By RHEA-FRANCES TETLEY
Staff Writer
The call went out and mountain residents responded. Eighteen Crestline residents were nominated to be the town’s 2024 Citizen of the Year. They all are residents who want to make Crestline a better place to live for themselves and others.
Which of these worthy nominees submitted by local residents will be chosen as the 2024 Citizen of the Year?
Roland Almos grew up on the mountain, graduating in 2002, and is a landscaper and heating and air technician. He coaches girls’ softball for the Mountains Little League and football. “When I was growing up on the mountain, others stepped forward and volunteered to make my youth sports activities full and meaningful and I want to give back to the next mountain generation. I try to live by the Golden Rule because it makes our community a better place to live.”
Glenys Bell has volunteered for 10 years at Operation Provider, as an expert in the area of processing So Cal Edison and So Cal Gas applications for the utility assistance grants to pay bills and stop turn-off situations for the clients at Operation Provider, helping thousands over the years, possibly saving lives. Operation Provider helps those with food and clothing, all year long.
Ron Chalfant is known as the mountain weatherman who keeps residents accurately informed of the predicted weather situations more accurately than TV or radio forecasters. For years, he has been dedicated to providing accurate and reliable weather information for the mountain communities on Facebook at Lake Gregory Weather Group and through his website.
Johnny Cisneros retired three years ago from his antique restoration business in El Monte, moving fulltime to his vacation home in Crestline. He enjoys taking videos of town. When Goodwin’s roof collapsed, he began making videos of the emergency activities, capturing the many volunteers and showing others what they were doing. Over the last year, he made a continuing video of the reconstruction of Goodwin’s Market shared on Facebook’s Crestline News. David Goodwin has thanked Johnny for his excellent video.
Richard Daniels owns Daniels Heating and Air. He was nominated because he is “a true Crestline local” and helps others.
Nathan Godwin of the Lake Gregory Company is a veteran and does so much for the community beyond managing Lake Gregory Regional Park, creating advantages for local residents that other regional parks do not offer. During the winter storms, he was distributing food and, when he saw the deplorable duct-taped sport balls at the Boys & Girls Club, he gave them an ice cream party and donated new balls, then played dodgeball with them.
Sara Green started and has continued the free concerts and Market Nights at Lake Gregory during the summers, bringing the community together. The fresh farmers market veggies were especially helpful after Goodwin’s roof collapsed.
Marco Johnson is a 25-year resident and selfless individual with a kind heart, who volunteers for the community. During the last seven years, Marco has gone above and beyond by inviting his motorcycle club, the Soldiers for Jesus, to provide security for the Jamboree Days parade. Marco consistently goes out of his way to help others, never seeking praise, and truly embodying the spirit of a model citizen.
Carol Kinzel lives the ideals of generosity and concern for the education of children and others, using her teaching skills to help all. She’s been president of Heaps Peak Arboretum, the Lake Arrowhead Women’s Club, supports adult education about mountain nature, builds birdhouses at SkyPark, ran the children’s summer programs at the museum for years and started the Nature Center at the San Moritz Lodge, sponsoring nature walks around the lake.
Tony Leonhardt is an employer who creates jobs and supports other small businesses in town. Tony gives back to the community through donations, sponsorships and volunteer work. During the storm, he cleared snow from driveways and roofs and brought food to those who needed it. He follows through and gets the job done, including doing local charity and mission work through his church and is always willing to lend a hand. He is committed to making a positive impact on the town.
Grayson Lopez for the past five years has volunteered for many community events, including co-coordinating the 2022 Jamboree Days and the parade, and has created several community events, including Dia de los Muertos, Crestlights and sponsored Easter and Santa events at his business. Through Woodlands Church, he has been very active distributing food vouchers and much more to community members. He has cleared snow for others and helped during 2023’s winter storms.
Juli McDermott has been an ambassador for Crestline and individuals by working, helping and volunteering with her inherent kindness, concern and accountability, giving her all to anyone needing it. She volunteers at all three school levels and is a PTA officer at Valley of Enchantment Elementary, coordinating parents and students in the beautification project, including providing playgrounds with stimulating games that encourage learning. During the storms of 2023, Juli utilized her connections and social media to bring aid to those needing food and life-saving aid/prescriptions to those who were snowbound; gas tanks were filled and delivered for generators and connections were made getting able bodies to dig out others where needed.
Ezra Murray is a 16-year-old who shared his bird knowledge through a book on the Birds of the San Bernardino Mountains, describing the hiking trails and encouraging other to go see them. This has created much excitement and interest in both the hiking trails and the birds of the area.
Rachel Murray supports her community by offering affordable opportunities for access to the arts and is very uplifting and inspiring to local artists and students. She wants everyone to have an opportunity to experience the arts. She has a kind soul, offering positive places to connect. She recently produced the Broadway Review at the Tudor House, using local talent of all ages.
Michelle Peachie came to the mountains in 1989. She is always reaching out to help anyone in need at the drop of a dime. The last seven years she has been especially concerned with feeding others. She volunteered at the Blue Jay Theater food distribution, helped Kim Klum and delivered food two to three times a week for 20 to 30 people during COVID and volunteered at New Life Church manning the food bank. She helped Juli McDermott with the VOE PTA and is a Cadet level Girl Scout Leader. “She puts others before herself always,” and now works at Goodwin’s deli.
Jerry Renfro, a 40-year Crestline resident whose efforts are not confined to one day, week or month or year, is always thinking of others first. Throughout the disastrous snowstorm in February/March 2023 and afterwards, he was involved in saving lives and recovery, using his equipment, tools and assets, to the point of ruination. Jerry volunteered as an assistant baseball coach at the University of Redlands for years and then took those skills to mentor Rim High athletes, helping them develop their potential on and off the field.
Nathan Robinson’s grandparents moved to the mountain in the 1980s. During 2023’s winter storms, he tried to take care of everyone in his neighborhood by digging out his neighbors and using his truck to deliver food and other necessities to those who were stuck at home, pulling stuck vehicles out of the snow and transporting those walking up to Twin Peaks and Blue Jay to get necessities.
Max Von Strawn is a part of Mountain Area Mutual Aid and continues in 2024 to help all that need assistance. He is the last man standing, helping those residents still experiencing hardship from the disaster which ruined homes and impacted the finances of many. He still stands under pop-up tents, distributing food for those in need. He’s helped many during and now after the storm, attempting to get everyone in Crestline back on their feet and thriving.
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