Category: News

Movie Night/Video Game Soundtracks April 26 and 27th, 7 p.m. at Blackstone Theater at Redlands East Valley High School, 31000 E. Colton Ave., Mentone.

MACA (Mentone Area Community Association) meeting: May 14, 7 p.m. at Mill Creek Restaurant in the banquet hall (enter off the parking lot). Program: TBA.

Mentone Days/Mentone’s 137th birthday! June 1 chili cookoff on Wabash Avenue. Do you have a cottage business, want to enter the chili contest or have a young people’s group that wants to perform? Call 909 362 7860. More details later.

Come to the Chamber of Commerce meeting, monthly (except for November and December), the last Tuesday of the month at 7 p.m. in the Mill Creek Restaurant banquet hall . Join the Chamber; it’s only $25/year for individuals (you don’t have to own a business) or $50/year for businesses. Support our community!

SENATOR MAKES “WHISTLE STOP”* [Revised by the Senator’s office staff]

On Thursday, February 29, Republican Senator Rosilicie Ochoa Bogh hosted her 39th Town Hall from 6 to 8 p.m. at Mentone’s Senior Center and Library, which was attended by some 40-50 people, most from outside of Mentone. Running for reelection, the Senator stated her positions on various items, beginning with upcoming redistricting: every 10 years every seat/district is redrawn, she said. Further elaborating, she said that odd numbered districts such as hers – the 23rd – run for reelection one year and two years later the even-numbered districts run for reelection. Now she will have 35 cities and communities, comprising 1.2 million people. She lamented the fact that of 40 senators, only 8 are Republican, but that she attempts to work across the aisle where possible.

In 2022 she didn’t like the bills that were proposed; she learned that communities did not know about such bills until they were made law, and special interest groups only give their own information, so she decided to have Town Halls to educate her constituents. The Inland Empire is the fastest growing region in the state, and 5th fastest in the nation, she stated, and the people have the power to change Sacramento, by knowing what’s going on and putting pressure on legislators. We need change by the people and with people, she continued. She said our voices, cumulatively, are powerful and encouraged parents to bring their kids to Town Halls, and that some legislators don’t believe in what they are doing but their constituents demand those actions. She also stated that her policy consultants look at bills including those regarding the Senate’s budget: senators can submit up to 40 bills in two years and, given the number of senators and assemblymembers, that can add up to 5,600 bills in that amount of time. She mentioned sending her “look ahead” E-blast for bills and policies in her e-mails to interested parties.

As a teacher, her focus area in the Senate is education. In the past, she had also addressed housing, human resources and public safety, stating that many issues are interrelated. She is pursuing two bills and attempting to fix two bills. California revamped the high school math curriculum, lowering the standards because students weren’t passing and graduating; “they moved the goal posts” in order to accommodate Black and Brown students so they could graduate. Now they can’t make it in college, which requires more training, she continued, because California is “dumbing down” its math curriculum. As a result, U.S. companies are importing workers because the U.S.’s standards of knowledge are too low. One of her bills seeks to add higher professors and parity between K-12 books with non-invested publishers on the board that decides the curriculum. “Race is not an issue,” the 51-year-old daughter of impoverished Mexican immigrants said, and she continued that she was thankful for adversity and that opportunity makes a refined spirit and soul.

“If you have nothing to hide, you have nothing to fear,” was one of her more memorable statements.

In the Q&A period, an audience member attempted to discuss a problem in Bloomington. They were asked to remain after the meeting. Another, a 5th-generation local general farmer lamented
the Asian fruit fly invasion and resulting quarantine and asked for financial assistance. The Senator responded that she is working on obtaining grants to help, and is asking for $45 million in a bill for farmers, particularly for small-scale farmers, and the farmer stated that the quarantine is for all crops, not just citrus.

Another audience member asked about Measure W [Ed.’s Note: the gentleman was referred to this paper’s previous article]; the Senator said that wasn’t a State issue. The Senator also stated that she doesn’t support legislation against all guns because most who use them in crimes are not law-abiding citizens.

Another in the audience lamented that those who buy bullion in order to hedge against inflation under a certain amount have to pay sales tax which other states don’t charge. One member brought up illegal immigration: the Senator stated that California is very generous but we lack money for our own. As to subsidized health care, she stated, there has been no raise in reimbursement in 20 years. Thus, medical personnel and hospitals are unable to afford to care for citizens and three hospitals have closed, leaving a deficit in trained health care workers; we should have 50 per 100,000 residents but at present we only have 35/100,000. She mentioned $125 million in loans for needy hospitals, some of which out-of-state hospitals are subsidizing as part of their network but if there is no network the hospital closes. The Senate passed a bill to increase aid to hospitals but the Governor wouldn’t sign it. Hospitals have been asked to reinforce seismic according to standards, she mentioned, and an incentive would be offering to pay student loans for graduates who work in communities in the Inland Empire as California is one of the highest-taxed States. Schools also aren’t fully funded. “We must take care of our own first; we can’t take care of [illegal] immigrants,” she further stated

Another audience member inquired about how to deal with street people, who can be increased with elderly people who can’t afford the high cost of living expenses. The Senator mentioned converting empty warehouses to shelters. The State spent $23 Billion addressing homelessness and audited it to see which programs worked. The Democrats wanted to house people first and then give other help; they offered vouchers with no commitment from the persons helped. The Republicans, she stated, wanted to compel the unhoused to get treatment, not addressing opioids and behavioral health. The San Francisco Mayor suggested housing and requiring a commitment to get help.

Addressing why housing is so expensive, she said development policies increase the cost of living: solar panels and all-electric housing. Additionally, she stated that CEQA is too convoluted and controls development; it needs revising. Another factor was the project labor agreements, which require skilled labor, when unskilled labor exists and apprenticeships could be offered in high schools. “Everyone has a right to work,” she stated. Part of that policy is that contractors have to pay into retirement systems. Things are not going to change unless people get informed and involved.

Another audience member lamented that the election system fails to protect the sovereign vote, mentioning HAVA procedures.

San Bernardino County Fire Protection District Chief Dan Munsey appeared before Chamber of Commerce and C.O.M.E.T. members on Tuesday, February 27, at 7 p.m., to state reasons why the Department does not want voters to vote Yes on Measure W.

He first reminded attendees to cut fuel breaks or have goats, in order to lessen fire danger, and said a majority of the calls could be prevented.

Chief Munsey explained that Measure W seeks to repeal the fire tax first imposed on the District’s residents in 2018. It began in Helendate/Silver Lakes, where the residents wished to raise money for a fire station, and four firefighters including two paramedics. San Bernardino County is the largest in the nation, comprising 19,278 million square miles, 78% of which is state or federal land, on which no property taxes are paid. The District covers all non-incorporated areas in the County, including Mentone, he continued.

Chief Munsey said that the Fire District not only helps with Wildland fires but snowstorms, hazardous materials, rail derailments; 78% of the calls are medical; all fire engines have a paramedic on board and a heart attack requires multiple paramedics. Ambulance companies are going under, he added. As a result, if things are different, the wait time can be 15-45 minutes. The U.S. Forest Service cannot respond to anything but forest fires, and the County general fund is not available to provide for the District’s needs, according to Health and Safety Code Section 13800. In 2016 San Bernardino City went bankrupt and annexed properties into District FP5 but the City comes to help when it can.

As to claims that the fire tax is unconstitutional, he said, the Fire District cannot put a measure on the ballot to raise funds for the District’s stations and there have been five court challenges [Ed.’s note: they must have been unsuccessful]. He added that a station’s costs, such as for the Mentone station, must be covered by property taxes or it will close. He continued to state that a new fire engine costs $1.3 million, up from $350,000 in 2018. New stations cost from $11M to $22M to build. A (diesel) fire engine only lasts about 10 years. Tools and supplies are very expensive. Insurance premiums are expected to increase, based on logistics. The property tax fund is very short and cannot support all of the fire stations. In 2023, calls in Mentone totaled 1,247, with 364 from out of Mentone, with a total of 1,611. Mentone has one fire station with three people on duty at all times. It has an additional truck to fight brush fires. They also have hand crews heavy equipment and fire engine upgrades to pay for. No County department gets the property fire tax, he also said.

The District obtains grants to help with costs, he continued, and stated that in 2023 his department handled 106,000 calls, the 14th busiest in the state. If the District is defunded by Measure W, fire stations may have to close and response times will be lengthier, he said. Redlands only comes out if we have reciprocity. If the fire tax is not repealed, the station and personnel will be maintained.

In response to an audience member’s question why the paramedics did not come to the aid of a teen who had been in a fight, Chief Munsey concluded his talk and Q&A session by stating that they cannot respond until a Sheriff’s deputy has responded, and in that situation the deputy did not respond.

Election Day is Tuesday, March 5. Get out and vote! MM

Years ago, newspapers published newspaper headlines from “50 years ago, 40 years ago, 30 years ago,” etc. Mentone Matters recently received newspapers dated in 1941 and 1942 and thought readers might be interested in what Mr. Reynolds published just about 82 years ago.

The March 5, 1942, (Vol. IV, No. 4) edition of The Mentone News carried these front-page headlines: “Mentone Boys to be Found In Various Branches of the United States Armed Forces; Community Aiding in National War Effort; Scores Also at Work On Defense Projects Throughout West.” Other headlines were “Blackouts have Serious Effect On Egg Production,” “Program for March C. of C. Meeting Monday Announced,” “Army Hospital Site At Mentone Still Being Considered.” It is clear from the articles what was on people’s minds in those days just three months after the U.S. declared war based on the December 7 Pearl Harbor attack and began its nearly-four-year involvement in World War II.

The “Boys” were approximately 20 young men, plus already-ranking veterans and military retirees who were called back into service. The article concluded that “In addition to the boys in the armed forces, many projects are being carried on by the home folks to aid the national war effort, and scores from Mentone are engaged in defense projects throughout the west.”

The article reported that blackouts in poultry houses – the enforced non-use of early morning lights to lengthen laying times – were claimed responsible for decreased egg production, while, the U.S. Government was asking for increased production. Blackouts were also claimed to cause moults. Some poultrymen equipped their henhouses so they could continue to use lights.

The “C. of C.” program was slated to provide information about what to do after the war, including how to deal with incendiary bombs!

The army hospital site being considered was 1,000 acres north and east of Crafton avenue. According to the article, the land was just then “being bought by the City of Redlands from the East Lugonia Water Co.”

Also, “Mentone Woman’s Club Held Business Session.” The Mentone’s Woman’s Club members were also invited to visit the Greenspot Woman’s Club, according to another article. Apparently, Mentone was even more active back then! Other headlines reported a new house being built at 1261 Olivine for a couple who moved to Redlands in 1898, a handkerchief shower for a lady who spent the winter in Mentone and was going home to Nebraska, that the Mill Creek Canyon Chamber of Commerce was petitioning the U.S. Forest Service to open the San Gorgonio primitive area to winter sports, and various severe injuries or deaths of residents.

Because of the newspapers’ fragility, Mentone Matters keeps them in clear plastic sleeves so only the front and back pages are completely visible. The back page contains ads, including “Wirth’s Mentone Inn”;

Because of the newspapers’ fragility, Mentone Matters keeps them in clear plastic sleeves so only the front and back pages are completely visible. The back page contains ads, including “Wirth’s Mentone Inn”; the property was later owned by the Millers and is enclosed in the the Mill Creek Cattle Company and Diamond Jim’s Saloon., owned now by the Millers’ daughter and son-in-law, Maribeth and Jim Lotito, said Jim Lotito. For a photo of Wirth’s Mentone Inn, see https://www.facebook.com/search/top?q=mentone%27s%20gazebo%20gazette.

The Chamber of Commerce’s ad invited “Come to Mentone, the Fastest Growing Community in the County.” According to the ad, the Chamber of Commerce was housed at 1822 Mentone Blvd., now a private residence. An additional ad for Standard Oil Products, “corner Turquoise and Mentone Blvd.,” and an ad for The Harris Company department store promised S&H Green Stamps. Notably, some other ads don’t provide an address! Classified ads included several poultry producers selling chicks and turkey poults.

Have you seen our sign on the Blvd., next to the Chamber’s billboard and Hovey Tile? MM

Senator Rosilicie Ochoa Bogh will be holding a town hall meeting in Mentone Thursday Feb 29th at the Mentone Senior Center/Library from 6pm to 8 pm.

On Tuesday, February 27, at or shortly after 7:00 the Chamber will meet and host a visit by the County Fire Chief, speaking about the proposed Measure W for service area FP-5. His presentation will be followed by a Q&A session. If you have any questions, this is your chance to get them answered.

Mentone Matters would have imported the poster but it doesn’t seem to be available through the software. Anyone with expertise in this area is requested to contact MentoneMatters@aol.com with help. MM

Sunday, February 11, the Bloodmobile will again be present at 1230 Olivine, Mentone (at the SdA church), from 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. All types of blood are needed and, starting this time, donors will accumulate points with each donation, redeemable for gifts or gift cards. Those who register now and walk-ins will receive a $10 Stater’s gift card.

The next blood drive is April 7; donors who register by the preceding Wednesday will receive a $20 Stater’s gift card. MM

Barbara Dickinson will present photos and describe growing up in Mentone in the MACA meeting, Tuesday, February 13, 7 p.m., at the Mill Creek Restaurant.

She will share photos of Mentone taken during her childhood. If you’re interested in Mentone’s history (and who isn’t?) come hear what she has to show us. Invite your friends and neighbors, as well.

MACA will conduct a short meeting before Ms. Dickinson presents her program. MM

REV is hosting an all-the-pancakes you-can-eat fundraising breakfast on Saturday, February 17, at 31000 Colton Way, at the Wildcat Cafe from 8:00-10:30 a.m. Participants will also be treated to music by REV’s Concert Band at 8:15 a.m., followed by the Symphonic Band at 8:45, the String Orchestra at 9:15, and the Wind Ensemble at 9:45 a.m.

Attendees will also have a chance to win two tickets to a their choice of a theme park, such as Disneyland, Six Flags Magic Mountain, Knott’s Berry Farm, Universal Studios Hollywood, Sea World San Diego, or Legoland, California.

There will also be gift basket drawings. The proceeds are to benefit the band room, transportation, uniforms and much more. MM