Crestline, California, United States: International City of Peace
We welcome Karyn and Rudy Westervelt and the citizens of Crestline, California, United States as an International City of Peace. Initiated by community Rotarians, the City of Peace effort has been embraced by many others in the community for the purpose of instilling and sustaining a culture of peace.
Note: Introduction page with information primarily at the time of joining International Cities of Peace. For updates, please contact the liaison.
ABOUT THE CRESTLINE COMMUNITY
Situated in the beautiful San Bernardino Range, Crestline is the gateway community to the famous mountain resorts of Lake Arrowhead and Big Bear Lake. Historically, the area was known for timber-cutting, hunting and fishing, fruit and nut harvesting and, later on, skiing and other winter sports.
The first visitors to the area were Native Americans escaping the Mojave Desert summers; followed in the 1850s by Mormon lumberjacks who built San Bernardino Town at the base of the mountains; and then successors who bought the sawmills and settled into mountain living.
In these stories of Crestline’s formative times, local historian and author, Rhea-Frances Tetley recalled some of the more intrepid and colorful characters to have trekked through the western San Bernardino Mountains in her book “Crestline Chronicles”.
Needed Areas of Improvement:
Crime:
• Violent Crime rates a D+, with Assaults being the lead problem at a 4.1 rate per thousand residents.
• Property Crime rates a C at a rate of 12.6 per thousand residents. Burglary, theft and vehicle theft are the top crimes.
• Other Crime rates a D at a rate of 17 per thousand residents. Drug crime is the major problem.
Homelessness is a problem in our mountain communities, as in other communities in Southern California and across the United States. This has created an additional problem of fire danger, with illegal encampments in the National Forest.
Wildfires are always a concern in our community. Our mountains were impacted in 2003 and 2007. Information and training are shared with residents on maintaining their property to prevent fires and preparedness in case of emergencies. Lake Gregory is used by water dropping helicopters to pick up water.
Parking for visitors and business customers can be challenging during the summer vacation season. Lake Gregory is a public lake and is a major draw for tourists.
Community Involvement:
Meetings will be held with community leaders to acquire their vision for Crestline as a vibrant, peaceful, and growing city.
The real estate business has been thriving with permanent home buyers and those who have purchased second homes in our community. Many second home buyers are from San Diego County, Orange County or Los Angeles County. They can escape the summer heat, enjoy the lake or are close to the ski areas in the winter.
LETTER OF INTENT
As an International City of Peace, Crestline will continue to provide for all residents and visitors. Fresh mountain air, forests teaming with wildlife, and a lake and trails to provide relaxation for those who embrace them are the quality of life components that you will experience when you enter Crestline.
ABOUT THE LIAISONS
Karyn Westervelt is a “professional volunteer”. She is a past president of the Rotary E-Club of World Peace. Because the club focuses on peace and meets online, it has interesting, inspirational speakers and discussions. Karyn was also past president of Lake Arrowhead Mountain Sunrise Rotary Club.
Living with her husband, Rudy, in the San Bernardino mountains, she worked with the community organizing Disaster Recovery and Preparedness Teams Volunteers after a major fire in our local mountains. Her main focus has been on youth, working with the Boys and Girls Club, Rotary Youth Camps, Continuation School Students, and ESL programs through the Library.
She helped Rudy who convened the Rotary World Peace Conference 2016 and was integral in the planning and preparation for the Rotary World Peace Conference 2020.
Rudy Westervelt has a BS degree from Cornell University and a MS degree from the University of Connecticut. He is a motivational speaker and a business coach, helping individuals and organizations handle change effectively.
In his Rotary life, he is a member of the Rotary E-Club of World Peace, D5330. In District 5330, he was the District Governor in 2015-16. He was the convener of the Rotary World Peace Conference 2016, named as a Presidential Peace Conference, and Rotary World Peace Conference 2020. He is a Cadre member for The Rotary Foundation.
Rudy is the Co-Chair for RLI, Chair of Strategic Planning and Grants Chair in Rotary District 5330.
Rudy is a board member of Plan It Life, a non-profit organization, that manages group homes for foster children with advanced social problems. Rudy is a member of Mediators Beyond Borders International.
CONTACT INFORMATION
ABOUT CRESTLINE, CALIFORNIA (from Wikipedia and Liaisons)
Background information:
Situated in the beautiful San Bernardino Range, Crestline is the gateway community to the famous mountain resorts of Lake Arrowhead and Big Bear Lake. Historically, the area was known for timber-cutting, hunting and fishing, fruit and nut harvesting and, later on, skiing and other winter sports. The first visitors to the area were Native Americans escaping the Mojave Desert summers; followed in the 1850s by Mormon lumberjacks who built San Bernardino Town at the base of the mountains; and then successors who bought the sawmills and settled into mountain living. In these stories of Crestline’s formative times, local historian and author, Rhea-Frances Tetley recalled some of the more intrepid and colorful characters to have trekked through the western San Bernardino Mountains in her book “Crestline Chronicles”.
In the 1920s, citrus grower Arthur Gregory, of Redlands, needed packing boxes for his produce so he built a sawmill near Crestline and developed the area known as Valley of the Moon. By the mid-1930s, the town’s population topped 1,000.
During the Depression, there were jobs available through the WPA and the CCC. Electricity came to the mountain in the 1930s.
Gregory donated 80 acres of his land to create Lake Gregory, with a dam that was built in the 1930s. “A huge flood filled the lake in 1938 when the dam was nearly finished,” Tetley reported.
Club San Moritz, which flourished from 1938 to 1950, promoted the “Alps of Southern California” with weekly events such as yodeling and swimsuit contests as well as fancy banquets. The local post office was named “Switzerland,” Tetley recalled.
From the street names to home styles and trim styles, Crestline has an interesting Swiss feel.
Crestline has a great mountain community feel. There are many events and you can find everything you need in town. Crestline seems to be an idyllic mountain escape, a place to live peacefully with a small town feel, but is lacking in some resources, community involvement, and has quite a bit of crime.
Crestline is a beautiful place to spend time with family and friends. This town is excellent for families that want to enjoy their vacations. Residents are friendly and welcoming to tourists.
Crestline, California is the closest mountain resort town to the major cities of Southern California. At scenic Lake Gregory in the San Bernardino Mountains, visitors may enjoy fishing, boating, swimming, sunbathing and waterslides.
Lake Gregory has been used by film directors for movies and for the backdrop for commercials. Subaru has filmed scenes for its new cars in scenes for camping and fishing close to the lake.
At the 2010 census Crestline had a population of 10,770. The population density was 770.4 people per square mile (297.5/km2). The racial makeup of Crestline was 9,289 (86.2%) White (77.0% Non-Hispanic White), 107 (1.0%) African American, 135 (1.3%) Native American, 96 (0.9%) Asian, 20 (0.2%) Pacific Islander, 526 (4.9%) from other races, and 597 (5.5%) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1,775 persons (16.5%).
The census reported that 10,723 people (99.6% of the population) lived in households, 39 (0.4%) lived in non-institutionalized group quarters, and 8 (0.1%) were institutionalized.
There were 4,360 households, 1,286 (29.5%) had children under the age of 18 living in them, 2,108 (48.3%) were opposite-sex married couples living together, 451 (10.3%) had a female householder with no husband present, 247 (5.7%) had a male householder with no wife present. There were 309 (7.1%) unmarried opposite-sex partnerships, and 57 (1.3%) same-sex married couples or partnerships. 1,190 households (27.3%) were one person and 362 (8.3%) had someone living alone who was 65 or older. The average household size was 2.46. There were 2,806 families (64.4% of households); the average family size was 2.97.
The age distribution was 2,375 people (22.1%) under the age of 18, 875 people (8.1%) aged 18 to 24, 2,383 people (22.1%) aged 25 to 44, 3,838 people (35.6%) aged 45 to 64, and 1,299 people (12.1%) who were 65 or older. The median age was 43.3 years. For every 100 females, there were 103.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 103.5 males.
There were 7,333 housing units at an average density of 524.6 per square mile, of the occupied units 3,123 (71.6%) were owner-occupied and 1,237 (28.4%) were rented. The homeowner vacancy rate was 6.7%; the rental vacancy rate was 13.8%. 7,463 people (69.3% of the population) lived in owner-occupied housing units and 3,260 people (30.3%) lived in rental housing units.
According to the 2010 United States Census, Crestline had a median household income of $50,079, with 16.8% of the population living below the federal poverty line.
https://datausa.io/profile/geo/crestline-ca#demographics
A 2019 survey shows Crestline population at 8709. The average age is 44. The average income is $61953 with a poverty rate at 14.4%. Home ownership is at 71% and health coverage is at 91.8.
https://www.california-demographics.com/crestline-demographics
A 2020 survey shows the population at 11,650. The racial/ethnic groups are 66.6% White, 24.2% Hispanic and Two or More at 5%. While population had declined from the U.S. Census report of 2010 to 8709 in 2019, Crestline population has increased and now exceeds the 2010 levels.
The Crestline community is served by the Rim of the World Unified School District. It includes three (K-5) elementary schools (Valley of Enchantment, Charles Hoffman, Lake Arrowhead), one (6-8) intermediate school (Mary Putnam Henck), and two high schools (Mountain, Rim High School).
Crestline does not have a police department and is instead supported by the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department. The local station is in Twin Peaks.
California Highway Patrol has a station in our mountains. Patrols are occasionally seen.
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