Jason will contact you with any questions.  Every few weeks, he will choose a submission to be the featured dish.  You will be contacted to come in and consult with Jason about your recipe.  The Alchemy kitchen staff will take care of ordering the food and any of the hard prepping.  The Sunday morning on which your dish will be featured, you may (but don’t have to) come in to finish off the preparation with Jason.  That night, your recipe will be Alchemy’s Dinner Special.  Invite your friends and anyone you want to impress.  You will be encouraged to work with our servers to deliver each order of your featured dish to the table.

This offer is open to individuals only, please;  not couples or groups.  To make a submission or ask further questions, contact Jason directly at jmwrightmegg@yahoo.com.

“We are fortunate to have this lovely park,” states Gerry Nelson, MCC Co-President. “Through the efforts of volunteers, club members, and generous contributors we are able offer these events that are typical of small town America.”

Memorial Day Concert

The festivities begin on Monday, May 27 when the Calaveras Community Band presents a special Memorial Day concert starting at 6:30 p.m. Under the direction of Mic Harper, the band will perform a mixture of patriotic, swing, and show tunes, as well as unforgettable oldies. Families and other members of the community are invited to pack a picnic dinner and enjoy this start of the season concert. There will not be any food or beverages for sale in the park.

Through the cooperation of the MCC, during the warm-weather months the band holds its weekly Monday rehearsals in the park’s distinctive gazebo. Each session begins with an hour mini-concert at 6:30 p.m. followed by an hour rehearsal at 7:30. The public is encouraged to attend.

First Fridays in the Park

The MCC’s popular series of First Fridays in the Park concerts will have its initial 2013 performance on June 14 starting at 5:30 p.m. During the series, the food hut will be open from 5 to 8 p.m. At each of these programs a specially prepared dinner, with an entree and appropriate side dishes, will be available at $8 per person. Local wines, along with soda and water, will be available to purchase.

The June program will spotlight Sequoia, a musical trio that specializes in Celtic and American music, ranging through sweet airs and ballads to driving Irish rock. Jenny Baxter, of Yogurt Your Way, will prepare Kansas City style barbecued tri tip sandwiches. Four Wind Cellars wine will be on sale.

On July 5, the First Friday band will be The Original Snail, a four-piece combo from Santa Cruz that plays a wide range of rock music. Lila & Sage will be selling grilled Italian sausage sandwiches. The featured wine will be from Milliaire Winery.

August 2 will find Jim Bailey and his Plan B aggregation taking center stage. Local favorites, they tailor their music to fit the audience with an emphasis on rock hits from the 50′s, 60′s, and 70′s. Sierra Hills & Natural Foods Market will be the caterer offering a choice of marinated chicken breast or skirt steak.

Concluding the series on September 6 will be James Faifua & The Jukes, a five-piece band dedicated to playing progressive urban blues infused with jazz and funk. Alchemy Café & Market will be serving their Thai chicken salad. The wines will be from Newsome-Harlow.

Murphys Homecoming

The traditional Murphys Homecoming will be celebrated on Saturday, July 20. The Calaveras Community Band will kick off the festivities with a concert starting at 11:30 a.m. Other activities will include the Old Timers Luncheon for local residents who are at least 70 years of age and have lived in the area for ten years or more. There will also be the greatly anticipated duck races that benefit the Calaveras Humane Society.

Music in the Parks

The Calaveras Arts Council’s Music in the Park will visit the Murphys venue on Wednesday, July 24. Bill Welles will be the featured performer. Welles is not only a highly entertaining guitarist and singer; he has designed some of the finest homes in Calaveras County. The concert starts at 6:30 p.m. MCC will be selling an $8 dinner, prepared by El Jardin Mexican Restaurant of Murphys, local wines and other beverages.

Labor Day Concert

Rounding out the series of free summer musical programs will be a Labor Day concert by the Calaveras Community Band on Monday, September 2, 6:30 p.m. Bandmaster Mic Harper will lead the group, which traces its history to the days of the Gold Rush, in a program covering a wide range of concert band music. Concertgoers should bring a picnic supper. There will not be any food or beverages for sale in the park.

All these programs are presented without admission charge, but it’s fair to say that attendees will not be discouraged from making free-will offerings. It is the generosity of donors that helps the Murphys Community Club maintain its popular park, the Calaveras Arts Council to present its diverse programs, and the Calaveras Community Band to perform throughout the county.

Murphys Community Park is located on Algiers St. in historic downtown Murphys. Membership in the Murphys Community Club is open to everyone and contributions are tax deductible. For further information, call 728-8183.

The winners of the Murphys Irish Day Raffle are:
Trip to Ireland – Terry Moore
Stay & Play #3 – Steve Van Anburg
Stay & Play #2 – Chris Frederick
Stay & Play #1 – Sandra Shetzline
Congratulations to all our winners!

Mark your calendar now for March 15th and plan to join us next year…perhaps 2014 will be your year to win that trip to Ireland.

Don’t wait to reserve your booth space…we are normally sold out by the first week in February.  You can contact our booth coordinator at irishdaybooths@yahoo.com for more information or download vendor and booth information and an application here.

Parade applications and information are available here.

We hope to see you here in Murphys on March 16th, 2013

Murphys Friends has been inviting the public to the holiday meal for more than 30 years and consistently draws a diverse, amiable crowd sharing in food, drink, presents and visits with Mr. and Mrs. Claus.

“Our whole purpose is to have fun,” said Murphys Friends member and District 3 Supervisor Merita Callaway.

“People have been coming for years with their families. It’s a nice time for people who also don’t have anyone to spend Christmas with.”

Callaway estimated that as many as 600 people turn out annually to share in the merriment of a small-town holiday meal, and that’s not taking into account the countywide delivery of meals – complete with turkey, stuffing, vegetables, gravy, cranberries and dessert – to anyone who makes a request – oftentimes seniors who are unable to physically attend the actual event.

Volunteer Ray Beaudreau will be spending much of his Christmas day as he has for the past 12 years, delivering holiday dinners across Calaveras County. Last year saw the largest number of meals ever delivered, about 175, and as of this week 100 orders had already been placed.

“This is the best job I’ve ever had in my life,” said Beaudreau. “You meet the nicest people and you start to know them after seeing them year after year. Sometimes I’ll help them set their table if they need it; it only takes a minute or two.

“There’s something really special about a small community that can put this all together. The level of commitment from so many people makes this county a special place.”
Beaudreau is hoping to receive delivery assistance from anyone willing to share some Christmas spirit, particularly in the Valley Springs area. If interested in helping deliver Christmas meals to people in a Calaveras County community or if you would like to place an order – preferably prior to Monday, Dec. 24 – contact Beaudreau at 728-2633.

To learn more about the event, call 736-6177.

Article originally published in the Calaveras Enterprise and written by Kristine Williams.  Contact Kristine Williams at kristine@calaverasenterprise.com.

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Mr. Dawson enjoyed his role as Santa of Murphys and Sonora for over fifteen years. He was a member of the Dodge Brothers of Murphys and the founder of Havnoux Vineyards of Murphys. John was also the president of the Alfa Romeo Association and wrote monthly articles in their CAMS Magazine. He also worked for several local Murphys wineries.

John is survived by his wife Eileen Dawson, sister Rena Schuetz of Oregon, Two Grandsons Thomas John Dawson and Brandon (Bud) Dawson and Daughter In Law Dana Dawson of Hollister, CA. His son John Brian Dawson predeceased him in May 2012.

Donations in Mr. Dawson’s memory can be made to Eileen Dawson c/o Sensible Accounting Service, 150 Big Trees Rd, Ste F, Murphys, CA 95247, to assist with Funeral and Medical costs, Hospice of the Sierra, 20100 Cedar Road North, Sonora, CA 95370, or your favorite charity.