Letters poured into The Mountain Enterprise shortly after the public meeting Monday, March 2 at 10 a.m. to protest the possible cancellation of the 26-year Lilac Festival tradition.

Click here to read the story ‘We’ll Fight to Keep Lilac Festival,’ Community Says

March 2, 2009
Dear Editor:

I am very concerned about the possible canceling of the Lilac Festival.

This is a tradition that brings the whole community together.

The Pine Mountain Scrappers Quilt Guild has a quilt show that is held at the Lilac Festival. It is a fund raiser for this group and it promotes new member interest in our guild and the surrounding area.

Some of the money we raise at this event buys supplies to make quilts we donate to the Bakersfield Jamison Center for children in crisis.

Our quilt group was told by [Gary Wilson], president of the board for the Pine Mountain Club Commercial Property Owners Association that the festival was on.

We have already sent out flyers and advertising to promote our Quilt Show and the Lilac Festival.

Now I understand that a small group of people may prevent the Lilac Festival from happening. I’ve heard they say that is because “it is tacky.”

In fact, the Lilac Festival benefits everyone who lives up here and it also represents why we moved up here: small town living where everyone, young and old, works together to help each other during the good times and now the hard times. I don’t find that tacky!

Linda Morton
Pine Mountain

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March 2, 2009
Dear Editor:

As a full time resident, homeowner, and Realtor in Pine Mountain, I urge that Lilac Festival be continued. It is the heart and soul of our community and our most important annual event.

Judy Kaiser
Pine Mountain

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March 2, 2009
Dear Editor:

After attending the meeting of citizens concerned over the possible cancellation of the Lilac Festival, I am writing to urge the Commercial Property Owners to reconsider their position, and allow us to have our two-day Lilac Festival.

In this economic climate many people cannot afford to spend a great deal on recreational activities, and the Lilac Festival allows all to attend free of charge. It also provides much needed revenue to our local merchants.

Jackie Hunter
Pine Mountain

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I graduated from Frazier Mountain High School in 2006 and attend UC Davis. I think the Lilac Festival needs to stay as one of our community events.

My friends and I look forward to the Lilac Festival every year. Since we have moved on to college, it is hard for us to get together and see one another as we are spread all across California and the United States.

Lilac Festival is a time when everyone heads home to Frazier Park to attend the parade and festival so we can see each other once again, as well as our friends who are still on the mountain. It is also a way for people to meet others in our community and to offer what we make and sell here, while raising awareness of things that are going on here.

As college students, we look forward to coming home to to see friends and family once again. It is one of too few social things to do on our mountain! I hope to not have to say goodbye to Lilac Festival.

Jake Cregut
University of California, Davis

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Thanks so much for keeping us informed as to the festival. There will be many disappointed people if it is canceled. It is such a lovely intergenerational activity. It would be a shame to cancel it.

Mary McDevitt
Pine Mountain

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As a nine-year merchant in the Pine Mountain Village, Montana Joey Boutique projects our buying based on the business we do at Lilac Festival (and other staple events such as Octoberfest, Wine Festival and Run to the Pines). To cancel this event or any others is doing a great disservice to our merchants and our community. These events help to support all of our businesses.

Betty Fossler and Kimberly Fossler-Michaels
Pine Mountain

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The beautiful art of quilt making is thriving in Pine Mountain through the Pine Mountain Scrappers Quilt Guild.

Experienced members pass on their skills and enthusiasm to the novices to keep alive a great American tradition.

All art is best when shared, and for that the guild puts on a show biannually on Lilac Festival Saturday. It is not only a showcase for the quilts, but a major fundraiser as well. Without the Festival it is not possible to draw the crowds needed to make a show worthwhile.

Because quilts take time to produce, months of preparation go into the planning for the show—a full year and a half is required. A beautiful opportunity quilt is produced in that time and then raffled at the end of the show.

In October, with rumors abounding that there would be no festival, Gary Wilson, chair of the Pine Mountain Club Commercial Property Owners Board, assured me that there would indeed be a festival and so we proceeded in good faith with our show plans.

It is extremely disappointing that we find our months of preparation are at risk. Respectfully, the guild hopes that this potential cancellation can be reversed.

Ginny Duhm
Chair for the May 16, 2009
Pine Mountain Scrappers Quilt Show, Pine Mountain

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It has come to our attention that the ball for the Lilac Festival has been dropped. We are so saddened. This is a tradition in this community of Pine Mountain.

Personally, we invite many of our friends to come each year. Rumor has it that the Commercial Property Owners Board has put a nix to this community and what we wish. One of the usual vendors was at our meeting Monday morning at 10 a.m. said that she has not received any information to participate in May. That speaks volumes to me.

The economy is bad as we are all aware. What happened to reason and logic? Do you not want your merchants to do well so they can pay the rent? This is a week they all need in order to bring revenue to the community. If business is down, who will pay the rents? Who pays the dues for the association? We already have foreclosures in this community, as so many cities do.

What did not impress me was the lack of caring on the part of the Commercial Owners Board. Yes, only one board member was present, Mark Bailey. Do the others care? There were 45–50 people who came to the meeting that was announced in The Mountain Enterprise.

Don and Carole Trudeau
Pine Mountain

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I am a resident of Pine Mountain and would like to have my say about the Lilac Festival. In the present economy many business are failing or at the very end of their proverbial rope. Houses are in foreclosure and people’s morale is at an all-time low.

Now “the board” has decided that we don’t need our traditional Lilac Festival. All of their objections have been addressed and overcome by Mark Bailey and others in our community. We should all have a voice and a chance to prosper where we live and love.

Jill Edgington
Pine Mountain

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I am a merchant in Pine Mountain Club. I co-own the Sweet Shoppe.

I was very unhappy to hear that Lilac Festival was to be canceled. My business really relies on the revenue brought in that weekend. It is our biggest sales of the year and we really look forward to the boost.

Our family also always enjoys walking through all the vendors and businesses. The children look forward to the pony rides and entertainment just for them.

It would be a shame to stop something that has brought people up to our mountain communities and with the economy I believe it is necessary to continue to have a free festival that people and families can enjoy. Please don’t take our Mountain Tradition away.

Let’s make it better!

Kim Bucio
Pine Mountain

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Keep our Lilac Festival! We are a retired couple who has lived in Pine Mountain full-time for over 12 years.

The Lilac Festival has been a historic and established event. Also, I am a member of the Quilt Guild and we always have our quilt show at this event. It is very important that this activity continue as it represents a significant source of our operating revenue.

People from miles around expect and look forward to this festival, it also represents a true cross section of local life here. Unlike the Wine Festival, it is a family-oriented event.

A few should not be allowed to make this choice for our entire community.

Dan and Ellen Louro
Pine Mountain

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I truly hope that the Lilac Festival continues not only for this year, but for many years to come. As a property owner and business owner I look forward every year to this wonderful family event.

Mark Cockerell
Alpine Village Realty
Pine Mountain

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My name is Luke Cregut and I graduated from Frazier Mountain High School in 2008 and I’m currently attending Cuesta College in San Luis Obispo. I have just been informed that our long-lived Lilac Festival is on the verge of cancellation.

The Lilac Festival has brought our community together for years and that strong bond is about to diminish.

The festival has enabled student- and school-run organizations the chance to promote themselves and gain appreciation from the community. The annual parade provides local companies and school programs a chance to advertise themselves while having some fun on the side.

Over the years many businesses and local organizations have set up booths as a chance to bond with the community and gain support for future activities. Many programs rely on this event as a fundraiser or event in which they can promote themselves and gain interest of new members.

Without this traditional festival many will lose that weekend of bonding and fundraising, and many will lose the opportunities that the Lilac Festival has provided for them for years.

This event is more than just a festival, it is a gathering in which our community brings its citizens together and provides us the chance to maintain that strong bond of unity.

The Lilac Festival has served as an important gathering of the community to reach out to one another and to support each other in ways that wouldn’t be possible if the festival was suddenly withdrawn from our community.

Luke Cregut
San Luis Obispo

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Regarding the article about not having a Lilac Festival this spring. What is going on? Can the commercial center board really have secret meetings? What about the Davis Stirling Act’s prohibition against secret meetings? Why would people be against one of the most popular events in the Mountain Communities?

Why won’t they comment on why they made such a undemocratic decision? Why would they want to end this wonderful small town event? I hope that they will clear up this mystery.

Brenda Martin
Pine Mountain

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Our church, Greater Mountain Pentecostals, has had a very successful fundraiser at the Lilac Festival for several years now and we plan on those revenue when we balance our budget. Not only that, but some of the youth from our congregation take part in the Lilac Festival.

This function is for families with a lot of free activities for everyone. I understand some of the board members may want to have the Wine Festival take the place of Lilac Festival, but not everyone drinks and that is not family friendly activity.

Thank you for your consideration and concern.

Pat Sogge, Pine Mountain

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As a small community we have to support local businesses and we know the weekend of the Lilac Festival is the kickoff weekend and some of the best revenue that local business have all year.

The people who live and work here need to know that they are supported by the residents of Pine Mountain. If we continue to cut them off at the knees they will have no choice but to give in to the elitist who want to turn this into a rich man’s playground.

We live here, our children go to school here and we deserve to be heard.

Christy Meusborn
Pine Mountain

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Please take any and all necessary steps to ensure that this very important festival goes on as scheduled this year!

There are many people both here and throughout Southern California who want and need this festival. In bad economic times like now, this type of free activity can and will be a big draw and it helps many locals.

Many of our merchants, Real Estate businesses, local groups like the quilt club and restaurants all depend on the business and exposure that this event can provide. Each year it introduces many new people to the fantastic place where we live. We all benefit from that in the long run.

Pine Mountain has put on this event for many years and participation from local civic groups, schools, charities and fundraisers proves how badly this event is needed and wanted.

Anything you can do will be appreciated. Thanks

John and Barbara Sioussat
Pine Mountain

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Word is out that the Lilac Festival is going to be canceled because it is too ‘tacky.’ I would hope that a decision is made not to cancel this event. It is good for our business and has great community involvement. Please pass our comments on to the decision makers.

David and Maxine Stenstrom
The Old Bear Bed & Breakfast
Pine Mountain

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I am writing in response to news that the Lilac Festival may be canceled.

I am shocked that a few people can spoil a 26 year tradition such as the Lilac Festival with no explanation as to the reason for the cancellation.

Does our community not have a voice? In this depressing economic climate, my family and I were looking forward to a nice old-fashioned time in our beautiful Mountain Community, a respite from the daily grind. I would ask these individuals to reconsider their decision.

Really, what are they worried about?

Marsha Masterman
Pine Mountain

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Lilac Festival is too important to be canceled!

My family runs a horse rescue here on the mountain. Our pony and train rides pay to feed these rescue animals. The Lilac Festival is vital to our existence. It is one of the largest money making festivals that we attend. With the current economy it would be very detrimental to us to lose this festival.

People are losing their jobs and houses all over this state and with these problems the horses are the first to go. It is very hard today to find homes for quality horses under these circumstances. It is even harder, if not impossible, to find homes for the horses we currently house. Many have medical problems or are expensive to feed because of special dietary needs.

Think about how expensive it is to drive off the mountain to Bakersfied or Valencia for normal chores. Now picture yourself driving a one-ton truck hauling a horse trailer. Every time we do a festival off the mountain it costs us a fortune in gas just to go and come home. This largely eats away at our profits. The Lilac Festival is very close to home, so we make more money here.

Lilac Festival has also been important in the lives of many younger people who live on the mountain. When my sons attended Frazier Mountain High School the FFA would set up a booth next to my pony rides and sell plants and other things the students made. This allowed their organization to make money.

I know there are other groups that make money during this festival. Many young people attend the parade. It is another way the youth of our community become aware of the varied groups they can join on our mountain. It is also a source of fun for them.

Let’s face it, our community does not offer a lot of social things for our kids to do here. The parade and festival give them something to plan for and to organize. It is also a place many people from out of town come and enjoy.

We have many out-of-towners that come each year to ride our ponies and enjoy all the festivities. They also bring new people who discover the festival each year.

Please do not let Lilac Festival become a thing of the past! Stand up and voice your opinion. We all need to stand up to help this mountain tradition continue.

Christy Cregut
Lockwood Valley

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My concern about the possible loss of the Lilac Festival is that our quilt guild will be directly limited in our ability to support the Jamison Center in Bakersfield (for abused and at risk children) in the same manner as we have in the past.

We get much of our financial support for our guild at Lilac Festival. Additionally, the Festival here in our beautiful mountains is a great showcase for our wonderful communities. It makes a great couple of days for our children and grandchildren. The parade, the kids’ activities and all the other events would be greatly missed.

Patsy DuBois, Pine Mountain
Scrappers Quilt Guild Member
Pine Mountain

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It has come to our attention that the Pine Mountain Club Commercial Property Owners (CPOA) Board of Directors is contemplating discontinuing the Lilac Festival.

We have lived here over 25 years and the Lilac Festival is important to us. We have attended every one in our 25 years and enjoyed every single one of them. We have purchased items from the vendors and enjoy the food court.

We are requesting the CPOA Board to reconsider this possible action and continue to schedule the Lilac Festival as this is an annual event that has a long history behind it. This spring event is a kickoff to our summer vacation and we would hate to see it end. Jack and Michelle Throckmorton Pine Mountain

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Just a note to stand up with the community in favor of keeping our annual Lilac Festival!

It is a very much anticipated event that brings folks to our beautiful mountains. Many times they decide this is the place for them to live.

Sometimes they buy homes here and join our community.

As a Realtor, I feel strongly that to lose Lilac Festival would be the end of an era…in these times we do not need that! Please let the powers that be re-think this bad decision. Years ago it was Lilac Festival that brought my family and I here.

Judie Phillips
Jennings Realty
Pine Mountain

This is part of the March 06, 2009 online edition of The Mountain Enterprise.

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