(Mission Times Courier, San Diego, Ca) -  Mornings at Lake Murray can take your breath away.  I'm not talking about the chill or running hard.  I am talking about the unbelievable sunrises.  The pinks turn to reds that turn to Mercurochrome orange and the colors cover the whole eastern sky.  I know that scientists will sometimes make disparaging remarks about particulates in the air causing the infusion of color.  But it doesn't diminish my pleasure or those around me at the lake.

When seeing the rising sun at Lake Murray I sometimes think of beautiful sky photos in the Arizona Highways magazine. When I was a child my grandmother's neighbor used to give me her Arizona Highways when she was finished reading them. I loved the photos of the brilliant skies and beautiful green topography with lakes, rivers and waterfalls. Several years ago, former Lake Murray walkers, Mary Anne and Bill Dorgan moved to Marana, which is near Tucson. They sent me a subscription to Arizona Highways. The landscapes makes one want to hike and climb to the areas that are depicted in photos of the trails and mountains.

The Arizona Highways have stories from the time before Arizona's statehood to the present. There are some unusual things that happened in the past that are being discovered or uncovered today: Indian artifacts and adobe structures to protect water sources and ranchers who settled in the area. The magazine highlights different animal life such as javelinas. They look like feral pigs but are really peccaries and they roam in packs. The birds look different too. They are like San Diego birds but their coloring is different due to the adaptation of their environment. The magazine highlights mining stories and articles about the diversity of hot Southern Arizona and cold Northern Arizona. Some columns discuss westerns and other movies that were made there.

There are great sunrises all over the world but we are lucky to see gorgeous hues in our very own neighborhood. Other states have bragging rights to their vegetation, lakes, mountains and oxygen filled air.  It seems that Arizona is under-rated when one thinks of vast deserts, seedy old towns or miles of sun-parched land.  It might be that… but it's so much more. I don't work for the Arizona Chamber of Commerce but I love to see the picturesque skies in their magazine.

On October 3rd, Harris Ranch put on a free BBQ in the parking lot of Windmill Farms Market in Del Cerro. Everyone was invited, customers, friends and staff.  Harris Ranch has a good reputation producing quality meats and provides most of the meat that the market sells.  The BBQ may continue to be an annual event at Windmill Farms. The surprise guests were Scott and Betsy Boney. Windmill Farms along with Lake Murray has become the meet and greet place for our neighbors. However, other communities as well drive long distances to get the markets affordable food. To understand the Boney family, I did a little research.

The Henry Boney family has been well known in San Diego for many generations.  First selling peaches at a fruit stand in La Mesa.  After it expanded, the family opened its first store in Chula Vista. Henry Boney sold his store and founded Speedee Mart that he later sold to the 7-Eleven conglomerate. After that came the Windmill Farms, Boney's Markets and Henry's. Henry's sold to Wild Oats but they retained the Henry's name.

San Diegan's grew up knowing the Henry Boney stores.  San Diego families shopped at their markets because the produce was fresh and had more hard to find items than regular super markets.  When Henry's son, Scott opened the new Windmill Farms in Del Cerro, shoppers were ecstatic at having a food and health store in their neighborhood.  Scott ran his store as a small time family business treating staff and customers as friends.

Last year, Scott was injured in a horrific accident that could have taken his life. Scott was a fighter and made some improvement. He was told about the many customers who were concerned about his recovery.  Customers asked the market staff every day about how Scott was progressing. I'm sure that the workers were overwhelmed with inquiries.  Scott and his wife appreciated the prayers, love and concern.

When Scott and Betsy joined the group for the Harris Ranch BBQ, that day in October; they gave and received hugs and good wishes. The good news is that Scott has progressed but continues to heal. It was wonderful to see him and wish him the best in the future as he rehabilitates.

Two lake photographers and bird feeders, Dale Stivers and Scott Wilson have become our heroes.  A few days ago while sprinkling birdseed on the shore of Del Cerro Bay, they heard slapping noises coming from the water near the reeds.  Investigating, they saw a pie bill grebe with fishing line wrapped around its leg and wing. The grebe was flapping its wings and trying to disentangle itself.  The guys cut the filament from the little body, which had not cut into the skin yet. Scott said that it was a wonderful feeling to see bird take off and dive into safe waters.

This morning Dale and Scott told me of another save.  This time near the golf course, about the two-mile marker.  They heard the now familiar flapping noise and found a female mallard ensconced in the deadly line. Again, they felt pleasure in helping a bird from a painful death that could have been avoided if fishermen and women would pick up the line that they drop.  To the fishing crowd, please don't leave you fishing line at the lake.  To the visitors to the lake: if you see fishing line laying around please cut into small pieces and dispose of it.  Thank you.

The second annual Dana Dugan Holiday food drive will occur at Lake Murray.  She will pick up canned goods between 6:30 and 8-8:30am starting December 1st and ending December 7th.  On December 7th, she will take the food to the San Diego Food Bank.  She is pretty darned buff and lifting all of the cans will keep her is shape.  We will not only be helping people who need food we will be keeping Dana in top physical shape. One word of caution; if you see a delusional man salivating and walking around with a can opener, don't let him near the canned goods. That would be Dickie Sturz and his wife feeds him at home. Dana will thank you.

Brandon Smith completed his Eagle Scout project at a Water Department property near Lake Murray's Kiowa entrance.  Brandon with the help of friends installed pole fencing on the street side of a lot across the street from the Alvarado Treatment Plant. Helping Brandon was Alex, Mike and Rebecca Hamilton, Robert Quitt, Austin Badger, Stephen Fuller, Daniel Ireton, Greg and Jennie Spounias, Scott Dilly, Lori Herman, Jack Campagna, Louise Alex, Portrellio Gonzalas, and Adeline Woodward. Thanks everyone. The fence looks great.
Last month I thanked everyone who let me put a poster of the I Love a Clean San Diego Cleanup in neighborhood businesses and schools. I forgot to thank DZ Akins restaurant that always lets me put up a poster each year. We appreciate their support in the worthwhile activity.  Sorry DZ Akins. Thank you for your support.

NO DECEMBER MEETING: There will be no Friends of Lake Murray meeting in December.  We will continue our next year's meetings in January with a talk on wildfires. We will have our monthly trash and line pick up however.  They are held the second Saturday of each month and we meet at the boat dock at 8:00am.  They lake crew provide gloves and trash bags. Please wear comfortable shoes and sun block.  The pickup will be canceled if it rains.  (Well, it could happen.)

To contact Barbara Cleves: (619) 463-9706 or via email Barbara.Cleves@newsetc.com.