In 1984, I started working for the City of Los Angeles at the Department of Water and Power (DWP). My position was a maintenance and construction helper, but to some the position was that of a grunt laborer. As the years passed, I was promoted to building repairer, laborer supervisor, construction and maintenance supervisor and, finally, superintendent of construction and maintenance. After serving the good people of Los Angeles and the Owens Valley for almost four decades, I decided to retire.

Prior to working at DWP, I worked for the Los Angeles County Fire Department as a fire suppression aide assigned to air attack. When a brush fire was reported, we were usually first at the scene. We would be flown in by helicopter with the hope that we could slow the fire until other fire-fighting forces arrived. When Proposition 13 (a property tax limitation initiative) was passed, I was laid off from air attack, because there was no money to pay our salaries. This crushed me, as I loved the job. Being laid off is what led me to DWP. Prior to working for air attack, I spent two years as a hotshot. Hotshots are firefighters for the U.S. Forest Service trained to fight wildland fires.

My love for the Sierra Nevada mountain range dates back to 1971 when my mother (Conchita) brought my brother (Luis) and me to Owens Valley. I remember the long drive in her yellow VW Bug as if it just occurred yesterday. After the longest ride of my young life, I have no idea how my mom happened upon a river where Luis and I used hot dog pieces to catch fish after fish. This was my first time fishing and more fun a youngster could not have. Later on in life, I learned we had caught different species of trout on the beautiful Owens River. Funny thing is, on those occasions when fishing is slow, Luis might catch a glimpse of me baiting a piece of hot dog.

For a boy who immediately fell in love with the beauty of the area, two blessings happened in my life that one could only dream of. I have always believed the Lord works in mysterious ways. My getting laid off because of Prop 13 turned out to be the beginning of the first blessing. I was hired at DWP and eventually worked my way up the ladder to a position overseeing projects from Mojave to Lee Vining. I had no idea the company I worked for would one day pay me to work in the area I had fallen in love with as a kid.

To this day, my favorite project was when I was assigned to widen Rush Creek so it could return to a natural state. We allowed for far more water to flow from Grant Lake into Mono Lake. The additional flow of water disturbed more sediment, therefore feeding trees lining the creek, as well as fish and birds. I worked very closely with members of the Mono Lake Committee to ensure we met their requirements as well as those of the California Department of Fish and Wildlife.

Blessing number two happened when I was able to purchase a cabin here at Twin Lakes in 2017. I could never in my wildest dreams believe I would be blessed with a cabin at a location I have always said is a hidden gem of California. For many years, Luis and I, along with generations of Labradors, would sleep in tents, the back of a truck or in a good ol’ sleeping bag on the ground. It feels great to invite Luis and his family and friends to spend time at the cabin knowing we have a nice roof over our head.

From my first day here, every neighbor I have met has been kind, courteous and helpful. The love and admiration I have for the Sierra Nevada and its many communities, especially Twin Lakes, is second to none.

President Duties:

• Chief Executive Officer
• Presides at all of the meetings
• Directs the affairs of the Association as authorized by the Board, the bylaws and Rules of the Association
• Executes, with the Secretary and Treasurer, in the name of the Association, all contracts and other obligations and instruments authorized by the Board to be executed
• Performs such other duties as may be assigned to him by the Board