“Those Who Host Lose The Most” Theme for Community Information Night Regarding the Social Host Ordinance

Big Bear, CA, May 16, 2012, 5:00pm - The Big Bear Sheriff’s Station is partnering with the Breakthrough Task Force and Rim Youth Prevention Leadership Coalition to host a Community Information Night to educate the public on the provisions of the new Social Host Ordinance.  The City of Big Bear Lake City Council adopted the Ordinance at their regularly scheduled meeting on May 14^th.  The ordinance will go into effect on June 13, 2012.  The Ordinance was introduced and public comment was taken at the Council’s regularly scheduled meeting on April 23^rd.  Council members voted to make hosting a party where alcohol is provided or available for non-legal drinkers a violation of the law making it illegal for adults to provide a place for under-aged drinkers to congregate or what is commonly known as “partying”.  It is believed that the new law will be an effective tool in combating teen alcohol abuse.  Adults who abuse the new law will be subject to fines and possible jail time.  More information will be available at the Community Information Night on Tuesday, May 22^nd from 6:00 pm to 7:30 pm in Hofert Hall at the Civic Center located at 39707 Big Bear Blvd in Big Bear Lake.

Recreational Boaters Encouraged To Boat Clean And Green

Big Bear Lake, CA, April 23, 2012, noon - Earth Day this past weekend serves as a reminder to Big Bear’s recreational boating community to continue protecting the state’s waterways and marine environment from invasive species and pollution. According to the California Department of Boating and Waterways (DBW), California has more than four million motorized and non-motorized recreational boaters. The negative impact that this can have on the marine environment and boating facilities can be significant. The good news is, a number of services are available for boaters to minimize their impact on the environment. The DBW offers a Boat Cleaning Guide Book that has general guidelines and a basic checklist for inspecting and cleaning boats and recreational equipment. Sewage Pumpout Stations are provided for the proper disposal of raw sewage, and shore-side facilities are available for the proper disposal of trash, and recycling of old fishing line. There are several options available so you can properly dispose of an unwanted vessel, and information is available to help you avoid having an oil spill, or how to report one. For more detailed information on the services available visit www.BoatResponsibly.com.

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Annual Jim Hall Memorial May Trout Classic Offers Chance To Win $10,000

Big Bear Lake, CA, April 20, 2012, noon - Organizers of the 30^th Annual Jim Hall Memorial May Trout Classic are pulling out all the stops for anglers to win big money. The top nine largest trout caught at the May Trout Classic share or split $8,000 in prize money based on 500 entrants, and new this year is an opportunity to catch a tagged trout worth $10,000. Tournament Director Jason Hall says the May Trout Classic is known as ‘The Grand Daddy of Them All’ because they stock the lake with enormous trophy-sized trout, and this year, one lucky angler could catch a trophy-size beauty with a tag on its dorsal fin worth $10,000. In addition to the tagged trout and $8,000 in cash prizes for the top nine largest trout, are trophies and drawings with thousands of dollars worth of fishing gear, bait and tackle from national manufacturers. The May Trout Classic is the longest running fishing tournament at Big Bear Lake, and has become a family tradition with multiple generations participating in the annual event. The May Trout Classic is a non-profit event with all of its proceeds going to Big BearLake’s fishery programs and fish habitat. Money from the tournament enables officials to plant trophy-size trout and provide a memorable angling experience for current and future generations. The event will take place on May 19 and 20. Entry forms are available at The Big Bear Visitor Center, Holloways Marina, Big Bear Marina and The Big Bear Municipal Water District. Photo Credit: Lucky Bear Fishing Charters

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Summer Jobs with the National Forest Association

Fawnskin, CA, April 12, 2012, 8:00am - The National Forest Association a nonprofit, known as the NFA,  is looking for five motivated, energetic college students who are interested in spending their summer working with the NFA.  According to Stacy Gorin, NFA Director of Operations, this is a resume-building opportunity for students, ages 18 to 24, who have an interest in ecological restoration or botany and possess a desire to work with children in an educational setting this summer on the San Bernardino National Forest.  Ms. Gorin, added, “(Interns) can gain valuable work experience in a beautiful mountain setting and work alongside a well-trained and professional team of volunteers who support our summer programming at our Big Bear Discovery Center and Children’s Forest in Running Springs.”  Positions available include Youth Program Leader, Restoration Technician and Naturalist/Interpreter and are split between Big Bear Lake and Running Springs.  Other duties include visitor services at Forest Service Visitor Centers, fieldwork at restoration sites and in the greenhouse as well as working with both adult and youth volunteers.  Paid interns must be a current college student enrolled for the coming semester, provide their own transportation and housing, and demonstrate good oral and written communication skills.  Prior experience or interest in environmental education or interpretive setting is desirable.  Summer internships are full-time paid positions with compensation of $9 per hour for 40 hours per week from June through August for a maximum of 12 weeks.  The application deadline is April 20, 2012 and interested parties should submit a cover letter along with a résumé and a list of three references and their contact information to Stacy Gorin, Director of Operations at the Big Bear Discovery Center, P.O. Box 69, Fawnskin, CA 92333, or email to sgorin@nationalforestassociation.org.  For more information, call (909) 382-2794.

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Derry To Hold Town Hall Meetings In Big Bear Lake & Forest Falls

Big Bear Lake, CA, April 9, 2012, 3:00pm – Supervisor Neil Derry will be conducting two town hall forums this week in Big Bear Lake and Forest Falls. The town hall meetings are free and open to the public. Supervisor Derry says “it is imperative that, as a county, we ensure that we are effectively providing our residents with vital county services and work to address any issues of concern that are affecting the quality of life in San Bernardino County”. The meetings will begin with a brief update on the state of the county, followed by a question and answer session where the audience is encouraged to ask questions directly to Neil Derry. Supervisor Derry is the local representative for the Third Supervisorial District, which includes both Big Bear and Forest Falls, and he’s been holding town hall meetings throughout his district on a rotating schedule since he took office in 2008. The Big Bear Lake meeting will take place tomorrow at 6:30pm in Hofert Hall at Big Bear Civic Center in Big Bear Lake. The meeting in Forest Falls is scheduled for Thursday, April 12, at 7pm in the Big Falls Lodge on Valley of the Falls Drive in Forest Falls.

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Bald Eagles Seen In Local Mountains

Big Bear Lake, CA, March 20, 2012, 4:00pm – On Saturday March 10, the final bald eagle count of the season was conducted by local Federal and State biologists and volunteers around lakes in the San Bernardino and San Jacinto Mountains. Approximately 54 volunteers participated in the 1-hour eagle census in the Big Bear/Baldwin Lake area where 6 eagles were observed. While this was the last census for this season, the Forest Service and California Department of Fish and Game need more volunteers to monitor the nest site at Big Bear Lake and provide the public with opportunities to view the eaglet, nicknamed Jack, from a safe distance. The volunteers will be stationed with spotting scopes at Dana Point Park in Fawnskin. People interested in helping monitor the bald eagle nest should contact NFA Volunteer coordinator Meredith Brandon at 382-2824. In addition, District Biologist Robin Eliason will be presenting a talk on bald eagles at 11am on March 24 at the Big Bear Discovery Center. For additional information about the bald eagle nest viewing opportunities, contact the Big Bear Discovery Center.

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Multiple Vehicle Burglaries In Big Bear Lake

Big Bear Lake, CA, March 9, 2012, 8:00am - On Thursday, March 8, 2012 the Big Bear Sheriff’s Station received reports of eight vehicle burglaries from unlocked cars between midnight and 7:00am at various locations in the City of Big Bear Lake. Investigation of the burglaries is ongoing with deputies and detectives following up on all leads. Tiffany Swantek, at the Big Bear Sheriff’s Station says you can minimize your chances of becoming a victim by taking a few simple steps.
~ Keep car doors, windows and sunroofs closed and locked.
~ Never leave valuables in your vehicle.
~ Park your vehicle in well-lit areas.
~ Do not leave your keys in your vehicle.
~ Do not leave cash or change in the cup holder.
~ Mark all of your electronic equipment (i.e. GPS units and MP3 players) with a personal identification number and keep a list of the serial numbers, makes and model numbers of all your electronic equipment. If your property is stolen, this will help you recover  This will help in the recovery of your property if have anything stolen. Anyone with information on the recent vehicle burglaries should contact the Big Bear Sheriff’s Station at 866-0100.  Information can also be reported anonymously by calling 1 (800) 78-CRIME.

Volunteers Needed To Count Bald Eagles

Big Bear, CA, March 6, 2012, 3:00pm – Volunteers are needed to help the Forest Service count bald eagles in the next bald eagle count in the San Bernardino Mountains this Saturday, March 10, 2012. Concurrent Bald Eagle counts are held at Big Bear Lake and Baldwin Lake. Volunteers will be stationed at vantage points around the lakes, where they map and note any eagle observations during a 1-hour period. Through this method, the Forest Service gathers information about eagles in the area and changes in population numbers. There is no experience needed to be a volunteer. The final Eagle Count for this winter will be Saturday, March 10. Volunteers should dress warmly and bring binoculars and a watch. Big Bear Lake area volunteers will meet at 8:00am this Saturday at the Big Bear Discovery Center. Contact Wildlife Biologist Robin Eliason at 909-382-2832 for more information.

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Winter Trails Day: Enjoy the Wilderness in the Winter!

Big Bear, Ca, January 2, 2012 - This Saturday, celebrate the great outdoors at Winter Trails Day at the Big Bear Discovery Center.  Local organizations, the Big Bear Valley Trails Foundation, Open Air Big Bear, City of Big Bear Lake, Rim Nordic, North Shore Trading Co, and the San Gorgonio Wilderness Association will partner with the National Forest Association and REI to host a day dedicated to Winter Trails, and winter outdoor activities.  The event which will start at 10:00am will feature Snowshoe Demos, a presentation by the City of Big Bear Lake on the Master Plan of Trails Process, a snowshoe hike, animal tracking, a 100 yard Snowshoe Dash, and nature walks.  The event is free to attend, and is great for families.  If you haven’t tried snowshoeing yet, and are interested in finding out more information about the growing sport, this event is the perfect place to find out more information.  Snowshoeing is an excellent form of low-risk, low impact aerobic exercise that can help improve or maintain cardiovascular fitness as well as burn calories. REI will also host “A Leave No Trace Plan Ahead and Prepare” presentation geared for outdoor winter sports; winter backpack campsite demo, and host prizes for games such as “guess the weight of the backpack”.  For more information go to www.NationalForestAssociation.org.

BVUSD Budget Advisory Commitee Talks Finances

Big Bear, Ca, December 21, 2011, 12:00pm - At last week’s Bear Valley Unified School District’s Budget Advisory Committee meeting, Walter Con, Assistant Superintendent of Business, delivered the first Interim Financial Report Budget Update to the committee that consists of teachers, parents and school administration representatives.  As expected, the California Department of Finance has released its financial forecast stating that revenues will fall short $2.2 billion for the current year.  Therefore, additional cuts will need to be made to the BVUSD’s budget at a total estimated cut to be approximately $456,000 which includes a $13.00 cut to the ADA or average daily attendance.  It had previously been estimated that the cuts would have been in the realm of approximately $1.1 million dollars so although the budget cuts, for now, are expected to be less than half that amount, it is also predicted that these mid-year cuts are only the beginning.  The Department of Finance states that more cuts for 2012/2013 will be forthcoming when California Governor, Jerry Brown, releases his proposed budget for next year on January 10^th.  Foreseeing this forecast, recommendations have already been made to the Bear Valley Unified School District Board of Trustees for possible budget reduction items.  Walter Con stated that, in his opinion, salary roll backs, furlough days or a combination of both, will need to be implemented for the school district to meet their budget limits, however, these steps would need to be negotiated with the district’s respective unions.  Teacher, Debbie Burton, stated at the meeting that the public needs to know that, as a community, when we don’t vote for school taxes, it really hurts our kids.  Ms. Burton added, “We’re down to bear bones”.  The next meeting of the Budget Advisory Committee will be on January 26^th and are open to the public.

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