What began in 2011 as a modest vision to showcase local wines in a vintage 1928 farmhouse has evolved into the Central Valley's premier outdoor entertainment destination. This year, “ApCal Rock'n Ranch” officially celebrates its 15th anniversary, marking a decade and a half of growth, resilience, and world-class live music. The journey started in December 2009 when owner Darren Schmall pitched the idea for "Appellation: California" (ApCal) to a property owner along State Rou

It seems the buzzword captivating Americans these days is “affordability.” Yet everywhere you go, prices still seem to be increasing here in California. We’re all seeking relief from the high costs of living, with no end in sight. This trend is already being compounded by a hidden cost driver known as the “tort tax,” which this year totals $2,567 for each Californian. This number represents the hidden tax and the extra burden every Californian pays per year to compensate for

For The Madera Tribune Dr. C.E. Brown, Madera’s first physician, conducted business in this building, the Yosemite Hotel, Madera’s first structure. The doctor came to Madera in April 1877, when it was just six months old. The young, upstart village then consisted of 25 buildings, most of them dwellings. It could hardly compare with the mining community of Buchanan, from whence C.E. Brown came, but it had promise. That’s why he decided to remain and become Madera’s first physi

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

Katrina Soliz/The Madera Tribune Mark IV Metal Products President Andrew Segal, left, cuts the ceremonial ribbon with Chowchilla facility General Manager Pedro Orozco as confetti flies to mark the official grand opening of the facility on Friday. Mark IV Metal Products officially opened its doors Friday at 4 Kings Avenue in Chowchilla. The facility is a distribution facility that stocks dozens of sizes of galvanized steel grates and frames and municipal castings, such as manh

For The Madera Tribune George Gruber, shown here second from the left, was the owner of the Fountain Saloon. He lost his liquor license after being accused of running a “disorderly business.” When Madera turned the corner into the 20th century and voted to incorporate in 1907, it had to elect a city council to pass the ordinances that would regulate life in the county seat. Chief among the concerns in those early days were the saloons that lined Yosemite, and at the top of th

Executive Summary Since approximately 2010, California has experienced measurable outflows of both business headquarters and high-value capital. Independent research indicates that hundreds of corporate headquarters have relocated out of the state, while billions of dollars in personal income and wealth have moved with departing residents. This report summarizes those trends using publicly available research, IRS migration data, and documented corporate relocations. Section

For The Madera Tribune The first Lucca’s restaurant in Madera. An inferno of flames stabbed at the darkness on Monday, Sept. 10, 1973. Lucca’s restaurant was ablaze, and according to retired Fire Chief, Alden Potter, it was the worst fire in town since the Madera Theater burned in 1941. Losses from the restaurant fire were estimated at $250,000. Bystanders could hardly believe their eyes. There had been a Lucca’s on the corner of Third and Gateway since 1934, when Giorgio an