Archive - Jul 27, 2012
By
George Shirk - Times News Editor
It’s not often you can walk around Mammoth and rub elbows with a legend.
At least one who’s not running, skiing, snowboarding or dirt-biking.
Yet at this year’s Mammoth Festival of Beers & Bluesaplooza (Thursday through Sunday, next week), concert goers at Sam’s Woodsite can run smack into Charlie Musselwhite, and that’s about as close to legendary as it gets in the blues world.
Musselwhite, a native Mississippian with 30 solo albums, is touring in support of his new recording, “The Well.” It is a highly autobiographical collection of songs that won a Grammy nomination this year.
By
George Shirk - Times News Editor
“Oy vey, am I scared!”
“Fido,” I said, “what in the world is going on? You’re speaking Yiddish.”
“Oy vey, am I scared!”
“That’s what you said. What’s got your goat? What’s the matter?”
Fido inched closer to my chair, almost right on top of my feet. Then I heard it. Way off in the distance (to my ears, anyway): thunder.
“Oy vey,” Fido said. “Am I scared! And I’m speaking Doggish, not Yiddish. An offshoot.”
The Mammoth Lakes Music Festival enters its final week of concerts, featuring the Felici Piano Trio and distinguished guests at Cerro Coso College.
Tickets ($25 adult, $20 senior, $10 student) are available at the Booky Joint in Mammoth Lakes, at the door at 6:45 p.m. on concert nights or at www.ChamberMusicUnbound.org.
By
George Shirk - Times News Editor
Take a look at the summer brochures around Mammoth and it’s hard to miss those bucolic images of golfers on the town’s two golf courses.
But don’t be fooled.
With the highest-elevation golf courses in California, the altitude can play hell with anyone’s game. Oh, and there’s the wind, too. And the arid atmosphere that offers no humidity.
“Altitude does not create problems in playing golf,” said Snowcreek instructor Dennis Hurlburt, who over the years has advised hundreds of sea-level golfers on the peculiarities of playing the game in Mammoth.
The Paiute Palace Casino in Bishop announced its most recent jackpot winner, Jeanette S. of Bishop. She won $771,170 on one of the newly installed Godzilla slot machines.
According to casino officials, Jeanette is a regular customer. The casino’s Bill Macdonald was happy that a local regular customer won the huge prize.
The Paiute Palace Casino is owned and operated by the Bishop Paiute Tribe. For current casino promotions visit www.paiutepalace.com
The fourth annual June Lake Loop Mountain Music Festival started yesterday (Thursday) and continues until July 29.
The festival features bands and a kids' camp, all in beautiful June Lake.
Events include a “Trout Town Jamboree,” a song writer’s showcase, an outdoors concert, a bluegrass bash, and a hangover pizza party (among other events).
Tickets range from $10-$20 for each event and proceeds help benefit the June Lake Loop Women’s Schoolarship Fund.
For more information, visit JuneLakeMusic.com.
The National Summer Biathlon Championships are coming to Tahoe this August. The Auburn Ski Club is offering a Kid’s Biathlon Clinic on Sunday, July 29, so youngsters can give biathlon a try before the Nationals event. The clinic is from 10 a.m. to noon and is open to beginners and improvers. Children will have the opportunity to shoot a real biathlon rifle (.22 caliber) after receiving a safety class.
Coaching, rifles and ammunition are provided. Parents must register their children prior to the clinic and sign a liability waiver on the day. Open to ages 8 to 18.
The Mammoth Mountain Bike Park tomorrow (Saturday) will open a new feature in its “Discovery Zone” at the base of Main Lodge.
In an effort to introduce young riders and beginners of all ages, a park spokesperson said it will open a specially designated area for beginning mountain bike riders. The gentle slopes off Discovery Express (Chair 11) will provide a lift-assisted area for beginning riders to hone their skills before taking to the bigger mountain.
By
George Shirk - Times News Editor
The runners are back, the Olympics are on, and the Nike Outpost is open.
Hmm. Must be summer in Mammoth.
Situated in the old Volcano Sports space in Mammoth Mall (Ocean Harvest, Good Life, Command Performance, et. al.), the Outpost is almost a summer staple around here.
But this time, it’s even better.
Each night during the Olympics, the Nike Outpost will have television coverage on two huge television screens, with couches and deep-cushioned lounge chairs for the members of the 60 or so running clubs who use Mammoth as a training ground for their upcoming cross-country seasons.
By
George Shirk - Times News Editor
The track and field portion of the Olympic Games begin Sunday in London and for Mammoth Track Club athletes and their specialty disciplines, the four-year wait is just about over.
Morgan Uceny, in the women’s 1,500 meters, Amy Hastings in the 10,000 meters and marathoner Meb Keflezighi all run on different days, most of them live but some on delayed broadcast.
Former Mammoth Track Club members Ryan Hall and Alistair Cragg, running for Ireland, also will run the marathon, on the final day of the Olympics on Aug. 12.
As much as 1.3 inches of rain fell in the Mammoth and Crowley area earlier this week, but it wasn’t enough—and it wasn’t widespread enough—to lessen the fire danger facing the region.
“It would have to rain for a week, a good steady rain, to really change the situation,” said Mammoth Fire Department Marshall Thom Heller.
“This rain did moisten the smaller fuels, like small branches, but if you look under any tree, it’s still dry.”
Our View — For Whom the Bell Tolls
July 27, 2012
Mammoth has one more week of wiggle room before heading back into bankruptcy proceedings. Pardon us if we’re not on the sidelines waving our maroon and gold pom-poms. We are on a losing streak. You are not going to hear “Win one for the Gipper” from us.
Losing streaks dampen emotions and harden doubts. Mammoth is nearing the end in its bankruptcy battle with Mammoth Lakes Land Acquisition’s team of crack lawyers, who are riding an impressive winning streak.
The fourth quarter will look like this: