The Lions Club dinner and meeting on August 15 featured guest speaker CERT Supervisor Stretch Suba. The Timberline Lions Club has proudly served Wrightwood, Phelan, and Pinon Hills since 1961, focusing on community issues such as diabetes, hunger, vision, childhood cancer, and disaster assistance.
As part of their ongoing efforts, the group has been collecting aluminum pull tabs from drink cans throughout the year and donating them to the Ronald McDonald House in Loma Linda. For those interested in contributing, a collection container is available inside the Wrightwood Community Building.
Another key initiative is the Lions Club’s “Fitness in the Forest” program in Wrightwood, which encourages physical activity among people with diabetes. Participants meet at the Wrightwood Community Building on Mondays at 9 a.m. to walk the Wrightwood Trail or at 10 a.m. for modified chair exercises indoors. Regular physical activity can make blood more sensitive to insulin, which helps manage diabetes, control blood sugar levels, reduce the risk of heart disease, and lower the chance of nerve damage.
During the August meeting, guest speaker Stretch Suba, a supervisor with the Community Emergency Response Team (CERT), discussed the importance of being prepared for emergencies. CERT is a FEMA-based, county-backed volunteer organization that trains community members in emergency preparedness. Their basic training classes cover essential skills such as fire safety, light search and rescue, and disaster medical operations.
Suba, who has been a Wrightwood resident since 2005, joined CERT in 2009 and became a CERT Supervisor in 2018. He actively participates in the Fire Safe Council and serves as an instructor for the CERT Basic Training Class. He is also a ham radio operator and coordinates with the county Office of Emergency Services for CERT activities. During his talk, Suba highlighted CERT’s role in supporting community events and emergency responses, such as distributing water after earthquakes and assisting firefighting efforts.
For those interested in becoming involved, the next CERT Basic Training Class is scheduled for September 13, 14, and 15. More information can be obtained by emailing [email protected].
The next Lions Club meeting will be held on September 19 at 6 p.m. at Wrightwood Place, 770 HWY 2, Wrightwood. Dinner will be served at 6 p.m., and everyone is welcome to attend to learn more about the Lions Club and CERT.
