BLACK BEAR INN, SOUTH LAKE TAHOE DO NOT STAY HERE, BAD AND CURRUPT OWNER South Lake Tahoe California

There was a wedding at a lodge next to the black bear inn in the early afternoon and the owner of the Black Bear Inn, Jerry Birdwell, called the police on the wedding for playing Frank Sinatra very very low the police have said. You see, Jerry Birdwell is a man who came from TX a couple of years ago and is a transplant in Lake Tahoe, not a local, and is now a city council man who is aggressively trying to run other Bed and Breakfast out of town and ruined a wedding. Here are newspsper reports from people who are very upset that he abuses his authority as a city councilmen to shut down a nice quiet wedding 1/2 hour into the festivities! Ill let you judge by the accounts and let you decide.

Noise complaint shocks, disappoints, TAH0E TRIBUNE
This is in regard to the complaint about noise during a wedding at the Deerfield Lodge last month. Upon meeting the staff at The Deerfield Lodge and helping in the planning of the wedding, we were ecstatic to be able to utilize their beautiful grounds as the stage for my friend's day of marriage.

From the get-go, the bride, groom and all event coordinators were well aware of the noise ordinance, and were also well aware of the neighboring lodge, the Black Bear Inn. We were also most courteous in accommodating the neighboring business with appropriate music, if it be overheard.

The 4:30 p.m. appearance of a police officer was most shocking, as we all enjoyed the beautiful day, chatting comfortably with loved ones, to the sounds of Frank Sinatra. I was most worried that my friend, and beautiful bride, would start to become uneasy on her day, as she spotted the policeman talking to hotel management and ownership.

However, we understood that he was only doing his job and brought the music down, regardless of it only being 4:30 in the afternoon. As the afternoon lingered on, and we were all getting ready for the last few songs to play (sticking strictly to our scheduled 9 p.m. noise shutdown), we were disappointed to see a policeman asking that the music and wedding be shut down completely. Needless to say, we were all very upset.

In finding out more about the neighboring Black Bear Inn, I thought it extremely unfortunate that co-owner Jerry Birdwell himself is a member of the City Council. I assume in such a highly desirable "destination wedding" location, there will be many more events at The Deerfield Lodge and other South Lake Tahoe locations.

For a town that is dependent on tourism, it is a complete oxymoron to have someone on the City Council so disturbed by the flourishing business of its fellow Tahoe tourism providers. Let us all hope that a Lake Tahoe councilman himself will not continue to promote the downfall of events that help in promoting the success of beautiful Lake Tahoe.

Simone Fremont
Gardnerville

Neighbor's view on noise controversy, TAHOE TRIBUNE
This is in response to the two letters on June 25: "Call to police disrupted wedding party" and "The other side of the story."

I am a graveyard-shift worker and live in a unit directly behind the Deerfield Lodge. One of the reasons we chose our unit is because of our view of The Deerfield Lodge and Black Bear Inn, both of which have immaculate properties. On the day in question, we were home and enjoying watching the setup and all the people enjoying themselves on what I am sure was a joyous day. I had to go to work that night, so at around 4:30 p.m., I went to bed. Our bedroom window faces directly over the yard of The Deerfield Lodge, and I have to say that if there was any loud or disrupting music or noise, I do not know where it came from. I went to bed and got up at 11 p.m. as I always do and was not disturbed once.

The one thing that really bothers me, besides the fact that the police were called, is that Kevin Chandler does not say in his letter that they did the neighborly thing by going next door, and as neighbors politely asking them to take the noise down a notch.

I, for one, hope that the Eichenfields and The Deerfield Lodge are keeping the community bustling every weekend during the summer and fall months.

Jahn Henderson
South Lake Tahoe

Complaint shows lack of support, TAHOE TRIBUNE
As I am sure many of you know, South Lake Tahoe is not the easiest place to make a living. The people and businesses here depend on tourism, which is never a guarantee.

Last month, I was involved with working at a wedding held at The Deerfield Lodge. The property is absolutely beautiful, and the staff was very accommodating to the wedding party, as well as my co-workers and me.

The day could not have been going more smoothly, but at about 4:30 p.m., I looked over and saw two police officers talking with the DJ inside. I found out later that he ended up getting a ticket (a citizen's arrest made by the owner of the Black Bear Inn - the hotel right next door). I believe some jazz music was playing at the time, rather softly. When another officer returned at 8 p.m. to shut down the music, emotions were abundant - anger, sadness, confusion - try to imagine how you would feel.

Maybe the owners of the Black Bear Inn do not depend on tourism like the rest of us. You would think they would want to have a good relationship with their neighbors, but in the short amount of time I spent at The Deerfield Lodge that day, it was clear that the owners of the Black Bear Inn want nothing to do with their neighbors at The Deerfield.

Without the tourism in this town, I would not have a job, and The Deerfield Lodge (or the Black Bear) would probably not survive. This town needs to work together to keep Lake Tahoe one of the most popular places to visit. I have never in my life seen such a lack of community from someone who is supposed to be part of it. And to find out the owner is a City Council member - what a joke! If the Black Bear does not want to be a part of this town and the tourism that goes along with it, maybe they should go somewhere else.

Heather (ROR REDACTED)
South Lake Tahoe

GABRIEL WROTE: Birdwell's a self-centered businessman who cares little about our community.
A transplant from who-cares where SOMEHOW got elected to public office.

Again, we need true locals running our local government.
Jerry Birdwell isn't even close to qualifying.


SO NOW YOU HAVE IT FOLKS, SO THE PEOPLE IN LAKE TAHOE ASK YOU TO PLEASE DO BUSINESS WITH ANOTHER BED AND BREAKFAST IN TOWN, NOT WITH THE CORRUPT BUSINESS MAN WHO ABUSED HIS POWER AND WILL CONTINUE TO DO SO UNLESS HIS BUSINESS IS FINANCIALLY HURT. PLEASE DO NOT SUPPORT THIS BUSINESS, STAY SOME WHERE LOCAL AND SUPPORT REAL LOCAL BUSINESSES THAT CARE ABOUT TOURIST! BIRDWELL IS NOT A LOCAL AND PROFILES HIS GUEST!

Fireman
Monterey Park, California
U.S.A.