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Thursday, 18 December 2008 |
No-Text law goes into effect Jan. 1
On Jan. 1, 2009, a new state law will go into effect; a law aimed to prevent text-messaging while driving and the collisions that could occur as a result. SB28 prohibits a person using an electronic wireless communications device to write, send or read text-based messages while operating a motor vehicle.
According to the Transport Research Laboratory, the reaction time of people driving while text-messaging is 35 percent slower, while reaction times were only 12 percent slower for drunk drivers and 21 percent slower for those who smoke marijuana. Looking away for one second is enough time for a cyclist or child to end up in front of your vehicle, or for another driver to quickly veer into your lane.
Call for Yosemite Valley volunteers
LeConte Memorial Lodge (a 105-year-old visitor center, environmental education center, and library) is looking for Sierra Club members who have visited Yosemite at least once within the last five years and are interested in volunteering for one week between May 2 and Sept. 26. Hours of operation are from 10 am - 4 p.m., Weds.-Sun, and 7:30 - 10 p.m. for weekend evening programs on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday.
For more information visit www.sierraclub.org/education/leconte/volunteering.asp or contact Bonnie Gisel, the LeConte Lodge curator, at
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or (209) 403-6676 (before May 2). After May 2nd call (209) 372-4542.
Vail Resorts and Intrawest announce cutbacks
Recently, Vail Resorts CEO Rob Katz sent out an e-mail announcing that there would be 50 layoffs from the company’s year-round staff of 3,300, 92 open jobs would be eliminated, employee raises would be delayed, executive pay would be frozen in 2009 and that Vail Resorts would stop matching employee 401(k) contributions.
“I wish I could guarantee to everyone there would be no more changes,” Katz said in his e-mail. “But just like some of the smartest economic minds in the world are not sure what is coming next, we don’t know either. And in any event, there will always be more changes – whether easy or hard to accept. The key is for us to stay ahead of whatever is coming.”
“I think they’re doing the proper thing,” said Avon-based ski industry analyst Jerry Jones. “They’re looking at their forecasts, the number of rooms booked and passes sold.”
Intrawest, which owns Steamboat Springs, Copper Mountain, Whistler and Blackcomb resorts, has announced layoffs as well.
Eastern Sierra bank in Bridgeport adopts Marines
Eastern Sierra Community Bank in Bridgeport has adopted a battalion of 1,500 U.S. Marines and have collected items to ship overseas in support of the men and women. The adoption lasts for the entire time the soldiers are deployed, right up until they arrive home in the United States.
A raffle called “Operation Phone Home” is being conducted to raise enough money to purchase 100 calling cards to send to the troops in time for Valentine’s Day.
The raffle will be at the ESCB in Bridgeport at 12 noon. There are many donations and tickets are one for five dollars and three for ten dollars. Call 760-932-7926 for more information.
Call for Yosemite Valley volunteers
Elliott Belinn works with the Weill Institute of Bakersfield College and the Small Business Development Center. He will be helping residents of Inyo and Mono Counties with business consulting.
Areas of counseling and assistance include business planning, budgeting, financial analysis, marketing, strategic planning, technology, business start-up, access to capital and employment issues. For information and an appointment call 760-934-5801 or e-mail
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Last Updated ( Friday, 02 January 2009 )
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