MAC Meeting Success- “If feeding people (SNAP) is Fraud, Waste and Abuse…what are fireworks!? “
The Combined Crest Forest Municipal Advisory Council meeting on Tuesday, August 4, ran nearly three hours — a genuine feat of endurance for anyone acquainted with the folding chairs at the venue. About 20 members of the MBDC turned out anyway, the largest showing from our club in recent memory, proving that mountain democrats will suffer for their civic duty.
The first hour, at least, earned its seat time. San Bernardino County’s Department of Aging and Adult Services sent a full delegation to walk residents through programs like Senior Information and Assistance, the Nutrition Program, Helping Families Navigate Aging, Adult Protective Services, and In-Home Supportive Services (IHSS). Our very own Holiday Heller, an IHSS provider herself, pointed out the obvious irony that a program meant to help people often requires a car, computer or internet access many eligible residents don’t have. Then came the crowd favorite: a “Bear Wise Communities” talk from wildlife biologist Dr. Jeff Villepique and professional bear keeper Nancy Anderson, who informed us that roughly 400 black bears (they can actually come in shades of brown or beige) share our SB mountain range, and that leaving out garbage, bird feeders, or acorn buffets is basically an open invitation. One audience member’s contribution to the wildlife management canon: ammonia-soaked sponges as a bear repellent, filed here for posterity.
Then, as is tradition, came the parade of community updates—Highway Patrol, police, fire, the school board, the chambers of commerce for Crestline, Lake Arrowhead, and Running Springs, transportation, recreation, and a few more for good measure—each report a small monument to how well things are going. But how about this interesting nugget: Local police will temporarily be sporting straw cowboy hats for an internal rodeo theme, so consider yourselves warned/invited to say “Yeehaw, officer” at your own risk.
The public comment section brought things back down to earth, with several residents, including our own Holiday Heller, raising real concerns, e.g., about how the GOP Big Beautiful Bill and DOGE are hitting our mountain communities (TOT cuts to the Mountain community are on the chopping block)— from cuts to Jamboree Days and fireworks funding, to the future of local public lands, to funding pressures on Mountains Community Hospital’s modernization plans. “If feeding people= SNAP is Fraud, Waste and Abuse…what are fireworks!? ” said Holiday.
Mark your calendars (and maybe bring a cushion): the Lake Arrowhead MAC meets next on Thursday, September 10 at 6 p.m. at Fire Station 91, and the Crest Forest MAC returns Tuesday, October 6 at 6:30 p.m. at the San Moritz Lodge in Crestline.
By A
