Mono County Flu Clinics

Oct. 4: Mammoth Elementary Library 4–7 p.m.

Oct. 7: Crowley Lake Community Center 4-7 p.m.

Oct. 12: Benton Community Center 4:30–5:30 p.m. and Chalfant Community Center 6–7 p.m.

Oct. 13: Bridgeport Health Department 12:30–4 p.m., Paradise Fire Station 4:30-5:30 p.m. and Swall Meadows Fire Station 6-7 p.m.

Cost for each vaccine: $10/adults, $2/children (6 months – 18 years). Medicare Part “B” free with card. Children can receive flu vaccine at school clinics to be conducted this fall. Look for info in your child’s school newsletter. Flu vaccine is recommended for everyone over the age of six months. FluMist nasal spray is available for ages 2-49 who are healthy. Tdap (tetanus/whooping cough) vaccine available for those 10 years and older who haven’t had the vaccine in the last 5 years. Pneumococcal vaccine also available. Info: Nancy Mahannah, 760.924.4621 or nmahannah@mono.ca.gov.

Mammoth Ambassadors Program

The public’s input is welcome when the Mammoth Ambassador program launches content development workshops in October. The first workshop will be Oct. 20, from 5:15-7:15 p.m. at Cerro Coso Community College.

Mammoth Ambassador Program is a community wide hospitality training program that consists of one six-hour day presented in two modules: “Spirit of Hospitality” and “Host Training for the Town.” The Spirit module focuses on the culture of guest service, the kind of “active friendliness” that differentiates the best resorts in the U.S. from the rest. The Host training is knowledge based and emphasizes the services, businesses, restaurants, lodging, transportation, events and activities available in Mammoth. The goal of this program is to give the employees and residents of Mammoth Lakes the knowledge to answer the most frequently asked questions of our winter visitors: Where are the banks in town? How frequently do the buses run? Where are the doctors’ offices? Where can you rent a snowboard? Is there a dry cleaner in town? Where’s the Chinese restaurant? (A short-course on improvisation skills may needed for that last one, but you get the idea.)

Salvation Army expands services

The Salvation Army announced recently that it plans to expand services though the establishment of a new, central location in Bishop. The consolidation means more community operations and a greater ability to provide social and spiritual services to Inyo and Mono counties.

“This is exciting for both the Salvation Army and the community,” said Envoy Tim Brown of The Salvation Army. “Owning our own property in Bishop eliminates lease costs and increases the amount of funds available to serve the public.”

The new property, which is located at 106 MacIver St., will consolidate all Salvation Army services in Bishop, housing both the Bishop Family Thrift Store, social services and ministry at one location. The vision for the new location is to build a 15,000 square foot facility, with approximately 6000 square feet of space reserved for a new Family Thrift Store location, making it more than twice the size of current operational space. The remaining room will be dedicated to social services and ministry, including a new chapel and worship center.

The new Corps designation became effective as of Oct. 1. Timeline for construction of the new facility has not yet been established. The Salvation Army’s Family Thrift Store (1180 N. Main St.) and Social Services and Ministry Unit (621 West Line St.) will continue to serve the public until the new corps facility is built and is fully operational.

More info about programs and services offered by the Salvation Army: visit www.SalvationArmyBishop.org.

Crowley Lake Community Garden

Community Garden organizers say they anticipate being able to accommodate 20-30 different plots. Plots come in two sizes, 10’ x 10’ or 10’ x 20’. Fees are for growing season only, $20 and $40 respectively. This is your opportunity to express interest in this new program.

Accessory components of the garden will include: 3’ wide pathways, hoses, and irrigation, tool shed, picnic table and benches, a bulletin board, a sign for every gardener, shared compost area, fruit trees, water fountain, perimeter landscaping, children’s area with sand box and play equipment, children’s plot, basic gardening tools and a bird bath or two.

$20 secures a 10’ x 10’ plot for the 2011 growing season. $40 secures a 10’ x 20’ plot for the 2011 growing season.

The garden is sponsored by “Mono County Service Area #1.”

Space is limited, don’t be left out. Call or e-mail John Connolly, 760.935.4089 or owensdrylake@hotmail.com to get on the distribution list or for more information.

Oktoberfest is brewing

Summer may have had an extension lately, but temperatures are moderating little by little, and the golden hue of the aspens is signaling autumn’s return. Another staple of autumn is the 6th Annual Oktoberfest to be held this weekend in Village at Mammoth! The local tradition of fun, music and the celebration of all that is Bavarian opens Friday night with a Polka-ROktoberfest concert featuring Those Darn Accordions, followed by Still Time, all starting at around 6 p.m.

While you’re there, feel free to sport your lederhosen (you do have lederhosen, right?) and visit the Budenstrasse, featuring fine Bavarian cuisine such as bratwurst and schnitzel, along with a tall, cold Spaten to quench your thirst in the Biergarten!  Purchase your commemorative beer stein and compete in the Stein Holding competition!

Festivities begin at noon on Saturday and include more live music from the world-famous “Those Darn Accordions” for all to dance (and chicken dance) to! If you haven’t seen them, the boys and bellows-bumping babes in San Francisco’s six-piece accordion-fueled rock ‘n roll band blast out catchy originals and quirky covers that all chronicle life in the weird lane, under the direction of squeezebox wizard Paul Rogers.

In addition, there will be a Kindergarten area for the children! Games, a craftgarten and a petting zoo promise a day of fun and activity for the whole family!

*New for this year** Create your own scarecrow and win a fabulous prize! Bring the whole family to the Village at Mammoth and usher in fall in true Bavarian fashion! Danke schön! Contact Betsy/Angela at 760.924.1575 for details.

Bish0p high on Lowes!

The Bishop Community Concerts Association (Non-Profit) will present their first concert for the 2010/2011 season: The Lowe Family, from Branson, Missouri, in concert at Bishop High School’s Dorothy Joseph Auditorium on Oct. 4, at 7:30 p.m.

The Lowes have entertained hundreds of thousands of fans around the world for more than 25 years. The family’s nine multi-talented musicians are versatile on many instruments, playing an amazing blend of show-stopping classical, Broadway, Irish, jazz, bluegrass and old-time favorites. The show also features spectacular dance, 6-part harmony, gospel, a stirring patriotic tribute, and more!  The Lowes have appeared on ABC, CBS, PBS and other networks worldwide.

Tix/membership info: Call Mary Mae Kilpatrick @ 760.873.6690 or visit www.bishopcca.org.

Play “The Dating Game”

We already live in the prettiest place, now find someone to share the view with when the Mammoth Lakes Women’s Club presents their version of “The Dating Game,” an evening of lively conversation for singles wanting to meet their new best friend or future love interest!  The fun takes place on Thursday, Oct. 14, from 6-10 p.m. at the Auld Dubliner in the Village.

Sign-up in advance and the price is just $20, which includes the “first round of liquid courage.” Otherwise, it’s $25 at the door. Space is limited, so don’t hesitate. Must be 21 years of age to participate in the fun.

Contact Lynne Blanche at 760.924.3629, or e-mail LSBlanche@earthlink.net, or drop by and visit her at the Java Joint.

The event is a fundraiser for the Women’s Club with proceeds benefiting scholarship programs and various community organizations.