Goodwin’s praised for inviting folks to ‘recharge’

By DOUGLAS W. MOTLEY

Senior Writer

 

The electrical outage on the mountain that began at 3:47 a.m. on Thursday, Jan. 9 and lasted until Friday evening has affected every resident and visitor in diverse and unexpected ways.

Many are dependent on electrical devices, some for medical reasons. Subsequently, many residents sought ways to recharge their devices, to receive potentially emergency information in case a fire began, to find Internet connections and warmth as well.

The upper deck at Goodwin and Son’s Market became a gathering place for many seeking electrical charging for their electronic devices, such as computers and cellphones. Businessmen and contractors were scheduling jobs that could be accomplished without electrical connections at the work site. Those who were seeking comfort away from homes without heat due to the power being out were warming themselves with hot coffee and eating breakfast pastries on the observation deck.

Goodwin’s Market has generators with enough power so most of the aisles of the store were fully lit and the freezers, refrigerators and cash registers were working well and other aisles were accessible.

Goodwin’s was allowing these businessmen and women, as well as others, to use their facility, even with an employee assisting the customers by providing a few extra power strips to allow more to connect, including allowing use of their Internet service.

It was said it was David Goodwin’s hope that someday the store could have such a deck where folks could view the lake and enjoy refreshments. With their rebuilding after the large snowstorm that collapsed the store’s roof, the family made that a possibility. During the 2003 Old Fire they saw how valuable a generator was to maintain food at the proper temperatures, so they installed a large one during this rebuilding.

Mothers with infants were there seeking respite from the freezing temperatures that existed within their homes. All schools in the Rim of the World Unified School District were closed due to the power outage and hazardous conditions created by the high winds, so several families had escaped their homes. They were reading and parents were practicing lessons with their children on the observation deck.

Candace Pearson was at Goodwin’s, finishing up a project and conversing with another poet while he was finishing up a final draft. There were newspaper reporters interviewing those in the room. Goodwin’s had become the defacto community center for the mountain. Everyone was greeting each other with positive welcomes.

Some mountain families said on Friday that they had been visiting warmer friends’ homes that had generators and electricity or gone down the mountain. But this day they were at Goodwin’s recharging; several expressed their gratitude to Goodwin’s foresightedness on both this seating location, the store’s generator and their generosity in permitting customers to use their Internet service.

Longtime Crestline resident and local contractor Scott Markovich, who was encountered on Goodwin’s outdoor deck last Friday morning, had nothing but accolades for Goodwin’s management for their helpfulness in assisting customers.

“Goodwin’s reflects the heart of the mountain. They reach out to the community during good and bad times. When I don’t have power at home, I could go to my other house in Palm Desert,” said Markovich. He added his biggest concern was for seniors unable to heat their homes during the power outage.

One Lake Arrowhead resident, Fred, could find no location in his area that had Internet and electricity to do his remote work.  He had come to Goodwin’s to complete his work. “I am glad I’ve already been a Goodwin’s customer. Since their reopening, I love this store, have enjoyed ice cream on this deck in the warm weather and, after this, I always plan to do all my shopping here. This is such a positive community benefit. However, I wonder why the county library doesn’t have a generator?”

Others, who were enjoying their lattes and pastries, said it is too bad that the warming centers that had been requested by local residents at community meetings and talked about for years for the benefit of the community do not yet exist; no public access buildings, such as libraries, have generators. They wondered why it has to be a private business that is saving the jobs and families in Crestline.

“This must be costing Goodwin’s a fortune to offer these free services,” said Marie Dunbar. “I really appreciate it.”

“Down the hill they have cooling centers for the summer at their libraries and senior centers; why nothing up here where we have freezing weather and often no electricity? In past years Edison has voluntarily turned off power for tree cutting and other non-emergency work in the winter when the temps are below freezing. Frequent complaints have been made at community meetings, but Edison continues to do it, often for 10- to 12-hour outages at a time,” said one mother of two under school-age children.  “I am glad to be able to come here and read to my kids where the temps are at least above freezing.”

Noting that Leisure Shores Senior Center has been discussed as a warming center location, another local resident said, “If it was operational now, it would have had room for hundreds to stay warm in this situation,” he said. Adding that former Crest Forest Senior Citizens Club President Penny Shubnell worked for years to upgrade the senior center and was able after many years of reluctance on the county’s part to get air conditioning and new heaters and a non-leaking roof but was unable to get the county to install a generator in its building.

Recalling last year’s harsh winter weather, Crestline resident Valerie Murrieta said, “I’m glad I live close to Goodwin’s. When the weather gets tough, Goodwin’s and the community come together and help one another.”

As the news spread though the observation deck late Friday that power was being restored in town, Breanna said, “I still thank God for Goodwin’s; they have saved me today.”