BIKER NEWS: Poker Run to benefit museum

BN- The Coarsegold-based motorcycle club Sierra Shadow Casters (SSC) is hosting the Sierra Wind Poker Run on Sept. 19 in support of the Children’s Museum of the Sierra in Oakhurst.

The first 150 registrants will receive a Sierra Wind ride pin. Bikers can pre-register online atsierrashadowcasters.com or sign up in person on the 19th between 8 and 9:30 a.m. at G’mas and Poppa’s. Ride leaves at 9:30 a.m. sharp. Cost to participate is $25.

Anyone who rides a street legal motorcycle is invited to join in the fun for this worthy cause. A poker run is when a group of players ride to five different locations to draw a card from a standard deck of playing cards. The card is recorded on a sheet of paper given to each rider. At the end of the ride whoever has the high hand wins a cash prize. In this event both high hand and how hand will take home a cash prize.

The 100-mile ride will start at G’mas and Poppa’s Motorcycle Gear located in the Historic Coarsegold Village in Coarsegold.

The first card draw stop will be the Children’s Museum where they can see first-hand the benefits of this unique mountain treasure.

The Children’s Museum of the Sierra is one of those rare attractions for children that doesn’t involve bags of quarters, video screens, or frivolous activities. Actually, this 4000-square-foot building is not really a museum in the traditional sense. Here kids don’t just look at boring artifacts with little information plaques they can’t really understand. This “Museum” is a hands-on discovery center geared for kids 2 to 12 and their families. The programs are designed to encourage visitors to learn by doing, imagining, creating and making choices.

“The hands-on exhibits can be categorized as teaching scientific principles” museum director Jim Elliott said, “that allows for the child to learn about the world around them through dramatic play or artistic expression.”

Elliott pointed out that the museum tends to have about an $8,000 short fall annually and is always in need of upkeep as well as adding new exhibits.

The next three card draw stops will be the Forks Resort at Bass Lake, then around the lake back to the Oak Room in Oakhurst for the third card draw. Then it’s off to Knowles and the Hills Pride Inn for the fourth card draw. The final destination is Alfonzos Hideaway Mexican Restaurant in Coarsegold where the last card will be drawn.

At Alfonzo’s participants will be treated to a delicious meal prepared by Alfonzo himself. Riders can dance off their lunch with live music by “L Train” a very popular Fresno-based band which plays from 1 to 5 p.m.

To help raise additional funds, there will be a raffle drawing for 20 some items donated by local and Central Valley business. There will also be a 50/50 drawing for an opportunity to take home more cash.

For those who do not own a motorcycle, you can participate by coming to Alfonzo’s at 1 p.m. to enjoy lunch and other activities. Price is $15 per person at the door. Raffle and 50/50 tickets sold separately. If you can’t attend at all, but want to support this local treasure you can register for the ride online and simply offer a donation.

“We are pleased to be able to help support such a valuable asset in our community like the Children’s Museum,” SSC President Mark Aston said, “We hope all mountain riders and non-riders will take the time to come out and join us for this fun-filled day.” Adding, “It’s our goal to raise as much as possible for this worthy effort and thereby help kids continue to learn by using their imagination.”

More: http://www.sierrastar.com/2015/09/03/74693/poker-run-to-benefit-museum.html