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Night of music, dancing and festivity in forecast |
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Thursday, 24 January 2008 |
 The acclaimed Bishop Big Band, a regional favorite, warms up for a set at the 2007 Northern Inyo Hospital Foundation Spring Fling. The eighth annual fundraising event has been changed from the Spring Fling to the Groundhog-A-Go-Go and will be held Saturday, Feb. 9 at the Tri-County Fairgrounds in Bishop. Photo courtesy NIH Foundation By Darcy Ellis
Editor 1-24-2008
Whether Punxsutawney Phil saw his shadow on Feb. 2 won’t matter in the least a week later to revelers enjoying perhaps the area’s first-ever Groundhog Day party.
That’s because regardless of the legendary Pennsylvania prognosticator’s 2008 winter weather predictions, attendees of the Saturday, Feb. 9 Groundhog-A-Go-Go fete will be too busy sampling fine fare and kicking up their heels to the beats of the Bishop Big Band.
Hosted by the Northern Inyo Hospital Foundation, the Groundhog-A-Go-Go event takes the place in 2008 of the annual Spring Fling fundraiser that has been held the past seven years in April.
According to Acting Interim NIH Foundation Executive Director Georgan Stottlemyre, while the fundraiser was pushed forward this year to better accommodate schedules, attendees can still expect a top-notch affair with all the gourmet appetizers and aperitifs they have come to expect, along with the rousing sounds of the Bishop Big Band.
Groundhog-A-Go-Go will be held in the Home Economics Building at the Tri-County Fairgrounds, beginning with wine, beer and hors d’oeuvres from 6-7 p.m. Local chef Pete Watercott, a member of both the NIH Foundation and NIH Board of Directors, will be making a variety of enticing munchies to suit a plethora of palettes. Fine wines from various wineries will be poured to accompany the hors d’oeuvres, and – new this year – attendees will be treated to specialty beers and microbrews as well.
During the social hour, those who wish can take dance lessons from local instructor Carmelita, who specializes in salsa and swing.
Those newly-acquired moves can then be put to use on the dance floor for the rest of evening when Bishop Big Band takes the stage.
Comprised of some of the area’s most talented musicians, the Bishop Big Band is a widely acclaimed 18-piece ensemble performing music from the 1940s to the 2000s. Members are from as far away as Lone Pine and Mammoth (and occasionally Los Angeles and Reno/Tahoe) and have “day jobs” as diverse as law enforcement, real estate, medicine and space science.
The band is proud of having performed at the Millpond Music Festival several times, as well as the Mammoth Arts Festival, Mule Days, various local gala events, and in Orange County for a regional Lions Club Convention.
Bishop Big Band has performed at every annual NIH Foundation fundraiser, and is one of the main reasons for the event’s growing popularity and success.
The 2007 Spring Fling “was really great. It was beautifully decorated and everyone seemed to have a really good time. It was a really great community event,” Stottlemyre said. “People seem to enjoy coming out to it,” she continued, to enjoy a festive atmosphere, good food and wonderful music. “And the Bishop Big Band has a following,” which inspires even more residents to attend each year.
As always, attendees will have the opportunity to purchase raffle tickets for the chance to win a wide array of door prizes, and to participate in a 50/50 cash-prize drawing.
Tickets for the 2008 Groundhog-A-Go-Go are $25 per person or $40 per couple. Proceeds from the event will go to help the NIH Foundation support the hospital, particularly with the purchase of emergency room equipment.
Tickets can be purchased at the door, by calling Cheryl Underhill at (760) 873-2153, or from any of the following NIH Foundation board members: Underhill, Stottlemyre, Watercott, Maggie Egan, Dr. Carolyn Tiernan and Marie Boyd.
Because of the popularity of the NIH Foundation fundraisers, Stottlemyre recommends purchasing tickets early. |
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Last Updated ( Friday, 08 August 2008 )
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