Sierra Mountain Times

 The Ragland Family Band (of Sonora) performs the “Poultry Medley”: “Chicken Reel” and “Turkey in the Straw”, among other family friendly folk songs; much to the delight of parents and children! The band includes, from left to right: Duncan, 10, and Owen, 12, on fiddles; Dave, their father, on guitar, and Molly, their mother, on banjo.

…I do believe it. I do believe it’s true. (Actually, in 1967,Simon and Garfunkel were singing about the zoo, but Sonora doesn’t have a zoo, so the library will do!) Actually, the ninth Fall Family Festival, presented November 15th proved that the library is a fun and exciting place: Captivating story-telling! Lively music! Arts, crafts and science activities! A free book giveaway! A splendid way to spend a Saturday! The county library’s main branch on Greenley Road in Sonora was filled with happy children of all ages. Teachers, parents, administrators and library personnel all joined together to promote reading and literacy; hoping to instill, within the children there, a strong desire to read! And, it appeared to work! Indeed, as the chilly, rainy, snowy season approaches; a fascinating book, inside a nice warm house can be a very comforting experience for a child! The Fall Family Festival was a success, too! Thanks must go to the event’s organizer, the Mother Lode Reading Council. For more information about the group, you may contact President Debbie Cowan at cowzin@shenandoahvalleyca.com, or call 245-3707.

Alaina Brosnan, 11, of Sonora  (left), adorns her mother (Curtis Creek 3rd grade teacher, Annie) with some beautiful cherries!  

“I had a little nut tree and nothing would it bear, but a silver nutmeg, and a golden pear. The king of Spain’s daughter came to visit me, all for the sake of my little nut tree!” The story is told by master puppeteer-storyteller Jennifer Aguirre, of Sonora.

Mona Alderman, (a 2nd grade teacher at Michaelson Elementary School in Murphys) serves refreshments, as Suzanne Bartels (a 3rd grade teacher at Sullivan Creek School in Sonora) assists.