News & Columns > Doe Huff > Our Town, September 5

Our Town, September 5

By Doe Huff
Friday, September 5, 2008

Boy, what a weekend I had last week! Since I retired, this body just doesn't recognize 5:00 a.m., but there I was trying to get moving in time to make it by 6:00 a.m. to go with Jim to help out at the annual Crestline Friends of the Library Book Sale. From there it was on to Lake Gregory to help with the Lake Gregory Yacht Club trout fishing derby and finally back that evening to sell tickets for the first Reggie Film Fest sponsored by the Crestline Creative Arts Foundation. Sunday was indeed a day of rest until we headed down to San Clemente to welcome our brand new grandson, Sage Bryan Michael, into the Huff genealogy! And I thought retirement was never having to say I'm sorry I didn't finish that novel I bought at last year's book sale!

The book sale was a great success as I hear they made almost $3,000. Wouldn't you know it: I don't think we have had any rain this summer here in Crestline and just as we were getting hundreds of books ready, here came a drizzle. No one wanted to complain because we really need the moisture, but on the day of a book sale? Anyway, it didn't last long and it certainly did not dampen anyone's spirit.

The Reggie Film Fest also has to be considered a success since over 40 folks came out on a very chilly August night. Everyone I talked to hoped we would do it again! Stay tuned to Our Town, for future movies under the stars.

The fishing derby was also a hit even though all of the tagged fish were smart enough not to get caught. I must confess I was able to find other things to do when it came to actually weighing the fish. Just too fishy for me! Congratulations to the big winners, Michael Harvey, Matt Mendiola and Thomas Davis. They each won a trophy and $25. Thomas won in the nine years old and under class. What a wonderful kid! I just have to share this photo with you.

Thomas Davis won a trophy in the nine year old and under catagory. (Photo by Doe Huff.)

Here's some trivia to share with your guests. So far this year, the state has stocked 11,300 pounds of trout and the county added another 5,000 pounds. Also swimming around in Lake Gregory are many tagged fish that decided not to make an appearance at the derbies this year. The next trout derby will be held on September 27, and will be sponsored by the VFW Post 9624.

I was beginning to feel like the Maytag repairman each time I checked my RIMOFTHEWORLD.net email until I finally heard from Pat Rozatti from Green Valley Lake. She wrote and told me about their Women's Club holding a Labor Day rummage sale and a Water Carnival. Unfortunately, this informative tip came too late to be included in last week's column. I hope you guys had a great event.

Pat also wanted me to tell you the fishing derby they had scheduled for September 27 has had to be postponed until spring 2009. She promised to keep me informed. I wonder if they have ever considered holding an ice-fishing derby out their way?

After reading her email, I decided we need a current community calendar of events for the whole mountain. The good folks here at RIMOFTHEWORLD.net have agreed to let me have a second blog doing just that. I have scanned all of the Chambers of Commerce and various organization events calendars I can think off to start this blog. We want to include everything possible of an open-to-the-public type nature, so please email me at Doe@rimoftheworld.net if you want everyone to know what is going on. Please provide a contact number and/or a website address, as I will only be able to provide a brief description.

Well, this weekend starts Oktoberfest in Lake Arrowhead. The festivities run from noon to 5:00 p.m. I hear there will be great German beer and food and you can reserve a table by calling (909) 337-2533.

Over on the other side of the mountain, Saturday, September 6, is Big Bear's First Marathon, which starts in the village and goes for 26.2 miles around the entire lake. Talk about a scenic run, or crawl in my case. They will also have a bicycle tour, half-marathon, 5K run and Kid's Fun Run – now you're talking my speed. The big race is limited to 5,000 participants and you can call (706) 948-1890 for more information.

If exertion is not your forte, how about an excursion? A Big Bear Miss Liberty Twilight Blues Cruise sets sail on September 6th complete with live music and a catered BBQ. The cost is $60 per person and you can call (909) 866-8129 for more details.

The Rim of the World Historical Society's next week's free movie, September 9, at the Lake Arrowhead Resort, is the Wild and Innocent. Again, starring Audie Murphy – he must have really liked filming around Our Town – and this time his love interest is Sandra Dee. The show starts at 7:00 p.m. and don't forget the FREE popcorn.

Finally the Big Bear Lake International Film Festival kicks off their 2008 festival with a classic movie night on September 11. Lee Cozad of the Rim of the World Historical Society will start the program with a brief chronicle of movie making in Big Bear.

I counted 15 events coming up on the mountain this week that are listed under Mountain Schedule of Events. Yes, this is just another shameless plug for my new blog!

OK, mountain trivia time. Last week I asked what lodge in Big Bear still uses buildings that date back to 1918. Now there may be more than one, but I was referring to the Oak Knoll Lodge on Mill Creek Road in Bear Valley. The oldest structure was the original home of Ernest and Anna Augustine and today is a rental cabin. The lodge also featured the first gas pump. This trivia and picture are courtesy of Chuck Lawrence and is plagiarized with permission from Stan Bellamy and Russ Keller's book Big Bear.

Original buildings date back to 1918. (Photo by Courtesy of Chuck Lawrence and Russ Keller.)

Our mountain is just full of interesting facts. This week my question is about a silent-screen "heart throb", Reginald Denny, who built a beautiful home on the promontory on the east side of Running Springs. On July 4, 1929, he set a record in driving his Deusenberg from there to San Bernardino.

• What was his hurry?

Continuing the creative talent of Our Town kid's essay contest on why they love to live in the San Bernardino Mountains, John McLaughlin from Mrs. Dosey's third grade class in Valley of Enchantment Elementary School was crowned King of the Mountains for these inspiring words.

I love the San Bernardino Mountains because of a place called Deep Creek. I like to go to Deep Creek because I like to jump off a rock into the water below. The water in Deep Creek is from the snow that melts. The water is so clear that you can see fish. At Deep Creek you can see animals like bears, deer, coyotes, birds and skunks. You can slide off a rock because it's so slick, and the water is running like a river. There are even rattlesnakes. There is even a beach and a lot of rocks there. There are four wheel drive trails and you can fly fish there. That's why I like the San Bernardino mountains.

I want to give you a head's up about the 10th Annual Crestline/Lake Gregory Rotary golf tournament to be held on Monday, September 22 at the exclusive Lake Arrowhead Country Club golf course. I recently joined this rotary and was eager to jump right in there to help. I designed a save-the-date card and put my home number as the contact. Now let me tell you how dumb that was! I don't know one thing about golf except it looks like a walk in the park. Anyway, reservations are now being taken for the first 100 golfers. The cost is $125 per player and you also get a BBQ lunch and free range balls. Now I have no idea what they are, and because this is a family-friendly web site, I won't even venture a guess! Anyway you can call Dr. John Bueler, Jr., someone who really knows about his stuff, at (909) 338-6477. The Rotary is still looking for sponsors and raffle prizes.

I was just wrapping up this column for the week when I received an email from Cheryl Nagy, the Director of Community Recovery for Rebuilding Mountain Hearts & Lives. It appears the news is spreading across the mountain about Our Town on the web. Cheryl asked me to help get the word out about an upcoming seminar on being prepared for natural disasters on our mountain. This seminar will address critical issues such as having adequate insurance, what to take if you only have 10 minutes notice, neighborhood evacuation routes, and proposed San Bernardino County fire ordinances.

The seminar will be held on Saturday, September 13, at two locations. From 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. you can attend at the LDS Church in Lake Arrowhead and from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. you can go to the Calvary Chapel in Running Springs. For more information on learning something we all need to know, call (909) 337-9922.

Even though I enjoy telling you about fun things to do in our communities, I also want to make this column more personal. I am very sincere in that I want to know what is going on in your life that you would like to share. I can't be the only one with a new baby in the family and I am sure you want to read more than just about the 12 vintage Ikea wine glasses I bought at a garage sale last weekend — like how I snuck that in? I figure Jim will find out when he reads this column. We won't tell him about the other stuff. OK?

Isn't just great living in Our Town?

This article was first published on Wednesday, September 3, 2008 at 12:00 am. This article has been viewed 708 times.

Doe and her husband Jim bought their home in Crestline 11 years ago and moved to the mountain full time eight years ago. Doe retired from the Federal government three years ago after working for NASA, The Army Material Command and the Air Force Academy. Doe worked in Colorado, Washington D.C., Jeddah Saudi Arabia, Isfahan Iran, Pasadena, and active duty Air Force at Glasgow AFB, Montana. Jim and Doe share their home with their dog Cassidy, kittens Charlie and Chester, and their 15 year old grandson, Paul.

Doe earned an Associates Degree in Journalism and a Bachelors and Masters Degree in Public Administration from the University of Colorado. Writing has always been a hobby for Doe and since living in Crestline she has written human interest articles for "On the Mountain Magazine" and was a news reporter for the Crestline Courier as well as writing a very popular weekly column.

Together Doe and Jim have three children and five grandchildren. They are both very active in the community. Doe has served as President for the Crestline Communities Development Alliance, was on the Board of Directors of the Boys & Girls Club of the Mountain Communities when it was formed, is a member of the Lake Gregory/Crestline Rotary and was a Board member for several years with the Rim of the World Historical Society. Doe and Jim organized the first annual 4th of July Old Fashioned Community Picnic and just finished the fifth successful year for this event. Doe has been working for over two years to bring a dog park to Lake Gregory. They received a Certificate of Appreciation from County Supervisor Paul Biane for their commitment to the improvement and general well being of the Crestline Lake Gregory community. Doe is very proud to be a citizen of Our Town.

The views expressed in this article do not necessarily reflect those of RIMOFTHEWORLD.net. This column is copyrighted by Doe Huff.