By RHEA-FRANCES TETLEY
Staff Writer
The new year sees the Crestline Chamber of Commerce setting up their 2024 schedule of events, welcoming new members and executive officers on the chamber’s board of directors and the beginning of the search for volunteers to make the events become a reality.
At their January meeting, the new president of the chamber’s board of directors was announced as Louis Boehle (Encompass Antiques and Gifts). The vice president is Michelle Hake (Hearth and Sage General Store), secretary is Dirk Rinker (Campbell-Rinker) and treasurer is Nathan Godwin (Lake Gregory Company).
It was explained that the chamber of commerce is a nonprofit group of merchants and business owners/managers who volunteer their time to bring business and tourism to the area. They are financially supported in this endeavor by the county allotting the chamber a portion of the tourist occupancy taxes (TOT) paid by those visitors who rent motel rooms and registered short-term rentals (STRs) in the community. Because the chamber is not a municipal agency, they are not able to solve community problems, such as trash and repairs, as some people ask them to do. Crestline is an unincorporated, rural part of San Bernardino County.
The Crestline Chamber of Commerce is currently setting up a community calendar of events occurring in the mountain communities over this year. They would like all nonprofits and businesses to send them a listing of their year’s events to place on the calendar. This will assist in scheduling events all year long and reduce the number of major events occurring at the same date and time. This will also assist visitors and weekenders in knowing when to come to enjoy the community events. Email your schedule of events to Info@CrestlineChamber.org.
The chamber has hired Sara Gutierrez as its 2024 events coordinator. She was active on the chamber’s board in previous years, when she still had her Top Town Chef catering business. Gutierrez announced that some of the events already scheduled to occur are the Mardi Gras Corks & Hops at the San Moritz Lodge on Feb. 10; the annual Duck Derby on Saturday, March 30; Jamboree Days; the monthly Corks & Hops on the first Saturday of each month; and the Fall Festival.
The Mardi Gras Corks& Hops is well planned and, since this is inside the San Moritz Lodge, all attendees must have tickets as attendance is limited. Tickets are now on sale at their website, www.Corksnhops.com. The designated driver nondrinking tickets are $25 and full event tickets are $60. There will be 16 pour stations with eight wine and eight beer tasting opportunities included in the ticket price, as well as two bands, including Shannon Bizzy’s band, in the main room, a photo booth, magician Zac Swan and much more. There will be food vendors offering food and soft drinks. Mardi Gras costumes, beads and masks are encouraged.
The chamber is encouraging those businesses that want to donate raffle baskets for the Mardi Gras event to contact chamber office manager Tiffany at (909) 338-2706 or to drop them off at the chamber office at 24385 Lake Drive. At this time, they have five business baskets promised.
Last winter, the chamber office suffered a loss of its rear deck from the heavy snow and it has now been removed. They have plans to build a new deck and fix the plumbing, which was affected when the deck fell and broke the pipes. So far, they have added a shed for storing their event items. They will be moving those items from their storage unit to the shed, beginning at 9 a.m. on Friday, Jan. 26 and hope to get some volunteers to help them move the boxed items, including the 5,000 ducks used in the Duck Derby. Call Tiffany at (909) 338-2706 if you have a large car, van or pickup truck and would like to donate a couple of hours to help the chamber move the boxes.
The chamber has made some “Welcome to Crestline” signs and will soon be installing them. The large one will be on top of the current entry sign in Top Town, just before the stop sign on Highway 138, traveling north into town. Another will be placed at the other entrance to Crestline on Old Mill Road, traveling south from Highway 138. They also have an historic district sign to be installed in another part of Top Town Crestline. They are also seeking volunteers to install those signs; if you have those skills and ladders, let Tiffany know at (909) 338-2706.
Dirk Rinker will be heading the Jamboree Days committee. He is coordinating an organizational committee meeting before the end of January, when he will set up the various committees: advertising, parade, vendors/food, music, picnic day and others and their meeting dates. If you want to be involved in the 2024 Jamboree Days, including choosing a theme, now is the time to step up and volunteer.
Rinker also presented a metal dove that had been on the 2023 Unsung Heroes float in last year’s Jamboree Days parade to volunteers Brady and Karen Rice. He encouraged anyone who wants to be involved in Jamboree Days to contact the chamber office and leave their name, phone number and email address with Tiffany so you can be informed about the meeting times and dates.
The Duck Derby is quickly arriving on March 30 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Jenna Rose asked for volunteers to assist with the egg hunt, the games and vendors. Nonprofit groups are encouraged to get involved in this fun morning for the kids and the excitement of the derby. More information will be forthcoming.
New members of the Crestline Chamber were introduced: Woodcrest Décor, a local gift shop with many custom-made items; and Crestline Jerky & Snack Emporium, which sells jerky and gift items. Both are located across the street from the Crestline Bowling Lanes on Lake Drive. That small strip of several new stores, including Molly’s Art Gallery, Crestline Antiques and a hair salon, will have a grand opening ribbon cutting celebration at 2 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 3. The party will continue all day until 7 p.m.
Other new businesses that were announced included a new STR, “Moon House,” in Valley of the Moon and JC’s Ride Service operated by Jessica Christie at jc4u@jcsrideservice.com, operating 7 days a week; passengers ride door-to-door within a 25-mile radius in comfort in a Mercedes AMG.
The ribbon cutting for the reopening of Goodwin’s Market was announced as May 3 at 10 a.m. Many government officials and other dignitaries are expected to attend the ribbon cutting ceremony, as Crestline has been a “food desert” this last year since the market’s roof collapsed from the March snowstorm. That disaster made national news so its reopening is a big media event to not just the community, but to the entire regional area.
The PolaRotary Bear Plunge into Lake Arrowhead will be on Feb. 3 at 10 a.m. This major fundraiser for many nonprofits will be held at the Lake Arrowhead Resort’s beach. The public is invited to come watch these community leaders jump into the “almost freezing” water of Lake Arrowhead for charity; attendance is free.
It was announced that the Mountain History Museum will be open the Saturday and Sunday of President’s Day holiday weekend, on Feb. 17 and 18 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Entry to the museum located at 27176 Peninsula Drive at the corner of Rhine Road in Lake Arrowhead is free.
The Lake Gregory Company announced they are now beginning to hire for positions for the 2024 season. They have jobs for persons of all ages, from 16 and up, and many skill sets, from office to ticket takers to lifeguards, snack bar, maintenance, events and more are needed. Applications are being taken online at LakeGregory.com or call (909) 338-2233 for additional details.
0 Comments