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MENTONE GETS ARROW

MM noticed on Monday, July 20 that the former right-turn-only lane at the corner of Wabash and the Boulevard (westbound) now sports a straight-ahead arrow!  Instead of one lane going to three, now two lanes go to three lanes.

Many drivers have been observed going straight in the lane, despite the lack of an arrow. CalTrans had promised to paint the arrow approximately 2 years ago at a MACA meeting, at Mentone’s request.

At the time, Caltrans also stated that it would put a similar arrow eastbound, which would result in drivers cutting in front of other straight-ahead drivers where Circle K is located. “CalTrans had made only one straight-ahead lane for ‘traffic calming,’ ” said Steven Rogers, P.E., in a discussion among  Mentonites. 

Op-Ed

Finally! This writer has spent a few hours on the corner where the arrow is painted now, and observed as many as 19 vehicles, including buses and large RVs, waiting at the light. “Traffic calming,” indeed!

No wonder Boulevard traffic has been so heavy over the years.  We asked for the straight-ahead arrow at least three years ago and were promised that it would be done at least two years ago.

Apparently the pandemic has given CalTrans the time or money or impetus or lack of traffic or whatever it took to get the work done. Thanks, CalTrans! It’s nice to see something we need getting done. 

MM wishes to take a poll: when did you discover the new arrow had been painted? That is, how long ago? Just checking to see how long it took.

MM

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If you’re curious about current numbers you can look at sbcovid19.com. Somewhere I saw the other day that there were 7 confirmed cases in Redlands.  I made an emergency trip to the dentist the other day, through Redlands – of course: adults were jogging, running, biking, walking, no masks.  Kids were out playing without masks and looked at me in my mask in my car as though I were from another planet.  Maybe that’s why they have cases there? 

So far, MM hasn’t heard about any cases in Mentone; I guess Mentonites’ toughness and  independence pay off!  To say nothing of common sense!  Of course, some of those “Redlands” cases could be Mentonites hospitalized there (hopefully not).  Everyone please keep safe out there and one day soon we’ll have MACA and COMET/Chamber meetings again and like will be back to normal, whatever that turns out to be.  In the meantime, won’t you note what lessons you’ve learned from this pandemic?  MM

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“Every 15 Minutes” at REV

At the MACA meeting on Tuesday, February 11, 2020, the CHP officer stated that “it’s that time of year again,” meaning that proms are coming up and the CHP’s program to warn students about drinking and driving will be held on April 3-5, 2020 at Redlands East Valley High School in Mentone. The program takes 20 students, who act the part of having been drinking and involved in an accident, complete with helicopter taking the “injured” to the hospital, he added.

Other news he provided was that during January there were seven collisions in Mentone, at least one alcohol-related, and one was a hit-and-run. Also, on December 29, an officer was sitting on the Boulevard with his radar gun when someone sped downhill (Ed.’s note: “surprise!”) and the officer activated his lights and siren, preparing to make a U-turn to pursue the speeder. At that same time, said the office, someone decided to pass the Patrol car, crashing into it.

The CHP officer also provided the non-emergency number for the CHP: 909-428-5400, for non-life-threatening events. Officers will come right away. Of course, if you see a reckless driver, please use 911.

He also reported about a wrong-way driver on the 210 the night before: a woman who apparently was under the influence made a u-turn in the median somewhere about Cherry in Fontana and officers pursued her to Greenspot, where they utilized a pit maneuver and finally took her into custody.

The radar trailer audience members had been asking for has been available occasionally to catch speeders, he added. Only three vehicles can tow it from the headquarters in Muscoy and they can’t leave it out all day. It is used primarily for commuter traffic on the Boulevard.

An audience member reported that he sees many cars coming down the Boulevard early in the morning – 5-7 a.m., talking on their phones. The officer replied that it takes community pressure – in other words – more than one resident – to get action.

Another audience member asked about paper license plates; the officer said they can be run as to whether they belong to that vehicle or not and if they see an older vehicle with paper plates they may stop it for information as to whether it belongs to that vehicle or not.

Other MACA news:

Leonette DiMuro reported that a Mentone Incorporation Committee has been set up to study both the feasibility of a Community Services District, in which Mentone would stay incorporated but be more of an entity than it is now. DiMuro is the chair of the committee, which will also study how to incorporate when Mentone is removed from Redlands’ “Sphere of Influence.” She solicited “bullet points” of reasons why Mentonites like to live here. Readers may submit theirs to michael_dimuro@juno.com.

Angie DeLaRosa stated that the Assembly is soliciting nominations for “Distinguished Woman” of the community. She has the forms at Noteworthy Realty, 191 1 Mentone Boulevard. And, she added, Adopt-A-Highway is scheduled four times a year, the next three in April, July and October.

The western movie to be filmed in Mentone was mentioned again; interested persons – from actors to behind-the-scenes work, in short, anybody and everybody – can apply at Mentonefilmfestival.org, under “Contact us.”

The Chili Cookoff will be moved from August to the 133rd anniversary of Mentone’s first development map being filed on June 13, to celebrate the anniversary as well as tasting everyone’s chili. The chilis are submitted in crockpots and, as usual, there will be prizes awarded. Sandals Church, 1325 Amethyst, will host the event, with sufficient parking and inside restrooms. More information will be available in future months.

MACA – Mentone Area Community Association – meets the second Tuesday of every month except December at 6:30 p.m. in the Mill Creek Cattle Company, in Diamond Jim’s Saloon. Parking is available behind the Saloon if the front parking lot is full. All residents are welcome to attend and learn what’s going on in their community and ask questions. MM

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Come Join M.A.C.A., C.O.M.E.T. and the Chamber!

The schedule for the year is just below. M.A.C.A. (“Mentone Area Community Association”) meets in Diamond Jim’s Saloon, behind Mill Creek Cattle Company on the second Tuesday of each month; C.O.M.E.T. (“Community of Mentone Empowered Together”) meets about 7:00 p.m. on the last Tuesday of the month, followed by the Chamber meeting at about 7:30 p.m., in the Rocky Point Church’s fellowship hall.  The Chamber is not limited to businesses and costs only $25 per year to join. M.A.C.A. and C.O.M.E.T. are free. MM

2020-MACA-Chamber-meetings-1Download
2020-MACA-Chamber-meetings-1

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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.  

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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-InfoDownload
SB-County-Mosquito-Info

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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.

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NEW COUNTY SUPERVISOR SPEAKS TO MENTONE

Our Third District County Supervisor Dawn Rowe [rhymes with “wow”] spoke at the Mentone Area Community Association’s regular meeting, May 14, 2019. She first told a little about herself: she was widowed when her husband was killed by an IED in Iraq on his second deployment and her children were less than school age; she raised her children alone and they are now in college. Her husband had been stationed in Twentynine Palms, where she still lives, and she had worked as a field representative for then-assemblyman Paul Cook. She was appointed by the other County Supervisors to fill James Ramos’ seat when he was elected to the State Assembly. She has the second-largest territory to cover [an irregular, somewhat pie-shaped area, the northernmost portion of which is at Barstow in the high desert south to Grand Terrace, and from San Bernardino east to the Arizona border. “It seems I’m always in my car, driving somewhere,” she stated. Before she was married she studied in Japan and obtained her bachelor’s degree in public relations and advertising; she earned a master’s degree in advertising as well. During a break in her political life while her children were teenagers “I stayed home with them because I thought they needed me but, at that age, they thought they didn’t,” she joked; during that time she obtained her teaching credential and taught school.

“I get what Mentone is going through,” Rowe stated, from her experience living next to unincorporated Joshua Tree; also, after her husband died, she decided to build a house on 10 acres, with some help from a professional. She had planned to subdivide to build three other homes but then had to deal with County and State regulations.

She said the County is interested in helping the Sheriff’s Department deal with community problems and also mentioned the “Inroads” program: $17M in funds to the County to interface with the homeless by placement, that is, the ones who are just down on their luck. As to those with drug and mental issues, that will be more difficult, she added. She also promised to get Mentone together with CalTrans for meetings regarding more “traffic calming,” to which one audience member shook her head, which she noticed [Ed., note: MM had previously reported that CalTrans said it would make the right- only arrow at Wabash and the Boulevard a straight-ahead arrow, as well, in order to alleviate the buildup of traffic going straight, leading to 15-20 vehicles at the red light at times but after more than a year, CalTrans still hasn’t done that].

Rowe stated she met with Redlands Councilwoman Toni Momberger and asked, “Why does Redlands want to annex us?” Ms. Momberger apparently indicated that they didn’t [Ed.’s note: MM has previously reported at least two occasions when the Redlands City Council stated its intention to do so]. She promised to try to bring Ms. Momberger to speak at a MACA meeting in the future.

She stated she is also a Commissioner on LAFCO and had some suggestions for Mentone: contact East Valley Water District about receiving its water service rather than from Redlands [see Op- Ed]. She also suggested that someone from Mentone contact LAFCO to do a “special study” about what could be done, that no one had requested such a study and that Mentone should; there would be some expense but she couldn’t state how much.

Finally, Rowe suggested that Mentonites lobby LAFCO commissioners: “it only takes three” out of five to accomplish something, she concluded. [MM is indebted to an interview with the San Bernardino Sun for some of the above facts.]

OTHER MACA SPEAKERS:

In the same May 14 meeting, Rachel Achilly, Sheriff’s Department spokesperson, stated that there were 18 arrests, four of them “good” felonies [Ed.’s note: meaning that they are not likely to get thrown out on a technicality] in the last month. Activity at a particular house on Jasper was investigated for a while, after which eight people were arrested and the house was red-tagged. The audience was advised that if they saw people there to notify the Sheriff’s Department. Sheriff’s Deputy Emon made an impassioned plea for Mentonites to vote for Senate Bill (SB) 230, in order to combat Assembly Bill (AB) 392, also pending; the issue is that someone reviewing officer-involved lethal force (i.e., causes death) after the fact decides whether the shooting was “necessary” rather the present language. Emon said that impacts everyone in law enforcement because they don’t know, in the split-second moment when they appear to be threatened with lethal force themselves, whether protecting themselves or others is “necessary” or a lesser standard. He also stated that SB 230 provides for better training for law enforcement so that they can make better determinations as to whether to use lethal force or other methods. Emon concluded by requesting that Mentonites contact their State legislators and ask them to vote for SB 230 (for more details see the flyer later in the paper).

MACA secretary Angie Grisafe DeLaRosa reported that the last Adopt a Highway Cleanup, held on April 27, brought out eight volunteers and coincided with CalTrans’ “Cleanup Month” so CalTrans picked up the 11 bags of trash collected between Wabash and Amethyst. She said the next one is this Saturday, from 7:15 a.m. to about 9; meeting at the Chamber Office, also A Noteworthy Realty on the Boulevard next to Arthur’s Restaurant. After Saturday the next one will be in July or August; Mentone is committed to doing this four times a year. Also, Tom Atchley will give a talk on the 200th anniversary of the Zanja at the August meeting, which may start a little early [Ed.’s note: last time Diamond Jim’s Saloon was almost full, so come early to get a good seat near the front]. Mentonites are invited to attend and learn more about our area’s history. Angie mentioned doing a video of Mentone’s history and asked if anyone knew of a student who could perform that task for us.

Finally, Warren Wendell said the Hangar 24’s Air show is on this Saturday and Sunday. The parking lot which Hangar 24 had thought they could not use – because of the Kangaroo Rat – will be open, after all. However, volunteers have cleaned up the lot at the corner of Wabash and San Bernardino Avenues for MACA to raise funds by providing extra parking for $5 per car and $10 per RV and will open on Saturday, anyway. Volunteers are needed to help direct traffic and show people how to get to the airport, where vendors will set up by 11:00 a.m. but the flying won’t begin until 3 p.m. The event goes to 8 p.m. on Saturday and 5 p.m. on Sunday. MM