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President s Year-end Thoughts
By Elmo Pinard
The Mountain C.A.R.E Board of Directors and I
wish all of our members and readers the best
that Mountain Living has to offer this coming
year.
I personally hope that every neighbor takes the
time to recognize one another, as a form of
protective knowing and also to befriend the
new people coming up here to live who may not
get it yet. What is the it that I am referring
to? it is that these three towns are unique in
that we have no elected local government,
except the Water Boards, and that the towns
work because of personal responsibility.
We have something very special way up here,
far from the madding crowd , but some of the
things we enjoy, such as the services of the Fire
Department s ABOP Program, are now lost
because of a few individuals not being adult and
responsible for their waste. They could be the
same persons who have been leaving their trash
and recyclables OUTSIDE the Recycling Bin.
They might have just as well left it on their
neighbor s doorstep. Someone else has to
clean up after them, like poorly diapered infants.
I see that Empire Disposal has opened the doors
on the other side of the Bin to allow us to fill
both sides. If you are able, please break down
cardboard boxes, or at least fill them up with
recyclables.
Rather than observing the trash others leave,
we should all be able to observe the many
wonders of living in the mountains: beauty
provided without effort, quiet that permits
reflection, safe neighborhoods, and neighbors
willing to do almost anything to make your life a
better one just for being here.
My desire is that everyone, especially the
children who are growing up here, will have lives
made better because of the experience of living
in these three small but great communities.
WINTER WARNINGS
The firefighters ask that you think, in advance, about the normal changes winter brings upon us all. ICE
on our roads and in your drives and walkways. LIMITED VISIBILITY while driving caused by low clouds,
snow flurries, fogged or snow covered windows. WEIGHT OF SNOW AND ICE on your roofs, trees,
utility lines. PROPANE TANK regulators can malfunction if allowed to be buried in snow. APPLIANCE
and HEATER VENTS should be checked to avoid carbon monoxide poisoning while floor and wall furnaces
need a proper distance to furniture and carpet covers. WOOD STOVES and FIREPLACES need clean
chimneys and proper spark arrestors to avoid chimney and house fires and PROPER ASH DISPOSAL is
a must as most of our fires occur from improper disposal of ashes.
Also, please remember: It is not safe to drive with only a porthole of snow removed from the windshield,
clear all your windows before driving. Chains need to be installed off the roadway and before they are
needed. Ever heard someone say: I could have made it without chains if that person would not have
stopped in front of me .. if you can t stop and restart on icy roads, you should be chained up. Avoid
frost nip or frost bite by having proper clothes, including gloves, for winter travel and when installing
chains.
If you have questions about these suggestions or other areas of mountain safety-living, call the firehouse
at 794-4413 and leave a message, we will get back to you as soon as possible.
ROMBERG FIREWOOD
CALL (909) 793-3731
(888) 659-TREE
(EXTRA 10% WOOD IN OUR CORD)
Editor: Elmo Pinard
(NEW e-mail: [email protected])
The Bear Facts is published quarterly
by Mountain C.A.R.E.
Post Office Box 13, Forest Falls. CA 92339.
Letters and articles are encouraged, however,
Mountain CARE cannot pay for submissions.
To update, correct or add to the Calendar, please
call Michelle Young at 794-0228
Advertising: Display ads may be available.
Please write for our rate sheet
and authorized formats.
Payment must accompany ad.
For information on advertising.
Contact Shirley Bauer at 389-7531.
Deadlines: For next issue to be published in
Winter 2007, all advertising and articles must be
submitted by January 27, 2007
Fire Rescue News
Tom McIntosh, Captain
RATS!
Have you ever seen so many rodents? They seem to have had a
population explosion and invaded every nook and cranny they could find. We have
reports of them eating away under car hoods, in wall and home heaters.
Steve Alcala reports he recently serviced a central heating unit where these mangy
critters has invaded the heater box and duct work, building nests and creating havoc causing the
replacement of most of the unit and several duct runs. If you turn on your heating system and get more
than the dust burning off from the idle summer, shut down your heater right away and investigate the
cause. If you think you have started an unwanted fire in your ducts, etc. Call 911.
For those who have had car problems, wires and insulation eaten and nesting taking place under the
hood a little research has reminded us that rats and mice like warmth and confined spaces. You
might try lifting the hood at night to cool the engine compartment and deny the pests a private place to
hide.
Welcome aboard to three new trainees; George Hardiman, Andy Stang (yep, same two young men
most of us have seen grow up in the Canyon) and Terry Uldricks.
ABOP collection facility is being removed from the firehouse (see related article by Capt. Hyla
Palmese). I want to thank the cadre of firefighters who took the additional training to operate the site
over the last 8 years and to you residents who have made our canyon a safe place by getting ride of
you household hazardous waste.
Winter should be well upon us soon. Please be fire wise, consider where and how you dispose of and
store your ashes. Watch our for black ice and clean your car windows fully of snow and fog before
driving. Service your heaters and double check both your smoke detectors and carbon monoxide
alarms. Don t park in ways that block fire hydrants or fire engine access down our narrow streets.
You can be Reimbursed for Thinning Your Property!
by Julie Crick
The San Bernardino National Forest Association (SBNFA) and the California Department of Forestry and
Fire Protection (CDF) have teamed up to create Forest Care, an innovative forest management program.
Forest Care is an easy and affordable way for landowners to create a healthy and fire-safe forest on their
property. Through Forest Care, eligible landowners may receive up to 75% reimbursement for the costs
of thinning small-diameter live trees on their heavily forested properties, resulting in a healthier and more
fire-safe forest. To qualify for Forest Care, the lot must be less than 5 acres in size and have a tree density
of over 200 trees per acre. Forest Care is now available to landowners in the communities of the Big Bear
Valley including Angelus Oaks, Forest Falls, Mountain Home Village and Barton Flats.
One reason Forest Care is so effective at helping people manage their private lands is because the
process is so easy! Forest Care arranges for a professional forester to meet participating landowners on
their property to discuss forest health and fire issues. The forester then works with the landowner to
decide which live trees (less than twelve inches in diameter), shrubs, and tree limbs need to be removed
to create a more natural and fire-safe forest. The landowner may choose who to contract for the tree
removal or may decide to do the work themselves. After the work has been completed, Forest Care will
reimburse up to 75% of the cost of thinning. Once reimbursed, it is up to the landowner to maintain their
Forest Care treatment.
The geography and combination of tree species in the areas around Angelus Oaks make forest
management a vital component in maintaining the health of the forest. Over a century of fire suppression
has yielded a dense, overstocked forest that has become not only an unacceptable fire risk, but also
threatens the future of the forest itself. A healthy forest can resist attacks of pests and recover from fires.
In fact, in an undisturbed forest ecosystem, natural forces such as fire, insects, disease and drought
regulate the number of trees in the forest. This natural balance has been disturbed by fire protection
policies that have allowed the forest to grow unchecked. Much of the private land within the San Bernardino
National Forest has more than 400 to 500 trees per acre. By contrast, a healthy mountain forest may
have less than 150 trees per acre. Forest Care provides landowners with the tools to make sure their part
of the forest is cared for and is as healthy as possible.
For more information about Forest Care, or to find out how if you qualify for your very own Forest Care
Plan, call 1-888-883-THIN or visit www.sbnfa.org.
DOG TAILS
By Ann Klingbeil
The American Animal Hospital
Association (AAHA) has updated, in
2006, its vaccination guidelines. The
suggestion is core vaccines that
should be given to every dog. Vaccinate puppies,
have a booster at one year and re-vaccinate no more
than every 3 years. These are: canine hepatitis
(adenovirus 2), distemper, parvovirus and rabies.
Rabies may be an exception as it is a mandated
state law and some states require annual rabies
vaccines.
Non-core vaccines (given only if a dogs lifestyle
or risk factors warrant it) are: leptospirosis, lyme,
bordetella (kennel cough) and parainfluenza.
Not recommended are: adenovirus 1,
coronavirus, giardia, rattlesnake and periodontal
disease vaccines.
Some veterinarians still follow the antiquated
annual vaccine guidelines.
The AAHA 2006 canine vaccine guidelines are
available (28 pgs.) at aahanet.org/about_aaha/
vaccine_guidelines06.pdf
**Please remember to keep your dog(s) on a
heartworm preventative year round!
Mountain C.A.R.E. needs a new
Editor!
The perfect candidate would be proficient in desktop
publishing and would love to serve a good cause.
Seniors in High School who need experience with a
non-profit organization dedicated to protecting our
natural resources while living next to nature may
apply.
Mountain C.A.R.E. is local to the three communities
of Angelus Oaks, Forest Falls, and Mountain Home
Village. We currently have a circulation of over 1100,
and advertises local busniesses.
The Bear Facts is published quarterly, and takes
only a few hours each month, plus a few more at
publishing time for anyone who desires to let their
creativity flow.
Please contact either Shirley Bauer at 389-7531, or
Elmo Pinard at 389-9630 if you are interested.
Forest Falls ABOP Site Closing
Hyla Palmese Captain
The ABOP site will soon be removed from the
Forest Falls firehouse. This is due to a continuing
problem of hazardous waste being abandoned
at the ABOP site when the site is not open.
The firefighters would like to thank all of you
who brought your used or surplus antifreeze,
batteries, motor oil and latex paint during the
last several years to our ABOP site. We hope
your will continue to recycle your household
hazardous waste in the future at one of the sites
listed below.
Redlands City Yard
San Bernardino International Airport
500 Kansas Street at Park
or
2824 East W Street, Bldg. 302
Saturday 9:30am - 12:30 pm
Monday-Friday 9:00am - 4:00pm
You are cordially invited to join the
Forest Falls Seventh-day Adventist
Church
in worship and fellowship
Saturday Services
40551 Valley of the Falls Dr.
(Next door to the Post Office)
Bible Study 10:00 a.m.
Musical Praise Service 11:00 a.m.
You may call 1-800-Oily Cat for more
information regarding these and other
Household Hazardous Waste sites.
(Musicians are encouraged to bring their
instruments)
Worship Service 11:30 a.m.
The C.C.Y.F. (Canyon Christian Youth Fellowhip)
is interviewing for a new Youth Leader. Please
contact Randy Broman at 794-6689 for more
information.
Weekly Potluck Fellowship Dinner
12:45 p.m.
Frozen Green Thumb Garden Club
By Laurie Gerber
Winter is here and some of the garden chores due
or overdue are:
Moving tender plants inside
Plant spring blooming bulbs yes,
there s still time
Mulching pine needles, straw, oak
leaves are all good winter mulch
Move garden art/décor inside if not
weather proof
Cover/protect garden furniture
Clean your tools and store in a dry
place
And don t forget to water during those dry days!!
Holiday Gift Ideas:
Our Garden Book and Community Cook Book are
available at:
Jessica s Treasures
The Oaks Restaurant (in Angeles Oaks)
Winter Garden Thoughts:
Winter is on my head, but eternal spring is in my
heart. Victor Hugo
One kind word can warm three winter months.
Japanese Proverb
If we had no winter, the spring would not be so
pleasant
Anne Bradstreet
If Candlemas day be fair and bright,
Winter will have another flight.
If Candlemas day be gray and rain,
Winter is gone, and will not come again.
E. Holden
Happy Holidays!
The Forest Falls Frozen Green Thumb Garden
Club
Inviting New Residents:
One thing that everyone can do is notify
their non-resident neighbors of the need
to clear their yard of debris and brush. The
Pine Tract has been diligent in their area, as
I have heard, but we all have lots nearby that
need to be maintained to prevent wildfires.
Join with your Fire Safe Council in
creating a community of beauty
and protection!
To have a safe community, we all
must have DEFENSIBLE spaces around our
homes.
Contact Matt Bottenberg at 794-7167
Needlers Unite!
Wa are meeting every Thursday at the Valley
of the Falls Community Church from 9:00 to
11:30 am.
If you would you love to have a couple of hours
per week to work on your project in the fellowship
of other women, please join us. This is for
anyone who knits, crochets, does needlepoint,
embroidery, quilting, rug hooking or even
beading. We will meet once a week. Bring your
c urrent project. You don t have to attend each
meeting (but we hope you will =) ), just come
when you can. In this small community it will be
nice to gather with other needle artists and enjoy
each others company, appreciate each other s
craft and have some old fashioned us time.
Call Jill Cubberley at 794-3942 for more info or
to sign up.
ADULTS ONLY, PLEASE.
Thanks so much,
Jillian Cubberley
SprayServer
Bill Loenhorst
Barricade International
Proactive Fire Blocking Gel
Home Fire Pretreatment product (ecologically safe)
Graffiti Removal High Pressure Spray Equipment
SprayServer Automatic Water Pumping Equipment
Phone: 909-794-7139 / 909-794-3687
Mobile: 909-573-7434
Mt Home Village CA USA 92359
Email: [email protected]
www.sprayserver.com
FOREST FALLS REUNION
David Erickson, Treasurer
Valley of the Falls Community Center, Inc.
The Forest Falls Reunion committee put on a
great evening! Gathered around a warm fire at
Big Falls Lodge, folks from all over the USA came
to reacquaint themselves with lost friends, familiar
names and our wonderful town of Forest Falls. I
bought my cabin here in 1982, moved up full
time in 1992. I ve lived here longer than
anywhere else in my life, yet I had the strangest
feeling of jamais vu surrounded by Forest Falls
residents from the past. Jamais vu (French) refers
to being someplace familiar (Big Falls Lodge in
Forest Falls) and explicitly not feeling anything
familiar, hearing folks all around me speak of my
town, speak as though it was their town, and yet
I d never seen these folks before. They spoke of
our great unpredictable weather, Fallsvale School
House antics, the pool across from the Post Office
as the sip and dip I think, and they all seemed so
comfortable about it all, like they had suddenly
been transported back home. Whose home is
this anyway? That s where the familiar part
returned to me, it s OUR home, Forest Falls is an
all American Home Town, and someplace you can
always come home to, no matter how long you ve
been gone.
It was an honor for me to listen in, to eavesdrop
on the past. Everyone seemed to enjoy the good
food and music. The Reunion Committee proudly
donated all the net proceeds from this event to
the Valley of the Falls Community Center, Inc.
(VFCCi), the Reunion event grossed almost $6000
and VFCCi received a net of almost $2500.
Reunion T-shirts and CD s with pictures and music
are still available for purchase; anyone interested
can contact Thom Wellman at 909-794-2065.
Mountain C.A.R.E. is seeking creative volunteers to
enhance its current programs. If anyone is interested in joining us to help make living here even
more enjoyable and safe, please call Shirley Bauer
at 389-7531.
DID YOU KNOW
By Shirley Bauer
WE ALL KNOW
Tis the season to be jolly
It s the season to be in the mountains, in our
mountain homes, with snow (we dream of), crisp
air, bright stars and moon, wood fire smoke you can
smell everywhere, carolers at Christmas, two top
notch restaurants, The Oaks (Angelus Oaks) and
El Mexicano (Forest Falls). Ah-h!
You probably already know that if you have a multistory home, to keep a rope ladder on each floor,
and to have regular fire drills if you have small
children and pets. The collapsible rope ladders are
at places like Home Depot, hardware stores,
Walmart, Lowe s.
For our family and your guests, you ll want to have
the sheriff, police and fire dept. number by your
phone. / 911 gets them.
Tis the season for entertaining, for eggnog, mulled
cider, and hot wine punch, yummy!
To get red wine stains out of washable fabric, coat
the stain with salt, hold it over a bowl or sink, and
flush with very hot water, pouring the water from a 3
foot height
For eggnog - soak in cold salt water, then flush
with white vinegar or hydrogen peroxide, using an
eyedropper to remove color.
For coffee or lipstick, flush stain with white vinegar
using an eyedropper. Tea stains, flush with lemon
juice. (continued on pages 9 and 10)
More Uses for Baking soda: (con t from pg 9)
1.
Keep it in a flour or cheese shaker.
(adding a few marbles keeps it from
caking)
2.
Sprinkle in bottom of trash can before
inserting a fresh liner.
3.
Sprinkle some in trash 3-4 times in
compactor during course of filling and
compacting.
4.
Clean upholstery by sprinkling it
liberally with baking soda, let set for a
few minutes vacuum.
5.
Wash a ½ cup of baking soda down
drain or toilet once a week to help
maintain PH of septic tank system. (A
good PH allows bacteria to break down
and liquefy, which helps prevent
clogging in septic tank and leach line.)
6.
Sprinkle soda on blankets when taking
them out of storage for the cold season
roll them up for a couple of hours,
shake them out and fluff them in the
dryer without heat.
7.
Last, add 2 tsp. of soda to water in
your humidifier to freshen house air.
Happy winter and may God bless each of you.
Defensible Space gives the fire department a
fighting chance to save your home in a wildfire.
I d like a nickel for every time I ve gotten ball point
pen on a tablecloth, sheet, my shirt, etc! How good
to know how to remove those pesky stains we rub
glycerin well into the stained area. Let stand 15-20
minutes and wash with dishwash liquid or spray with
inexpensive hair spray and flush with water.
Please, Please don t poison animals they may
have a den of babies someplace. We want them
in the forest, just not on our properties Humane
traps are inexpensive and found at hardware
stores. If you ve trapped an animal in a trap, the
Humane Society will come.
If you feed them, they will come! Raccoons may be
cute, BUT they can easily be vicious. They should
not be welcome in our yards. If the unwelcome
backyard guests, bears, raccoons, skunks,
opossums, are frequenting your place, it s likely you
or your neighbors are unknowingly encouraging
them.
Bears come to anything with an aroma. You may
see them around. They generally will not come
close UNLESS you have good smelling something
at your house, your trash or good smelling pet
food. Do you enjoy a backyard barbecue? The
aroma loving bears LOVE to lick grills. Don t want
them around? Keep the grill clean!
Food is usually what they are seeking, our food or
your dog or cat food. Keep your animals food in
tightly closed containers if out in a room, or in a
closed closet if in bags. Bears can smell through
teeny cracks around outside doors and windows.
They can smell that bag of dog or cat food leaning
against the kitchen wall.
Now is the time for all of us (who haven t) to call a
chimney sweep to inspect and clean out the
chimney for our wonderful winter fires The
yellow pages have them listed. Also, now is the
time to stock up on firewood for the winter Good
sources are our Bear Facts advertisers for wood.
They can advise about best wood for your
fireplace, deliver and stack.
If an animal has had regular access to food nearby
your home or even access to a quiet warm place
(attic, basement, garage, for example), they may
set up residence, especially when they have your
babies. We can encourage them to move out by
leaving ammonia soaked rags near their den, or
playing loud music. Once they ve left, we want to
make sure any potential openings in home or garage
are closed. Chimneys need to be capped. They
are a favorite place for nesting raccoons.
MILL CREEK CANYON FIRE SAFE COUNCIL
Meets the First Thursday of each month at
the fire station.
Our purpose is to have town representatives meet
the shakers and movers in fire prevention and suppression to hear our voices and help us cut the red
tape and get the full benefit of the beauracracy. For
more information, please call Matt Bottenberg at 7947167.
Tri-Communities Event Calendar
Winter 2006
Cub Scouts
Meet every Thursday at 6:30 p.m.
Valley of the Falls Community Church
Boy Scouts
Meet every Tuesday at 6:30 p.m.
Valley of the Falls Community Church
Look for SPAGHETTI DINNER late Feb. 2007
Explorers Post 128
Meet every Monday at 6:00 p.m.
Forest Falls Fire Station
Frozen Green Thumb Garden Club
Meets 3rd Monday every month
Call Laurie 389-7379 for location
Fallsvale Elementary School
Dec.15-Jan.5, 2007 Winter Holiday
Look for upcoming FUND RAISERS 2007
Forest Falls Fire Dept.
Meets every Tuesday at 6:30 p.m.
Forest Falls Fire Station
Angelus Oaks Fire Dept.
Meets on 2nd and 4th Tuesday every month
6:00 p.m. at the Angelus Oaks Fire Station
Mill Creek Canyon Fire Safety Council
Meets 1st Thursday every month 6:30 p.m.
Forest Falls Fire Station
nd
Valley of the Falls Search and Rescue
Meets 2 Monday every month 7:00 p.m.
Forest Falls Sheriff Station 389-2435
Angelus Oaks Fire Safety Council
Meets 4th Saturday every other month
Next meeting in September Angelus Oaks Fire Station
SPECIAL EVENTS
The Local businesses in Forest Falls would like you to
Celebrate the Holiday Season!
Come enjoy Santa, Caroling and something warm for the belly
December 23, 2006 from 6:00p.m. to 8:00p.m. in Forest Falls.
Provided by
Jessica s Treasures, Elkhorn General Store, and Coyotes Unlimited
Do you have a special event/fund raiser.....contact Michelle Young @
[email protected] the deadline for the next issue will be Feb.15th 2007
Will Forest Falls Ever Have Cell Service?
By: Tom McIntosh
The pine cone telegraph has been working overtime lately trying to figure out the status and future of
telephone cell service for Mill Creek Canyon.
Over 4 years ago a cell site was proposed on Fire Department land located near Big Falls. Any of you
who have had the opportunity to read the Bear Facts over this period have been kept abreast of the up
and downs of making this a reality.
About 90 days ago we received word that everything was full speed ahead, the plan and money were
allocated and ready to go the County for approval. A major condition for approval required a majority of
nearby property owners to approve an exception to a deed restriction which prohibits any commercial use
on 12 of the lots on the upper Island, including the Fire District lot where the cite was planned.
Much to our surprise the exception to the deed restriction to allow a cell site was not supported by a
majority of the property owners and at that point the entire project came to a stop. No amount of support
from outside the 12 lots affected by the deed restriction can overrule the position of those owners, well
maybe eminent domain would work but I do not think any of us want to go there.
So, after years of working to put the cell site on property that would provide needed revenue to our local
firehouse, ALL STOP! I want to express my position that once we discovered the lack of support for the
site, I also took a position not supporting the project. Again, the proposal for the cell site on Fire District
land would not proceed so it was time to put that beside us and move on.
A subsequent newspaper article stirred the pot, printed lots of mis-truths but did have the positive effect of
more than 6 alternate sites for a cell tower were offered by property owners in our community. These
alternatives were passed on to Verizon and they have since re-visited our community to due a field survey
of the proposed alternatives. The Verizon team made it clear that they still desire to provide reliable cell
service to our canyon and took the info back to digest.
A couple of days ago a mailer was sent out to most residents, again promoting the relocation of the cell
site. How many times shall we kick this dead horse. The author, who declined to identify him/herself,
spent a lot of time and money for not, that money and energy could have been better spent as a donation
to our new Community Center organization. I think it is important to note though that the photos contained
in the mailer were not of the site owned by the fire district and proposed for the original cell site.
A conversation with Supervisor Hansbergers office yesterday confirmed that Verizon has placed the
application for the Forest Falls cell site on hold pending a new location.
In summary, we continue to see strong support for cell service to the canyon. While some may be
disappointed in yet another delay in the process it will only be a matter of time and we should see this
service arrive. Who knows, at the rate we are going we may have economical satellite cell service before
a land based cell site becomes a reality.
Island Home Sustains Fire Damage
Tom McIntosh, Captain
On Sunday morning, December 10th at about 6:15 firefighters were dispatched to a report of a shed on
fire attached to a home on Island Dr. in Forest Falls.
Slightly delayed by accumulated and falling snow the first engine from Forest Falls arrived on scene
about 16 minutes after dispatch to find heavy smoke coming from the shed with the property owner
attempting to extinguish the fire with a garden hose.
Delays were also encountered due to an inaccessible electrical main shutoff and 2 occasions when
ammunition discharged due to the heat and flame. Firefighters worked the stubborn blaze as it extended
from the depths of the shed into the home through the common wall where it was finally controlled
about 45 minutes later. Due to the heavy fuel loading in the home and shed the mop up portion of the
fire took another 3 hours.
The cause of the fire has been determined to be faulty wiring, possibly contributed to by raccoons that
were living in that corner of the shed.
A total of 20 fire personnel from the San Bernardino County Fire Department worked the incident,
representing the first due company from Forest Falls Station 128 with 10 firefighters, neighboring
Angelus Oaks Station 15 with 2 firefighters, Mentone Station 9 with 3 firefighters, a breathing support
unit from Grand Terrace Station 23, a Division Chief, Battalion Chief and Fire Investigator.
It is estimated that the home sustained about $150,000 in damage and that about $40,000 in personal
property was lost.
Lessons learned?
Keep your property accessible for emergency operations, from the street
throughout the home. Do not allow your electrical main shut off to be blocked or hidden and always
think defensible space as we never know when firefighters may be called to try and save a life or
property.