famous geological icons (Half Dome/El Capitan) and waterfalls in the world. Take a hike through the Tuolumne Grove of Giant Se-quoias.

On your return trip, stop in Groveland at the colorful Iron Door Saloon (oldest continu-ously running saloon in Califor-nia) for an ice cream or refresh-ment in their sandwich shop.

Time allowing on your way back, stop at the South Fork of the Tuolumne River at the Rain-

bow Pool (free) day use area for a swim and photo ops.

After returning from magical Yosemite, collapse in bed know-ing you have spent four wonder-ful days enjoying and exploring the best wonders of the Sierra foothills.

The Tuolumne County Visitors Bureau

542 W. Stockton StreetSonora , CA 95370

(209) 533-4420800-446-1333

yosemitegoldcountry.com

Photo Credit:: Columbia State Historic Park

Rainbow Pool

In the Heart of Historic Downtown Sonora

Built in 1850

Gunn House HotelThe Historic

‘Gunny’ Our Famous Hotel Bear

Don’t miss our famous Innkeeper’s Breakfast–Waffles made to order!

Rooms $79-$115

286 S. Washington Street, Sonora, CA 95370 Reservations (209) 532-3421 www.gunnhousehotel.com

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good food happens in threes dining

by David Mamet

August 31 - October 7, 2012

“Delightful... wild... brilliant” – SF Examiner “Politically incorrect.” – SF Chronicle

Stage 3 Theatre Co.208 S. Green St., Sonora, CA209.536.1778 stage3.org Presented by arrangement with Samuel French, Inc.

The Cellar Door Restaurant at the Groveland Hotel has an intriguing

new offering for your adventurous palate. The owner, Peggy Mosley, has created a menu that offers a unique pairing of en-trees and wine for the diner that wants to satisfy an appetite for both fine food and a wine that will complement a particular dish.

In the early summer of 2012, the Cel-lar Door Restaurant was honored with the 2012 Wine Spectator Best of Award of Excellence. Although the restaurant has

been recognized by Wine Spectator over the past eleven years, this recent award is the second time that they have received this esteemed second-tier award. The Cel-lar Door Restaurant is one of only 878 restaurants to receive the Wine Spectator Best of Award of Excellence.

The Cellar Door Restaurant, boasting a cellar of over 600 wines, is one of only 6 establishments in the California Central Valley and Sierra Foothills to achieve this level of distinction from Wine Spectator. Trios of Taste are a compelling combination of food paired with specific wines. This new menu offers the fun option of varietal tastings of food, including desserts.

When it comes to the entrees, you have the options of trios, small plates, or full orders. And of course, there are suggest-ed wine trios for each group of fish, pork, beef, poultry, and seafood. In addition to trios and regular entrees, the menu in-cludes smaller dishes as a new way to en-joy a sophisticated dining experience.

These ‘trios’ are an innovative way of introducing a wider variety of wines from Peggy’s cellar with an equal opportunity to sample the 3 star restaurant’s entree

choices in a single dining experience. However, to fully explore Peggy’s cellar will take, even the seasoned traveler, many visits to engage the challenge of a com-plete dining experience.

The Cellar Door offers contemporary American, California fresh cuisine, taking pride in using locally grown, fresh produce, poultry, beef, dairy and fish directly from the sea and stream. Dining at the Cellar Door is about options. You can get a va-riety of food for a surprisingly affordable price, considering the repution of the restaurant. The trios offer modest individ-ual samples, but together comprise a fine miniturized multi-course dinner.

The Groveland Hotel& Cellar Door Restaurant

18767 Main Street Groveland, CA, 95321

209.96.4000800.273.3314

www.groveland.com

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events• the arts • live theatre • music live theatreJune 29 - July 29, 2012

“Smart, exciting and scintillating.” – The New Yorker

Six-Time 2010 Tony Award Winner In this turbo-charged bio-drama, painter Mark

Rothko has just landed the biggest commission since the Sistine Chapel. He struggles to pull off one of the greatest feats in the world of art – to create overwhelming primal work that will stand for the ages. When his young apprentice begins to challenge him, Rothko faces the agonizing possibility that his crowning achievement could also become his undoing.

by David MametAugust 31 - October 7, 2012“Delightful... wild... brilliant” – San Francisco Examiner

“Politically incorrect.” – San Francisco Chronicle

“There is no trick to being a humorist when you have the whole government working for you.” Will Rogers

There’s no way this stuff could actually happen...could it? It’s one week away from the election and bumbling incumbent president Charles Smith’s chances couldn’t be worse. His ratings are so low that his speech writer will only write concession speeches. The Secret Service has all called in sick and his wife is trying to sneak the furniture out of the White House. But there is a glimmer of hope. There are two turkeys outside the Oval Office that just might be his salvation. What happens next will surprise you. A brilliant new comedy that takes on the political process just when we need to laugh most.

by Neil SimonNovember 16 - December 23, 2012

“Hilarity and family solidarity” – New York Times “The funniest, richest... the most affecting of his

plays.” – New York Daily News

It’s about family. It’s about dreams. It’s about time.

On the eve of World War II, near the end of the Great Depression, two families shoehorned into a single small house struggle to make ends and minds meet. Neil Simon’s most warmhearted and tearful comedy is seen through the eyes of wisecracking teenager, Eugene Jerome, who is filled with hopes and dreams. Problem is, so is everyone else in his family. The heart of this play asks one question: How much will you give up for those you love? What is someone’s dream come true worth to you?

Stage 3 Theatre Company208 S. Green St., Sonora, CA

209-536-1778stage3.org

SIERRA REPERTORY THEATREHistoric Fallon House TheatreCarouselAdapted by Benjamin F. Glazer, based on the play LILIOM by Ferenc MolnárBook and Lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II; Music by Richard RodgersJune 29 – August 19When mill-town girl Julie Jordan meets car-nival barker Billy Bigelow on a carousel ride, her life is changed forever. Flirtation gives way to love as the two are irresistibly drawn to each other in this glorious tale of love and redemption.

The Tony-award-winning musical features a score packed with classics like “June is Bustin’ Out All Over,” “You’ll Never Walk Alone” and “If I Loved You.”

East Sonora TheatreTHERE GOES THE BRIDE

July 27 - September 2 East Sonora Theatre13891 Mono WaySonora, CA 95370

Irving Berlin’s I LOVE A PIANO

Sept. 7-Oct. 7 The Fallon House in

Columbia11175 Washington St.

Columbia(209)532-3120sierrarep.com

RED by John Logan

Sonora Regional Medical Center Joie de Vie GalaSunday, October 21, 2012Ironstone Vineyards1894 Six Mile RoadMurphys, CA 95247(209) 536-5029

The 12th annual Joie de Vie Gala, a benefit for the Cancer Patient Support Fund, will be held on Sunday, October 21, 2012 at Iron-stone Vineyards. The Gala will include a din-ner and entertainment and a silent auction featuring items such as art, dinners, services and vacation opportunities.

The Cancer Patient Support Fund assists local cancer patients with their unmet finan-cial needs. Gasoline prices continue to be high, so many patients have needed help with transportation getting to their treatments.

While the current economic crunch has been challenging, it has added an even greater burden to those who are too ill to work. In ad-dition to assisting with transportation needs, the Cancer Patient Support Fund helps to pay for groceries, utilities, rent, housecleaning and medication co-pays.

If you would like to make a difference in the life of a cancer patient as well as pay trib-ute to a life of service, attend or contribute to the Gala. Mark you calendar now for this very special event. Call 209-536-5029 for ad-ditional information on this fun and lively eve-ning, raising money for a great cause.

Live Well. Be Well.

Neil Simon's

November 16 - December 23, 2012Stage 3 Theatre Co.

208 S. Green St., Sonora, CA209.536.1778 stage3.org

Presented by arrangement with Samuel French, Inc.

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www.HeusersFurniture.com 37 S. Stewart Street • Downtown Sonora • 209-536-9834

• 15,000 Sq. Ft. Showroom • Interior Design Services • Home Decor Accessories • 39 Years Experience • Extended Financing O.A.C. • Open 7 Days a Week Mon-Sat 10-5, Sun 12-4

Lucky to get six hours of sleep?

yosemite courtyard cabaret events

The Yosemite Courtyard Cabaret provides live mu-

sical entertainment from Me-morial Day Weekend through Labor Day Weekend. The series features a variety of top musi-cians, vocalists and tribute art-ists providing a diverse choice for every musical taste. Con-sider making dinner reserva-tions before the 8 pm shows.

The remaining 2012 Season (May and June events preceded pub-lication) will feature a strong line-up of talent. Visit www.groveland.com to see video of the lineup and ticket information.

July 27, 2012

Life In The Fast LaneShowtime 8 p.m.Tickets $25.00.

The setting for the show is the famous Hotel California, where “you can never leave,” and of course you will never want to leave while you are listening to the music of The Eagles: Henley, Frey, Schmit, and Walsh! Inside The Hotel California is The Te-quila Sunrise Ballroom, where a six-piece band performs their Greatest Hits, from “Take It Easy” to “Get Over It.”

August 10, 2012

The Perfect GentlemenShowtime 8 p.m.Tickets $23.00.

“Absolutely superb!” - BBC Radio

The Perfect Gentlemen pro-

vide the perfect blend of harmo-ny and humor harkening back to the days of Vaudeville, preserv-ing America’s great vocal sounds from the golden age of music.

The Perfect Gentlemen recre-ate the close harmonies of such legendary groups as The Ink Spots and the Pied Pipers, while including the era’s great comic songs made famous by the likes of Louis Jordan and The Hoosier Hotshots. The Perfect Gentle-men were the surprise hit of last summer’s Courtyard Concert Series. Back by popular demand.

September 7, 2012I Like It, I Love ItTom Drinnon Tim McGraw Tribute Showtime 8 p.m.Tickets $19.00.Tom Drinnon took great inter-

est in music at an early age and has pursued the dream of be-coming a professional recording artist. At the young age of 23, Tom moved to Nashville where he met his manager only two weeks after arriving. Tom signed

with a major management com-pany whom also managed Ken-ney Chesney, Confederate Rail-road, Lorie Morgan, Alabama and Johnny Paycheck. From there he went out on the road performing across the nation. Best known for his authentic country sound and versatile range, Tom Drinnon is sure to impress any crowd.

The Groveland Hotel & Cellar Door Restaurantat Yosemite National Park

18767 Main StreetGroveland, CA 95321

209.962.4000 • 800.273.3314 www.groveland.com

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Concerts are free to the public and are presented every Friday from 6pm to 8pm. You are encour-aged to bring a blanket or beach or camping chair for your comfort.There are plenty of restaurants nearby for dining in or take-out.

July 6 MARK TWAIN OUT WESTWith the music of Sequoia

Pat Kaunert brings the famous author, story-teller, and public speaker back to life with his tall-tails and personal experi-ences.

July 13 LEROY GARNER QUARTET

The Leroy Garner Quartet includes musical director and keyboardist, Leroy Garner, Clinton Day/bass guitar, Dr. Rod Harris/saxophone, drum-mer Bob Lehman and vocalist, Jana Marie. The members have an extensive background in jazz as musicians and as col-lege-level instructors.

July 20 TOUR GUIDES tourguidesmusic.comWhether it is bossa nova, rock, country or jazz, their groove will move you. Michela

Macfarlane turns the mundane into the sublime with one turn of phrase. She adds an interna-tional flavor with her ability to sing in many languages. Michela is backed up by an eclectic group of local musicians.

July 27 COYOTE HILLmyspace.com/coyotehillband

Coyote Hill is known for American Roots music, with a mix of folk, bluegrass, blues, country, swing, and jazz. How could you go wrong!

August 3 HILLS BROTHERS BANDthehillsbrothersband.com

Their music is an assortment of classic rock, soul, and blues, mixed with tight, streaming, originals. All members com-prise well over 100 years experience in studio and live performance.

August 17 JAMES FAIFUA & THE JUKESThis five piece band is dedicat-ed to playing progressive ur-ban blues infused with jazz and funk. Their repertoire includes tunes by such greats as Little Walter Jacobs, Muddy Waters, and also includes original com-positions.

August 24 BLUES BOX BAYOU

The Blues Box Bayou Band is no garden-variety band. Their music is mix of Cajun, Zydeco, Blues and American Roots and the group has shown tremen-dous growth over the years. August 31 BLACK IRISH BANDwww.blackirish.com

Hailing from the Gold Rush country, the Black Irish Band has a style that is as timeless as the rugged landscape of the West. Irish, Italian and American folk.

MUSIC IN THEPARK

Frozen Yogurt • Salad Bar• Sandwich Bar

11 So. Washington Street, Sonora, CA 95370Hours: Mon-Sat 10 am - 9 pm • Sun 11 am - 7 pm

(209) 532-6403www.itsyogood.com

Self Serve

Senior Discounts

Our Community Partner

Live Well. Be Well.

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Created to award students with music scholarships, the Heidi Brunk Founda-tion is a 501 (c)(3) not-for-profit orga-

nization that raises charitable funds through donations and ticket sales from the Sierra View Music Fest, now in its fourth year.

Heidi Brunk lived in Oakdale as a wife, mother, daughter, music teacher and friend to hundreds. She lost her life tragically in 2008, but her musical enjoyment and pas-sion for teaching lives on in the Heidi Brunk Foundation. In 2011, five scholarships were awarded to students who are continuing their education in music including three Oakdale students and two students from Modesto Schools.

According to the orgnizer, Jim Brunk, they’ve set their 2012 goal to raise $25,000 for the Scholarship fund. Brunk also an-ticiptes in sharing proceeds with scholar-ships in Tuolumne County in 2013.

‘We will offer scholarship to students of Sonora and Groveland next year. He also extended an invitataion to residents, “Please join us for good times, great music and an effort to give deserving students an Educational Music Scholarship.”Aug. 24 & 25 Event ScheduleWhere: JH Ranch, 12713 Sierra View Rd., Oakdale Friday: Gates Open 5 PM - 12 AM Gloriana, Edens Edge,Walker HayesSaturday: Gates Open 1 PM - 12 AM Night Ranger, Winger, Great White, Scarlet Machine, RemedyGLORIANA: Ask any unknown musician who sweated it out on the club scene be-fore moving to Nashville and they’ll tell you that having a dream just isn’t enough. Success takes motivation and commitment. These three young talents have proved their willing ness as their career has exploded over the past two years. EDENS EDGE: When it comes to making great music, kindred spirits somehow seem to find each other and such is the case with Edens Edge. Three talented young musicians from Arkansas, Hannah Blaylock, Dean Berner, and Cherrill Green --make their debut on Big Machine Records with a vibrant sound that honors country music’s roots while creatively pushing the envelope with their seasoned musicianship, dazzling harmonies and insight-ful songwriting.NIGHT RANGER truly epitomizes the sound of the 80’s while at the same time tran-scending it. Since their reunion in 1996, they have brought their guitar-crunching, melodic brand of Hard Rock into the 21st century with unparalleled talent, energy and creativity. Their

legendary hits Sister Christian, (You Can Still) Rock in America, and Don’t Tell Me You Love Me are songs that have each significantly impacted popular culture, expanding their ever-growing fan base since the band’s inception. WINGER reunited after more than a decade in 2006 for the release of the successful comeback album ‘IV’ a record that pushed the boundaries of the WINGER classic sound to new heights. Dealing with the concept of the military life and what it was like to be a soldier, from a soldier’s perspective, leaving politics at the door. “After Winger IV we toured the United States, Europe, Australia and Japan and made a live record” says Kip Winger. “When the chance came up to do a new Winger record, I envisioned an upbeat totally rocking record that was a cross between the first Winger album and Pull. So, Reb and I sat down and wrote all the music in a month or so. I worked for 6 months to finish it in the classic Winger style.”

sierra view music fest events

GlorianaNight Ranger

General Admission tickets are $35 in advance. VIP Tickets are available for either show in-cluding dinner, drinks and select table seating overlooking the stage are $125.00 ea.ch and available by calling 209.247.6069. Visit sier-raviewmusicfest.com for all event information.AD

MIT O

NE

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The Seven Scrolls: Sword of Pantok follows along the fantasy genre established by

literary greats such as J.R.R. Tolkien and C.S. Lewis. The story is quite layered and requires a little patience on the reader’s behalf; how-ever, once I got to know the characters, I literally couldn’t put the book down. I was pleasantly surprised by this; so much so that I read it, cover to cover in just about three days, which is compelling testimony for a great summer read!

The Seven Scrolls tells a wild and fanciful tale about two groups of warriors—one on land, and the other on sea—each fight-ing with the intention to bring peace to the land (sea) and people that they love. They battle sea monsters (bigger than the Loch Ness monster, Nessie), and dragons, wizards, and other strange creatures from the depths of Hell. One of my favorite features of the novel, a classic storytelling device, is that it doesn’t rely on a single protagonist; as a reader, I enjoyed playing favorites with the other characters and their alternating perspectives. Although this book is a fantasy, the characters and their obstacles and experiences were ad-dressed realistically; I could even relate to some of the animals given a voice in the story; we are all creatures of the world and entitled to a voice in events that af-fect us all.

Krismanits has used his vivid imagina-tion to create something that everyone will love. The story has a Christian foun-dation, though I’m sure that anyone would enjoy reading it in light of their own reli-gious and spiritual beliefs.

In his first novel, published earlier this year, Krismanits explores the issue of whether or not the Bible is fact or fiction. Personally, many of the questions that I’ve had about my own faith and religion were more effectively answered through read-ing this book than answered elsewhere my entire life. I feel as though when I pick this book up again in five years, it will

hold a completely different meaning for me; I know that every time I pick it up, I’ll not only take new things from it, but I’ll enjoy reading it. For those of you who decide to read the story to your children, it will captivate them as well as you. It’s humorous, emotionally challenging, and it will actually make you think! (Although it might be just a little too heavy for the smaller ones!) So much effort went into the making of this story. You can discover this by exploring the map on the cover, which Krismanits drew himself.

I have to say that this is one of the best books that I’ve read in the last year, and I’d happily recommend it to any reader. In the beginning, I was a little hesitant to read this novel, but Wolf Krismanits has written a beautiful story that I know you’ll enjoy reading over and over again.

As an enthralled reader, my one and only remaining question about The Sev-en Scrolls, for author, Wolf Krismanits is, “When can I expect a sequel?”

—Meg WerlhofThe author, Wolf Krismanits (Father Wolf) has

been the Rector of St. James Anglican Church in Sonora, California for 23 years.

the seven scrolls book review

Wells Fargo & Co. was borne out of the California Gold Rush, an event that launched the greatest migra-

tion in American history. Virtually ove night the sleepy seaport of San Francisco, located on sand dunes overlooking the Golden Gate, exploded from a non-na-tive population of 800 in 1848 to more than 30,000 in 1851.

As news of the gold discovery spread around the world, farmers left their crops, merchants shuttered their doors, and immigrants abandoned their home-lands to journey thousands of miles to gold fields in the Sierra foothills. Risking disease, danger and starvation, they came by clipper ship and steamer, by wagon train and on foot to seek their fortune in the gold fields.The pride of countless mining towns, the Wells Fargo agency was viewed as a link to the civilized world.

Wells Fargo Bank has been serving Tuolumne County for over 150 years.

Wells Fargo & Co. 808 E. Mono Way, CA 95370

(209) 532-3106www.wellsfargo.com

The Seven Scrolls: Sword of Pantokby Wolf Krismanits

Tate Publishing /336 pages $23.99 (paperback)Available in Sonora

Mountain Home GiftsDowntown Sonora

134 S. Washington St.Mountain Book ShopJunction Shopping Ctr.

13769 Mono Way

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Mary McCaslin represents an unbroken link between tradi-tional folksingers and today’s

“new folk” singer-songwriters. Her music ranges from ballads of the old west to her own songs of the new west and modern

times. Regarded as a pioneer of open guitar tun-ings, and known for her distinctive vocal style, Mary’s influences can be heard in many younger folk per-formers.

She is also known for her haunting renditions of pop standards and rock classics, such as “Ghost Riders In The Sky,” “The Wayward Wind,” the Beatles’ “Things We Said Today,” and the Supremes’ “My World Is Empty.” Her

versions of the Beatles’ “Blackbird” and the Who’s “Pinball Wizard” are made more unique by her “claw-hammer” banjo accompaniment.

Mary’s musical influences are as varied as her repertoire: the west-ern ballads of Marty Robbins, the guitar playing of Joan Baez and Joni Mitchell, the singing and banjo play-ing of Hedy West, and the vocal inflections of the Beatles and the BeeGees.

Her songs have been recorded by Tom Russell, Bill Staines, Gretchen Peters (“Prairie In The Sky”), Chris Williamson (“Circle Of Friends”), David Bromberg (“Young West-ley”), Kate Wolf (“The Ballad Of Weaverville”), Stan Rogers (“Down The Road”), Kate MacLeod, Alison Kitchen (“Way Out West”) and Fur Dixon & Steve Werner (“The Deal-ers” & “Prairie in the Sky”). The Grand Canyon Railroad has used her song “Last Cannonball” for its promotional television ad.

In McCaslin’s songs and her per-formances, the listener can experi-ence cowboys on horseback, outlaws, on the open range stretching farther

than the eye can see. Her music speaks of our western heritage and a spirited hope that was instilled in our pioneer roots.

McCaslin McCasllin’s featured appear-ance at Railtown 1897 State Historic Park on August 4th, will be a signature event and a memborable experience for fans of Railtown, the old west, Western Folk and Roots music. Singing Rails is an annual fundraising event that benefits Railtown 1897 State Historic Park.

Singing Rails, August 4, 2012Show at 5 p.m/Doors Open at 4 p.m.

Bring a lawn or camp chair.Mary McCaslin, Faux Renwah and

Sierra Mountain BandRailtown 1897 State Historic Park

Jamestown, CA 209-984-4408

http://www.railtown1897.orgVisit www.marymccaslin.com

All dates and time subject to change, dependent on park funding. Call to confirm prior to your visit.

Mark Twain Train July 21st

At 4 pm, join Mark Twain on the lawn at Railtown while he spins some tales about his adventures in the Mother Lode, then mingle with Mr. Twain, and fiddler Dave Rainwater on the 5 PM train. Special advanced sale ticket prices apply.

ONGOING Depot Store &Interpretive Center 9:30 a.m.- 4:30 p.m. April-Oct & 10-3 Nov.-March

CLOSED Tuesdays & WednesdaysThanksgiving, Christmas & New Year’s Day

STEAM-POWERED EXCURSION TRAINS Weekends April-October. Given the nature of historic equip-ment, it is recommended that you call ahead to confirm the locomotive scheduled for the day of your visit.

MEMBERSHIP Railtown Members enjoy free admission and regular Ex-cursion Train rides year-round, discounts for special trains, discounts at the Depot Store, and special members-only events.

RAILTOWN 1897 ST. HISTORIC PARK Offices and General Information:

(209) 984-3953Website: www.railtown1897.org

Blog: railtown1897.wordpress.com

R A I LT O W NCALIFORNIA STATE HISTORIC PARK

1897THE ‘MOVIE STAR’ RAILROAD FEATURING ENGINE NO. 3

museum l bookstore l excursions l events l family fund l 209.984.3953 l www.railtown1897.org

mary mccaslin people

“I tried to be a cowboy but I could not hold a gun,. Lyrics from sang McCaslin‘s album Way Out West, released in 1973.

Mary McCaslin on the open road in 1998

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