The sounds of jazz return

In Business

By Elizabeth Gabriel

(Updated: Friday, May 02, 2008, 2:44 PM)

Every time you turn on the radio -- if you listen to NPR, at least -- there's some other pundit trying to explain why gas prices keep going up, some president saying we should be drilling in Alaska or some candidate saying the U.S. should quit hoarding oil. But none of that pays to fill the tank.

My Wrangler petrol indicator was close to the red the other morning. The clerk in the general store sighed and said, "$54! It shouldn't cost $54 to fill up a little Jeep." Truer words were never spoken.

Our Wednesday price poll:

Bass Lake Shell, $3.99; Oakhurst Chevron, $3.98; Coarsegold Kwik Serv, $3.93; Coarsegold Shell, $3.95; Bootjack Market, $3.95; Pioneer Texaco in Mariposa, $3.95 and AMPM near Avenue 12, $3.77.

Sigh.

Quickies

Another sign of spring: music at the Pizza Factory. The Dixieland Jazz Band plays on the patio every Thursday night from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. and Swingshift takes over every other Friday and Saturday from 7 to 9 p.m.

The Lakeside Grill at the Pines reopens tonight with a new menu and new decor. The ad states that the grill has the only soft serve ice cream on the lake. It also has a $1 off any burger coupon and a buy-one-get-one-free burger coupon. Look for it in today's paper. The upstairs eatery will be open 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Friday, Saturday and Sunday through May 22. On May 23, the regular hours -- 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. -- will begin.