Serrano Campground on Big Bear’s North Shore Nationally Ranked as a Top 100 Family Campground

Fawnskin, CA — Serrano Campground, located in Fawnskin on the San Bernardino National Forest, has just received the honor of being named one of the Top 100 Family Campgrounds in the United States. Almost 4,000 campgrounds throughout the country were reviewed by ReserveAmerica, a national recreation reservation and campground management service, before the final list of 100 was determined. Serrano Campground, which is situated across Old North Shore Drive from Big Bear Lake and is a short hike to the Big Bear Discovery Center, was selected for this distinction based on “family friendly” criteria. These factors included educational programs, visitor centers, campground amenities, and natural beauty and scenery. “Serrano Campground is one of the most scenic and popular campgrounds within the San Bernardino National Forest,” says Mountaintop District Ranger Scott Tangenberg. “We are pleased and honored by this recognition.”

Airport District Grants Easement for Construction of Big Bear Disposal Facility

Big Bear City, CA — The Board of Directors for the Big Bear Airport District, led by third-round President Jay Obernolte, convened for their monthly meeting this week and, among other items, addressed three ongoing topics. Among those, the revised Directors Policy Manual, which also outlines committee responsibilities, was approved. Airport staff, led by General Manager Pete Gwaltney, is working on updating the personnel manual and will then draft the airport’s first operations manual, which will be a go-to guide in the case of fire, fuel spill or other emergency. The Airport Board also completed their portion of terms and agreements with regard to the shared ownership of the airport building with Evergreen Properties (which owns 76% of the building, specifically the second floor and the two south wings). Upon completion of the preparations for the condo map, Evergreen will submit to the County, thereby opening the doors for potential transfer of ownership (of buildings, not the airport itself). The third ongoing item was with regard to comments made by Marge McDonald and printed in The Grizzly; though McDonald was not present this round, Director Butch Waymire reiterated the airport’s request for a retraction of erroneous comments by McDonald. The Airport District Board also took a field trip, across the runway, during the meeting of July 7. In response to an easement request, to allow for North Shore drainage (as required by the County) resulting from the pending construction of the Big Bear Disposal facility bordering the airport to the north, the board took a quick recess to visit the location for the easement, which will not impact airport operations or facilities. Upon return from the field trip, the meeting was resumed and the easement granted.

Fifteen Local Seats on November Ballot; Candidate Filing Begins Monday, July 12

Big Bear Valley, CA — Come Monday, July 12, those interested in running for local office in the November General Election may file candidate papers with the San Bernardino County Registrar of Voters. The November 2, 2010 election will include federal, state and county offices (with candidates nominated in the June Primary Election), as well as 15 offices specific to the Big Bear Valley. Offices open to candidates Valley-wide include two seats on the board of the Bear Valley Community Healthcare District, two seats on the board of the Big Bear Airport District, and two seats on the school board for Bear Valley Unified School District. Residents within the City of Big Bear Lake* are potentially eligible for one of three seats on the City Council. There are also zone-specific seats available on the Big Bear Municipal Water District’s Board of Directors; two of these, Districts 2 and 3, in Big Bear Lake and one in District 1, which includes Fawnskin and Baldwin Lake. East Valley residents living within the service area of the Big Bear City Community Services District have opportunity to run for one of four seats up for election on the five-member CSD Board of Directors. Prospective candidates have until Friday, August 6 to file candidate papers with the Registrar of Voters in order to be included in the November General Election. Upon obtaining papers, candidates will receive information handbooks. For more information, contact the Registrar’s office in San Bernardino at 387-8300, or toll-free at 800/881-8683.
*Full-time Big Bear Lake residents are also eligible for appointment to the Planning Commission and the DWP Board of Commissioners (click to access more information).

Bird Tests Positive for West Nile Virus; County’s Public Health Department Recommends the Precautionary “Five Ds”

San Bernardino County, CA – A dead mockingbird that tested positive for West Nile Virus is, per the Department of Public Health, evidence that the disease is becoming more active in San Bernardino County. The County’s Mosquito and Vector Control Program received confirmation that a mockingbird collected June 18 in Redlands tested positive for WNV, so increased mosquito surveillance is underway; in the meantime, residents are encouraged to look for, and eliminate, any stagnant water on their properties. WNV transmission is an ongoing concern of the County’s Department of Public Health, which advises citizens to take the following precautions, billed as the “Five Ds”: drain or dump all standing water; at dawn and dusk, avoid time outside; or dress protectively, in shoes, socks, long pants, and long-sleeved shirts that are loose fitting and light colored; DEET, as in apply insect repellant containing DEET; and the fifth D, doors, which should be closed along with unscreened windows to keep mosquitoes from entering the home. Horses are also susceptible to West Nile Virus, though veterinarians have a vaccine available for them. Should you find a dead bird on your property, the San Bernardino County Mosquito and Vector Control Program asks that you call the toll-free hotline at 877/WNV-BIRD.

Big Bear Feels 5.4 Quake in the Desert; 2.1 Magnitude Tremor Near Big Bear City

Big Bear Valley, CA — Yesterday evening’s big rattler, centered near Borrego Springs at 4:53pm, has (since our 5pm newscast) been downgraded to a magnitude 5.4 earthquake, per the U.S. Geological Survey, and has been followed by countless aftershocks in the area about 25 miles south of Palm Springs. Specific to the Big Bear Valley, we did have one earthquake centered about four miles north of Big Bear City last night, July 7, at 8:51pm; this quake registered a magnitude of 2.1. Per the County’s Office of Emergency Services, Wednesday’s 5.4 magnitude tremor wasn’t “the Big One,” but don’t let yourself be unprepared when it does occur. Earthquakes can strike at any time and it is always wise, notes the OES, to have an emergency supplies kit, a family disaster plan, and a supply of food and water for at least three days and, ideally, two weeks or more. For more information on earthquake preparedness, see our earlier “Quake Up Call” story, or visit the website of the Office of Emergency Services. Additional earthquake stories can be accessed by using the “Earthquake News” tab below.
Update: Since posting this story, we have had a 1.6 magnitude earthquake, centered five miles north northwest of Big Bear City, at 10:32 am July 8.

City of Big Bear Lake Seeks Residents for Appointment to Planning Commission, DWP Board

Big Bear Lake, CA — The City of Big Bear Lake has two vacancies to fill—one on the Planning Commission, the other on the Department of Water and Power Board of Commissioners—on terms that extend through June 2013. The Planning Commission is a five-member body, appointed by City Council, and meets on first and third Wednesday afternoons to make recommendations to Council on matters related to growth and development, such as General Plan amendments, specific plans and zone changes, as well as addressing development applications, such as conditional use permits, plot plan reviews, subdivisions and condominium maps. For these efforts, current Commissioners Anne Zimmerman, Jim DeGroot, Craig Smith and David Caretto receive a $400 monthly stipend. The DWP Board of Commissioners–which presently includes Big Bear Lake residents Steve Foulkes, Fred Miller, Bill Giamarino and Robert Tarras, each of whom also receives a $400 monthly stipend–meets on the third Tuesday morning of each month. Responsibilities of DWP Commissioners include decisions related to water conservation, supply, generation, distribution and sale of water and related services. Full-time Big Bear Lake residents interested in serving on either commission must be registered voters, and complete an application, available either at the Big Bear Lake Civic Center (at 39707 Big Bear Boulevard) or online at citybigbearlake.com. The application deadline is Wednesday, July 21 at 5pm. The City Council will interview prospective candidates for appointment to the Planning Commission and DWP Board.
(For details on benefits for other elected and appointed office holders within the Big Bear Valley, visit our previously posted stories on the Airport District Board, the Bear Valley Community Healthcare District, Big Bear Lake City Council, Big Bear City Community Services District, and the Big Bear Municipal Water District. Trustees for the Bear Valley Unified School District received a $240 monthly stipend if all meetings were attended, based on California Education Code section 35120a5, though the school board eliminated their stipends in accepting the budget cuts of “Plan B” on June 23.)

Airport District and School Board Hold Public Meetings Today, July 7

Big Bear Valley, CA — There are two public meetings scheduled for today (Wednesday, July 7), the first of which is this afternoon’s monthly meeting of the Board of Directors of the Big Bear Airport District. Today’s 2:30pm meeting, to be held in the airport pilots lounge at the Big Bear City Airport, will include two follow-up items from the June meeting: a second request for retraction of comments printed in The Grizzly and discussion on, and potential approval of, the covenants, conditions and restrictions of Evergreen Properties, the company which owns three-fourths of the airport building.
Later today, the Board of Trustees for the Bear Valley Unified School District convene for their regular board meeting, with open session at the school district offices scheduled to begin at 6:30pm. This evening’s BVUSD meeting will include a summary of the district’s 3rd interim report from the San Bernardino County Superintendent of Schools and may also include continued discussion on budget cuts made during the school board’s June 23rd meeting.

Despite Influx of Crowds for Fourth of July, Sheriff’s Captain Reports, “We Had Relatively Few Incidents”

Big Bear Valley, CA — This year’s Fourth of July weekend in the Big Bear Valley was marred by the July 5 drowning of an 18-year-old from Yucca Valley, though, given the influx of crowds here for the holiday, local law enforcement and fire agencies report that it was a relatively calm weekend. In addition to an extra 20 deputies on patrol, the Big Bear Sheriff’s Station’s law enforcement efforts included boat patrol, bike patrol, reserves on duty, and the volunteers of the Citizens on Patrol and Sheriff’s Explorers. Sheriff’s Captain Greg Garland’s crew made 11 DUI arrests and two for boating under the influence; there was also one assault with intent to rape and one rape over the weekend, though officials tell KBHR that both of these incidents were between acquaintances, neither of whom are local. Within the Big Bear Valley, there were also several traffic-related incidents, and a few injuries and searches for lost tourists on the San Bernardino National Forest. Other incidents included petty thefts, given belongings left behind on the lakeshore or in vehicles but, all told, Captain Garland tells KBHR, “While we had a large number of people in town and traffic was heavier, we had relatively few incidents over the weekend.”
Local fire agencies attended to at least 27 medical aid calls, both on land and water, and extinguished some small open fires that had been reported by locals. For this, Big Bear City Fire Chief Jeff Willis expresses a thank you to the Big Bear community, for helping the fire departments in being their eyes and ears for activities that are known to be illegal.
The California Highway Patrol officers of the Arrowhead division report a total collision count of seven for the entire mountain; of these, one was a solo DUI collision, another was a collision between an intoxicated bicyclist and some pedestrians. Two CHP Officers, Rodman and Jedlick, went above and beyond the call of duty late Saturday night, July 3, with Big Bear Lake Fire Chief Rod Ballard noting, “What they did was brave.” The two responded to a call near Lakeview Point on the Arctic Circle portion of Highway 18 after 11pm; a woman in her mid-40s had gotten out of a vehicle to relieve herself roadside, and ended up tumbling about 100 feet down the mountainside. The two CHP officers, later joined by fire departments from Arrowbear, Green Valley Lake and Running Springs, made their way down the rocky drop to retrieve the woman, who sustained multiple injuries, in what would be a roughly two-hour rescue operation.
The Big Bear Municipal Water District reports heavy activity, post-fireworks, along the North Shore ramps, though boating activity on the Fourth of July did not break the record set on Friday the Fourth, 2008, when a record 1,000 boats were estimated to be on Big Bear Lake in the 3 o’clock hour.

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