Help the Community Gardens Win $10,000

Big Bear, Ca, January 18, 2012, 12:00pm - The Big Bear Lake Department of Water & Power along with Robbie Bos and the Community Gardens project are teaming up to make the China Gardens and Drought Tolerant Demonstration garden a reality here in the Big Bear Valley.  Currently the DWP has entered the Community Gardens Project into a contest that could provide the project with $10,000.  The gardens on Fox Farm Rd will include a fruit tree orchard as well as nearly 40 community plots where individuals and families can plant, maintain and grow the gardens of their choice. It also includes a plot where vegetables will be grown and distributed to social support organizations such as churches and food banks. The gardens will also feature a green house for germination and winter crops, a three stage composting system, water storage tank, ADA raised beds, and a community education area. To help the garden project receive $10,000 you can vote everyday through March 15^th. Go to www.iuowawards.com and search for China Garden. Click to vote and you’re done!

Fire Level Has Been Increased To Very High: Fire Restrictions Elevated

Big Bear, Ca, January 13, 2012, 4:00pm - The US Forest Service has elevated the fire danger level to very high due to the dry, warm weather the San Bernardino County and other areas have been experiencing.  Fire Danger increases with the unseasonable warmer, drier weather along with persistent Santa Ana wind conditions.  Fire officials are closely monitoring the weather and fuel conditions, adjusting staffing levels, and increasing or lowering fire use restrictions as deemed necessary. The following fire restrictions and guidelines are now in effect on the San Bernardino National Forest areas:  Wood and charcoal fires are permitted only in developed campgrounds and picnic grounds and within agency provided fire rings or camp stoves.  Campfire permits are required for propane and gas stoves and lanterns used outside of developed recreation sites.  Recreational shooting is limited to Public Shooting Ranges operated under special use permit only, except those engaged in legal hunting. An approved spark arrester is required for any internal combustion engine operated on designated forest routes. These include chainsaws, generators, motorcycles, and off-highway vehicles.  Smoking is limited to an enclosed vehicle or building, or within a Developed Recreation Site. And as always, fireworks are always prohibited on the San Bernardino National Forest. The US Forest Service will be aggressively citing those who do not comply with the posted restrictions.  Forest visitors are encouraged to “Know Before You Go” and call ahead to the Big Bear Ranger Station to check on location conditions and restrictions at (909) 382-2790

Forest Service Increases Number of “Fee Free” Days To Eight This Year!

Big Bear, Ca, January 11, 2012, 4:00pm - The U.S. Forest Service announced this week that eight dates have been chosen to be fee free days for the national forests nationwide.  Usually in years past there have been two or three fee free days, where adventure seekers don’t need to purchase an adventure pass for their car to park on National Forest Land, and this year the Forest Service has increased the number to eight days.   “We encourage the public to get outdoors in America’s vast and dynamic playground,” said Forest Service Chief Tom Tidwell. “We hope that visiting your beautiful national forests and grasslands will help people gain a deep appreciation for natural resources, and create lifelong memories.”  This Martin Luther King Jr. Weekend will be filled with fee free days, with Saturday through Monday, requiring no adventure pass.  Later on in the year, June 9^th, Get Outdoors Day, September 29^th, National Public Lands Day, and November 10^th through 12^th Veterans Day Weekend will also be fee free days.  The mission of the U.S. Forest Service is to sustain the health, diversity, and productivity of the nation’s forests and grasslands to meet the needs of present and future generations.

Volunteers Needed For January Bald Eagle Count

Big Bear, Ca, January 10, 2012, 3:00pm - On Saturday January 14^th, the second bald eagle count of the winter will be conducted around lakes in the San Bernardino and San Jacinto Mountains and your help is needed!  During the first bald eagle count in December, a grand total of 9 eagles (5 adults and 4 juveniles) were observed at the lake areas.  The number of bald eagles in southern California typically starts of low in December, peaking in January and February, and tapers off in March.  The Forest Service is looking for volunteers to help count bald eagles this Saturday.  Volunteer’s will be stationed at vantage points around Big Bear Lake, in which they will map and note any eagle observations during a 1-hour period on Saturday Morning.  “Through this method, the Forest Service has acquired information about areas eagles use and fluctuations in population numbers,” said Forest Service wildlife biologist Marc Stamer. “There’s no experience needed for volunteers and this is a wonderful opportunity to catch a glimpse of our breath-taking national symbol.” In addition to Saturday mornings eagle count, February 11, and March 10. Volunteers will meet at 8:00 a.m. at the Big Bear Discovery Center on North Shore Drive. Contact Robin Eliason 909-382-2832 for more information.

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.

Mountain Driving Tips: Don’t Play In The Snow On the Highways!

Big Bear, Ca, December 27, 2011, 5:00pm - The California Highway Patrol and Cal Trans want to remind motorists of safe mountain driving tips to help ease traffic, and prevent accidents this holiday season.  There are three routes up to the Big Bear Valley, and during busy holiday weekends such as these, it is advised to utilize the “East is Least” route of Highway 38 through the Redlands/ Mentone area, or the back grade of Highway 18 through Lucerne Valley and the High Desert.  Utilizing these routes could save you from spending an excess amount of time in traffic on the front grade Highway 18 to Highway 330.  If you want to play in the snow, do so in a designated snow play area, or ensure that your vehicle is safely pulled off the side of the road, where it will not be blocking lanes on the road. Also be aware of sledding hills in their relation to traffic, as some areas are not safe or suggested because sleds can continue onto the roadway, putting the snow player and motorists on the road in danger.   If you are driving on the highways and have vehicles behind you, use one of the many turnouts found on all routes in and out of the Big Bear Valley.  You can receive a ticket if you do not use the turnouts and you have five or more vehicles behind you.  Make sure that you carry chains in your vehicle, no matter what kind of vehicle you have, as it is the law that you carry chains in the winter months when traveling in the mountains.

Things to do in Big Bear

Big Bear, Ca, December 27, 2011, 4:00pm - The Big Bear Valley has many different activities for visitors and residents to enjoy this holiday season.  The Moonridge Animal Park provides a home for many indigenous and mountain area animals, including the grizzly bear and bald eagle.  The Big Bear Discovery Center is open Thursday’s through Mondays, and offers visitors a chance to brush up on the history and wildlife of the Big Bear Valley. The new Action Segway tours offer tours from a different perspective, in different areas of the valley.  They are housed in the new village shops and courtyard in the Big Bear Lake Village.  Local gyms such as Big Bear Total Fitness and Mountain Fitness Center are open this week, and offer day passes, and both have excellent facilities for all your exercise and high altitude training needs. For those that want to relax, take a look at one of our spa’s or wellness centers, such as Elevations Day Spa, the Village Spa, or if you want to stay in by the fire, make an appointment with a licensed masseuse from Mobile Mountain Massage.    Additional activities you can do on your own time include snowshoeing, and taking a stroll down the Alpine Pedal Path on the North Shore of Big Bear Lake.  There are many local trails, including the Woodland Trail, Cougar Crest Trail, and Pine Knot trail that are great for snowshoeing.  For more information, or to get a referral from the Big Bear Chamber of Commerce, call 866-4607.

Volunteers Needed For Bald Eagle Spotting

Big Bear, Ca, December 14, 2011, 3:00pm - The Forest Service is looking for volunteers to help count bald eagles this Saturday.  This is the 34^th Season in which winter bald eagle counts have taken place in the San Bernardino and San Jacinto Mountain areas. Volunteer’s will be stationed at vantage points around Big Bear Lake, in which they will map and note any eagle observations during a 1-hour period on Saturday Morning.  “Through this method, the Forest Service has acquired information about areas eagles use and fluctuations in population numbers,” said Forest Service wildlife biologist Marc Stamer. “There’s no experience needed for volunteers and this is a wonderful opportunity to catch a glimpse of our breath-taking national symbol.” In addition to Saturday mornings eagle count, there will be counts on January 14, February 11, and March 10. Volunteers will meet at 8:00 a.m. at the Big Bear Discovery Center on North Shore Drive. Contact Robin Eliason 909-382-2832 for more information.

Big Bear Lake City Council Meeting Tonight

Big Bear Lake, CA, November 14, 2011, 8:00am - The Big Bear Lake City Council will meet in regular session tonight at 6:30pm in Hofert Hall. The council will get an update from the San Bernardino National Forest on US Forest Service activities in the area. On the consent calendar the council will consider an agreement with AEG for Big Bear Lake to serve as a Stage Finish for the Amgen Tour of California, and approval of a lease with  the Big Bear Valley Recreation and Park District for a BMX Bicycle Park Facility on Big Bear Boulevard. The city council will also discuss and take public input on the General Plan Amendment pertaining to the General Plan Housing Element Update.

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