Running Springs Farmer’s Market Opens May 2

The Running Springs Farmer’s Market has been a huge hit and the vendors were all open or business this weekend. Sponsored by the chamber of commerce the market has been a huge asset to the community.

Last year’s Running Springs Farmer’s Market was a huge success so this year it is starting earlier to let everyone who has missed it getting a head start on summer.Come and enjoy the fun from May 2 to September 26 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

With Mother’s Day right around the corner the market will be filled with special Mother’s Day gifts on May 9. Of course, the market will include “no pesticide” fruits and vegetables, jams, delicious olive oil, honey, food, art, beauty products, gifts, clothing, jewelry and just about anything else you can think of except the kitchen sink.

The following Saturday, May 16 will be the farmer’s market and a follow-up to last year’s Home Expo. This special expo highlights products and services available in the local mountain community so come out and support your local handyman, plumber, builder, ect. Vendors who are licensed in home improvement services will be on hand so if you’ve got questions or problems this is a great opportunity to get some advice and help.

The market is located on the property owned by the Running Springs Water District that is between First Mountain Bank and the Running Springs branch library. The address, should you need it, is 2625 Whispering Pines.

 

 

Rim of the World Recreation and Park District’s “Recreation Days” at Local Fields

Park and Recreation Days in the mountains are just around the corner. The fun will be held at Tucker Field at Arrowbear Park  in Arrowbear and at the Twin Peaks Rotary Centennial Park and Harich Field in Twin Peaks. Both events will be held Saturday, April 18 at 1 p.m.

Come enjoy free hot dogs, relay races and a variety of fun games and prizes. This great day will also include fire truck tours (something all children love) and lots of games.

Sponsored by the Rim of the World Recreation and Park District these events, at both fields, will be filled with happy children and their families so come and enjoy.

By the way, Lucy is telling Charlie Brown to get up and get going so they don’t miss all the fun!  You won’t want to miss all the fun either!

 

 

Annual R.S. Easter Egg Hunt a Fabulous Success!

Okay, who had more fun? The girls or their mom! They had a great time!

It’s always hard to tell who has more fun at the annual Running Springs Chamber of Commerce sponsored Easter Egg Hunt. This annual event has been held for years and it is always held on the Saturday before Easter (not Easter Sunday).

This year’s event was a huge success with more children and volunteers. Even more excited that the children was the Easter Bunny himself. While he wasn’t hopping around the area (so to speak) he was all over the place and he had a fabulous time…..and so did the children.

This year the Easter Bunny must have taken his vitamins because he was all over the place greeting children. He had a great time before it was time to hop away!

The local chamber of commerce has sponsored this fun event for decades and each year it is such a reminder of how small communities can have such, such fun. I wasn’t able to count how many children turned out for this event but I’m guessing about 40 or so. Once the Easter Bunny says it’s time to “go” it’s amazing how quickly all the candy that the Easter Bunny dropped earlier in the morning is gone and it’s often as much fun for parents as for the children.

Be sure to mark the Saturday before Easter (not Easter morning) for this fun event as soon as you get your 2016 calendar. Plan to hop on over to the area by the library and the playground for this fun event. If you’re tired watching the children scramble around the area will perk you up right away.

 

Forest Services Schedules Grass Valley Fire Restoration Open House May 2

The San Bernardino National Forest is initiating a National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) analysis for the Grass Valley Fire Restoration Project, which would reduce fuels, remove hazard trees, reforest previously forested areas, restore lands and infrastructure affected by the fire and treat invasive plants.

The north Lake Arrowhead project is approximately 1,256 acres of National Forest lands within a Wildland Urban Interface defense zone. The area burned during the devastating Grass Valley Fire in 2007. The fire started shortly after 5 a.m. on October 22, 2008 during extreme Santa Ana winds. By the end of the day, 199 homes were destroyed or damaged.

An open house meeting has been scheduled for May 2, 2015 from 1 to 3 p.m. Forest Service staff will be available to meet with the public, answer questions and discuss the project and process,a s well as to collect the public’s input on the project.

The meeting will be held at the Mountain Communities Senior/Community Center at 675 Grandview Drive in Twin Peaks.

For more detailed information regarding this project log onto: http://data/ecosystem-management.org/nepaweb/nepa project exp.php?project=43428.

The Forest Service want to hear from interested people and they want comments on this proposal. Comments may be sent electronically or in writing and all comments are due by May 14, 2015.

Email: comments pacificsouthwest san bernardino mountaintop@fs.fed.us. Put “Grass Valley Fire Restoration Project” in the subject line.

To send comments by mail send them to : Grass Valley Fire Restoration Project, Attn: Beth Stewart, Mountaintop Ranger District, P.O. Box 290, Fawnskin, Ca. 92333.

 

 

Happy Birthday to…..

This one’s for you, Donna. Happy, happy birthday!

Happy Birthday to fabulous chef extraordinaire and all around wonderful person Randy Arrington. Randy is the owner of Blondie’s restaurant on Hwy. 18 in Arrowbear. Located just two or so miles east of Running Springs). Throughout the years Randy has owned this popular restaurant he’s had quite a success and that’s because the food is delicious, the staff is always welcoming and fun, it’s right on Hwy. 18 and he honors our troops by allowing parents to post their son or daughter’s photo on a wall that is specifically there to honor our service members. Trimmed with red, white and blue decorations it is an honor for all those names and photos on the wall but it is also an honor for those who are dining to get a look at our local heroes. Have a great birthday, Randy, and thank you!

Happy birthday wishes to my cherished friend Cheryl Nagy who has quietly done so much for the mountain communities. Cheryl has worked with local associations that are part of the nation-wide system that involves thousands of volunteers who help others in the case of emergencies such as fires, hurricanes and other disasters. This interest has taken her far and wide working with county, city, state, federal and even international organizations throughout the world. Most of the people involve with these organizations are volunteers and I honor her, and them, in their efforts to help mankind be more prepared for emergencies and to help communities cope with disasters after they occur.

There are teachers and then THERE ARE TEACHERS and Betty Ann Crabtree was one the best. She’s always had a great personality with a wonderful laugh that fortunately she uses frequently.  I hope she has the most wonderful birthday ever and takes some time to reflect on her years of teaching and the joy, laughter, knowledge and love she bestowed on her students throughout the years. Way to Go, Betty. If I had 10 thumbs I’d give you a 10 thumbs up but I only have two but I’m raising them both to honor you.

 

Happy Birthday to My son John

My son, John, celebrates his birthday today and I know he’s going to hate that I am posting this. As his mother I won’t embarass him my being to0 mushy. I will be seeing him in a few hours and fixing his favorite tacos. It seems he was just a little boy at (then) Running Springs Elementary School, MPH Intermediate School and Rim.

He’s quite talented and I am so proud of the success he has made, even during tough financial times, with his incredible talent at building off-road vehicles.

Happy Birthday!

Children’s Fishing Derby April 25 at Arrowbear Lake and it’s FREE!

Kids love to go fishing and a special fishing derby is set for Saturday, April 25 at Arrowbear Lake.

Sponsored by the Arrowbear Lake Lions Club this event, which is such fun, is being named after longtime (and much beloved) Arrowbear resident, Steve Cannata, who tragically died all too soon last year. Steve was an active member of the Arrowbear Lions Club for many, many years so it is so appropriate that his friends and Lions Club members are naming this fishing derby after him.

The fun will be held at Arrowbear Lake (off Hwy. 18 by Blondie’s restaurant) from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. and boys and girls ages three to 15-years-old are welcome to participate in this free event.

In addition to fishing fun a free hot dog and drink will be given to each child and there are always a lot of prizes which makes this event really fun for the family..,but especially the children.

Even if you don’t fish (or even like fish) you might want to come out on what will be a glorious day by the lake and enjoy this fun event. It’s hard to decide sometimes who has more fun at this fishing derby….the children or the adults.

Huckleberry Finn would have loved  this fishing derby and so will you and your children!

 

 

Soccer Signups Right Around the Corner!!!!

Be sure to thank your kids soccer coach and the referees. They’re probably not making the big bucks and they deserve a pat on the back.

It’s that time of year when mountain kids register for AYSO soccer “on the mountain.”
This year all sign ups will be done online so parents need to make sure they go far into into the instruction to e-sign (which is electronic signature, both for players and volunteers.)

Parents need to take two copies of each player’s form to a sign-up date along with their payment. Starting next week postcards and flyers will be going out to local families to update them on the newest information.

The dates and locations for sign ups are: May 5, 6 to 8 p.m., Roadhouse Pizza in Crestline; June 2, 6-8 p.m. at the Blue Jay Room (next to Old Country Furniture in the Jensen’s parking lot in Blue Jay); May 6, 6:30-8:30 p.m. and June 11 from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Robert Hootman Senior/Community Center, Running Springs School Road; and Brulte Field on May 9, May 16 and May 30 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. and June 6 and June 13 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.

For more information log onto the  AYSO website at: aysoregion165.org.

See you and all the kids at one of the soccer registration events. I know another great year lies ahead! Remember AYSO’s slogan is that all kids play…..and they do!

 

Celebration of Life Set for Santina “Sandy” McCormick

Lovely, funny, compassionate, loving Sandy McCormick will be remember by the McCormick family and their friends on Sunday, April 19 from noon until 3 p.m.

Sandy was the mother of Joe McCormick and mother-in-law to Lake Arrowhead Classical Ballet Company Director Sharon McCormick. For those of us who knew here she was such a gem. She donated and volunteered countless hours to the ballet company, particularly during the productions of The Nutcracker. She loved what she did and loved volunteering her time at the studio and during the Christmas holiday season.

The short service will be held (appropriately) at the Dance studio on Sunday, April 19. The service will begin at noon, ministered by Reverend Annie Genato. Cake and coffee will follow the ceremony.

Sandy was such inspiration to so many people and Sharon and Joe look forward to dedicating an afternoon to celebrating her life with their dance “families” and friends.

Sandy truly was one of a kind and I was so lucky to have had long conversations with her about life, love, work, volunteering and other ideas we shared through the years.

A G.I. Family’s Prayer: Written Years Ago by Dr. Robert Schuller, Crystal Cathedral

I was sorry to hear today that Dr. Robert Schuller, who was the first pastor of the Crystal Cathedral, passed away today. I certainly didn’t know him but I do vividly remember that when it was announced that we were sending troops into Iraq in Desert Storm and the comfort he offered to all Americans.

At the time I was at our family beach house and I knew something was “up” because the Seal  Beach Naval Ammunition Base was just a few miles away from our wonderful, old, comfortable house that our parents had purchased for $6,000 way back in the 1950s. That weekend there an inordinate number of Navy ships going into and out of the base and I could see them  lined up on the horizon. In my gut I knew something was up and tragically, and unfortunately, I was right.

In need of some spiritual uplifting I turned on the program and Dr. Schuller had written this beautiful poem to honor our troops that would soon be climbing up the ramps of Naval ships from the local Seal Beach base to head to the middle east. I called and asked permission to print his beautiful poem in my mountain newspaper that I had at the time and he happily gave me permission. It is so beautiful so for those parents and other family members who have loved ones overseas, I hope this brings some solace to you!

“A.G.I’. Family’s Prayer”

Hear, Lord, my prayer for my G.I. So eager to live, too young to die.

Beneath an alien blistering sun

They fave a dangerous enemy gun.

The storm clouds gather, the horror of war.

My soldier stands bravely guarding the door.

Defending justice, peace and freedom,

Of their commander-in-chief, give Holy wisdom.

From war’s alarms, bring swift release.

Hasten the day of honorable peace.

On land and sand and sea and air,

I back my solder with the prayer.

“No matter how far he is forced to roam,

Just bring, I pray, my G.I. home.”

Amen