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Marc Margulies in Cambodia filming “Act of Valor” (Photos courtesy Marc Margulies)

On the heels of its most successful Wounded Warriors event yet, Disabled Sports Eastern Sierra (DSES) is teaming up with local resident Marc Margulies for a fundraising event coinciding with the premier of “Act of Valor,” a motion picture hitting theaters nationwide on Friday, Feb. 24.

Margulies has been a cameraman since 1978. He and his wife, Lou, own the local Mammoth Lakes Laundromat, the Laundry Annex and Aloha Sudz. Marc was part of the crew for the new film, which is cast with active duty Navy SEALs.

The film follows an elite team of Navy SEALs as they embark on a covert mission to recover a kidnapped CIA agent. Also threaded into the plot is the hunt for the “bad guys” who kill the U.S. Ambassador to the Philippines at the beginning of the film. The Ambassador getting offed is a face that many locals will recognize, as it is none other than Margulies himself, who was cast in the role during filming by co-director Scott Waugh.

“I was working on the film and Scottie Waugh said he wanted me to be an actor in it,” Margulies said. “So, I played the role and even have some lines. I also got a custom-made suit out of it.”

Margulies’ scene was filmed in Cambodia, and in a small hint he related that his character’s death revolves around an ice cream truck. While acting, Margulies also had to run interference with the camera crew, which didn’t know how to load the film into the camera without him.

“I worked as an actor and a camera assistant on that day,” Margulies said.

Margulies and the young actor who plays the US Ambassador's son

The film, according to Margulies, honors service people.

“It’s so real, it brings you right in,” he said. Using active Navy SEALs makes the experience even more authentic. The crew was able to accompany the SEALs on practice ops to make the experience even more genuine.

“I’ve worked with a lot of actors who are using guns [for their roles], but to see these guys handle a weapon was very real,” Margulies commented.

Also very real is the DSES fundraiser being held on the evening of Feb. 24; head over to Minaret Cinemas that evening at 7 p.m. for free appetizers provided by Roberto’s, plus a no-host bar of beer and wine, in addition to the film’s screening.

Anything that is donated above and beyond the cost of your movie ticket will go to DSES. Following the screening, Margulies will be on hand for a Q&A.

“There are 210 seats in the theater and we hope to fill them all,” said DSES Executive Director Kathy Copeland. “The more the merrier.”

If you’d like to reserve your seats in advance, call DSES to do so, 760.934.0791.

Directed by Mike “Mouse” McCoy and Scott Waugh, “Act of Valor” is being touted as the ultimate tribute to the troops, which is why the partnership with DSES on Feb. 24 makes so much sense. Each year DSES and Mammoth Mountain host Operation Mountain Freedom for the nation’s wounded warriors. Servicemen and women enjoy several days of therapeutic recreation catered by DSES during the event. This year, 38 attendees made for the biggest event on record.

For more on the film visit www.actofvalor.com

During the closed session part of its Oct. 21 meeting, the Mammoth Lakes Town Council discussed the issue of allowing public access to Wildlife Subcommittee meetings. The Sheet was about to throw a flag on the play, but Councilmember John Eastman beat us to the call, asking Town Attorney Peter Tracy on what grounds.

“Threat of litigation,” was Tracy’s response.
No action was taken or details of the litigation released, but just a few days later, the seas parted and lo and behold, the Town issued a statement saying future meetings would be open to the public and noticed as to their time, place and agenda. That’s great, but it does beg the question, “What took so long?”
Council has been under scrutiny as to its hands-off approach in regard to Wildlife Subcommittee meetings. For the past 18 months, the meetings have been closed to the public, and even Wildlife Management Specialist Steve Searles was only allowed into one meeting to speak for exactly 10 minutes before being dismissed. When Council met during closed session to consider the “threat of litigation,” it’s safe to assume they were also deliberating public access to the Subcommittee’s meetings.
*FYI, the only items eligible for closed session discussion are 1. threatened litigation, and 2. employee/labor/property negotiations.
Further, it’s clear they were forced to come to one inevitable conclusion: they must allow public access. There isn’t any other option.
The Brown Act, which “requires members of city councils, school boards and other local government agencies to conduct business in public,” clearly covers this Subcommittee. Sure, it’s a sensitive topic, but for some reason, the Committee members seemed to think this one could be sheltered from the public. Note to the Committee: arguing something along the lines of “national security” may work in Washington, D.C., but it doesn’t hold any legal water here. Unless we want to end up being investigated by the Mono County District Attorney, as is currently happening in Southern California.
A recent story in the L.A. Times reports, “Dozens of local government agencies across Los Angeles County have silenced critics at public meetings, held secret conferences to hash out important business or taken other actions that violated the state’s open meetings law, according to a Times review of the district attorney’s records. Responding to complaints from the public, prosecutors have sent more than 50 letters since 2001 warning government officials that they acted illegally. District attorney’s officials frequently threatened civil court action or criminal charges if the violations continued.”
Such would probably have been the case in this instance, but the Town dodged a bullet this time when it smartly decided to fold its hand on the Wildlife Subcommittee.
That the committee had been meeting in secret for more than a year is nothing short of a travesty, one that effectively trampled on the public’s rights. And the public, as far as we’re concerned, is due an apology. (Editor’s note: Any bets on whether we’ll actually get one? I mean, Wendy Sugimura still owes voters an apology for running for office in the first place).
Note to public servants, present and future: be careful when it comes to the Brown Act. What passes for “transparency” in the nation’s capitol may be easier to obfuscate at that level, but don’t take that as a go-ahead sign. Ask L.A. County … it’s FAR easier to police on a local level.
Take Mono County, for example … a first-rate example of an entity that goes out of its way NOT to violate the Brown Act. Consequently, the County is not under investigation, or being threatened with litigation for any kind of Brown Act transgressions. All governments, including the fed, should aspire to the County’s open-air Brown Act approach.
What’s more, practicing such an illegal policy of secrecy is also incredibly poor political form, amounting to nothing less than a slap in the face of your direct constituents. Keep in mind that they have a right to access which you and other elected public servants have all taken oaths to uphold.
What’s past is past, but here’s an ominous thought for this Halloween: beware the Brown Act, for the public is watching and you have been warned.