The internet is a powerful tool for education, yet it's also anonymous and faceless.  Even as you read the information on Our Catalina, you should be aware that ALL expression is filtered thru the perception of the author.

On OurCatalina.com, everything is written by me, Diane Murphy, unless otherwise stated.  I've lived here in Catalina since 1991, and originate from a fishing town on the coast of Massachusetts.  My experience with community began here when my real estate agent asked me to serve on the Village Council.  One year in that position taught me that information IS power, and that powerful information seldom gets to the people who would be most affected by it.

In the background making it all possible is Margarete deGaston who pays the monthly costs for the website.  She came to Catalina in 2000 from California farm country.  Margarete emigrated to the US from Germany but lived there long enough to experience as a young girl the hardships of war.  She knows better than most of us the importance of freedom of speech and the gift of democracy. Margarete is a strong proponent of the democratic process and community involvement.  

We do this because-- and here I borrow a Mission Statement that I wrote for Save Catalina a few years ago:

We support our residents' right to the lifestyle of their choosing. We expect development in our community to respect the environment, the current residents, and the constraints of the present infrastructure. We believe that communication is the cornerstone of a healthy community, and encourage the flow of all information necessary to make an informed decision.  We will be proactive in working toward creating a sense of community and a sense of place in Catalina.

So if there is a "slant" to what you read here, that would be it:  Because that is who we are.