May 11th

Dear Editor,

 

   I found the article today, stating that there had been charges filed against employees at Nationwide Discount Home Loans. I couldn't help but laugh out loud while reading the article. I was employed by Nationwide in early 2007, assisting in the loan process, and sales. I remember the loan officers and Andrew Whitaker coming up with these far fetched loan programs to try and get people into. The Loan Officers would tell the borrower ANYTHING, to get them to agree to do the loan.

   It was crazy, because after a left, a co worker of mine called, and told me that the FBI came into the office, guns drawn, and ordered everyone into the conference room while they searched the office. My co workers was asked to hide a file, I thought that it was so incredibly unethical for a company to ask one of its employees to do such a thing. I always knew that there was some scandalous business being done, but I did not realize it was to that extent.

   I had heard that Andrew Whitaker has been to prison for fraud previously. It was the word around the office. I also heard about his exotic personal life, which included, "swinging" or trading wives with friends and co workers. 

   There was one Loan Officer in particular who was defiantly on the crazy side, and he and Andrew were very, very close; always trying to come up with new ways to screw people out of money. These people knew what they were doing the entire time; I just think they did not expect to get caught. 

   I was so surprised to hear about this case, but I know that these guys deserve everything that they have coming to them. 

 

Name Withheld

Big Bear

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May 11th

Dear Editor,

 

   Richard Hollein stated in his letter that the hospital was just a way-station for snow boarders. Nay, not so!

   While I don't like, or want, another tax on my property I have to dispute Mr. Hollein's claim. Obviously he has never had a life-threatening emergency that required a trip to Bear Valley Hospital. In 8 years I had two: both times the more than capable staff in the ER correctly diagnosed my conditions and according to an internist at St. Bernadine Hospital (in one instance) if I had not received immediate care I would have died.  

   Not one of us can predict with certainty that we WON'T have a physical emergency where immediate care is needed. A five minute ride to the local hospital or a 45-minute ride in an ambulance down the hill could mean a choice between life or death.

   I agree that the ski resort should finally be forced to cough up a recreation tax payable to the hospital. However; take up that suggestion up with the city fathers of Big Bear Lake. They are the ones that always tremble in their shoes when the suggestion comes up where they would have to go to the big Kahuna at the ski resort.

   This valley needs its hospital. If Mr. Hollein takes the hospital tour as I did he will see just how much we need an updated hospital up here.

 

Dana DuVall

Sugarloaf

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May 8th

Dear Editor,

 

   The San Bernardino Sun newspaper recently endorsed Hansberger to run for yet another term for Supervisor. They couldn't come up with a reason to NOT endorse him. Well now, that leads me to conclude that the Sun is way out of touch with its readers.

Mr. Hansberger is also way out of touch with his constituents. I am talking about the citizens who have tried to reach him about problems in his district. He won't answer telephone calls, emails or letters. Hansberger is as elusive as the leprechaun guarding his private pot of gold. But this political leprechaun does appear around election time for photo ops with local chamber of commerce groups to distribute a tiny bit of that gold.

   The average Joe is not happy with Mr. Hansberger and the Sun newspaper should really get out among the voters and find out why. The voters finally have a choice this time around. Neil Derry, a man with experience in  local government, is a man of integrity and listens to the people. This is a man who can be counted on to make a difference in his community.

  Do not vote for the leprechaun, Hansberger, clutching his pot of gold, go to the polls and vote for a man who stands up for the people - Neil Derry.

 

Dana DuVall

Sugarloaf

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May 8th

Dear Editor,

 

   Here we go again!  They must think we are stupid. We voted down the tax hike last time the hospital issue came before the voters...now they still are trying to jam this new tax down our throats. Let the ski
resorts add a tax on their sales to pay for the upgrades they say they need. After all, the hospital is just a first aid station for snowboarders any way.

   If you want much higher taxes on your home… then vote for it. Lets send another message - Vote NO on Measure Q and any other bond issue that raises our taxes !!!

Richard Hollien

Big Bear Lake

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May 8th

Dear Editor,

 

   Here comes another millionaire lodge owner telling us about the "myths" of Big Bear Valley. Run for office and make a change-Don't just whine about it!

David Tomlinson
Fawnskin and Corona.

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May 2nd

Dear Editor:

 

   I just got done reading something very confusing in the Grizzly. I am not sure whether it’s a political ad (doesn’t disclaim “paid advertisement”), an editorial (no byline and not in the editorial section), or just an advertorial for a large advertiser. In any case, it’s irresponsible and unethical of the Grizzly to not say one way or another.  

   Nonetheless, this political ad/editorial/advertorial tries to debunk the 10 myths we residents of Big Bear have about the local mountain resorts. A lot of fellow residents I have spoken with after reading this attempt to educate us intellectual challenged peons wonder what the purpose of this whole thing is all about. Hm, could it possibly have something to do with talk of a rec tax? I guess once round two of the hospital ballot measures is defeated again the curtain will come up and reveal the only new source of viable income for the Valley will be a rec tax. After all, the City of Big Bear Lake’s own study revealed how the day tripping sector of visitors up here actually use more in resources than they pay back into. The residents, weekenders, and transient visitors all give more than they use. That’s why the road tax a couple of years ago went down to defeat as well as the first hospital measure and soon to be the second one. Residents are tired of paying other peoples’ bills!

   What the “10 Myths About Big Bear Ski Resorts” attempts to do is say that they actually do pay their fair share and are good neighbors. I guess it’s all how you implement the “facts” and numbers. I’ll try to look into the “facts” and numbers of each myth.

   Myth 1 (Dick Kun owns the ski resorts): I think most of us were aware of Snow Summit Ski Corp and what it means. Many of us have actually seen shareholder reports and other info on the two resorts. Myth by some...

   Myth 2 (The resorts use a lot of lake water): We all mostly know that 3-4 inches per year are only used. If more were used we’d see the lake level going down more in the winter. Myth by some....

   Myth 3 (Snow Summit Ski Corp makes a lot of money): If the figure of $16 million in profit is real (no way of knowing), then an additional $12 million in snow making upgrade means that they are close to $30 million in profits annually. That doesn’t sound bad for a “seasonal” business of 4-5 months in a small mountain community. Sounds like they are making good money to me. No myth....

   Myth 4 (Resort capacities have grown and so has traffic congestion): It is true that the ski resorts have not been able to grow in size. It’s probably also true that attendance to both resorts is not significantly higher in recent years. But, what they fail to tell you, is that the demographics of the resort visitors has changed tremendously over the past decade. Those of us that are in the tourism business in Big Bear can feel the changes. All I have to say about this is when was the last time we saw so many vacancies in the Village and businesses there for sale?  No myth....

   Myth 5 (SSSC does not pay taxes locally): $407K in property taxes and $538K in sales tax? According to the California League of Cities’ web site only 1% of sales taxes and 21% of property taxes are returned to the cities. If we use those figures and formulas, SSSC on $538K in sales tax has $5,380 that goes to Big Bear Lake. Wow, that pays for maybe two potholes on Thrush or 10 police vandalism calls of something stolen from a car. But, the City of Big Bear Lake does get just over $85K from SSSC’s payment of property tax. So, the two resorts pay a resounding $90K to our city coffers. Who says Mr. Kun does not pay his fair share?  No myth....

   Myth 6 (Ski resorts don’t follow city regulations): Bottom line, the crux of the two resorts are NOT within city limits. Only the parking lots and ticket booths and a few other retail areas are within city limits.  No myth....

   Myth 7 (Snowboarders now dominate the resorts’ guests and are mostly youthful day trippers who spend little money in BB and are largely responsible for the increase in some valley businesses’ financial struggles, especially lodging.): Again, just ask commercial lodge owners and village merchants…. No myth....

   Myth 8 (Same as #7): Same answer as #7 No myth....

   Myth 9 (When skiers and boarders stay overnight they’re mostly renting private homes for cheaper accommodations….): Just ask residents around the valley who have had to deal with drunken groups of youths that get out of hand. No myth.... 

   Myth 10 (The hospital loses a lot of income when large numbers of injured skiers or boarders don’t pay their bills.): Again, the numbers can be deceiving. Since the resorts are mainly open 4-5 months, sure, more locals turn out to be the dead beat payers. I would rather hear percentages and numbers than just saying more or less. Additionally, how many of the locals that cannot pay their hospital visits work for WalMart (oops, I mean BB Mountain Resorts)? How many low wage workers does the resorts pay for medical insurance? No myth.....

   Myth #11 (my addition to the list): The residents of Big Bear Lake are stupid and will just go along with status quo. Furthermore, we worship the ground certain people here walk on! Furthermore, the sentiment of changes does not permeate the air and will not be just a matter of a few years from reality.  BIGTIME MYTH!!!

 

Brandon Schlarmann

Big Bear Lake  

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Apr. 24th

Dear Editor,

 

   In regards to the Grizzly / Trainer encounter where this young man lost his life I send my condolences to those of his family and the staff as well; a very unfortunate situation for sure.

   I have done much volunteer work at our local Moonridge Animal Park and have spent most of my life around animals in the outdoors. As we, being the society that we are, feel that we can take animals out of the wild and domesticate them, more of this will happen without doubt.

   At our local animal park this is not the case, nor is it a zoo in the traditional sense in that no animals are captured for the sole sake of being on display, but rather those injured are healed and if releasable, they are released, and those who are not...they are given a home for life. Please know that this is entirely possible because of your generous support of the facility and the Friends of the Moonridge Zoo. I am not the spokesperson for either, but rather a volunteer. Your donations make this possible and your ongoing support keep these animals alive while many dedicated volunteers and paid staff provide their love and support for these animals, birds, amphibians and etc.

   Rocky is a Grizzly, he is not 'Rocky', a mere theatrical name given him. He was not born to be an actor. He was born to be a Grizzly. In all my years, I have yet to see one Bear try to train a human to 'act out' different roles, yet we as humans have this feeling that we are in 'control' of nature, but we are not. Certainly 'Rocky' should not be put down over this. He is being what he is and we humans being what we are. 

   It is interesting that never have we seen a Bear clan go to war with a clan of Raccoons and lay waste to all that surrounds them and then wonder, "What happened?" It should also be noted that what our dictionaries define as 'Wild', also means 'Free' and that includes free to be whom we or they are!

   There is a lot of bickering flowing around this valley (I have been here 19 years) and we so often seem to lose sight of the fact that our natural surroundings is what has drawn us here. It is said that we are losing about 100-200 species each day and it is well to remember that as environmental (oh no, not that 'E' word!) awareness grows so does the understanding that we as a human species need each of the other species to keep the natural order of things in balance. So remember this and remember it well, not one of THEM needs a human to do this, not one!!!  Only our arrogance will keep us from realizing that one day of those species lost, it will be the human species!

   Every animal has something to teach us about our own self. They always speak to us and we only need to learn how to listen to what they have to say. Indigenous peoples understood this. How often do we step out into our night skies here in the valley and remark of the beauty of the stars and yet in truth, this beauty is based on difference; no two stars or planets are the same. It is the difference that creates beauty and so it is with animals, birds, humans, insects, or those that creep, crawl, and slither. All we have to do is 'see'.

   You worry about your house, big cars, big screens, and what to wear. Without preserving our natural wildlife, you will soon have nothing. Animals and the natural life forms heal, only we humans destroy over our wanton desire for more...more...more.  When you cannot drink your water because it is polluted with chemicals, when you cannot breathe clean air...well...lets put it this way as it goes with an old Cree saying, "Only when the last river has been poisoned, only when the last fish has been caught, only when the last tree has been cut down...only then will you realize your money cannot be eaten".

   Rocky in this case did nothing wrong.  Humans caused this unfortunate circumstance.  As you whine and cry over this or that political thing in this valley; wake up and realize that what keeps you alive is what you are destroying. Cut down the trees and slip a plastic bag just a little further over your head.

    What you enjoy at our animal park here is living testimony to what we have done. If we get more enlightened on the value of our natural surroundings, the Moonridge Animal Park would have no reason for existence. It truly is up to you. You can deny it, but you cannot escape it. We humans are the earth stewards and we have done a really bad job.

   For all of you who support our animal rehab facility, I thank you. If you haven't been there - go and learn how to preserve your own future generations and when you see one of the zoo staff or volunteers; give them a huge and sincere thanks. They have well earned it.

   Thank all of you for helping here and please write to Fish and Game and tell them that 'Rocky' did nothing wrong. He does not deserve to die for being himself, no more than you do.

 

John 3 Hawks

Big Bear

[Editor’s Note: The County has decided not to destroy Rocky. If you would like to send an email to the California Fish and Game regarding Rocky, click here or to the following address:

California Fish & Game

Regional Office
3602 Inland Empire Boulevard, Suite C-220
Ontario, CA 91764
Info:  (909) 484-0167
FAX: (909) 481-2945

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Apr. 24th

Dear Editor,

 

   Forest Service lease cabins either have regular sewer connections, septic tanks with leach fields, or sewage holding tanks similar to what is used in Baldwin Lake.  There are no sewage discharges into Big Bear Lake by Forest Service leases.  I hope you can clear up this misconception for your readers.

Thank you.

 

Scott Heule

General Manager

Big Bear Municipal Water District

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Apr. 18th

 

Dear Editor:

   I like to think anybody with property next to mine is considered a neighbor. The neighbor across the street from my house has dead trees all over their property. I have called and complained of the fire hazard but they just drive by and do nothing at all about it. Every year a few more trees die from the beetle infestation on their property, Last year they hired a private contractor to do the work and cut down a few that were standing dead. I thought they would come back and give it a second treatment like fighting cancer running wild because they now have more dead trees, but no, that was their big hurrah. I refer to them as my bad neighbors. Since I have lived here in the mountains there has been 500 million plus acres of trees, brush, water shed lost from fires on their property and is causing a danger to mine and my family, friends and community. It is the same ya da DA and lip service every year after year, or decade after decade.
   As we start another year of fire season I hope you all get involved in making your homes safe and our comminute safe. My bad neighbor is supposed to be having a party at the Big Bear Discovery Center (40971 North Shore Drive – Fawnskin) from 5 to 8 p.m. on Monday, April 21. The public is encouraged to attend the free meeting. I am so happy they are not charging and it’s free.

   If you do attend I suggest taking an empty bucket along and fill it up for your home garden. Your rose bushes will grow big and green. You will also be able to meet club members form groups and organizations at the meetings that feel the fires are a natural part of cycle of life and the conversation on this can be very invigoration. Please attend the meeting our neighbor will be discussing the amount of flammable materials by increasing the amount of dead trees and resulting in more downed woody material to fall to the forest floor from 1 to 10 years after the fire and also the 2007 wildfires have or are expected to result in exacerbated hazardous fuels conditions as previously forested areas are now made up of dead and dying trees with pockets of unburned areas with hazardous levels of accumulated fuels.

 

Name Withheld

Big Bear Lake

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Apr. 17th

Dear Editor,

 

The Coasters

   After reading this article and knowing it's all non-truth. The Coasters never broke up in fact they still perform all around the world today. Cornell left the group in 1961 and after knowing he couldn't make it on his own he started his own group of illegal Coasters. Carl Gardner started the Coasters in 1955 before Cornell was a member. This is a fake group of Coasters and Platters that will be performing and ripping the public off. If you want to see the history of the coasters go to the one and only official web site here and you will see the true Coasters group. Also there is a bill called The Truth in Music that will stop all the fake groups from ripping off the public saying they are The Coasters, Platters are The Drifters. You can Google that in as The Truth in Music Bill.

   It's hard to maintain a name for yourself while someone fake comes alone and use it to their advantage. Help stop these fake groups and have your state pass The Truth in Music Bill.

   In the future you can book the Original Coasters through Veta Gardner's management at 772-380-9607. She can also get you in touch with the real Platters, Drifters etc. ...

 

Thanks

Carl Gardner Jr.

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Apr. 17th

Dear Editor,

 

   God Bless CPRPRO while they are looking out for everyone's Constitutional rights. Now it's time for a counter suit to sue for punitive damages.

David Tomlinson
Fawnskin and Corona, CA

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Apr. 4th

Dear Editor:

   I applaud former Big Bear Lake city manager Michael Perry and his clients, RCK Properties, for threatening to form their own water company if the DWP doesn't give in to their demands. (Bear Valley News, DWP threatened," March 31, 2008)  I think the formation of the Moon Camp Water District is Perry's best idea, ever.
   It will take a lot of money and hard work to form and maintain the water district. They'll have to start with LAFCO and get a petition signed by a majority of the residents – if any presently exist -- within the proposed boundaries of Moon Camp. As part of the LAFCO process they will have to present a revised environmental impact review regarding the proposed well, reservoir and pipeline. Then they must take it to the County Board of Supervisors for approval. Residents of the proposed water district will have to vote on it. They'll also have to decide whether they want Hansberger to appoint the 5-member water district board or leave it up to the new residents of Moon Camp to elect and serve on the board. The Board will be subject to the Brown Act; hold regular, open public meetings. There will be public budgets, and they'll probably need a general manager and maintenance department too. Yes, all of that will be worth it.
   I sincerely hope Mr. LaHaye and the DWP board, sans RCK investor and DWP board member Steve Foulkes, have the courage and backbone to stand up to Perry's bullying. Let Foulkes go over to Moon Camp and run his own water district; it's time for the DWP board to tell Perry and RCK Properties to go to hell.

Dennis Large'

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Mar. 30th

Dear Editor,

 

   Hey folks, a few weeks ago we received a letter from Bill Jahn asking for money and our support. For those of you who received his letter, did you like the expensive stationary? As we all know he’s had special parties at that big home of his on the golf course and he invited City Officials to attend along with a handful of the control freaks of Big Bear Lake, with his gofer, Michael Perry.

   What a surprise that he would have to reach out since he has so much big money behind him, but maybe the real estate developer/real estate market is drying up? Probably cheaper to run his campaign out of that Senior Housing place he owns on Pine Knot?

   Have you watched the City Council meetings on TV 6? All he is doing is running around with a straw so he can take all the water out of our lake; guess that is his answer to water management at any cost. Now that he is running the DWP the way he wants it run, as he stated in his money collecting letter and then he says in that letter he protects our environment. Have you seen the Moonridge Y with that awful Walgreens Pharmacy and all the tress are gone or dying? Sure he wants to protect our environment! I’m looking forward to his next party at that big house on the golf course.

 

Still own a business in BBL

Name Withheld

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