By Jim Hall ? Reader”s views
Would it not be a plus for Lake County to promote the use of the closed Castle Hotel in Lucerne as a new college campus? The present building could be used for administration, dorm and cafeteria use, with added buildings for teaching centers. The ag/wine industry could sponsor classes that would educate those who may have interest in those industries; the lake itself could be a lab for water related studies. Tourism related degrees could be earned.
A college would add year-round jobs and income that would be an environmentally clean addition to the economy. Local suppliers and services and construction industry would gain employment and spendable income. Visitation to the college by student families and friends would add more to the economy and promote the wonder of the area in general.
New small businesses would crop up, based on the college aged students. It would also offer avenues to a higher education for local citizens, that due to travel costs and time, do not expand their level of education. Our new president has made education a top priority and I am sure there will be funds available for such an endive, if researched.
Local area high school students could cut back on the cost of a college level education by being able to live at home and in taking courses that would prepare them for local jobs. Most communities lose so many of the brightest and best future citizens, due to them having to move away to further their education.
The Castle could add some much positive value to the area; more than what becoming another resort would bring. Another resort, in some degree, would cause harm to those resort investments and operations already in place. A county-wide investment and promotion to bring a new college to the area has many pluses and probably more then what has been offered here.
Jim Hall
Clearlake Oaks
