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The Mammoth Huskies had a lot to celebrate on Friday, Sept. 21, defeating Riverside Prep 49-8 at home for their first win of the season. Senior Tyler Wormhoudt rushed for 218 yards and four touchdowns for Mammoth. He also had seven tackles and blocked a kick. Alex Hamilton had the other three touchdowns for Mammoth. Nick D’Amico starred on defense. Mammoth next plays at Boron Friday, Sept. 28. (Photo courtesy Cheryl Hogan Photography) 

The Mammoth Roller Rink has extended its summer season into September. Skate every Friday and Saturday evenings from 6 – 9 p.m., hit the mini-ramps, play some roller hockey, shoot some hoops, toss some washers or bean bags, or just chill out playing table tennis/golf through Sept. 29.

The Mammoth Roller Rink is also open for special events and birthday parties by reservation. Call the rink to customize your party on wheels. All-inclusive birthday party packages are available from as low as $75/10 kids.

In September you will also be able to redeem your Free Skate Pass. Free Skate Passes were distributed to every Postal Patron in Mammoth Lakes in August. Simply present the ticket, complete the registration form and receive one (1) FREE Admission to the Mammoth Roller Rink.

The offer excludes skate rental ($2.50/person), and has a limit of one per person.

Please call the Mammoth Roller Rink at 760.934.2505 for all the details, or visit us online at www.mammothrollerrink.com. -Press Release

The Marvelous Wonderettes kicks off a full season of entertainment

Shira Dubrovner, Artistic Director of the Mammoth Lakes Repertory Theatre in cooperation with the Mammoth Lakes Foundation, announced the 2012-13 Edison Theatre theatrical season. “We are excited to be able to expand our season this year. Two projects we’ve done – Theatre for Young Audiences and Evening with the Stars, we’ve not done together in the same season due to cost and staff restraints. It’s through the generosity of our donors and sponsors, our loyal audiences, dedicated local performers, and Measure U funding that we are able to offer both this season and bring even more culture to the Mammoth Lakes community and the Eastern Sierra,” commented Dubrovner. “We have something going on every month from October through May; it’s exhausting and exhilarating at the same time!”

The season opens Oct. 4 with “The Marvelous Wonderettes” written by Roger Bean. It’s a trip back to 1958 and the Springfield High School prom with Betty Jean, Cindy Lou, Missy, and Suzy, four girls with hopes and dreams as big as their crinoline skirts. Classic songs include “Lollipop,” “Sandman,” “Stupid Cupid,” “Wedding Bell Blues,” “Son of a Preacher Man,” “Respect” and many more. The lively musical runs Thursdays through Saturdays at 7 p.m., and Sundays at 4 p.m. through Oct. 21.

It’s quickly followed by a very special Theatre for Young Audiences production of “Bluenose.” This rollicking pirate story has quick and witty banter, fantastic physical comedy, and a story of tolerance and acceptance. What’s special about this production is that there is only one public performance; however elementary schools from across the Eastern Sierra will be bringing their students to performances during the week prior. Schools are provided with an Educator’s Resource Guide that ties in the educational elements within the production. “This is one way we begin to grow our audiences of the future,” stated Dubrovner. “The students not only have a great time, they also learn about theatre etiquette, the excitement of live theatre, and take away a lesson in tolerance. It exemplifies the mission of the Mammoth Lakes Foundation-supporting education and the arts, together in one event.”

December’s play this year is a hysterical farce based on a Christmas Classic. “A Dickens’ Christmas Carol: A Traveling Travesty in Two Tumultuous Acts” will have the audience rolling in the aisles. Then January sees the return of Poetry Out Loud for the third year. It’s the poetry recitation competition where Mono County high school students compete to represent the County at the State competition in Sacramento. Last year the number of schools participating doubled and a Mammoth High School student won for the second time. Who will take the title this year?

In mid-January is a very exciting Evening With the Stars staged reading of Bernard Slade’s popular romantic comedy “Same Time, Next Year” starring Linda Purl (Matlock, The Office) and Robert Picardo (China Beach, The Wonder Years, Star Trek: Voyager). The event, which also acts as a fundraiser for the theatre, is expanded this season for two evenings with special pricing allowing for twice as many opportunities to see these talented stars in action. “I’m thrilled to have Robert Picardo return to Mammoth for this event and bringing Linda Purl with him,” stated Dubrovner. “I directed him in Los Angeles; he’s very supportive of theatre in Mammoth. It’s also exciting to meet and direct Linda Purl whose work I’ve admired for a long time.”

In February “The Miracle Worker,” the story of Helen Keller and her teacher Annie Sullivan will be presented, followed by the return of Todd Offenbacher’s Tahoe Adventure Film Festival, a touring festival of extreme outdoor adventure footage. April will see a special engagement of Edward Albee’s Tony Award winning Best Play “Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?” a play that Women’s Wear Daily called “… a scorching, scalding, revealing and completely engrossing drama.”

The season closes on Friday, May 3, 2013 with a return of the Long Beach City College Studio Singers, a group that had everyone in the palm of their hands last season.

Prices for the productions vary with most tickets costing $20 for adults and $18 for students. However, a Season Pass is available for $60 per person and provides entrance to four shows of the pass-holder’s choice. The Evening with the Stars $35 ticket counts as two shows. “Having a season pass is a fantastic way for our audience members to get the most out of this year’s season,” added Dubrovner. “We’ve been rehearsing ‘The Marvelous Wonderettes’ for weeks and you won’t want to miss the season opener.”

To purchase season passes, make reservations for a specific show, or to donate to the theatre, call 760.934.6592, or visit the website at www.mammothlakesfoundation.org/theatre.html.

Ski Area’s Williams says June Mountain decision is final

June Mountain Ski Area General Manager Carl Williams told the full house of concerned citizens who attended the Keep June Mountain Open Coalition (KJMOC) meeting in June Lake on Wednesday evening that despite their best efforts, “June Mountain will not operate this season.”

And to make it perfectly clear, he repeated it twice.

The news appeared to stun Double Eagle Resort Owner Connie Black, who moderated the meeting. Prior to Williams’ statement, she had said, “If we don’t continue [pressing forward] and get June Mountain open this year, the odds of getting it open in future years are slim.”

Black and fellow KJMOC members had just spent the previous 20 minutes talking about the number of meetings they’d had and who they’d contacted.

At a July 10 meeting, Black said Mammoth Mountain CEO Rusty Gregory had outlined three things he needed [to even consider opening June]: for the County to approve a $100,000 commercial air service subsidy, entitlements on the zoning of the Rodeo Grounds property, and assurance that June Lake’s vision and development strategy would support a ski area. (In short: put a lot more heads on a lot more beds.) 

“I heard we had time,” said Black.

Williams, who attended the July 10 meeting, replied, “We said two weeks. It’s been two weeks. Time’s up.”

Fellow KJMOC member Patti Heinrich said if the Mountain wouldn’t open, then she wouldn’t support an air service subsidy or any modifications to the June Lake Area Plan. Her statement met with applause from those inside the packed June Lake Community Center.

Then the odds of opening anytime in the future become less and less, said Williams.

As Williams said, he’s already let go 17 full-time employees and the only two people he has left have spent the past 45-60 days putting things to bed, as opposed to readying equipment for next season. “The decision to not operate is a financial one, and conditions haven’t changed within the last 45 days.” Inspection and routine maintenance of lifts to get them ready for the season costs approximately $300,000 according to Connie Black (via the July 10 meeting with Gregory and Williams).

“We need a ton of snow, and Mammoth Mountain needs to make a shit-pile of money [for June to even have the possibility of opening in 2013-2014],” Williams added.

So where does that leave June Lake and Mono County?

A lot poorer.

June Lake resident Chris Edwards said he will immediately apply for a Prop. 8 property tax reduction of at least 50%, and figured everyone in June Lake would do the same.

Double Eagle Resort Owner Ralph Lockhart said the Double Eagle remitted $45,000 to the County in transient occupancy tax from December 2010 through March 2011. “We wouldn’t pay 20% of that if June Mountain closed this year.”

While Inyo National Forest Supervisor Ed Armenta said he cares about the community and is “deeply concerned,” he also warned that permit holders have rights, certainly the right to appeal if a permit is revoked, and that whatever process occurs will take time.

Mammoth Lakes District Ranger Jon Regelbrugge also noted that Mammoth Mountain owns the improvements on its leased property. It’s not as simple as asking MMSA to leave and bringing in a new operator.

The ever-popular Forest Service did not escape its share of derision, however. Regelbrugge noted that there is just one attorney at the Department of Agriculture who is responsible for legal matters at 18 National Forests. The guy is based in San Francisco and has just happened to be out of the office on vacation for the past two weeks. It’s this attorney who can issue a letter of non-compliance, “the only hammer we have [to force MMSA] to get off the stick,” said one disgruntled member of the audience.

Regelbrugge responded defensively. “We don’t have a trump card that could force Mammoth Mountain’s hand in a week.”

The assembled crowd did achieve one small victory. After a night of haranguing about what it would cost to buy June Mountain, Carl Williams did say it had an asset value of $14 million. However, he also said the Mountain is not for sale and that even if it was, any buyer would take one look at the books and run the other direction.

Mono Tourism meeting notes

Prior to many questions regarding JMSA’s future getting answered Wednesday, ideas and speculation ran rampant during a meeting of the Mono County Tourism Commission the previous day. Lockhart said the Keep June Mountain Open Coalition had called for an emergency meeting of the Mono Board of Supervisors on July 31 to present a package of potential ideas to put before Gregory regarding how to potentially open JMSA for the winter season.

With so much now taken off the table, exactly what the supervisors will discuss at that meeting remains to be seen. Gregory has been invited to that meeting, but why he would attend now is also a mystery.

Tourism Chair Jimmy Little said he thinks that a statement reportedly made by Gregory about June not have a clear vision represents something of a disconnect between Gregory and the community. Rebranding and chairlift upgrades are ideas Lockhart thinks Gregory will resist until he sees more detail on how June Lake will build on its lodging and development markets.

Gregory, according to Lockhart, called selling and subleasing JMSA “stupid ideas.”

“It was like extortion,” current District 4 Supervisor Tim Hansen said of the earlier June Lake CAC meeting with Gregory. Hansen said he found Gregory’s responses “offensive,” and railed against Mammoth Lakes’ “doubling down” on air service. He also called attempts to link air service and June Mountain’s predicament essentially “extorting and further trying to shame the County into putting in more money.”

Mono Economic Development Manager Alicia Vennos defended air service, pointing out that visitors flying in tend to stay longer and that research show the money spent tends to be higher.

“The County has a huge role to play here [in June Lake],” Little charged. “If tourism goes away, money to provide resources for other things goes away.”

“Does this community want a ski area, does it benefit the community and if so what are we willing to do to keep it?” Lockhart summed up.

The Inyo National Forest is announcing the opening of personal use fuelwood season starting Tuesday, May 1. Fuelwood permits will go on sale at local Forest Service Ranger Stations and Visitor Centers beginning Thursday, April 26. Maps showing areas open to cutting are available with a purchased Fuelwood permit. Fuelwood permits are $15 per cord with a two cord minimum purchase. The maximum purchase remains 6 cords per person and 12 cords per household. The Inyo National Forest will once again institute shut down days (for chainsaw use) based upon the daily Project Activity Level. Permit holders can call 760.873.2555 for information on shut down days. For further information on the fuelwood program, contact your local Ranger Station or Visitor Center.

Initial supplies of firewood can be found at Hartley and Antelope Forest Management Areas located on the fuelwood map. Be advised that not all open areas are guaranteed snow-free at this time. Other forest management areas will be opened later this season, once contract work is completed. Permittees are advised to check in with their local Forest Service Ranger Stations and Visitor Centers for current conditions and accessibility.

Fuelwood permits may be obtained at the following locations:

• Mono Basin Scenic Area Visitor Center in Lee Vining; 760.647.3044
• Mammoth Lakes Welcome Center in Mammoth Lakes; 760.924.5500
• White Mountain Ranger Station in Bishop; 760.873.2500
• InterAgency Visitor Center in Lone Pine; 760.876.6222. -Press Release

The Mammoth Ice Rink is scheduled to close Sunday, Feb. 26 at 6 p.m. Based on weather conditions, the Mammoth Ice Rink may operate on a limited schedule and week-by-week basis after that date.

Please contact the Mammoth Ice Rink at 760.934.2505 or the Recreation Department Offices at 760.934.8989, ext. 222 for updated operating days and times.

The 2011/12 season at Mammoth Mountain Ski Area is officially on. (Photo: Vane)

The Rainbow Days Trout Festival is a long-standing opening day tradition. (Photo courtesy the Bishop Lions Club)

The traditional Rainbow Days Trout Festival in the Bishop City Park returns this year for season opener. The Bishop Chamber of Commerce has teamed up with The Bishop Lions Club and Western Outdoor News to bring back this beloved event that celebrates the kickoff of the Eastern Sierra trout season every year.

On April 30, anglers can register and display fish during the Trout Display competition from 2 – 6:30p.m. Prizes will be awarded at 7 p.m. Everyone who displays fish will receive one ticket to the huge raffle. Prizes will include rod and reel combos, tackle and gear, apparel, gift certificates and much, much more!

Live music, demonstrations, information booths and kids activities will round out the day.  “Just for fun” prizes will be awarded for farthest travel, biggest, ugliest and most beautiful fish.

Registration for the trout display is free, just bring your opening day catch to the city park to show off and win!

For more information, please contact the Bishop Chamber office at 760.873.8405.

The Mammoth Value Pass will once again be open to the general public for the 2011/12 season. The last time Mammoth Mountain had the pass open to everyone was for the 2009/10 season. Last April, the pass was closed off to new members, but according to a note from Rusty Gregory sent out to all current MVP members, the demands to reopen the pass to the general public have been so persistent, the pass will again reopen to everyone this year.

Passes will be available for purchase to the general public beginning April 1. Existing MVP members will have the option to purchase beginning March 29. The price of an adult pass will be $659 for adults (19-64), $494 for youth (13-18), and $329 for children and seniors (7-12 and 65-79).

2011/12 MVP pass holders are entitled to unlimited skiing and riding with zero blackout dates at Mammoth and June mountains beginning May 1, 2011 through the end of the 2011/12 season. -MMSA/LAK