By RHEA-FRANCES TETLEY
Staff Writer
Now is the time to start nominating Crestline residents who have shown themselves to be a positive contribution to the community and deserve to be recognized as the Citizen of the Year for 2026. The Citizen of the Year will ride in a car of honor in the Jamboree Days parade and be honored as Citizen of the Year for the next year. They may attend ribbon cuttings and represent the community at events with the Chamber of Commerce, if they choose.
It is easy to nominate a person for this honor. Go to the webpage www.jamboreedays.com, click on the Citizen of the Year tab and write in your nomination’s name and the reasons they deserve the honor. Nominations should only be about 180 words. The nomination tab on the website opened on May 1 and will close on June 7.
The nominations – including the nominees’ accomplishments and impacts on the community – will be published in the Alpine Mountaineer.
Then the Crestline Chamber of Commerce’s board of directors will choose the 2026 Citizen of the Year from among those nominated.
The 2025 Citizen of the Year was Carrie Forbear, recognized for her years of volunteer service with the Crest Forest Senior Citizens Club and for her years helping with handicapped adults and kids. The year before was Jerry Renfro for his decades of helping those broken down along the roadside, clearing snow, saving others during Snowmeggedon and decades of coaching youth in sports. The 2023 Crestline Citizen of the Year was Mike Johnstone, the Goodwin family and all the workers from Goodwin’s Market for everything they did for the community during Snowmeggedon despite a destroyed market.
Now is also the time to register to participate in the July 4 Jamboree Days parade, before all the parade slots are filled. The Jamboree Days theme for 2026 is “Purple Mountains Majesty.” This July Fourth parade will celebrate the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence in 1776 and the 120th anniversary of the naming of Crestline in 1906.
This year’s Jamboree Days parade co-grand marshals are representatives of the four local veteran groups: Rim Vets, the Veterans of Foreign Wars, the American Legion and the Marine League. Instead of honoring one person, this year the grand marshal honor is recognizing the thousands of selfless acts of courage our military has done in the service of our nation over the last 250 years to make our country safe and great.
Come out and celebrate at the Jamboree Days parade and festivities in Crestline beginning on Friday, July 3 with fireworks over Lake Gregory at 9 p.m. and the festival booths and events on Saturday, July 4.
To enter the parade, sign up at www.jamboreedays.com. Trophies will be awarded in six unique categories. The Americana Trophy will be presented to the most outstanding depiction of national treasures and traditions. The Arthur Gregory Trophy is for the best float built and decorated by volunteers from a community or nonprofit organization. The Charles S. Mann Trophy is a public spirit trophy given to the best commercial entry. The Showmanship Trophy is given for the best in showmanship and entertainment. The Theme Trophy is presented to the most outstanding presentation of the 2026 theme of Purple Mountains Majesty. The Judges Trophy will be awarded for the entry making the most dramatic impact on the judges.
The Crestline Chamber of Commerce at located on the north shore of Lake Gregory at 24385 Lake Drive, Crestline. Call them at (909) 338-2706, email them at info@crestlinechamber.org or visit their website at Crestlinechamber.org.
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