BBHS Bears Celebrate a Belated Winterfest With Pep Assembly Honoring Court of Bradley, Dietz, Murie, Muro and Solis

Sugarloaf, CA — This weekend, rescheduled from six weeks ago due to snow, is Big Bear High School’s Winterfest Dance at Northwoods Resort. The Winterfest Court, nominated by the Class of 2010, includes seniors Parker Bradley, Kevin Dietz, Jake Murie, Eddie Muro and Antonio Solis. The court was presented in a BBHS pep assembly this morning, and were escorted by their moms: Diane, Sandy, Kathy, Rosalinda and Victoria. Today’s assembly at Our House also included recognition of Bears winter sports squads–including boys and girls basketball, girls soccer and boys wrestling—as each of these teams made it to post-season CIF competition. Other highlights at the March 19 assembly included a preview of the Performing Arts Department’s “Once Upon a Mattress” (to be onstage at the PAC in April), short and often hilarious movie spoofs filmed and presented by each member of the Winterfest Court, and a dance-off hosted by “Mario Lopez” (aka Principal Michael Ghelber); the senior class won the competition that also included BBHS staffers doing their version of Michael Jackson’s “Beat It.” The Class of 2010’s Winterfest King will be crowned at Saturday night’s dance. Monday, March 22, is a late start day for BBHS students.

Big Bear Mountain Resorts “Screamin’ Deal Season Passes” Go On Sale Monday

Tomorrow night is the last Saturday night session of the season for night skiing and boarding at Snow Summit which runs from 3pm to 9:30pm for a full session.  Big Bear Mountain Resorts “Screamin’ Deal” Season Passes” go on sale Monday, March 15th.  Passes can be used through the end of this season and for all of the next winter season.  And, remember, season passes are valid at both Snow Summit and Bear Mountain.  The season pass sale ends May 31st.  Visit either resort to purchase or go on-line to www.snowsummit.com for more information.

Big Bear Valley Rec and Park District Hosts the 12th Annual Basketball Tournament

The Big Bear Valley Recreation and Park District hosts the12th Annual Basketball Tournament today through Sunday, March 14th.  Fifty-four teams from areas like Big Bear, 29 Palms, Yucca Valley, Redondo Beach and Banning will be competing for trophies with over 90 games that will be held at Big Bear High School, Big Bear Middle School and Big Bear Elementary.  According to Glenn Jacklin of the Rec and Park District, 5 or 6 more teams have been added this year over last year.  Boys and girls in grades 3 through 8, as well as 9th grade boys, began playing in the Youth Basketball League.  Students then advanced to All Star Teams who mainly comprise the tournament teams playing this weekend.  The final Championship games will be this Sunday from 2:30pm to 4:30pm at all three schools.  The event is free to spectators and you can locate specific games by going to www.bigbearparks.com and click on the tournament link.  Major sponsors of the tournament include The Club, Northwoods Resort, the Alderwood Group and Domino’s Pizza.

The Big Bear Climb: Volunteers Needed for May 21 Stage of Amgen Tour of California

Big Bear Lake, CA — In anticipation of the Amgen Tour of California, the internationally recognized cycling race coming to Big Bear the weekend prior to Memorial Day, local volunteers are being sought to participate on Friday, May 21. The local organizing committee for the Big Bear Climb, which culminates with a finish at Snow Summit after a 135-mile ride from Pasadena, needs volunteers to assist with media, security, site decoration, volunteer check-in, the Lifestyle Festival Expo, and as course marshals. Though there are 75 professional course marshals that will line the course, which includes Highway 18 and the North Shore portion of Highway 38, the majority of local volunteers will be needed in the course marshal capacity. Those interested in participating in this large-scale event, which will include professional cyclists Lance Armstrong and Levi Leipheimer, are asked to contact Big Bear Volunteer Director Eric Lewis via email at ericlewisbigbearlake@yahoo.com, or by calling 909/800-4371. For more information on Big Bear’s participation in the May 21 stage of the Amgen Tour of California, see the website TheBigBearClimb.com.

Bears Wrap Basketball Season With At-Home Loss in First Round CIF Play

The Big Bear High School boys varsity basketball team wrapped their season with last night’s loss to Alemany High School in a score of 67-97 in first round CIF play. Wednesday’s loss was despite 14 points by Daniel Campuzano and 17 points, four steals and seven rebounds by Parker Bradley. The Bears, led by Coach Bo Kent, finished the basketball season with a 15-9 record and placed second overall for the De Anza League. The team thanks the Big Bear community for their cheers and support at last night’s game at Our House.

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.

Community Notes: Info on Youth Baseball, Food Distribution, Ted Fashempour and Erv Nichols

We have some community notes to relay:
Parents, just a reminder that today (February 18), like every Thursday, is a minimum day for students at Big Bear Middle School and all three elementaries within the Bear Valley Unified School District.
Big Bear Youth Baseball sign-ups are underway for the spring season, which will get started with tryouts at North Shore Elementary on Saturday, March 13. There will be after-school signups at each of the three elementaries this month, as well as sign-up opportunities at Kmart from 10am to 2pm on Saturdays through March 6. Questions on the baseball league for four to 14-year-olds can be addressed to Bill Jacquez at 585-4574 or Kara Burkman at 951/255-0229.

The family of Ted Fashempour has rescheduled his memorial service, which will now be held on Saturday, March 6 at 1pm at the Big Bear Lake Performing Arts Center. Fashempour, owner of the Little Green House Florist with wife Paula, passed away on January 2 and the memorial originally scheduled for January 24 was postponed due to severe snow that week.
The San Bernardino County food distribution at Community Church by the Lake will next be offered on Monday, February 22. Food will be available to those in need from noon to 2pm on Monday, weather permitting. Community Church is located at 40946 Big Bear Boulevard at Knickerbocker in Big Bear Lake.
And, just for fun, former Big Bear Lake resident Erv Nichols is one of several park volunteers featured in a story in today’s New York Times; use this link to access the park volunteers story in the New York Times.

Bears Basketball Teams Hosts First Round CIF Game Wednesday

Big Bear High School’s boys varsity basketball team, which wrapped regular De Anza League play with a 6-2 record last week (and 15-8 overall), advances to CIF competition this evening. The Bears’ first round of CIF play will be held at Big Bear High School with a 7pm basketball game against the Alemany Warriors of Mission Hills. Tickets to the game go on sale at 6pm, at a cost of $8, though $5 with BBHS student ID.
In other BBHS sports news, the girls JV soccer team earned first place in De Anza League, given their undefeated season!

It’s Official: The Amgen Tour of California to Cycle Into Big Bear on Highways 18, 38 on May 21

Big Bear Valley, CA — It’s official as of today: the 2010 Amgen Tour of California will be making its way from Pasadena to Big Bear on Friday, May 21st. The route for this, stage 6 of the eight-day race covering California and including the world’s top professional cyclists, including Lance Armstrong, Levi Leipheimer, Dave Zabriskie and George Hincapie, is the most challenging and is known as the queen stage. According to Andrew Mesick, president of race presenter AEG Sports, “The May timing of the 2010 edition of the Amgen Tour of California is going to allow us to visit some challenging new areas of California that previously were not possible due to the weather. The stage 6 route from Pasadena to Big Bear is the perfect example, with our first-ever mountain finish at a 7,000 foot elevation.”
Cyclists will begin their May 21 ride in front of Pasadena City Hall at 9:45am, and will ride 135 miles and climb more than 12,000 feet before reaching Snow Summit in Big Bear Lake in roughly the 3pm hour for the finish. The mountain portion of the route will include Highway 138 to Silverwood Lake before segueing onto Highway 18 above Crestline, through the Lake Arrowhead area, past Running Springs and along Arctic Circle to the Big Bear Dam, where riders will then take Highway 38 into Fawnskin, cross Stanfield Cutoff over Big Bear Lake, then take Sandalwood Drive (behind the Interlaken Center), Fox Farm Road, Garstin Drive, and then the final push, up Summit Boulevard to finish the race at Summit and Switzerland Drive.
The Tour of California is the largest cycling event in America, said to now be on par with the Tour de France, and it is expected that, given numbers from 2009’s fourth annual event, will reach an international audience of 3.5 billion. In a statement from County Supervisor Neil Derry, who this week appropriated $40,000 in funds to promote and stage the event, he said, “All eyes will be on San Bernardino County as we host the first mountaintop finish, and I am excited about the immediate economic impact and broader ability, to showcase our region as a great place to do business. Past host cities and surrounding regions have seen a noticeable impact in economic activity and we are hopeful to benefit from the same during these tough economic times.” In an effort to keep cycling enthusiasts and race fans in the Big Bear Valley through the weekend, local organizers will host the Tour de Big Bear on Saturday, May 22.

Bears Play for DeAnza League Basketball Title; Minimum Day for BBMS, Elementaries on Eve of Four-Day Weekend

Big Bear Valley, CA — Each Thursday is a minimum day for Big Bear Middle School and elementary students, to allow for teacher’s strategic planning in the afternoon, and that is the case for today as well, despite the upcoming holiday. All BVUSD students are on the eve of a four-day weekend, as Friday is a school holiday in observance of Lincoln’s birthday and Monday, February 15 is a school holiday in observance of the Presidents’ Day holiday.
In other school news, the Bears varsity boys basketball team won their game over Desert Hot Springs yesterday in a score of 76-68 (given double figures from Parker Bradley, Dylan Helm, Owen David and Daniel Campuzano) and, this evening, they play for the league title. Big Bear High School’s team travels to 29 Palms for a 7:30pm game that will determine the De Anza League championship.
Update: The Bears varsity boys basketball team lost their game against 29 Palms last night. It was said to be an intense game, with a final score of 46-56. The Bears ended regular season play with a record of 6-2 and though they did not win the De Anza League championship, they will be eligible for post-season CIF play.

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