News & Columns > Doe Huff > Our Town, November 20

Our Town, November 20

By Doe Huff
Thursday, November 20, 2008

Well, the holiday season is just about here. For me it all starts on Thanksgiving watching the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade while the turkey in the oven fills the house with a holiday aroma. I hope you all have plans to spend the day with family and friends.

Jim and I have started the decorating process, which takes us about six days. I must admit we are cutting back a bit this year, especially with the thousand outdoor lights. We spent the entire day yesterday taking out trees around the house, which our insurance carrier strongly "suggested" we remove. At first, I wanted to cry, but when all was said and done – or should I say down – it really does look better. I'm sure our friend, Fire Chief Mike Sherman will be very proud of us. Hey, this year visitors will actually be able to see the garland and bows I have on the stairs leading up to the front door.

There are so many things happening over Thanksgiving weekend. Don't forget the Mountain Community Thanksgiving Dinner at the Masonic Hall in Twin Peaks. You really need to check out the Mountain Calendar of Events. Over in Big Bear there is a Mountain Christmas Boutique at the Convention Center and a tree lighting ceremony complete with Santa's grand entrance. Green Valley Lake is having an Artisan's Tour and a tree lighting and Lake Arrowhead Village is also lighting up the season. I already told you all about the Holiday Craft Fair at the San Moritz Lodge in Crestline and they too will have their annual Christmas Tree Lighting at Lake Gregory.

A great way to start off the Christmas season is to take in the "Lake Arrowhead Classical Ballet Company" annual NUTCRACKER on December 5, 6 and 7. This remarkable event is held at the Rim of the World High School, Theater of Performing Arts. At last week's Rotary meeting, Bill Boone mentioned someone asked him if he is again appearing as the rat. No, he is actually in rehearsal to play the Chinaman in the Party Scene, again. If you know Bill, you know he has the perfect beard for this role. You can order tickets online at http://www.arrowheadballet.org or call (909) 336-1359.

Now here is something I find very, very exciting. A Christmas Carol is coming to the Crestline Village Theater! I have thought this is something we needed since we moved up here. It's been so sad to see the place closed and just been sitting there, unused, for years. The Lake Arrowhead Repertory Theatre Company is presenting Chuck Marra's adaptation of this holiday favorite from December 11 through December 20. There will be Thursday and Friday evening performances and Saturday and Sunday Matinees. Chuck is the company's Artistic Director.

This theatre company has produced two plays cast with a student youth ensemble, but this is their first major production with a mixed adult and youth cast from all over the mountain. They are a non-profit organization devoted to bringing high-quality community-based live theater to the mountain and believe me I know they are operating on a shoestring budget. Jim and I have been scavenging around the old homestead looking for props to help them out. They really need donations and sponsors to help with the underwriting and advertising. Sponsors will be acknowledged in the program and advertising materials.

Tickets are only $9.00 and can be purchased online at http://www.brownpapertickets.com and available at the door on a space available basis. You can also order tickets by mail addressed to The Lake Arrowhead Repertory Theatre Company, P. O. Box 1626, Blue Jay, CA 92317. This is sure to be something not to miss this holiday season. If you would like to help by becoming a sponsor or just want to know more information, you can call (909) 744-8114. Don't be a humbug! Let's all do our part to make this a success so live theater will continue in Our Town.

I am so happy the Lake Gregory Dog Park is finally on its way with groundbreaking scheduled for next month. Did you ever wonder how this all came about? I guess this is my time to toot my own horn. Almost three years ago, not long after I got my dog, Cassidy, from a no-kill shelter, I began walking her around Lake Gregory and taking her down to the dog park on 40th Street. I noticed many folks met at Our Town's ball field and let their dogs run and play. I must admit I was a bit envious because my dog has a nose like a Bloodhound and one scent and she would be gone. It also didn't seem right when my grandson was playing ball and stepped in a pile of poop running out to left field for a catch.

Anyway, I talked with Mr. Tom Potter, the Director of San Bernardino Regional Parks and asked him what the odds were for having a dog park on the mountain. He suggested I see if there was any community interest. At the time, the area near the beginning of the fitness trail at Lake Gregory was an eyesore with downed trees and weeds. Since it is a relatively large flat area, near parking, I thought it could easily be turned into a great dog park. To make a long story short, I began a petition/pledge campaign and got hundreds of signatures in a very short time. I sent the petitions to Mr. Potter and Supervisor Biane and a mere three years later, here we are! I really want to thank these two public officials for making the dog park a reality.

For those of you who signed pledges, which by the way have been sitting on top of my refrigerator for almost two years, you will be receiving a letter from me sometime after the holidays. First, I have to work with Mr. Potter to see who checks should be made out to, to ensure the money goes for the park, and then we have to see just what is not in the budget that we donors can pay for. I imagine park benches and maybe some landscaping would be our responsibility. Remember, Jim will be making some kind of donor board where your donation of at least $50, made in memory or honor of your pet or other loved one, will have a small plaque. When I asked for water and grass during one of the meetings, I thought it was just pie in the sky. I am overjoyed that we will be getting water as our just deserts!

In my last column, I wrote about the beginnings of gold discovered in Bear Valley. Nothing really of great value was mined until May of 1860 when Bill Holcomb was hunting for Grizzly Bear and found himself looking over a ridge that had been so far untouched by miners.

Holcomb Valley saw the largest gold rush in Southern California. (Photo by Courtesy of Richard Keppler.)

A few days later, he discovered gold, which became the start of the biggest gold rush in Southern California. Within three months, over 1,000 men were working in what became Holcomb's Valley.

• Putty Henck is a good friend of ours. Most of you probably know he built Santa's Village in Skyforest. He still lives in his family home that they purchased in 1923 from the Kuffle family. Besides being the family home, what else went on in this house?

The Rim of the Historical Society is really making progress on bringing a museum to our side of the mountain. This year Christmas in April gave the old fire station on Ponderosa a new paint job, and with county grants, the Society has a new roof and handicap bathroom facilities. We recently had a "clean-up" day clearing out the old fire truck bays getting ready to begin constructing exhibits. Many of the members – including us – have numerous artifacts stored in their garages just waiting for a museum home. We are always on the lookout for historical pictures, documents and who-knows-what of interest. Reggie Bannister recently gave us some old documentation he found in his build-up. His folks had been coming to the area since the 40's and he donated all the original membership letters they had saved from joining the San Moritz Club. I just can't emphasize enough how important it is that stuff like this be preserved and shared with the community and future generations. If you have anything you would like to donate, or pictures we can scan, please call Jim at (909) 338-0225.

Speaking of the Society, I haven't reminded you lately about the free movie nights at the Lake Arrowhead Resort every Tuesday at 7 p.m. June Lockhart, Lassie's mom, is a wonderful supporter of the Society and lived for many years in Lake Arrowhead. December is June Lockhart free movie month. Come celebrate the season and watch Five Acres on December 2, I'll Be home for Christmas on December 9, Christmas in Connecticut on December 16, a 1938 version of A Christmas Carol on December 23 and Holiday in Handcuffs on December 30. Don't forget the FREE popcorn! For more information, you may call Lee Cozad, our premier movies on the mountain expert, at (909) 337-5850.

I want to say Happy 70th Birthday to long time mountain resident, Maria Emert. Maria owns Wayne's Realty in Crestline and her daughter and grandson's wife gave her a great surprise birthday party. About 20 mountain folks traveled down the hill to her grandson's beautiful home to join 50 others for the celebration.

In case I don't have time to write next week, I want to wish you all a very, very Happy and Healthy Thanksgiving. Jim will be doing the cooking and his daughter and family will be joining us. I just can't wait to see our newest grandchild, Sage, again. He is just about he happiest little guy I've ever seen. Here he is showing how excited he is about going to Grandma and Grandpa's house in the mountains. In their case, 295 horses know the way, to carry the Tahoe through hopefully not wide and drifting snow!

Grandson Sage cannot wait for Grandpa Jim' s Thanksgiving turkey and trimmings. (Photo by Mike Cerneat.)

Isn't it just great living in Our Town?

This article was first published on Wednesday, November 19, 2008 at 5:48 pm. This article has been viewed 585 times.

Doe and her husband Jim bought their home in Crestline 12 years ago and moved to the mountain full time eight years ago. Doe retired from the Federal government four years ago after working for NASA, The Army Material Command, the Technical Air Force/Navy Training Team, the Army Corps of Engineers and the Air Force Academy. Doe worked in Colorado Springs, Colorado, Washington D.C., Jeddah Saudi Arabia, Isfahan Iran, Pasadena, and active duty Air Force at Glasgow AFB, Montana and Ellsworth AFB, South Dakota. Doe was born in Chicago, but was raised in Montclair, CA. Jim and Doe share their home with their dog Cassidy.

Doe earned an Associates Degree in Journalism and a Bachelors and Masters Degree in Public Administration from the University of Colorado and was awarded a Presidential Management Internship. 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.