There are no ads here, and your information is never sold or handed to a data broker — and it never will be. 395local is a small fire a few of us keep lit so the whole Eastern Sierra has one honest place to see what's happening, and decide for itself what to show up for. It's free for everyone, always. Keeping it running costs real money, though — and if enough of us pitch in a little each year, we cover it together.
Hosting, tools, and the software that gathers events from across the region. I cover it out of pocket today.
The honest breakdown — everything it takes to gather events from across the region, build the site, and send the Thursday email. Rounded, per year:
On top of that, I cover the domain and WordPress hosting myself — plus 200+ hours building this from the road, for free. Card processing also takes a small cut off every gift, which is why one yearly chip-in stretches further than paying monthly.
Pick a level. It renews yearly, and you can cancel anytime.
A little honesty about where it goes. First, every dollar covers that ~$3,000 — hosting, tools, the software. That's the whole ask.
But I've also poured 200+ hours into building this, from the road, for free. So if we ever clear the costs, the overflow does something simple and human: a tank of diesel for the bus we live in, or dinner out with my four kids. Nothing fancy — just a little fuel for the person keeping the fire going.
— Andrew
Supporters who chip in each year. Your first name can be here too.
This was never really about a calendar. It's about a community keeping its own information accessible, honest, and out of the hands of anyone selling it — so people can see what's real and decide for themselves.