Nine Feet of Snow Later, Big Bear Valley’s Winter Melts Into Spring on Saturday

Big Bear Valley, CA — It was just eight Fridays ago, when we were buried under five feet of snow—roads were under an R3 requirement, all highways were closed, school was canceled, and power was out—and it seemed this day would never come, but spring arrives this weekend! Since the first of the winter season’s storms began on Friday, November 13, we have received about 113 inches of snow here in the Big Bear Valley, which totals nearly nine-and-a-half-feet altogether, and nearly double the winter snowfall average of 62 inches. In the month of March, however, we have received about eight inches of snow (so far), when an average March tends to bring about 14 inches. Though the weather has tapered off, KBHR’s weatherman Ben Brissey reminds that, in Big Bear, Mother’s Day in May tends to bring us the final snowfall of the year—and, in fact, he says, in the late ’90s we even had a few inches of snow on a Father’s Day in June. You may also recall, in 2008, when we received a cold storm, bringing snow on the Friday of Memorial Day weekend. As for the resorts, officials at Big Bear Mountain Resorts tell us that the El Niño winter has set up both Bear Mountain and Snow Summit for a good, long spring with excellent snow conditions—at present, the ski resorts plan to stay open into April, with plans to host another Easter egg hunt on the slopes on Sunday, April 4th. Those who enjoy the view from atop the resorts can also see that the ice is melting on Big Bear Lake and, since that first snowfall in November, lake levels have risen from about 64’ to, now, over 67’ and rising as those nine feet of snow accumulation continue to melt with the arrival of spring on Saturday.

A Chapter in Big Bear History Closes With Today’s Passing of Tim Sweet

Big Bear City, CA — The Valley has lost one of its champions of Big Bear history with today’s passing of Tim Sweet. Sweet, a sewer foreman for the Big Bear City Community Services District, had lived most of his 55 years in the Big Bear Valley and, with wife Kim, made countless contributions to the Big Bear Historical Museum, where they served as volunteer curators for nearly 10 years, while also serving as historians and co-hosts of the “Big Bear History Show” on Channel 6 for seven years. Sweet passed away in the early morning hours today, March 8, due to a heart attack and, says longtime friend Marge McDonald, who baked the wedding cake for Tim and Kim Sweet 30some years ago, “He was just a wonderful, wonderful person.” The Sweets, who have lived in the Big Bear Valley for over 40 years, also raised their son Brandon here; he is now a college student in Santa Cruz. In a conversation with KBHR today, CSD’s General Manager Mike Mayer expressed, “The Community Services District is deeply saddened by the loss of a very dedicated and hard-working employee, who has been with us for 27 years.  We pray for our loving God to comfort his wife Kim and their family.” Rick Keppler, producer of “The Big Bear History Show” says that the Sweets had just wrapped their 24th episode (now in post-production) and, of friend Tim, he says, “He was one of the most laid-back, friendly people I’ve ever met. Everybody liked Tim Sweet.”

Swap, Sale and Deed: Community Services District Excited About Property Exchanges With County and Park District

Big Bear City, CA — During agenda items for the Board of Directors for the Big Bear City Community Services District, President Marge McDonald announced, “I could not be happier with these things listed under Old Business.” The business item at hand, at the March 1st CSD meeting, addressed the reassignment of East Valley properties–via sale, swap and redeeding—between CSD, the County of San Bernardino, and the Big Bear Valley Recreation and Park District, as initially outlined in the Paradise Park Memorandum of Understanding drafted in 2007 (and, at that time, referred to as a “win-win situation” by Rec and Park’s Reese Troublefield). The properties at issue include the Erwin Lake Park (owned by CSD), the property beneath the Sugarloaf Fire Station (owned by Rec and Park), the former Bear City Park property on which the Lions Club building is situated, and CSD’s well #9 parcels, currently owned by the County. Though no action was taken last night (and the Rec and Park Advisory Commission will address the property swaps in a 4pm Thursday meeting), President McDonald thanked County Supervisor Neil Derry for his support before adding, “I see the light at the end of the tunnel for the Lions Club, and that makes me very happy.”

As explained by CSD’s General Manager Mike Mayer, the Big Bear Valley Recreation and Park District is offering a 1.6 acre parcel containing the Lions Club building to CSD; this is the parcel adjacent to the Historical Museum (already deeded to the Big Bear Valley Historical Society in June 2008) and the four-acre runway protection zone across from the airport. If CSD were to consider ownership of the 1.6 acre parcel, GM Mayer suggested that staff continue meetings with involved parties to address how maintenance and liability issues will be shared with regard to the parking lot and restrooms off the Greenway Drive location. Rec and Park’s Troublefield also proposed to CSD the potential purchase of roughly 11 acres among the Pan Hot Springs Meadow, for a possible zoo relocation site and, adds Mayer, “Mr. Troublefield also sweetened the real property issues contained in the MOU between CSD and BBVRPD by offering to deed the CSD’s well #9 parcels in the Bear City Park instead of charging approximately $62,000 as originally stated in the MOU.” The land swap of Erwin Lake Park and Sugarloaf Fire Station properties between the two agencies would remain unchanged.
Lions Club members, including the service club’s District Governor Mel Niez, voiced their support and commitment to the plan and though no official action took place, other than a vote to continue with the MOU, a pleased McDonald said, “There is a lot involved in it, but I know it’s going to happen.”

Lighthouse Project’s Vision Includes Make a Million Smiles Campaign; Author Owen Encourages “Cowboy Ethics”

Big Bear Lake, CA – Community leaders and those in child-involved groups were welcomed to participate in the third annual Vision 2010 Community Summit, hosted by the Lighthouse Project at the Big Bear Lake Performing Arts Center last night. Big Bear Lake Mayor Liz Harris opened the evening of inspiration and motivation to continue with child-honoring efforts in our community. “You all give me great pride,” Mayor Harris remarked, “Big Bear is a very special place.” Harris introduced some special members of the audience, including County Supervisor Neil Derry, BVUSD’s Superintendent Dr. Nancy Wright and members of the school board, as well as local elected officials, before saying of the Lighthouse Project, “It is a gift to the young and old alike.”
Program coordinator Beth Gardner addressed the packed PAC by noting, “We can always be improving and creating more unity in our community. Big Bear is uniquely poised to create special things.” Among those have been the Lighthouse’s Move a Million Miles for Ryan Hall campaign, the implementation of PeaceBuilders programs at local schools, the Run the Bear Marathon, and Peace Gardens at school sites, including two planned to sprout in spring at Big Bear High School and North Shore Elementary. The next big effort of the Lighthouse Project is the Make a Million Smiles campaign which, like the community movement in support of Olympian Ryan Hall in 2008, will allow for young and old alike to log their smiles (rather than miles) for every minute spent contributing in a volunteer capacity. “We need your help in schools,” Gardner suggested, “and think about the gifts that you’re going to get. Make a Million Smiles is inviting all of us to shine our light in 2010.”
To inspire those in attendance to a greater sense of community and integrity, the Lighthouse welcomed “Cowboy Ethics” author Jim Owen to speak on the Code of the West which, he says, “is a conscious choice to do the right thing; doing the right thing is a path you choose.” Owen went on to outline cowboy ethics which, when applied by each of us individually, can make a difference in our children, our community and our country. With that, and the challenge to make a million smiles, here is the Code of the West: “Live each day with courage. Take pride in your work. Always finish what you start. Do what has to be done. Be tough, but fair. When you make a promise, keep it. Ride for the brand. Talk less and say more. Remember that some things aren’t for sale. Know where to draw the line.”

Since Learning to Ride in Big Bear, Olympian Shaun White Goes Gold

If you didn’t catch yesterday’s Olympic highlights from Vancouver, Shaun White took gold again in the snowboarding half-pipe and, what you might enjoy knowing is that the gold medalist from San Diego started his snowboarding adventure right here in Big Bear when he was just six years old, though he started on skis at age four. Big Bear Mountain Resorts tell us that once White, now 23, began competing at age seven, he advanced so quickly that USASA placed him with riders almost twice his age in his earliest competitions. By age 13, White was riding professionally. For more on his story, and ties to Big Bear, NBC television is scheduled to air a segment on White during this evening’s 6pm newscast on channel 4.

At 57″ and Counting, January 2010 Snow Totals Are Over Four Times the Average

This last series of storms–which prompted a local state of emergency given the dumping of five feet of snow–has now been ranked as comparable to the legendary winter of 1969, though resources in 2010 have allowed the Big Bear Valley to be better equipped to deal with such extreme circumstances. But, in terms of snow totals, it should be noted that for an average year, snow accumulation tends to amount to 62” (or just over five feet) for an entire winter season, with a to-date average of about 32”, per KBHR’s weatherman Ben Brissey. Given the additional two inches or so of snow we received on Tuesday, our annual total is now at roughly 88” this season! An average January snowfall tends to be about 14”, whereas January 2010 will surely make history with 57” of snow—so far. Lake levels for Big Bear Lake have come up nearly a foot since our series of storms began on January 17. To view a number of storm photos submitted by KBHR listeners, visit our “Big Bear’s Epic Snow Storm” collage on YouTube.

Pow! Longtime Local Dick Kun Compares Our Recent Snowstorms to the Legendary Winter of 1969

Big Bear Lake, CA — Longtime Big Bear resident Dick Kun has been watching the snow fall for over 60 seasons and, as president of Big Bear Mountain Resorts, he’s become an expert on snow in the Big Bear Valley. He says that this last series of storms, which included four fronts over the course of a week, is as intense as the legendary storm of 1969, though we are better equipped to deal with five feet of snow, now, 40some years later. “This is the biggest and deepest amount of snow we’ve had since January/February 1969,” Kun tells KBHR. “Then we had at least as much snow as we have now, but with torrential rains, then more snow after that back in ‘69, it compounded it, and a lot of roofs caved in. The roads and the town were much more cut off and isolated, so it was much worse than now. There were less resources to deal with it, and the power was out much longer. We had a whole day of digging out at Snow Summit, when we had just one chairlift and it was buried. We had to dig out the terminal so the chairs could go around, and there was probably another foot or two than we have now.”
As for the January 2010 episode of epic snowfall, Kun says, “What’s really unique about this one is how much snow we got in just a few days. This pattern is the most similar to ’69. This one is unique in how much fell in such a short amount of time; this is the most intense because you can think of it as one storm, even though it was four fronts that came through. There may be some drifts up to seven feet, but we got about five feet of snow.”
There have been other years with plenty of snow, but Kun points out that these were El Niño years, in 1973, ’79, ’83 and ’98 when, he adds, “These were big snow years that started early and went all season long, but no crippling storms.” Whereas, in 1969, it “came on like gangbusters,” he says, and went into April. He even notes a story of a half-dozen Boy Scouts who were taking a trip from Fawnskin to Green Valley and went missing, not to be found until spring.
Though the benefit of our current snowfall is that Snow Summit and Bear Mountain resorts will probably not have to make much more snow, if any, for the duration of the ski season, Kun says that this epic storm cost them hundreds of thousands of dollars, not just in snow removal efforts (on the lifts, parking lots and facilities, as well as overtime), but in lost revenue due to road closures. “On Monday,” he says, “we closed Bear because we had 1,700 skiers, whereas we would have normally had 4,000, and today is worse, with the confusion about road closures. We would have had 5,000 today, but the enthusiasm this has created may allow us to catch up in the next couple weeks.”

Big Bear Valley in Recovery from Epic Storm; Monday Morning Update on Power, Roads, Schools, Mail, Emergency Shelter

Big Bear Valley, CA — Last week’s storms were epic, in that we received five feet of snow in the Big Bear Valley, prompting a state of emergency to be declared by the County of San Bernardino. Though we had a beautiful, sunny weekend, many of us (if not most of us) have gone hours or even days without power, phone, cable, Internet, water and transportation.
In terms of power outages, which have affected the Big Bear Valley since last Monday, Bear Valley Electric has been restoring electric service block by block, area by area, and, as of yesterday, has the mutual aid assistance of crews from Southern California Edison, which were dispatched from Victorville at 6am Sunday morning, and, five hours later, given poor road conditions and heavy traffic congestion [see photo below], arrived here in the Big Bear Valley. After a week of high winds, heavy rains, intense snowfall, and countless downed trees and power lines, many neighborhoods are still without power. Though crews have been working round the clock, as of the latest from Bear Valley Electric’s Operations Manager Ken Markling, the following are still without electric service: a section of lower Moonridge, a portion of Boulder Bay, a section of Knickerbocker Road, part of Brownie Lane, Red Ant Hill near Edgemoor Road, and some other, smaller outages. Per Markling last night, “The list of outages is getting smaller, and they will stay on it until we get it done.” Road conditions, congestion and deep snow are hampering efforts to restore power to all customers quickly. (Update on power outages as of noon: Per Operations Supervisor John Dykesten, the Brownie Lane area had power restored Sunday night. As of noon, crews are working at the following: Moonridge, Boulder Bay, 800 block of Knickerbocker Road in Big Bear Lake. BVES will next release a crew to the Red Ant Hill area. Isolated power outages are still taking place in portions of Big Bear City and the Whispering Forest area. Dykesten asks that customers not put themselves in harm’s way by entering crews’ work area; also, please know that  BVES crews have been working non-stop and please allow them to continue doing so, by addressing questions to BVES at 866-4678, rather than their employees in the field. Thank you.) Emergency personnel from CalFire arrived on Saturday afternoon, to assist the Big Bear Valley in the clearing of roads and the removal of downed trees. We are also told that Bear Mountain Resort has allowed fire personnel to use their snowmobiles to give firefighters access to areas in need. And, just another note regarding utilities, residents should be sure that gas vents are cleared, to eliminate the risk of carbon monoxide poisoning. Heating and cooking equipment are potential sources of carbon monoxide, as are vehicles and generators in enclosed spaces.
There is no school for Bear Valley Unified School District students today, so this makes for a third consecutive snow day here in the Big Bear Valley. School district personnel will determine snow days on a day-by-day basis, and will make their decision to hold school if streets are clear enough to allow for the safe passage of school buses. Update: No school on Tuesday, as BVUSD has called another Snow Day for January 26.
In the meantime, Big Bear Middle School continues to operate as an emergency shelter, since opening to the public on Friday evening. We are told that as many as 60 people spent the night at the shelter over the weekend; the shelter is staffed by volunteers and Red Cross personnel, and provides basic provisions and refreshments, as well as cots and blankets. Big Bear Middle School will remain open as an emergency shelter, and is located at 41275 Big Bear Boulevard in Big Bear Lake; the western entrance at Jeffries Road is open.
On Saturday, the California Highway Patrol led an emergency convoy up the mountain, with trucks providing food and fuel. Per Big Bear Lake City Manager Jeff Mathieu, more fuel is coming to the Big Bear Valley today. (For those bermed in, local markets are open and have food. So, in addition to supermarkets Vons and Stater Bros., groceries are available today at Easy’s General Store in Sugarloaf, Community Market in Big Bear City, and Sol Food Market in the Alpine Center in Big Bear Lake.)
Given road conditions and the CalTrans-issued restriction to buses and trucks on mountain roads), we have not received mail delivery from off the mountain since Wednesday, however all local post offices will be open today.
And, as for our roads, they do remain under an R2 chain requirement, meaning that all two-wheel drive vehicles must have chains on; four-wheel drives with snow tires on all four wheels are required to carry chains. At this time [9am Monday], Highway 38 is closed to downbound traffic, and only residents with proof of Big Bear Valley or Angelus Oaks residency will be allowed up the mountain. Both portions of Highway 18, both the front way and eastbound to the desert, are open to downbound traffic. However, upbound travel on both portions of Highway 18 will only be allowed to Big Bear Valley residents, so be sure to carry proof of residency. (This information will be updated on the KBHR Big Bear Road Conditions page as it changes, but will first be broadcast on 93.3 FM so stay tuned.) Many local roads are treacherous, so proceed with caution, especially as berms have created blind intersections and many residential streets have only been plowed enough to allow one vehicle at a time. Crews continue to work round the clock on snow removal—be it the City of Big Bear Lake’s Public Works crews, County snowplows and subcontractors in non-incorporated portions of the Big Bear Valley, and CalTrans crews on our state highways. The first priority for snow plowing is to allow for the safe passage of emergency vehicles on major roads, plowing of secondary streets follows, and then berm reduction.
Community notices and cancellations
MARTA is running limited fixed bus route transportation services today, from the Village in Big Bear Lake to the Sugarloaf Fire Station and Erwin Lake; Dial-a-Ride and off-the-mountain buses are also running, per the MARTA website.
The Big Bear Senior Center is closed, so no food distribution this afternoon (at center or at Community Church by the Lake) and tonight’s Big Bear Valley Recreation and Park District Advisory Commission meeting has been canceled. This afternoon’s free H1N1 flu vaccine clinic will be rescheduled. Rec and Park has also canceled basketball for this evening.
Bear Mountain is closed today, though Snow Summit is open will honor lift tickets and Bear Mountain-only passes.
The City Council of Big Bear Lake is still planning to hold their regular meeting at 6:30pm this evening in Hofert Hall.
The Board of Commissioners of the Department of Water and Power will not hold their regular Tuesday meeting on Tuesday.
The Amgen Tour of California volunteer luncheon for this week will be rescheduled for early February.
The Big Bear zoo received ample community support yesterday, so the “pathway crisis” has been solved, the animals have food and water, and the Friends of the Moonridge Zoo thank volunteers for their assistance.
Lutheran Social Services has canceled all classes this week, through January 29. The LSS office will be open daily, weather permitting; call ahead for information at 866-5070.
The County’s Food Handler Testing opportunity, to have taken place at the Rec and Park offices on Wednesday, has been canceled.

Paula Fashempour Assumes MWD Presidency, Making Her First Woman to Do So in District’s 45-Year History

The Big Bear Municipal Water District’s appointment of Division 2 Director Paula Fashempour as president is history-making as, per General Manager Scott Heule, “She is the first woman to be president for the district in 45 years, which is an exciting thing. Paula will bring a unique perspective to the presidency, as would any new president.” Though Fashempour is the MWD’s first female president, she is not the first female director to serve on the board that also includes Vice President Skip Suhay, John Eminger, Vince Smith and Todd Murphy; and, in fact, prior to Heule’s appointment as GM in 2007, 21-year MWD employee Sheila Hamilton had been general manager of the agency which oversees the lake.
Heule tells KBHR that the January 7 board reorganization meeting was upbeat, and also included some fee modifications for the 2010 boating season. Among those changes, the daily use fee for non-motorized vessels, including sailboats under 8’, has been reduced to $15 (which includes the $5 Quagga Protection Surcharge, first imposed by the district in 2009, to recover costs associated with keeping the invasive Quagga Mussel from infecting Big Bear Lake). Though the daily use fee for Big Bear Lake has been reduced, the district moved to increase the permit fees for film production, from $150 to $170, and still photography permits, noting that this is consistent with fees charged by the City of Big Bear Lake; a utility fee, of less than $3 per day, is also being implemented at the MWD’s RV park (just west of their offices) which, per Heule, should help the MWD recover about $10,000 annually.
And as, during this season of board reorganizations, we have outlined benefits for those serving in elected positions: MWD Directors receive $140.70 per meeting (not to exceed six in a month), as well as medical and dental benefits and, like City Councilmembers, a life insurance policy.

Local Journalist Roger Beck Succumbs to Ravages of Age, Per His Self-Written Obituary

“Roger Beck, prominent local journalist and public relations counselor, has died. He was 88 years old. According to his widow, Barbara, Beck succumbed to the ravages of age.” This is per the obituary that Roger Beck had written for himself this past year and, as wife Barbara tells KBHR, he passed away on Tuesday afternoon December 15, at home listening to his favorite music while granddaughter Brittany was reading him the sports page. Beck had been a journalist for The South Bay Daily Breeze and the Associated Press, as well as being on the founding staff of The Los Angeles Mirror. Per his self-written obituary, “In 1990, he went into semi-retirement and relocated to Big Bear City, where he went to work at The Grizzly as a featured writer and columnist. His last job was as a featured writer for the Chino Champion, ending in 2004. After moving to Big Bear City, Roger and his wife, Barbara, were among the first couples to establish the B’nai Big Bear group. While in Big Bear, Roger was appointed to two terms as a commissioner for the local Parks & Rec Board. His passion at that time was to resurface the tennis courts, and that was completed during his term with the assistance of other commissioners.” Funeral services for Beck, who also served on the Old Miners’ Association Board, will be held at Mt. Sinai in Hollywood Hills on Friday, December 18 at 2pm; a memorial service will be held later in Big Bear City. Beck is survived by wife Barbara, a director for the Big Bear City Community Services District, as well as brother Murray, son Mark, daughter Andrea, stepson David, and grandchildren Brittany, Jeorgea, Zachary, Harry, Daniel and John.

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