theSheetNews.com

Feels like déjà vu

Dear Editor:

Our community cannot afford our current Town Council’s inability to understand its legal commitment to pay its debt to Mammoth Lakes Land Acquisiton. This is ultimately going to cost property owners, business owners, local families, second homeowners, and the hard working people who live in our community $7,000 a day interest on top of the $30 million judgment, plus attorneys’ fees. To me it’s clear. The court’s unanimous decision was handed down on Dec. 30, 2010. The 66-page decision recounts the Town’s non-communication with the FAA and project developers, the Town’s changing its motives from private development to creating the airport for commercial airline service, the Town’s Unwillingness to Seriously Negotiate a Settlement, and the Town’s belief it had the right to Simply Walk Away from their Signed Agreement. Now Town Council and Staff are failing us again. Have our current Town Manager, Town Attorney, and 5 member Town Council read the 66-page court document that states why the Town lost this lawsuit?

According to  MLLA regarding the settlement [The Sheet 2/11/12]  “The Town has completely failed to follow through on the representations.” Feels like déjà vu. MLLA has now filed for a Writ of Mandate to enforce judgment and require the Town to pay the settlement in its entirety. Déjà vu again.

In 1997 Councilmember John Eastman voted “YES” to approve the Development Agreement with Terry Ballas. Eastman is the only remaining start-to-finish councilmember who has been undeniably a council participant in the Hot Creek litigation/MLLA payment settlement and is still making decisions regarding this issue. Why is Eastman actively involved in this process when he was one of the original Town Councilmembers who contributed in the unprecedented breach-of–contract in the first place? He confirmed in The Sheet on 2/8/12, “that there is still an ocean between what the Town was offering and what MLLA was requesting” in regards to the payment to MLLA. More déjà vu.

We need to ask our community: Should we hold our elected officials accountable? Should we investigate whether there has been any neglect or misconduct? Should we pursue their resignation, removal, or civil action?

I do not know what was said in all the closed sessions or at every Town Council meeting in which Eastman was a participant during the past 15 years, but I assume there is a process (petition?) to find out if any councilmember has made misleading statements, participated in dereliction of duty, failed to disclose relevant facts, or failed to regard advice provided by Town attorney, Town manager, and Chief Finance officer. My analogy to this lawsuit / settlement debacle is : Our elected Mammoth Lakes Town Council drove the bus off a cliff, we the Community are all in that bus, and it’s about to hit solid ground!

Raymond Doblick
Mammoth Lakes  

Stop the madness

Dear Editor:

Since I only knew Dr. Bourne as his patient, I hesitated to address what I believed was primarily a family’s tragedy. But then I read the various letters to the editor last week which demonstrated the tragic and public nature of Bourne’s actions. Considering this, I believe there is a need for yet another voice. It is my hope that we all will consider the following:

The Bourne family needs to grieve and recover. We should give them this opportunity and stop publicly venting opinions and feelings. Mr. Bourne shut his case by taking his life. We cannot know what might have been the outcome of a formal trial with evidence and counter evidence. Given our limited knowledge, the community does not have the responsible means to conduct a public trial. On the other hand, when well meaning people seek to publicly defend or exonerate Mr. Bourne, this only invites public debate. Really, there can be no meaningful debate. He’s gone. If you need help dealing with your feelings, then by all means seek help from the clergy, a health care person, or your close friends.

It cannot be denied that the Bourne families’ tragedy has touched us all. For some, it has invoked painful memories from the past. My eldest brother was convicted of a horrible crime and imprisoned for it. Though his crime was despicable, he had tried to be a good brother to me and this is what I chose to dwell on. Whatever Mr. Bourne was to others, Mrs. Bourne and her children have the right to remember the best about their husband and daddy. Their future is at stake, not ours and certainly not Mr. Bourne’s. As a community, we will be better served by helping all the families through this horrific time.

I understand how such a public tragedy as this touches the pain and concern within each of us. The apostle Paul expressed this very well in his second letter to the Corinthian church: “Who is weak without my being weak? Who is led into sin without my intense concern?” Each of us have probably asked, “Could this happen to my family?” or, “Could I do such a thing?” Let this tragedy be a wake up call for each of us to run life’s race with integrity in every area of our lives from beginning to end.

Please join with me in praying for and serving these families and our community. Also, let us all be the example our community needs. Again, let us identify with the apostle Paul as he writes, “Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves; do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others.”(Philippians 2:3-4).

Justin L. Everson, Pastor
Mammoth Community Church

Rebutting the rebuttal

Dear Editor:

I didn’t like “HAP’S” rebuttal [The Sheet, Feb. 11] to Elizabeth Boyd. Hap says he retired from the Mono County Sheriff Department with a generous pension of close to 90% of his salary plus health insurance for himself and his family. He states, “I’m the discount Supervisor.” B.S. Hap is still making the same salary as the rest of the Supervisors. Hap earned his retirement with the County and receives benefits, which calculate to the same amount as the other Supervisors. There is no discount.

Hap then goes on to elaborate on his law enforcement career of 30 years. The streets of Mono County are dangerous, as any other parts of the country. Hap states he had been “shot at four times by a 12 ga. shotgun.” B.S. again. I was on the same call. Man with a gun shooting in a local campground south of June Lake Junction. Upon my arrival, I met with several other deputies, including Hap. Hap stated he had been shot at and in a panic jumped into his patrol vehicle, attempted to put it in reverse, but was unable to because he forgot to put his brake on so it would shift. Upon retreat Hap arrived at our location on U.S. 395.

With a Lt. on scene and Sgt. Hazard, it was determined it was too dangerous to apprehend an armed suspect, shooting in a public campground with numerous vacationing tourists in harm’s way. In Hap’s opinion, it was best to leave an armed suspect who had just attempted to kill a police officer, roam free. It was the decision of both Hap and a Lt. to leave this call for day shift. Well, day shift came on and the suspect left the area. No suspect was ever arrested for attempted murder of a peace officer. If the suspect had been shooting a shotgun at Sgt. Hazard there would  have been evidence.

Hap then states, “I’ve had numerous knives pulled on me.” B.S. again.  During my 30-year career I never had a knife pulled on me. If this was the fact Hap had every right to use deadly force which was never done. In fact I don’t remember Hap ever arresting anyone for attempting to kill him.  How stupid can numerous suspects be to bring a knife to a gunfight.

And then Hap states he, “had been involved in more fights than he can remember.” B.S. again. Seems Hap was always the last one at a fight. Pull the records from Mono County Sheriff and see how many arrests Hap ever made for 242 P.C.

This is your Supervisor, District 2.  You make the choice, POLITICIAN or LIAR one and the same.

Randy Hysell
Bridgeport
Mono County Sheriff’s Dept. 1975-2003

Thoughts on Bourne 

Dear Editor:

We just returned from the memorial service, or as some prefer to call it a “celebration of life,” for Andrew Bourne. If one did not know the backstory here, when all was said and done one might have thought he was Mother Theresa with sixpack abs. I saw more photos of Andrew Bourne with his shirt off than I ever care to see again. That being said, it was otherwise a flawless evening. The medical community pulled together and made a presentation to this burg that brought us all together for the benefit of Andrew’s memory and the future of his widow and children. The evening, taken in its entirety, will be a fabulous takeaway for the boys and how they remember their father.

We were reminded by more than one speaker that none of us can know the full measure of the pain of another and that none of us can ever know when our own personal storm will overtake us as Andrew’s did him. I am left with a mystery, a conundrum, an empty hole of information about what happened.

If he did nothing other than flirt with an underage girl and have that misunderstood by the law and the media and had a chance to set it right, then why did he kill himself? Of course it was larger than that. There was his community and his family. His rising star falling to Earth. A cinder. I think he could not face that.

There is so much more to this story than we will know for a long time. This is the stuff of great literature, of stages and soapboxes.

More thoughts today…

We heard last night that Andrew Bourne was not perfect (duh); that he was human (duh). What I took away with me was that he was neither. He was SuperHuman. After all, besides being a great surgeon, a good son, brother, uncle; he was a best friend, a stellar father and husband. Add to that the work he did on the school board, that he was chief of staff at Mammoth Hospital, was always debating and competing and racing and climbing and skiing.

On Mondays he studied Buddism, on Tuesdays he practiced Spanish; on Wednesday I can’t remember and on Thursdays it was French and on Fridays he was working toward his blue belt in Jiu Jitsu and cage fighting. I am not making this up. I don’t know where he would have found time to commit the alleged crimes for which he was arrested and charged. There would have had to be two Andrew Bournes to do all of this and that is why this is so fascinating.

None of us can sync the Andrew Bourne we learned about at the service with the Andrew Bourne who might have solicited sex from a minor female. 1,000 emails? When did he sleep? Even if there were only half that number. What is true here is that we all have windows through which the world can peer and sometimes lurk in an effort to learn who we are. Many of us pull the shades down on those windows but sometimes the shades are unexpectedly opened and the light focuses on things that were never supposed to be seen.

Andrew Bourne was a champion in everything he did. Sometime over the last two years he stumbled and possibly fell. Andrew Bourne does not stumble and the Andrew Bourne we heard about last night could not live with the man who stumbled. He couldn’t be that man to his children, his wife and family and his friends and community. That is why we are talking about this and wondering and speculating. That is all he left us.

Mary Pipersky
Sunny Slopes

Bourne’s responsibility

Dear Mr. Sage, 

In response to last week’s letter from Don Sage: Responsibility for the death of Dr. Bourne lies squarely at the feet of Dr. Bourne, who took a professional oath to “first, do no harm.”

He has indeed done a lot of harm, and to blame his suicide on a law meant to protect children from online predators is sadly misplaced. I am sad for your loss, but I for one am thankful for laws that protect my children when others would see them harmed.

Susan Berger
Crowley Lake

Rusty defends decision

Mammoth Mountain’s decision to host a memorial for Dr. Andrew C. Bourne at Canyon Lodge last Saturday elicited a mixed reaction. Below is one negative comment (name withheld because the comment was sent directly to MMSA) followed by the response it drew from MMSA CEO Rusty Gregory. 

To whom it may concern:

I was shocked and appalled to hear that Mammoth Mountain will be donating Canyon Lodge, food and service to the memorial of Andrew Bourne. I know, I know – we’ve all been hearing it – Bourne was known, respected and liked in this community. Yes, his death was a tragedy. I do feel for the family that he left behind. But for a large entity – the entity – of Mammoth Lakes to give public and large monetary support to an individual who was about to be put on trial for grievous and horrendous acts shows incredible insincerity and disrespect to the victim and her family. A victim. There is a victim of sex crimes! Of that, there is absolutely no doubt. How, in any way, does Mammoth Mountain feel it is appropriate to act anything other than impartial?! Why, pray tell, does it even feel the need to be part of this situation at all?! In addition, where is this money coming from? If I bought a ski pass this season, am I in some way contributing to this service? Mammoth Mountain is making a serious, serious error here. This is no light matter and I find it incredibly upsetting. This move will alienate current and potential patrons of Mammoth Mountain and the town of Mammoth Lakes. More importantly, Mammoth Mountain is sending a clear message to the victim – and perhaps any victim of a sex crime – of which I as a Mammoth Lakes resident am ashamed of. I am ashamed to be associated with this entity. I do not support this decision and when the opportunities arise, I choose to boycott Mammoth Mountain.

Rusty Gregory’s response:

I completely concur with the view you express in your email on sex crimes and the horrible impact it has on victims, their families and the communities they are part of. I also agree with your strident admonition that Mammoth Mountain remain impartial in this matter. When I first read your email I felt the sting of your criticism. I had the predictable reaction and wanted to respond immediately to defend the company and my decision. I set your email aside and took some time to try to understand your perspective. I can see now how you came to the conclusion that Mammoth and I are taking sides in this tragic situation. I think, however, we are doing exactly what you have so strongly suggested. We are acting impartially.

We are a very small town and Mammoth Mountain has the only facilities large enough to comfortably accommodate more rhan 100 people. I have been running the company since 1996. Since then and for as long as I can remember before, Mammoth Mountain has made its facilities available free of charge to large segments of our community who need to come together to celebrate or mourn. We often provide food free of charge, particularly for memorials. It is the thoughtful thing to do and allowing food from outside sources not in our control, like potluck for instance, creates a host of liability and other business problems for us. The actual cost of providing food for a typical memorial service is very small, considerably less than the expense to provide dinner free of charge to our employees whose hours have been cut due to the recent drought. We are doing this 2 to 4 nights each week these days so I am very familiar with the exact cost.

Mammoth Mountain is doing what it always tries to do – to help our community.  I am trying to do what I always try to do – to be thoughtful about the decisions I make and to be transparent and publicly accountable for the results.

For me, to deny the use of our facilities for the Bourne family and their friends would be to act with the partiality and bias you accuse us of. I would have sit in judgment like you apparently have. You have looked at Andy Bourne and the undisputed fact that he was charged with and about to go to trial for sex crimes and have passed judgment. In your judgment you have concluded that there is a victim, not an alleged victim. You have looked at my decision and action to provide use of our facilities upon the request of friends of the Bourne family and judged that Mammoth Mountain is worthy of shame and boycott. I wish I could see this all this as clearly as you.

But I cannot see anything clearly through the tears that stream down my face every time I think of this tragedy. I have concluded that I just don’t know. I don’t know what happened. I don’t know why this happened. I don’t know how to talk to my wife and children about it. I don’t know what to do. I don’t know of any reason to deny the request of the friends of the Bourne family to use our facilities to mourn Andy’s death.

I knew Andy Bourne and I know his family. I know the alleged victim’s family.  My heart breaks for each of them. My heart aches deeply for our community as each of us struggles, as you and I are, to deal with this in her or his own way.

I appreciate the time you took to express your feelings to me. With time and reflection I hope you and I and everyone else can find a place for the pain and emotions we all feel. I respect your decision to boycott Mammoth Mountain because you disagree with my decision in this matter. If you purchased a season pass please feel stop by my office on the 4th floor of the Main Lodge and I will give you a full refund.

Rusty Gregory
MMSA

Let’s rethink sex

Dear Editor:

After reading about the incident involving Andy Bourne I would like to offer my thoughts. I think it is time for our society to re-think all of our Puritan attitudes and laws regarding sex. Thinking about the whole incident I realize that the young woman was not hurt. She knew what she wanted but her parents didn’t want her to have it.

Girls reach their sexual-ness in the extreme when they are 13 or 14. Nature must have had something in mind to make females sexually mature so much earlier than males so that they are attracted to older males. We have tried for so long to defeat nature in our society and it is not working. We have tried to impose sexual abstinence on all young people and I wonder what would be so wrong to instead allow sex to blossom in our young people. To realize honestly that an urge so strong cannot and should not be suppressed. I would far rather have kids having sex than doing drugs and getting violent and killing and maiming each other and I bet if there were more sex there would be less destruction and anger and need for drugs. More sex, maybe less rape, maybe happier, content people.

I remember when a young lady at our local high school got pregnant with her history teacher. Her grandmother’s response was that she would much rather her granddaughter have sex with a teacher than a no good kid. Sounds sensible to me though my first response was horror but on thinking of it and knowing that the girl really craved sex, I wonder if we shouldn’t all re-think all of it.

In many other cultures the older men teach the younger women about sex and pleasure. We try so hard to suppress all natural feelings and urges and consider pleasure a crime. How stupid our upstanding society is sometimes. We need to re-think. Naked bodies on TV are outlawed but creepy, violent, bloody, sadistic scenes are just fine. Is that kind of programing really better for our kids?

Very sincerely saddened by the entire incident and some of the comments from the many self-righteous nature deniers. What a huge waste of a wonderful and community giving doctor.

Claudia Wimett
La Madera, New Mexico

A happy rebuttal 

The following letter from District 2 Supervisot Hap Hazard is in response to a letter published last week from Crowley Lake resident Elizabeth Boyd.

Dear Ms. Boyd:

Having been the County Supervisor representing the Crowley Lake area for the last seven plus years I take pride in my communications with the citizens I was elected to represent. However, I have in some way failed you as you are asking a very similar question to that of nearly two years ago during the last Supervisory election.

In the March 13, 2010, edition of The Sheet, you asked the question: “What is it with former county employees running for Supervisor?” even though I was not running for office in that election you chose to include me, by name, in your editorial (question) comment. I did not respond, as Larry Johnston and Renn Nolan were the candidates for Supervisor and I didn’t want to influence the voters with my comments.

However, this Feb. 4 you elected once again to ask the same types of questions in The Sheet’s letters section.

You stated; “District 2 Supervisor Hap Hazard, retired from the Mono County Sheriff’s Office with a generous pension of close to 90% of his salary plus health insurance for himself and his family, continues to collect a nice Supervisor’s salary with health benefits while accruing more retirement benefits for another “retirement”. While part of this statement is correct the implied accusation is grossly false. Please allow me to provide some additional information for the record.

“District 2 Supervisor Hap Hazard, retired from the Mono County Sheriff’s Office with a generous pension of close to 90% of his salary plus health insurance for himself and his family.” This part of your statement is correct.

(Hap) “Continues to collect a nice Supervisor’s salary with health benefits while accruing more retirement benefits for another “retirement.” This part of your statement is in error. California State Law and Mono County policy state that I can opt out of the PERS retirement system as an elected official. I did this very thing prior to being sworn in on January of 2005. I do not receive medical insurance from my role as a Supervisor and I am not gaining any credits towards another retirement. In fact, I have frequently stated that I am the discount Supervisor. The citizens of Mono County pay me just about half of what the Supervisor sitting in the chair next to me receives for salary & benefits. This is because I only receive a salary with no employee benefits in my role as a Supervisor.

You go on to ask some unknown person (I suspect you mean the voters or citizens) to ask me several other questions that are based on these incorrect assumptions.

”Ask Hap how he squares this practice with the responsibilities of a public official who must oversee budget cuts and contribute to the fiscal health of Mono County. Ask Hap how much taxpayers contribute to his retirement fund and how much they continue to contribute as he double dips. Ask Hap not what is legal but what is fair as we look down the muzzle of $700 billion in unfunded pension liabilities in the State of California.”

Elizabeth, you don’t have to ask others to ask these questions. You can ask me directly and I’ll answer them. Please call me or email me at 935.4999, 914.1403, or Hap04@msn.com. We can speak on the phone or meet at a location and time that works for both of us.

I would like to assure you that no Mono County employee is getting rich off of their retirement and I am not double dipping.

There are numerous media reports and high profile cases of officials abusing the retirement system. This is because they had direct control over their retirement plan. However, there are safe guards in place at PERS that prevent Mono County from wrong doing and therefore the employees have no control over their retirement pay or benefits, including me.

If your concern is that I am working after my primary career has ended then I would point out that Professional sports players (the non-stars) retire with a pension at a young age and go on to work in other fields. Likewise with the Military, where you could have a 20-year career, retire at 38 years of age, and work again. The same holds true with the auto industry, and many other fields.

The simple fact is that after 30 years of service to Mono County citizens working the streets. I didn’t want to wrestle young intoxicated persons and combative individuals at the age of 55 any longer. Many factors went into my decision to retire. I had worked my 30 year career, was still in good health, and felt I had more to give. I knew I didn’t want to expose myself any longer to the possibility of a physical injury so I retired. The streets, even here in Mono County, can be a violent place. In one incident I was shot at four times by a 12 gauge shotgun, I’ve had numerous knives pulled on me, and been involved in more fights than I can remember. I wanted to enjoy my retirement and at the same time continue to serve my communities. And while the position of Supervisor is a part-time job I work it as a full-time position. This is my commitment to the taxpayers.

I again invite you to contact me should you have any additional questions or comments I’ll be happy to speak with you.

Hap Hazard
District 2 Supervisor 

Double-dipping?

Dear Editor:

In an article published on Christmas Day 2011, the Fresno Bee had this to say about public employee double dipping. “Gov. Jerry Brown’s plan for sweeping public pension reform would hit the pocketbooks of employees who hope to collect a pension and paycheck at the same time. It is a common practice statewide, especially in law enforcement.”

If not common here in Mono County it is at least happening right in front of our eyes. District 2 Supervisor Hap Hazard, retired from the Mono County Sheriff’s Office with a generous pension of close to 90% of his salary plus health insurance for himself and his family, continues to collect a nice Supervisor’s salary with health benefits while accruing more retirement benefits for another future “retirement”.

The Legislative Analyst’s Office reports that the government likely cannot stop public sector employees who are already double dipping. However, you as a voter can. Ask Hap how he squares this practice with the responsibilities of a public official who must oversee budget cuts and contribute to the fiscal health of Mono County. Ask Hap how much taxpayers contributed to his retirement fund and how much they continue to contribute as he double dips. Ask Hap not what is legal but what is fair as we look down the muzzle of $700 billion in unfunded pension liabilities in the state of California.

Elizabeth Boyd
Crowley Lake

Sage law?

Dear Editor:

On Tuesday, January 24 Dr. Andrew Bourne chose to end his life. He had been accused of violating section 288.3 of the California Penal Code.  If convicted, he would have been jailed in state prison and been deprived of his livelihood. He would have been labeled for life as a “sex offender” and a felon.

The Santa Barbara District Attorney did not accuse him of ever touching or for that matter ever being alone with any “victim”.

The law, passed as proposition 83 or “Jessica’s Law” in 2006 states:

(a) Every person who contacts or communicates with a minor, or attempts to contact or communicate with a minor, who knows or reasonably should know that the person is a minor, with intent to commit an offense specified in Section 207, 209, 261, 264.1, 273a, 286, 288, 288a, 288.2, 289, 311.1, 311.2, 311.4 or 311.11 involving the minor shall be punished by imprisonment in the state prison for the term prescribed for an attempt to commit the intended offense.”

Other sections of this law have been challenged as unconstitutional but apparently not this particular section.  The LA Times in a January 2009 editorial said: “Of all the ill-considered ballot initiatives approved by California voters over the years, few can match Jessica’s Law for sheer self-destructiveness.”

The question of guilt hinges on intent but how do you determine intent? It’s too easy to imagine how an innocent conversation could be interpreted as intended to seduce. For example, a kind older man assuring a young girl that men would find her attractive?

We’ll probably never know exactly what was in the messages exchanged between Dr. Bourne and the “victim” but we do know that this vague law killed a good man. It should be repealed before there are more miscarriages of justice.

Don Sage
Mammoth Lakes

Thank you, good samaritan!

Dear Editor:

My husband and I were driving up to Mammoth on Thursday, Jan. 12, and my husband lost his wallet in Bishop. He did not miss his wallet until we got up to Mammoth. Phone calls were made to both places we had stopped. Into the car he went and drove back down to Bishop, but no wallet.

The next morning we stopped at the Post Office to check mail and, lo and behold, there sits the wallet in our PO Box. The Post Office clerk told us “a young woman” brought it by.

SO … a very special “thank you” to whoever you are. We got the wallet, the cash and all credit cards back. Thank you for being so honest, and taking the time to get it back to us.

Terry Sampson
Mammoth Lakes

A response to Ms. Muir

Dear Editor:

My response to last week’s letter in The Sheet by Kate Muir [“Speaking out for the victim,” pg. 5] …

I feel deeply for Ms. Muir’s unfortunate childhood sexual abuse experiences. That can leave one scarred for life.

However, these experiences have absolutely nothing to do with the alleged charges by the justice system in Santa Barbara against Dr. [Andrew] Bourne and Joe Walker. As a child mental health worker, she should understand this better than anyone. Every case in the justice system stands on its own set of allegations and evidence. Innocent until proven otherwise stands as a strong tenet in our justice system.

The Santa Barbara Police Department, according to written reports, sent 16 policemen and appropriate vehicles to arrest, manacle and physically transport Dr. Bourne and Joe Walker to Santa Barbara. Could this be overkill?

Then the Santa Barbara Police Department allegedly leaked the story to a local TV station and they ran the story under the provocative headline, and I quote, “Two part-time Santa Barbara men are accused of raping a 14-year-old girl.” It was then reported that a judge levied a $1 million bond on each of the alleged perpetrators. The judge, as reported, considered them “flight risks.” After this was thoroughly publicized, the judge reduced the bail to $750,000 each.

Dr. Bourne’s memorial is being held this Saturday afternoon, Feb. 4. The location has been changed three times in order to accomodate the ever-increasing numbers of people who want to attend. Dr.  Bourne’s many philanthropic activities and pro bono medical work in third-world countries are just a few of the reasons a larger venue was necessary to accomodate the community outpouring.

Consequently, your vituperative outpouring chastising our community with angry exclamation marks for wanting to donate to his widow and children, in lieu of flowers, is particularly inappropriate at this tragic time.

Herb Benham
Mammoth Lakes

Landmark status?

Dear Editor:

The Mammoth Gateway Community Project was on the agenda at the Jan. 26 meeting of the TOML Public Arts Commission submitting a request for funding assistance. After just a 10-minute time allotment, the Commission, with a split vote of 2-2, refused to entertain questions or to further discuss the proposed project.

I believe that the Gateway Project merits SERIOUS discussion. Such an impressive LANDMARK would provide Mammoth Lakes with a signature entranceway, greeting all who live and visit here. It would provide an aesthetically pleasing and architecturally significant STATEMENT OF WELCOME and undoubtedly create Mammoth’s very own ICONIC IMAGE to be seen “round the world.”

What is Paris without its Tower, Rome Colosseum-less, Seattle missing its Needle, St. Louis Arch-free, New York with Lady Liberty gone missing or San Francisco sans its Golden Bridge? Without their iconic landmarks, these places all become less defined and somewhat less notable.

In these difficult economic times, when everyone is being asked to make tough choices about spending within limited budgets, it behooves all our public representatives to critically weigh the investment of these funds and consider how such investments might be strategically MAXIMIZED to BENEFIT our town.

What is the MOST EFFECTIVE and STRATEGIC USE of the limited funds available for Public Art?  In my opinion, this Project should be duly granted the appropriate amount of public funding commensurate with the BENEFITS that would surely be realized for the entire community and our visitors.

Therefore, I would ask that the Mammoth Lakes Town Council provide both guidance and leadership such that the Mammoth Gateway Community Project receives both a prompt hearing and just consideration by the TOML Public Arts Commission.

Steve Horman
Mammoth Lakes

Coping with loss 

Dear Editor:

This last month we were shocked and saddened to learn of the arrest of Andrew Bourne, M.D., who was Mammoth Hospital’s preeminent General and Vascular Surgeon. As we started to come to grips with this event, we were aghast to learn of his death. It’s hard to describe the wide range of emotions that our staff, physicians, and volunteers experienced. Many people worked closely with him throughout the hospital, especially those in Surgery, Recovery, Nursing Units and the Emergency Departmentand Surgical Clinic. Somehow they were able to reach down inside of themselves and continue to provide excellent care to our residents and visitors. I am proud of each and every member of our staff and am fortunate to work with such caring, talented and strong individuals.

There are many people I want to thank who helped us get through this event.  Audrey Pauley M.D. was on her fourth day as Chief of Staff when the story broke. She has tirelessly met with staff and physicians, rounded on the departments night and day and made sure everyone was getting the support they needed.

Lynda Salcido, our Board Chair, came to the hospital immediately on hearing about Dr. Bourne and helped organize and participate in sessions with staff.  She kept an eye on our administrative team to make sure we were coping and taking care of ourselves. Speaking of our Administrative Team, I could never have gotten through the last month without them.

Mammoth Hospital was well supported by our Community and I thank everyone who came to our assistance.  Northern Inyo Hospital provided surgical care to our community for the 10 days it took us to get surgical coverage organized. Fred Weatherly, a Chaplain and grief counselor has been by our side and helped us through the past few weeks as events unfolded. Sheriff Rick Scholl and Police Chief Dan Watson both called the morning after Dr. Bourne died to tell me about a crisis team they had both worked with in the past. After a few phone calls, Julie and Sarah from Counseling Team International were on their way from Southern California and onsite that evening. Julie, Sarah, and Fred provided us with an invaluable service and helped staff cope with their grief. From Mammoth Mountain Rusty Gregory CEO and Jack Copeland, VP were quick to offer their support and any resources we might need. And, my Rotary Club has supported me and other staff throughout this ordeal.  I can’t forget our families, without their support it would have been difficult to go to work every day.  There are others I’m sure I haven’t mentioned.

Our physicians have stepped up to provide support and care to our patients.  Doctors Fandrich, Sedwitz, Johnson and Ifune are covering the lion’s share of General Surgery coverage. Dr. Bortolazzo from Urology has assisted in following up with active patients whom Dr. Bourne was caring for. Dr. Harrell from Medical Imaging has taken on some of the vascular procedures for our patients. Doctors Anderson and Smith, anesthesiologists, are providing coverage so that Jonathan Bourne, M.D. can be with his family. And Dr. Deck, one of our surgeons who lives down south and is recovering from an injury himself, has offered to do anything and everything he can physically do.

We are moving forward and will continue to provide high quality care. We have begun the process to find permanent surgeons to replace and continue the great program established by Dr. Bourne, a physician who cannot be replaced.  I think the blur of information in January is starting to fade and many of us are beginning to focus on the positives that Dr. Bourne brought to us in his five year career at Mammoth Hospital. I can think of patients whose lives he saved and whose lives he improved, such as the young lady who crashed into a tree while skiing and the snowboarder who sliced his arm nearly in half. He was there for them and many others. Andrew Bourne M.D. you will be missed. Rest in peace, my friend.

Gary Boyd, CEO
Mammoth Hospital

Compressed log warning

Dear Editor:

Just about everyone in town is aware of the house fire that occurred in town a couple of weeks ago. If it had not been for the awareness of an 8-year-old girl, it is very possible that her mother may not have made it out of the structure alive. An operable smoke alarm in her bedroom awoke the girl and she woke up her father who then managed to wake his wife.

In piecing together the events of the first couple of minutes of the incident, it is obvious that there were a couple of minutes of confusion until the realization that the single-family residence was on fire. Fortunately all three occupants and their pets were able to vacate the structure with assistance from neighbors and the Mammoth Lakes Fire Department.

The investigation revealed, however, that one of the contributing factors that led to the incident was the burning of too many compressed logs in the insert wood stove. Manufacturers will tell you that you should never burn more than one or two of these types of logs. This is because the logs burn at a much greater temperature than standard wood. Mixing both natural wood and compressed logs is appropriate, so long as no more than one or two compressed logs are used.

In the past few years, the Fire Department has been called to several locations where numerous compressed logs had been inserted into stoves or fireplaces. While this practice will create abundant heat, the problem is that the stoves and fireplaces are not designed for such significant levels of heat. Avoid the temptation to fill the fire box up with numerous compressed logs.

This incident is also a perfect example why smoke alarms are considered one of the best investments that a family can make in relationship to their safety. Install both ionization and photoelectric smoke alarms: install in bedrooms, in hallways leading to bedrooms, and at least one per floor level. Interconnect alarms so when one sounds, they all sound. Test every six months, replace batteries once a year, and replace alarms after 10 years. Nearly two-thirds of home structure fire deaths occur in homes where there was no smoke alarm or where smoke alarms were present but failed to operate.

Also install carbon monoxide alarms in bedrooms or in hallways leading to bedrooms and at least one per floor level. Locate an alarm within 20 feet of any combustible appliances. Test every six months, replace batteries once a year, and replace alarms after five years.

For more information or for any questions pertaining to fire related issues, and compressed log use in particular, feel free to contact the MLFD at 760.934.2300.

Thom Heller
Mammoth Lakes Fire Department

Thanks, Christmas angels …

Dear Editor: 

We are overwhelmed by the gracious support of our Angel Giving Tree that our communities in Lee Vining, June Lake and Mono City showed during this past holiday season. Because of so much generosity, we were able to give presents to more than 55 children this Christmas.

There are so many anonymous givers that we don’t even know, and so thank you to those of you who give without recognition.

We would also like to thank Mono Market: Chris and his gang; the June Lake General Store: Linda and her crew; the June Lake Women’s club; the June Lake Women’s Bible study group and all the Lee Vining Presbyterian Church members.

Anna, Jordyn, Ella and Hannah, you gave up your holiday time, too. All of  you are Angels and we couldn’t have done the Angel Giving Tree without you!

THANK YOU ALL SO VERY MUCH!

Laurie Gehrman
Mono City

Serving at home as well as abroad

Dear Editor:

As a veteran I believe that service to one’s country is paramount – it is one of the most important ideas that we have

in our democracy. But, service to one’s country does not always mean wearing a uniform and serving overseas. It is also about serving at home.

Over the course of the past year, Washington politicians have threatened places like the Bodie Hills with legislation that could have had lasting consequences. Currently, the Bodie Hills are wild and free, with small wet meadows, free flowing streams and wildlife. This is how we want to keep it, in the natural state it’s in today. But mining interests, who’d be granted easier access if the legislation passes, threaten to change the Bodie Hills forever.

There is a lot of history behind these hills. Since William S. Bodey came to these lands in 1859, the area has largely been defined by mining. Bodey came here in search of gold; he found it and founded the mining camp that is now California’s official ghost town (and a big tourist attraction). Despite years of boom and bust activity, the majority of land around Bodie remains untouched from previous mining excavations. Keeping the historical and cultural values of Bodie and the surrounding landscape intact is vital.

As I previously mentioned, multiple pieces of legislation have been introduced in congress this past year that could threaten lands such as Bodie. One of those bills is H.R. 1581, the Wilderness and Roadless Area Release Act of 2011. This bill would release our public lands from the protections congress has afforded them and open them up to operations such as mining and drilling. This legislation is callous and radical. As citizens we must be good stewards of this land and speak out against legislation such as this.

Stewardship. What does this mean? In life, we are stewards to many things. My time in the Army taught me many of these lessons. I was a steward to the soldiers that I served with as well as our great nation. Today, being a good steward means using my voice to speak out on the threats that could be posed to special places such as the Bodie Hills. My voice counts in its protection and so does yours.

In thinking of my own military service, I am also reminded of the thousands of troops stationed at bases close by such as 29 Palms, Edwards Air Force Base, Ft. Irwin and Nellis Air Force Base. Many of the men and women stationed at these installations are returning from grueling tours of duty in Iraq and Afghanistan. It is lands such as these here in Mono County that can serve as a place of healing. These lands can serve as a means of reintegration into our society for many of these brave souls who sometimes carry wounds that are not visible to the human eye. These lands offer a spiritual connection to life.

Finally, wild places such as the Bodie Hills are bigger than just those that live in the area. This region continuously attracts thousands of visitors from all over California and the U.S. each year. They come to experience this historic landmark. They come to breathe the air of the Eastern Sierra and witness nature in its original state. This also means revenue for local governments and small businesses in the area. Conservation of this precious land is also good for this region economically.

We need to remember why it is important to protect this land. Not only are we protecting the environment we live in, we are also sustaining our economy. I want to see this land preserved for future generations and our veterans. This is why I feel my service is still important today.

L. Mark Starr
Los Angeles

Mark Starr is a Los Angeles resident and Iraq war veteran. As program director for Vet Voice Foundation, Mark is working to raise awareness of public lands conservation issues, including seeking long-term protection for the Bodie Hills. He is bringing a group of veterans to the Eastern Sierra in March for recreation and renewal on Mono County’s public lands. For more information, visit vetvoicefoundation.org.

Speaking out for the victim

Dear Editor:

As a widow and a survivor of multiple childhood sexual abuse, I have a lot to say about the Mammoth Lakes community response to Dr. Andrew Bourne’s death. First, shock and denial are hallmarks of the earliest stages of grief, and so I cannot hold it against anyone who clings to fond or reverent memories of the late doctor. It would be normal to refuse to acknowledge that his alleged sexual crimes against a minor child could somehow be minimized by the good he has done for others.

However, as an American citizen and a former child mental health worker, I know that when a man is initially held on one million dollars bail for alleged sex crimes against a minor, there is sufficient legal evidence against him to prove wrongdoing.

Investigations involving minors are sometimes not completed (by interviewing the minor, which prompts further investigation) until the perpetrator is already jailed based on sufficient evidence of wrongdoing. In this case, emails and other electronic communications as well as police surveillance were enough evidence to arrest Dr. Bourne. While Dr. Bourne was still alive, SB County prosecutor Mary Barron had been quoted by several sources as saying that additional charges would be filed against him in this case; those charges were still forthcoming at the time of his death.

That said, this man committed suicide while out on bail for solicitation of child sex. He knew the scope of what his interactions with the victim had been before he was charged, and that further charges were pending. He evaded taking full responsibility and accountability for his actions AND he denied the victim- a minor child- her due representation

in court. In other words, he knew the extent of how he would be accused, and what his chances were in court.

We keep hearing from his lawyer, that the emails were benign and the case was defensible. This is not usually the case in high profile sex scandal charges involving minors. If a prospective court case reaches the point of prosecution that was reached in this case, there is enough evidence to prosecute the accused. Most child sex crimes are not reported, let alone found to have sufficient evidence to prosecute, often due to the age of the victim.

So, let’s think about the victim. For her own privacy, and by law, she remains nameless. She was not listed in the media by name, so nobody who knows her can support her or share her pain, until she is ready to share her story. For survivors of childhood sex crimes, that can take a while. Her situation is not yet real to the public, as Dr. Bourne’s suicide allowed him to escape charges, and Mr. Walker has not yet been tried. Many of us have stories of family members saved by caring surgeons, but how many of us have a daughter, a sister, a grandchild, niece, cousin, a student, a teammate, a classmate or a friend, whose sexual experiences over a two year period, starting at age 14, led to the arrest of two men on one million dollars bail each? How unfair that Dr. Bourne has escaped the legal system, and that his victim will never see justice served on her behalf. Additionally, she must now deal with the complexity of his suicide, and its effect on her emotionally as well as on others.

How insulting to this girl and to her family, that this man chose a path that led to his arrest, and then chose to end his own life rather than face the consequences, and now a fund is being set up in his name for his family! Her losses at his hands will never be amended by justice. She will never be compensated in any way for emotional damages or for crimes committed against her. Think of how devastating these experiences would be at her age, or any age. This man did the wrong thing many times over, to everyone involved, and now the community is being called upon to help his family without reaching out to acknowledge her!

For those wishing to donate in support of Dr. Bourne’s family, please consider asking that a Victim’s Fund be set up at the same bank- and make an equal donation. At the very least, donate to a Rape Crisis Center such as Wild Iris in Mammoth Lakes.

Kate Muir
Solvang, Calif.

Thinking out loud

Dear Editor:

Just thinking out loud in light of many governmental atrocities committed by both appointed and elected officials. I’m wondering if anyone in a position of power (town attorney, District Attorney, State General Attorney, City Manager of Bell, Calif. Robert Rizzo) is an example to be followed? The Town has been obligated to pay some $30 million in damages plus fees and interest due to some illegal?/unethical activities of our elected officials, designates and employees.

My question is, has anyone looked into bringing criminal charges against any of the individuals involved? I’m not sure, but I don’t think that working for the government at any level or in any capacity gives you the authority to knowingly break the law? And if someone — or many someones — broke the law shouldn’t they be pursued legally?  Especially if they profited by those actions. Thinking also if there were a conviction that any realized profits associated with airport development ( property appreciation) should be returned to the Town to help pay the damages.

Also thinking, I have never witnessed a lawsuit between two contentious parties where damages were awarded and the parties have continued to do business. I think it’s time for a buyout (or voiding of the contract) of Hot Creek Aviation. Thank you for showing us how to run an airport, but I’m sure we can (as a town) take over the running of that enterprise and with the proceeds we can make timely payments back to our creditor.

As far as running that portion and the Town’s portion of the airport, it might be time for a Penn State approach … clean house, make a fresh start. There are many capable people that have airport experience, and we can probably save some money there, too.

Eric Olson
Crowley Lake

*Note: For Town officials take on this topic, see page 6 for Kirkner’s update on the settlement. 

U need culture!

Dear Editor:

The fine citizens of the Mammoth Lakes area deserve a quality of life that includes the nurturing and expressive aspects of the arts. The arts humanize community and give inspiration and opportunities to connect us as people. The arts also hold great financial and economic benefit for any town, as a magnet for tourism and industry for our citizens and visitors. Cultural tourists stay longer, spend more money and shop more than tourists in general. In the most progressive of mountain towns across the U.S. millions of dollars are being invested in initiatives, in particular to arts- or culture-led schemes, designed to improve the image and quality of life in the most forward-thinking areas of our utopic rural life. Art and cultural initiatives make a huge difference to economic and social sustainability.

Our proud mountain town is earning a reputation in the arts and culture ie., music festivals, bookings of popular talent, professional quality theatrical productions, dance recitals, arts & crafts festivals, and even a film festival all of which bolsters the viability of the town by attracting visitors and tourists from around the world. Visual artists and art gallery owners have found it possible in recent years to make a living in places that had never been widely known for supporting the arts, so have performing artists, art center administrators, musicians, writers and theatre directors found small towns and cities to be welcoming, if not always lucrative, places to pursue their career goals.

Ski towns, all too aware that man cannot live by snow and sports alone, boasting beautiful performing arts centers where visitors are treated to the highest level of performing arts include Breckenridge, Vail, Aspen and Park City. Internationally known musicians and philharmonic orchestras perform at music festivals year-round at those mountain communities most of which are smaller in population than Mammoth Lakes. These areas also do not have the luxury of the entertainment gurus of the Los Angeles area in close proximity.

It’s understandable that large-scale arts infrastructure developments grab extraordinary amounts of media and taxpayer attention. After all, what town wouldn’t be proud to showcase its regional cultural gems, not to mention touring ensembles and international artists and performers, in a spanking new facility dedicated to visual or performing arts? In addition to more obvious entertainment attractions, cultural attractions in mountain communities could be made more visible in tourism marketing materials and media coverage and add to the trend towards rural-living revival.

The strongest cultural expression in America today has been in arts and sport. It is a powerful trend. These lifestyle trends relating to values of experience, well-being and entitlement in the community and shared experiences have the potential to increase tourism over the next several years for those community leaders paying attention to the far more important things other than the usual tired attempts to turn a buck on the latest real estate parcels. First things first in the order of their importance.

It behooves the city administration to create a supportive atmosphere for the arts. There is also Measure U that might be utilized as a starting point.

One can envision the building of a 15,000-20,000 square-foot structure with a 250-seat theater and small orchestra pit. A separate multipurpose “black box” space that would seat smaller groups and would be community oriented could be included. An art gallery would fill the lobby. It would be one of the largest and best-outfitted mountain-based arts centers in the region, a meeting place and a precious and welcome asset to the community.

Dennis Kostecki
Mammoth Lakes

MLTPA gets some hard Knox

Dear Editor:

In their peculiar reply last week to my letter to the editor from Jan. 7, Mammoth Lakes Trails and Public Access Community Engagement Director [Kim Stravers] declared my comments were factually inaccurate. I and others would disagree.

MLTPA is in fact a well compensated, taxpayer-funded consultant to

the Town that advocates for trails and public access, fosters stewardship, and convenes and facilitates community participation. To date, Measure R and the General Fund have bestowed $1.1 million upon MLTPA for primarily administrative services and organizational support. How else they fund their organizational existence is a question a fair number of folks are interested in knowing.

MLTPA pointed out that the Town of Mammoth Lakes submitted the Fall 2011 Measure R application requesting $300,000/year for the next five years ($1.5 million), not MLTPA.  No argument there. However, MLTPA did write the 352 page application, providing a detailed list of deliverables, most of which involve organizational support.  In fact, the Town staff thanked MLTPA for preparing the application at a recent Recreation Commission meeting.

In all four prior application cycles for Measure R (spring and fall of 2009 & 2010) MLTPA submitted applications in their own name, and received substantial funding. Page 6 of the Fall 2011 Measure R application states “The Town anticipates accomplishing the project’s scope either fully or partially through amendments to existing contractual services agreements” with MLTPA. To imply that this application was written with no expectation of benefiting from any awarded amount is dubious, to say the least.

MLTPA also stated in their published response, “If awarded, Measure R funds will be used to construct recommended projects from the Town’s recently adopted Trail System Master Plan.” That depends, I suppose, on your definition of construction. Interestingly, the line items for any actual construction expenses (page 78 of the 352 page PDF file) were specifically identified as not part of the $300,000 annual commitment.

Several of us attended a recent Recreation Commission meeting to ask for clarification. The chairperson and one fellow commissioner consider planning, programming, information/website development, and maintenance expenses to be indistinguishable from construction costs. The two other commissioners present expressed the importance of dedicating some significant portion of any awarded amount to actual construction. What is requested to be funded from the $300,000 in the submitted fall 2011 R application? Try planning, design, stewardship, governance, interagency coordination, fundraising, maintenance, marketing & promotion, etc., plus 10% contingency and 10% administration: total of $293,900.

In anticipation of another reply from MLTPA, it is important to note that the Measure R application as originally submitted encountered such resistance from a number of concerned locals that changes to the process became clearly necessary. Several Recreation commissioners understand our point and support our concern about the lack of tangible results to date.

Without this pressure, the application would have likely breezed to a large award, encumbering Measure R funds for years to come, with no assurance that tangible products (trails, park space, event venues, etc.) would result.  It will be interesting to learn how the two absent Recreation commissioners feel regarding this $1.5 million “Town” Measure R application following the recent Recreation Commission meeting on Jan. 19.

Sandy Hogan indicated in her last Letter to the Editor that she senses a positive change in attitude regarding the relationship between MLTPA, Measure R and the Town. I share her optimism, providing the public receives accurate and complete information about MLTPA’s contractual services and how Measure R awards and spending decisions have been made.

Brian Knox
Mammoth Lakes

All hail the snowmakers!

Dear Editor:

The Mammoth Lakes Chamber of Commerce, and its members, would like to send an especially huge “THANK YOU” to the snowmakers, who have dedicated long, tedious hours to make skiing & snowboarding holidays a possibility.

These folks are the original snow makers who started back in Oct 22. Some of these snow makers have been making snow for  over 10 winters. Some have transferred from other departments when no snow came. There are an additional 20+ persons, who have helped make this winter possible by shoveling the guns out when they were covered with snow.

Depending on the temperature & humidity, Mammoth Mountain Ski Area is able to operate up to 100 guns  a night. They have a total 240 guns. What does this mean to you? At 18 degrees (wet) they are able to blow 3,000 gallons per minute. That is  equal to 1 square acre foot of snow per hour. This  is providing us with more than 400 acres of skiable terrain! Way to go, Mammoth!

Quart Keyes
Mammoth Lakes Chamber 

Damn the torpedoes!

Dear Editor:

“Damn the torpedoes, full speed ahead!”

I want to acknowledge and thank Rusty Gregory and the snowmaking staff at Mammoth Mountain for the superb job they have done in keeping Mammoth up and running. There is a fair amount of acreage from main Lodge, Canyon and Juniper to ski on. This has undoubtedly been a herculean effort undertaken at some expense.

I have been here for a long time and this is the first winter in my memory in which the town of Mammoth lakes has survived because of snowmaking.

Corty Lawrence
Footloose Sports 

Knox so fast … 

Dear Editor: 

The letter titled “For the Nordic Record,” submitted by Brian Knox and published in your January 7, 2012, edition, contains factual inaccuracies that we would like to address here.

The Town of Mammoth Lakes — not MLTPA — has submitted a Measure R application for a multi-year funding commitment supporting a cooperative effort between the Town and the Inyo National Forest to establish and maintain the Mammoth Lakes Trail System (MLTS). If awarded, Measure R funds will be used to construct recommended projects from the Town’s recently adopted Trail System Master Plan. How these funds are allocated will be at the sole discretion of the Town, not MLTPA.

MLTPA is funded by a variety of sources including our supporters; state, federal, and local grants; private foundation grants; and contracts with public agencies that are awarded through transparent and publicly accountable procedures. MLTPA reports thoroughly and regularly on its Measure R awards and Town contracts. The public can access video presentations of quarterly reports given at public Recreation Commission meetings by visiting www.mltpa.org. We have also recently posted a detailed response to the opinions that Sandy Hogan has been sharing through her letters to the local papers.

Our community is facing historic challenges. With all of the facts in hand, and the determination and willingness to work together in times of adversity, we are convinced that the best days for outdoor recreation in Mammoth Lakes lie before us. We look forward to working with all of our partners to help see this vision realized.

Kim Stravers
Community Engagement Director
MLTPA Foundation

Flood Plan Mappinp

Dear Editor:

Mono County Planning Department and Public Works have been working with FEMA [Federal Emergency Managment Agency] in the Flood Plan Mapping Update process. This initiative is part of the federal government’s nationwide effort to update flood maps to more accurately reflect flood risk and impact areas for future disaster.

Mono County has been working with federal agencies to insure accurate maps are produced. In the past some maps were created in the early 1960s and 1970s, and were drawn using inaccurate topology maps. With today’s modern technology and more accurate mapping, we hope to have a higher quality map that reflects real life conditions during flood events.

The County has taken a proactive approach to working with and being involved in the required updating process. Over the last couple of years, County staff has reached out to community members to obtain photographs, insurance reports, and firsthand accounts of actual flood experience from the floods that have occurred in Mono County over the last 30 years. These real life experiences have helped to cross check the predicted reliability of the new maps.

Since these new maps appear to be impacting many previous properties that weren’t shown in flood areas the County is doing an aggressive outreach effort to inform people that they may be caught in new insurance requirements.

FEMA is currently moving forward with their formal process of adopting these maps as the official maps for future use. In the very near future there will be a public comment period for citizens to provide their views on these maps. However, we’ve been informed that the comments are only going to be allowed to address specific concerns that speak to a scientific related comment. For this reason the county staff is attempting to inform our citizens of these maps, provide as much time as possible for review, and allow significant time for property owners to reply with comments.

Also these maps, once adopted by FEMA, could have a very real impact on homeowner’s insurance prices. There will be a period of time to obtain lower cost insurance based on property that was once outside the flood map areas and are now inside the flood area. There will then be the ability to continue the flood coverage at a “Grandfathered” rate in the future. If property owners elect not to obtain insurance at these favorable rates the cost could be much higher later. The favorable rates can also be transferred with the sale of the property.

The County is actively working to get these changes out to our communities and explain the program, so that people can make informed decisions. County citizens should watch for dates and times for their respective area RPAC meetings. Additional information can be found at the following Mono County website: www.monocounty.ca.gov/departments/public_works/FEMAFloodMapsandPolicies.htm.

Duane “Hap” Hazard
Mono County Supervisor, District 2

The following letter was sent out this week to Mammoth Mountain employees by CEO Rusty Gregory.

A letter from Rusty

Dear Editor:

The company has completed its most successful Christmas and New Year holiday period in my 34 years on the mountain. Never in our history have we hosted so many guests with so little natural snow and produced such a high quality experience on and off the mountain.

I had the opportunity to talk to scores of guests over the last 2 weeks.  They were universally effusive about how much fun they were having and couldn’t believe that Mammoth had top-to-bottom skiing, the Unbound pipe and parks were going off, June was open, Woolly’s Adventure Summit had snow for the tubers, and that we even had cross country skiing up to Minaret Summit. They were wowed by the fireworks at Night of Lights and on New Year’s Eve, and had a blast at the concerts and DJ events. The Village rocked and they loved that we opened a day care and brought Sushi Rei back.

Many of our guests came to Mammoth from Northern California for the first time because the Tahoe resorts’ lower elevation and limited snowmaking capabilities only allowed the operation of a small fraction of the terrain and services Mammoth provided. A significant number chose Mammoth over their usual winter vacation spots in Colorado and Utah. You all worked very hard and performed wonderfully. From the bottom of my heart and on behalf of our guests and a grateful community, thank you very much.

But now, the crowds are returning home, the temperatures are warming and the weather is forecast to provide more sun than snow in the days to come. I know that all of you are wondering how the company intends to deal with the less than optimistic outlook going forward.

Here is what I know:

So far, this winter is the driest on record since the 1800s. I’ve talked to the heads of major resorts in California, Utah and Colorado. Each of them are cutting back on lifts, terrain and staffing to save money. Many think that the winter of 2011-12 will never really get started and the weeks and months to come will just bring more of the same.

Here is what I believe:

We operate the best mountain in the country and we run it better than other resorts run theirs. Skiers want to ski and boarders want to ride. This yearning and the demand it produces doesn’t go away just because Mother Nature isn’t cooperative. Mammoth is the skier and rider’s mountain.  When it snows, they will come. In my 34 years on the mountain, I’ve seen several severe drought years with little or no snow in October, November or December. It snowed by mid-January in each of those years.

Here is what we are going to do:

We are going to do the opposite of what other resorts are doing. We are not going to cut services to save money.  We are going to keep everything open – Eagle, Canyon, the Village, all the current lifts and all the terrain possible. If temperatures allow snowmaking, we will add more runs and lifts as soon as we can, even if it’s during the middle of the week when crowds are light. We are going to keep our seasonal and year-round employees. If hours of work get too thin for some, we will feed each of them every night to make it possible for them to stay in town. We will continue to operate all our shops and restaurants everyday on the regular winter schedule. Our rental shops will be renting all categories of skis and boards including demos, everyday.

We are going to do just what we did over the holiday, giving our guests way more than they expect, and way more than our competition. We will do it the Mammoth Way with big smiles, a positive vibe and the informal, authentically sincere service we are famous for.  Our guests will love us for it and they will come back.

I don’t want anyone to underestimate the company’s commitment to the quality of our guest’s experience or misunderstand their individual role in delivering it.

I wish each of you, your family and friends a happy, healthy and prosperous New Year.

Rusty Gregory, CEO
Mammoth Mountain Ski Area

For the Nordic record

Dear Editor,

An article published in the Dec. 17 issue shed some bright, positive light on the steady evolution of the Nordic scene in our community.

Competitive Nordic programs developed and provided by Eastern Sierra Nordic Ski Association have garnered the attention of Mammoth Mountain’s Race Department and are benefiting greatly as a result of their involvement and support. The Mammoth Mountain Community Foundation is also providing scholarships to offset team fees, travel costs, and education expenses based on need and performance. This type of significant support is crucial to the present and future success of local programs geared towards raising the caliber of homegrown, competitive Nordic talent.

The article also inadvertently compared the work of Mammoth Nordic with MLTPA. Given the recent scrutiny initiated by Sandy Hogan regarding the Town’s administration of Measure R and MLTPA, I  believe it is important to note how distinctly different the missions and objectives of our respective non-profits are:

Mammoth Nordic supports, develops and promotes Nordic Recreation.  We are an all-volunteer, non-profit organization providing a high quality, groomed Nordic Trail System free to our locals and visitors alike. Our Club is funded by contributions from our members, local business owners, second homeowners and visitors who value the experience we provide.

MLTPA is a well-compensated, taxpayer-funded consultant to the Town that advocates for trails and public access, fosters stewardship, and convenes and facilitates community participation. MLTPA is currently seeking to secure their operational financial stability over the next five years with a guaranteed $1.5 million dollar commitment from taxpayer-funded Measure R. Suffice to say, Mammoth Nordic supports Ms. Hogan and others who believe the relationship between the Town, MLTPA and the administration of Measure R is in need of an open and transparent review.

Brian Knox
Mammoth Nordic

Did you hear it? 

Dear Editor:

Did you hear the gun go off?

Well, it was the proverbial ‘starting gun,’ so it may have been hard to hear.  But it did go off, and the race has started; we are striding forward on our way to the ‘bell lap,’ ready to sprint for the finish line.

What the heck am I talking about?

On December 8, 2011, the Mono County Planning Commission granted a ‘use permit’ for the Mammoth Track Project – a project championed by the High Sierra Striders to enhance the recreation complex at Whitmore by adding a high-performance running track and synthetic turf infield project to the park’s facilities.

*For those unfamiliar with the Whitmore Park complex, it is located right off the intersection of Highway 395 and Benton Crossing Road at the south end of the airport runway. 

The use permit was the last administrative “hurdle” that we needed to cross to race toward the finish line, which will be putting a shovel in the ground to start construction of these new facilities. The start of construction could happen in May (this Spring!) and finish in just 3-4 months. We could enjoy the new track and field in August with your help.

High Sierra Striders has been aggressively fundraising for several years and we’re very, very close to our goal.  Just a little bit more is needed to fully fund the first phase of construction that includes the running track and synthetic field.  We need your help to close the gap!

In countless ways, the Mammoth Track Project will benefit all of the Eastern Sierra and our residents, as well as visitors from all over the world. Locally, enhancing our recreation park at Whitmore will provide an array of outdoor, and even business, opportunities.

Beyond our family of communities, Mammoth will welcome world-class athletes to join those already making a home and training headquarters here.  The Mammoth Track Project will be the first significant step towards establishing Mammoth as the premier high-altitude training center for a multitude of sports. For runners, it’s the missing component for those searching for the perfect headquarters for high-altitude training for athletes of all levels.  For soccer enthusiasts, it’s the perfectly level and consistent, regulation-sized pitch that will open the door to tournament play and much more.

But you don’t have to be an athlete to enjoy it or benefit from it; there will be plenty of new opportunities on and off the track and field!  Whether as a professional athlete, a recreation enthusiastic or someone who just loves being outdoors, our beautiful high-altitude environment is an unrivaled resource for us to enjoy and share with others.

You can help make it happen NOW. The sooner you donate, the sooner we build!

You can find out about donating to the project at MammothTrackProject.org.  You can choose to see your name on a paver stone on the walkway leading to the track or you might want to claim a fence post as your own!  You could have your own lane at the new track!  Visit our website or you may also call me at 760.709.2159 and we will make sure your donation is exactly as you wish it to be.

The race has started … join us at the finish line this Spring.

Elaine Smith, Board Member
High Sierra Striders

An emerging solution? 

Dear Editor,

It appears that the beginnings of a solution may be at hand, after discussion and comments from the public at the last two Recreation Commission meetings about the Trails Measure R application. The so-called Town application, written by MLTPA (Mammoth Lakes Trails and Public Access), was the subject of that discussion. Several in the audience questioned why this 352-page application had been submitted; as it had a zero request for fall 2011, but asked for $300,000 in the spring and that amount per year for the next 5 years, totaling $1.5 million. The document is posted on the Town’s website, under Recreation/Measure R applications. A Town staff and Recreation Commission subcommittee met before the latest Commission meeting, and presented a proposal to withdraw the application, examine it carefully, and restructure it appropriately.

Town Manager Dave Wilbrecht and Recreation Commissioner Chair Bill Sauser  noted that now that the Trails System Master Plan has been adopted, it is appropriate to have the Town take over those parts of the proposal that have always been done by the Town, such as trails design, engineering, and contracting. The majority of the existing Town paved paths were funded by grants obtained by the Town, and Public Works Director Ray Jarvis also noted that perhaps other elements of the application might be put out for bid, allowing other qualified contractors to compete.   The MLTPA Board’s website reply to my last letter notes that it would have no objection to this.

In my opinion, these actions may help eliminate what has seemed to be a case of the “tail wagging the dog,” with the appearance that MLTPA was setting priorities rather than the Town.  While the details of whatever changes to be made are still under consideration, I think that we are headed in the right direction to address issues that the community has expressed concerns about.

Other public comments noted that any proposal should be one year at a time, and some in the commission also expressed doubts about a multi-year commitment, especially in light of the Town’s uncertain fiscal future with the MLLA (airport litigation) settlement. It appears that the MLTS (Mammoth Lakes Trails System) Coordinating Committee may be the body to take on the restructuring of the application, so stay tuned!

MLTPA has done a great job of making the public aware of our trail system and how we can improve it, and continues to play an important role. However, design, engineering and construction of trails must be done by professionals having the demonstrated ability and credentials to do these tasks. Allowing other contractors to bid for various other project elements of the application makes good sense. I look forward to seeing the on-the-ground improvements.

Sandy Hogan
Mammoth Lakes

On behalf of Santa, The Sheet received several letters which we promptly forwarded to the North Pole. Santa would like to thank all of the obviously good boys and girls for taking the time to write him.

This year, Minky Monkey and the Booky Joint have offered four $25 gift certificates to randomly selected winners, who include:

$25 to the Mannings at Minky Monkey Toys. That frees up $25 which their parents may wish to put towards their insurance policy if Santa grants the B.B. gun request.

$25 to Lucy Jacoby at the Booky Joint, seeing as she has an artistic flair.

$25 to Eric from Ms. Burgenbauch’s class. You’re gonna miss mom doing the dishes when you get older. We’ll send you to Minky Monkey because they’ve got Legos.

$25 to Naomy from Ms. Underkoffler’s class. Can’t understand a word you wrote but we like your pretty name. We’ll send you to the Booky Joint.

The first letters which appear here are those which were sent directly to The Sheet’s mailbox. The rest are from Ms. Burgenbauch’s class and Ms. Underkoffler’s class at Mammoth Elementary. Due to space considerations, we could not fit all the letters this week. If we receive further letters, and can clear the space, we’ll print the rest next week.

Thanks to all the kids for their Christmas spirit.

Without further ado …

-Lunch 

Dear Santa,

I hope I’m on your nice list. I really want a phone for Christmas because almost all my friends have one. If you could bring me a phone I would be so happy.

And thank you for the [Nintendo] DSI. I lost my charger but I still take care of it. So if you brought me a phone I would love it.

Thank you so much,
Sienna Manning, 9

Dear Santa,

I am so happy I moved to Mammoth. I live in the snow like you. I would like play tools. And an iPad 2.

Love,

Savannah, 5
Mammoth Lakes

Dear Santa,

What I want for Christmas is a B.B. gun.

Noah Manning
Mammoth Lakes

P.S. I love you. How are you doing? How are your elves doing? 

Dear Santa,

I love you and I miss you. I have been a very good girl this year. For Christmas I would like a flute and a guitar.

Lucy Jacoby, 3
Mammoth Lakes

These next letters are courtesy of Mrs. Burgenbauch’s class. 

Dear Santa,

How are your elves and reindeer? For Christmas could I please get 50 G.I. Joe sheriffs from the Wild West and 50 G.I. Joe bandits also from the Wild West? I try my best in school. I always do all my homework on Tuesday night. I’ve done everything that my parents say.

From,
Leo, 7

Dear Santa,

Ho, Ho, Ho! How are you? Can I please, please have a Zhorse?

I made my bed two times. I tried to be a bucket-filler all year. I got to school on time on four days.

From,
Paige, 7

Dear Santa,

You are my best friend. Can I please have all of the Lego Star Wars guys?

I was going to do the dishes but my mom wouldn’t let me. I helped my little sister get dressed. I played Legos with my big brother.

From,
Eric, 7

Dear Santa,

You are nice to kids. I will like to have a Pairpod please Santa. I help my mom clean houses. I help my dad at Salsa’s. I help my sister shopping and help her carry the food.

From
Melanie G, 7

Dear Santa,

How are you and how are your reindeer? Please give me game called “Dance Central” for X-Box 360. I have been nice. I do my homework. I pick up all the trash from my room. I am nice to my mom and dad.

From
Dominic, 7

These next letters are courtesy of Emily Underkoffler’s 2nd Grade Dual Immersion class. 

Querido papa Noel,

Yo mi llamo Naomy yo te quiero como estas? Porque tu eres hueno con todos? Los ninos parquet to quieres a todos los ninos? Como vuelan los renos? Son bien los duendes traba gadres? Como vais al rederdor del mundo? Tue res bueno conlos ninos?

Tu amigo,
Naomy

Querido Papa Noel,

Como vuelanlos venos? Son Buenos trabagadores sus Juedjes? Tutrabajo es bueno?

Tu amiga,
Melanie

Querido Papa Noel,

Noel como vuela los renos? Son Buenos trabajaderes sus duendos? Como vas al rededor del mundo? Me gustah los regalas que asen tusduemos?

Tu amigo,
Chris

Querido papa Noel,

Como estas? Yo me llamo Daisy. Como vuelan tus renos? Son buenos trabajadores tus duendes? Como vas alrededor del mundo? Tus renos y tu son amables y trabajadores.

Con carino,
Daisy

Response to Hogan …

Dear Mammoth Lakes:

On Jan. 18, Mammoth Lakes Town Council is slated to consider a proposal from the Town to the U.S. Forest Service to formalize their partnership and establish the Mammoth Lakes Trail System, a fully integrated program of trails and related information resources. This proposal is consistent with the adopted objectives of the Town and implements the direction provided by the Town through earlier agreements. MLTPA supports the Town’s proposal; it speaks to innovative solutions, critical partnerships, and the resilliency of this community.

This board believes that partnerships like the proposed trails program create efficiencies and opportunities in the best of times. With the current fiscal difficulties of governments at all levels, partnerships may be the only way to continue to provide an acceptable level of public service. We believe that this community must find forward-looking solutions to these unprecedented challenges. We must do this together, as a fully engaged community.

The MLTPA Board of Directors has prepared a point-by-point analysis detailing the errors and inaccuracies in Sandy Hogan’s letter to the editors of the local papers last week. It is available at www.mltpa.org. Absent an amended vision for the future of outdoor recreation in this community, MLTPA will remain hard at work fulfilling its contractual obligations to the Town, developing new ideas and solutions to shared challenges, and delivering professional technical capacity to beleaguered public agencies.

MLTPA is committed to Mammoth Lakes and its future as the finest alpine-recreation community in the country. The Town Council’s decision on Jan. 18 will help turn that vision into a reality.

Will Aldrich, Jay Deinken,
Jim Smith, Bill Taylor,
Joyce Turner, John Urdi,
John Wentworth
MLTPA Board of Directors

For the 99%

Dear Editor: 

No one likes to pay taxes and most people will admit to doing what they can to keep their tax obligations as low as possible. And most of the people I know including small- to medium-sized business owners cannot afford a lobbyist to ensure that their tax obligations remain at zero or below.  A report recently released by publiccampaign.org shows that 30 large corporations in America including GE, Verizon, FedEx, PG&E, Wells Fargo and Boeing paid more for lobbying than they paid in federal taxes in 2008, ‘09 and ‘10. In fact, each of these companies and 25 more mentioned in the report had tax rebates even though they had substantial profits for 2010. In total these large corporations paid $476 million dollars over three years lobbying Congress. This amounts to $400,000 per day, every day of the year.

This is one of the reasons a group of eastside residents from Mammoth to Lone Pine have gathered in Bishop on three occasions to stand on the street in support of the 99% of us who are not properly represented by Congress. We will gather publicly every other Sunday at Bishop City Park including Christmas Day and on into 2012 in support of a more democratic and just society. We believe that corporations are not people and that money is not free speech. We believe in making political, economic and social choices based on values not political parties. Please exercise your first amendment rights and join us at the Bishop City Park at noon on Dec. 25, Jan. 1, Jan. 15, Jan. 22 and every other Sunday as we enter the 2012 election cycle.

Mary Pipersky
Sunny Slopes