For Immediate Release
July 8, 2013
                                                                                                                    
SBMLT hosts WALK-the-RIDGE event at Arrowhead Ridge

The San Bernardino Mountains Land Trust (SBMLT) is pleased to announce a mini-festival and open house style gathering at Arrowhead Ridge on Saturday July 20 between 2:00-4:00 PM.  The purpose of this event is to host an enjoyable afternoon, while also encouraging fundraising support for important restoration projects at this landmark site.      

As the tallest crest in Lake Arrowhead, the site is now known as Arrowhead Ridge.  SBMLT is working to restore the site’s natural character as part of the vision to establish a public wildland park, which the Rim of the World Recreation and Park District has agreed to manage in the future, if the community willingly supports these plans with the kind of financial backing needed for success.  A place that so uplifts the human spirit will be well worth the necessary effort and will indeed prove to be a benefit to all.

Landscape Architect Scott Peterson and representatives of the Park District and SBMLT will be present at the Walk-the-Ridge gathering to elaborate on these plans.  The first challenge is raising funds (or finding businesses ready to donate equipment or services) for 7 restoration projects necessary to return landscape features back to more natural conditions. These include:

• Restoring a central stream channel,
• Filling-in craters dug as temporary storm water basins,
• Installing safety railings on walls
• Relocating large boulders,
• Converting roadways to trails,
• Reconstructing the entryway and
• Restoring slopes to natural contours.

Stone sculptor, Marcel Mächler, has agreed to engrave a monumental marker stone to be placed at the entry of the site.

On hand with refreshments for sale to make the afternoon more enjoyable will be the Arrowhead Jerky Works, Grapevine, The Lake Arrowhead Sports Grille, Sweets N’ Stuff, The Tea and Coffee Exchange, and the Texafornia Tamale Company.  They will be joined by Elevation 5221, George Mantoan Creations, Jeannine’s Home and Garden Furnishings, Lake Arrowhead Candles, Lake Arrowhead Nursery, and Old Fire Art by Scott Markovich.

Artists Sandra Charlebois, Patricia Hagerman, Shannon Henyan, Sondra James, Monique Rose Johnson, Munir Jones, Victoria LaVers, Mary Reider, Midge Reisman, Brandon Stein, and Yanney Ybarra will be painting original murals on large concrete cylinders, while donating both their talent and paint along with additional paint generously provided by Dunn Edwards at Agua Fria Hardware and Cedar Glen Trading Post and Hardware.  

Merchants and artists will donate a portion of their proceeds to Restore Arrowhead Ridge.

If you are not able to join us physically please consider joining us in spirit.  The Hot Shots Coffee House is doing just that by donating a portion of their proceeds to Restore the Ridge from their Blue Jay location on July 20 from 2:00 to 4:00 PM

Participants will be entertained by the incomparable Steve Lawless, a mountain favorite, and the Tudor House Productions will team up with The Lake Arrowhead Repertory Theatre Shakespearean Troupe to perform short scenes from selected plays from The Bard.

Forester James Asher will be present to describe the especially unique qualities of this particular forest site, which is the last example of Arrowhead’s native forest.  All kinds of information will also be available about the specific restoration projects, the value of having a local land trust, history of the site, and how to become more involved.

Long time resident Duane Banner will join us as one of our more insightful mountain historians, who will share his extensive knowledge of the colorful history of Arrowhead Ridge.

OHV (off-highway vehicle) volunteers from the Southern California Mountains Foundation will be available to transport folks, who prefer not to walk, up to stations and vista points on the higher roads.  

For those who are especially energetic and motivated, at 4PM, a special two-hour hike will be led by Mary Barlow from the Mountain Top Hiking Club on the 1.8-mile loop trail established in memory of Lake Arrowhead sculptor, Will Abell.

Making this event possible by his expertise and services in designing the plans for the Restore Arrowhead Ridge project is Scott Peterson, Landscape Architect of SPLA, Inc.   

Also providing invaluable support are Pirih Productions, American Legion Post 360, Tips Printing, Goering Mountain Portables, Mountain Disposal DBA Burrtec Waste, and Lake Arrowhead Patrol.  Further excellent assistance was provided by The Mountain News, Blue Jay Cinema, K & E Promotions, Adam Hustead Construction, Tonis Mexican Kitchen, McCabe & Co Booksellers, and Lake Arrowhead Resort and Spa for promotional support, local advertising and partnership.

To volunteer, donate or become a member visit http://www.sbmlt.net/
Learn more about the Walk the Ridge event by visiting http://sbmlt.net/walk-the-ridge

Arrowhead Ridge is located on Grass Valley Road between Club House Drive and Golf Course Road in the community of Lake Arrowhead.