July 11

Fourth of July festivities on the mountain began with a parade in Green Valley Lake on July 4, followed by Lake Arrowhead’s patriotic flyover and fireworks spectacular, also on the 4th. Crestline’s Jamboree Days kicked off on July 5 with a Top Town block party, followed by a parade and fireworks on July 6.

July 18

Crestline’s Sycamore Ranch Vineyard and Winery captured top honors in three separate winemaking competitions, including Sunset Magazine’s prestigious Best of the Best, Best of the Show Red Wine, and Best of Class and Double Gold awards for their 2017 Grenache.

July 25

Efforts to bring cityhood to the Crestline community have been put on hold for now after the Incorporate Lake Gregory Committee learned the tax revenues would be insufficient to pay for an incorporated town.

August 1

For the eighth year, proud owners of classic cars and motorcycles displayed them in Lake Arrowhead Village. There were 110 cars in this year’s show with 20 awards presented at the end of the day.

August 8

Two illegal campfires in forested areas near Crestline posed a major threat to the Crestline community in the past week. Asked whether the incidents were related to a homeless encampment – of which several have been reported in the same general area – a Cal Fire captain said only that they were under investigation.

August 15

The 40th anniversary of the 5K and 10K Run Through the Pines lured 325 competitors from throughout Southern California. The annual run around Lake Gregory was hailed a success by a Rim Recreation and Park District spokesperson.

August 22

The latest innovation at Valley of Enchantment Elementary School, an August 12th “Back to School Night Bash,” held the night before the new school year started, lured an estimated 300 to 400 students, teachers, staff members, parents and other interested persons to the K-5 campus.

August 29

Rim of the World Special Athletes Foundation recently spent their last lake day on Lake Arrowhead. The morning was spent kayaking, water cycling, swimming and stand-up paddle boarding. After lunch, the County Fire Department invited kids and adults to ride on their fire boat and shoot off the water cannon.

September 5

During the second of five wildfire prevention and preparedness meetings planned for different locations on the mountain, last week’s Aug. 28 informational meeting at the Twin Peaks Community Center drew over 50 local residents eager to learn what they could to prevent becoming a wildfire victim, as well as what to do when the next wildland fire strikes the mountaintop communities.

September 12

This year’s 10th annual Lake Arrowhead Brewfest attracted over 540 home brew and craft beer fanciers to its new Tavern Bay Beach Club venue. Ticketholders enjoyed unlimited samplings from 22 Southland breweries and home brew clubs in a festive, beachside atmosphere.

September 19

For the past eight years, retired firefighter Captain Tony Horn has staged a three-day vigil at the 9/11 memorial in Crestline, remembering the 343 firefighters and 2,997 others who died during the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks in New York City, Washington, D.C., and Shanksville, Penn. The funds he raises are earmarked to pay for supplemental supplies and materials for the Mountain Boys & Girls Club.

September 26

Seasoned veteran Lennon Houghtaling captured first-place honors at week’s Game of Skate grand finale, while Gavin and Emilio placed second and third. The competition lured seasoned veterans, ranging in age from 11 to 14, to the Crestline skate park. Five smallish beginners, ages 3 to 9, were not entered into the Game of Skate but competed for the fun of it.

October 3

State Senator Mike Morrell, Assemblyman Jay Obernolte and County Supervisor Janice Rutherford are working together to bring California Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara to the mountain communities to address residents’ concerns about the availability of homeowner’s insurance. Although it was originally hoped this meeting would take place in October, the commissioner’s office is now projecting it will be in December.

October 10

A huge crowd attended the 13th annual Pine Cone Festival last Saturday at Rim Nordic, and the day was packed with pinecone fun. With the various contests and nearly 100 vendors, there was fun for the entire family. The Mountain Fifes & Drums Corps kicked off the day as they marched throughout the grounds playing music, while Boy Scout Troop 89 presented the flag and Smokey Bear officially opened the festival.

October 17

California Governor Gavin Newsom’s decision to sign legislation mandating later starting times for middle and high schools will impact Rim schools and its roughly 3,200 students. Newsom signed SB 328 into law, which requires middle schools to begin no earlier than 8 a.m. and high schools no earlier than 8:30 a.m. If Rim is not granted rural status, it would face the prospect of finding $2 million to $3 million to pay for new buses and drivers.

October 24

An estimated 30 or more volunteers – both young and old – participated in Lake Gregory Yacht Club’s sixth annual cleanup of trash and debris scattered around the perimeter of Lake Gregory on Saturday, Oct. 19. According to the club’s former commodore, Rick Dinon, the count included 12 yacht club members, as well as other community volunteers.

October 31

A wildfire of yet-to-be-determined origin blackened 145 acres of thick brush and chaparral at the lower end of Waterman Canyon, near Highway 18 and Old Waterman Canyon Road, on Thursday, Oct. 24, one day prior to the 16th anniversary of the 2003 Old Fire, in which 1,000 homes were destroyed.

November 7

The Valley of Enchantment School EarlyAct Club spent Saturday, Oct. 19 installing and donating to the community an educational nature trail along the edge of the fitness trail around Lake Gregory.

November 14

Members of Girl Scout Troop 1311 hosted their annual Veterans Day dinner on Saturday, Nov. 9. The girls planned and cooked a spaghetti dinner for veterans across the mountain. The girls read poems of thanks and sat down and talked with the veterans and their families. The girls also set up a fallen soldier table to honor those soldiers no longer with us.

November 21

At an open house on Nov. 9, the Crest Forest Senior Citizens’ Club celebrated its 60th anniversary. About 150 guests enjoyed delicious desserts and hors d’oeuvres, while State Senator Mike Morrell, Assemblyman Jay Obernolte and County Supervisor Janice Rutherford presented the club with congratulatory certificates.

November 28

The three community Thanksgiving dinners planned in Crestline, Running Springs and Green Valley Lake were all canceled as of Monday, Nov. 25, due to the forecasted heavy snow.

December 5

A winter storm of epic proportions swept through the mountaintop communities, as predicted, wreaking havoc and closing most roads leading into and out of the San Bernardino Mountains. The storm brought 10 to 18 inches of heavy snow, depending on elevation, breaking hundreds of trees and causing several days of power outages.

December 12

The Beresford Invitational Wrestling Tournament, held at Rim High School o Dec. 7, attracted over 200 competitors from 24 high school team throughout Southern California. The annual tournament is named in honor of Coach John Beresford, who, during his 28-year reign at Rim High, founded the school’s wrestling team in 1964 and went on to produce 16 league championship teams and two CIF division championship teams. Beresford’s star wrestlers include three-time state champion and 1993 national champion Scott Chapman, as well as 2008 Olympic silver medalist Marcie Van Dusen.

December 19

The Mountain Fifes & Drums Corps’ annual Colonial Christmas concert, “Washington’s Farewell to his Troops and Mount Vernon Homecoming,” at San Moritz Lodge on Dec. 8 included tunes and carols of the period played by the junior and senior drum corps.

December 26

After repeated requests from local residents concerned over the massive numbers of mountain residents that have seen their homeowners’ insurance policies canceled, California Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara came to the San Bernardino Board of Supervisors chamber on Dec. 18 to meet with a group of concerned residents and community leaders.
Just before the meeting, Lara added over 200,000 properties and numerous Zip Codes to a moratorium on insurance cancellations to last until Dec. 5, 2020. For those mountain residents receiving a cancellation notice dated after Oct. 11, 2019, their insurance company is now required to offer renewal.