Life is full of growing pains in the new millennium.  The 2003 Cedar Fire changed the life of Crest as we saw it for the next decade  as residents rebuild. (see  Cedar Fire 2003).  

Even with these challenges, Crest remains much the same as it has throughout its history. Visitors are pleasantly surprised to discover the peaceful rural area just minutes from a bustling freeway. Former residents who stop by are delighted that so little has changed.   Crest residents continue to work hard to maintain the small town flavor.   Crest continues its  old fashioned July 4th parade and festivities tradition each year. The Crest Community Association, the Kiwanis ,the local churches, and the fire department continues to bring the community together through  community dinners,  visits from Santa, Easter egg hunts in the Park, Sunrise Easter services, and monthly breakfasts.

Volunteers are instrumental as CCA volunteers rebuild the CCA  clubhouse after the fire (the former La Cresta Women’s Clubhouse). Volunteers keep neighbors informed via the local newspapers and the chalkboard. The Kiwanis support our local school kids. The Crest Historical Society maintains our community history.  The  4th of July event, wouldn’t happen without the many volunteers. The Crest Fire Safe Council keeps up informed on fire issues.  The Planning Commission watches over our growth issues which make an incredible difference in keeping Crest a very special and inviting place to live.

East County Fire Protection District in Trouble – 2007

As the East County Fire Protection District transformed from a volunteer fire department to a paid district, the fire board soon found that our local fire department could not sustain itself without an adequate tax base. Writing grants alone could not support the station. By 2007, the East County Fire Protection District (ECFPD) found itself in dire budgetary straits. ECFPD approached nearby districts looking to consolidate, but no one was interested in taking over a fire district that could not support itself. With the district running “in the red,” the department approached the Crest residents and asked them to consider a special tax to raise additional revenue to fund operating expenses for the local fire department. This would allow the district to maintain its current levels of service. Without the passage of Proposition E, the fire department doors would close and we would no longer have a fire department on the hill. Proposition E ensured the Crest community would continue to receive fire and medical emergency services. While the tax was a widely controversial issue and the subject of more than one town hall meeting, Proposition E passed on September 25, 2007 with 73.2% support.

What the community did not realize was the passage of this tax would open the doors for a different set of issues. All of a sudden agencies were interested in taking over our district for its revenue, but not necessarily ones that the Board of Directors wanted to be aligned with. The board felt they needed to join forces with a district that would serve Crest’s best interests. Consequently, in July of 2008, they negotiated a merger with the San Miguel Fire Protection District. This, again, proved to be very controversial in that it was the elected fire board’s responsibility to make the decision and residents did not get to vote on this decision. The board’s vote to consolidate ended local control. This was a decision that many residents did not agree with.

In 2013, San Miguel Fire District began having budgetary problems. The San Miguel Fire District Board entered into a Cooperative Agreement with CAL FIRE. As a result, our firefighters shifted employment from the district to the State (CAL FIRE) with San Miguel still in control of the budget, buildings, and equipment. (Note: in 2018, San Miguel once again became our Fire Department rather than CAL-Fire).

In spite of all the controversy, Crest still welcomes our paramedics and fire protection on the hill. Our local firefighters are still involved with the community. Their presence is welcomed as they escort Santa to the annual CCA Christmas party and continue to lead our yearly Crest July 4th parade. Our fire department will always play an important role in our community.

Library Murals – January 2009  Patrons of Crest Library watched as local artist Mona Mills created two large canvases of Crest history in colorful acrylics.  Scenes include local Native Americans, noted Spaniards, founding families of Crest, volunteers, and buildings, and animal scenes throughout the region.The murals were created to spark interest in our history. San Diego County and San Diego County Library funded the project. Take a trip to Crest Library to see these colorful murals. The numbered description sheets there will help you identify the subjects.  Some you may even know.

Jimmie Johnson Returns to Crest – 2009 

Even those who are not NASCAR racing enthusiasts have probably heard the name Jimmie Johnson. Jimmie is a former Crest resident, and drives the No. 48 Lowe’s Impala SS in NASCAR’s top series. As of 2014, he won the Daytona 500 twice and was the six-time Nascar Sprint Cup series champion with 69 career wins and a massive trophy case.

Jimmie is still Crest’s home town hero. In 2009, Jimmie remembered his elementary school by awarding Crest school and several other Cajon Valley schools educational grants through his foundation. Jimmie attended Crest Elementary, Greenfield Middle School, and Granite Hills High School.

Excitement was in the air that day in 2009. The event was kept “low key” to avoid an onslaught of fans to our small community of Crest. On this Tuesday, December 1, Jimmie Johnson returned to his former elementary school and awarded Crest Elementary School with a check for $45,900. The money was used for hands-on activities including science, technology and the arts, including an after school program. The money, of course, was amazing, but the fact that Crest was allowed to host the ceremony that awarded $491,781 in grants to San Diego County schools made Crest feel very special.

Jimmie spoke to an auditorium filled with excited kids as he reminisced about his time in Crest. He shared that Crest School looked very similar since his last visit 25 years ago, and noticed that grass had been added on the field as well as a new fence around the property. While answering questions from the kids, he spoke of riding his bike and skateboard in Crest, and stressed the importance his family placed on his studies before allowing him to race on the weekends. He thought Crest felt smaller than he remembered and that it was “crazy” to be back.

On June 17, 2014, another honor was bestowed on our home town hero. El Cajon Mayor Bill Wells proclaimed it “Jimmie Johnson Day” in El Cajon and in the State of California. A few weeks later, Jimmie visited the White House and received accolades from President Obama.

Cassandra Kunze – Miss California USA

Another Crest favorite is our own Cassandra Kunze.  Cassandra is the 2014 Miss California USA.  She also finished in the top 10 of the 2014 Miss USA Pageant and was voted most photogenic. Poised and elegant, she also was quick to step up to greet kids at the Crest Kiwanis Easter breakfast and to be a grand marshal in our Crest parade.

Crest News:

The Crest Sun Newsletter was published in Crest from 2000-2016.  Copies can be found at the Crest Library and electronic copies  through the CrestCA.Com website. 

The Crest Sun – 2000 to 2006 Betty Lucas, Christina Seebold

The Crest Sun – 2007- 2016 Linda Hjelle, Editor

The Crest Sun Website –crestca.com   2007- present – Linda Hjelle, Webmaster

The Crest Sun Facebook Page– 2012 to present – Linda Hjelle (Like us on the Crestca.com website.)