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University of Nevada, Reno
Thursday, April 23
Donny McCaslin with The Collective
ReNo
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April 23-25, 2015
Festival and Ticket Information:
(775) 784-4046
jazz@unr.edu
www.unr.edu/rjf
Friday, April 24
SFJAZZ Collective / Vertical Voices
Mammoth Times
THURSDAY, April 16, 2015
THE AWARD-WINNING NEWSPAPER OF MAMMOTH LAKES AND THE EASTERN SIERRA
WWW. MAMMOTHTIMES.COM
50¢
Jim Leddy resigns as Mono County Administrator
Cites ‘personal family matters’
as reason
By George Shirk
Times Managing Editor
Jim Leddy, who came to Mono
County less than two years ago with a
mandate to remake the way the county
does business, said on Tuesday that he
will resign his post as Administrative
Officer.
He cited “personal family matters”
as the reason for his return to Sonoma
County, where he was Deputy County
Administrator/Community Affairs Manager before taking the Mono County
assignment.
His resignation takes effect on May
31, according to a news release from the
county late Tuesday afternoon.
“The Board of Supervisors appreciates the hard work and energy Jim
brought to the position during a crucial
transitional period
for Mono County,”
said Board Chairman Tim Fesko in
the news release.
“Thanks to Jim’s
hard work, Mono
Jim Leddy
County is moving in
a new direction to
improve services while understanding
the new restrained fiscal reality.
“We wish his family well and will
be strongly continuing the efforts to
improve public services launched since
2013.”
Leddy, 47, was at the center of a
tumultuous and often fractious budget
process in which the county succeeded
in balancing a $4.7 million mid-year
budget shortfall.
Practically all of the county
See LEDDY, page 20
‘Big Brother’ eyes
landscaping, lawns
New water conservation rules will
require ingenuity, imagination
By Wendilyn Grasseschi
Times Staff Writer
Brad Podosin, Laureen Leeds, and Mike Lach look on as
Mammoth Mountain CEO Rusty Gregory, a former pro
football player, tries his hand at the Football Toss during
the Mammoth Invitation Gala on April 10 at Canyon
Lodge. For more photos, see P. 12-14.
Photo by Susan Morning
As of Friday morning, April 10, Mammoth and
everyone within the community who uses water
from the local water district moved into a new world
of watering outdoor landscaping only two nights a
week—or else.
Although the Mammoth Community Water District doesn’t play up the “or else” aspect of it’s new
“Level Three” water conservation rules that were
adopted late last month, preferring education and
warnings to start with, the bottom line is still the
same.
“As we enter our fourth year of an historic
drought, the district has no alternative but to
increase conservation,” said the district’s general
manager, Pat Hayes.
He said every district customer in the community
now has a set schedule of which days they can use
their outdoor irrigation lines, along with a notice of
the hours they can water, i.e. from 10 p.m. to 9 a.m.
He said the district is already relying one hundred
percent on groundwater from wells, something that
normally does not happen until summer, and, during a wet or average winter, might not happen at all.
See CONSERVATION, page 20
©2014 Horizon Publications, Inc.
2
Mammoth Times
Thursday, April 16, 2015
Events
Eastern Sierra
Bowmen’s shoot, April
18-19
The shoot will be at the Sherwin
Grade site, just east of the old windmill, near the top of the grade. There
will be white and red signs posted for
directions from both northbound
and southbound lanes of US-395 for
directions to the camp/course.
This will be our first 14-target,
3-Dimensional event for 2015 for
both compound and traditional
bows. There will be some new Rinehart targets implemented into this
event, with 2 Arrow scoring ability.
We will also hold novelty shoots
for your enjoyment. This is a 2-day
event, and camping is allowed Friday
through Saturday with a Saturday
evening pot luck -- bring something
to share. Families and kids are
encouraged to come out and enjoy
the course. Hope to see you there.
For more information or directions,
check us out on Facebook, or go to
our website @ http://archeryclub.
tripod.com.—WG
Golf fundraiser
for Wheeler Crest,
Paradise firefighters,
April 18
The Eastern Sierra Bowman’s group
will host a Fundraising Golf Tournament for Wheeler Crest and Paradise
Volunteer Fire Department. There
will be a 4 person scramble, 9 a.m. shot
gun start at Bishop Country Club. To
sign up or become a hole sponsor, call
760-873-5828.—WG
Young Professionals
Lecture Series, April 20
Mammoth Lakes Young Professionals Group April Lecture Series
featuring Dan O’Connell of Mammoth Rock N Bowl, Brian Robinette
of Sierra Conservation Project, and
Darin Kaylor of Oram & Kaylor Strategic Asset Management. 6 p.m. at
Mammoth Rock N Bowl. Open to the
public.—GS
Forest roads meeting,
April 21
The Inyo National Forest will
hold a public meeting to share their
Draft Travel Analysis Report (TAR)
Tuesday, April 21 from 6 p.m. to 8
p.m. at the Cerro Coso Community
College in Bishop. At this meeting,
Inyo National Forest staff will share
how they developed the Draft TAR,
which determines the risks, benefits
and opportunities for every designated system road, and identifies
possible changes or repairs to the
road system. Staff will answer questions about TAP, and have the Draft
TAR available for review at the public
meeting.—WG
Annual Owens Lake
Bird Festival, April 25
The Festival promises to offer a
variety of field trips and showcase the
unique habitat and significance of
Owens Lake at the height of spring
migration. Designated as an Impor-
tant Bird Area (IBA) by the National
Audubon Society, Owens Lake offers
world-class wildlife viewing in the
southern Owens Valley. Concomitant
with Festival, we are sponsoring a
photography exhibit by Robin Black
at the Interagency Visitor Center. The
exhibit entitled “Second Chance: The
Owens Lake Project” will run from
March 16 - April 30, 2015, with an exhibit reception and closing event for
our Festival day on Saturday, April 25.
Our Festival partners include
Eastern Sierra Audubon, California Audubon, Eastern California
Museum, Eastern Sierra Interpretive Association, Interagency Visitor
Center, Los Angeles Department of
Water and Power and the Lone Pine
Chamber of Commerce.
For more information, please
email (info@friendsoftheinyo.org) or
call 760-873-6500.—WG
Manzanar Pilgrimage,
April 26-27.
Manzanar National Historic Site
invites the public to participate in a
weekend of special activities surrounding the Manzanar Committee’s
45th Annual Manzanar Pilgrimage.
Visitors are invited to experience art,
music, dance, talks, and more. All
events are free.—WG
Taste of the Sierra,
May 1
On Friday, May 1, at 6 p.m. to 9
p.m. in Charles Brown Auditorium,
in Bishop, come enjoy great food
provided by area restaurants &
caterers. $25 includes two beverages. Proceeds benefit the Bishop Area
Chamber of Commerce & Visitors
Bureau. Spaces are still available for
restaurants & caterers, call April 760873-8405 or email april@bishopvisitor.com.—WG
Home and Garden
Show, Choo Choo
Swap Meet, May 1-2
Mark your calendars now so that
you don’t miss any of the great events
taking place at the Tri-County Fairgrounds the first weekend in May. As
always, the Home Show will be the
same weekend as the Choo-Choo
Swap Meet, Taste of Sierra, and the
Altrusa Books and Barns Jamboree.
New this year, a Spring Craft Fair and
City of Bishop Youth Convention
have been added. For more information, call the Tri-County Fairgrounds
760-873-3588.—WG
Chamber Music
Unbound, May 2
Saturday, May 2, 7:30 p.m., Cerro
Coso College, Mammoth Lakes.
Chamber Music Unbound presents
The Felici Piano Trio guests Corey
Cerovsek, violin, and Dustin Budish,
viola, in a concert entitled, “The World
on a String,” with music by Haydn, Janacek (the “Kreutzer” String Quartet),
and Beethoven. Tickets ($20 Adult,
$15 Senior, $7 Student) are available
online (www.ChamberMusicUnbound.
org), at the Booky Joint, the Inyo
Council for the Arts, or at the door on
concert nights. —GS
www.mammothtimes.com
Inyo National Forest planning
for April 18 Lakes Basin
opening
Reds opens mid-May, many other
areas open by Fishing Opener
and before Memorial Day
Times Staff Writer
The Inyo National Forest is planning to
open recreation facilities on the Mammoth and Mono Lake Ranger Districts
early this year based upon warm, dry conditions throughout the winter months.
The forest is coordinating with the
Town of Mammoth Lakes, National Park
Service, Eastern Sierra Transit Authority,
Cal Trans, Mammoth Mountain Ski Area,
Inyo Recreation, and other partners to
open roads, campgrounds, recreation
facilities, and services in the Mammoth
Lakes Basin and Reds Meadow Valley for
the upcoming fishing season and Memorial Day holiday.
Open by Fishing Opener, April 25:
n Roads in the Mammoth Lakes Basin
will be open prior to the 2015 Fishing
Opener, with a tentative opening date
of Saturday, April 18. Restrooms in the
Mammoth Lakes Basin on water systems
are not designed to function during winter
conditions, including night-time freezing
cycles. The Town of Mammoth Lakes is
working with the Forest Service to provide
temporary restroom facilities and trash
service until normal summer services are
established.
n Convict Lake, Sherwin Creek, Mammoth RV Park, Oh Ridge, June Lake, Gull
Lake, Silver Lake, Big Springs, and Lower
Lee Vining campgrounds will be open by
April 24.
Open by Memorial Day, May 25:
n The road into the Reds Meadow Valley will open prior to Memorial Day, with a
targeted opening date of Saturday, May 16.
n The Eastern Sierra Transit Authority
will operate the mandatory Reds Meadow
Shuttle bus system Saturday, Sunday, and
Monday of Memorial Day weekend. Normal operations will begin Saturday, June
13 and continue through Labor Day.
n Twin Lakes and New Shady Campgrounds are scheduled to open on May
8. Lake Mary, Reds Meadow, High Sierra
Camp, Glass Creek, Deadman, Hartley, Aspen, Big Bend, Junction, Tioga, and Ellery
campgrounds should be open by May 22.
n All other national forest campgrounds will open by June 13 and Devil’s
Postpile Campground (NPS) will open in
mid-June.
All established opening dates are
subject to change pending weather conditions.
wendilyn@mammothtimes.com
‘New look’ Book Chalet reopens
Friends of the Library a
volunteer effort
Times Staff Report
The Book Chalet has reopened after
recent upgrades including new flooring,
window coverings and interior paint.
To celebrate, there will be a “$1 off every $5 purchase” sale on Saturdays April
18 and April 25, with extended hours
from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
There is also a special display of local
history books, including some signed by
local authors.
The store is located at 645 Old Mammoth Road (across from The Stove
Restaurant).
Mammoth Times
THE AWARD-WINNING NEWSPAPER OF
MAMMOTH LAKES AND THE EASTERN
SIERRA
The Mammoth Times publishes weekly (every Thursday) and
contains local colùmnists, feature stories, regional news, Mono
County government news and classifieds.
Mammoth Times
501 Old Mammoth Road, Unit 9
P.O. Box 3929
Mammoth Lakes, CA 93546
Phone: (760) 934-3929
Fax: (760) 934-3951
Regular hours are Tuesday through
Saturday 12-5 p.m., closed Sunday and
Monday.
An all-volunteer staff of MLFOL
members runs the Book Chalet, so all
proceeds go to support library collection
and programs.
The Book Chalet accepts donations of
recent books in good condition. Please
bring them by during store open hours.
For every ten donated books, you may
choose one free book from the store.
If you have a large donation (more
than one box or bag of books), please
take them to the Mammoth Lakes
Library at the intersection of Meridian
and Sierra Park Road, on the southeast
corner.
news@mammothtimes.com
Recepient of 2013 Better Newspaper Contest
in the following categories:
s Best Editorial Comment, 1st place
s Best Sports Story, 1st place
s Best Writing, 1st place
s Best Artistic Photo, 1st place
s Best Feature Photo, 1st place
s Best Agricultural Reporting, 2nd place
s Best Special Section - 2013 Sierra Menus, 2nd place
sBest Artistic Photo, Blue-Ribbon Finalist
s General Excellence, Blue-Ribbon Finalist
Subscribe to the Mammoth Times:
Out-of-area subscriptions are $64 per year. Inyo or Mono county subscriptions
are $38 per year. All are payable in advance. To order by phone, call (760)
934-3929. Have your Visa, Mastercard or Discover ready; or send a check to:
Mammoth Times Subscriptions, P.O. Box 3929, Mammoth Lakes, CA 93546.
John Rea, General Manager
All subscribers also receive the bimonthly Mammoth Sierra Magazine.
jrea@mammothtimes.com, Ext. 107
• Periodicals Postage Paid at Mammoth Lakes, CA and at additional mailing
George Shirk, Managing News Editor
george@mammothtimes.com, Ext. 115
offices. POSTMASTER: Please send address changes to Mammoth Times,
P.O. Box 3929, Mammoth Lakes, CA 93546. Daily updates are provided at our
website, www.mammothtimes.com.
Wendilyn Grasseschi, Staff Writer
wendilyn@mammothtimes.com, Ext. 113
Alex Garcia, Editorial Assistant, Production
alex@mammothtimes.com, Ext. 106
Jesse Rea, Classifieds, Legals, and Sales
sales@mammothtimes.com, Ext. 102
Lesley-Anne Hoxie, Copy Editor
Rena Mlodecki, Publisher
rena@mammothtimes.com
• Submission guidelines: We welcome photographs, letters and other
editorial submissions from responsible readers; unsolicted materials become
the property of Mammoth Times. Mammoth Times encourages the submission
of Press Releases but reserves the right to edit all submissions to conform to
space and style requirements. Deadline for Editorial/News submissions and
Classifieds: Tuesday at 5 p.m.
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or in part, without the written permission of the publisher. Publisher reserves
the right to reject, edit or cancel any advertising at any time without liability.
Publisher’s liability for error is limited to the amount paid for advertising. All
rights reserved, Mammoth Times. Copyright © 2014.
Page Three
Local man is new air district
officer after Schade retires
Phillip Kiddoo, longtime air
district employee, is new head of
agency
Times Staff Writer
The Great Basin Unified Air Pollution
Control District on April 8 appointed a
ten-year employee and longtime Eastern
Sierra local, Phillip Kiddoo, to take the
place of recently retired Air District Officer Ted Schade.
Schade, who retired at the end of
2014, led the district though several
successful legal challenges with the Los
Angeles Department of Water and Power
over issues such as dust control on the
Owens Dry Lake. He left as the agency
was facing another legal challenge, this
time by Mammoth’s community water
district over a proposed geothermal
energy plant for a site near Mammoth.
The outcome of that lawsuit, which went
before a judge earlier this month, is still
undetermined.
According to a news release from
Great Basin Unified, which is the state
agency responsible for protecting the air
quality of the Eastern Sierra, Kiddoo was
unanimously appointed by the agency’s
board of directors last week.
He began his career with the district
over a decade ago as a Research Systems
Analyst, spending the last five years as its
Senior Research and Systems Analyst.
His work included sophisticated air
monitoring and development of data
analyses of dust pollution from the dried
Owens Lake bed.
Kiddoo previously worked for the California Department of Fish and Wildlife
and the University of California White
Mountain Research Station.
He was born in Bishop, raised in Mammoth Lakes and Bishop and is married to
See KIDDOO, page 11
‘Blue-Ribbon’ Paramedic
Committee inches forward
First meeting still set for third
week in May
By George Shirk
Times Managing Editor
The special ad-hoc committee that
is to deliver an overview of how the
county should deal with its emergency
medical services (paramedics, EMTs,
ambulance service, etc.) is not moving forward at exactly the speed of
light.
It’s not moving at the speed of an
ambulance, either.
Even so, the Mono County Board
of Supervisors on Tuesday moved the
proposal forward, with a laundry list
of details that have yet to be worked
out.
The idea for the committee,
formed in the wake of a shortfall
in the EMS mid-year budget and its
three-year Memorandum of Understanding involving expenses in the
paramedic program, is not meant to
be a negotiating tool, said County
Administrator Jim Leddy.
“What the committee wants to
assess is what makes sense for Mono
County in the long run,” he said. “It’s
not meant to re-negotiate the MOU
at all.
“What this committee will do is
look at other model programs, then
bring forward a vision.”
Currently Tim Fesko, who also is
chair of the Board of Supervisors,
chairs the ad-hoc committee.
Questions, such as if the county
would pay travel expenses, meal expenses and so on, are unresolved.
The Board will address some of
See COMMITTEE, page 11
PHOTO OF THE WEEK
3
NEWS BRIEFS
Roads management
meeting April 21,
Bishop
The Inyo National Forest will hold a
public meeting on how to best manage
the forest’ s roads long term, called the
Travel Analysis Process (TAP) on April
21 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. in Bishop at
the Cerro Coso Community College.
During the meeting, the forest
staff will talk about how the plan was
developed, answer questions about
the Travel Analysis Process (TAP)
and share maps and findings of the
TAR. Due to increased use, aging infrastructure, and decreasing budgets,
the forest cannot maintain all roads to
standards for safety and environmental
protection. Input will be most useful if
received by May 18, 2015. Email comments can be sent to:
comments-pacificsouthwest-inyo@
fs.fed.us, with the subject line, “TAP
comments” or they can be mailed to
Erin Noesser, Inyo National Forest, 351
Pacu Lane, Suite 200, Bishop, California 93514.
The draft report, its appendices and
maps can be viewed on the Inyo National Forest website at: http://tinyurl.
com/o7g6ju8
If you have questions about TAP or
about the comment process, you can
call Deb Schweizer at (760) 873-2427
or email her at debraaschweizer@
fs.fed.us. -WG
Sponsor Mammoth
Lakes Film Festival, get
recognized
The Mammoth Lakes Film Festival,
scheduled for May 27-31, is looking for
sponsors, which is a great opportunity
to get your name out there. You can
become a sponsor by donating money
or being an in-kind sponsor. There
are many different sponsorship levels
to choose from, all with associated benefits, or they can tailor a sponsorship
program specific to you if you would
like to donate money. Otherwise, they
are looking for items for their gift bags
for filmmakers, jurors, and VIP pass
holders. If you would like to be a sponsor or have questions, please contact
Shira at 760-934-6592. -WG
WEEKLY QUOTE
“As we enter our fourth
year of an historic
drought, the district has no
alternative but to increase
conservation.”
A man who identified himself as Bump
Diamond gets a sniff of vanilla from a
Jeffrey Pine in June Lake. Photo by Buck
Meadows.
Photo by Buck Meadows
Do you have an awesome photo you want to share with us? Please send a high-resolution photo and a
brief photo description to editor@mammothtimes.com and we might feature it here!
—Water District General
Manager Pat Hayes, on the
district’s efforts to enforce
water conservation efforts.
See Story, P.1.
4
Mammoth Times
NEWS BRIEFS
THROWBACK THURSDAY
Bishop’s White Mountain Visitor
Center closed until April 27
The White Mountain Visitor Center in Bishop
is temporarily closing for a re-design. The visitor
center will close after business hours on April 3. The
redesign is expected to take three weeks to complete.
The visitor center should re-open by April 27. In the
interim, visitor center staff will be partnering with
the Bishop Chamber of Commerce Visitor Center
to continue to provide information services, issue
permits, etc.—WG
Comments due on sage grouse
habitat enhancement project
April 30
The Inyo National Forest is seeking comments
for a sage-grouse habitat enhancement project. The
forest is proposing to implement sage-grouse habitat
enhancement at various locations in Long Valley.
In the absence of a natural fire regime, Jeffrey
pine trees are gradually moving into historically pure
stands of sagebrush. Sage-grouse tend to avoid areas
with overhead cover; likely because trees provide
perches for predators such as hawks that feed on
grouse.
The project would entail removing trees from
seven sites within the Long Valley Caldera. The small
diameter young trees would be felled and limbed
using chainsaws and allowed to naturally decompose
on site. This type of project has proven to be an
effective habitat enhancement tool. An area treated
last summer was repopulated by sage-grouse within
weeks of the project’s termination.
For more information regarding this project or
if you wish to comment on this proposal, please call
Richard Perloff, 760-924-5508 or contact him via email at rperloff@fs.fed.us.
Comments on this proposal would be most useful
if received by April 30, 2015.—WG
Howard Lehman, landscape contractor and “xeriscape” (drought-tolerant) expert circa 1990.
Photo Mammoth Times Archives
POLICE BLOTTER
A Celebration of Shorebirds
Migrating Between Hemispheres
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FRIENDS OF THE I NY O
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Godfather 2.0?
A Carlsbad boy, 16, and a
Carlsbad man, 46, were booked
on suspicion of various felony
charges, including assault with
a deadly weapon that is not a
firearm, on April 6, following a
suspected assault on a juvenile
victim at The Village earlier this
year.
The juvenile attacker, who
knew the victim was booked on
assualt charges; the adult male,
who also knew the victim and the
suspected attacker, was booked
on suspicion of being an accessory to a crime and to conspriing
to commit a crime.
The original assault occurred
on Jan. 25 during the evening
when the attacker jumped and
assaulted the juvenile victim,
then fled the scene with the
adult male.
Mammoth Lakes Police attempted to contact the suspects
but could not find them and the
case was referred to the Mono
County District Attorney’s office
after the victim and witnesses of
the attack were interviewed.
Drunk Mammoth man needs
help
A Mammoth man, 33, who
was reported by an anonymous
source to be threatening to hurt
himself, was arrested on suspicion of being drunk in public on
April 9 after police, while doing a
welfare check on the man, found
the man sitting in his car at a
residence and drunk. After police
asked the man if he wanted help
from Mono County Behavioral
Health and the man said he was
not sure and that he had been
drinking for three days, the man
was arrested because he was too
drunk to care for himself. According to police, Mono County’s
Behavioral Health Department
cannot talk to someone unless
they are sober.
Drunk Mammoth man nearly
collides with cop car
A drunk Mammoth man,
38, who nearly collided with a
police car in the Rafters parking
lot was arrested on suspicion of
driving drunk on April 11 after
police stopped the man on Sierra
Nevada Road and did a field test.
The man’s blood alcohol percent
was 0.18 when tested.
Collection agency lets
Mammoth man know of
charges he never made
A Mammoth man, 25, said
he was the victim of fraudulent
charges by someone in Southern
California who used the man’s information to rent a Hertz vehicle
while in Southern California. The
man found out about the charges
recently when a collection agency
contacted him. The original
charges were made last year.
Boys steal stuff, get
arrested
Two local area juvenile boys
were arrested on suspicion of
stealing about $67 worth of items
from Rite Aid on April 10, including watches and headphones.
Local business vandalized
Someone vandalized a local
business’s building and lights.
The incident was reported on
April 11 and is being investigated.
Mammoth Times
5
Opinion
6
Thursday, February 12, 2015
OUR VIEW
Jim Leddy
We are saddened to see Jim Leddy leave as the Mono
County Administrative Officer.
He has been a terrific asset here, working under nearly
impossible circumstances.
We are heartened, though, by the legacy he leaves
behind.
If the Board of Supervisors and the union groups
(including the paramedics) make good on the foundation
he laid down in his two-plus years here, Mono County will
continue to be one of the greatest places in the country to
live and work.
Does anyone even remember what it was like in Bridgeport before Leddy came on board?
It was a county government running on what then-new
Supervisor Fred Stump correctly called “funny money,”
that is, finances built on budgetary contortions.
The county would essentially move one lump of nonexistent cash into another lump of non-existent cash, and
then somehow make it all work out to zero—a state-mandated balanced budget.
Under then-administrator Jim Arkens, quality employees flew the coop willy-nilly, demoralized and confused by
all the loose ends of such a system.
The assessor’s office in those years was a shambles; the
general population had some serious issues with the Sheriff’s Department; the finance department was in a tangle
and no one really knew what was up, what was down, and
where we all were going.
At the time, a new Board of Supervisors with a new
majority of Stump, Tim Fesko and Tim Alpers faced the
morass head-on, and somehow found Leddy.
The county government at this writing is now proactive
instead of reactive. Its financial house, under the leadership of finance director Leslie Chapman, makes sense.
The Sheriff’s Department, under Ingrid Braun, is
making steady headway in repairing whatever damage
the public thought had been done, and then added even
more points with her work during the Round Fire crisis in
Swall Meadows.
This does not mean that Mono County is out of the
woods quite yet.
First of all, it will take some initiative on the part of the
Board of Supervisors to really think this through.
In Los Angeles County, the Board there is re-thinking
the entire job description.
There is no written law as to what a county administrator should be. In fact, L.A. County is looking at possibly
forming a multi-person configuration, removing (for
better or worse) the responsibility that a CEO would bring
to the table.
It’s an interesting question, and one that the current
Mono County Board has had on its radar, ever since it first
became aware that Leddy was going to leave on account
of personal family issues that require his presence back in
Sonoma County.
Whichever way the Board goes with this, though, we
hope there will be lots of room for a public discussion, and
an opportunity for county employees to have a voice in it,
too.
Here’s what we know we want, though.
We want the strategic planning framework to move
forward.
We want the hard-nosed budget process to move forward, too, now that the sting of downsizing has passed the
sizzling point.
What we want, basically, is Leddy’s legacy to have a
long-lasting impact on our “Wild by Nature” lifestyle and
politics.
If we can do that—we trust the current Board to make
good on that end of things—we think the road is wide
open for good things to happen.
Years from now, we just might look back on the good
things that are happening and give Jim Leddy his due
credit.
He was not here long, but he carried his weight, and
for that we are thankful.
Political cartoons published in this newspaper—as with
letters to the editor and op-eds—do not necessarily reflect
the opinions of Mammoth Times, its employees or its parent
company. These cartoons and the opinions expressed in
guest op-eds are merely intended to present food-forthought in a different medium.
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Thanks from
the Recreation
Dept.
To the Editor:
The Town of Mammoth Lakes
Recreation Department would
like to thank the many organizations for showcasing their diverse
summer recreation programs to
the community at the inaugural
summer Recreation Open House
on Tuesday, April 14, 2015 at the
What to do in
Mammoth
To the Editor:
In response to the editorial
from March 27 regarding Mammoth having more than a single
Mammoth Middle School MPR.
The one-stop-shop for everything recreation enabled residents
to plan their summer of adventure by interacting, learning, or
registering for the many diverse
summer camps, programs, and
activities offered in our community. The Recreation Open House
included organizations serving
students of all abilities and ages—
pre-school, elementary, middle
and high school.
Thank you to Mammoth
Mountain Ski Area, Mono County,
Mammoth AYSO Soccer, Mammoth Lakes Swim Team, Mono
Council for the Arts: FREE Sumseason-skiing, I think that the
town of Mammoth Lakes and
the surrounding area could take
advantage of many more of the
things and people that are available in this area.
Mammoth has already instituted a plethora of alcohol-based
gatherings to bring people here,
but what about the many other
mer Art Camps, Disabled Sports
Eastern Sierra, Kids Adventure
Games, Mammoth Youth Football
& Cheer, Mono County Little
League, Mammoth Lakes Foundation: Shakespeare Summer Camp,
Mammoth Lakes Library, Youth
Volleyball Camps, Sierra Classic
Theatre and the Snowcreek Athletic Club.
We’ll see you next year at the
2nd annual Summer Recreation
Open House!
Stuart Brown
Recreation Manager & Public
Information Officer
Town of Mammoth Lakes
things we can do here?
There are world-class photographers that live here; what about
photography workshops offered
through the town or recreation
department?
We have writers of published
books that live and play here; what
about writing workshops?
See LETTERS, page 7
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Mammoth Times
7
OPINION
The war of the ‘Peckers is on
I’m sure that the title of this column
will have the reader saying, “What
the…?” Let me explain. Spring has
been in the air for a while now. I can tell
because some of the birds not seen for
months are shaking out their feathers
and flitting about the trees. They chit
and chat with one another, catching up
on what they all did during what little
winter we had here in the Sierra.
Some birds begin building nests with
branches that have fallen to the ground
because they were blown off the trees,
while other birds search the awnings of
houses looking for birdseed. Bird feeders also feed the local squirrels so birds
can only hope that their bushy-tailed
nemesis is still hibernating.
And then there are the birds who
are life-long peckers. So annoying are
these birds, especially when they choose
the side of a house to peck, that Walter
Lanz created a cartoon around this
crazy bird. But unlike the red-topped
Woody Woodpecker we all grew up
watching during our Saturday morning cartoon time, the woodpecker I’m
talking about now will not get his own
star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
Instead, this woodpecker continues
WHAT TO DO
Continued from page 6
We have scientists and teachers that would probably like to
teach others their interests.
We have athletes of many
sports that could teach, coach
and inspire.
We have a couple of great
bike races, but there is certainly
room for more. Look at all the
little-used routes and gravel
roads right out our backdoor.
What about trail run-
to irritate the nerves of
outside. He scooped up
a certain homeowner
a handful of what little
in Mammoth Lakes. So
snow we had on the deck,
much so, that if there was
and made his way to the
a woodpecker hunting
side of the house. With all
season within the town
his might, he threw the
limits, this particular
snow at the woodpecker
owner would be the first
that was trying to make a
in line for a permit.
hole into the wood siding,
Several mornings ago,
while yelling some more
I was sitting quietly in my
of the *@$%@* words at
Stacey Powells
reading room, happy to
the bird.
OPINION
feel the sun through the
Stomp, stomp, stomp,
window as I sipped my tea
the husband came back
and read a book. It was
into the house, closing
perfectly quiet until there was a loud
the glass door to the deck with such
pounding coming from downstairs. The a bang that I thought the glass would
bedroom wall was being hammered by a shatter onto the living room floor.
fist, followed by something that soundStomp, stomp, stomp, back down the
ed like, “Get the *@&!* away from the
stairs he went, slamming the bedroom
house!”
door shut. Since retiring from the
I heard the bedroom door swing
county, he likes to sleep late. He doesn’t
open so hard that I thought the doorlike to be woken up by something peckknob punched a hole through the
ing at the side of our house.
drywall. The husband in question
But the woodpecker wasn’t finished.
stomped up the stairs wearing nothing
It was as if the bird’s mind was set on
more than a pair of gray sweatpants. He having an all-out war with the owner of
opened the door to the deck, not caring our house. Where is our wildlife specialthat the sun was still behind the White
ist when you need him? Oh, wait, he
Mountains and it was three degrees
doesn’t deal with woodpeckers.
ning races run to Duck Pass,
to 1,000 Island Lake, etc.?
Wouldn’t that be incredible,
especially under a full moon?
What about offering high
altitude cooking/baking classes
from some of the restaurateurs
in town? They have had to
learn to adapt to this area and
could offer excellent tips to the
rest of us.
What about a high altitude
gardening workshop that could
show people how to grow
veggies in their own yard or
window boxes. (YES you CAN
grow veggies in Mammoth, and
it’s not that difficult). Natives
and edibles are easy to grow
under drought conditions on a
drip system.
Speaking of drought, what
about a workshop or two on
changing your lawn over to a
drought tolerant native and edible landscape for the general
public?
And what about more
stuff for kids to do? Besides
the items mentioned above
and the Whitmore Pool and
Skate Park, how about classes
in photography, hiking,
backpacking, cooking, moun-
The war of the peckers continues
to be synonymous with springtime in
our humble abode. Peck, peck, peck,
goes the woodpecker, and bang, bang,
bang, goes the fist on the inside walls of
our house. Some days are better than
others, like when the woodpecker finds
other types of wood to assault in a different location. But when he (or she)
comes back to the wood surrounding
our home, game on!
Perhaps the owner of our house
should take a cue from one of the
earliest Woody Woodpecker cartoons.
Woody was irritating a couple of cartoon pandas: Andy Panda and Papa
Panda. Andy Panda sprinkled salt on
the tail feathers of Woody, hoping to
be able to catch the pestering pecker.
It worked, and Woody Woodpecker was
eventually taken away to the funny farm.
Unfortunately, if this Mammoth Lakes
woodpecker continues to be a nuisance,
I don’t think it’s the bird that will eventually be taken away to the funny farm.
Stacey Powells is a local writer and blogger. She
can be reached at stacey@exhaustedparent.com. For
more of her work, visit www.exhaustedparent.com.
Her column reflects her own views and not necessarily those of the Mammoth Times.
tain biking, trail running;
you name it, there is probably
someone here who would love
to offer their expertise to a
greater population.
We have a great theater
program here also; what about
getting young people more
involved in it?
The same goes for our older
visitors; we could offer more
for them too...
I know all of these would
take time, commitment and
money. I know it would take a
lot of community participation
and work and possibly even
multiple languages in some
instances, but what do we have
to lose?
Come to think of it, what
we have to lose is —a lot,
most notably tourists who
can’t find something to do
when they visit here in the
“off” season.
Are we willing to work hard
and become something more
then a ski town? I would love
to help.
Robyn Kirsteen
Crowley Lake
760-709-0083
STREET SMART
How long have you been in Mammoth and what keeps you here?
By Jesse Rea
Times Staff Writer
“I am from Alaska and just
finished a bike tour from Mexico
to Alaska. I spent one month
in Bishop and now I have been
in Mammoth for 3 weeks.
I had always heard about
Mammoth but when I got here,
it is no wonder why so many
backpackers pick this spot to
stop. Mammoth has it all.”
—Matthew Ray
“My husband and I have lived
here for three years and are
originally from the Philippines.
We do not want to live in a big
city; because of Mammoth’s
lower crime rates, less people
and enriched community it was
a no brainer to move here.”
—Josephine Maclean
“I moved here in 1979, then
Bishop in 2004, and finally
moved back here last July.
Honestly, what kept me here
for so long and keeps me here,
is my great friends and loving
family, along with the fantastic
summers full of fun walking
classes that I used to teach at
Snowcreek Athletic Club.”
—Janet Francis
“I have been coming to
Mammoth since 1969, not every
year, but when I can, I always
try to come to Mammoth Lakes.
Everything is just so perfect,
the hiking, the people, and the
backpacking. It is a Mecca for
outdoors enthusiasts.”
—Gregory Beck
“I moved here the summer of
2012 and was a participant of
The Station Camp run by Rachel
Bowman. She is a huge reason
why I decided to move and
ended up staying in Mammoth
and getting married last year. I
felt like family was here and the
people actually cared. Mammoth
had me hooked.”
—Felicia Fericano
8
Ask a
professional
REAL ESTATE
Mammoth Times
Yosemite Conservancy debuts new
theater performances, art workshops
New programs for all ages
this summer
Times Staff Report
Sonja Bush
Broker Associate
Q
A
What are some ps
for home sellers?
Manage Your Expecta ons
Just because proper es in
your home town are selling
faster and at higher prices
do not assume the same is
true in your second/vaca on
home market. Understanding
the median days on market
and pricing will help set
your expecta on. Also,
remember most real estate
sales in Mammoth Lakes are
discre onary purchases which
generally translate into very
li le sense of urgency for
buyers. In other words, it does
not take a lot of people to see
your property, just the right
people. Pa ence is key.
2. Showcase Your Property
There is a saying in real estate,
“Homes that don’t show well,
don’t close well.” I found this
to be true recently with a great
property that had everything
the buyer was looking for
but the clu er everywhere
prevented them from seeing
how they could make this
home their own. Everyone
loves their home but keep in
mind that what may be an
expression of your personality
could be a turn off for buyers.
3. The price is set by the
market, not the owner.
It’s understandable that many
home sellers think that their
home is worth more than
the price the local market
dictates. Sen mental value
o en translates into an
inflated sense of the home’s
worth, but when it comes to
price, the winning opinion is
always the market’s opinion.
To effec vely price a home
you must consider the
compe on. Allow your agent
to take the me to educate
you on the compe on and
share home pricing ps to help
you understand your pricing
strategy.
4. Small improvements can
translate into higher offers.
In many cases, the cost of a
home repair is less expensive
than a poten al buyer
perceives the cost of the repair
to be. If buyers over-es mate
the cost of fixing the problem,
it may nega vely impact the
offer amount and end up
cos ng the seller more in the
long run. Before you list your
property, discuss possible
improvements with your agent
– he/she will help you decide
what will make a difference
when it comes to price.
For previous ar cles, visit
www.SonjaBush.com
Broker Associate
BRE #01904399
www.SonjaBush.com
The Village at Mammoth
(661) 979.9000 cell
sonja@sonjabush.com
A new line-up of family-friendly theater
performances and art workshops was unveiled Wednesday by the Yosemite Conservancy.
“Theater and art programs make any
visit to the park even more memorable for
visitors of all ages,” said Yosemite Conservancy President Frank Dean. “The proceeds
for these programs go toward important
restoration and protection work in the park
supported by the Conservancy.”
The Yosemite Theater features nightly
performances, films and talks that reveal
Yosemite’s history and little-known stories.
Visitors will enjoy new shows with singalongs about the park and performances
about the characters who have helped
shape the nation’s natural lands, along with
popular favorites about seeing Yosemite
through a climber’s eyes, the park’s natural
phenomena and ranger search-and-rescue
operations.
One of several programs to premiere this
year is “Creative Fusion: Exploring the Nature of the Sierra Nevada” in which Ranger
Erik Westerlund uses the whimsical art of
renowned minimalist artist Charley Harper.
Music, games and storytelling take the audience for an armchair nature walk.
Another new program is “Yosemite by
Song and Story,” a toe-tapping evening of
storytelling, music and singing with Gail
Dreifus about nature and ecology involving
the whole audience.
In “Ask John Muir,” every show is new as
actor Lee Stetson embodies the father of
our national parks, John Muir, in a Q-and-A
format with the audience.
Yosemite Art Center programs in Yosemite Valley give visitors a chance to paint
Half Dome, capture wildflowers on paper,
or learn a new, artistic way of looking at
Yosemite’s wonders.
Artists of all levels and ages create permanent mementos of days in the park with
help from acclaimed artists.
For the first time, the Yosemite Art Center will offer a workshop called “Bits and
Pieces” with artist Laura Morales showing
visitors of all ages how to create mosaics
with materials ranging from the traditional
to recycled.
A new workshop by artist Bill Bartelt
teaches painters of all skill levels basic
watercolor techniques and how to use these
techniques to depict scenes achieving a
“sepia” effect, similar to early photographic
studies of the Valley, in “Capturing the
Splendor of Yosemite in Sepia.”
Visitors will learn to break conventional
rules of watercolor through bold compositions, unusual perspectives and fascinating
textures with artist Patricia Osborne in a
fun day of sketching and using color for all
skill levels in “Watercolor Fun and Loose.”
Art workshops run now through
Oct. 31, and are held outdoors Monday
through Saturday starting at 9:45 a.m.
and ending at 2 p.m. at the Yosemite Art
Center, located near the Village Store in
Yosemite Valley.
Registration is $10 per person. There is
also a workshop for beginners on Sunday
afternoon for $15. Advance sign-up is recommended by calling 209-372-1442 or by
emailing artcenter@yosemiteconservancy.
org.
Also this season at Yosemite Theater,
visitors can see the beauty of Yosemite in all
four seasons in a stirring film narrated by
world-renowned rock climber Ron Kauk.
Filmmaker Steve Bumgardner conveys
untold stories about subjects in the making
of the popular “Yosemite Nature Notes”
series ranging from high-altitude plant species to stunning natural phenomena, such
as Yosemite moonbows and frazil ice.
The Yosemite Search and Rescue team
will share stories and cautionary advice with
photography from actual Yosemite rescue
operations.
Yosemite Theater performances and
programs are held seven nights a week at
7 p.m. at the Yosemite Theater behind the
Valley Visitors Center. Tickets are $8 for
adults, $4 for children under 13, and children under 4 are free. Tickets are available
at Yosemite Conservancy Bookstores and at
Tour & Activity Desks.
Learn more at yosemiteconservancy.org
or call 1-800-469-7275.
Presents
GUYS
&
DOLLS
Based on a story and characters of Damon Runyon
Book by: Jo Swerling and Abe Burrows
Music and Lyrics by: Frank Loesse
In the Newly Renovated
BUHS Theater
Fri. April 10th, 17th, 24th at 7 PM
Sat. April 11th and 18th at 7 PM
Sun. April 12th and 19th at 2 PM
Sat. April 25th at 2 PM & 7 PM
Here’s your chance to make a cameo appearance in a live musical!
Come to Playhouse 395’s production of ‘Guys & Dolls’,
dressed in 1940s style. We’ll select two lucky people for
the best seats in the house. No acting experience
needed - the director will show you just what to do.
Loads of fun - be the envy of your friends - You’ll love it!
Funded by:
Tickets:
www.playhouse395.com
760-920-9100
Real Big Deals
With Your Card
Organic
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199
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Selected sizes and varieties.
Club Price: $2.50 ea.
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CHOICE
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or 12-oz. American Singles.
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10
What’s up, up here?
News snippets from here
and there...
By Mammoth Times Staff
Roadrunners are getting all revved up
for a season opening on Sonora Pass Friday (tomorrow) at noon-ish. Also, Caltrans
opened the the Tioga Pass road from U.S.
395 to the Yosemite Gates on Wednesday,
and it’s expected that the park will open the
Tioga Road full-on, soonly—by the end of
April at the very least. …
That P. 1 image in the paper last week
drew a lot of comments, and almost ALL
of the answers were supplied by ace image
maker/photographer Peter Morning. The
answer is “double exposure.” …
Bridgeport Fashion Statement of the
Week: Pumpkin orange tie, black sport
shirt. …
Meb Keflezighi was back in town this
past week, revving up for Monday’s Boston
Marathon, where he is the defending champ.
Go, Meb Go! …
Happy Birthday, Joani Lynch! …
Don’t forget: the big bobcat discussion by
the state Fish and Wildlife Commission is
coming up June 8-9 at Mammoth Mountain.
Probably going to be lot of folks there, yapping about trapping. …
Mono Supe Tim Alpers, a resident of
“suburban” Lee Vining, says he’s never seen a
dust storm like the one that blew through the
Mono Lake area Monday and Tuesday, powered by high winds and lots of bluster, which
is familiar surroundings for anyone sitting on
the Board, sez we. …
Heads Up Alert! One of the last big
competitive ski weekends at Mammoth
Mountain comes up Friday with Volcom’s
Peanut Butter And Rail Jam (PBRJ). The
series has finally qualified the Top 5 competitors in each of its four divisions to compete in
the $15,000 PBRJ Global Championships,
plus tons of prizes, cash, invites to the global
event, and the prestige of top honors against
their peer. During the PBRJ event, competitors
are judged on the tricks they land, and three
separate rail/box features. There are four
divisions: 15 & Under, 16-21, Girls, and Open/
AM that oughta be a ton of fun. Free food,
free drinks, and giveaways will be provided for
competitors and spectators alike. …
At long last, Squaw Valley and Alpine
Meadows won approval to start the process
of connecting the two resorts with a gondola.
All it took was four years of negotiating with
a single private landowner. Now the Forest
Service weighs in, and no one knows how
long THAT will take. …
We couldn’t help but notice things were
just a leetle uptight among members of the
film crews shooting an episode of “It’s Always
Sunny in Philadelphia” this week, including
its diminutive star, Danny DeVito. …
It won’t be long before the County decides
what to do with Conway Ranch for the 2016
warm-weather months, but if it’s to be a fish
hatchery, as once planned, the wheels will
start in motion soon, say the Supes. …
Congrats to Tony Dublino, Mono County’s All-Everything Guy, and to finance director Leslie Chapman, both of whom re-upped,
with the Board of Supervisors’ unqualified
approval. …
That was a very tasteful Memorial Service for longtime Mammoth arts patron Shir-
At the Footloose Mogul Bash, costumes made of newsprint paper
mache were fashioned—and worn by—(from left) Anastasia
Seator-Brown, a resident Kiwi, Vivienne McGlashen (Austalia)
and California’s Nikki Sedat.
Photo by Mel Seator
ley Blumberg last weekend at Cerro Coso.
Music was by the Felici Trio, which she
tirelessly supported. In an odd but fitting twist,
Blumberg, a writer and a poet, provided her
own memorial service poetry. …
In one of his last big efficiency pushes,
Mono CAO Jim Leddy, who announced his
resignation this past week, is trying to consolidate Bridgeport’s county office into a coherent “campus.” Among other things is a move
toward largely abandoning the old hospital
there. Savings per year: $54,000, and that ain’t
chump change. …
The Fourteenth Annual Mono Basin Bird
Chautauqua is set to take place June 19--21,
and Internet registration opened yesterday,
April 15. This event always has fans chirping,
if not tweeting. . Based out of Lee Vining,
this celebrated event is among the best of the
nature festivals blending science, art and music
into one three-day event. Subjects include
birds, bugs, butterflies, plants and flowers, mammals, geology, art, photography,
nature awareness, kids events, storytelling,
and more. Visit www.birdchautauqua.org
for more information. The annual event is
organized by The Mono Lake Committee
and California State Parks. …
Because of the drought, all kinds of
smallish legislation is coming out of towns,
cities and counties in California. There’s so
much, it’s sometimes hard to keep track of
it all. Last week, for example, the California
Energy Commission, under the authority of
the Governor’s Executive Order, voted unanimously to adopt emergency drought regulations requiring toilets, faucets, and urinals
sold after January 1, 2016 to use less water.
The energy efficiency and water standards
approved require water appliances to consume
less water, thereby using less energy. …
Just for the heck of it: Happy Jackie Robinson Day! …
And while we are commemorating
the memorable, Happy Birthday to Norman Clyde, who gets a Birthday Bash on
Saturday, April 18, at the Eastern California Museum in Independence. The event
honors pioneering mountaineer Clyde, who
recorded 100 first ascents in the Sierra in
the 1920s and 1930s, and was a fixture in the
Sierra Club’s High Trips, which introduced
hundreds of people to the High Sierra. Clyde
lived in Independence and Big Pine when he
was not roaming the Sierra for weeks at a time,
carrying his legendary 80-pound pack. Clyde
would have been 130 years old this year. …
Mammoth Mountain execs saw early on
that the Web was going to change EVERYTHING, and now they have some recognition to prove it. Telerik, the developer of
the content management system, SiteFinity,
named MammothMountain.com website of
the year (2014) in the multi-site category.
The multi-site category acknowledges
enterprise use of the SiteFinity platform.
Since May of 2014 the MMSA web team
has launched or re-launched 18 websites,
and with BearMountain.com, SnowSummit.com and BigBearMountainResorts.
com soon to re-launch, MMSA will have
achieved 21 website launches in less than
12 months which earns a Digital Wow.
Additional factors of consideration include
creativity, design, user experience, functionality and overall presentation, for what it’s
worth, which, we say, is a lot.
news@mamothtimes.com
Mammoth Times
11
‘Community Conversation’ at Welcome Center
Organized by Supervisor
Stacy Corless
Times Staff Report
It seems like new Mono County Supervisor Stacy Corless is not
going to get a good night’s sleep
until the town of Mammoth
Lakes and the county actually
start talking with one another.
Throw in members of the
community, and voila!
“How can we use Eastside
know-how to get it right?” she
asks.
Already advocating a regular series of meetings between
the town and county elected
officials and staffs, this week
she announced an innovative
“Community Conversation” for
Tuesday evening, April 28 at the
Forest Service Welcome Center
Auditorium.
In addition to officials, members of the community-based
Mammoth Forward group and
organizers of the Eastside Know
How lecture series will be there
KIDDOO NEW AT AIR DISTRICT
his wife, Brenda. Their sons, Reymond and
Dezert Sky, are students at Bishop Union
High School.
“I am honored to be the Air Pollution Control Officer and grateful for the
talents and resources of district staff,”
said Kiddoo.
“We have a long history of protecting
COMMITTEE ON TRACK FOR MAY
those issues at its May 5 Board meeting
in Bridgeport, and it set May 21 for the
committee’s first meeting.
Leddy said all the committee meetings would be in public, probably every
other week until the committee itself
passes out of existence in November—
its six-month limit.
to help lead the discussions.
Corless said the two-hour session would feature four six-minute presentations on economic
development issues, followed by
a question and answer session.
The session begins at 6:30
p.m., she said, followed by the
four presentations at 7 p.m. and
the Q and A until 8:30 p.m.
For questions or more
information, she asked people
contact her at scorless@mono.
ca.gov, 760-920-0190
our residents from the harmful effects of
air pollution. I look forward to listening
and working with our community who
shares our goals to preserve our environment and the health of our families.”
The district is a joint agency of Alpine,
Mono and Inyo Counties responsible for
all federal and state air quality standards
to protect the health and welfare of its
residents and the environment.
The APCO agency is the chief executive
for the District.
Though the Board took no official
action, or was it expected to, four
members of the paramedics association
attended Tuesday’s meeting in Bridgeport, but offered no comment on
anything the supervisors said or did.
Under the current schedule, the
committee is to deliver a full report
to the Board in November, but would
also keep the Board and the public
informed as to its work in public sessions.
george@mammthtimes.com
NEWS BRIEFS
Auxiliary Scholarship
applications available,
deadline April 30
Each year Mammoth Hospital
Auxiliary awards college scholarships
to residents of Mono County who
are pursuing a career in a medically
related field.
The Scholarship Fund was established in 1985 and since that time we
have awarded $484,000 to deserving
locals.
Applications for the scholarships
are now available and can be picked
up at the Cast Off, Mammoth Hospital, and Mammoth Lakes Library.
Applicants must meet the following
eligibility requirements:
1. Pursuing a course of study in a
medically related field.
2. Be a current resident of Mono
County and resided there full time for
a minimum of two years or currently
working in Mono County full time for
a minimum of two years.
3. Completed two years of prerequisites in a medically related college
curriculum or worked for two years
in a medically related field in Mono
County.
The deadline for submitting applications to the Scholarship Committee is April 30 and awardees will be
announced in June. —WG
Grant allows work
to continue for new
recreation group
The National Forest Foundation
(NFF) awarded the newly formed
Eastern Sierra Recreation Collaborative (ESRC) with a “Community Capacity and Land Stewardship
Program” grant that will be used to
maintain the efforts of the ESRC as
the Inyo National Forest (INF) moves
forward with its Forest Management
Plan Revision, according to Mammoth
Lakes Trails and Public Lands Association member John Wentworth.
The ESRC’s leadership team
drafted and submitted the grant application on December 15, 2014 and
the grant awards were announced
this past week, he said, and the grant
will allow the group to continue their
work with the Inyo National Forest in
creating a 20-year forest management
plan that emphasizes sustainable recreation as its foundation. —WG
Stacy Corless
12
Out&About
Mammoth Invitational April 10-12
The top three teams in the GS were Team Chile Heli, Almost Local and Team Go Pro.
Members of those teams included: Scotty Lebel, Bubby Riffel, Adam Gooch, Alex Colby,
Brad Podosin, Brian Eisner, Mark Engel, Nick Treat, Mike Lach, Greg Steiner, Walt Wehsener,
Tommy Ford, Julia Ford, Laurenne Ross, Danny Kelsay, Glen Plake and Dan Kelsay.
Photos by Susan Morning
Students from the Mammoth High School Culinary Arts class serve MHS principal Chris
Powell.
Mammoth Lakes Police Chief Al Davis, out of uniform but in costume, posed with his
daughter Marissa (on left) and Kathy Copeland (on right).
Dave Schacht, Chris Benchetler and Peter Korfiatis were dressed up and all smiles.
Looking great were, from left, Greg and Michele Steiner, Nick Treat, Julia Ford, Walt
and Lora Wehsener, and Mike Lach.
Out&About
13
Bryce Bennett bids for the Switzerland Adventure package
during Saturday’s live auction. In the end Lynn and Jess Ruf
were the lucky winners.
Drea Perry, Julia Freestone and Cara Leonard were
winners of the Under 49 class in the MI7 Family Fun
Cup.
Mammoth Mountain Ski Team’s Taj Gray took second in the Men’s 8-9 class in races
last weekend at Mammoth Mountain.
Newly crowned Junior World Skicross champion Tyler Wallasch
and Mammoth Ski Team coach Chip White traded stories and
smiles at Saturday’s Masquerade Gala & Auction.
Cindy Eppolito and Alaska Airlines teamed up to donate
the Chateau Montelena live auction package. Then,
Willie Ford sweetened the deal with products from
POC.
Resi Griffith charges down the Family Fun Cup banked slalom on Sunday. Griffith was
named after USST member Resi Stiegler. The two meet at the afternoon awards party.
Oh yeah, and there was skiing, too! Here, Mammoth
Olympian John Teller was the fastest racer in the giant
slalom portion of Saturday’s competitions.
Willie Ford, a former All-American collegiate ski
racer and managing director for POC North America,
races down the GS course.
14
Out&About
Among the party people were MMCF Executive
Director Lindsay Barksdale and longtime
Mammoth resident John Armstrong.
Sue Jamieson, Barb Maynard, Lisa Hickson, Betsy Truax, Nicole Godoy, Sara McConnell, Shanna Bissonette, Lara Walker,
Kim Frank, Denise Perpall, Drea Perry and “George the Giant” pose for a photo at Friday’s Boardwalk Empire event.
Brad Podosin; Glen Plake; Ben Drummond, HEAD USA race director; Mark Engel, USST line up at the start of the biathlon
as Megan Harrod, USST’s alpine press officer offers Engel some last minute libation.
Local ladies Sherry Wishney and Maria King took a few
minutes to check out posters of their children in the MI7
photo gallery.
Mammoth Lakes Police Department Reserve Officer
Mike Braun and USST’s Jackie Wiles watch as Braun
tracks the racer’s speed.
Emilie and Ben Wisner took part in the Boardwalk
Empire event. Ben is the Director of the Mammoth
Snowboard and Freeski Programs, while Emilie is
a local teacher.
Joanna Kaylor, competing for Team Dirndl in the Friday
afternoon biathlon
Out&About
Mammoth Unified Mock Rock & Talent Show, April 8
Left to right: Carson Bold, Jade Woo, Jesse Worden, Kylie Laframboise and Sierra
Gilfoy end the show with as much gusto as they started it, April 8.
Photos by Wendilyn Grasseschi and Pam Bold
Left to right: Jack Liuag, Martin Thompson, Aidan Zarrigan, Alex Colby, Chance
Thompson and Griffin Colbert watch the show.
Carson Bold and Amanda Kirkeby work their magic.
Lupita Alvarado sings her heart out.
Trinity McKee brings down the house.
Jesse Worden starts of the night with a bang.
Mammoth High School Principal and show
organizer and senior class advisor Lea Ann Eller.
Griffin Covert has what it takes.
15
16
Mammoth Times
‘Guys and Dolls’ a hit at Playhouse 395
David Hardin directs goodtime cast
By John Louth and Nancy Upham
For the Times
As the curtain comes down on the
first weekend of the Playhouse 395 production of “Guys and Dolls” the reviews
are in—a rousing good time was had
by all, both on and off stage.
Gamblers struggled to find a spot
to hold their illicit dice game, the cops
were on their tail, missionaries were
trying to save their souls and a marriage proposal hung in the air. Theatergoers truly got their money’s worth
with three hours of entertainment and
abundant opportunities for laughter.
The audience gets drawn in as the
likes of Nathan Detroit, Big Jule, Harry
the Horse and Adelaide and her Hot
Box girls sing, dance and con their way
across the stage, all the while becoming intertwined with the Save-A-Soul
missionaries.
The production, three months in
the making, is a community-wide effort directed by veteran Playhouse 395
director David Hardin. Mark Hatter
conducts the live orchestra providing
the musical background for songs and
dance routines choreographed by GiGi
Van der Riet.
On stage, a multitude of veteran
actors and plenty of newcomers grace
the stage with their well-honed performances.
The story is set in the early 1940’s
Havana Dance Scene (left to right) Dancers Andrea Winkler,
Phillip Traver, Allison Peeler, Randi Chegwidden, Shawn
Louth, Evangelene Fidel, Donovan Otto, Debbie Clarkson, Ron
Valenzuela and Marisa Clarkson.
Photos by Bob Rice
and centers around a bunch of shady
New York characters with a weakness
for dice games.
Their leader, Nathan Detroit,
played by Cristian Herrera, continually
struggles to find a location for their
next dice game while at the same time
continually stringing along Adelaide,
his girlfriend of 14 years, played by
Megan Hammitt.
Young missionary Sarah Brown,
played by Allison Peeler, meanwhile
struggles to find ways to keep her mission post open by enticing local sinners
to “follow the fold,” which in an interesting twist, finds her on a dinner date
in Havana with high rolling gambler
Sky Masterson, played by Phillip Traver.
The play is a rollick of singing, dancing and acting showcasing some of the
Owens Valley’s finest acting talent.
Director Hardin commented that
he continues to be astounded by the
quality of actors in our community.
They are nurses, teachers, cobblers,
attorneys, butchers, bakers, students,
retired police officers and forest rangers, just about every other profession
you can imagine, yet “they all have the
dedication and passion to rehearse in
the evening for three months and then
perform nine full length shows before
it all wraps up.”
The play continues for the next two
weekends at the Bishop Union High
School theatre. Shows are scheduled
for Friday and Saturday evenings with
matinees on Sunday April 19 and Saturday April 25.
Hardin reminds showgoers of the
unique opportunity to have a cameo
appearance on stage.
During each performance two lucky
people who have dressed in 1940s style
will be chosen to be on the stage as
patrons in a nightclub scene.
Tickets are available at www.
playhouse395.com or by calling 800838-3006, ext.1.
Information is also available by
calling Playhouse 395 at 760-920-9100.
Gamblers in the New York Sewer (left to right) are Gerard Harvey, Shawn Louth, Dennis
Wagoner, Robb Saunders, Jordan Kost, Phillip Traver, Donovan Otto, Cristian Herrera,
Ryan Tetz, Curt Mulder and Martha Reynolds.
Mammoth Times
ON HEALTH
Avoiding overuse
injuries in cycling
You can ride like this, too, with proper knowledge of posture, pedal position and a fitted
bike.
The season is upon us; stay
healthy
By Kevin Thomas, PTA, Mammoth
Hospital
For the Times
Here in the Eastern Sierra, we have
some of the state’s best cycling—low
volumes of automobile traffic, well paved
back roads, challenging mountain passes
and beautiful scenery help make our area
a road cyclists’ paradise.
Cycling participation has seen tremendous growth in recent years. Eastside Velo,
one of our local clubs, has grown from a
small group of 20 enthusiasts to nearly 300
dedicated members over a short period of
time.
Organized rides, centuries, double
centuries, Gran Fondos and races bring
additional thousands of cyclists to our area
every year.
Why is cycling becoming so popular?
Cardiovascular health and fitness with
decreased joint compression and muscle
strain compared to running sports is certainly a factor.
Other reasons may include the enjoyment of covering long distances under
our own power, the thrill of speed as we
descend a curving mountain road, or even
the rekindled joy of freedom we once had
as children.
But many people give up on cycling, or
limit their enjoyment because of being uncomfortable on a bicycle. Many experience
pain in specific or multiple areas of their
bodies when trying to complete longer
rides. But fortunately, there are many ways
to fit a bicycle to particular body types and
dimensions.
A proper fit can decrease pain as well
as increase comfort, efficiency, and power
while riding.
Dr. Edmund Burke, the late physiologist and author of many papers on the
science of cycling, once stated, “The human body is adaptable, and the bicycle is
adjustable.”
Every component on a modern bicycle
can be adjusted or replaced to help attain
the optimum biomechanical interface of
man and machine. Back, neck, knee or
shoulder pain, foot and hand numbness
can be directly related to a person’s position on their bike.
Many times, only minor adjustments to
saddle position, bar reach, or foot position
can alleviate pain or discomfort. Other
times a proper fit may require changing
components to a different size or shape, or
utilizing lifts and shims to compensate for
a significant body asymmetry. Think about
the number of pedal revolutions (or repetitions) that can occur in a typical century
ride – about 32,000 - and you can see how
just a few millimeters of poor positioning
can add up to a very large distance over
the course of six hours or so.
There are several options available to
help optimize our position on the bicycle:
1) Join a club. Many cycling clubs have
experienced riders who can give advice on
proper positioning. Some clubs may even
have special evening classes for members
to dial in their fit.
2) Check in at your local bike shop.
Most shops have staffs that have training in
bicycle positioning and set up. If you buy
your bike from them, this may be included
in the purchase price
3) Look into a professional bike fit.
Sometimes the problem may be more
complex and require more advanced
fitting aids, or a person’s physical posture
could require special exercises or stretches
to accommodate their positioning on the
bike.
At the Mammoth Hospital S.P.O.R.T.
clinic, we use computerized feedback
and can make advanced adjustments to
maximize comfort and efficiency. With a
doctor’s prescription and an evaluation by
a physical therapist, this service can often
be reimbursed by a person’s personal
insurance.
So don’t let pain and discomfort keep
you from enjoying the fantastic cycling our
area has to offer. Have your bike properly
fitted to your personal body dimensions
and be ready for the season ahead.
Local Resources:
Eastside Velo Cycling Club
Goathead Velo Cycling Club
Aerohead Cycle – Bishop
Footloose Sports – Mammoth
High Sierra Cycle Center – Mammoth
Mammoth Hospital S.P.O.R.T. Center
Mammoth and Bishop
760-872-2942
760-934-7302
Editor’s Note: Kevin Thomas, PTA has over
25 years of experience in the field of physical
therapy. An avid cyclist, he was a founding
member and president of Eastside Velo cycling
club, a USA cycling competitor and a certified
cycling coach. He has helped cyclists of all levels,
from recreational riders to elite competitors, find
the optimal position for their cycling goals.
CROWLEY LAKE
MANDATORY BOAT INSPECTIONS
FOR INVASIVE MUSSELS BEFORE LAUNCHING
! !! $# " # "# "
# " " !! #" " " "# ""# $
DON’T MOVE A MUSSEL!
HELP STOP THE SPREAD
OF INVASIVE MUSSELS!
" " " " !
" " LOOK FOR MUSSELS HERE
CHECK YOUR BOAT, TRAILER AND VEHICLE
Lake Open for Fishing April 25, 2015
Boat Inspections Begin April 22, 2015
760-872-1104"""
17
18
Mammoth Times
And the winners were … in the Overall Winning Team category, from left, Mark Engel, Trevor Colby, Brian Eisner, Brad Podosin, Amadeo Ferrarro, and Adam Gooch.
Photos by Susan Morning
Places of worship
Calvary Chapel of June Lake
- Sunday services are at the June Lake
Community Center at 10 a.m. Kids’
church and childcare. Contact Pastor
Ron at (760) 648-8259.
Community Presbyterian
Church, Lee Vining - Adult Sunday
school, 9 a.m. Sunday worship, 10 a.m.
Third Street and Mono Lake Avenue.
For more information, call Rev. Rebecca
Watkins at (760) 647-6556.
Grace Community Church - An
Evangelical Free Church. Sunday services at 10:00 a.m. Children’s Minstry is
available. Located at 217 Sierra Manor,
across from the high school. Contact
Billy Daugherty, pastor, at (760) 9141866 - GraceInMammoth.org.
The Lighthouse Church of Mammoth meets at 546 Old Mammoth Rd.
(in the old Oaktree Bldg.) on Sundays
at 6pm. To receive prayer or for further
information please call Pastor Dave
Nelson at 760-934-6637 or visit us online
at lighthouseglobal.org/mammoth
Mammoth Christian Fellowship - A Bible-centered fellowship
meeting at the Mammoth Middle School
MPR. Worship service: Sunday 9 a.m.
Nursery and Children’s Program also at
these times. Call (760) 914-3930 or visit
www.mammothchristian.org for more
information.
Mamoth Community Church- A
place where the Word of God is made
clear and a closer relationship with God
is encouraged. Services: Sunday School
at 9 am; Worship Service at 10 am; Ski
Up Service at McCoy Station at 1:30
pm; AWANA Club and Youth Meetings
available. Call Pastor Isidro Ocampo
at (760) 709-1905 or visit www.mammmothcommunitychurch.com. Right
next to the new courthouse. Servicios en
Espanol Domingos a las 6 pm.
Mammoth Lakes Lutheran
Church - 379 Old Mammoth Road.
Corner of Old Mammoth Road and
Meridian Blvd. Pastor Kent Puls. Sunday
Worship 8:45 a.m. Visitors welcome.
Sunday School available during service.
Thursday Bible Study at 7:00pm. Our
preschool is Monday through Friday
from 8:00am - 5:00pm. It is open to all
children ages 3 to 5.
(760) 934-4051.
St. Joseph
Catholic Church - in
Mammoth Lakes on
Ranch Road just off
Old Mammoth Road,
a mile and a half from
Main Street. Mass:
Saturdays, 6 p.m.; Sundays, 8 a.m.,
and 5:30 p.m. in Spanish. Daily Mass:
Monday through Friday at 7 a.m. in the
rectory. In Lee Vining at Our Savior of
the Mountains mission, end of 2nd St,
Sunday Mass at 10 a.m. In Bridgeport
at Infant of Prague mission, east side
of 395, south of town, Sunday Mass at
12 noon. Father Jorge Roman, Pastor.
(760) 934-6276 or go to www.mammothcatholicchurch.org.
The Church of Jesus Christ of
Latter-Day Saints – Mammoth
Lakes Branch- 2174 Meridian Boulevard. Corner of Azimuth Drive and
Meridian Boulevard. Sacrament Meeting
starts at 11 A.M. Visitors welcome. Call
President Jeff Meads at (760) 914-0390
or go to www.lds.org for more information.
Church on the Mountain has a 40
year history as a vibrant community in
the Eastern Sierra. Located in Crowley
Lake, Sunday services are held at 10:00
am. We offer midweek service Wednesday evening at 6:30 pm in the main
sanctuary. Church on the Mountain is
located at 384 S. Landing Road. Visit
churchonthemountain.org or call (760)
935-4272 for more information. We
would love for you to join us! Pastor’s
USST members Laurenne Ross, Julia Ford, Will Brandenburg, Mark Engel and Tommy
Ford enjoyied the Friday evening festivities.
MMCF Board member Laurentius Harrer; Pam Lonza, MMSST administrator; Cindy
Brody and Mike Lewis had a terrific time.
Mammoth Times
Q&A
Jason Herbst
Jason Herbst, VP of Mortgage Lending, GuaranteedRate
What is your idea of bliss?
A tropical beach, warm breeze and a cold drink, with my wife,
Megan…
What scares you?
I like to joke that my worst fear is I’ll be the last person to die right before
they cure death…
With whom do you identify from history?
I have a hard time choosing a famous historical person. I do love
history, and as a former (reformed?) filmmaker, I really enjoy historical
films. I feel as though film is uniquely suited to tell the story of our past
because it has the capacity to bring you closer to a past time- to help you
understand that what makes us human is really universal throughout
history. In that sense I identify with history on the level of people in
general.
Whom do you admire?
I admire people who have the courage to take risks to get what they want.
People who understand that your life is in your own hands. Sometimes
getting where you want to go requires making really hard choices.
What among your traits do you dislike the most?
I react too quickly sometimes. I’d like to be more patient.
What trait do you most dislike in others?
The inability or refusal to listen. It’s really discouraging when you know
people are just waiting for their turn to talk.
What or whom drives you up the wall?
Judgment. It’s just full of hypocrisy.
being a kid.
What is the most despicable character flaw?
Lack of empathy. The assumption that one’s own experience affords a
right to judge others.
Do you ever lie?
I try to avoid telling people unpleasant things that they don’t need to
hear, if it is unnecessary. I suppose that could be considered lying on
some level- or politeness on another…
Who is the greatest love of your life?
My wife, Megan. Marriage and adult love can be a challenge, but I
would be lost without her.
When in your life were you the happiest?
There are many happy times, and since I already covered the
honeymoon, I’ll say the day I graduated college. I had dropped out and
went back to finish in 2012-13. It was a long time coming, and finally
achieving that which I had put off for so many years was both thrilling
and relieving.
What hidden talent do you have?
I’m really good at teaching. A lot of people have told me I should have
been a teacher…
What do you consider your greatest achievement?
I produced a feature film for virtually no money when I was 25, and
got it distributed in nine countries around the world. That’s a pretty
tough thing to do as an independent filmmaker.
In your next life, you want to be…
Useful…
What is your extravagance?
Great scotch and a fine cigar…
What is a favorite trip you have taken?
My honeymoon. We spent 10 days in Tulum, Mexico, visited Myan
ruins, SCUBA dove the reefs and cenotes (caves), and ate way too much
good food. It was probably the most carefree time I can remember since
What quality do you most admire in a woman?
Patience.
What do you most admire in your friends?
That they share their time, which is limited and precious.
Who is your favorite fictional or non-fictional hero?
At present I just finished reading the Dean Koontz series, Odd Thomasso I’ll go with Odd.
What do you most dislike?
Currently, drought.
What is your motto?
Take responsibility for your own life.
What is your favorite way of relaxing?
See the blissful beach above- add a good book…
What quality do you most admire in a man?
Responsibility.
Dr. Thomas F. Mitts
Jason Herbst
If you know anyone who is interested in being our next Q&A, just
email us at editor@mammothtimes.com and we will send you the
questionnaire. Note: we only accept good quality photos and if you do
not have one, we can take one at the office.
Mammoth Times
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Last week 2825
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19
20
Mammoth Times
LEDDY LEAVING AFTER 2
YEARS
Continued from front page
departments and employees took
significant hits in the process, and it was
just the start.
“The challenge Mono County faces
is not a one year thing,” Leddy said at
the time.
“They are long-term challenges.
There are issues that go beyond our
borders and are impacted by many
factors we can’t control. But there are
some things we can address.
“We’re going to look at aspects of the
mid-year, but we’re also going to look at
where we were, where we are and look
at our basic finances.
“There are some issues that have
been discussed since I’ve been here,
but we’re going to have to push the
acceleration on those because change
is coming to the county whether we do
something or not.
“The reality is we are dependent on
state and federal funding and are also
dependent on the real estate market, which does not stop at the Mono
County border.”
It was a challenging environment, to
say the least, made somewhat less harsh
by his insistence on a long-term planning strategy—a first for the county.
“What drew me to the job in the first
place was to come in and be a part of a
transformation in very stressful times,”
he said.
“In the last two years, I think we’ve
accomplished putting into motion stra-
WATER RESTRICTIONS IN PLACE
Continued from front page
“Normally, we get runoff from the snowpack at
the end of April/May but this year, it was in March
and there is not going to be enough water coming
into Lake Mary (where the water district has rights
to some water),” he said.
“Mammoth Creek also has to meet stream flow
requirements, enough to keep the fishery going, and
it’s likely that won’t even be met, let alone if we were
to take the water we normally take.”
“We will strictly enforce restrictions this summer
as the Governor (Jerry Brown) has mandated a 25
percent reduction state wide (compared to last year’s
level of water use at this time),” he said.
The Governor created the executive order that
mandated all water districts achieve the 25 percent
savings earlier this month, after the Sierra Nevada’s
April 1 snowpack depth came in at under 10 percent
of normal overall—the lowest snowpack depth in
modern history and likely the lowest in hundreds of
years.
Some allowances were made by the district for
“spot watering” areas that do not respond to irrigation sprinklers in order to avoid tempting a property
owner to run the irrigation sprinklers from 10 p.m.
tegic planning, resolving tough budget
issues and helping to resolve emergency
situations, such as the Round Fire.”
Leddy said the county is now more
fundamentally strong.
“What we had to do last year was the
heavy lifting,” he said.
As for whatever hurt feelings there
were along the way, Leddy said,
“Change is always difficult for
government. We went from a reactive
mode into a proactive mode, and that
was where we did the heavy lifting.”
Leddy, who lives in Crowley Lake
with his wife, Kathy, and twin boys who
are now in the seventh grade, said it was
“an honor” to work in Mono County for
his brief time here.
“In addition to the adoption of the
Strategic Planning Framework, I also
am proud of the work I did, along with
to 9 a.m. and thus likely overwatering much of the
landscape just to water a few stubborn brown spots
(see chart).
But in general, Hayes said, he expects all residents
and property owners to be responsible water users.
If not, there are ways to track exactly how much
water and when it is being used, due to a new system
put in place over the past few years that gives both
the property owner and the district real-time information about how much water is being used by
whom.
“The district now has the ability to look at all
meters for hourly data from district computers,” said
Betty Hylton, a water specialist with the district.
Thus, if someone sees someone watering out of
schedule, they can contact the district and the district can check to see if the person is in violation of
their assigned days.
Adding insult to injury, the hot, early spring has
also left lawns and landscaping already parched and
brown, without the buffer of slow-melting snow that
normally keeps Mammoth’s landscaping green far
into June.
The combination of this, and a requirement to
cut back even more than usual, might strike some as
too much to ask, especially those who have already
been trying hard to conserve water for the past years.
Asking those people to conserve even more is
asking more of them than asking the flagrant water
users to conserve the 25 percent.
everybody else, on the response to the
Round Fire, and for taking our finances
‘on the road’ to all the communities in
the county.”
The search for a replacement for
Leddy is underway, according to the
news release from Mono County on
Tuesday.
In the last go-around, Leddy was
hand-picked by the five Mono County
Supervisors after the brief and tumultuous reign of former CAO Jim Arkens
left behind a county organization both
fragmented and demoralized, according to many county employees.
When he took the Mono County job,
Leddy said,
“I’m affable, I’m friendly, but that
does not mean I’m not strong about
getting things done.”
george@mammothtimes.com
Hayes said the district recognizes the issue
“The question of asking those who already have
conserved to conserve more goes to fairness,” Hayes
said.
“While we are asking everyone to do their part to
conserve, those who are already conserving at a high
level are not the focus of concern; rather it is the
high water users, those who are wasting water, not
those who are conserving.
“We will be looking at the various customer classes
for the highest users in those classes and then focus
on those customers.
“If a high conserving customer feels that they
have already been doing everything they can to conserve, they should contact us and we will investigate
their water use to see what the data show,” he said.
“We would consider their per capita use, that is,
gallons per capita day, and also looking at their outdoor water use for irrigation. If the data show that
the customer is doing a great job, then there is no
need for anything further to be done as long as they
maintain their efforts.
“Those who are already conserving at a high level
should not be concerned. We thank them for their
continued efforts.”
Classes, information and answers to questions are
available by calling the water district. Alternatives to
lawns are available and the district has more information on this issue, too, at 760-934-2596
&OOD3AFETY4RAINING#OMES4O9OU
Now serving Inyo & Mono counties as well as all of California
"FF;/8=<KP*<K
s)NTERACTIVE#LASSES
s'ROUP$ISCOUNTS
s0ERSONALIZED)NSTRUCTION
Offering Classes in:
s&OOD(ANDLER3"#OMPLIANT
s&OOD0ROTECTION-ANAGER#ERTIlCATION
Classes are conducted on premises for your convenience
Certified Instructor/Proctor
"USINESSsMOBILE
instructor@foodsanitationclasses.com
New watering restrictions from MCWD are based on your address number.
WHAT THE NEW RULES MEAN
n Besides the restriction on watering days and time, here’s a summary of what you need to know
about the new conservation rules
from the state and water district:
n No variances will be granted for
new lawns or for rehabilitation of
old lawns
n All hoses must be equipped
with a shutoff device and hoseend sprinklers must be connected
to a timer.
n Overfilling of swimming pools
and spas is prohibited
n Water may not pool, pond, or
mist off of pervious areas.
n Washing of hard surfaces with
district supplied water is prohibited unless for safety or health
reasons.
n Vehicle washing is only allowed
at commercial car wash facilities.
n All leaks must be repaired within
48 hours after notification from
the District. Rental Units have 72
hours to correct.
n All water for construction is
limited to reclaimed water.
For more information contact the
water district at 760-934-2596 or
visit mcwd.dst.ca.us.
Mammoth Times
21
22
Mammoth Times
Injured backpacker helped Sage Grouse protection plan
challenged in North County
out of Glass Creek area
Ramona man is ok after
surviving storm, injury
Environmental groups files
lawsuit against HumboldtToiyabe Forest’s plan for Sage
Grouse
Times Staff Report
On the morning of Wednesday, April
8, at approximately 10 a.m., the Mono
County Sheriff’s office received a call
regarding a stranded backpacker near
Glass Creek.
A male backpacker, 43, from Ramona,
began a two week backpack trip at Dead
Man Creek and was hiking to Yost Lake
early last week, when, four days into his
trip, he twisted his ankle and camped at
his location near Glass Creek, to recover.
During this time, a storm moved into
the Eastern Sierra and the area received
18” to 2.5 feet of fresh new snow. The
backpacker was unsuccessful in keeping
his equipment dry. He became wet and
cold with numb feet. On Wednesday,
April 8, he called 911 via his cell phone
and requested rescue/extrication.
The Mono County Sheriff’s Search
and Rescue (SAR) Team was dispatched
to rescue the stranded backpacker. SAR
team members staged at June Mountain
Ski Area.
The ground teams accessed Glass
Creek through the ski area and the trailhead at Hartley Springs. The teams were
able to locate the stranded backpacker,
conduct an EMT patient assessment and
assist in re-warming the backpacker’s
extremities.
The backpacker was given snowshoes,
Times Staff Report
An injured hiker, left and Rick Dobson
with the Mono County Search and Rescue
team (right) after the hiker was rescued
near Glass Creek last week.
Photo by Mono County SAR
and with the teams’ assistance, was able
to hike back to the trailhead.
Once back at the rescue base, the
backpacker signed a medical release to
seek his own further medical treatment
and he was given a ride to his family
members in the Mammoth Lakes area.
The Mono County Sheriff’s Search
and Rescue (SAR) Team wants to remind
all the hikers and backpackers who enjoy
our Eastern Sierra trails, to research your
route prior to starting on your journey,
bring the proper equipment for the
terrain and area, and always check the
weather report for the time you will be
enjoying the backcountry. -WG
Press Releases
Made Easy!
1) Save Your Press Release as a “txt” Document. This is the lowest common denominator
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2) Send Your Photos or other images as “jpg” files with a resolution of 300 dpi or greater. A
Conservation groups filed a lawsuit with
the Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest
near Bridgeport over its Bi-State SageGrouse Plan amendment last week, stating
the new plan did not go far enough to
protect the bird, which is currently under
consideration by the federal Fish and
Wildlife Service as a possible threatened or
endangered species.
“For certain activities like renewable
energy developments and power lines, the
Forest Service did a good job of providing
strong protections for sage-grouse and
their habitats,” said Erik Molvar, wildlife
biologist with WildEarth Guardians.
“But the new plan amendment fails
to adequately address serious threats like
hard-rock mining and geothermal development, which continue to jeopardize the
survival of these charismatic birds.”
The Mono Basin greater sage-grouse
population—located in eastern California
and western Nevada and also known as
the “bi-state” populationis—fragmented
and geographically isolated from all other
greater sage-grouse populations, according
to a news release from Molvar.
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is
This is a Sage Grouse.
currently deciding whether to provide
protection for the Mono Basin sage-grouse
population by listing it as “threatened”
or “endangered” under the Endangered
Species Act, as noted in previous reporting
by the Times.
The service proposed listing the imperiled bird as a “threatened species” in October 2013; a final decision was due in April,
but the new, Republican-lead Congress has
blocked funding for a listing rule.
“For many years, Mono Basin sagegrouse habitats have suffered degradation
or disappeared entirely, victim to rural
sprawl and suffering from land-health
problems caused by livestock grazing,”
Molvar concluded.
“This Forest Plan amendment is the
federal government’s chance to do its part
to get sage-grouse protections right and
put these birds on the road to recovery,
before it’s too late.” -WG
newsmammothtimes.com
No
w
Ai
rin
g
2
Ni
gh
ts
aW
proudly presents eek!
The Drive on 92.5
with ROB G
4-inch by 5-inch image gives the editor something to work with whereas anything smaller will
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7) Send To: editor@mammoththimes.com, news@mammoththimes.com,
mail to P.O. Box 3929 Mammoth Lakes, CA 93546
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Mammoth Times
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Mammoth Times
In spite of weather, Western
ski resorts did all right
23
Your local radio station schedules
760-934-8888
Summer tracking up, as well
Times Staff Report
Despite mercurial temperatures and snowfall throughout the Rocky Mountain and Far West mountain resorts
for the past two months, a strong and steady economy
combined with ‘snow equity’ allowed the 2014-15 ski
and snowboard season to post double digit increases in
revenue for the third straight winter with summer tracking
similarly.
As of March 31, data collected and reported by Denverbased DestiMetrics for 19 mountain destinations in six
western states, actual occupancy for the winter season is
up 5.9 percent and revenues are up 11.7 percent compared to last year.
“Early season bookings driven by ‘snow equity’ from
last season and reinforced by consistent early snowfall and
strong economic growth was sufficient to carry the season,
despite a drop in momentum as the season waned,” said
Ralf Garrison, director of DestiMetrics.
“Even though the booking pace slowed in the past
six weeks, we’re still seeing that both winter and summer
destination resort business is up more than 10 percent
and showing remarkable consistency over the last several
years since the post-recession economic recovery began,”
he said.
Resorts in both the Far West (California, Nevada and
Oregon) and Rocky Mountain (Colorado, Utah and Wyoming) regions posted stronger results than last year.
Rocky Mountain resorts registered strong growth over
last year’s results through March with a 5.8 percent gain in
occupancy and a 12.3 percent increase in revenues.
Occupancy in the Far West was up 6.1 percent for the
winter months, driven by lower costs, but still generating
aggregated revenues up 5.3 percent.
“The destination mountain resort business has been
growing steadily for the past few years in close correlation
with the improving economy,” said Garrison.
“But it is important to note that the DestiMetrics data
does not include lift ticket activity which is much more
snowfall dependent than lodging and can be quite variable as a result,” he clarified.
The monthly Market Briefing released to participating resorts yesterday was also the first look at early season
bookings for the summer season.
Data collected through March 31 showed that on-thebooks occupancy is up 7.2 percent for the coming summer compared to the same time last year. The increased
bookings are currently delivering an 11.1 percent increase
in revenue for May through October.
106.5 Mammoth • 102.3 Bishop
105.5 Big Pine • 107.7 June Lake
Mon-Sat:
Tradio 9:30 am-10am
HAND PICKED GREAT NEW MUSIC!
www.kmmtradio.com “Listen Live”
Tuesdays:
• 10am-noon 2fer Tuesday.
Request 2 from your faves!
The snowmaking pond on Mammoth Mountain, April 4.
Photo by George Shirk
According to the Briefing report, economic indicators
continued to play a vital role in the improved year-overyear results.
Despite a 1.7 percent end-of-month decline in the Dow
Jones Industrial Average triggered by concerns of softer
consumer spending, the Index did post an all time high
on March 2.
The Consumer Confidence Index (CCI) moved above
the 100-point mark in March for only the second time
since 2007 to finish at 101.3 and gaining 2.5 percent for
the month.
The Unemployment Rate remain unchanged from
February at 5.5 percent as employers added a lower than
expected 126,000 new jobs—well below the recent trend
of 200,000+ new jobs each month.
“The travel industry is continuing to lead in job
creation nationally as it hires more employees to support
the record-setting business most travel sectors are experiencing,” explained Tom Foley, operations director for
DestiMetrics. “During March, consumers cited higher
confidence in short-term job security and earnings and
along with lower fuel prices, summer road-trippers are
now starting to book their vacations.
“We are optimistic that the early booking momentum
we’re already seeing will continue for the next several
months.”
Garrison said that “the economy is the common denominator for the ongoing growth in mountain travel for
the past several years, fueling growth in both winter and
summer.
“Consumers like to take mountain vacations and a
strong economy is providing the discretionary funding to
do just that,” he said.
Wednesdays:
• 8:30am Community Corner
Thursdays:
• 10:30am Freshies w/Daleyard and Josie B
Fridays:
• 10am ACE Arts, Culture & Entertainment
in the Eastern Sierra!
• followed by ARL All Request Lunch
Saturdays:
• 4pm-6pm ALTERNATIVE
w/Native Wayne ROCK REGGAE!
• 1am to 3am BIF Bass Inyo Face w/Daleyard
Sundays:
• 5am-7am MAD Christian Rock Show
• 8pm-10pm FUNKY JAMZ w/TJ Dubz
Like us on Facebook: KMMT
KRHV 93.3
Mon-Sat:
Tradio 9 am-9:30am
HAND PICKED ROCK N’ ROLL FROM ALL
THE GREATS & ALL THE DECADES!
www.krhvradio.com “ON AIR”
Mondays:
• 6pm-8pm ALTERNATIVE
w/Native Wayne ROCK REGGAE!
Tuesdays:
• 10am-noon 2fer Tuesday
Request 2 from your faves!
The Mammoth Channel
-AMMOTHS)NFORMATION3TATION
Wednesdays:
• GET YOUR PSYCH ON! 6-8PM PSYCHO JELLO
w/Thomas Small followed by Psychedelic
Detached Garage w/George Cannon until 10PM
Thursdays:
• 6pm-7 pm Latest From The Greatest w/ The
Insane Darrell Wayne
Fridays:
• 9am-10 am Reggae Ride w/ TJ Dubz
• 10am-noon ARL All Request Lunch w/TJ Dubz
• 6pm-10pm The Vic Maier Show
• 10pm-11pm Get The Led Out
• 11pm-12pm Floydian Slip w/Craig Bailey
Saturdays:
• 5-6pm BLUES DELUXE and 7-midnight Saturday
Nights w/Alice Cooper
Sundays:
!CTIONs!DVENTUREs7EATHERs3NOW2EPORTS
Delve into Twelve!
#HANNEL
• 7am-noon Lisa’s Cup O’ Jo Sunday Morning
Show
• 8pm-10pm Little Stevens Underground Garage
w/Steven Van Zandt
• 10pm-11pm Echoes of Rock n’ Roll w/
Buddhaman
• 11pm-midnight Roots & Branches
w/Michael Des Barres.
Like us on Facebook: KRHV
24
Mammoth Times
320 PUBLIC NOTICES
Visit us online
010 PERSONALS
025 LOST AND FOUND
030 UPCOMING EVENTS
040 BARGAIN CORRAL
045 HELP WANTED FULL TIME
320 PUBLIC NOTICES
Mammoth Times
155 APARTMENTS
UNFURNISHED
050 HELP WANTED PART TIME
25
160 CONDOS FOR RENT
105 MISCELLANEOUS
140 PETS
150 APARTMENTS FURNISHED
160 CONDOS FOR RENT
165 HOUSES FURNISHED
165 HOUSES FURNISHED
170 HOUSES UNFURNISHED
155 APARTMENTS
UNFURNISHED
170 HOUSES UNFURNISHED
185 BUSINESS PROP FOR RENT
215 CONDOS FOR SALE
160 CONDOS FOR RENT
275 AUTOS
215 CONDOS FOR SALE
050 HELP WANTED PART TIME
wndws + more!
Mammoth Times
BIRTHDAY CLUB
The Birthday Club Winner
for March 2015 is
Jacob Mahler 3/24
Congratulations!
Get your entries in for our
November drawing! Good
luck to all!
April 2015
Jackie Miller 4/1
Winford Flud 4/1
Tiffany Henschel 4/3
Marty Whitney 4/4
Robert Lavey 4/5
Charlene Brosseau 4/7
Spencer Myers 4/8
Rosanne Lampariello 4/8
Ryan Hickman 4/12
Hailey Altamirano 4/13
Amanda Myers 4/14
Christy Pribish 4/14
Hanna Reeves 4/15
Traci Street 4/15
Sydney Jones 4/16
Bob Hurlburt 4/17
April Holly 4/18
Amy Dessaint 4/18
Sydney Willingham 4/18
Cassidy Morris 4/21
Lupita Godinez 4/22
Mark Holloway 4/22
Robert Schimmel 4/22
Nicole Pribish 4/25
Natalie Chapman 4/27
Bailey Rowan 4/27
Club. Call (760) 934-3929
to enter your name or the
names of friends or loved
ones.
Names need to be
resubmitted every year. A
drawing will be held at the
end of each month for that
month’s birthdays. Winners
must claim prizes in person
and be prepared to show
identification.
Here is your chance
to win some prizes just for
being born. Enter yourself,
family or friends in the
Mammoth Times Birthday
Bookkeeping
Vons
(760) 934-4536
One Happy Birthday cake
from the Vons bakery shop,
located on Old Mammoth
Road.
Thanks to the following
local merchants for
providing these great
prizes:
Breakfast Club
(760) 934-2012
One delicious, complete
Birthday breakfast, located
on the corner of 203 and
Old Mammoth Road.
Red Lily Floral Design
760)934-0033
One seasonal Happy
Nik-N-Willies
(760)934-2012
One small, one topping
Home Improvement
Bookkeeping
& Tax Preparation
Birthday bouquet, Located
on Center Street in
Mammoth Lakes.
take-n-bake pizza, located on $10 gift certificate for their
the corner of Tavern and old gallery, photography or
Mammoth Roads.
printing services, located at
452 Old Mammoth Road in
Subway
the Sierra Center Mall.
(760)934-9790
One free footlong meal
Stellar Brew
deal from the Subway in
& Natural Cafe
Mammoth, located in the
(760)924-3559
Gateway Shopping Center.
$10 gift certificate to the
locals’ favorite cafe and
Fun Shop
coffee shop, located at 3280
(760)924-1111
Main Street in Mammoth
$15 Gift Certificate to
Lakes.
Mammoth’s only toy store,
fun for all ages, located
Mammoth Times
at 3163 Main Street in
(760)934-3929
Mammoth Lakes
A three-month subscription
to The Mammoth
Blue Bird Imaging
Times, located at 501 Old
(760)924-0316
Mammoth Road.
Real Estate
Remodel
(760) 709-1288
MammothRemodeling.com
Sierra Door and Trim Inc.
Ed Chevassus
Pat Gale, MBA, RTRP
#OMPLETE3ALESAND3ERVICEs!,,$OOR4YPES
Residential - Garage - Commercial
760-935-3867
pgale81@yahoo.com
Carpets
ed@sierradoorandtrim.com
760-924-3667
404 Commerce Circle
Insurance
www.LiveAMammothLife.com
wwwpat@mammothvillageproperties.com
Specializing in Residential Condominiums
in all of Mono County
Real Estate
CARPET SALE • FLOORING SPECIALS
760-934-2200
SECOND GENERATION
OF FLOOR COVERING EXCELLENCE
License #0783148, 0i19200 - Member of the Pexa Insurance Group
Cleaning Services
Interior Design
Kitchens, Bathrooms, etc.
Steve@MammothRemodeling.com
Spas
VACATION PROPERTY SPECIALIST
Spa Sales, Installation, Repairs & Supplies
>Ìi>ViÊ*À}À>ÊUÊ
iÀÌwi`Ê/iV½Ã
>Ì½ÃÊ"ÞÊ-ÜÀ
Susan & Tom Barnes
760/924-3091
128 Tavern Rd., Mammoth Lakes
Maps
Storage
SierraMaps.com
30 minutes from Mammoth,
10 minutes from Bishop on Hwy. 395
Units available by phone
Immediate Access
Locally produced
recreation maps and more.
Bishopstorage.com
0/"OX"ISHOP
760.873.5838
-%3!34/2!'%s
760-934-5823
19 Center Street, Mammoth Lakes, CA 93546
mountaincarpet@gmail.com
760-914-0064
(661) 979.9000
sonja@sonjabush.com
MS. CLEAN
s0ROFESSIONAL(OME/FFICE#LEANING
s#ONSTRUCTION#LEANING
s,ICENSED)NSURED
937-6142
Lic#5492
MS?CLEAN YAHOOCOM
&AMILY/WNEDWITHYEARSEXPERIENCE
State Certified Interior Designer #4733
760 934 5545 s www.corinnebrownasid.com
corinne@fintouch.net
3 Oak Tree I P.O. Box 100, PMB 332
Mammoth Lakes, CA 93546-100
NOTICE TO READERS: California law requires that contractors taking jobs that total $500
or more (labor and materials) be licensed by the Contractors State License Board. State law also
requires that contractors include their license number on all advertising. Unlicensed contractors
must state in their advertisements that they are not licensed by the Contractors State Board.
ADVERTISE FOR AS LITTLE AS
$21 PER WEEK!
760-934-3929
DEADLINE: Friday at 5 p.m.
Tours
LIC#849466
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Mammoth Times
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280 TRUCKS
310 PROFESSIONAL SERVICES
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mammothtimes.com
LAST WEEK’S ANSWER:
LAST WEEK’S SUDOKU ANSWER:
28
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