MAT and CAP: Saturday Dinner Fundraisers Benefit Community Efforts

Big Bear Valley, CA — This Saturday offers two different dinner fundraisers, each of which will benefit a community effort. On March 20 at 4pm (until 7pm), local Squadron 6750 of the Civil Air Patrol and Friends of the Disaster Center will host a spaghetti feed fundraiser, an event that had been rescheduled due to snow. The dinner will be held at the Big Bear Valley’s new Emergency Operations Center, on the corner of Greenway Drive and Meadow Lane in Big Bear City, and proceeds will be used for utility and maintenance expenses, enabling the EOC to remain operational and ready for use on a moment’s notice. Saturday’s spaghetti dinner is offered at a cost of $6 per person, though free for children under age six.

Later Saturday evening, Soroptimists’ Man in Black David Leach hosts his first big event in his Man About Town campaign to raise funds to stop teen violence in the Big Bear Valley. The event is billed as a country-western hoedown, and will feature a chuckwagon BBQ and live band. Tickets to the Man About Town event, to be held at Union Bank in the Interlaken Center at 5:30pm, are $50 per person and available from Vi Holiday at 585-7037.

Big Bear Chamber’s Fantasy Auction = A Night of Moonshine and Mayhem

A Night of Moonshine and Mayhem is coming to the Big Bear Convention Center Saturday night, as the Big Bear Chamber of Commerce hosts their annual silent auction and fundraising event, which will include dinner, music and dancing, Black Jack, Craps and Texas Hold ’Em, as well as two saloons and a mechanical bull.  According to the Chamber’s Communications and Events Coordinator Angela Meyers, “Snow or shine, we are on for a night of Moonshine and Mayhem.  Remember that the dress code is strictly casual so throw on some jeans, and grab some boots and a hat and come on out!”. With the expectation of snowfall for tomorrow,  Meyers has stressed that the Convention Center parking lot will be plowed and ready for attendees.  Proceeds from the evening’s live and silent auctions will further the Chamber’s efforts to support local businesses and the Valley’s economy. To reserve your tickets for the event, which begins at 6pm, call 866-4607 or stop by the Chamber offices on Bartlett Road in the Village; tickets for Moonshine and Mayhem are $25 each for general seating or $250 for a table of eight.  Tickets will also be available at the door.

A Night of Moonshine and Mayhem Rides Into the Convention Center; Proceeds Benefit Chamber’s Local Business Efforts

A Night of Moonshine and Mayhem is coming to the Big Bear Convention Center this weekend, as the Big Bear Chamber of Commerce hosts their annual silent auction and fundraising event. Tickets are still available to the Saturday night dinner, which will also include music and dancing, Black Jack, Craps and Texas Hold  Em, as well as two saloons and a mechanical bull. According to the Chamber’s Communications and Events Coordinator Angela Meyers, “Moonshine and Mayhem is a casual, fun event, so everyone is invited to wear their boots and have fun with it—it’s a kick up your heels kind of thing.” Proceeds from the evening’s live and silent auctions will further the Chamber’s efforts to support local businesses and the Valley’s economy. To reserve your tickets for the February 27 event, which begins at 6pm, call 866-4607 or stop by the Chamber offices on Bartlett Road in the Village; tickets for Moonshine and Mayhem are $25 each for general seating or $250 for a table of eight.

Amber Carpenter and Caitlin Marie Pletcher Named Big Bear Idols in Rotary Club’s Annual Music Competition

Big Bear Lake, CA — The annual Big Bear Idol competition, hosted by the Rotary Club of Big Bear Lake and open to high-school aged vocalists and instrumentalists, took place at the Big Bear Lake Performing Arts Center on Saturday evening, February 20. Of the three participating in the instrumental competition, first place and a $300 cash prize went to Caitlin Marie Pletcher for her cello performance; Drew Chilcoat, also on cello, placed second and won $200; and violinist Hunter Soles took third and a $100 cash prize. Twelve high school vocalists competed before the large and supportive audience at the PAC, and Big Bear High School senior Amber Carpenter placed first in both the classical and non-classical categories, earning her two cash prizes of $300 each, and the opportunity to compete in the next phase of competition at the Rotary Club District level later this year. Vocalist Tori Waner placed second and Jodie Cline placed third, earning them $200 and $100 respectively; Waner and Cline, like Carpenter, placed in both classical and non-classical categories, so each won two cash prizes. Brian Adams served as master of ceremonies, engaging the crowd while the judges conferred during the Big Bear Idol competition; in the next round of performances incorporating finalists from much of San Bernardino and Riverside Counties, high school performers will be eligible for cash prizes up to $1000.

Early Out for BBMS, BBHS Students Today; Community Schedule Changes Prompted by Snow

Big Bear Valley, CA — Today’s snowstorm, and anticipated travel issues, have prompted some changes for today. Among those: The Big Bear Computer Club will not be meeting this evening at the Discovery Center. Those with questions on this evening’s canceled Computer Club meeting can call Yomar Cleary at 878-5622.
Students at both Big Bear Middle School and Big Bear High School will be on an early-out schedule today, due to the storm. BBMS students will be released 20 minutes early, at 1:35pm; BBHS students will be released at 2pm. At Big Bear High School, both varsity girls and boys basketball games have been moved up, to 2:15pm (girls) and 3:45pm (boys) this afternoon. Senior parent recognition will go as planned during the games, per BBHS Athletic Director Dave Griffiths—and no admission will be charged for these games at the high school in Sugarloaf. However, both JV games have been canceled, and will not be rescheduled. Today’s varsity soccer match, also against Yucca Valley, and at 3:15pm at Lucerne Valley High School remains unchanged.
Yoga class with Dr. Claudia Eads at the Big Bear Valley Recreation and Park District offices has also been canceled.
The Big Bear Valley Trails Foundation will continue with their Pizza and Pizzazz fundraiser at Maggio’s Restaurant this evening. Per event organizer Phil Hamilton, “Trails people are tough and resilient, and we’re gonna do it.” The Pizza and Pizzazz fundraiser runs from 5 to 8pm this evening and, again, at Maggios in the Interlaken Center.

Over 200 Brave the Elements to Race in the Third Annual Snowshoe the Bear

Big Bear Lake, CA — For the first two rounds of Snowshoe the Bear, the local snowshoeing event launched by Equada Outfitters and Team Sole in 2008, the clouds parted and racers enjoyed fresh snow under sunny skies. Not so for this, the third annual Snowshoe the Bear, which launched from the Village of Big Bear Lake on Saturday, February 6—it was a wet morning and though there was plenty of snow coverage on the street at the starting line thanks to the City’s Public Works crews, conditions were a bit more arduous for the over 200 participants in the 5K and 10K snowshoe races. However, Saturday’s storm provided some snow during the race, at higher elevations where the course ran along trails of the San Bernardino National Forest.
The first snowshoer to cross the finish line was local Jonathan Stiles, who was also the first to cross the finish line in the 5K of September’s Run the Bear. Other top male finishers in the 5K were Steve Blaine and Dale Beeson; top 5K females were Lauren Sullivan and Susan Maya and Lisa Waner, both of Big Bear Lake. In the 10K competition, overall leader was Adam Williams, a Snow Summit ski patroller and resident of Big Bear Lake; Williams was followed by Iggy Rodriques of Argentina (who’s living in Big Bear for the winter) and 15-year-old Casey Willliams (no relation to Adam, and yet his mom Kim was the first female to take the Fastest Bear in the Bear title in 2008). Top female finishers in Saturday’s 10K competition were Theresa Uhrig of Los Angeles, followed by Big Bear Lake residents Kelley Brunson and Karin Parks. As Casey Williams finished third overall in the men’s category, he also took top honors in the juniors 10K, and was followed by Ramon Escobar of Baja Mexico and local Jordan Romero. In the free kids’ race, nine-year-old Carissa Wolcott, a fourth grader at Big Bear Elementary, won, retaining her title from last year.
As in years past, Snowshoe the Bear offers a perpetual trophy (in the form of a wooden bear carving by George Crezee) to the fastest locals in the 10K; this year’s Fastest Bears in the Bear are Adam Williams and Kelley Brunson, joining a list that includes the aforementioned Kim Williams, two-time champion Ted Devito and last year’s female Conquer the Bear winner Heather Devito. The Conquer the Bear series continues this year, and all who participated in Snowshoe the Bear are eligible to continue in the four-event series, which next includes a mountain bike race on June 20. For more information on Conquer the Bear, visit OpenAirBigBear.com.

A Flurry of February Fundraisers Benefit Six Local Causes in Six Days

Big Bear Valley, CA — February’s second week features a flurry of fundraisers here in the Big Bear Valley. On Monday evening, February 8, Sonora Cantina on Big Bear Boulevard hosts $1 taco night, from 5 to 9pm, to benefit Bears boys basketball at Big Bear High School. Also on Monday, the Valley’s newest (and only private) school, Singing Pines Outdoor Education Center, holds a “Dinner of the Heart” fundraiser and silent auction at Nottingham’s Restaurant in the Village; cost is $20 per person for the sit-down dinner which begins at 6pm, auction bidding closes at 8:30pm. Questions can be directed to Terrilynn Bondeson at Singing Pines at 866-2532.
On Tuesday, February 9, the Big Bear Valley Trails Foundation holds their first fundraiser in an effort to create a Valley-wide trails system for biking, hiking, cross-country skiing and equestrian use. The 5pm fundraiser is billed as Pizza and Pizzazz and, for $15, there will be all-you-can-eat pizza, salad and soft drinks, as well as live entertainment at Maggio’s in the Interlaken Center.
Big Bear High School’s Performing Arts Department sponsors a Valentine Sweetheart Dinner Show on Wednesday, February 10, featuring a spaghetti dinner and performances from the high school’s Jazz Band and Concert Choir. Seating begins at 5:30pm, and suggested donation is $10 for adults and $5 for students, with proceeds to benefit performing arts programs.
On Friday and Saturday, February 12 and 13, the Big Bear Lake Performing Arts Center will be the setting for Simply Voices, an octet of local musicians and singers, performing in a benefit for the Bear Valley Hospital Foundation. Tickets are $20 each for the 7:30pm performances, and are available online at citybigbearlake.com, or by calling the PAC box office at 866-4970.
And though not a specific event, the American Legion is accepting funds on behalf of longtime Big Bear resident Lois “Micki” Hunt, a widowed senior on a fixed income whose home was condemned after heavy snow caused a roof collapse. In addition to seeking a handicapped accessible home for Hunt, the American Legion is taking donations to help with her moving expenses and interim temporary storage. Checks made out to Lois Hunt can be sent to the American Legion Post 584, P.O. Box 555, Big Bear Lake, CA 92315. Questions or offers of assistance can be directed to Diane Ackerman at 585-1297.
Update: On Thursday, February 11, Miss Big Bear Caroline Forry hosts Big Bear for Haiti, a fundraiser being co-sponsored by KBHR Radio and Village Theaters. For every ticket purchased on Thursday, $2 will go to the American Red Cross Haiti Relief Fund.

Boot Scootin’ and Breakfast With Supervisor Derry on Thursday; Big Bear Chamber Hosts Power Breakfast

San Bernardino County Supervisor Neil Derry will be boot scootin’ for breakfast tomorrow. The Big Bear Chamber of Commerce will feature Supervisor Derry at Thursday’s Power Breakfast, during which time he will speak on the state of the County, as well as participating in line dancing with Chamber members, who will be promoting their February 27 fundraiser billed as “A Night of Moonshine and Mayhem.” Tomorrow morning’s Power Breakfast gets underway at 7am at the Big Bear Best Western Chateau, located on the Moonridge Y, and cost to participate is $12 for Chamber members and $15 for guests. For more information on the February 4 Chamber breakfast, scheduled to include Supervisor Derry, you can visit the Big Bear Chamber’s website or call 866-4607.

Community Calendar for February’s First Week, as of Monday

Recent road conditions and the threat of more winter weather later in the week have prompted more cancellations in coming days.
For starters, the Big Bear Valley Historical Society will not be holding their general meeting on Tuesday, February 2 at the Big Bear Discovery Center; no follow-up date has yet been announced by the Historical Society.
The Civil Air Patrol was to hold a spaghetti dinner on Saturday, February 6, but this will be rescheduled as there is not enough parking at the facility (due to snow) at this time. Those with questions on the CAP fundraising event can call Jim Gundred at 584-9195.
We will bring you more notices as they are made available to KBHR.
In the meantime, some activities are still a go this week.
Among those, the parenting support group Common Ground will this evening present the first in a five-series workshop for adults on “rethinking how we parent our tweens and teens.” This evening’s free workshop begins at 6:30pm at Community Church by the Lake, and will address Empathy vs. Anger. To reserve your space for tonight’s Common Ground class for parents, call 801-1766.
The Big Bear Valley Recreation and Park District still plans to take a trip to the Staples Center in Los Angeles this Saturday, February 6, to see the Clippers/Spurs basketball game. Tickets are $42 per person, and include transportation and snacks on the luxury bus. For more information, call Rec and Park at 866-9700. Also, snowboard lesson makeups will soon be underway; parents should have received a flyer with specifics but, if not, contact the Rec and Park offices for snowboard lesson makeup dates.
The third annual Snowshoe the Bear event, to launch from the Village at 10am, takes place Saturday, February 6. Post-race activities in the afternoon include live music from Elevated Roots, Big Bear’s reunited reggae band.

KTLA’s Mark Kriski to Do Live Remote from Snow Summit Friday Morning

Los Angeles television station KTLA Channel 5 will be in Big Bear tomorrow, doing a live remote for their morning news program from Snow Summit resort, from 6 to 10am. The Big Bear Lake Resort Association has planned for this special coverage, featuring the powder-heavy slopes, and invites the community to come out to Summit to participate in the filming. KTLA’s weatherman Mark Kriski will be reporting from the mountain, and Big Bear will be featured on Channel 5 during the morning hours of Friday, January 29.

Next Page »