Archive - Feb 2013 - Opinion

What was the true purpose of the Snow Pack promotion?

February 22, 2013

I am writing about the Alaska Airlines Snow Pack, which was heavily advertised late last year as discount airline tickets available between LAX and Mammoth Lakes.

My boyfriend John and I were both quite excited about his being able to fly to Mammoth many weekends this winter and to enjoy all that Mammoth has to offer, and we bought each other a 10-flight snow pack for $570 for Christmas.

Pushovers

February 22, 2013

The Mammoth Lakes Town Council talks a good game when it comes to making good on transient occupancy taxes.

But when push comes to shove, the majority of the council showed this past week that it can roll over like so many submissive puppies.

Faced with its first high-profile, public TOT case, council members Rick Wood, Jo Bacon, and John Eastman voted to let property owners Kevin and Carolynn Cozen get away with no penalties or fines for illegally renting their single-family home on Hillside Drive.

Rotary Winterfest Celebration round up

February 15, 2013

To all of the wonderful people of our community who have supported us for the last 33 years: a large and gracious thanks!

Many of you atteneded the Noon Rotary fundraiser event last Saturday night, and we were very happy to see you.

We were stunned by the invitation to accept the first “Service Above Self” Rotarian award, but are very honored to accept it.

The little town that could

February 15, 2013

Two weekends ago, the community of June Lake proved that it is the Little Town that Could. 

Faced with an economically challenging winter, the June Lake Revitalization Committee set off to develop some animation-generating events and activities.  These have required collaboration and cooperation from many community members. The June Lake Winter Festival and Triple Threat Triathlon, held Feb. 1 to 3, really proved how great things can happen if we all work together. 

Go Fish

February 15, 2013

The kiss of death for any resort community is doing the same thing all the competitors are doing.

The kiss of success is finding the one thing that people want, or the two or the three things, that no other resort, anywhere, can do.

In Mono County’s case, that one thing is not Mammoth Mountain Ski Area—other resorts have big mountains, too.

It’s not our great scenery—others have that, too.

It’s Alpers trout.

Great, big, fat Alpers trout.

Thank you from Wild Iris

February 8, 2013

Wild Iris would like to say thank you to the communities of Inyo and Mono counties for your generosity and support.

Whether you’ve been a long-time supporter, or you’re relatively new to the Wild Iris family, your monetary gifts, as well as those of time and talent, have made a tremendous difference in the lives of those we serve.

NRA only interested in profit

February 8, 2013

As a boy scout in the early 60s, I learned gun safety and how operate a single shot .22 rifle—promoted by the National Rifle Association. 

At that time, the NRA was owned and operated by law abiding gun owners who understood what was appropriate for ownership and use.

Today there are only 12 million of those members so it is important to ask how the NRA has $200 million to lobby against laws that might influence the availability of guns. 

That money comes from the manufacturers. 

An idea for June Lake

February 8, 2013

June Lake’s Winter Festival and Triple Threat Winter Triathlon event was a great example of a community coming together and being proactive in response to the loss of its biggest business booster.

When Mammoth Mountain Ski Area announced (unexpectedly) its decision to close June Mountain Ski Area for the 2012-13 season, we imagined every June Lake citizen’s hearts dropped to the bottom of his or her stomach. Ours did.

School Safety

February 1, 2013

We’re so busy being relaxed around here that we sometimes we forget that the so-called “real world” exists.