Special Announcement

Dear CNC Members,

I’m pleased to share the biographies of the four new candidates for our 2026 Board of Directors, including one individual from San Simeon! This introduction provides an opportunity to learn more about them before the election at our November meeting.

Warm regards,

Susan Schmidt
CNC President

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Kathi Harper- Prospective President
I was a Prosecutor with the Orange County District Attorney’s Office. After 25 years, I retired to Big Bear and began my second career as the CEO of a Domestic Violence Prevention Agency.

When I’m not busy directing public policy for the American Association of University Women at the state and National levels, I now enjoy REAL retirement in Cambria with my husband Bob, where I’ve lived for four years, with daughter Amy close by.

I enjoy everything CNC has to offer, including two book clubs, Women of the Vine wine group, and Game Girls, as well as Dancersize at Joselyn, hiking, and pinochle. I discovered all these great activities at my first CNC luncheon and look forward to playing a role in bringing neighbors – new and seasoned – together.

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Jill Freybourg – Prospective Secretary
I grew up an hour north of NYC and luckily got to enjoy its wonders. I went to Northeastern University in Boston and obtained a BA in psychology. Again, lucky for me to be in Boston. I returned to New York and went to Columbia University for an MA.

I then obtained a teaching job in Greenwich, Conn., got married, had two children (boys), and moved to Harvard, Mass, and had two more children (girls). In 1986, loving Mass but tired of the snow, I moved to Danville, CA, which was great for my children, but alas, Mom wanted to be by the ocean. I went to law school, graduated, and passed the bar in 1992. Went to work.

In 2005, I finally got to go to the beach and moved to Aptos because all of my children were either in the UCs (aren’t they great!!!) or working. As all good plans go awry, they then moved back for short periods until they settled.

Finally, in 2022, I came to Cambria to try to retire. I am still working on that.

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Denise Caras – Prospective Reservations
I was born and raised in Southern California. I’m married and have been for almost 40 years. My husband and I have two beautiful daughters. I have spent 26 years in the School Transportation Industry, retired in August of 2024, and have been living in San Simeon for the last year.

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Kathy Strahl – Prospective Reservations
Hi Neighbors, my name is Kathi Strahl and I have been a member of Neighbors since 2018. My husband, Nolan, and I bought our Marine Terrace house in January of 2017. We were part timers, living in Simi Valley, until January of 2018 when we decided to live here full time. I have been a lover of sea otters since we spent part of our honeymoon in Monterey in January, 1970. I have a large collection of sea otters, a license plate that says Otterz, and we named our house Ottersedge. A hobby of mine is to use seasonal decorations inside and outside of my house, along with various sea otter decor. I get many appreciative comments from many of the walkers and tourists that come by the house. I sometimes tell people that I am doing a community service for my fellow older residents so they know what seasons and holidays are coming up.

I am a retiree of the Ventura County Human Services Agency where I worked for 29 years in various positions, helping families obtain temporary financial assistance and employment training. I retired in 2006 as a deputy director over these assistance programs. After my retirement I volunteered as a long-term care Ombudsman where I monitored nursing homes and board and care homes for compliance with state regulations. I also volunteered as a docent with the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library in Simi Valley.

My husband and I have been married for 55 years and are “parents” of a black Lab named Bosun, short for Bosun mate a naval term. Unfortunately, he thinks he is the captain instead of a crew member. If you visit the Sherwood/Wedgewood beach access you will probably hear him barking a greeting at our front deck.

I am looking forward to having the opportunity to become more familiar with all the members in serving as the co-chair in the reservation position.