Bishop - New Christmas decorations a reality thanks to community

It has yet to snow in Bishop this year, but giant snowflakes can still be seen all over town.
The big plastic snowflakes adorned with lights and hanging from nearly every street light on Main Street are the new holiday decorations, made possible by donations from the community.
And, for the umpteenth year, the two local utility providers, the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power and Southern California Edison, have teamed up with the Chamber to garnish Main Street with winter holiday decor.
None of the agencies could track down exactly how long the three have worked to put up the lights, but one 35-year veteran Bishop City Park employee said he has seen the decorations going up as long as he can remember.
In January, the Bishop Chamber of Commerce asked the public for aid in purchasing new decorations as the old ones were more than 15 years old, faded and in need of replacement. The community answered the Chamber’s call for aid and orders for the decorations were placed by July.

On Wednesday, the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power and Southern California Edison are placing winter holiday decorations along Main Street in Bishop. Ben Sanchez of LADWP is seen here adorning streetlights with festive snowflakes, a new decoration for this year. Photo by Mike Bodine

Chamber Executive Director Tawni Thomson said Wednesday that the fundraiser, “was easier than I thought.”
Thomson said that with the current economic climate, she wasn’t sure how the response would be. It turned out to be overwhelming, she said, with pledges ranging from $20 to $1,000.
“This tells us that it’s (the decorations) very important to the community,” Thomson explained.
Fifty-five pledges, totaling more than $14,000, have been made by the following donors, various businesses and individuals, including: John Eilts Construction, Carl A. Pearce Insurance, Chalfant Big Trees Farm, Betty and James Penland, Alpine Signs, Sterling Heights Retirement Community, Millpond Equestrian Center, Bishop Twin Theatre, The Sound Shoppe, Robert Lowthrop, DDS, Creekside Inn, Advocates for Access to Public Lands, Bishop Creek Lodge, Bishop Veterinary Hospital, Culver’s Sporting Goods, Van Tassell and Paegel, CPA’s, Mahogany Smoked Meats, James Jennings, Imperial Gourmet Chinese Restaurant, Colonial Insurance/Donald Jenkins, Highlands Mobile Home Park, Bishop Chiropractic, Pine Creek Lions Club, Jack’s Restaurant, Dave and Vivian Patterson, Triad/Holmes Associates, Carl’s Jr., Bishop Lions Club, Bishop Care Center, Sunrise Rotary Club, David Hefner Consulting, LLC., Western Nevada Supply, Brown’s Supply, Inc., Chuck and Mary Mae Kilpatrick, Holland and Allred CPA’s, Michael and Kristeen Burns, Inyo County Deputy Sheriff’s Association, Los Angeles Department of Water and Power, Dave and Bonnie Buck, John and Ann Fulton, Ed and Pat Nahin, Thad and Marie Taylor, Randy and Chris VanTassell, State Farm Insurance-James Ferrell, Union Bank of California, McDonald’s Restaurants, Fendon’s Furniture and Upholstery and Carpet For Your Home, Ken and Janet Reeling, Valley Dogs Catering, Aldo Ghiglia, Dorothy Burdick, Choices Christian Book Store, Joseph’s Bi-Rite Market and Brune Mortuary.
Thomson said the original estimate for the decorations was $500 a piece, but she said that after some careful shopping, she found a Reno distributor who was willing to give not only a bulk discount, but also dropped the price because the current economy is so weak.
Thomson added that the chamber spent all but $35 on the snowflakes, and that last $35 was spent on replacement bulbs.