Editor,

I’m writing this in response to your article regarding the “Family Forrest Fest” on Wildes Road. I am the neighbor directly across the street from this event, and I have to say it was a great weekend. When we were approached about it we embraced the idea of having an event that was geared to getting families out and about. It saddens me that most of my neighbors tried to prevent such a fun festivity.

It was a total of three days and two nights and not one fire broke out (they had a water truck there just in case). No child kept me awake (can’t say the same for the screech owl that perches in the tree next to my home). I had no problem accessing my house (they came, they parked, they stayed two nights, they left Sunday at various times). No event was ever louder than the packs of coyotes that traverse the area all year long. Upon leaving there was no trace of hundreds of people (just a few portable toilets that were picked up shortly after).

These families came with the common desire to camp and enjoy the outdoors with like-minded families. How many times do you hear that kids need to be outside more? This was an opportunity for people to get their families out on an adventure. When I strolled through the event on Saturday every child was well managed and was enjoying the great outdoors with other children.

It seems absurd that my neighbors would take the stance to shut it down before the event. As the organizers reached out to each one of the opposing neighbors they were met with unanswered doors and closed blinds. We have only lived in our home for two years and have not met many of our neighbors because we are always on the go, but this makes me leery to reach out to them. Hopefully they embrace activities with their own families more openly, and hopefully they never mutter the words “the problem with children these days, is parents never make them outside.”

Our family truly hopes the Forrest Family Fest revisits annually for three days of family fun. Our family chooses to embrace the idea of other families trying to get out and enjoy this amazing place we live, instead of villainizing an event where nothing bad happened.

MARIAH KNOBLICH

Clinton