Story and photos by O.J. Abrille

Brigette McCarthy belays Sherie Newman as she climbs up a 5.9 route on the climbing wall at Class 5 Fitness.

Tuolumne County is undergoing its most beautiful annual transformation. Delayed only by the calculations of an overgrown rodent in Pennsylvania, spring is upon our small county in the mountains. Despite Phil’s stunning record and well-known reliability (interpreted by the mayor of a town with less than 7,000 inhabitants), the warm weather has arrived early this year. Winter’s white petticoat is slowly being stripped away to reveal bountiful mountains and rock formations long hidden under folds of snow. As the crags and crevices emerge, so does Tuolumne County’s climbing community.

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Downtown Sonora was transformed into an exciting street scene, Apr. 26, as the city of Sonora and the Downtown Merchants presented their 13th Annual Spring Festival. Washington Street (from one end to another), Courthouse Park and even the normally quiet side streets filled with residents and visitors alike who enjoyed an abundance of live music and family entertainment – as well as arts and crafts, martial arts exhibitions, face painting, puppet shows and special sales! Performers included No Regret, Clan Dyken, belly dancers, Koya and John Watson, just to name a few. “It was great!” exclaimed Sheala Wilkinson, coordinator for the event. “Last year it was really hot, and we always have to worry about rain. This time it was perfect.” Photos by Greg Kristapovich.

Professor Zounds roams the street telling jokes and performing on either his jaw harp, nose-a-phone or kazoo; or just plain making strange sounds with his mouth.

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A Group Effort: The Tuolumne County Chamber of Commerce organized two trips to China in March, and on this trip, many travelers from the county found themselves taking a break to read the SMT and catch up on the news back home. Front Row: Claudia Puccinelli, Jim Scott, Cheryl Sargent, Jerrie Rhine, Terrie Summers, Marco (tour guide) and Susie Gookin. Middle Row: Marie Buckey, Linda Scott, Joyce Ames, Pam Jones, Cherie Gwathney, Carolyn Gunn and Connie Little. Back Row: Steve Jones, Arnie Puccinelli, Rohn Mein, Linda Gookin, Larry Ames, Jeanette Walczak, Steve Sargent, Jim Walczak, Leroy & Jana Bumgarner, Dennis Wyckoff, Bob Coulter and Bill Little.

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The 2008 Calaveras Spring Home Show entertained and educated Mother Lode residents, Apr. 26 and 27, with more than eighty displays and seminars at the Calaveras County Fairgrounds. Exhibits involved interior design, science and engineering, fire resistance, sustainability, cooking shows, and much more! There were giveaways, a live broadcast by Star 92.7, a “Creepy Crawling Pest Fest” and even a straw building exhibit that highlighted a “straw bale home” in Murphys! Photos by Greg Kristapovich.

“Goldie,” the Golden Knee Tarantula has free reign over Mikalee (“Mika”) Posten’s face, at the Foothill Sierra Pest Control booth! The young girl from Davis called the experience “Kind of scary, kind of weird!” The non-lethal arachnid comes from the Chaco region (adjacent areas of Bolivia, Paraguay and Argentina).

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