a publication of mountain c.a.r.e. (

A publication of Mountain C.A.R.E. (http://www.mtncare.com) Fall / Winter 2011 Volume 5 Number 4

Bear Facts StaffPaul Tetreault

EditorShirley Bauer

Advertising DirectorBarbara Vance

Mailing Director to submit

Letters to the Editor write to:

[email protected]

Mountain C.A.R.E. President’s Message

Big Falls - Day Use Area set for Major Reconstruction

by Matt BottenbergI’d like to start off by thanking George Forgues for the great work he did as the President of Mountain C.A.R.E for the last few years. I really appreciate (and want to emulate) several things that he does really well. He has vision, great ideas, a practical approach, and best of all,

he is an excellent fund raiser. Since George took the helm, Mountain C.A.R.E. has grown, worked on some very interesting important projects, and become more financially stable. George, thanks for remaining on the Board as Vice President. We really need you to stick around.Just to let you know a little about myself. My wife Sue and I have lived in Forest Falls for 26 years, and we still love it up here like it’s our first day. Our daughter Hannah (who attended Fallsvale School K-5th) is now a junior at Cal State San Bernardino, majoring in Creative Writing. I work for ESRI down in Redlands, and play in the rock band Endless Maze. One thing I care very much about is our mountain environment, including our mountain communities. I am proud to be a member of this group of mountain citizens acting to restore the earth. So what do I think Mountain C.A.R.E. should focus on during

my watch? I think that we need to continue down the path that George and the Board have set, with minor adjustments here and there. Here are three goals I envision. 1) Get more involved in projects and activities with Angelus Oaks and Mountain Home Village, and invite interested folks from those communities to be on the Mountain C.A.R.E. Board. This also includes encouraging AO, and MHV folks to contribute more articles to the Bear Facts. 2) Sponsor and support additional environmental and nature activities in our communities, for the young and old to be involved in. For example my brother-in-law Tom Greer who lives in Twin Peaks has organized a community wide yearly daffodil planting event, and tens of thousands of daffodils now line the streets in the spring for an amazing display. Maybe we could do something similar up in our neck of the woods. Instead of daffodils maybe we plant a large quantity of the Humboldt/Leopard Lilies since they seem to love it here and are native. 3) Get more input from our Mountain C.A.R.E. membership, and the communities on things this organization could be doing. If you go to our web site www.mtncare.com you can contact us with suggestions, and ideas that you may have. I would be happy to consider them with the Board, and see what we can do. Thanks.

Mountain C.A.R.E. Board of DirectorsMatt Bottenberg

PresidentGeorge Forgues Vice PresidentMichelle Macri

Secretary Gina Johnson

TreasurerShirley Bauer

Membership DirectorJeff Schaefer Webmaster

Karen Goodyear Rod Goodyear Jeff Schaefer Paul Tetreault

Members of the Board

San Bernardino, Calif., October 14, 2011 – The popular Falls Day Use Area will undergo a major overhaul and reconstruction starting this fall and completion planned for the spring. The day use area is nestled in the community of Forest Falls at the base of the San Gorgonio Wilderness, often referred to as the Alps of southern California, truly a gem for visitors looking to escape the heat of sum-mer or begin a hike in the San Gorgonio Wilderness. The Vivian Creek Trail into wilderness starts here, and the Momyer Trailhead is nearby. The $702,728 contract was awarded to William Kanayan Construction out of Rim Forest, California as part of a Forest Service National Infrastructure Im-provement (CMII) program. The contract includes improvements to access roads, parking areas, new restrooms, picnic tables and grills. In addition, water systems will be upgraded, accessibility improvements will be made along with a new entry station and picnic area host camp-site.

The Falls Day Use Area reconstruction project was selected as a national priority project, which is in-tended to address the Forest Service’s most critical health and safety infrastructure needs at heavy use areas. The Big Falls Day Use Area was built in the 1930’s and parts were upgraded in the early 1980’s. During the winter months the upper portion of the area will be closed until project completion in the late spring. Visitors can check the status of the site by either calling ahead to the Mill Creek Work Center at (909) 382-2881 (closed Tues-days & Wednesdays) or by checking on-line at http://www.fs.usda.gov/sbnf

Volume 5 Issue 4 A Publication of Mountain C.A.R.E.

check out current community news at www.mtncare.com

Mark Twain once commented on ‘reading’ and it cracked me up! “Those who can read and don’t, might as well be illiterate.” And remarked Twain, “A classic is a book that people praise, but don’t read.” Obviously Twain was a marvelous reader and writer. However, in thinking about

what he comically stated birthed a curious reflection for me; besides the pleasurable enjoyment out of it, why do we read? Here’s why I read; maybe you will agree.• Reading creates empathy for the human condition. • As C.S. Lewis once said,“We read to know we’re not alone”• Reading a good novel takes me places I may never get to visit. “There is no frigate like a book to take us lands away…” writes Emily Dickinson.• Reading sparkles my senses – a good writer arouses my sense of smell, makes me hungry and sizzles my sense of touch and feeling.• Reading brews a good heart- cry or prompts a robust belly- laugh both of which heal the soul.• Reading is that beacon that leads you to find yourself when life is so very dark.• Reading creates a sense of hope that something may – after all – be resolved.• Reading allows participation in history – an understanding of what went before…so that we may grasp, perceive, infer or divine what is now……And so…..for whatever reason we read……here are three books that may define the reason you read. Testimony Of An Irish Slave Girl by Kate McCaffertyThis is a fictional account of a little-known part of the seventeenth century in which young Irish children were kidnapped and taken to Barbados to do harrowing fieldwork in the sugar cane fields. Cot Daley, a young girl kidnapped from her home in Galway, Ireland, is sold as an indentured servant to plantation owners of the Caribbean and worked alongside African slaves. She never saw her father again.As the novel begins, Cot Daley, who is the survivor of a defeated rebellion by the African and Irish slaves to overthrow their masters, is brought in for questioning by a British doctor who is working for the governor of the island. Cot agrees to give her telling of the rebellion only if she can share her life story. Her life is then unfolded – her kidnapping at ten years old, her relationships with African slaves and their masters, her marriage, her children, her profound and startling discovery of the human condition. Amazing is the fact that during the years of 1558 and 1660, an estimated 50,000 to 80,000 Irish men, women, and children were shipped to Barbados as indentured servants. A very interesting historical preface begins the book; so very absorbing to read.

Considering Books (Why We Read) One Day – Twenty Years. Two People by David NichollsNicholls said his inspiration for this story came from a passage he read while in his twenties in Thomas Hardy’s Tess of the D’Urbervilles. However…I found the passage from Charles Dickens, Great Expectations used at the beginning of the book to prove more valuable to the context of the story:“That was a memorable day for me, for it made greatchanges in me. But, it is the same with any life. Imagineone selected day struck out of it and think how differentits course would have been. Pause, you who read this, andthink for a long moment of the long chain of iron or gold, of thorns or flowers, that would never have bound you, butfor the formation of the first link on that memorable day.”Each chapter of One Day covers the lives of two people – Dexter and Emma – as they meet and re-meet each other over the course of twenty years. They spend the night together following their graduation from Edinburgh University in 1988. Though they do not become romantically involved, they become best friends and in subsequent years, their lives take them in different directions, but they keep in contact on July 15th in successive years. The novel is structured in this way. Emma becomes a waitress in England, a horrible taco restaurant, while Dexter becomes a successful television announcer. This is just the beginning, Dexter grasps alcohol; Emma searches for who she is, a novelist.The novel moves through the years with surprises, laughter and true-life difficulties. The book is clever and maddening. A critic for the TIMES writes, “In spite of its comic gloss, ONE DAY is really about loneliness and the casual savagery of fate; the tragic gap between youthful aspiration and the compromises that we end up tolerating – it’s rare to find a novel of life.” The book is also now a movie that can be netflicked – I’m going to watch it!!! Promises To Keep by Jane GreenThis fall, I finished books and needed another. I found a lending library where patrons would leave a book and take another – simple! I picked Promises To Keep solely because the prior reader wrote on the side pages of the book “FUN.” The book WAS fun and also – as The Miami Herald wrote – “tugged at” all my emotions “in all the right places.” Callie is a successful photographer and still in love with her husband of 12 years. Steffi is Callie’s younger sister who is a chef in a popular New York vegetarian restaurant. Lila is Callie’s best friend who at 42 years has finally met the love for whom she has been waiting. Then there is Callie and Steffie’s divorced parents who still hold resentments. When Callie is diagnosed with a recurrence of breast cancer she thought was cured….all come together in the hardest, most difficult of times. This book falls into the “We read to know we’re not alone” reason or “brews a good heart-cry – prompts robust belly-laughter category. In addition….the novel makes you hungry with all the food descriptions and recipes at the beginning of each chapter – like Almost Flourless Orange and Almond Cake with Marmalade, Spinach and Chickpea Coconut Curry and Chile with Jamaican Allspice and Cilantro. The book is definitely FUN!

by Katherine Thomerson-Bird

If you would like to see most of this issue’s photos in color, visit www.mtncare.com


check out old issues of the Bear Facts at www.mtncare.com

The Rain Came Down – Part 1 Floods have been the greatest force to shape Mill Creek Canyon, ushering in change and fostering a closer sense of community in their wake. These catastrophic floods have literally and figura-tively shaped the mountain communities. These weren’t summer flash floods, but rather 500 or 1,000-year floods that caused mas-sive destruction throughout the San Bernardino Mountains and the valleys below. The Great “Noachian Deluge” of 1862Prior to 1862, Mill Creek Canyon wasn’t the rock-strewn moonscape that we now see. It was a verdant “jungle” of mature trees, blackberries, ferns, and other plant life through which Mill Creek peacefully meandered. The sawmills operating in the canyon in the 1840s and 1850s, were the only commerce and permanent settlers were very few. According to first-person accounts, autumn of 1861 was sunny, warm and dry. On Christmas Day a pleasant rain began to fall, it was a welcome change. However, a giant sub-tropical plume of moisture, known as a Pineapple Express, was gathering force. The gentle rain of the holidays increasingly intensified into

January. Reliable estimates say that as much as 66 inches of rain fell in the mountains in 30 days. By February, the state of California was under water and vast inland lakes formed, which had to be navigated by boat. During the massive flood, the outflow of the Santa Ana River, including Mill Creek, was 317,000 cubic feet per second, or greater than four times the typical flow of the Missouri River. To put it in perspective, the

water roared out of our mountains in a torrent and everything all the way down Lower Santa Ana Canyon on the other side of Riv-erside was largely under water. In Mill Creek Canyon, the once-thriving sawmills were completely destroyed, never to return. Frank Cram, of the now-defunct town of Cramville at the base of the mountains wrote in his diary in 1862, “Year of the great flood. Heavy snows over all the mountains were melted in one night by a warm rain. Trees 100’ tall came end over end down the river. Great boulders tumbled like marbles. Many livestock drowned. People had to move out of their houses. All that had once been beautiful, fertile land and full of trees, good soil, and grass, was left with nothing but a sand and gravel wash.” (Frank Cram)The Flood of 1938In the 1860s,1880s, and again in 1916, there were significant floods. None of the subsequent floods were quite as epic as 1862, but what is significant about these events is that population and development grew by the decade and floods meant loss of life and property. By 1938 Mountain Home was a thriving community with resorts and the Rainbow Angling Club, the WPA camp workers were busy

The Life of the Canyonby Shannon Wray

building roads and bridges. There were several resorts in Fallsvale including the Forest Home Resort and Torrey’s Camp on the opposite side of the creek. The sale of lots by the Leverings resulted in hundreds of cabins and there were permanent residents living in the canyon. A tropical system centered on the San Bernardino Mountains brought rain that year on January 30th. Beginning February 27th a second series of storms dumped 50 inches of rain in some mountain locations over six days. Debris from previous floods reportedly accumulated and let loose with a roar. Men from

the Redlands Disaster Relief Unit tried to pile boulders up to make a dam below the Rainbow Angling Club and save Redlands. The Rainbow Angling Club was wiped out, the ranger station, which was at Thurman Flats was washed downstream, the roads were impassable or destroyed, houses and bridges were washed away and the canyon communities were isolated for five weeks. An L.A. Times article notes that on April 16th a rough one lane road was finally opened into Mill Creek. Even though the canyon resorts had been in financial distress due to the Depression, the 1938 flood dealt them a devastating blow. Forest Home Resort had been for sale for $50,000, but the trout fishing operation and structures had been severely damaged in the flood. In July 1938 Henrietta Mears purchased Forest Home, 320 acres with 52 cabins, dining and dance halls, tennis and badminton courts, a soda fountain and

coffee shop for $30,000 and the current Forest Home was born. In the valleys below, hundreds had died, thousands were homeless, 100 bridges were gone in San Bernardino, and it would take years to rebuild and regain the prior progress. In the next issue, I write about the 1969 flood, with personal remembrances and photographs from people who lived through this epic event. Many thanks to Suzie Earp, Historian and Archivist at the Water Resourc-es Institute at California State University at San Bernardino for her gener-ous help and excellent research, and Wes Harty for his research about For-est Home history. Questions and comments? [email protected].



WARNING! WINTER COMINGThe firefighters ask that you think, in advance, about how life changes when winter comes. Please take a moment and think about; 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 arres-tors to avoid chimney and house fires and PROPER ASH DIS-POSAL 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 “port-hole” of snow removed from the windshield, clear all your win-dows 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 prop-er clothes, including gloves, for winter travel and when installing chains.NEW CAR SEAT LAW TAKES EFFECT JANUARY 1, 2012In a nutshell, current 6 year or 60 lbs requirement will increase to 8 years old for kids to be secured in an approved passenger restraint system (seat). Some exceptions apply for children over 4’9” tall who can be restrained by a seat belt. Try an internet search on SB- 929 for more info.FIREFIGHTERS AND FIRE EXPLORERS WANTEDThere are openings for both Firefighters and Fire Explorers at the Forest Falls station. Interested persons should contact the station or a community Firefighter or Fire Explorer for more information.

Flashovers Mountain Winter Gardeningby Beth Tetreaultby Tom McIntosh, Fire Captain Forest Falls, Station 99

by Debi WelchGrandpa Grizzly Retires

Fallsvale School is sad to report that after many years of fabulous service, Grandpa Grizzly is ready to hand over the reigns.Fallsvale is actively seeking a new logo to replace the ol’ Grizz. A changing of the guard so to speak. Please include a bear in your design, we are still the Grizzlies, we would just like a fresh look.Submit your idea’s to [email protected], or drop off your design at Gillmore Real Estate by Jan 31, 2012. (Attn Debi Welch)The Booster Club will review all submit-tions at our meeting in February and a cash prize of $100 will be awarded to the winner plus bragging rights for years to come!All 55 students at Fallsvale School say thank you & “Fallsvale Grizzlies Rock!”

High Country Gardens Website says, “Plant loss in the wintertime is more commonly caused by lack of water than by freezing tem-peratures.” And, I don’t know about you but I’ve invested too much heart and soul into my little yard to let Old Man Winter harm my lovely plants.There are two really important things to do to get our gardens through winter; mulching and watering. Most important is getting water to plant roots (this is the watering part) and helping to keep it there (this is the mulching part). The root hairs that grow off of main root systems are responsible for getting water and nutrients to the plant. For root hairs to live they must be moist. If they dry out, they die and even if the main root system survives the winter, if the root hairs are gone the plant will suffer.Roots at the top foot of soil dry out rapidly in the winter wind and due to the cold air holding less moisture, it is vital that we supple-ment the water provided by winter snows. Here are a few tips on preparing for winter and getting your garden successfully through to spring. If you haven’t already prepared for winter, these tips may be helpful:• As winter arrives, plants need to concentrate on root growth. They need fertilizers with a higher ratio of potassium and phos-phorous and don’t need a fertilizer with a high ratio of nitrogen right now. Read the fertilizer package for the ratio. Three numbers left to right mean: N=nitrogen , P=phosphorous, K= potassium. • Mix fertilizer into the soil when doing fall planting or spread around the base of existing plants when closing your garden for the winter. It’s best to fertilize while the days are still warm because the warm soil aids root growth. Check the Frozen Green Thumb Gardening, Mountain Gardening book, for more details.• After applying fertilizer, add a layer of mulch for winter protec-tion. Mulching will help to moderate soil temperatures, protect against dryness from wind, and retain moisture.• Mulch could be the fallen leaves from your deciduous trees (trees that shed their leaves during winter), bark chips, straw, wood chips from the chipper pile, even newspaper. They will decompose over time and can be worked into the soil next spring. I’ve even been known to put a final top layer of pine needles for extra protection. • Now to the watering part; Yes, water during winter and espe-cially during a thaw. Water early in the day and when air tem-peratures are above freezing so it has time to soak in before the nighttime freeze. Water thoroughly once every few weeks, or at least once a month, and it’s best to water a foot or more from the drip line (ends of branches) because root hairs spread horizontally and wide. (Don’t forget to drain those hoses so they don’t freeze and burst)• Evergreen trees (keep their leaves year round) need more water than deciduous (shed their leaves during winter) ones so don’t for-get our tree friends that protect us from winter wind and sun. • Because of the damage that could be caused, it’s too late to do any trimming, i.e., roses, bushes, trees, etc. If we protect our yards and gardens now and during the coldest months, we will (hopefully) be rewarded with stronger, healthier growth in the spring.



Not bad for the first year. It was like our town was converted into Disneyland for a night and I got to play Walt. A huge thank you to all who helped to make our first “Haunt on the Hill” a success, making over $1000 for our Community Center. Led by Shannon Hancock, Gail Forgues, Jodean Forgues and me, Paul Tetreault, the Haunt would not have been possible without all the community members and friends who pitched in before, during, and after the festivities. The list of those who deserve thanks for their contribution of time and resources is long, but I personally need to thank Misha Boyarski, who in addition to his wins in the pumpkin carving and scene contests also made time to cook and season the pork for the dinner sandwiches and help clean-up Big Falls Lodge grounds on the following Sunday. Dude, you rock!

We saw many great costumes and awards were presented in several age catagories. Being the first-time, the costume contest could probably have been run better and I promise it will, if the Haunt returns for a second go ‘round. Which brings me to my next question, Who’s up for another round? Did you have a good time? Should we do this again? Our planning committee will start

looking for willing participants next summer but if you want to make sure the Haunt has a second showing, I’ll be maintaining a list of interested parties starting now. One thing is for sure, we’re going to need a few more volunteers next time. Call me if you’d like to be on that list, Paul Tetreault 909-794-007.

As we move from summer into fall and winter, it’s time for new preparation activities. It’s time to get you, your family, your pets and your vehicle ready for rain, cold, snow, and the possibility

of power outages and road closures. We live in a wonderful place and that comes with additional responsibilities.In case of a power outage, make sure you are stocked with non-perishable foods, a manual can opener, and flashlights with fresh batteries. It’s time to pull out that old non-electric phone, yes, the old fashioned kind without a built in answering machine. And remember to keep any cell phones fully charged. Near these phones, have your list of emergency numbers; friends, neighbors, CHP Road Conditions (800-427-7623), etc. And, don’t forget to have emergency food and supplies for your pets. We keep a bag of our neighbor’s dog food in case they can’t make it home during a storm. And, the cat carrier and harnesses are close at hand.Is your vehicle ready? Time to put chains (that fit), an ice and snow scrapper, extra warm clothing, a spare blanket and extra medications in the vehicle. Put on new wiper blades and, as always, keep the gas tank close to full.Our local CERT is also working to get ready. The 4 community disaster bins are being updated with a variety of seasonal, donated clothing (a special thanks to Beth Tetreault, Dee Konzcal and Nancy Altimus for doing over 30 loads of laundry and getting all the clothes into plastic totes instead of the cardboard boxes the woodlands creatures love to nest in) and the new lock system has been aligned with our local fire department so our disaster relief workers can all use the same code.After spending a little time preparing for winter, you can sit back and enjoy the season. New CERT class dates are being determined. Call us to get on a waiting list, 909-794-0077.

On Being Prepared Frightening Successby Mill Creek Canyon C.E.R.T. by Paul Tetreault

1st Place Scene Design, Magic Mirror (Misha Boyarski & Tom McIntosh) (photo courtesy of Denise Reid)

Costume Contest Hopefuls (photo courtesy of Shannon Hancock)

Breakfast with SANTA!Saturday December 3rd 8am-11am

BIG FALLS Lodge 41303 Valley of the Falls Breakfast ($5 child-$7 Adult)includes photo w/ Santa

Santa arrives at 9amFallsvale School Students ConcertSpark of Love Toy Drive



MJ Turner is a nine year resident of Forest Falls who has recently moved to Yucaipa to start training dogs full time with her new business Ready 2 Wag.

To Bark Or Not To BarkContrary to popular belief dogs do not bark to annoy humans, they usually have a good reason. Sometimes they are asking for a dog across the way to come over and play. Many times they are letting others know they do not want them in their area and the intruder should retreat as soon as possible. Terriers were bred to dig underground and to bark excitedly so the hunter could dig to uncover the fox or badger, and also to retrieve their dog. And some dogs just like to hear themselves bark, so maybe they are trying to annoy humans!If a dog is barking in your presence, yelling, “Shut up!” at the top of your lungs, only conveys to a dog you agree with the barking and are actually joining in. It is best to figure out why they are barking in order to find out if it needs to continue. For instance, most people like their dogs to bark

Do You Understand Your Dog?By MJ Turner

when someone comes to the door but they want them to stop when they realize it is someone they are happy to have at the door. If your dog is left alone all day long they may be barking out of boredom. Since they are outside they are stimulated by many sounds and smells and they are trying to get anyone to come and play with them thus they bark and bark and bark. The best solution for dogs in this situations is to help them with their boredom, like hiding a variety of interesting toys all over the yard. Or keeping them inside to limit their arousal level.Some humans teach their dogs to speak. Those who have dogs who bark incessantly would wonder why in the world they teach their dogs to do it on cue. Well, that may be the best possible solution for those who have such dogs. When you teach a dog to bark on cue you will also want to simultaneously teach a dog to be quiet on cue. This is a wonderful way of silencing a dog when you need to and giving them the outlet to bark when they need to do so.No matter what the reason is for a dog’s barking it is nice for all concerned to have a way to keep barking to a minimum. So let the dogs bark but please teach them the quiet cue.

This is a RECYCLING BIN, Not a DUMPSTERThis bin IS for

• Cardboard• Plastic • Glass• Aluminum

It is NOT for • TVs• Electronics • Yard waste• Household Trash

DO NOT LEAVE YOUR TRASH AT THIS SITE! If the bin is not there, don’t leave your recyclables here,

keep them in your vehicle until the bin arrives.



TRI-COMMUNITIESEVENT CALENDAR

Mark Your Calendars Announcements

Fall / Winter 2011Valley of the Falls Community Church Youth Group

Meets every Wednesday from 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm. Ages 12-18. Valley of the Falls Community Church

Forest Falls Fire Department

Meets every Tuesday at 6:30 pm, Forest Falls Fire Station.Call 794-4413

Souper ThursdayFREE SOUP!

First Thursday of the month 4pm -7pm Big Falls Lodge. (once a month until April)

Angeles Oaks Fire Department

Meets on 2nd and 4th Tuesday of every month at 6:00pm. Angeles Oaks Fire Station.

Girl Scouts Meet every other Monday at 6:30 pm Valley of the Falls Community Church.Call Kristi Ranabauer 794-5131 for more information

Angeles Oaks Fire Safe Council

Meets periodically. Dates are announced on the A.O. FSC Bulletin Board in the Angeles Oaks Post Office.

Explorer Post 128 Meets every Monday at 6:00pm Forest Falls Fire Station. New Explorers welcome. Call 794-4413 to leave info.

Mill Creek Canyon C.E.R.T.

Classes forming, watch for announcements or call 794-0077 (Paul Tetreault) to get on a waiting list.

Frozen Green Thumb Garden Club

Meets 3rd Monday every month. Call Claudia 794-0343 for monthly location.

Mill Creek Canyon Fire Safe Council

Currently reforming, Contact Tim Lange at 909-794-2588 or [email protected]

Valley of the Falls Search And Rescue

Meets 2nd Monday every month at 7:00 pm, Forest Falls Sheriff Station 909-389-2435.

Inquire about how easy it is to have YOUR business ad in the Bear FactsContact [email protected]

Nov 24th, Thanksgiving Pot Luck Dinner, 2 pm-5 pm

Dec 3rd, Breakfast with Santa, 8am - 11 am

Dec 4th, Big Falls Holiday Craft Boutique, 12 pm-5pm

Dec 31st, New Year’s Eve Party at Big Falls Lodge

BIG FALLS HOLIDAY CRAFT BOUTIQUESun. Dec. 4th, Noon -5 pm at Big Falls Lodge.Sponsored by VFCCi. Contact Dee Konczal at 794-0885.

NEW YEAR’S EVE PARTY (currently in the planning phase)for Times, Tickets, Info or to Volunteer Contact Michelle Macri at 909-794-6142 or email [email protected]



News from Valley of the Falls Community Center, Inc.www.VFCCi.org by Tom McIntosh, Pres.

Souperbowl Thursday has gone Green! Congratulations are due to everyone, staff and patrons. In addition to great food and camaraderie, the first and third Thursday nights at Big Falls Lodge now includes a conscious effort to Reduce Reuse & Recycle. We are all into savings and when the VFCCi board learned that one of our board members was supplying all the disposable ware for Souperbowl Thursday, at the cost of about $80 per month, it only took moments for the light to come on and the suggestion to be made to GO GREEN with everyone bringing their own place settings. It is good for a smile if not a laugh when you see folks eating on their most basic camping gear to fine china.

Autumn Daze with Endless Maze was another wonderful event at Big Falls Lodge on October 2nd. How can you beat the mix of an excellent rock band, six great artists, free food, cold beer, wine and margaritas all being consumed and danced to by over 100 folks with good times on their mind. A HUGE thank you to the band, Endless Maze, who basically played for tips to support this fund raiser. You can enjoy their great music on New Year’s Eve at the Seven Oaks Resort or follow them on facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Endless-Maze/376824068878. Thanks to all those who staffed this event and to the artists who supported us with great donations to the raffle; Kathy Bryan, Pottery; Gary Burgess, Photography; Lindsey Foggett, Wildlife Paintings; Craig Fortune, Acrylic Landscapes; Stephen Herrero, Sculptures; and Tom Konczal, Crystal Glass Engraving. Thanks also goes to Shirley Bauer and Patricia Drummond for coordinating this event.“One Man’s Trash is another Man’s Treasure” and the two community yard sales held at Big Falls Lodge this summer/fall prove that to be true. Thanks to Tom Crowe and Dan

Forgues for spearheading both of those events. We expect to offer this service again in the Spring.Other happenings at Big Falls Lodge “Breakfast with Santa” will be the morning of December 3rd. “Christmas Holiday Boutique” on December 4th, do your holiday shopping for local crafts. Former Board Member and VFCCi founder Michelle Macri has organized and hosted several “Community Cares” meetings where people are getting together, discussing how to better utilize Big Falls Lodge while supporting VFCCi, and addressing common community issues and solutions.A VFCCi Board of Directors position is becoming available soon. Treasurer and Member-At-Large Director David Erickson has reached the end of his term and will be stepping down at the first of the year. Around that time a nomination committee will be seeking persons interested in filling this position with a general election planned for early Spring of 2012. Eligible candidates must have been a regular member of VFCCi for the previous two years. David, who has served as the VFCCi Treasurer for over 6 years, has also been instrumental in not only the rehabilitation of Big Falls Lodge but also in it’s day to day operations, fundraising and future outlook for VFCCi. David will continue to play a role with VFCCi as he chairs the old Fallsvale School rehab and Big Falls Lodge Operations committees. David Erickson, like all the other VFCCi directors who have served since Big Falls Lodge was opened as our community center, is a Founder contributor or Summit Sponser with VFCCi. Director Susan Iles will become Treasurer as of January first. Got an Idea or Suggestion? Send it via email to [email protected] or [email protected]. For those who do not use email a suggestion box has been placed at the main entry at Big Falls Lodge, kindly identify yourself if you leave a note. Remember, Big Falls Lodge is your event location.

Holiday Craft Boutique Come & Enjoy Our Forest

Sunday, December 4th, Noon – 5 P.M.Big Falls Lodge Community Center

41303 Valley of the Falls Dr., Forest FallsYummy Dessert & Beverage Bar ($3) and Margaritas ($3-$5)

Do Your Christmas Shopping On the MountainOver 18 artisans displaying their holiday items



Valley of the Falls Community Center Inc. old Fallsvale School

Think Big Falls Lodge for your event...Weddings, Birthdays, Anniversaries, Family and Class Reunions, Memorials, Graduations, Meetings, Classes

• Post Office Box 41, Forest Falls, CA. 92339 • A Charitable Not for Profit Organization • EIN 33-0876386

BFL rental rates & polic ywww.VFCCi.org

Event Coordinator

Marcie Green-Whitney 909.499.0102 or

909.794-2518 or email [email protected]

Event Staffers

Dee Konzal Bernadette Griffith

Caretaker/Custodian

Bob Riddle

Board of Directors Tom McIntosh, Presiden t

[email protected] 909.794.2518

Thom Wellman, V-Pres [email protected]

909.794.2065

Patricia Drummond, Sec [email protected]

909.794.7927

David Erickson, Treasure [email protected]

909.794.7442

Shirley Bauer [email protected]

909.389.7531

George Forgues george @forestfalls.com

909.794.5431

Susan Iles [email protected]

909.794.5756

• Do you receive periodic emails of community events and items of interest? Not on our email list? Send your email address to [email protected] (put “Add to Email List” on subject line). We do not share our email list with others.

• Referral Fee$ Paid. Refer a non-member who books an event and earn a 10% referral fee, up to $226 on a full day rental… more for multi-day events. (some conditions apply, if in doubt, contact us)

• Become a Summit Sponsor or Fallsvale Friend. VFCCi is a charitable, non-profit organization and your donations should be tax deductible. While we appreciate your donation in any amount, those who meet $2500 are designated a “Summit Sponsor” and those who wish to earmark their gift for the restoration of the old Fallsvale School to a Day Care/Latch Key site and reach $1000 in donations will be designated as a Fallsvale Friend. Summit Sponsor s and Fallsvale Friends are recognized with bronze plaques. Payment plans available, Visa-Mastercard accepted.

• Casual Donations gratefully accepted. Payment programs, Visa and Master Card accepted for all plans supporting VFCCi.

• Consider a donation of your estate or marketable asset. The Gail D. Cox Community Center at Big Falls Lodge was made possible this way and your donation can help make the old Fallsvale School “Day Care/Latch Key” program a reality as well as enhance our community goals. Want to learn more? Contact us for a personal meeting about the visions for our future.

See us on the web @ www.VFCCi.org

Have a class or event to put on? Let us know! Call us or email your suggestions to [email protected]



The Bear Facts is a Publication of Mountain C.A.R.E. , a non-profit organization

We appreciate the patronage of our advertisers and the services they offer to our readers.However, the membership and the Board of Directors of Mountain C.A.R.E. are not endorsing these companies simply by including the ads in this publication. The advertisers pay for the priviledge and the Bear Facts is produced in part by those fees. We hope you will enjoy the services these companies offer



My “people,” me (Destiny), and our friend, Bruce, had a wonderful summer adventure. We, along with

my “people’s” family; children, grand-children, sisters, brothers-in-law, nephew and fiancée, some cousins and friends … all headed for son John’s house in Montana in June. We were celebrating my “people’s” 50th wedding anniversary (whatever that is!?)John had a silly black dog mix by the name of Otis and boy, did that dog look like his name!! We had fun racing to see who got the thrown ball first.After all the celebrating and after the 4th of July, everyone else traveled back to their homes, but my “people” and I did some traveling through places we had never been to before and some places we had been to in the past. We went through rain forests and National Forests, a place called Grand Coulee Dam, which had so much water, but I wasn’t allowed to go swimming in it.All in all, I had a great summer, but I’m glad to be back in Forest Falls anxiously awaiting our first snowfall of the season. Please be sure your dogs are on a heartworm preventative – yes, even in the winter.In memoriam - Beloved pets Karly Broman and Gizmo Scofield** NOTE” The San Bernardino Humane Society now does appointments.Heartworm is a year round threat.

Dog Tailsby Destiny (&Ann) Klingbeil



Have You Seen It?by Paul Tetreault

“If you build it they will come” That was the identifiable movieline from the 1989 Kevin Costner film, Field of Dreams. I was reminded of that film as I prepared for and watched the fruits

of our labors in the success of Forest Falls’ first “Haunt on the Hill”. Ironic as well since I’ve been watching the 2011 World Series all the while. I love the Fall. With Baseball season over, Basketball season not actually happening this year and still no local football team to root for, I think you should check out Field of Dreams, it is an inspirational feel good movie and really more about family, sharing a dream and chasing a passion, than sports. Those are all traits that come to mind when I think of and interact with folks of our mountain communities.Last issue I told you I was going to be including content other than films in this column. Compelling content is the unifying chord throughout my column’s history and I have some new media suggestions I think will fit that bill. Last year I complied a list of what I thought were very fun Christmas oriented YouTube URLs (that is the computer name for the address you type in for a web page). Some of you have no doubt seen some of these video clips before, but in addition to seeing them, sharing them is quite a kick as wellHere is that list: (enjoy the season!)Hallelujah flash mobhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SXh7JR9oKVE&feature=player_embeddedHallelujah Monks Vow of Silencehttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HNsdsps5WjcThe Christmas Story told through the Wonders of Technologyhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vZrf0PbAGSkWhite Christmas Santa Rockin’ ithttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ddVZOK_9UUIBing & Bowie lil Drummer Boyhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gbbdPuqpU10Sting - Gabriel’s Messagehttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GF2BzUDeTkYThe Monkees - Riu Riu Chiu (trust me on this one)http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yRljpaOe2YIHow To Wrap A Cat For Christmashttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jm3dm5J5r0AJim Carrey White Christmashttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OvF233fW4cI&feature=relatedI know this is a bit of an experiment and if I hear from you folks that this is not the kind of content you want listed, we can always go back to the old way. But this is an attempt to get folks to go to the MtnCARE website more often for news and announcements. On our site you can view this issue dig-itally and click on the links rather than writing them down.

909-389-2300



Did You Know?by Shirley Bauer

Long Time Friend

What a gorgeous autumn here in our stately mountains!! Aren’t we the most fortunate folks on the earth to be able to live here?Our air is dry, and newcomers to the mountains may not know that humidity helps keep wooden furniture from drying out. To add humidity in the air, place a kettle of water on your fireplace mantel or woodburning stove. It also helps to have inexpensive humidifiers, in other parts of the house (like in your bedroom).• Never put a piece of wood with ice or snow on it into your wood stove. The thermal shock can crack the iron casing on your stove. Leaving a piece of wood with ice or snow on it against the stove to melt, can also cause damage.• It’s a good idea to line the bottom of your wood-burning stove with an inch or two of sand or ashes. It will reduce the heat reach-ing the stove bottom and extend it’s life.• Here’s a trick for folks who have little tykes in their homes. You can remove crayon marks from furniture by rubbing mayonnaise on them. Let it sit for a minute , then wipe off with a damp cloth.• Heska King (of Heska’s Sugar Shack on Lugonia in Mentone) shared this great tip with me. To get insect bites to stop itching, pat on a paste of salt and water.• Also, did you know, that the marvelous fresh dinner rolls that we have for Soup Night at the Forest Falls Community Center, are made by Joe & Heska and given to us by this generous family.• If a door lock doesn’t turn smoothly or easily, it may need lubri-cation. Give the keyhole a shot of a spray, such as WD-40 and turn the key back and forth in the lock a few times.• Those horrid carpenter ants eat the wood in our homes all year long, if we don’t stop them. If you see ants that are big (1/2” long) slender, black, and have “elbowed” antennae, they are carpenter ants. Termites are tiny, white. and have thick waists. Carpenter ants are attracted by a water source (such as a plumbing leak, dripping hoses). As a first step in eliminating carpenter ants, eliminate the chronic moisture spots around the house. We have snow for 6-7 months, so they love that. They are extremely destructive little beasts, their sole purpose in removing wood is to create space for their colonies. Termites eat, digest the cellulose in the wood they chew on. Carpenter ants are fussy housekeepers. They leave their tunnels (in your walls) looking as if they’ve been sandpapered. You will know if they are in your house, because of the little piles of sawdust they leave on the floor beneath their holes. Call an exterminator immediately!!• Clean your fireplace glass doors with ammonia on a clean cloth. Open the damper when cleaning with ammonia to help dissipate the fumes.• Here’s an easy way to clean narrow necked bottles and vases. Mix a few tablespoons of rice with water in the bottle, vase. Shake gently, pour out rice & water, wash & rinse.• Don’t forget to change the batteries in your flashlights and smoke alarms when you change your clocks.Send your ideas for this column to [email protected] They are very welcome.

DON”T FORGET -- The 3rd Saturday of every month, the folks at Heska’s Sugar Shack will donate 10% of the GROSS sales for the ENTIRE day to VFCCi!

There has been a website sponsored at Legacy.com in the memory of Dave Beard, a long time resident of Forest Falls.The site gives family and friends the opportunity to post condolences, share memories and post pictures of Dave.It’s a great way to keep his memory alive and to let people who may not be aware of his passing, get the chance to post during the coming year. http://memorialwebsites.legacy.com/davebeard/homepage.aspx

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