Letters to the editor

Photo: Henschel

Blue skies shine on Blue Sky

Dear Editor:

If the Food & Wine Experience is a sample of new kinds of summer events in Mammoth, bring ’em on.

Under the umbrella of the Blue Sky Fest, food and wine packed a wallop. Not only did the seminars rock, in terms of fascination, and succulent food and wine pairings, but the cooking demonstration and wine tastings Saturday afternoon had the sense of a moveable feast.

Around the edges and in the middle of the Edison Hall parking lot wine kiosks offered tastings. Tucked among them five booths hosted cooking demonstrations. Dan Molnar’s Baja fish tacos; Richard Haake’s and David Katz’s astonishing paella cooked in a four-foot pan over a wood fire; chicken Delmonico and a refreshing salad of watermelon, heirloom tomatoes, avocado and feta prepared by culinary students from Bakersfield College; Gary Johnson’s tender, subtle and delicious BBQ Tri Tip; and Mammoth Mountain’s awesome smoked turkey sandwich.

People munched, mingled and sipped their way around the venue. Whether locals or Southern Californians, they were having a good time in the sunshine kept manageable by sweet breezes. After tasting the foods, voting took place to determine the People’s Choice, and the students from Bakersfield College walked away the winners.

Twenty wineries poured tastes of their vintages, many of which had been available during the six, sold-out seminars that went on Friday and Saturday in the Edison Theatre.

Take, for instance, Saturday morning’s “Pinot Noir – the Mystery Revealed.” Larry Brooks of Tolosa Winery just south of San Luis Obispo regaled people on how the winery came about, how he came to winemaking, and how vines are chosen, planted, etc. Known as the godfather of Pinot in California, he poured four different pinots, all from the spectacular 2007 vintage. This was an anomaly among the seminars, the rest of which paired their wines with unbelievable food tastings. However, it was the absence of food that enabled we 48 to discern the variations in each pinot.

Mammoth’s Chef Frederic Pierrel tantalized and demonstrated two of the recipes in his cookbook. Chris Collins presented a range of Spanish wines that easily converted all attendees. Throughout, the entertaining, charming winery chef Richard Haake dazzled taste buds with his offerings.

So if this was a first, we will have even higher expectations for the second time around. It feels like a new tradition has been born in Mammoth. A production of the Mammoth Lakes Foundation, the entire Food & Wine Experience benefits education (Mammoth Schools NOW Education Foundation is also a beneficiary). That was a singular goal of MLF’s Evan Russell, to bring a new kind of event to Mammoth that raises money for education.

Diane Eagle
Mammoth Lakes

What’s on Georgia’s mind

Dear Wheeler Crest Volunteer Fire Department and Mono County Paramedics:

You guys are awesome!

Last week, in the dead of Wednesday night, I experienced some really scary heart attack symptoms. After dithering around for too long, I called 911, and this terrific, kind woman kept me on the line until you arrived.

In the meantime, I heard the Wheeler Crest fire siren begin to wail, then from my window I saw some of my friends and neighbors speed away. No more than 10 minutes later, here you came into my driveway, red lights flashing, in an enormous hook and ladder truck. And, from the time you all, in full turn-out gear, banged at the door and clomped inside, I knew I was in good hands.

You settled me down, got me stabilized and before long, the Mono County Paramedics arrived.

And you, Mono County Paramedics, are really something. You made your assessment that, yes, I needed to be transported to Mammoth. And you stayed right at my side from my house to the Mammoth Hospital Emergency Room, all the while plying me with oxygen and a glucose IV.

Then, Doctor Walker determined I should be flown to Renown and you still stayed with me all the way to the airport, on the plane and to Reno.

You kept me talking, even laughing when I could have easily panicked.

So to you all, I’m grateful and humbled by your care and concern. We in Mono County are so fortunate to have you.

Georgia Lowe
Swall Meadows

How high is high?

Dear Editor:

The definition for building height and how it is measured discussed at the joint Planning Commission and Town Council meeting on July 6 is terribly confusing. In order to understand it, one needs to be proficient in algebra, trigonometry, plane geometry and solid geometry, especially where grade is not level. Terms such as slope, finished grade, roof pitch and (A+B+C+D=X/4=height) are not easily understood. The town also allows up to 50% of “underground” parking to be aboveground, resulting in a “podium” from which height is determined. The definition of height also does not include appurtenances such as solar panels, communication towers and elevator shafts on roofs.

We suggest that for all developments, story pole demonstrations should be mandatory prior to use permit. Computer graphics demonstrating height are fine in the formal documentation review process but are not adequate to replace actual visualization on site.

Andy Ott
Mammoth Alliance of Property Owner Associations