Nancy Simpson/The Madera Tribune Hanna Lane, a member of the Odd Fellows Lodge 327, serves coffee at breakfast the third Saturday of each month. Pictured, from left are David Simpson, Lane, and Nancy Simpson. On the third Sunday of every month, Madera Odd Fellows Lodge 327 has a breakfast from 7:30 to 11 a.m. It is a mighty good breakfast, and included in the meal is two eggs, two pieces of ham or sausage, and three pancakes, with orange juice and coffee. The price is only $1

For The Madera Tribune Sue First and Bert Roper on their Valentine’s Day wedding in 2009. Bert Roper and Sue First were married on Valentine’s Day in 2009. For the past 17 years, they have remained blissfully happy, and they continue to enjoy the blessings of life. Bert is a United Methodist pastor, who was appointed to the Madera church in 2016, and retired in Madera. He is temporarily serving as an interim pastor in the Mariposa church. Sue is a school teacher, also retired

It’s Valentine’s Day, and love is in the air. On this special day of the year, we celebrate something called Love, and during this season we see hearts and flowers, cuddly teddy bears, balloons, candy, and lots of things that make us smile. These are our symbols of love. There are many kinds of love to celebrate on this day. On Valentines Day, we usually think of the romantic love, a feeling you may have toward your spouse or lover. Romance is a great part of a relationship,

Jeffreyw, Wikimedia Commons Enjoy a bowl of chili made just the way you like it. National Chili Day is always on the last Thursday of February, which happens to be February 26 this year. One of the great things about chili is that you can make it any way you like. Meaning, if you don’t eat meat, make a vegetarian or vegan version. Don’t like hot and spicy? Tone it down to suit your comfort zone. Add this or take away that, and you end up with your own custom-made chili. I thi

Since last fall when we had the carpet replaced at our house, I have been trying like the dickens to get things organized and to pitch what I no longer need or want. Our church is having a rummage sale at the beginning of next month, so it is a perfect time for me to get my act together and pass on some items that are still usable.  My closet has always been a real challenge for me when it comes to disposing of items. Now, I don’t have a lot of high-quality clothes, but my cl

Cat Campbell/For The Madera Tribune This cookbook has been used a lot during the last 36 years, as evidenced by all the smudges and creases. We were a 4-H family and enjoyed it very much. There is a cookbook, one of those spiral bound fundraiser types, that I use quite often. It is called, California Cooking: Favorite Recipes of 4-H Families. I bought it March 10, 1990, during Madera County Demonstration Day held at the Madera Fairgrounds. My oldest son, Matt, was in the hors

Wendy Alexander/The Madera Tribune Madera County Supervisor Rob Poythress presents Bill and Bea Jones with a certificate in recognition of the couple’s 80th wedding anniversary, which was on Dec. 23, 2025. Poythress made the presentation at Cedar Creek Senior Living on Tuesday. Cogir Cedar Creek Senior Living was in celebration mode again, as Madera County Supervisor Robert Poythress made a presentation and short speech honoring Bill and Bea Jones on their 80 years of marriag

Thelmadatter, Wikimedia Commons Portuguese sweet bread is tender, light and irresistible. My family likes to make holiday breads, usually at Christmas time and Easter. This past Christmas, I had plans to make an Italian panettone yeast bread, enhanced with raisins, citrus peels and other aromatics. We also add pine nuts. I did not get to make any this time, because I came down with my first case (that I know of) of COVID-19. That pretty much took care of just about all of my