Letters

Giving bullying the smackdown

Dear Editor:

I am the speech-language therapist at Mammoth Elementary School and a volunteer actor here in Mammoth. I am also the creator of  “Caring & Courageous Kids: Program for Positive Intervention to Bullying,” formerly called SMACK or Show More Acts of Caring & Kindness, which is beginning its second year at my school. Caring & Courageous Kids was created for the purpose of fostering a climate of caring and kindness at Mammoth Elementary School while empowering students with the courage to reduce the problem of bullying.
I wrote a play and am seeking adult actors (to play in the role of kids), especially MALES. I have a few people (mostly female) who have already committed but I need a few more.
The play will be performed on Thursday, Sept 23 and Friday, Sept 24. It will be a valuable and rewarding experience to perform this play as well as teach some very important concepts to children who want bullying to stop.
Experience is not necessary. Some will have very few lines to memorize, and instead may be included as bystanders in school scenes, giving important body language and responses to what is going on. everyone will be onstage 99% of the duration of the play. The play is approximately 30 minutes.
Contact me at starfishdee@ymail.com or 760.709.1511 if you would like to participate. Thanks!

Dee DiGioia
Mammoth Lakes

Park Place looking spiffy

Dear Community Members:

This has been one of the more frustrating and most delightful summers of my life. I would like to thank the community for all your support of the Volcom Brothers Skate Park. Today as I looked out over the skatepark, I was amazed by what we have accomplished. The landscaping adds so much to the entrance of the park. Gone are the weeds and dirt area replaced by pavers that recognize our many donors and supporters. We have added benches, picnic tables, shade and viewing areas for our many spectators and visitors. I couldn’t be more pleased and I hope you will visit and enjoy our beautiful park.  It is awesome!
First I’d like to thank the Town Council for their support of the skatepark.  Their quick action and monetary support were key in the park update.
The Town’s public works crew has been terrific. Ray Jarvis, Peter Bernasconi and Dennis Rottner are always working behind the scenes to make sure all our parks are impeccably maintained.
Steve Klassen and the staff at Wave Rave (Alex, Troy, Patrick, Tim, and many more) have always been ready and willing to help in any way they can. Every time I walk  in the shop and ask  for help they organize a work crew on a moment’s notice.
I’d especially like to thank everyone who spent a few hours with a pick and shovel breaking up the rock hard dirt in the planted areas in front of the skate park. Chris May and Mark Kleinertz worked for two full days shoveling and planting. Dawn True also spent many hours selecting the native plants and shrubs that will come back year after year.
The skatepark was the first public art project in the Town of Mammoth Lakes. Dustin del Giudice designed and hand- constructed our benches and tables in keeping with the clean, sleek, artistic esign for concrete and metal.  I appreciate his time and effort in making these works of art.
Chuck Villar, his staff, and many sub- contractors have done a wonderful job. The rock work and pavers look fantastic.
The Mammoth Lakes Police Department and Karen Smart have done a great job in enforcing the skatepark rules. This past week they have implemented a program that offered positive rewards for kids doing the right thing.
As always in writing a thank you one risks forgetting someone who played an important  part of the project. A big thanks to you all.
This weekend I hope you will come join us at the skatepark. On Saturday, Wave Rave is holding its annual kids skate contest (it’s free with parent permission) and on Sunday the Volcom Pro Skate Team is making their last stop on the Volcom Jean Tour. There should be some awesome riding.

Jane Baer
Mammoth Lakes

Change is good

Dear Editor:

We enjoyed your paper while visiting Mammoth this past week!
We agree with some of the things that Paul Rudder mentioned in his letter to the editor (Aug. 21 issue) about Mammoth needing a master plan. We are regular visitors and spent a week at Snowcreek enjoying all summertime things that Mammoth has to offer. Every time we went to dinner we gravitated towards the Village because it offered newness, variety, places to sit outside and walkability. During our week here we ate at three restaurants-(Gomez, Side Door and Bear Creek Pizza Oven) in the Village, enjoyed dessert at the Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory and did a little shopping all without having to get back in the car.  We even got a great massage next door at Simply Massage. The most tedious part of our trip was having to shop at Vons and it’s hard to believe the town doesn’t lobby to get a Trader Joe’s or something else to compete.
It was great to see the bike path up to the lakes from town.
We live in Encinitas and the master plan created for our downtown area is the best thing that has happened here. It added to the charm. It has a consistent theme, wider sidewalks with sitting and gathering areas and landscaping.
Mammoth needs the same, a master plan which focuses on walkability and gathering places. If Mammoth can figure out how to connect the town into a more walker-friendly and socially inviting little village we would be more inclined to spend even more vacations here. Sometimes change is good.

Trish and Todd Haskell
Cardiff, Calif.