By RHEA-FRANCES TETLEY

Staff Writer

The Crestline Chamber of Commerce is not slowing down just because summer is over and the winter season is approaching. They have a full season of activities approaching, beginning with their election of new officers. The Crestline Magazine is about to be published, and fall events are on the schedule.

The Shop Small September bingo cards had been turned in and the winners received wonderful prizes. The winner of the Lake Gregory season pass was Patti Clark. The $250 Visa gift card was won by Candace Pearson and Kevin Angerbaurer won four Corks & Hops tickets. Desiree Cervantes, Gabriela Alvarado, Torrey Jones Boylin and Kimberly Wade each won a gift bag of Corks & Hops merchandise.

The Halloween Trick or Treat the Merchants will be held on Saturday, Oct 28 from 2 to 5 p.m. Any child should go to the merchants with posters in their windows along Lake Drive and Crest Forest Drive in Top Town to trick or treat. Often, whole families dress up and do the town together. This free event is courtesy of the Crestline merchants and the chamber of commerce. There will be several businesses along the way that will have games and fun activities for the kids. Some businesses that do not have store fronts along the candy route this year will set up easy-ups in the parking lots to see the kids all dressed up. They expect 1,000 trick or treaters to visit each business in that three-hour period.

The next community event will be the Fall Festival block party in Top Town on Veteran’s Day, Nov. 11, from 1 to 4 p.m. This family-friendly event will have Crest Forest Drive blocked off for chalk drawing, live music from the High D Boys, three jumpers, popcorn and hot chocolate, plus food booths sponsored by the Lake Arrowhead Brewing Company.

Those who desire to run to be on the chamber board need to be a chamber member in good standing and have been involved as a volunteer, been on a committee or in some other capacity. Go to the website and scan the QR code to register your interest to be on the chamber board or to run for one of their offices. Nathan Godwin will present the slate of candidates to run for office at the November meeting.

The highlight of the recent meeting was when four members of the Crestline Highlanders of the SoCal Vintage Base Ball (SCVBB) team arrived with the beautiful three-foot-tall trophy they won as champions of the SoCal. Vintage Base Ball League. The Crestline Chamber has sponsored the team over the past few years, along with the Rim Rec and Park District. This trophy will be displayed in the chamber office so anyone can come and see it.

Co-captains Chris Dodd and Joe Billheimer and players Antman and Casey were there to present the trophy to be displayed in the office. Along with the trophy, the office also has on display a signed 44-ounce wooden bat the Highlanders used in their first season.

“This trophy belongs to the community to enjoy,” Billheimer said. “We enjoyed winning it for them and plan to show it off again during next year’s Jamboree Days in the parade, as we did last July.

“We thank you for the sponsorship as it helps to pay for many of the expenses of playing, such as field fees, the handmade vintage balls which are $12 each, and we tend to hit a lot out of the ballpark and into the forest, where they become lost,” he added.

Chamber board member Dirk Rinker said there have been discussions with the Department of Public Works about painting signs next to drains that lead to the lake so people won’t pour things like paint into the drains. The signs, “This drains to lake” will create a public awareness and inform visitors and new residents that everything drains directly into the lake.

The porta-potties and trash dumpsters have been installed at the parking area and trailhead for the Heart Rock waterfall trail in the Valley of Enchantment for the convenience of the hikers who use the popular trail. The Crestline Lions Club and Rotary Club are splitting with the chamber the cost of these essential amenities for community visitors. It is also hoped a cleanup day for Heart Rock takes place soon to remove graffiti and pick up litter.

Mike Johnstone, VP and general manager of Goodwin’s, said the roof structure is currently being installed with the first of six loads of the roofs glued-laminate beams. This roof structure should be completely up by the end of November. He added that, as soon as the roof is enclosed, they will be able to work all winter inside to complete the store for a planned March 1 opening. However, he asked everyone to NOT pray for rain these next six weeks until they get the roof enclosed. A major rainstorm could create at least a two-week delay waiting for the site to dry up enough to continue work.

The Goodwin’s Family Christmas celebration is scheduled for Dec. 2 in the North Shore parking lot of Lake Gregory, along with the bonfire and tree lighting ceremony by the churches. All children under the age of 12 will get a toy from Santa when they tell him their Christmas wish list.  Many booths with crafts and activities for the kids will be in the parking area and there will be hot cocoa. This will be the evening of the Blue Jay Christmas parade.

There was a discussion of a community-sponsored town decoration, but most businesses don’t have the funds this year, but plans are under way for a big town holiday theme and town coordinated decorations for next year.

Friday Night Market night at Lake Gregory will continue through the end of October with a big Halloween dance party on Oct 27 from 4 to 8 p.m. to end the season, announced Sara Green.

The traditional free Crestline Thanksgiving Day community holiday dinner for all residents will be held at the San Moritz Lodge from noon to 4 p.m. on Thursday, Nov. 23; everyone is invited to bring their family and come eat with their friends and neighbors. The Crestline-Lake Gregory Rotary Club, which coordinates this event, usually cooks around 90 turkeys. They could use some volunteer helpers for the two days before the feast to unwrap and prepare the turkeys for the chef. They also need some to cut veggies and prepare other parts of the meal, under the direction of Chef Fred.  Meals on Wheels will deliver many meals for those who pre-register or are homebound or unable to get out to the fun and feast on Thanksgiving Day.

An update on the street paving in Crestline was given. The asphalt on Lake Drive has been curing and will have the second layer installed as the temperatures stay above 60 degrees. The repaving project on Lake Gregory Drive may not be completely done this year, but they are doing the portion between the lake and library and will do the section near Highway 18 near the Highway 18 traffic signal, where the old asphalt has already been removed. No mention was made of patching the bad potholes between those locations at this time, but it is hoped they will do those patches before winter.

The next public meeting of the Crestline Chamber of Commerce will be held at their office at 24385 Lake Drive, on the North Shore of Lake Gregory on Nov. 21 at 5:30 p.m. The public is invited.