Increase in dump gate fee to be discussed

Antelope Valley Regional Planning Advisory Committee will meet on Thursday at 7 p.m. at the Walker Community Building. The hot topic on the agenda seems to be a presentation from Mono County Public Works on the waste collection services and a proposed gate fee increase. Other agenda items will concern the affordable housing issue, a review of large projects and other potential responses to development pressure. Sounds like an interesting meeting that all Antelope Valley residents should want to attend.

Flowers by Diane

Long-time Walker flower shop owner, Diane Evans, underwent surgery two weeks ago at Loma Linda for a malignant tumor. Her mother, Jo Duxbury, is happy and relieved to report that Diane is now in rehab. Although, at this time she is not sure what further treatments may be needed, she hopes Diane will be home soon. To heal and regain her strength could take some time and I am sure any get-well cards would be greatly appreciated. So send her your good wishes and mail them to her at 432 Pine Nut Road, Coleville and her Mom will make sure she gets them. Diane has always been community minded, active in the local Northern Mono Chamber of Commerce and supported others when in need. Best wishes to Diane for a speedy recovery.

Courtney Northington continues to win

Courtney Northington, a senior at Eastern Sierra Academy in Bridgeport, has won three levels of competition in the Lion's Club Speech Contest. The Lion's topic for 2006 is: "The Internet: Hero or Villain?" Courtney's speech argues that the internet is neither a hero nor a villain, but a tragic hero full of excellence with a few significant flaws. She will now compete at the district level in Bishop on April 29. If she wins at this level she will earn $4,000 in scholarship money, and move on to the state championship.

Local teacher named one of America's best

Sarah Taylor of Eastern Sierra Academy in Bridgeport has been recognized as one of the most exceptional teachers in America. Sarah Taylor has taught English at the academy for seven years and is a winner of this year's Olmsted Prize. This prize has been awarded by Williams College in Williamstown, Massachusetts for the last 72 years. In order to recognize the important role that high school teachers play in the lives of students, Williams chooses to honor four or five exceptional teachers each year. Eastern Sierra Academy graduate Nora Matell, who is a senior at Williams College, nominated Taylor for the award.

Winning teachers will receive a substantial monetary award and in addition each teacher's school will receive a monetary award of $2,500. Suggestions are welcomed from staff, students and parents on how to put the school's prize to good use.

Remember Saturday's spaghetti dinner

Remember the Helen Sturdy fundraiser that will be held at the Community Center in Walker this Saturday at 5 p.m. Besides dinner there will be an auction and a huge raffle with an amazing amount of great prizes available. The dinner tickets are $10 for adults and $5 for those 10 and younger. The Antelope Valley Lions Club will sponsor a no-host bar for the evening. Join your neighbors for a fun evening and support a good cause. All the proceeds will help defray Helen Sturdy's medical expenses.

Correction

In my March 22 Antelope Valley News column, I wrote about Jan Work, a Mammoth Lakes woman who died on March 17. In lieu of flowers, donations were to be made to an orphanage in India that Work had visited. An incorrect address was given for the orphanage. The correct address of the orphanage is:

Family Village Farm

c/o Global Ministries Child Sponsorship Office

Treasurer

700 Prospect Ave., 7th floor

Cleveland OH 44115

Make checks payable to Wider Church Ministries.

n Marylin Portman can be reached by e-mail at mportman@direcway.com