The 2025 TLPOA Adopt-a-Highway participants, from left: Ron Vilarino, Craig Clancy, Dave Holcomb, and Therese Brady. 
Trash fun fact: We found $8 in cash along the roadside and donated it to the TLPOA bank account!

We did it!

It was a close call this year — to cancel or to complete the annual TLPOA Adopt-a-Highway litter cleanup event. We had a low turnout in participation this year, plus co-coordinator Ron Vilarino was still healing from a respiratory illness. But as a team, we decided to complete the job rather than cancel. Last year, according to the local Caltrans representative, “the Twin Lakes Property Owners Association is the most continuous active Adopt-a-Highway participant in Northern Mono County.” So we didn’t want to cancel the event and “trash” our reputation!

Amazingly, with only four participants, we completed the route in record time (4 miles in 1.5 hours)! Together, the participants generated five bags and some bulky items for Caltrans to pick up for disposal. Our Highway 395 route is so thoroughly clean, it is no longer overwhelming, and it has become more of an early morning walk for exercise in a beautiful section of canyon along Highway 395.

In July 2026, our current five-year contract with Caltrans will expire. We hope other TLPOA residents will want to join us for cleanup events in 2026 as we move forward to renew our Caltrans contract. Plus, starting in 2026, we will no longer have to schedule the cleanup event during July, as both committee co-chairs will be retired. So please communicate to us your suggestions on what month you would like to see the cleanup event scheduled next year. We’re open to new ideas.

A big thanks to all in the past five years who have helped keep Highway 395 clean while upholding the TLPOA’s good reputation within the community. A special thanks to Craig Clancy, who has been our most active participant.


2025: 1.5 hrs (shortest event), 5 bags
• Ron Vilarino (committee co-chair), Therese Brady (committee co-chair), Craig Clancy, Dave Holcomb (president)

2024:
• Ron Vilarino (committee co-chair), Therese Brady (committee co-chair), Craig Clancy, Dave Holcomb (vice president)

2023:
• Ron Vilarino (committee co-chair), Therese Brady (committee co-chair), Craig Clancy, Carlos Gomez (president), Wendy Marcus (secretary); Curtis Sykes (Kim Marcus’s cousin)

2022:
• Ron Vilarino (committee co-chair), Therese Brady (committee co-chair), Craig Clancy, Diane Winn, Rockey Reed (president)

2021: 8.5 hrs (longest event), 12 bags
• Ron Vilarino (committee co-chair), Therese Brady (committee co-chair)

Thanks,

Ron Vilarino

Adopt-a-Highway co-chair

Cabin: 760-932-1960

Cell: 805-260-5181 (message/text)

ronvilarino@gmail.com