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Town luminaries gather at Cerro Coso housing dedication |
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Thursday, 21 August 2008 |
By Catherine Billey
Mammoth Times Staff Writer
 Penny, Roma and Dave McCoy at the New Student Housing dedication CeremonyMAMMOTH TIMES PHOTOS/SUSAN MORNING
Included in the collage were inspirational quotes by McCoy. “The key is to wake up every morning on the positive side and put your heart into whatever it is you are doing,” was one of the sayings that will greet future students as they enter the finished wing of the South Gateway Student Apartments Building.
Ruth Harrell, Development Director of the foundation, which has supported higher education and cultural enrichment in the Eastern Sierra since 1989, choked up as she read the quote aloud to the crowd of 85 that included business and town luminaries, president of Cerro Coso Community College Dr. Mary Retterer and Deanna Campbell, director of the Mammoth campus.
The framed images and quotes stirred up a sense of Mammoth history dating to 1937, when town paterfamilias McCoy began providing lift rides nearby for 50 cents a piece. Now 92, McCoy sat in the front row with his wife Roma and extended family. Their financial contribution anchored the project originally estimated at $2.7 million, but which has weighed in to date at $9 million.
“Nobody ever did anything by themselves that amounted to anything at all,” McCoy said in his remarks. He thanked his “never-ending great partner Roma,” who stood up for applause, as well as his extended family and friends Nick Gunter, Dennis Pope and Jack D. Smith, whose wife, Abby Dalton, wiped tears from her eyes.
McCoy himself was given a standing ovation.
Radiant with the quiet energy of a long life well-lived, McCoy recalled that Mammoth only had a population of six when he arrived. “We got all the property we could get,” he said. “We wanted to use land to make Mammoth as strong as we could.”
Although the students of Cerro Coso college are in the process of creating their own life stories, McCoy said, “My story is on the Mountain.”
With evident emotion, he said how much he appreciated everyone's contributions to the college project. “Even if I don't know who you are or what you do, thank you,” he concluded.
In his opening remarks, foundation president Evan Russell asked the Mammoth Lakes Foundation board members who were present to please stand up. They included founder Dave McCoy, Gary McCoy, Cecil Spearman, Ron Heck, Jack Smith, Gary Myers, Chuck Boxenbaum, Bonnie Colgan, Joel Baker, Stacey Bardfield, Judy Bornfeld, Sandi Forstenzer, Rich McAteer, Cheryl Wood, George Fowler and Evan Russell.
“Some key things happened that got us to this point,” Russell said after the applause for the board members died down. “We acquired this 86 acres with the idea that there would be all these benefits to the community,” he said. “It's taken us 20 years to get there, but in 20 more years it will be a whole community corridor.”
Southern California Edison was instrumental in the land gift, he emphasized. “If it weren't for them, we wouldn't be here.” The Forest Service also issued a special use permit that would never happen today because of increased restrictions and bureaucratic procedures. And finally, Russell said, the Town of Mammoth Lakes waived the development impact fees of more than $1 million, which is what prompted McCoy to make his initial donation of $3 million.
The project was designed by Bruce Woodward Architecture. Russell also acknowledged Nigel, Jim, Jerry and Mike of Cox Construction. “We've gotten to know each other very well,” Russell said with a playful tone of irony that drew laughter from the crowd, “especially when we were behind on payments.”
See related Cerro Coso article on page TK
Student housing, Mammoth style
On a tour of the facilities beforehand, Maya Schwartz, Communications Manager for the foundation, said that the units, which are already 60 percent occupied, are priced at $750 per student for shared one-bedrooms and $990 for singles. “It's the first student housing facility built for a California community college in more than 23 years,” she said. “And it's only a $250 security deposit,” she added.
Laundry facilities are located on each floor. Equipment for the exercise/fitness room on the first floor was donated by board member Cecil Spearman. The spanking clean single and one-bedroom apartments are all fully furnished with private baths, convenience kitchens and telephones. All have incredible views, which rival and perhaps excel those of any other community college in the nation.
Town Mayor Wendy Sugimura quipped, “With the flat screen TVs and the million dollar views, my only question is, when are the students going to study?” |
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Last Updated ( Thursday, 28 August 2008 )
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