Letters to the Editor
What to do in a drought
Dear Editor:
I started reading another one of your drought articles, Level lll, 30 percent decrease, etc., and immediately got bored. I flipped to the middle of the paper which opened up to a big beautiful colored picture of the green fairway and the blue artificial lake on Sierra Star. The add was to sell big new fancy houses on the 8th hole. I have played that course many times, and it is nice. My guess is those houses will use some water.
Tough to get motivated and stop watering my lawn while development continues. I say put a ban on new development til the drought is over. Until then, let’s enjoy the golf course while eating almonds (I did read your almond article).
Tim Marshall
Corona Del Mar
Silver lining
Dear Editor:
As Swall Meadows rises from the ashes, we’d like to express our gratitude to our friends, family, and community for the outpouring of support and generosity we’ve received over the past weeks. This support has made all the difference to our ability to recover and begin to rebuild. In particular, we’d like to thank the Wheeler Crest Fire Safe Council, Wheeler Crest Fire Department, Lee Ann Wood and her Relief Committee, and Mono County Supervisor Fred Stump, CAO Jim Leddy, Tony Dublino, Louis Molina, Scott Burns, Barry Beck, and all the supervisors and staff who went above and beyond what anyone could expect from local government.
Local contractors and tradesmen have also responded to our needs with a speed and expertise that is making our struggle a bit easier. It seems that this calamity may have a tiny silver lining as we all come back with an increased awareness of the beauty, big hearts, and amazing resilience of our Eastern Sierra community.
Karen Ferrell-Ingram
Stephen Ingram
Swall Meadows
A cure for cynicism
Dear Editor:
As someone who lost their house in the Round Fire, as did my son, I would like to say how proud and grateful I am to be part of such a generous and caring community. While our circumstances were dire during the first couple of days, the kindnesses and openness of friends and strangers took me by surprise. Strangers who offered me a place to sleep, who asked nothing in return; community resources that offered help; the Salvation Army and the Red Cross, who clothed me when I had one shirt to my back, who bought me medications to tide me over, I so greatly thank.
In today’s rough and tumble world, it’s easy to become cynical. But this natural disaster brought out the best in people, caring, reaching out. The Aerohead bike shop that gave me a bike to ride to work off the stress, the kind case of wine that Chip and Lee Ann Wood replaced when my wine cellar melted, the donations of money that bridged the gaps between insurance and savings that so many people made, leave me humbled.
On an additional note, I want to acknowledge the impact of the State’s agencies who have come to to clean up the mess. OES and their people have been remarkable, kind and incredibly hard working. Their 12 hour days and sensitivitly to local issues make me a happy tax payer. I’ve not dealt before with such kind, industrious people.
I will be rebuilding here, as will my son, because we love this land and we love its people, who have reached out to us. With sincere gratitude,
Richard Hawk
Swall Meadows
Music contest winners
Dear Editor:
Three area high school students faced off in an instrumental music contest at the River Church in Bishop on Thursday, April 9. Sponsored by the Rotary Clubs of Mammoth and Bishop, the contest featured Connor Craig from Mammoth High School and Chris Molina and Karla Castilla from Bishop High School.
Craig, who took top honors in the contest, played “Take Five” by The Dave Brubeck Band on the saxophone. Molina placed second with his rendition of Bach’s “Minuets from the Suite in G major” on the cello, and Castilla, who played Steve Miller’s iconic “Abracadabra” on the bass guitar, placed third.
Molina and Castilla received $50 cash prizes, and Craig claimed the $100 top prize, as well as advancing to the Rotary District contest in South Lake Tahoe on May 16.
Luan Mendel
Mammoth Lakes Noon Rotary Club
