You know you are from Three Rivers when…

A fun page has sprung up on facebook, completing this phrase.
It has over 400 posts and growing, below is a sample of the memories.

Photo by Earl McKee “Blossom Peak” from Bar-O-Ranch

You know you are from Three Rivers when…

…you got a wave from Grandma Vines when you drove by and if you stopped you could get fresh eggs…and when you try something on at the Thingere and when you look in the mirror you realize you donated it…Sage Lee

…speaking of the Carnival earlier, who remembers the steam engine coming out of the wall on one of the original old school buildings that was painted by Bill Jones? It remained there until the buildings were torn down…sniff, sniff, sob…Don Stivers

…you spend a small fortune to feed and keep the wild life in your yard…..when you spend a small fortune to keep the wild life out of your garden…Maria Partin

…a Christmas Eve memory involves tying fishing line to Santa’s arm and making him wave to cars going by (almost caused Mike Scott to crash…again!)…Jay O’Connell

…when you can ride your horse to the Three Rivers Market bareback, barefoot, and in a swimsuit…Megan Thorn

….You knew all the names of the plants and wild flowers before you knew your ABCs…Lindsay Boley Hendrix

…the Valley Oak Credit Union was in Gene and Marian Gray’s office at their house…Bob and I had just gotten married….had no credit at all…..found a car we wanted….drove it to the office….Gene came out and looked at the car….said it looked good to him…..we signed a 1 PAGE contract….he cut us a check on the spot! …Kathy Johnson

…you tell someone you live in front of the rock house on Old Three Rivers Road…Kathryn Frey Ramsey



…you only have 13 kids in your eighth grade graduation class…Michael Scott

…when every girl in the 8th grade was a cheer leader…Sandy Wilson Myers

…when your dad not only gave hitch-hikers a lift, but actually brought them home to set up camp in the pasture…and you can walk 2 1/2 miles barefoot on hot pavement to get to the hot rocks that lead to your favourite swimming hole, and hardly flinch. (Feet of steel, thanks Three Rivers!)…Deirdre Ohlwein Wolfgang



…I addressed a postcard with “Grandma and Grandpa, Three Rivers” and it was delivered to them!…and the local artists were Henrietta Siodmak, Eleanor Marshal, Jean Caulfeild, Frank Treuting, Jeri Crosby, Lorraine Young, Rosemary Packard, Carroll Barnes, Red Whitson, Lidabelle Wylie… and the weavers were at the Loom Room…Sarah Barton Elliott



…A Farkle Burger and a Beer with an olive in it…. Sounds good…and the Post Office was next to the Three Rivers Market and there was only one Mail Lady for the whole town…. Lora… Loved her. She was my hero and my inspiration…Lori Bauman



…[you got a] short stack at the  Nosiy Water Cafe for 99 cents…I miss that place, home of the humming bird…Esther Garcia

….you know there’s a difference between the largest living thing and the tallest living thing…Jay Emerson

…you are driving into Three Rivers and you are not driving around the lake but along the river where the lake bed is now…Elsah Cort

….when you get a week off of school each year just because you can’t cross a flooded bridge…Stephanie Noel Qullen

…Harold Kluck [rode] his pony cart down North Fork to town !!!!! There wasn’t much traffic then !!! …Judy Onstot Will

…when walking up the slide at slicky was as much fun as going down it & when riding the rapids on the Kaweah without a raft was second nature…Alyssum Root

…when you miss being there!!! And ALL your FRIENDS!! …Deonna Gardner

GeoTourism: authentic traveling for connecting with place, culture, and nature

Are You a Geotraveler? Or, maybe aspire to be one?

Visit the new Sierra Nevada Geotourism MapGuide.

The Sierra Nevada Conservancy and Sierra Business Council have partnered with the National Geographic Society to capture the history and heritage of the Sierra Nevada Region through an interactive Web site and print map. The Sierra Nevada Geotourism Project seeks to celebrate the Sierra Nevada as a world-class destination, while contributing to the economic health of the region by promoting sustainable tourism. History buffs and adventurers, backpackers and foodies, birders and sightseers can discover unique destinations based on recommendations from those who know best—residents of the Sierra Nevada.

Sierra residents and visitors, community organizations, tourism stakeholders and local businesses nominate sites for inclusion in a print MapGuide and interactive Web site. Unlike any other mapping project, a favorite local restaurant, farm, winery, hiking or biking trail, swimming hole, museum or artist gallery are samples of the type of nominations National Geographic and its project partners will be seeking. The web site will target a variety of growing travel niches—adventure and nature tourism, cultural heritage travel and agritourism—and allow for residents to select the one-of-a-kind places integral to a distinctive character of place.

Geotourism is defined as tourism that sustains or enhances the geographical character of a place—its environment, culture, aesthetics, heritage, and the well-being of its residents. Geotourism incorporates the concept of sustainable tourism—that destinations should remain unspoiled for future generations—while allowing for ways to protect a place’s character. Geotourism also takes a principle from its ecotourism cousin—that tourism revenue should promote conservation—and extends it to culture and history as well, that is, all distinctive assets of a place. Through this site we invite you to visit and experience the distinctive landscape and communities of the Sierra Nevada. Visit National Geographic’s Center for Sustainable Destinations to find out more about Geotourism and discover other places where local communities have come together to encourage responsible tourism.

Redbud Arts and Crafts Festival…coming for Mother’s Day Weekend

The 38th Annual Redbud Arts and Crafts Festival will be held on May 7-8, 2011.
Saturday hours are from 10-5 pm, and Sunday hours are from 10-4 pm.

It is held at the Lions Roping Arena in Three Rivers, California. See directions here.

Free Admission to Sequoia National Park for National Park Week April 16-24

Moro Rock with redbud trees in bloom via Sequoia National Park website

From the National Park Foundation:  “Join us April 16th–24th as America celebrates National Park Week – a chance to hike, learn, share, and give back in the nation’s 394 national parks. Take this opportunity to come out and discover, or re-discover, 84 million acres of the world’s most spectacular scenery, historic landmarks and cultural treasures.

National Park Week is a chance for all Americans to experience the majesty of the national park system for FREE. Visit any of America’s national parks and enjoy free admission all week long!

Together, we are owners, protectors and lovers of this land. Whether you are visiting, volunteering or interested in sharing your national park experience with the world, below you will find all the resources you need to make your National Park Week experience a memorable one.”

Sequoia National Park is offering a Junior Ranger Family Event on Saturday, April 16, from 11am to 3 pm at Hospital Rock.  Families will check in at the Hospital Rock Picnic Area’s event information booth where participants will receive an activity sheet. Kids and families will stop at 6 or more stations, complete the related activities (of their choice), and obtain a stamp for each station. Kids and families will turn in their activity sheets at the event information booth, where they originally started. The ranger at event info booth will provide each child with a Sequoia and Kings Canyon Junior Ranger activity book. The event activities are equal to completion of one activity – attendance at a ranger-led program – in the Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks Junior Ranger activity book.

Another view of Moro Rock from the Middle Fork Trail in Sequoia National Park.

Hidden Gardens Tour in Three Rivers on April 16

The Hidden Gardens of Three Rivers Tour is sponsored by the Three Rivers Union School Foundation, as a fundraiser for the local school, currently facing severe budget challenges. Six foothill gardens will be open to the public for this self-guided tour.

Actor, William Shatner, has graciously offered to share his beautiful Belle Reve Ranch for this one day special event. Guests will be able to visit his riverside Indian spirit gar…den and Little Grant’s Grove, in their beautiful natural settings along the South Fork of the Kaweah River.

Local artists, musicians, and a “Taste of Three Rivers,” provided by local restaurants will be offered at each garden, along with volunteers and docents, via the local Redbud Garden Club, will help guide you through the garden.

You can also enjoy the local wildflower bloom along your way.

The other five gardens on the Hidden Gardens Tour include
•a tropical garden, with hand-carved tikis, waterfalls, and an outdoor movie theater;
• an authentic early California garden and lavender farm, on a property with an historic adobe home
•a traditional terraced English country garden, complete with art studio and sunset views
•an expansive riverside garden, adjacent to a stunning South Fork waterfall, with a tour of the owners’ home, which was designed and built to the North Star
• a spiritual retreat garden where lawn and flowers meet oaks and granite.

Tickets are $35 each, available at Chumps in Three Rivers or online at trusfoundation.org. You will be able to exchange your ticket for a packet with a name badge, map and directions to each garden a week before the Tour at the Three Rivers Union School from 4-5:30 pm on Mon-Fri, or at Chump’s from 11-8 pm. Packets will also be available on the day of the Tour from 10- 1 pm at the school. Both Chump’s and the school are located on Hwy 198 in Three Rivers.

For more information, call Pam Lockhart at 559-471-6624.

Sequoia Speaks Series Returns

The winter “Sequoia Speaks” series of weekly lectures and presentations starts on January 29. Discover the untold stories of Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Parks through the explorations and experiences of scientists, artists, and historians. This series is resented by the National Park Service. See dates and topics below image.

All programs are free and open to the public, and will be held at the Three Rivers Arts Center on North Fork Drive in Three Rivers.

 

SATURDAY, JANUARY 29, 2011  7-8 pm
Climate is Changing and So Must We
Accelerated changes in climate and its impacts to water and ecosystems are already being observed in many parts of our planet, including the Southern Sierra Nevada, and more are projected. In the face of these unprecedented global changes, past conditions no longer provide us with sensible management targets. What are land managers to do? The future is uncertain, forcing us to think and act in fundamentally new ways. Koren Nydick, Science Coordinator, will address what the National Park Service and Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks are doing to meet this challenge head-on.

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 5, 2011   7-8 pm
Shifting Water Dynamics in the Sierra Nevada National Parks and their Consequences
Meet Jennie Skancke, the Sierra Network’s new physical scientist, and discover what profound implications warming temperatures and shifts from snow to rain in the Sierra Nevada will have for resources in the national parks and for state water management. Find out how anticipating and documenting these changes will allow the National Park Service resource managers and state water managers to focus their restoration or protection efforts.

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 2011   7-8 pm
Fire in the National Park Service: An Evolving Relationship
Patterns of fire occurrence in the Sierra Nevada are governed by biological factors, such as plant species composition and fuel production, and environmental and physical factors, such as topography, weather, and climate. Global climate change is likely to cause changes to these patterns. Tony Caprio, Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Park’s fire ecologist will look at past and contemporary patterns and consider how they may change in the future.

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 2011  7-8 pm
Taking the Long View: park biologists and citizen scientists working together to monitor alpine plant communities
Join Park Plant Ecologist, Sylvia Haultain, on a stunning photographic tour of the plants and animals that live above treeline. She will highlight the parks’ participation in the international Global Observation Research Initiative in Alpine Environments (GLORIA) network and the newly established High Sierra monitoring sites in the Mt. Langley area. Discover an exciting new program that engages you, citizen scientists, in documenting changes in the timing of life cycle events of local plants. Your observations can contribute to our understanding of local climate change effects.

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 26, 2011  7-8 pm
A Legacy of Joseph Grinnell: predicting the future from the record of the past
Joseph Grinnell, the founding director of the Museum of Vertebrate Zoology at UC-Berkeley and an influential naturalist of the early 20th century, began his career at the museum with this vision: “…the greatest purpose of our museum…will not be realized until the lapse of many years, possibly a century…and this is that the student of the future will have access to the original record of vertebrate conditions in California.” Grinnell’s vision stemmed from his concern for the loss of nature habitats, but today we also face climate change.
Join Jim Patton, Curator and Professor Emeritus, from the University of California, Berkeley in his discussion of the Grinnell Resurvey Project. This project began in 2003 and centered along the length of the Sierra Nevada as a realization of Grinnell’s early vision. He will detail the changes in range distributions of small mammals and birds over the past century, discuss the potential forces underlying these shifts, and address the likely future for several of our most iconic terrestrial vertebrate species.

For more information, please call 559-565-4212.
Image source: nps.gov/seki

Santa comes to Three Rivers

(photo source Diana Jules on facebook)

Tow truck via Pat O’Connell….
Santa courtesy of kindness, fun and imagination.

(photo source www.darnton.ws/~Pat_O’Connell)

“Pat owned three different service stations in the LA area, the last one being a Mobil station on the corner of Slauson and La Brea in Inglewood, CA. He was looking to leave because, frankly, he was sick of LA and thought there must be a better place to live and raise kids. Try to remember (those of you who were here at the time) what LA was like in the early ’60′s: most days the smog was so bad you could barely see one block, and breathing was a life-threatening experience. Only we older guys know: it’s actually a LOT better now.

Pat researched opportunities as far away as the Four Corners area and was close to making an offer on a station in Kaibab, AZ, north of the Grand Canyon, when he learned that the average snowfall there in winter is eight feet. This put him off, so he kept looking, with a preference for mountainous areas. He found what he wanted in Three Rivers, which, if you look on a map (or Google Earth) is about the same size as Kaibab, and I mean small. He and his wife sold the Inglewood station in 1964 and came the 225 miles north to move into a house on the property that was built in 1946. His wife died in 2005 after a long battle with cancer, and Pat has carried on alone. He told me that he never realized until after she died how much work women do to keep a house!” via the Darton Family Website

Pat O’Connell’s service station circa 2005

Pat O’Connell retired from his towing service in 2008…
read article in Kaweah Commonwealth.

Enjoy Our Mountain Holiday Celebrations

November 20: Holiday Bazaar in Three Rivers

The 25th annual Holiday Bazaar, sponsored by Three Rivers Senior League, will be held on Saturday, November 20, from 9-4 pm at the Three Rivers Memorial Building. It will offer more than 50 booths featuring handmade gifts, hot food, drinks, a bake sale and an auction and door prizes.

November 26-27:   Perfect Gift Boutique in Three Rivers

Six local artists will participate to provide the opportunity to find the perfect gift for everyone on their holiday shopping list. Sponsored by the Kaweah Artisans. Free admission.  Open from 10-4 pm at the Three Rivers Arts Center on North Fork Drive. Call 559-561-1307.

Three Rivers master handweaver, Nikki Crain, will be one of the artists exhibiting.

December 4:  First Saturday Arts Event

To learn more about this monthly event with local artists, see First Sat blog.

December 11: Holiday Music Concert in Three Rivers

The second of 6 concerts in the 2010/2011 Winter Concert Series, brought to you live by Three Rivers Performing Arts Institute (TRPAI), is the Holiday Concert featuring the College of the Sequoia (COS) Chamber Singers,  at 7 pm at Community Presbyterian Church, located at 43410 Sierra Dr (Hwy 198) in Three Rivers. Tickets are $12 each, or $72 for the series of 6 concerts, available at Chumps Video located at 41707 Sierra Dr (Hwy 198) in Three Rivers. For more information on this concert or TRPAI, call Bill Haxton at 559-561-0300.

December 12: Nation’s Christmas Tree Celebration in Grant Grove

The Sanger Chamber of Commerce sponsors the annual Christmas “Trek to the Tree” on the second Sunday of December at 2:30 pm. For more information, contact them at 559-875-4575.

This tree has inspired thousands of people including the late Charles E. Lee of Sanger, California. In 1924 he visited what was then General Grant National Park, and found himself standing by the Grant Tree with a little girl. As they admired the huge tree, the girl exclaimed, “what a wonderful Christmas tree it would be!”

The idea stayed with Mr. Lee, and in 1925 he organized the first Christmas program, held at the Grant Tree at noon on Christmas Day. Mr. Lee, then secretary of the Sanger Chamber of Commerce, and Mr. R.J. Senior, president of the Chamber, conceived the idea of an annual ceremony. Mr. Lee wrote to President Calvin Coolidge, who designated the General Grant as the Nation’s Christmas Tree on April 28, 1926.

Celebration for 100 years of the Kaweah Post Office on October 23

When a revered institution reaches its 100th birthday, it’s certainly a cause to celebrate with some good old fashioned fun. And that’s just what’s in store for all who visit the Kaweah Post Office on Saturday, Oct. 23, between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m.

It will be a day of food, fun, music, and history. And, best of all, the centennial event will help raise funds for the preservation of the historic post office. A wholesome experience awaits all who attend this Centennial Celebration where past and present meet…

Read the rest of this article by Brian Rothhammer at the Kaweah Commonwealth.
(Scroll down for second article at this link.)

Print from an original ink drawing by the late Pauline Whitsun,
a well known and beloved Three Rivers artist,
who used to organize group exhibitions at her Apple House gallery
on the North Fork in the 50′s and 60′s.
(photo source: group facebook page to Save the Kaweah Post Office)

Three Rivers Environmental Weekend

The 4th Annual Three Rivers Environmental Weekend will be held on October 2-3, 2010. It includes the Green Faire on Saturday, from 9-5 pm at the Three Rivers Arts Center, on North Fork Drive. The Green Faire is a free event, open to the public.  The Green Home Tour will be held on Sunday. Reservations and tickets are required for tour.

painting by Paul Buxman

The Three Rivers Environmental Weekend was started four years ago, and is organized by the local group which calls itself the TREW Crew, led by Three Rivers artist, Mona Fox Selph.

The Green Faire, on October 2,  has designated “Food and Farming” as its main theme. Several presentations on this theme will be made during the Saturday event.  At 9:30 am,  Dr. Donald Mosley will speak on grass fed beef and other food animals, with additional information on organic gardening. He will share his personal story of transitioning from a dental practice in San Diego to a farmer in Three Rives, now practicing biodynamic farming and gardening with his wife Terez.

At 11 am, Paul Buxman, internationally known organic farmer and plein air artist from Dinuba, will speak on his 40 years’ experience as a farmer on his “Sweet Home Ranch.” His dedication to discovering clean, sustainable farming methods has influenced people world wide.  His farm has been the subject of many documentaries, including National Geographic, PBS, Sixty Minutes, Bill Moyers, CBS Nightly News, California Heartland, Canadian Public Broadcasting, Australian Public Broadcasting, and many local news broadcasts. Paul’s art has also had a strong impact on many people in America, not just collectors but painters as well. He teaches and “preaches” simplicity and honesty as key to great art. He encourages others to paint what they know. He says, “Paintings should be a visual autobiography. Paint those subjects with which you are most intimately acquainted.” Paul’s paintings have been displayed in the Senate Chambers, both in California and in Washington, D. C. The Green Faire is proud to also be displaying some of his paintings. Paul will bring his viola for a little music at the end of his program, accompanied on piano by his wife, Ruth, who will also be selling her homemade, organic jams.

At 1:15 pm, there will a preview showing of “Artists of the Great Western Divide”, a masterful short documentary created by the students of Reedley College. This thirty minute film features the founders of the Kaweah Land and Arts Festival, which will have it’s 2nd annual Festival on November 5-7, 2010. The film’s producer, Diran Lyons, will be on hand to introduce it, as well as artist Matthew Rangel who appears in the film.

At 2 pm, the Alta Peak Chapter of the California Native Plant Society will present its Fall Program called “What’s Cooking in the Foothills 600 Years Ago? Native Americans and Our Local Native Plants”, presented by Mary Gorden.  Have you ever wondered if you could survive without all the comforts you now enjoy? It is hard to imagine what life was like many years ago. Six hundred years ago the people in the Sierra Nevada Mountains and foothills lived a comfortable life. Historic evidence indicates that hunter-gatherers did about everything that farmers do, but they probably didn’t work as hard. Speaker, Mary Gorden, is a retired teacher who taught elementary and high school, in addition to college classes for teachers in history and archaeology. The class on “Native Plants and Their Uses” was the product of her research of early ethnographers in the San Joaquin Valley who recorded the culture of the Native Americans. Mary also worked as an archaeological assistant for the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection.

Following the CNPS Fall Program, Christina Roper Graber, lecturer on anthropology at California State Fresno, will continue the discussion of the fascinating subject of the local native people’s use of our local landscape’s plants and animals before the arrival of European settlers, including examples of some artifacts and their applications.

The Green Faire will be full of other things to see, and interesting information to know as well.  In addition to the morning native plant sale outside, a solar cooking demonstration will be featured, along with what’s new in home solar panels, art from natural and recycled materials, and green home products and practices.

Inside the Arts Center, many books will be available for perusal and purchase.  Local author Dr. Louise Jackson will be present to autograph her latest book, The Sierra Nevada Before History, Ancient Landscapes, Early Peoples.  Also present will be local author, painter, and poet, Sylvia Ross, with her two children’s books, Lion Singer and Blue Jay Girl. Local poet and cowboy, John Dofflemyer, will be on hand with his wonderful collection of poetry books. John Spivey’s book, The Great Western Divide, will also be for sale at the local author’s table.

The Tulare County Master Gardeners will be there with lots of helpful gardening information. The Three Rivers Arts Alliance will be selling California poppy seeds to support their art scholarship fund for area youth.  Spotted Owl researcher, Lori Werner, will share an owl display of interest to both children and adults. Local green builders will have a table with information on how to build and remodel using green resources. Family Farm Fresh will present some of their home delivery local produce, and information on Three Rivers’ Flora Bella Farm’s organic items will be on hand.  Both the California Native Plant Society and the Sequoia Natural History Association will have large displays. Tulare County Citizens for Responsible Growth, and a number of other information booths, will fill the Arts Center for the day.  A drawing for free door prizes will take place at 4:30 pm.

On Sunday, October 3, The Green Home Tour will visit five homes in Three Rivers as part of the American Solar Energy Society’s annual national solar tour.  All of the homes are either active or passive solar powered or assisted. Many homes incorporate recycled materials, earth forms and other natural materials, as well as green practices during construction and in use.  Besides being innovative, they are quite beautiful.  One of the homes this year, known locally as “the glass house” was Sunset Magazine’s small space winner for 2009-2010.

Reservations are required for the afternoon home tour. Tickets are $15 per person, or $25 per couple, with the proceeds going to the Sierra Club Legal Defense Fund for specific legal support for the recent process of revising the Tulare County General Plan, supporting responsible growth instead of sprawl.  Call 561-4676 to reserve a place, with one of two tour groups. One starts at 12 noon, the other at 1 pm.

Respect the River

A letter to Three Rivers’ visitors
from John and Sarah Elliot Publishers of the Kaweah Commonwealth

We would like to talk frankly with you about our town’s namesake: the three rivers. Most likely, the Kaweah River is why you are here. It is certainly the principal reason why we live here. The Kaweah River is sacred. It is the lifeblood of this community and serves as either the focal point or backdrop in everything we do. The residents of Three Rivers respect the river and understand its power.  The river rules; we can never rule the river.

(photo source riverchica.com)

This time of year, river issues take precedence in all that most residents think about or do. Please know that the Three Rivers community wishes to share this awesome natural resource with you, but there is some critical information that you should know.  Most importantly, this entire community mourns when a visitor succumbs to the forces of the river. Whether it’s the witnesses, the heroic locals who will attempt to save you, the first responders, the volunteer ambulance crew, or even the newspaper staff who must convey the devastating story, many people are deeply saddened by such a tragedy. And multiple drownings occur in the Kaweah River every year. You must never, ever underestimate the power of this waterway or it will take your life away in an instant.

Also, even if the sight of the refreshing water proves irresistible on a hot day, please respect private property and “No Trespassing” signs. If you do properly access the river and spend time along its shores, please carry out what you carried in. This is an unincorporated community with no scheduled trash pickup or routine upkeep at local river sites. You were obviously drawn here by the unique beauty, so consider it your personal responsibility to keep the waterway pristine for the next visitor by properly disposing of your beer and soda cans, food containers, cigarette butts, and your children’s dirty diapers. (Read the rest of the story here.)

Summer in the Park

Sequoia in the summer is also Spring in the high meadows,
cool mountain air and big, big trees. Take a walk away from your car.
Stay in Three Rivers near the main entrance.

________________________________________________________

Ephemeral Light ©Tim Wolcott
Dogwoods in bloom in Sequoia National Park

Amulet of the Forest ©Tim Wolcott

Tim Wolcott’s Gallery of the American Landscape is in Big Bear, CA.

100 years for the historic Kaweah Post Office

Update as of May 27, 2010: Apparently mail will still be delivered to the boxes at the Kaweah Post Office after May 31. But, the last day to send any outgoing mail from the small historic structure will be tomorrow. Read article in the Visalia Time Delta

The Kaweah Postal Service will celebrate its 100th birthday on May 17, 2010.
It has been known as the smallest post office in the country that was still operational.
The US Postal Service will close the Kaweah Post Office at the end of this month.
Read about the History of the Kaweah Colonists who built the it in 1910.

From the Kaweah Commonwealth:  In 1886, the Kaweah Colony was established as a tent camp at Advance on the North Fork. The utopian socialists began to attract attention, both locally and nationwide, with the building of a road to access timber claims in the Giant Forest. On May 17, 1890, an application for the Kaweah Post Office at Advance was granted. In 1910, the current 10-by-12-foot structure was constructed with a materials cost of about $15 and was moved several times to accommodate its patrons. In 1926, the post office was moved to its present location on North Fork Drive. On Oct. 24, 1948, it was designated a State Historic Landmark.

Read article in the May 14 edition of the Kaweah Commonwealth….

The Kaweah Post Office is located at 43795 North Fork Drive in Three Rivers. See map.

photo source: www.panoramio.com

photo source: historicphotoarchive.com

photo source: www.flickr.com

Violin Summer Camp coming to Three Rivers in June

Center Stage Strings announces their upcoming Inaugural Season for a music camp to be held in Three Rivers from June 14-20, 2010.

Center Stage Strings was founded by prize-winning violinist and passionate teacher Danielle Belen to develop the talents of young classical music students in the areas of solo and chamber music performance. Set in Three Rivers, California, at the foot of the Sequoias, the natural beauty of the surroundings and the music intertwine to create a unique summer experience. Throughout the week, students will receive daily private lessons, participate in Master Classes, attend Guest Artist Recitals open to the public, all culminating in a student concert on the final day of camp. The Three Rivers community is very important to Center Stage Strings as many families have generously opened their homes to our students to stay during the week.

The young musicians chosen to participate in the camp will have a unique opportunity to focus purely on developing their talents without the distractions of normal, everyday life. An intense practice and lesson schedule is balanced with chamber music, socializing and recreational activities. Swimming, hiking, table tennis and movie night are just a few of the many fun activities available to the students. Registration details here.

In addition to the Center Stage Strings camp, students and the town of Three Rivers will enjoy Guest Artist Recitals, Faculty concerts and Master Classes presented by world class artists and teachers. All concerts will be held at the Three Rivers Community Presbyterian Church. See the full recital schedule for details.

For more information email info@CenterStageStrings.com

60th Annual Three Rivers Lions Team Roping on April 22-25

Celebrate the 60th anniversary of the Lions Team Roping Event
in Three Rivers on April 22-25, 2010.
For more information email info@3rtr.org

Jazzaffair this Weekend

The three day Jazzaffair starts Friday afternoon, April 9 and runs through Sunday April 11, 2010. Start your jazz weekend a day early and attend the Lion’s recognition Barbecue and Jazz Jam.

Jazzaffair is organized by the Sierra Traditional Jazz Club in Three Rivers.
To see the eight band line-up for this year, visit the Jazzaffair website.
Call 561- 4549 for more information.
See threeriverslodging.com for a complete list of lodging in the area.

Motor homes are welcome and you can park on site at the Lion’s Jazz Arena and at $40 it’s a great deal. Motor home parking is also available at nearby locations on the scenic Kaweah and North Fork rivers.

April is the best time of the year to visit Three Rivers and the entrance to Sequoia National Park is only five minutes away. Enjoy Jazzaffair, and drive or join a tour to the park. See the centuries old big trees and vast Alpine wilderness of the Sierra Nevada mountains.

Jazzaffair has three music venues serviced by free jazz shuttles and on-site motor home parking. Each venue has food and beverages available. Lodging, shopping and resturants are close by. Put Jazzaffair 2010 on your calendar. Get ready to jazz it up.

Three Rivers is home to the famous and internationally renowned
High Sierra Jazz Band.

Celebrating 70 Years for the Sequoia Natural History Association

Sequoia Natural History Association
“Celebrating 70 Years” Partnership Weekend
April 23, 24, 25,  2010

The first member gathering was at the Ash Mountain Headquarters in 1988. In 2010, we are bringing it back as we “Celebrate 70 Years”. Please join us for this special and exclusive event, dedicated to our SNHA members only. The programs will fill up quickly. Special activities will require smaller group sizes and are on a first-sign up, first registered basis. Deadline to register is April 9th, 2010. An itinerary packet will be mailed to you confirming your activity availability.

Friday, April 23 Park Partner Mixer - join the SNHA staff and members of the board of directors for an intimate reception and open conversation at the Ash Mountain Recreation Hall. Wine, beer and non-alcoholic beverages will be served and an array of appetizers from “Around the World”.  Then, sit back and enjoy “Tracking the first Sierra Mountaineers: from Clarence King to Norman Clyde”- author Daniel Arnold will present slides and stories from his new book Early Days in the Range of Light.  Arnold spent four years retracing the routes of the original Sierra mountaineers.  In the spirit of his predecessors, he used only rudimentary equipment–no ropes, no harnesses, no specialized climbing shoes. In an artful blend of history, biography, nature, and adventure writing, along with dozens of photographs, Arnold brings to life both the journeys and the stunning terrain. 5:30pm to 7:30pm, $25 per person, limited to 40 guests

Saturday, April 24th (this is a entrance fee-free day!)
Tracking the Trail Day Hike - join a SFI naturalist for a mid-morning walk in Giant Forest following the tracks of of local critters. 9:30am to 11:30am, limited to 14 members attending the dinner & member event.

Junior Ranger Family Day -  hosted by NPS and located at Hospital Rock, check out the hands-on exploration stations that provide a glimpse into the jobs of park rangers & cave naturalists.  Not just for kids! 10:00am to 2:00pm, free and open to all park visitors

Historic Tour of Park Headquarters – join park experts as they introduce you to the working heart of the national parks, Ash Mountain Headquarters. 2:30pm to 4:00pm, free for members attending the dinner  & member event

Dinner & Member Event – SNHA staff will transform Park Headquarters to a delightful dinner for our members.  Listen to the river roll by as we reminisce the good times of the past 70 years.  Guest speakers, free gifts, an exclusive, after-hours visitor center sale, tour of the SNHA office and more.  Dinner Menu: beef brisket, tomato-basil pasta, roasted veggies, garden salad, rolls & birthday cake 4:00pm to 7:00pm, $22 adults, $5 children, limited to 125 guests.

Under the Night Sky – check out the constellations and hear a tale or two about the legends of the night sky. Program will be held in the Ash Mountain area. 8:30pm, free for all SNHA members.

Sunday, April 25th
Foothills Wildflower Walk – spring is the ideal season to stroll the foothills of the Sierra. Flowers blooming, birds chirping as you gander with an expert in Sierra Nevada flora. 9:00am to 11:00am, limited to 14 members attending the dinner & member event

Breakfast & Barge Tour – enjoy a light breakfast and hop aboard a barge as you tour Lake Kaweah with a naturalist.  Learn the natural history of the area and observe wildlife from the water. 9:00am to 11:30am, $20.00 per person, limited to 15 people.

Call 559.565.4222 for more information. 
Become a member of the Sequoia Natural History Association.

(photo from SNHA website)

Truth in Advertising…about the natural world

The National Parks Traveler asked on twitter: what’s wrong with this “Sequoia National Park” drawing on the back of a box of Safeway brand Rice Pockets Cereal?

“The answer is that it isn’t in a national park at all. If you could make out the writing on the sign on the tree in the drawing, you would read “Chandelier Tree.” That tree is located in Underwood Park (aka “Drive-Thru Tree Park”) in Leggett, California. That puts it about 450 miles northwest of Sequoia National Park. That’s not all, the Chandelier Tree isn’t even a Giant Sequoia. It’s a Coast Redwood.”

Read the full story by Jess Stryker of the National Parks Traveler here.
Follow the National Parks Traveler on twitter.

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I remember driving through this tree in Northern California
(when I was a kid in the 1950′s.)

Sequoia Speaks Series

This year, the Ken Burns’ ‘America’s Best Idea’ series captured the imagination of the entire nation. Discover the untold stories of Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Parks  through the explorations and experiences of scientists, artists, and historians. Three Rivers Arts Center, 7-8 pm. All programs are free and open to the public.

SATURDAY, JANUARY 30, 2010
Diggin’ the Parks: Archeology and the National Park Service
Come learn more about the role archeology plays in the National Park Service and more specifically, in your parks: Sequoia and Kings Canyon. Park Archeologist Jane Allen will describe what archeologists do and what can you do to help maintain archeological resources when you’re visiting the parks.

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2010
Science in the National Park Service: An Evolving Relationship
Join David Graber, Pacific West Region Chief Scientist, as he explores how science has informed park management and interpretation over the decades and how that evolution continues today.

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 2010
Women in the National Parks
Since the inception of the national parks, women have played a critical role in mission development, day-to- day operations, and living legacy. From early residents to national policymakers, Adrienne Freeman, Acting Public Affairs Specialist, will share stories of women who have shaped the picture of the modern day park service. Join us immediately following this presentation as we welcome Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks’ first female superintendent, Karen Taylor Goodrich.

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 2010
A Transect—Due East
Join artist and San Joaquin Valley native Matthew Rangel in his discussion of original lithographs inspired by his pilgrimage from the valley floor, through the foothills, and up to the high reaches of the Great Western Divide of the Southern Sierra.

Due East from Moro Rock ©Matthew Rangel

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 27, 2010
National Parks in a Changing World
Since 1872, national parks have been dedicated to the dream that they could protect forever the resources within them. In other words, they would be places that would never change. But what does promise mean now in a world dominated by processes like global climate change? To explore this thought-provoking question, local author Bill Tweed will present some key ideas from his new book Uncertain Path: A Search for the Future of National Parks, to be published later this year by the University of California Press.

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For more information, please call 559-565-4212.
Sequoia Speaks is presented by the National Park Service.

The Three Rivers Arts Center is on North Fork Drive,
a short way from the Hwy 198 turnoff.

Loving this Place

“I love this place.

From my yard today, I could see snow on the mountains and hills above me, so beautiful it almost took my breath away. I live on the fringe of wilderness, and the wild creatures are a treasured part of my life.  It is their place even more than mine.

An early sign of fall is the many tarantulas that come out and about, looking for mates. In apple season, I have watched a brown bear sitting under my apple tree, just outside of my solarium, calmly enjoying the fruit. I’ve seen many deer resting in the shade of my back yard in the summer, while alligator lizards do pushups on the sunny boulders.  Skunks leave scented calling cards, and raccoons wash their food in the cat’s water dish.  Tracks and scat report the presence of shy animals that we see only occasionally: bobcats, foxes, coyotes, and even cougars.

There are many birds. Some are migratory, especially small song birds that stay for a few days or weeks and move on. The Kaweah River is named after the Indian word for raven, and those intelligent birds are seen all around the area. Hawks scream above, and eagles can sometimes be seen soaring over the lake. Blue herons and white egrets collect in the wetlands.  Flocks of wild turkeys frequent certain neighborhoods, and everywhere local quail herd their many broods of chicks. The haunting calls of owls mark the night. Raucous scrub jays squabble for food and territory.

As winter approaches, woodpeckers beat their brains out hammering acorns into oak trees.  One creative couple has taken over a nearby metal power pole, dropping their acorns into a hole near the top, causing pinging sounds as the acorns travel downward.  It they keep it up enough years, perhaps the pole will sprout an oak tree?”

from the Christmas letter of artist, Mona Fox Selph,
one of the 21 artists on the Three Rivers Artists’ STUDIO TOUR 9,
coming this March 19-20-21 in Three Rivers. Tickets on sale now.

Tree Shadows, oil ©Mona Fox Selph

Snow comes to Sequoia

Three Rivers residents record the first mountain snow.

Kay Packard: “Holy Alta Peak and Moro Rock”

Eddie McArthur: “Lovely snow just above us”

Elsah Cort: “View up to Moro Rock from Cort Cottage.”

Tree Dance

Visiting the Park at this time of year offers a special experience.  Few visitors come now, so you have Giant Forest almost to yourself.  It has always been a mystery to me about why everyone seems to come at the same time to see the trees.  Wonder if the trees are lonely without us right about now?  Or are we just missing something wonderful by not hanging out with some very big friends?

Great source for where to stay in Three Rivers can be found here.
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photo by Phil Haack from his blog

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PS: tomorrow is the Holiday Bazaar in Three Rivers
from 9-4 at the Memorial Bldg.
Enjoy local creativity, from home jams to birdhouses and wreaths.
Don’t forget to sample the great cinnamon rolls!

Widen your perspective of the land…

Image of the Day from NASA

see another image of the Park from NASA:
March 22, 2009

Scanning from 100+ years in the past: John Muir’s hand to digital viewing

The newest digital collection at the University of the Pacific’s library will excite any John Muir enthusiast. The library has scanned more than 6,500 of his letters and posted them online. The library has also made collections of Muir’s photographs, drawings, and journals  online.

via the Sierra Magazine blog

John Muir standing to the right of Teddy Roosevelt, circa turn of the 20th Century.
Base of Giant Sequioa tree behind these men, circa turn of the 1st Century.

Kaweah Watershed

The recent Kaweah Land and Arts Festival brought artists, poets, writers, naturalists and biologists together for a wonderful, continuing conversation about living and creating in the Kaweah Watershed.

Make sure you go see the exhibit at Arts Visalia this month at 214 E. Oak in Visalia CA.  See lithographs by Matthew Rangel and photographs by John Spivey author of The Great Western Divide, a History with Crow, Coyote and God. See also, johnspiveyfurniture.com.

Links to other contributors to the Festival are:
John Dofflemyer: poet, conservationist and rancher
Paul Buxman: artist, farmer
Rob Hansen: biologist, naturalist, college professor
Tim Z. Hernandez: poet, performer
Sylvia Ross: author, poet, illustrator
Trudy Wischemann: author, musician
William Tweed: author, naturalist

Sequoia Riverlands Trust: a regional, Central California, non-profit land trust dedicated to conserving the natural and agricultural legacy of the southern Sierra Nevada and San Joaquin Valley.

Living History Day on October 10 at Three Rivers Historical Museum

On Saturday, October 10, from 10-4 pm,  the Three Rivers Historical Society will present their annual Living History Day. The event will focus on “World War II Years: 1939-1945.”  You can visit with local WWII veterans, sample the food, view the cars, enjoy swing and Big Band music, and learn about rationing, Victory Gardens, and Rosie the Riveter. Open free to the public with a $5 Lunch donation.

Three Rivers Historical Museum
42268 Sierra Dr (HWY 198)
Three Rivers, CA 93271
Look for the big Paul Bunyan statue.

Call 559-561-2707 for more information.

Park Service should not hasten death of Big Trees

Speaking Out by Charlie Castro

(Published September 11, 2009 in the Kaweah Commonwealth)

For some folks, seeing or just knowing that a giant sequoia has fire in its crown and its limbs are crashing to the forest floor below is enough to evoke tears of sadness and stir deep emotions. To witness the death of one of these majestic monarchs is a tragedy that anybody who witnesses it will ever forget.
—from “Monarch burns in Crescent Meadow,” THE KAWEAH COMMONWEALTH, Aug. 28, 2009

This is being written to follow up on THE KAWEAH COMMONWEALTH’s article (“Monarch burns in Crescent Meadow”). I know that this has happened more than one time in our parks.

The National Park Service’s goal is to “conserve the scenery and the natural and historic objects and the wild life therein and to provide for the enjoyment of the same in such manner and by such means as will leave them unimpaired for the enjoyment of future generations.” All efforts should be made to protect every large, majestic sequoia tree, the defective and non-defective. The recently burned giant sequoia — even though it was an unnamed monarch with structural weakness — may have survived this fire.

Prescribed fire: Utilize it wisely. The original objective of the prescribed-fire program was to examine the role of fire in the reproduction of the giant sequoia. It is now used in other parks and agencies for the reduction of accumulated fuels.

Prescribed fire is now part of the process to remove tree litter and duff from the forest floor. It is used to remove brush and other accumulated fuels in our lower oak woodland forests. It is used to help balance the mixed conifer species, mainly the fast-growing white fir in giant sequoia groves. It affects the succession of sequoia seedlings, survival, and reproduction. It is a major tool used to lower the possibility of a major wildfire.

Prescribed fire is a great program when planned and executed within strict prescribed-burning procedures and guidelines. It allows fire personnel to plan, prep, and ignite burns in specific locations at the correct time of year.  This is the time for management and fire personnel to thoroughly inspect a burn site, to identify potential hazards and, hopefully, plan ignition methods around the base of standing monarchs, especially the named ones.

All is good when fire is used at the right time of the year and at the right elevation for specific fuels. To ignore these factors and misunderstand burning prescriptions can turn a planned prescribed burn into a raging wildfire.

From the time I started in the “prescribed fire” program at Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks, I was involved in small half-acre to one-acre burn plots in giant sequoia groves. That was in 1964, and it was not called prescribed fire. Prescribed fire began a couple of years later to continue and support the giant sequoia ecology program.

It was very hard for me to change my years of training in fire suppression to the introduction of fire, however, both practices were highly beneficial during my years with the federal fire management project team.

Managed fire was first introduced by Richard J. Hartesveldt, Ph.D. He was concerned about the effects of human impact on giant sequoias and their environment in the Mariposa Grove of Yosemite National Park. He studied those impacts and, in 1962, shifted his studies to Sequoia-Kings Canyon . The following year, he and his partner, Dr. H. Thomas Harvey, discussed the issues and many facets of giant sequoia ecology. In 1964, they were joined by Dr. Howard S. Shellhammer and, in 1966, by Dr. Ronald E. Stecker.  This ecology research team from San Jose State University is a pioneer in the use of prescribed fire and giant sequoia reproduction. I am very proud to have worked with this team (1964 to 1974), where I conducted all the high climbing, as well as the rigging of an elevator in a 287-foot giant sequoia; these efforts being accomplished for the preservation of all giant sequoias.

It is inevitable that all living things will eventually die. But giant sequoias are some of the oldest living things on earth. Let’s not hasten their termination.

CHARLES E. CASTRO is a 45-year resident of Three Rivers. He is a Native American who was born in Yosemite Valley, where he began a career with the National Park Service that spanned more than 40 years. In 1964, Charlie transferred to Sequoia-Kings Canyon as the forestry foreman, where he worked until his retirement in 1995.
In 1965, he received an NPS Special Achievement Award for saving a giant sequoia from fire. In 1967, he received his second Special Achievement Award for his efforts in saving the California Tree from fire.

Charlie also plays drums for the world-famous High Sierra Jazz Band.

Learn about gardening with California Native Plants on Oct 3 in Three Rivers

NATIVE PLANT SALE

Sponsored by the Alta Peak Chapter of the California Native Plant Society
October 3   Saturday   9 am to 1 pm
Three Rivers Art Center
Just North of off HWY 198 on North Fork Drive in Three Rivers

Locally grown shrubs and trees, perennials, wild grasses, and bulbs will be offered for our annual native plant sale. Come early if you have not pre-ordered. CNPS members will be available with suggestions about how and where to plant, mulching, and answers for special gardening questions.  Plants are provided by Intermountain Nursery in Prather and California Native Nursery in Porterville. Books and posters will be available for your purchase inside the Arts Center.

CNPS VOLUNTEERS NEEDED !  Please help with plant sale on both October 2 with the delivery of the plants and Oct 3 for sale itself.
Call Janet Fanning 561-3461 for information & to volunteer.
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FALL PROGRAM for Alta Peak Chapter of the California Native Plant Society
October 3  Saturday  2 pm
Three Rivers Art Center

“Finding Connection in Nature”

with John Muir (Jack) Laws
www.johnmuirlaws.com

John Muir said “When we try to pick out anything by itself, we find it hitched to everything else in the universe.”  Join us for an exciting afternoon of appreciation of some of the most astounding and unappreciated species in the Sierra Nevada. In this illustrated lecture, John (Jack) Muir Laws (no relation to the other John Muir) will help us follow a series of astounding relationships between plants and animals in the Sierra Nevada. You will be delighted and amazed by the subtle and essential threads that connect species. You can find many of these species on a mountain hike with your friends or family and share the stories with them. Jack will also discuss some of the conservation challenges in the Sierra Nevada and what stewards of nature are doing to confront them. Whether you’re a botanist, birder or backpacker, don’t miss this opportunity to enrich your next exploration of the Range of Light!

Jack Laws is a naturalist, environmental educator and author and illustrator.  He has worked as an environmental educator for over 25 years in California, Wyoming, and Alaska.  He teaches classes on natural history, conservation biology, scientific illustration, and field sketching. He is trained as a wildlife biologist and is a research associate of the California Academy of Sciences. His illustrations capture the feeling of the living plant or animal, while also including details critical for identification.

Jack is the author and illustrator of Sierra Birds: a Hiker’s Guide and The Laws Field Guide to the Sierra Nevada. This pocket-sized field guide contains 2,710 original watercolor paintings of more than 1,700 species in the Sierra. He is also a regular contributor to Bay Nature magazine with his “Naturalists Notebook” column. Jack is deeply committed to stewardship of nature and collaborates with organizations throughout the state.

Jack initiated Following Muir’s Footsteps, an educational program to engender passionate love of nature, personal understanding of natural history and commitment to stewardship. This program gets students out in the field, learning from their own observations and using field guides and nature journals as the basis for discovering nature around them. As a part of this project, he is working secure funding to donate sets of field guides to every middle and high school in the Sierra Nevada. Read details about this program at www.johnmuirlaws.com/SierraClassroomProject.htm

“From an early age, my parents instilled in me a deep love of nature and an insatiable curiosity. Nature exploration has opened my eyes to a world of beauty and wonder that has grown into a deep commitment to stewardship.”  …John Muir Laws

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The Three Rivers Environmental Weekend is also happening on October 3 at the same location.  More information here. The Three Rivers Green Home Tour will be on October 4.

The future of the Park and the Trees and the Culture

from Visalia Times Delta article by Brett Wilkison interviewing Bill Tweed,
published September 19, 2009

Three Rivers resident Bill Tweed worked 28 years in Sequoia and Kings Canyon national parks, including 10 years as the parks’ chief naturalist. His forthcoming book, “Uncertain Path: The Future of National Parks”— due out next summer from University of California Press — looks at the challenges the now 93-year-old park system faces in this century and beyond….

But you’re still optimistic about the future of national parks?

My reason for optimism is that more than almost anything else that America does, the national parks inspire us to do good things. That actually is going to be the message of Ken Burns. He uses this famous quote from a man named James Bryce, who was the British ambassador to the United States back in the early 20th century. He said the national parks were “the best idea America ever had.”

In terms of inspiring behavior, in terms of inspiring good things in America, national parks have always done that. They bring us together in all kinds of ways. American people support them and the idea has spread world wide. Parks have periodically challenged us to reinvent ourselves. Parks teach us things because they are our natural laboratories and we learn things as we work in parks and try to manage them. Parks have a profoundly positive impact on us as a people. It goes way beyond the economic impact, which is the quick one. But there’s really a much bigger national effect. It affects our whole national culture. I think that’s appropriate because not only am I saying it but, Ken Burns, you add up all 12 hours of his film, that’s what he will have said. It’s not new to me and its not new to him. It’s an idea that’s been around for a long time. And it’s true.

Visitors can look out to a meadow filled with wildlife
from the porch at the Wolverton picnic area.

photo:  Steve R. Fujimoto

Three Rivers Environmental Weeked coming on Oct 3-4

• OCT 3  Sat  9-5 pm  Three Rivers Arts Center

Presentations on the Environment including:

Bee colony collapse and honey-making,  All about owls, Solar cooking
Book-signing History of Yokohl Valley by Scott Barker, Home and garden art
Information on green home options, Wastewater treatment innovations
Native plant gardening, Community Supported Agriculture, Free door prizes

Saturday activities collaborate with the California Native Plant Society with a native plant sale, from 9-1 pm, in the back courtyard of the Arts Center, and the Alta Peak Chapter Fall Program presented at 2 pm by John Muir Laws, teacher, artist and author of the Laws Guide to the Sierra Nevada.

All of Saturday’s events are free and open to all.
Arts Center–turn north off HWY 198 on North Fork Drive in Three Rivers.

• OCT 4  Sunday starting at 12 noon and 1 pm

Three Rivers Green Home Tour featuring five homes with:

Passive and active solar water and home heating
Radiant slab floors
Insulated concrete forms
Sod roof
Rice straw bale construction
Two historic adobe homes, including a windmill, and cistern
Lavender gardens

Tickets $15 per person, $25 per couple. Call 561-4676 to reserve space.

Read Mona Selph’s beautiful essay for the Green Home Tour.

Proceeds go to Tulare County Citizens for Responsible Growth www.tccrg.org

The Environmental Weekend is organized and sponsored by the TREW CREW, a group of concerned citizens living in Three Rivers.

Print an 8.5×11 inch flier.

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Storm over Yokohl Valley, 30×40” oil © 2009 Mona Fox Selph all rights reserved