Event ticklers

Avalanche Season Kickoff

Eastern Sierra Avalanche Center holds its annual Season Kickoff Event and Fundraiser on Saturday, Jan. 7, 2012, featuring world-renowned ski mountaineer, Andrew McLean, who has completed first descents on all seven continents, and runs the popular website, www.straightchuter.com.

At 7 p.m., McLean will present “Polar Extremes,” covering two trips he took in 2011 to spots nearly polar opposites on the globe — Spitsbergen, Norway and the Antarctic Peninsula. The two areas are separated by 145 degrees of latitude.

Bid on silent auction items throughout the evening, and participate in the  raffle to win a new pair of skis, a snowboard, or one of the other fabulous prizes provided by local businesses and corporate sponsors.

Earlier in the day,free avalanche clinics will be conducted in the Mountainside Conference Center at Mammoth Mountain’s Main Lodge. Sessions run from 12:30-2 p.m. and 2:30-4 p.m. Pre-register at www.esavalanche.org. All daytime events are free and open to the public.

Doors for the evening at Eagle Lodge open at 6 p.m. and tickets are only $10.

Mammoth Hospital repeats

Mammoth Hospital is proud to announce that Press Ganey Associates, Inc. has named the hospital a 2011 Summit Award winner, the second Summit Award in two years earned by Mammoth Hospital’s Emergency Department for patient satisfaction. “We are proud to partner with Mammoth Hospital,” Robert Draughon, Press Ganey’s CEO noted. “Their innovative approach to patient satisfaction helps to advance the quality of health care in Mammoth Lakes.”

Press Ganey currently partners with more than 10,000 health care facilities including 50% of all U.S. hospitals to measure and improve the quality of their care. The Summit Award recognizes top-performing facilities that sustain the highest level of performance for three or more consecutive years. Mammoth Hospital is one of 98 organizations to receive this prestigious honor in 2011, and one of 87 to receive it for achieving and sustaining excellence in patient satisfaction.

“This is a reflection of our outstanding staff, physicians, and volunteers in the Emergency Department and throughout the organization,” says Mammoth Hospital CEO, Gary Boyd. “I congratulate all of their dedication and hard work toward earning our second Summit Award in two years.”

Mammoth Hospital was one of four hospitals in California to receive the Summit award.

Fee hike

Kammi Foote, Inyo County Clerk/Recorder, would like to inform the public that beginning on January 1, 2012, the fee for a certified copy of a Birth Certificate will increase from $16 to $18. This increase is mandatory in order to comply with Assembly Bill (AB) 1053, chaptered by the legislature on October 2, 2011.

Birth Certificate request forms are available on the Inyo County website (www.inyocounty.us). Call 760.878.0222 for more information.

Men’s basketball league

The Mammoth Lakes Recreation Department is hosting a Men’s 4-on-4 Basketball League every Monday and Wednesday evening at the MHS gym. The deadline for signing up an Adult Basketball team (at the Town offices in Minaret Mall) is January 18. Teams are admitted into the league on a first?come, first served basis with 8 person/8 team maximums. League fees are $350/team. Fees cover custom jerseys, end-of-season awards and league administration. For more information please call John at 760.934.8989 x 234 or William at 619.987.2670.