Earth Day fete to focus on a self-sustaining Bishop

April 12, 2011

Everyone is invited to Earth Day, Saturday, April 23 to be held at Fendon’s, Mountain Apparel and in the parking lot in between, maybe even spilling over into the street. There will be music, food and fun. Shown here are T-shirt designs for the events, drawn by local students. Photo by Mike Bodine/graphic courtesy metrocreativeconnection

Residents of and visitors to Bishop are invited to celebrate Earth Day next Saturday at a first-ever event geared toward bringing both fun and awareness to downtown Bishop.
According to organizers, the Earth Day event will be a way to celebrate the environment, as well as boost awareness of local businesses.
There will be live music, food vendors, artisans and craftsmen, fun for the kids and more than 40 educational, informational and non-profit booths.
The fun will be centered in the parking lot behind Fendon’s Furniture, across the street from Mountain Apparel, from 11 a.m.-3:30 p.m. Saturday, April 23. Vendor space is still available. Proceeds from the event will be donated to the Big Pine Fire Relief Fund.
Organizer Dee Unger said the event is an opportunity for businesses to share and show the public what products and services they have to offer. There will also be a photo contest, open to all, and a fine art show for those who express themselves creatively without film.
Local students from Bishop elementary and middle schools and the Bishop Christian Center were invited to design a logo for this year’s event. The contest for the event has ended and the winner will be announced tomorrow.
Everyone with a camera is invited to enter the photo contest, with photos being accepted at Mountain Apparel until Friday, April 22. The fine arts display will be at Fendon’s Furniture.
There will be music and dancers – Hispanic and hula – and other local entertainment, Unger said.
He said he hopes the community event will be successful in helping local businesses bridge a growing gap between themselves and local consumers.
Unger, owner of Mountain Apparel and Bloggingbishop.com and a member of Bringing Businesses to Bishop, said he is worried about business in Bishop – the ever shrinking consumer and job base.
“I also hope it starts the conversation,” he said, the one about economic development and dwindling business opportunities in Bishop and throughout the Owens Valley.
“It’s getting tougher and tougher to make it here,” Unger said. He said there are less jobs and smaller salaries every year in Bishop.
For more information or to get booth space, call (760) 872-4655 or (760) 258-7314.