Editor: Jack Shuck

Bear Valley Bears Trapped and Killed. Four bears, including a cub, were trapped in Bear Valley in late June, taken away and killed by the California Dept. of Fish and Game. This sad and apparently avoidable destruction of bears was triggered by citizen complaints about bears getting into food or garbage at the dumpsters, in a car and around some Bear Valley homes and businesses. These unfortunate four bears were captured in a trap located about 150 yards from Highway 4; it is not known if the destroyed bears were the offending bears. Although there are reports that members of the Bear Valley community were told that the bears would be relocated, the Department of Fish and Game does not relocate trapped bears; the Dept. of Fish and Game responds to complaints about bears by taking them to the dump and killing them.

Under existing Alpine County ordinances, there is a $500 fine for leaving garbage and/or reclyclables outside the dumpsters. The Board of Supervisors is considering an amendment of the ordinance to also impose a $500 fine for anyone who leaves food, food containers or garbage outside his or her home or business in Bear Valley.

The Fish and Game Dept. describes bear attractants as pet foods and anything smelly or edible, especially garbage and advises to never feed or approach a bear and to keep BBQ grills clean. A few years ago, the editor of this publication left garbage in a can outside his house which was scattered and consumed by a bear and saw a bear within 30-40 yards of his house; since then, the garbage has been kept inside and there have been no signs of any bears. Please don’t entice the bears to their death by leaving food, garbage or food containers outside your home or business or outside the dumpsters.

In order to avoid any problems with bears and to avoid extermination of bears in Bear Valley, it is imperative that everybody in your household and guests be aware of and observe the precautions printed on the next page. You may wish to put the page on your bulletin board or other prominent place in your house or business so everybody will be aware of the problem. 

Please do your part to prevent a recurrence of the recent killings of the creatures for which our beautiful valley was named and to save yourself from a substantial fine.

BVRI Email Addresses Please. BVRI is seeking the email addresses of Bear Valley property owners in order to facilitate rapid and economical communication with the community. If you are a property owner (including co-owners) and have an email address, please send a message stating your email address, name and lot or condo number to: bvribearvalley@hotmail.com. The email addresses will be used solely for BVRI business and not released to any outside entity.

Bear Valley Community Development Corporation. A Community Development Corporation has been formed in Bear Valley for the purposes of: job creation and economic development, employee housing, transportation (including the proposed new chairlift), recreation projects, environmental education and protection, and child care. The nine-member Board of Directors of this corporation will be appointed by: BV Bus. Assoc., BVRI, BV Homeowners Assoc., Alpine Cty. Bd. of Supervisors, Calaveras Cty. Bd. of Supervisors, BV Lodge, BV Ski Area, BV Condominiums, and Alpine Cty. Services Area # One.

The first meeting of the Board of the CDC will be on Mon. Aug. 16 at 10:00 AM at the Bear Valley Lodge and is open to the public.

Alpine County Board of Supervisors Meeting. The Board of Supervisors meeting scheduled in Bear Valley on August 17 may be moved to Markleeville (at 9:00 AM). The Board of Supervisors do not intend to hold any general board meetings outside Markleeville in the future. Supervisor Tom Ward has discussed this change with the BVRI board and anticipates the Board of Supervisors will hold special meetings of the Board of Supervisors in Bear Valley for issues related to Bear Valley.

High Sierra Music Festival. There is a report that the HSMF this July 4th weekend caused major problems and burdens on Alpine County, including 20 drug arrests, attendance in excess of the authorized level and problems with the sanitation facilities; this will be discussed at the community meeting (see next item).

Community Meeting. There will be a general meeting of the community on Sunday, September 5 at 9:00 AM at the Perry Walther Community Center. The subjects include bears in Bear Valley, the Bear Valley Community Development Corporation, High Sierra Music Festival, and fire protection in Bear Valley. Please attend and make your views known. 

BVRI Board of Directors. BVRI is looking for a few good men and women to serve on the board. If you are interested in serving on the BVRI Board of Directors, please contact David Smith at (707) 823-2288.

Bear Valley Music Festival. Don’t forget the free Children’s Concert (10;00am), the Teddy Bear Picnic (11:00 AM) and the Home Tour of spectacular Bear Valley homes (1:00 PM), all on Saturday, August 7. The Festival would appreciate donations for the Festival auction on August 14. For more information, check the Festival web site: www.bearvalleymusic.org.