Eastern Sierra events
June Lake snowmobile fest
Don’t miss the Snowmobile Festival, Friday – Sunday, March 1-3. The three-day event includes a Snowmobile Poker Run. Participants ride to different locations around the Loop and receive a playing card at each stop. The person with the best hand at the end of the ride wins.
And Saturdays there’s music in June Lake: Feb. 9 Fiddlin’ Pete @ Double Eagle Resort, 7 p.m., Feb. 16 Jeffrey James @ Sierra Inn, 9 p.m., March 9 Duct Tape @ Sierra Inn, 9 p.m. and March 16 Miss Lonely Hearts @ June Lake Community Center, 7 p.m.
Chocolate Peak outing … Yum!
Back for a sixth year is Friends of the Inyo’s annual Chocolate Peak Expedition and Chocolate Tasting Seminar (BYO chocolate), this Sunday, Feb. 10.
This peak rises at the north end of Eureka Valley, near the northern border of Death Valley National Park, and has an impressive view. Snowshoes might be required and are not provided. This moderate, 7 mile hike is on an old mining trail with 1,500 ft. of elevation gain and loss. Plan for an all day event. Meet 8 a.m. at Friends of the Inyo, 819 North Barlow Lane, Bishop, or 8:30 a.m. at the Glacier View Campground in Big Pine. Info: Todd Vogel 760.920.0774 or todd@friendsoftheinyo.org
LA aqueduct workshops
A century after the completion of the Los Angeles Aqueduct, a team of four graduate landscape architecture students from Cal Poly Pomona is creating a vision for the next century of the Eastern Sierra. The students will hold two public workshops for the community to participate in the design process by sharing ideas about issues including priorities for local economic development, water rights and usage, and recreation. The workshops are in Lone Pine on Saturday, Feb. 16, from 3 to 5 p.m. at Statham Hall, and in June Lake on Sunday, Feb. 17, from 3 to 5 p.m. at the Community Center.
All Owens Valley and Mono Basin residents are invited to attend the free workshops in Lone Pine and June Lake. Info: email: aqueduct@csupomona.edu or visit: http://aqueductfutures.wordpress.com/events-calendar.
Manzanar day of remembrance
Manzanar National Historic Site hosts a special program in honor of the Day of Remembrance, an annual observation of the anniversary of Executive Order 9066, which enabled the forced removal of more than 110,000 United States citizens or residents of Japanese ancestry from the West Coast in 1942.
On May 9, 1942, Toyo Miyatake, his wife Hiro, and their four children arrived at Manzanar. With a lens and film holder hidden in his luggage, Toyo was determined to record camp life. Eventually, he was permitted to open a photo studio and captured thousands of images of the people and place.
This Spring, Manzanar National Historic Site will be exhibiting 40 images by Toyo Miyatake, in partnership with Eastern California Museum.
At 2 p.m. on Sunday, Feb. 17, and 11 a.m. Monday, Feb. 18, join Alan Miyatake, one of Toyo’s grandsons, to view Robert Nakamura’s award-winning filmlnfinite Shades of Gray, and to hear more about Toyo Miyatake’s life and work.
The program is free and open to the public. Info: call 760.878.2194 or visit www.nps.gov/manz.
The DVD documentary “Infinite Shades of Gray” is available online at www.manzanarstore.com.
Sierra Bighorn: 500 and rising
Save the date for this unique event that celebrates the growth of the Sierra bighorn population to 500 animals, as well as the completion of the first mural in Jane Kim’s Migrating Mural project, at the Mountain Light Gallery, 106 S Main Street, Bishop, on Saturday, Feb. 16, from 5:30-8 p.m.
Enjoy fine art, light refreshments, conversation about conservation, raffle prizes and a silent auction. John Wehausen, the leading authority on Sierra Nevada bighorn sheep, will lead a bighorn tracking field trip the day after the party on Sunday, Feb 17. More details coming soon!
Funds raised will help to fund the next three murals in the series. Tickets: $25 in advance, $30 at the door. Info: www.sierrabighorn.org or www.sagetosummit.com.
AARP tax-aide in Mammoth
The AARP Tax-Aide Foundation, partnered with the Mammoth Lakes Library offers free tax help, preparation and e-filing for low and middle-income taxpayers. The volunteer counselors are trained and certified through the IRS/AARP training program each year and are qualified to assist with most all of the tax issues you face.
This service is being provided in the Mammoth Lakes Library on Mondays and Wednesdays from 1-5 p.m. throughout tax season, from Feb. 4 through April 15. Spanish-speaking volunteers available.
Call Sue Stavlo at 760.934.5674 or email her at suestavlo@yahoo.com for information or an appointment. Walk-ins welcome.
