The Lighthouse Project Hosts Voter Forums in September

Big Bear Valley, CA, September 8, 2010, 3:00pm – The Lighthouse Project will host a series of three Voter Forums this month to provide an opportunity for the public to meet local candidates running for election.  Program Director Beth Gardner says a theme of the forums will be campaign ethics and the political climate of the valley as she states, “We wish to raise awareness among voters of the fact that negativity in our political processes inhibits our community from reaching its full potential.  We will be asking candidates to comment on that, as well as how they perceive their roles as public servants, and what they wish to accomplish while in office”.  Gardner also stated that the forums will provide for candidates to introduce themselves and answer questions from the audience which will be drawn randomly and assigned to candidates randomly, while ensuring equal time for each candidate to respond.  Individuals running for uncontested seats for the Big Bear City Airport Board, Municipal Water District Board and the Bear Valley Community Health Care District Board will also be invited to participate.  The Lighthouse Project schedule for Voter Forums will be held over a series of evenings each beginning at 7 pm and will be held at Community Church by the Lake and the public is encouraged to attend.  The first in the series will be Wednesday, September 15, with candidates running for the Big Bear City Community Services District.  The next Voter Forum will be on the following Wednesday, September 22, for candidates running for the Big Bear Lake City Council.  The final Voter Forum will be on Wednesday, September 29, for candidates running for the Bear Valley Unified School District Board, the Big Bear City Airport Board and the Bear Valley Community Health Care District Board.

The Lighthouse Project Releases Information from Community Forum for Schools

Big Bear Lake, CA, July 15, 2010, 3:52pm – The Lighthouse Project has released the information they gathered from a Community Forum for Schools they hosted that was conducted on May 5, 2010 in an open forum for community members to share their ideas for coping with the current financial crisis in education in a proactive, constructive and unified manner.  Over 65 people from many different sectors of the community, including parents, educators, students, business owners and retired citizens were in attendance.  The data collected suggests a prevailing concern relating to curriculum.  There were many comments related to a continuing trend focusing education on remediation at the expense of high achieving students.  Equally, many called for the restoration of arts education, enrichment programs, vocational and technical courses as well as athletics.  The community seems to be amendable to a restructuring of the district and recognizes that including a place for leveraging the assets unique to Big Bear and our community in any sort of restructuring would be very beneficial.  Environmental factors, including facilities and class sizes, were also prevalent in the discussions.  Another prevailing theme was that schools should reflect a level of respect, including the care and maintenance of facilities and the social discourse between parents, teachers and students.  The important roles of parents and teachers in the quality of education were also noted.  All comments were captured by facilitators, categorized for data analysis, and provided to Bear Valley Unified School District Superintendent, Dr. Nancy Wright.  The summary data from the forum provides the school district with insight into the concerns and desires of the community, as well as a resource for task forces and ‘think tank’ resources that can be deployed as we continue to navigate through rough financial times for our schools.  Many attendees expressed a willingness to participate in further discussions to move forward with ideas for revenue generation.  A full report can be viewed on the Lighthouse Project website at bigbearlighthouse.com.

The Big Bear Valley Education Trust and The Lighthouse Project Seek Adult Volunteers for Local Schools

Big Bear Valley, CA, July 13, 2010, 12:34pm – The Big Bear Valley Education Trust, in collaboration with The Lighthouse Project, are working together to help support our local schools.  Their goal is to help assist the students and teachers at this critical time when the California economy has brought about a funding crisis in our school system.  According to Liz Harris, Board Member and creator of the Big Bear Valley Education Trust, “we can’t depend on the state to provide for our children.”  The Board has developed a volunteer program and are looking for people who can commit to volunteer in the classroom for 2 hours a day, 2 days a week for one five-month semester.  Volunteers will be fully trained.  Grade levels that will benefit from this program are Kinder through 8th grade.  This opportunity is open to all Valley residents in an effort to extend the circle out into the community beyond parents who are already volunteering in the schools as their time permits.  The purpose of the program is to improve the adult to student ratio in the classroom and to utilize the skills and gifts a mentor can share with our Big Bear Valley youth.  Additional volunteers will work as a liaison between the teachers and the volunteer to ensure the program’s success.  A minimum total of 50 adult volunteers are needed to support the schools involved in this program.  If you are interested in helping children and our school system, you can contact Liz Harris at 744-2213.  The submission deadline is August 8th.

Simply Voices to Open Music in the Mountains Concert Series, to Benefit Peace Gardens and Forest Restoration

Big Bear Valley, CA — The Music in the Mountains concert series returns to the outdoor amphitheater at the Big Bear Discovery Center, with a kick-off concert this Saturday featuring local talent. The Memorial Day weekend concert, outside under the stars on the San Bernardino National Forest, is offered at a cost of just $5 (free for children 12 and under); the 7pm show is headlined by Simply Voices featuring Brian Adams, Helen Adams, Kim Boda, Steve Cassling, Beth Gardner, Donna McClintock, Jason Rice and Ty Warren accompanied by pianist Barbara King. Also on stage will be the Aquila Ensemble, a choir of local 4th to 7th grade students, and interpretive dance featuring Kasey Hall and Teresa Hoffman. The proceeds from this event, and others—to include The Long Run Eagles tribute on June 26, the Big Bear Twilight Music Festival of bluegrass, country, folk and Celtic music on July 31, and Jim Curry’s popular tribute to the music of John Denver on September 4—will continue to benefit the Peace Gardens program at local schools, forest restoration, and environmental education in the Big Bear Valley. The San Bernardino National Forest Association donated $10,000 to the Lighthouse Project’s Peace Gardens effort last year, and a donation from this season’s proceeds will continue the opportunities for local students to grow organic fruits and vegetables on school property and harvest their crops for local families. For more information on the Music in the Mountains series, including this Saturday’s show for just $5, visit SBNFA.org or call the Discovery Center at 866-3437.

Teens and Sex: Common Ground Presents Free Monday Workshop for Parents

Big Bear Valley, CA — The local parent support group, Common Ground–which was formed as an off-shoot of the Lighthouse Project and their efforts to foster a child-honoring community–will once again offer a free opportunity for parents to learn and grow, while also promoting strong, supportive relationships with their teens. On upcoming Mondays, free seminars will be offered at Community Church by the Lake (on the Boulevard at Knickerbocker in Big Bear Lake), starting at 6:30pm. Program coordinator Julann Warren tells KBHR that the May 17 Common Ground workshop will focus on teen dating issues—“from how to talk to your kids about sex and intimacy,” she says, “to how to teach your teen to protect themselves from inappropriate behavior.” This coming Monday’s session will also include guest speakers from DOVES, and a high school student who will be on hand to interpret teen-speak. To participate in these free Common Ground workshops for parents, which will include teens and money on May 24 and safe cell phone and Internet use on June 7, call to RSVP at 801-1766.

The Lighthouse Project Community Forum Inspires Change

Last Wednesday, the Lighthouse Project hosted a Community Forum to marshal community support for schools and children of the Bear Valley Unified School District.  Community members who attended were given the opportunity to discuss in small groups their opinions about how to help solve the budget crisis our school district, and many others, are now facing.  Creative solutions were discussed and documented by each group that will then be delivered to the School District Superintendent, Dr. Nancy Wright, for review.  Additionally, attendees were given the opportunity to video tape a message to be sent to Sacramento and Washington, D.C., to send a message to our government that our community believes that defunding education is not the solution.  Lighthouse Project Program Director, Beth Gardner, comments, “The children of our community have never needed us more.  Their future is truly our future.”

Lighthouse Project Hosts May 5 Community Forum to Address Public Education Funding Crisis

Big Bear Lake, CA — In furthering their efforts to foster a child-honoring community, the Lighthouse Project is hosting a community forum to address opportunities to alleviate crisis for our public schools. On Wednesday, May 5, from 6 to 8pm, all interested community members are invited to participate in the forum at Community Church by the Lake (on the Boulevard at Knickerbocker in Big Bear Lake); the purpose of the forum, per the Lighthouse’s Program Coordinator Beth Gardner, is to marshal support for schools and children as we navigate through the current public education funding crisis. After a brief general session, attendees will be split into small, facilitated focus groups, the results of which will be shared with Bear Valley Unified’s Superintendent Dr. Nancy Wright. Participants will also have the opportunity to contribute to a videotaped message which will be forwarded to government officials in Sacramento and Washington DC. According to Gardner, “The children of our community have never needed us more. Because of our geographic isolation, it is imperative that all of our children have ready access to schools in the area that provide excellent programs and education to prepare them for their future. Their future is truly our future. On May 5, we hope to see a magnificent turnout worthy of our special community.” RSVPs are requested for this event; to do so, please call the Lighthouse Project at 888/906-9998.

It’s a Tie: David Leach and Gabriel Rojas Share Soroptimists’ Man About Town Title, Raise Over $60K to End Teen Violence

Big Bear Lake, CA — After 17 years of the Soroptimists’ fun Man About Town campaign, 10 weeks of fundraising and events in this round, and two candidates, David Leach and Gabriel Rojas, $60,508 was raised in the effort to stop teen violence in our community. Traditionally, since Dr. Bob Leiske was crowned Big Bear’s first Man About Town in 1994, the leading fundraiser takes the title though, this year, co-chair Cassy Benson tells KBHR, “It was a tie! Everybody was so happy and excited.” Nineteen former Man About Town candidates joined in the celebration at Northwoods Resort last night and, notes Benson, “It was just a fun, special experience. It was awesome, and included a tribute to our former Men About Town—to the tune of ‘All the Girls I’ve Loved Before,’ though it was ‘all the men we’ve loved before’ for our version, which was fun. Then the guys sang the last verse: ‘to all the gals who love us so, raking in all that dough!’” And all that dough, over $60,000 worth generated by just two candidates since mid-February, will further the effort to eliminate teen violence; efforts by Soroptimist International of Big Bear Valley thus far include Camp Girl Power for middle school-aged girls; funding for Big Bear Middle School program facilitator Lori Smith, who is working on the Peace Builders program with students; and contributions to the new Boys 2 Men mentor program offered through Lutheran Social Services. Of reigning Men About Town Gabriel Rojas and David Leach, Benson adds, “Both men worked so hard, and were so committed to their cause. They are both really nice guys, and it was a pleasure to get to know them.” In anticipation of the upcoming 20th anniversary of the Man About Town campaign, in just a few years, the Soroptimists are compiling videos of skits from former candidates, should you have any to contribute.

The Big Bear Community Rocks Out for Big Bear High School

A Thank You from the Lighthouse Project

Big Bear High School Principal Mike Ghelber simply wished that Big Bear High could “look like a school in the mountains.”  The barren land at the front of the campus was incongruous with the energy of the staff and students within, not to mention the forested surrounding areas.  With no funding coming in the foreseeable future, it seemed as though this might not change.  But the power of community came through on Saturday, April 17, as over 70 community volunteers descended upon those barren slopes to create a rock riverbed feature for a xericape that will soon grace the campus.
In Big Bear, it appears that our motto is: “Just say yes.”  I am always overwhelmed with the generosity and cooperation of our community.  For starters, Reverend Jean Sweet, the expertise and driving force behind the success of school vegetable gardens, created a design for the area.  The San Bernardino Forest Association (SBNFA) signed up immediately to help with labor, organization and coordination with the US Forest Service.  They recruited the help of J & J Restorations, experts in the field of native landscapes.  The Lighthouse Project recruited volunteers who worked diligently, harvesting rock from other parts of the campus to complete the rock riverbed.  The work crew started at 8:00 a.m. and, to the surprise of all involved, the feature was nearly complete by 3:00 p.m.  Big Bear High School students, who comprised about one third of the volunteer work force, were among the hardest working and most enthusiastic.  Many volunteers complimented them for their hard work and positive attitudes.  Parents, teachers, students, administrators, district staff, counselors, and a School Board member could be found maneuvering wheel barrows, wrestling with rocks and placing them with care in the riverbed.
A true hero in the project was Gary McCord of McCord’s Tractor Service.  When other resources fell through at the last minute, Gary didn’t hesitate to fill in.  He loaded, hauled and placed the beautiful boulders donated to the project, and in the process treated volunteers to a show of his finesse with a tractor.
While volunteers at the riverbed enjoyed a perfectly warm, sunny day, another small cadre diligently cleared mounds of snow from the garden beds at Big Bear Elementary School to prepare them for spring planting.
The next phase of the xeriscape project, which will take place in September, will include the planting of pine seedlings and native plants to complete the project.  When complete, the area will be maintained by Mother Nature and will require no watering or irrigation.
The satisfying end result of the volunteer day can be gazed upon for years to come, but those present would say that being involved in the spirit of that day, working hard for a good cause with delightful people of all ages, was the greatest gift.  The Lighthouse Project extends an enormous thank you to all of the volunteers involved, and especially Reverend Jean, the San Bernardino National Forest Association including Alison, Stacy, Marco, Joe, Monica and Diane, the US Forest Service, Principal Ghelber, Jerry Vantine and the City of Big Bear Lake, and our amazingly giving and caring community.  Please stay posted on future opportunities to experience a day of fun in the sun.  Volunteer to help with school vegetable gardens, including this year’s addition at Big Bear High School.  We are in wild anticipation of liberty and vegetables for all!

Beth Gardner
for The Lighthouse Project

Get Outdoors and Make A Difference: BBHS Work Party and 6th Annual Walk MS This Saturday

Big Bear Valley, CA — This Saturday offers two opportunities to get outside, join your fellow community members, and be of service. The Big Bear Lighthouse Project welcomes everyone to “love your community, love your school,” as, in anticipation of Earth Day, there will be a work party at Big Bear High School. Volunteers are needed to help with several projects, including constructing the Peace Vegetable Garden at the school at 351 Maple Lane in Sugarloaf. Event organizer Beth Gardner says, “We have an unprecedented opportunity to beautify the front of the campus with a demonstration Xeriscape. A collaborative between many organizations has made it possible for us to create a rock riverbed feature, sculpt land contours, place boulders and plant native trees and plants, all donated to our school! Our first work day, which is rock and land moving day, is Saturday, April 17.” All ages, skills and abilities are invited; participants in the work party, which runs from 9am to 5pm, should wear clothes and shoes that can get dirty, and are also reminded to bring gloves, sunscreen, lunch and water, and tools such as wheelbarrows, shovels and steel rakes. For more information on the Peace Garden work party at BBHS, call the Lighthouse Project at 888/906-9998.
Also on Saturday, all are welcome to participate in the 6th annual Walk MS along the Alpine Pedal Path. Last year’s Big Bear Walk MS event raised over $80,000 to benefit the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, and it’s not too late to form a team or, as an individual, get pledges to support this cause. Always a fun event, Walk MS begins at North Shore Elementary School, and walkers can do either a one-mile or 5K walk along Big Bear Lake’s North Shore before returning to the elementary on Stanfield Cutoff for lunch, music and a fun kid zone; there will also be prizes, for best dressed and most spirited teams, as well as for the most inspirational walker. Saturday morning check-in begins at 9am at North Shore Elementary, opening ceremonies are at 10:30am, and the official start is at 11am. For more information on the April 17 Big Bear Walk to support MS research efforts, call 949-1363; info is also posted at NationalMSSociety.org.

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