Thanks to Godfreyd, our Crafton Hills intern, you can now click on the links above to go to your chosen page. Way to go, Godfreyd!
Mentone Film Festival 2020
Mentone held its First Annual Film Festival in November 2019. The Second Annual Film Festival will take place later this year. Here are some of the attendees. Click on the link/logo below to see information from the 2019 Festival.
OP-ED
Welcome to our new Intern, Godfreyd Tuazon, an honors student at Crafton Hills College. He works three days a week as well as attending classes in the IT field and we are delighted that he is helping us get the website working even better in his “spare time.” We have had four college interns thus far, and they have helped us a lot. MM is sorry we haven’t been able to post anything for months after starting the website because of a lack of help and feels very bad that we couldn’t upload the posters advertising the wonderful events we have in Mentone in the summer and fall. Hopefully, it won’t take long to be able to do so. We are also going to be able to notify everyone whose e-mail addresses we have of news so they can check out the site. We also need to put up permanent signs around town, advertising MentoneMatters.org., so everyone will know what’s going on in town. Without a local newspaper since 1943, and some of us not wanting to read about Redlands, it is hard to “get the word out” as to what is going on. The Reynolds’ (see “Interested in Mentone History?” elsewhere) have copies of Grandfather Reynolds’ newspapers and share tidbits with MM, which hopes to have more of them on the site in the future, once this editor/publisher learns how to upload photo-type items. MM is also wondering: If State Senators can term out why can’t we have U.S. Senators and Representatives time out, too? One feels that sometimes they do not have their constituents’ best interests at heart, but just politics.
Have a comment to make? Send it and if it’s decent, we’ll publish it.
MACA news
Rachel Chilly, Sheriff’s Department spokesperson: In December there were 12 arrests: 3 good felonies. On December 30, there was a incident on the Boulevard at Chrysolite; a “man with a gun” = high priority for the Sheriff’s Department. There were several different versions, however. someone shot into the air but no one was hit, apparently [Ed.’s note: what goes up can come down and people have been shot a long ways away by gunshots up in the air]. Someone reported a suspicious person sitting in a car near a school, however, it turned out they were there legitimately. Audience members asked about mail theft: the Department says the problem is more prevalent during the holidays and tax season. By 9 p.m., it is suggested, make sure your mailbox is emptied, lock gates, lock your cars, turn on lights, put everything away. The U.S.P.S. has a program, called Informed Delivery, where they will e-mail you what they get for you. If you see someone stealing mail, take down the license number, get the make and model, a description of the vehicle they are driving and call the Sheriff. The Feds will prosecute large, documented cases, she said. Early in the month people are stealing money to buy drugs; at the end of the month they are seeking to replace their benefits, which have run out. Audience members also talked about people driving while on their phones; the Sheriff will ask for more CHP enforcement. MACA will apply to have the Second Annual Film Festival like the one last Fall. Adopt a highway is the First Saturday of February, meeting 7:00-7:30 at the Chamber office/Noteworthy Realty, on the Boulevard. Lloyd White, a Beaumont City Council member and Republican, is running for Senator Morrell’s seat, which he is losing because of term limits. As for the “pot shop” on the Boulevard, it alleges a religious base so the Department is still working on it. Counsel for COMET (Community of Mentone Empowered Together”) spoke for a few minutes, bringing everyone up to speed as to the progress of the case against Redlands for forcing annexation in exchange for water and – where available – sewer services to new developments. Counsel had filed a Motion for Injunction, which she explained is a document that is filed, opposed in writing and then a reply brief, then a hearing by Judge Donald Alvarez, the same judge who decided on the “Harmony Project” across the River. The Motion sought several injunctions – orders prohibiting Redlands from demanding the annexations, enforcing the annexation agreements already signed, and several others. The judge issued his decision later, denying the requested injunctions, which COMET’s counsel briefed to the Court of Appeal. The Court denied COMET’s request to waive fees. COMET’s counsel had also filed a Motion for Relief from the late filing of claims for damages to Redlands. Defendants Redlands and LAFCO (Local Area Formation Commission) opposed and COMET replied. The Judge also denied that Motion.
DRAIN THE SWAMP!
At the M.A.C.A. (Mentone Area Community Association) meeting last Tuesday, a representative of the County Public Health Department introduced the Aedes mosquito (see brochure below). It is very small, she said, and can breed in very little water. It lays its eggs on the sides of containers and the eggs can lie dormant for up to a year. Very hot and cold weather affect it but it does well in temperate weather. It has a 7-day life stage. Only the females bite and they are attracted to heat, light and body odor – even if we can’t detect it! She continued that it bites mostly between the knee and ankles and itches really bad; it feeds in stages, rather than all at once. It also feeds in the daytime and can even come down the fireplace. The Zika virus it carries can be transmitted to unborn babies, through transfusions and when people go out of the U.S. Symptoms are flu-like: fever, rash, pain; tests to detect it include blood and urine. There is no vaccine or medication; victims have to ride it out. It can also carry yellow fever and West Nile fever.
To avoid having them breed in your yard, she said, get rid of all standing water: tires and saucers are their favorite, she said. Changes pets’ water every three days. For some vessels, you can get granules to put in water; for ponds you can get free mosquito fish from the Department’s headquarters. Bracelets made with DEET to repel the mosquitoes are also available.
INTERESTED IN MENTONE HISTORY? On January 27, 2020, at 7 p.m. at the Contemporary Clubhouse, 173 S. Eureka, Redlands, Marie Reynolds, whose grandfather-in-law published the Mentone newspaper from the 1930s to 1943, will give a talk on Mentone history.
SB-County-Mosquito-InfoAMERICAN PICKERS IS COMING TO MENTONE
American Pickers recently called the Mentone Chamber of Commerce. They are coming back to California in March, looking for participants again this year and prefer individual homes this time: no businesses [Ed.’s note: sorry, Jim Lotito]. Call the Chamber at 909-362-7860 if you have interesting “stuff” for them to make an offer on.
They previously came to the Captain’s place on Garnet in Mentone (for non-locals, the home of Paul Bunyan and a giant rooster and acres of other stuff); it aired on October 24, 2017 as episode “Bachelor Park (Season 18)” on YouTube, if you wish to watch it again.
Note that it was erroneously designated as being located as being in “Napa Valley” – obviously a more “attractive” location than the Southern California desert.
M.A.C.A. VP PASSES
Richard Orbaker, vice president of MACA and active in the Mentone Chamber, of Commerce passed away on October 18, 2019. Rich was responsible for raising the money for and supervising the placing the red metal weather-proof “Welcome to Mentone” signs at the entrances to Mentone, two of which you readily see next to the Chamber of Commerce sign on the Boulevard, next to the Chamber’s sign; and on the corner of Wabash and San Bernardino Avenue. MM believes that Rich was working on a third sign, to the east of Mentone, at the time he died.
Please enjoy this loving tribute written by his wife, Jan, presented to MM at the celebration of Rich’s life on November 9, 2019, at their farm in Greenspot across the River:
“On October 18, 2019, this community lost one of its most enthusiastic supporters, Rich Orbaker, Vice President of MACA.
“A resident of the Greenspot area of Mentone since 1976, Rich was a small business owner. Redlands Pet Store (most recently of Mentone) was dedicated to good health and nutrition for all kinds of animals. It will continue, but customers will miss his caring manner and vast knowledge of feeds and supplies.
“Owners of numerous cats, dogs and horses, Rich and his wife built and operated their own farm, very involved in showing, training and selling show horses.
“Rich was an avid supporter of Mentone Chamber of Commerce and felt it was the base for Mentone’s future, independent of Redlands.
“Rich moved to California from Arizona in the early 60s, where he attended Arizona State University.
“He founded the ‘Checkmates’ car club and established a drag strip to keep young car owners from racing on the streets, was a music promoter and agent for singer Linda Ronstadt. One of his high school classmates was the late John Denver, with whom he continued to correspond.
“Rich is survived by his wife, Jan, and his son, Kevin and Kevin’s family.
“The next time you enter Mentone, either from Mentone Boulevard or San Bernardino Avenue, and see the wonderful ‘Welcome to Mentone’ signs, say a quick ‘thanks’ to Rich. They were his prized project, for which Senator Mike Morrell awarded him a Good Citizenship Declaration.
“Happy trails and good fishin, Rich. We’ll miss you.”
M.A.C.A. stands for Mentone Area Community Association, which meets in the Diamond Jim Saloon behind the Mill Creek Cattle Company Restaurant at 7 p.m. on the Second Tuesday of each month. Mentone residents and those interested in Mentone are most welcome to come and hear what’s going on in and about Mentone.
COMET IS WAITING FOR THE COURT’S DECISION
At the Motion hearing on Friday, September 6, Redlands/LAFCO’s attorney argued the same points they had stated in their Opposition; COMET’s attorney added some information. Judge Alvarez smiled and said he was familiar with Tom’s Burgers, but declined to state his tentative ruling and said that, since “these things tend to find their way to the Court of Appeal” he would issue his written decision later and be very careful how he did so. (Ed.’s note: sometimes the judges want time to think more fully; Judge Alvarez had only gotten the case that previous Tuesday, because he is a “CEQA” judge, or one of the few that rule on such cases and COMET had complained about Redlands and LAFCO’s violating CEQA laws, but those complaints were not addressed in the Motion. Sometimes the judges just don’t want the attorneys to argue more when they state their intended decision and in this case both attorneys had a lot of arguments!)
Judges have up to 90 days to issue a decision.
COURT TAKES ON ANNEXATION/FEE ISSUES
COMET (Community of Mentone Empowered Together) appeared in San Bernardino Superior Court through its lawyer on Tuesday morning, September 3, for a status conference (Ed.’s note: previously, cases could linger for the full statutory five years to trial, with the judges only wondering what was taking place; the Legislature enacted rules that now require lawyers to appear every three months or so and tell the Judge how the case is going and for help with opposing counsel if they need it).
The case had just been reassigned that morning from the Honorable Michael Sachs to the Honorable Donald Alvarez.
COMET’s Motion for a Preliminary Injunction was set to be heard on Wednesday, September 4; however, COMET had new information for the Court that its attorney argued on Tuesday was “crucial” and “critical” to the Court’s decision the next day. Over Redlands/LAFCO’s attorney’s objections Judge Alvarez allowed the additional information to be filed and continued the Motion hearing until Friday, September 6.
The Motion for Injunction seeks an order of the Court that Redlands cease demanding annexation in exchange for water to new developments ; its new information was based on case law that existed when Redlands enacted its 1997 “Measure U” and legislated authority in 2000-2001.
The Motion also seeks an order of the Court that any previously-signed Annexation “Agreements” be prevented from being enforced, but that Redlands still provide water and sewer services to new developments.
The Motion additionally requests that the Court also order Redlands to provide water to new developments without demanding that the developer pay “Development Impact Fees” for fire, police, parks, libraries, and other services that only benefit or are provided only to Redlands and instead that the developer only need pay for the cost of connection or perhaps enlarging the “infrastructure.”
“Redlands and LAFCO opposed the Motion in a lengthy document that never provided any authority in support of its demanded annexations, which the Motion additionally briefed was extortionate, ” COMET’s attorney said. “Their basic position is that Redlands can do what it does because it says so, but our position is that no other existing law allows it,” she added.
The additional case law COMET served and filed was provided in the footnotes to a case that Redlands/LAFCO’s attorney had repeatedly cited and quoted in their Opposition to the Motion. It included rulings by the Fourth District Court of Appeals, (Ed.’s Note: this is important because the Fourth District does not publish many cases; unpublished cases may be read but not cited in Court documents). The Fourth District covers San Bernardino, Riverside, Orange and San Diego Counties, said COMET’s attorney.
If granted, the Preliminary Injunction will expire at trial, when COMET will seek a Permanent Injunction against Redlands’ and LAFCO’s actions, as stated above. if the Preliminary Injunction is not granted now on legal grounds, COMET can immediately file a Notice of Appeal with the Fourth District. If it is granted Redlands/LAFCO can appeal. If it were denied now on procedural grounds or technicalities, COMET can re-file the Motion.
Within the last month, Redlands had demanded that Perry Karpouzis execute the Annexation “Agreement” the day before its City Council meeting but still had not agreed with him on the amount of “Development Impact Fees” to connect for water. He declined to sign the “Agreement” at that time, pending the outcome of the Motion, according to Raul Madrid, another developer who has assisted Karpouzis in getting the City to reduce its fees from the more than $650,000 it demanded in 2009 to approximately $55,000 at this time. However, those fees still all benefit only Redlands by its demand for payment for services it only provides to itself. “The only cost for connecting to water should be what is reasonably related to the cost of enlarging the infrastructure, if any; that’s the law,” he added. Local history is that there previously was a gas station and also a church on the property; as stated in the Motion, Redlands had left the meter there for years after the demolition of the previous buildings. During construction of the Toms Burgers building, Karpouzis complained that it was leaking and asked that it be replaced. Redlands instead removed it and demand that Karpouzis for “new service” to the site.
On February 19, 2019 meeting, immediately after the Redlands City Council approved the “pre-annexation Agreement” that Dollar General signed, and a local resident, a Mr. Bell, read into the record his objections to the “pre-annexation,” Redlands’ Mayor expressed his irritation with repeated objections to the annexations and stated that “Redlands has no interest in annexing Mentone.”
NEW STORE IN TOWN? OR NOT?
The Chamber of Commerce met on Tuesday night, July 30, and discussed having a “ribbon-cutting” ceremony for Mentone’s newest store. However, it was reported that Dollar General does not have a tenant or franchisee, even thought the store building is substantially completed.
There were some concerns raised about a hole in the ground in front of the store.
OP-ED PAGE
MM regrets that we have been unable to provide a newspaper for quite some time, owing to the need to defend ourselves full time against personal litigation. Our Crafton Hills College intern, Zoe Lane, is now volunteering her time (Thank you, Zoe!) but is involved in a heavy class this summer and we need to let her alone.
We hope readers enjoy this edition, and also hope to be more up to date in the future.