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MT News Briefs |
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Friday, 30 November 2007 |
Draft EIS: Horizon Air proposed Mammoth Yosemite Airport service
Horizon Air proposes to initiate scheduled commercial air service into Mammoth Yosemite Airport (MMH), which is owned and operated by the Town of Mammoth Lakes. The proposed service would begin in December 2008 with two daily flights from Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) to MMH during the winter ski season (approximately December to April). Horizon Air has proposed to use their Bombardier DHC 8-402 (Q400 Dash 8) aircraft which can seat up to 76 passengers. The Q400 Dash 8 is part of the Bombardier Dash 8 family of turbo-propeller driven passenger aircraft.
The Town of Mammoth Lakes has prepared and submitted to FAA a forecast of future commercial aviation activity at MMH. The FAA has reviewed and approved this forecast. Winter ski service is projected to increase to a maximum of eight flights per day by the year 2011. The aviation activity forecast also considers the addition of two flights per day during the summer months beginning in 2012.
Proposed FAA Action: Approval of the proposed amendment to operations specifications for Horizon Air to permit scheduled commercial air service to MMH using the Bombardier Q400 Dash 8 aircraft pursuant to 14 CFR Part 119.
FAA’s Associated Administrative Actions include Approval of the Town of Mammoth Lakes’ Application for Certificate Amendment pursuant to 14 CFR Part 139, and approval of modifications to the Town of Mammoth Lakes’ MMH Airport Certification Manual pursuant to 14 CFR Part 139.
The FAA will host a public workshop for the Draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for review and comment on Tuesday, Dec. 18, in Suite Z, from 4–8 p.m. Copies of the Draft EIS are available for purchase on CD; contact Assistant Town Manager, Karen Johnston at (760) 934 8989 ext. 228. Copies are also available for review at the Mammoth Lakes Library. -MT
Ritz-Carlton schedules 2010 opening
The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company, L.L.C., and Cypress Equities of Dallas, Texas, announced earlier this week they have reached an agreement to operate and develop luxury, whole-ownership residences at Mammoth Mountain on a 6.9 acre site in one of California's premiere ski and outdoor recreation areas on the eastern slopes of the Sierra Mountains. The Ritz-Carlton Residences at Mammoth are scheduled to open for the 2010 ski season and will be located adjacent to The Village at Mammoth's gondola, with quick access to shopping and dining.
In addition to selecting from a range of signature Ritz-Carlton provided services and amenities, including housekeeping, catering, room service and concierge services, owners will enjoy a lavish spa and fitness center, swimming pool, several fire pits, gourmet and express restaurants, ski valet services and more. According to a press release, the Ritz-Carlton Residences will feature “world-class finishes, services and amenities amounting to the finest living in Mammoth Lakes.” For more information, including pricing, call (888) 310-8383 or visit www.theresidencesmammoth.com.
The Ritz Carlton is being developed by Cypress Hotels & Resorts, an affiliate of Cypress Equities, specializing in development services for lodging investments. Cypress Equities is a development affiliate of The Staubach Company formed in 1995, focusing on portfolio acquisitions, build-to-suits, project development, sale-leasebacks and other development services for retail and automotive. Currently, Cypress Equities is developing more than $3 billion in projects across the country. -PR
Former Stove owner diagnosed with breast cancer
Robin Anders, former owner of The Stove Restaurant in Mammoth Lakes, was diagnosed with a rare form of breast cancer on Sept. 16. The diagnosis was of Inflammatory Breast Cancer or IBC, and while statistics aren't promising, many factors can affect a positive prognosis.
The good news is that Anders received early treatment, and although the cancer has spread to her lymph nodes, it is still considered stage 3 and has not progressed to stage 4. She is eligible for a new drug, Herceptin, that treats this type of cancer, and was accepted at the only IBC clinic in the country, MD Anderson Cancer Clinic in Houston, Texas. Treatment in Texas will require her to travel often in the next year, and, while her insurance company has agreed to cover most of her medical costs, the high price of chemotherapy and Herceptin may still require some out-of-pocket expenses.
To help Anders out you can write a check to: “Robin's Wings,” and mail it to Robin Anders, 17 Hotchkiss Lane, Madison, CT 06443. For more information contact Marty Shapiro at Another T-Shirt Shop, (760) 934-8652. -MT
MMSA Updates
Canyon Lodge and Eagle Lodge will delay opening until conditions permit. The Panorama Gondola opened for Scenic Gondola Rides Thursday, Nov. 22. The Top of the Sierra Interpretative Center and Café is also open. As always, Scenic Rides are $20 for adults, $15 for youth and $10 for children and seniors.
Cooler temperatures remain in the forecast later this week. The ticket price will be $35 with Broadway Express and Facelift Express running, and will go to $64 for an adult when Discovery Chair is added.
Tamarack Cross Country Ski Center's Opening Day has been delayed. Hiking trails in the Lakes Basin are in great shape! Ski and Snowboard School will open when Discovery Chair begins operating. -MT
MLFD to hold public hearing
The Mammoth Lakes Fire Department will hold a public hearing on Dec. 11 at 2 p.m. at Fire Station 1 on Main Street, concerning the new California, International, and MLFD fire and building codes. A special focus will be on the construction type and materials allowed in critical wildland fire areas. The public is encouraged to attend to learn both about the code and to comment on the Fire Hazard Severity Map for our area. -MT
Library sets an opening date
Mark your calendars, Planning Commissioner Jo Bacon announced that the Opening Day for the new library in Mammoth Lakes has been set for Dec. 17. Look for more detailed information in this issue of the Mammoth Times. -MT
Winter survey reveals new insights in Mammoth Visitor
The Tourism and Recreation Department, in an effort to better understand the Mammoth winter visitor, recently completed a comprehensive analysis comparing our 2004 and 2007 winter visitors. The report is posted on www.visitmammoth.com/companyinfo, and reveals that visitors are staying longer, traveling with more people and spending an average of $589 per day. -MT/TOML
ESTA to increase fares
The Board of Directors of the Eastern Sierra Transit Authority (ESTA) has scheduled a public hearing to receive comments on proposed adjustments to the fares charged the users of ESTA public bus routes and services. Current fares have been in place since 1998. In the nine years since that time, costs to provide public bus service have increased substantially.
Bus fare revenue is a key source of operating funds for the system, and ESTA is consider increasing its fare revenues in order to meet its financial obligations for this and future years. The Board of Directors has scheduled a formal public hearing for Dec. 14, 11:30 a.m. in Bishop to receive any and all comments on the proposed fare changes. The public is encouraged to attend this public hearing. ESTA staff will take comments from individuals and organizations continuously until that time, and present all comments to the Board for review and consideration. Comments may be submitted as follows:
Proposed fare adjustments are available on all ESTA buses along with “comment cards.” Completed cards can be returned to any ESTA office, mailed in or turned in to any ESTA bus driver.
Call ESTA with comments at (760) 872-1901 in (Bishop), (760) 924-3184 (Mammoth) or toll free (800) 922-1930. E-mail comments may be submitted to:
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ESTA staff has scheduled informal meetings in various communities in order to receive local citizen comment and answer questions. They are:
LONE PINE: Monday, Dec. 3, at 6 p.m. Statham Hall.
WALKER: Tuesday, Dec. 4, at 1:30 p.m. Walker Senior Center.
BISHOP: Thursday, Dec. 6, at 6 p.m. in the Bishop City Council Chambers, 301 W. Line St.
MAMMOTH: Monday, Dec. 10, at 6 p.m. in the Town Council Chambers, Suite Z. -ESTA
Vista Point Partners, LLC lay claim in Mammoth
Private real estate investment and development company Vista Point Partners, LLC, with offices in Walnut Creek and New York, announced on Nov. 19 the acquisition of a prime development site of approximately 2.14 acres located at the southeast corner of the intersection of Forest trail and Berner street in Mammoth Lakes. The site is directly across Berner Street from the site of Starwood Capital's “1” Hotel. Vista Point intends to seek entitlements for the development of a luxury boutique hotel for its site. Highmark Advisors, Inc. of Mammoth Lakes acted as a broker in the transaction. -MT
Public Arts Commission vacancy
Anita Hatter, Clerk of the Town of Mammoth Lakes, announced late last week that a vacancy in an unexpired term currently exists on the Public Arts Commission because of a resignation. The term expires on August 1, 2010. The normal term of appointment is three years. The PAC meets on the second Thursday of each month at 2 p.m.
Interested parties should file an application with the Town Clerk's office on or before Wednesday, Dec. 12, at 5 p.m. Application forms may be obtained from the Town Offices in the Minaret Village Shopping Center, by writing to P.O. Box 1609, Mammoth Lakes, CA 93546, Attention: Town Clerk, or phoning (760) 934-8989, ext. 227. The form can also be found on the Town’s Web site at www.ci.mammoth-lakes.ca.us. -TOML
Street parking regulations
Effective Nov. 1, residents and visitors cannot park on Town roads, except in designated areas during daylight hours. The regulations last through April 30. Violations are punishable by a fine of $47. -MLPD
MLPD respond to high alcohol incident
Last week Mammoth Lakes Police Department Officers received a call of a subject refusing to leave his motel room. Officers contacted the subject and found him to be highly intoxicated. Due to his high level of intoxication, the paramedics were called. The subject was found to have a blood alcohol content of 0.57 percent. This is the highest blood alcohol of anyone ever contacted by the Mammoth Lakes Police Department. Death may occur at 0.37 percent or higher, blood alcohol levels of 0.45 percent and higher are fatal to nearly all individuals. -MLPD
Who’s in Town?
Occupancy was better than expected for the the Thanksgiving holiday period, with figures for the Nov. 22-24 weekend at approximately 40 percent, up two percent from the previous estimate. Midweek bookings settled down a bit, though, with numbers for Nov. 25-29 at 12 percent, a decline of 10 percent from the week before. –MT/T&R |
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Last Updated ( Friday, 07 December 2007 )
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