The holiday season is a perfect excuse to get out into the mountains — and Plumas National Forest is making it easy. Christmas tree permits are on sale now for $10 each at local forest offices or online through
Recreation.gov (go to
Plumas National Forest Christmas Tree Permit). Households may buy up to two permits; each permit covers one tree and is valid through December 31, 2025. If you buy online you’ll pay a $2.50 reservation fee and must print the permit and display it on your dashboard while transporting the tree. Fourth graders with a valid Every Kid Outdoors pass can claim a free permit (a $2.50 reservation fee still applies when using the online option).
A few rules to keep in mind: permits are valid only on Plumas National Forest lands — not on private, state, or other federal lands — and trees may not be cut in Wilderness Areas, active timber sales, developed recreation sites, or tree plantations.
Continue reading →
On October 30 the Bureau of Land Management lifted seasonal fire restrictions on BLM-managed public lands in Los Angeles, Orange, San Bernardino, Riverside, Imperial, southern Inyo, eastern Mono, San Diego, and eastern Kern counties. Campfires, barbecues, and gas stoves are allowed again on those BLM lands — but only with a valid California campfire permit. Permits are required outside developed campgrounds and are available for free at readyforwildfire.org or at any BLM, Forest Service, or CAL FIRE office.
Bring home a real tree and help the forest at the same time! 
OC Parks opened Crawford Canyon Park with a ribbon-cutting today. Nestled where Newport Boulevard meets Crawford Canyon Road in North Tustin, the new 2.5-acre park was planned with the community’s voice in mind and officially unveiled for families, walkers, and neighbors to enjoy. Two nature-themed playgrounds, exercise stations, picnic tables, a quarter-mile paved loop, ADA parking, and improved sidewalks make it easy to stroll over and spend an afternoon. Supervisor Donald P. Wagner called it an inviting, walkable space for making memories, and judging by the kids testing swings and neighbors trading smiles, that’s exactly what it’s already doing.
The Johnson Valley community has been holding its breath these past months as the U.S. Marine Corps’ Special Use Airspace proposal, R2509, moves through the public process. After an intense wave of local comments and outreach, momentum slowed during the government shutdown — but the Marines have since released public fact sheets about the proposal. That put new material in front of the public, and it’s precisely the sort of moment when clear information matters most.