I’m back from vacation and ready to resume blogging about ANR in the news. It will take me some time to review the news of the past few weeks, but I happened to see a story yesterday in the Madera Tribune about UC Master Gardeners.

Madera Tribune columnist Ramona Frances published a column about changes in the Fresno County Master Gardener program’s budget and speculated on any effect that might have on the Madera County program.

I checked with Fresno County UC Cooperative Extension director Jeanette Sutherlin to make sure the column was accurate. Some of the details, she said, were not reported correctly. Sutherlin said the facts are as follows:

• The half-time Master Gardener coordinator position in the Fresno County UCCE office, currently held by Leslie Feathers, will no longer be funded by Fresno County.
• Funds in a UC educational trust fund held by the County of Fresno and a generous donation from the non-profit Master Gardener Association will enable the continuation of Feather’s half-time position.
• This arrangement is now settled for one fiscal year.