Gadzooks!
Dear Editor:

GADZOOKS! SOMEONE ELSE NEEDS A NEW PROJECT!

I read with a sense of pique Ken Warner’s letter published last week (Great Zombie Jesus!, The Sheet, March 26, page 4). It seems that he has deemed the proposed Mammoth Lakes Gateway Monument Park a monumental waste of time, as well as a completely misguided effort on the part of Elizabeth Tenney.

I would beg to differ with Mr. Warner’s assertion. I am an avid supporter of Ms. Tenney’s past efforts dedicated to the beautification of the Mammoth Lakes Post Office … a project which I believe has the SUPPORT of EVERY CITIZEN in town who makes their obligatory trek to pick up the mail. They are reminded (on a daily basis) of the beauty that surrounds us here in the Eastern Sierra by such a stunning display of wildflowers and an art-infused pocket park. One might even go as far as to call these spectacular seasonal public gardens an actual (OMG) “tourist attraction!”

If Ms. Tenney, as a private citizen, has chosen to direct her energies toward the creation of an impactful Gateway Monument Park at the entrance to the Town of Mammoth Lakes, more power to her! Need I remind Mr. Warner that Mammoth Lakes likes to describe itself on occasion as a “Destination Resort?” Is it not therefore befitting that such an esteemed destination have a welcoming entranceway of some distinguishable merit for its visitors?

Now, I also agree with the list of projects that Mr. Warner has identified in his letter as being just as (or even more) important then Ms. Tenney’s Gateway Park Project. Therefore, I would suggest that HE choose one of them to help bring to fruition. I will be just as supportive of his efforts, both personally and financially, as I have been of Ms. Tenney’s projects.  Mr. Warner, I look forward to hearing WHICH PROJECT on your list YOU will be SPEARHEADING!

Let’s ALL CONTRIBUTE to making the Town of Mammoth Lakes a more beautiful and inspiring place to live, work and visit in the manner which we each individually find most fulfilling.

Steve Horman
Mammoth Lakes

Motocross wholesome for kids
Dear Editor:

In response to A.J. Garcia’s motocross course [in Chalfant], I think it’s an awesome plan to incorporate into our community. For someone to put forth that much effort to provide a great environment for kids is commendable.

The proposed course gives kids a safer environment in which to ride their motorcycles, rather than just tearing up the desert. A.J. is an EMT and would know how to treat an injury if an individual got hurt.

Unfortunately, there is very little to safely entertain kids, so they go in the desert to drink, do drugs, etc. With the motocross track, it will help keep kids out of trouble and they’ll have an incredible activity in which they can participate.

We live in a rural area, and A.J. has the property and willingness to open up his heart, time and abilities. Too many men don’t want to be involved, nor will they take the time to be with kids. Our youth today need these kinds of role models, especially our young men. We NEED people such as A.J.!!!

Please allow A.J. to have the motocross course and be involved in the lives of our kids. Besides, it’s not like he has the course lit up like a football field and has the kids out there at 10 p.m. at night.

Janet Perry
Chalfant Valley

Tenney: a strategy for hard times
Dear Editor:

I appreciate Mr. Ken Warner’s frustration and impatience making “Mammoth a better place to live.” (Great Zombie Jesus!, The Sheet, March 26, page 4). I can even understand his trivializing my volunteer community beautification effort considering the high price tag/private property rights-challenging wish list of projects he would have me undertake.

Mr. Warner’s wish list (with my take in italics)

1) “Sherwins Area Recreation Plan” – John Wentworth doing admirable job with SHARP.

2) “real municipal natatorium” –  For more than 20 years, Councils have tried for a rec center with pool; expensive to build with budget-destroying maintenance and operating costs.

3) “south frontage road into a pedestrian mall” – Base Camp Café’s Skip Harvey and Luxury Outlet Mall’s Paul Rudder plan just that with trial-basis configurations this summer.

4) “general clean-up” – On Town’s Annual Clean-up Day, I’ll be pulling weeds at the post office with the  volunteers.

5) “turning part of Minaret Mall into a public square” – Recommend Mr. Warner talk to Minaret Mall’s owner.

6) “acquiring the Shady Rest Tract [for a] park” – Tract currently owned by 279 investors.

7) “revitalizing Center Street” – Center St. part of Main St. “Downtown Neighborhood District Plan” available on Town’s website.

A little perspective

When Town Council and Planning Commission jointly discussed “An Investment Strategy for Hard Times” last November, they identified three small projects that could produce big positive impacts in Mammoth. One such project was a “gateway” at the entrance to town, already identified as an “Action” in the 2007 General Plan (p.17).

Knowing there was no money at the Town to pursue the gateway idea, I offered to organize the project as a community effort this summer, much as I had done with the Post Office beautification project five years ago.

I’m bowled over by the favorable response. The gateway project is seen both as a source of community pride and as a signal to next winter’s visitors that Mammoth Lakes is moving forward despite bad publicity and a tough economy.

Mammoth Gateway Project

It appears Mr. Warner didn’t see the entire March 16 presentation to Town Council.

The proposed monument together with the existing service organizations and churches monument, located across Hwy 203 slightly to the east, form a virtual gateway to our community. The setting with its background of pine trees, blue sky, Mammoth Mountain and Mammoth Crest will make for a spectacular and welcoming entrance.

Larry Walker’s rugged and timeless design, inspired by Crystal Crag and to be built of Bridger granite and raw steel, has locals very enthused. Including a bronze mammoth sculpture was merely one suggestion as was made clear to Council. Nothing has been determined about additional art on the site.

Tweeted ‘round the world

Just think if only 10% of Mammoth’s average annual 2.8 million visitors were to snap a “wish you were here” photo of the impressive new gateway entrance with its magnificent mountain backdrop and send it via Facebook or Twitter to their friends and family. That would be 280,000 FREE electronic “marketing Mammoth moments.” That’s a pretty good return on investment for a volunteer community project.

Elizabeth Tenney
Mammoth Lakes