First Big Fire of the Season

If you look to the northeast right now you'll be able to see a big plume of smoke. That's a fire that looks like it's to the north of Jefferson St.. There's at least one helicopter dumping water on it, so hopefully it will be out soon.

5pm update: it looks like the fire is climbing up the ridge, rather than down, so that's good news. The firefighting planes are out dropping their bright orange chemicals right now. (Click photo for larger image). There's a bit about it in the Merc:

Winds were light in the afternoon, but officials anticipate they will pick up as the sun sets, Lardner said.

About 150 firefighters were battling the blaze as temperatures climbed to 100 degrees. They were aided by two helicopters and two air tankers.

According to the San Bernardino County Sun's latest update (4:45PM), the burned area is up to 250 acres and they are investigating the cause. It's pretty safe to say it wasn't lightning.

Update 7/5: According to InciWeb the Ridge Fire is now 85% contained and the fire crews are mopping up.

Tags: Yucaipa, fire

The big one is coming . . .

. . . in the next 30 years. A newly released report from the USGS calculates a 99% probability of a 6.7 or stronger quake in California during that period. Of course the risk on individual faults is lower than that. As the Press-Enterprise reports, the probability of a large quake on the San Jacinto fault has actually been cut in half. That's sort-of good news for us in Yucaipa, since the San Jacinto fault runs just south of us. But the southern San Andreas fault - to the north of us - is still the most likely fault to to generate a big quake in the entire state.

Star: Yucaipa
Purple Line: San Andreas Fault (59% probability of a >6.7 quake in the next 30 years)
Red Line: San Jacinto Fault (31% probability of a >6.7 quake in the next 30 years)
Beige Lines: Faults with low probability of a big quake
Click for full-sized graphic (pdf).
Read the USGS Report.

And don't just sit and wait. The last biggish June 2005 quake in Yucaipa was only a 4.9 (almost 100x weaker than the predicted 6.9) and I remember feeling that strongly in Riverside. A bigger one could hit at any time. The Earthquake Country web site has some useful SoCal-targeted information, including a booklet, Putting Down Roots in Earthquake Country and seven steps to earthquake safety . Even if you are an apartment dweller, you can still secure your stuff and make yourself an emergency earthquake kit.

Tags: Yucaipa, earthquake

Weekly News Roundup: September 1 Edition

I can't believe it's September already! Here is the Yucaipa-related news from the past week.

City News

Labor Day is Monday, September 3, so City Hall will be closed.

The San Bernardino County Sun is reporting on the three proposed major developments along the I-10 freeway that could add as many as 4,100 housing units to the city of Yucaipa. The plan by developer Robinson Properties is much more extensive than currently envisioned by the city council. Included in the plan are a 273 affordable housing units (for those of you without a calculator, that's about 6% of the total). City Council member Tom Masner points out that "affordable housing" doesn't mean that deadbeats (my term) will be moving to town.

However, real-estate prices can be so high in California that Masner said "affordable housing" should be renamed to something like "working American housing" or "new family housing." "California has pushed housing to the point where the next generation can't afford to do it without parents, grandparents or a spouse," Masner said. "It takes two people making a full-time income just to make a housing payment."

The real-estate market is going through a widely publicized slowdown, but Yucaipa houses are not exactly cheap. DataQuick Information Services reported that in July, the median price of a Yucaipa house was $385,000.

In Masner's view, Yucaipa needs more housing for working families and the area near the freeway is an ideal place to build new houses and apartments. How many new dwelling units the city needs is still an unanswered question, he said. "How much of it do we need? Do we need one thousand? Two thousand? Three thousand? Four thousand apartments? I don't know. I think that's a lot," he said.

In San Bernardino County a "low income" couple receives less than $37,900 a year (pdf). A couple with full-time minimum wage jobs would easily qualify. While I think affordable housing is a good idea, with home sales slowing, foreclosure rates skyrocketing and even couples with good credit ratings having trouble getting mortgages, it seems like an inopportune time to start a massive new housing development.

The Press-Enterprise reports that Yucaipa chicken farm Hoover Ranch (on Carter St. at Jefferson) will be able to convert to a cage-free system with 31% fewer chickens. The new system is expected to result in less odor and fewer flies.

The plan is a win for both the ranch and the neighbors, said David Long, who has been a member of the city's ad hoc vector control committee periodically since city incorporation in 1989. He lives near the ranch and has reported fly problems to county vector control officials.

Because it's a rural area, Long accepts some odors, but believes the conversion will reduce the flies.

"We've done battle a lot of years over this thing. Jimmy (Hoover) is at least trying to do the right thing. It's a step in the right direction," Long said.

(The San Bernardino County Sun reported the story August 16.)

The mother serving as treasurer of Cub Scout Pack 4, Rosanna Arcadi, has been arrested for embezzling as much as $20,000 from the pack's coffers since July 2005. According to the News Mirror, Arcadi admitted taking the fund, but has claimed that she paid much of the money back.

When the officers interviewed Arcadi, she indicated to officers that she was having financial difficulties and was using the scout's money to pay bills. She also stated that portions of the money she was taking had been returned and believed she only owed a couple thousand dollars.

Our congressional Representative, Jerry Lewis, announced that he will seek a 16th term in Congress. He is currently the highest ranking Republican on the House Appropriations Committee, and, as the Press-Enterprise points out, he's been very effective in moving dollars in our direction.

Even in the political minority, Lewis remains hugely successful in steering funds to Inland projects because of his experience and standing in Congress. He attached more than $120 million in funding into this year's spending bills, roughly four times more than any other Inland delegate.

"That he's the ranking Republican on Appropriations means the region has an important voice on federal spending decisions," said Jack Pitney, a government professor at Claremont McKenna College. "With a new member, the odometer would go right back to zero."

He seems undaunted by the ongoing Federal investigation into possible improper dealings with a lobbying firm.

In May of last year, several Inland cities, counties and agencies that had received funding with help from a prominent law firm received subpoenas from a federal grand jury seeking records of the correspondence with the firm and Lewis.

Lewis soon hired lawyers and has since spent nearly $1 million in legal fees, repeatedly denying any misconduct.

On Thursday evening, Lewis said he is confident that he is in the clear, noting that his wife, Arlene, a member of his staff, has kept meticulous records of all his dealings.

I'm not sure that his wife counts as an unbiased record keeper. I guess as long as all those juicy earmarks end up in our backyard, the situation could be worse.

Omnitrans bus drivers have rejected a new contract and a strike is possible if they can't come to an agreement. According to the Sun Omnitrans is preparing contingency plans that might involve hiring replacement drivers. Hopefully this will be resolved and people who depend on public transit won't be stranded here.

School News

The Standardized Testing and Reporting (STaR) results are back, and Yucaipa schools did OK. You can check out the scores for yourself, but here is an overview:

English-Language Arts Grade 5

• State of California: 23% far below basic or below basic, 32% basic, 44% proficient or advanced.
• San Bernardino County: 26% far below basic or below basic, 36% basic, 38% proficient or advanced
• Yucaipa-Calimesa USD: 22% far below basic or below basic, 35% basic, 42% proficient or advanced

English-Language Arts Grade 10

• State of California: 34% far below basic or below basic, 29% basic, 37% proficient or advanced
• San Bernardino County: 38% far below basic or below basic, 31% basic, 31% proficient or advanced
• Yucaipa-Calimesa USD: 39% far below basic or below basic, 29% basic, 33% proficient or advanced

Mathematics Grade 5

• State of California: 30% far below basic or below basic, 22% basic, 49% proficient or advanced
  
• San Bernardino County: 34% far below basic or below basic, 25% basic, 42% proficient or advanced.
• Yucaipa-Calimesa USD: 28% far below basic or below basic, 26% basic, 46% proficient or advanced

Grade 8 ( Algebra I)

• Since only a fraction of the students are tested, I'm not sure you can compare scores.
  
• State of California (49% students tested): 34% below basic or far below basic, 27% basic, 28% proficient or advanced
  
• San Bernardino County (58% students tested): 45% below basic or far below basic, 27% basic, 27% proficient or advanced
• Yucaipa-Calimesa Unified School District (77% students tested): 39% below basic or far below basic, 36% basic, 25% proficient or advanced.

According to the News-Mirror, district officials were pleased with the scores.

Yucaipa schools are showing a rise in ELA scores with big increases for grades 9, 10 and 11. Their scores were 41 percent, 42 percent and 47 percent respectively. Sue Gott, director of Analysis, Grants and Public Relations, said, “The district is excited at the gains being seen. We see gains not only in ELA and math but science as well. Our middle schools are making significant gains.”

The San Bernardino County Sun writes about the first day of school at the new Inland Leaders Charter School.

Visiting fourth-graders, Gordon told students they would be treated as leaders and expected to show high moral standards, such as "how to have honesty even when it's hard to tell the truth."

In a second-grade class, students learning the ground rules for the year learned they were expected to avoid using "mean words."

Gordon said Inland Leaders' student body is drawn from families with parents looking for alternatives to public schools, and charter schools become another option alongside homeschooling or private campuses.

"A lot of parents just like small schools," he said.

The San Bernardino County Sun talked to the new YCUSD superintendent, Sherry Kendrick.

To improve the relationship between the teachers and the district, Kendrick said, she plans to get the teachers more involved with district matters, such as being part of committees and attending meetings and even sitting in on interviews for administration positions.

The Yucaipa resident said this ultimately better serves the students and the community, "letting them know that the administration and the board can and will work together for our students," she said.

She also has plans to improve student achievement by "looking at the data" and ensuring a clean and safe school environment.

Kendrick and Dr. Jim Garver spoke at the back to school seminar for local teachers.

Garver's main point is students want honest truthful answers to their questions. Let them know what they are learning, why they are learning it and what has to be done at the end of the process. “The focus must change from teaching to learning,” he said. “I want you to do two things this year when you go back to your classroom. Try something new and open the door to the world.”

The Yucaipa-Calimesa Unified School District has filed a legal challenge against the Mojave River Academy Charter School. The Mojave River Academy, which is charted and overseen by the Oro Grande Elementary School District (just outside Victorville), operates the Yucaipa Learning Center. As the San Bernardino County Sun reports:

Having the charter school so far from its geographical boundaries limits the charter district from complete oversight and adequate operations of the school, Kendrick said.

It's a matter of following the law and providing the best for the local students, Kendrick said.

"The chartering district needs to have an oversight, making sure that the schools are following charter and the students are achieving," Kendrick said.

Joseph Andreasen, the executive director of the Mojave River Academy argues that they are within the law because they are within the same county as Yucaipa. While that may be technically true, I think that the enormous size of San Bernardino County (the largest in the contiguous United States, and larger than the states of Massachusetts, Connecticut, Rhode Island and Delaware combined) is a bit of a special case. The spirit of the law seems favor close proximity to the chartering school district. Andreasen does claim that there is regular oversight, despite the distance:

He also said Mojave River Academy officials are at the Yucaipa Learning Center on a regular basis and are ensuring that all policies and procedures are being followed.

It seems ridiculous to me that school districts are competing against each other in this way. In an ideal world, they would be working together to ensure that kids get best education possible, meaning that there would be at least some oversight from the local school district.

Related article:

• Yucaipa/Calimesa News Mirror "Yucaipa School District files legal complaint challenging MRA school"

Yucaipans in the News

Team USA Youth baseball took gold at the World Youth Championship in Barquisemeto, Venezuela last weekend, defeating Brazil 8-2. Thunderbird baseball star Matt Davidson contributed to the win. According to the Sun:

Davidson had one official at-bat in the game and lined out. However, he played in every game during the tournament and went 3-for-5 in a key semifinal victory against Cuba.

For more, check out the article in the News Mirror.

The News Mirror reports that Yucaipan David Everett is directing a new after school program called Sports Connection.

In addition to teaching the fundamental skills of sports, Sports Connection is designed to teach kids to develop character, improve self-esteem and learn to encourage others through team play.

Sports Connection will also have a Homework Zone for kids to get a head start on all their homework, as well as a Game Room and many other fun-filled Outdoor Activities.

Sports Connection is geared for the kindergarten through third grade students and will be held between 3 p.m. and 6 p.m. at Green Valley Christian Church.

Everett has a bachelor's degree in pastoral ministry from L.I.F.E. Bible College and has served as a youth pastor at several FourSquare churches. Am I wrong to think that there will be a bit of Bible teaching along with the baseball and basketball? Nothing wrong with that, of course, as long as they are clear to parents that it is part of the agenda.

Redlands Daily Facts writes about former Yucaipan Janet Ward who "speaks for the trees" in Redlands. Does that make her a Lorax?

The Wall Street Journal highlights the YouTube video series by Concretenetwork.com in an article about small businesses wooing customers online. Concretenetwork.com is a 10 employee Yucaipa company founded and headed by Jim Peterson.

Former Rancho Cucamonga Court Clerk and Yucaipa resident Eva Woods plead guilty for dismissing traffic tickets and fines for her boyfriend and ex-husband. She will serve 180 weekend days in jail and three years on probation.

Tags: Yucaipa, news

Weekly News Roundup: August 25 Edition

Yes, the news round-up is way late this week. It's just taken me a couple of days to recuperate from vacation. I miss the sea breezes and clear air already.

Anyway, here's the Yucaipa news for the week ending August 25:

City News

The August 27 City Council meeting is canceled, apparently a longstanding tradition for the last meeting scheduled in August.

Results from the California High School Exit Exam have been released. According to the San Bernardino County Sun, Yucaipa-Calimesa Joint Unified students exceeded state averages in both in mathematics and English language portions.

Yucaipa-Calimesa Joint Unified, which tested about 800 incoming juniors, had 81 percent pass the math portion and 80 percent passed the English language arts portion.

"We're very happy. This is the first time we've ever had higher passing in math than language arts," said Superintendent Sherry Kendrick. "It shows our teachers are working with students to be sure they're prepared for the test."

In addition to offering support classes to students who are not on track to pass the test, Yucaipa-Calimesa school officials closely monitor the students' progress.

Teachers are also working especially hard to help special-education students, who generally struggle to pass the exam.

"It's just a matter of targeting what is tested and making sure the students have practice and review," Kendrick said.

I hope the teachers aren't spending too much classroom time simply teaching the test. Students should be able to pass if they have been keeping up in their math and English classes.

The San Bernardino County Sun talked to Joseph Zoba, general manager of the Yucaipa Valley Water District about the heavy demand for water in the region. They use a special microfiltration system to purify the water piped from Northern California streams which requires less chemicals than traditional methods. In an interesting move, they are also requiring that new developments have dual piping systems - one for drinking water and one for recycled water for watering grass and other landscaping.

Zoba's district provides water to Yucaipa and Calimesa. The first development required to feature dual plumbing is SummerWind Ranch, a 3,683-home project planned for western Calimesa.

"We'll use that agreement as the template for all future development coming in," Zoba said.

That would mean Mesa Verde Estates, a 3,450-home project yet to be approved in Calimesa, and Heritage Oaks, a 45-home project that is on tap to be built in the northeastern part of the city, will also be required to use recycled water.

Zoba said as much as 60 percent of the water used at a house isn't for human consumption. Nonpotable water, continually recycled, could give homeowners a steady supply of water that would make it possible to water lawns even when droughts strike the East Valley.

It sounds like a fantastic idea to me. Having lived in Northern California during the drought in 1976-7, when many people replaced their front lawns with landscaping that doesn't require much watering, it doesn't make much sense to me that every house in my neighborhood has a purely decorative water-loving front lawn. Considering the arid climate here, using recycled water for landscaping is a no-brainer. I wish I had that option.

The News Mirror reports that several Public Works projects should be finished by the end of August:

• Phase I (utility relocation) of the Oak Glen Road widening project has been completed, and Phase II (pavement and widening) is almost complete.
• Phase I of the 7th Street Park rehabshould be complete, including meandering sidewalks, planting and new restroom facilty.
• New and/or modified traffic signals at Wildwood Canyon Road & 5th St, Yucaipa Blvd and 4th St., Oak Glen Road and Calimesa Blvd., and County Line Road & 5th should be completed in September.
• Work on the new Civic Center Park (in front of City Hall) is on schedule.
  

Other Yucaipa News Bits:

• Yucaipan Bob Otto writes a column for the Fontana Herald about how cigarette butts are littering his neighborhood.
• The News Mirror reports on the arrest of the third suspect in the murder of Mark Douglas Smith, whose body was found along Avenue E.
  

  The investigation is continuing and anyone with information regarding this case is urged to contact Detective Rick Bessinger or Sergeant Tony De Cecio at 909-387-3589. Callers who wish to remain anonymous may call WETIP at 1-800-78-CRIME.

Yucaipans in the News

Local law enforcement agencies will be focusing on DUI enforcement over labor day weekend.

Virginia Gautier of Yucaipa, executive director of MADD in San Bernardino County, said she's been fighting for heftier penalties for drunken driving ever since she lost her brother in a DUI crash 30 years ago.

Her brother, Lorenzo Leon, was driving on the 10 Freeway in Loma Linda when another driver crossed into oncoming traffic and struck him head-on. The intoxicated driver was also killed.
Gautier's 18-year-old son was killed in a hit-and-run crash in Mentone in 1983. A witness followed the driver to his house, where he was arrested. Gautier said she later found out the driver who struck her son had been drinking and taking cocaine all day. The driver received a year in prison but only served three months, she said. "I wanted to know why the system let me down," she said.

The Press-Enterprise writes about the Avenue E front yard of Yucaipans Janice Ross and Bill Annis, which is an "ode to Oak Glen's apple-picking season." They remind her son and his Army colleagues - currently deployed with in Iraq - of home.

In an e-mail message shared by Ross, son Jesse "J.J." Jimenez wrote that photos of home and family help soldiers "forget about the environment we're in and give us a sense of feeling close to Home during certain seasons of the year."

Jimenez is due home in October.

The San Bernardino County Sun has a feature article on Yucaipa High School's Matt Davidson, who was in Venezuela playing on the USA Baseball Youth 16-and-under National Team.

Davidson also has been popular with the young people of Barquisimeto.

"He has the blond hair and blue eyes and everyone wants their picture taken with him," Glen Davidson said. "The boys are giving the kids baseballs and wristbands and autographs - it's like they're professional players."

USA defeated Brazil on Saturday to win Gold. Be sure to check out the USA Baseball Youth National Team official blog for a behind the scenes look at the tournament.

In other Yucaipa High School baseball-related news, senior Thunderbird pticher Scott Snodgress has made an oral commitment to attend Stanford University and Adam Miller has committed to Brigham Young University. Good luck to them both.

New York Magazine writes about a fastpitch softball team - the Gremlins - organized by a Staten Island cop with a dream. A dream that was crushed by the Yucaipa So-Cal Bombers.

Despite the top seeding in the world tournament two weeks ago, the Gremlins made it through only three rounds before running into the So Cal Bombers, a team from Yucaipa, California, armed with an Argentine pitching sensation named Lucas Mata. Mata struck out fourteen Gremlins in seven innings, and they were dropped to the losers’ bracket—from which they were then bounced in a nail-biting one-run loss to their old archrivals, Patsy’s.

The Bombers are sponsored (and owned) by Casa Trejo Mexican Restaurant (34636 County Line) and Casa Trejo Tortilla Factory in San Bernardino.

LA Daily News points out the great pick-your-own-fruit options in Oak Glen, with a focus on Snow-Line Orchards and Riley's Farm.

There's also a sense of history for both the farms and the people who visit them.

Snow-Line was established as a business in 1898, and the Hudson family, the fourth family to own it, has been running it for 28 years. They've seen more than a little change over that time.

"We've just seen (you-pick) become more popular," said Scott Hudson, one of the owners of Snow-Line Orchards. "We've had people who came up here as kids, then they come back as adults and bring their kids. It's a really good feeling."

Apple season is around the corner, and raspberries are pickable until the first frost.

The Highland Community News reports that Chino Hills resident Cheryl A. Marshall is the new vice president of instruction at Crafton Hills College.

“Coming from a huge college to a small college has been really nice,” she said. “Everyone has been very welcoming and very open. I look forward to getting to know everyone.” Among Marshall's main goals is implementing the college's educational master plan, which is geared toward making CHC a premier community college for public safety and health services and for college transfer preparation.

“CHC is a very student-centered campus, which is a huge advantage,” she said. “Students who are considering coming to CHC should know that they're going to get an excellent education from people who care about them.”

Tags: Yucaipa

Weekly News Roundup: August 18 Edition

Yucaipa news for the week of August 12-18.

City News

• The City Planning Commission met on August 15th (agenda pdf).
  
• The Parks and Recreation Committee Meeting will be August 22 at 6:30 PM in the Community Center. The agenda has not yet been posted.
  
• The City Council meeting scheduled for August 27, 2007 has been canceled.

The front page of this week's News Mirror was a story about residents of Carter St. who are trying to get the City Council to implement measures to deter speeders.

Nearly a dozen citizens, with many more attending for reinforcement and support, addressed the council, recounting their memories of [the July 6th] accident along with other tales of collisions with trees, property, parked cars and numerous experiences of close-calls of the residents themselves, all from drivers who use this road as a speedway. Each citizen demonstrated fears for themselves and their families, particularly those with children who live along Carter.

“It's a concern for all of us. We're fearful of allowing our children to play outside,” said Beth Morabito.

One of the major problems this particular street faces is that it is an approximate two mile stretch of downhill road that quickly changes from a rural to a residential area with nothing to slow down the speeding drivers.

Among the suggestions made to the council was a four-way stop at the corner of Carter and Fremont Streets, where there is currently a two-way stop. No changes to the street were promised, but Police Chief Bart Gray has said he will "make this area a high priority for patrol." I'll have more on the story later this week.

At the same meeting , Captain Gray presented his mid-year report for 2007. Here are the numbers:

• reported crime was down 9% over the same period last year
• one murder, the same as last year
• 5 rapes, same as last year
• 6 robberies, up from 4 in the same period of 2006; 128 burglaries (102 in 2006), 263 larceny (217 in 2006), and 62 grand theft auto (63 in 2006)
  
• 14 cases of aggravated assault, way down from last year's 32; 100 cases of simple assault, well up from last year's 61
• 2 cases of arson, same as in 2006
  
• there has been a 19% decrease in the number of traffic collisions
• 2,768 traffic citations
• 117 DUI arrests
• he said three areas required added attention: "Habitual offenders, juvenile crime and the safety of our school campuses and traffic."

You can read the full report in the August 13 City Council meeting agenda/minutes (pdf).

The Sun reports that the city council also decided to allow city staffers to arrange an agreement with Hoover Ranch to change from raised chicken cages to ground-level pens.

The way chicken coops are currently set up, manure can collect in piles and become a breeding ground for flies, McMains said. Letting the birds live on the ground could prevent their waste from accumulating in gobs, and chickens could control the fly population by munching on insect larvae. Hoover Ranch's plans had to go before the council because the ranch, near the crossing of Carter and Jefferson streets, is in a northeast Yucaipa residential zone, McMains said.

That should reduce the smell, but it's not clear how long it will take for the plan to be implemented.

Other Yucaipa News In Brief

• A third man, Christopher Dean Dacosta (18) of Bermuda Dunes, has been arrested in the beating death of Mark Douglas Smith of Big Bear City. Smith's body was found on July 23rd along the dirt extension of Avenue E. Aaron Alan Dixon of Yucaipa was arrested on July 25 and Kelly Lucien McLeod of Yucaipa was arrested July 31.
• According to the Sun, Michael Dwaine Elmore of Yucaipa was arrested this week for the suspected rape of a sleeping woman in December 2004. "The victim had been going to counseling and was finally able to confront what had happened."
  
• The City Council has asked for a proposal to raise the monthly mobile home rental fee from $4 to $7.84, to be split be mobile home residents and park owners. The money would go to fund the Mobilehome Rent Stabilization Program.
  
• The City Council approved a contract of up to $22,000 for the further study of the proposed Oak Hills Marketplace on Live Oak Canyon Rd, just off I-10. According to the Sun "Target Stores, which will pay the cost of the study, has requested that the report show the environmental effects of a new shopping center if Target trims five acres and 80,000 square feet of building space from its plans."
  
• The Yucaipa High School Turf and Track Committee is looking for donations to ensure the new artificial turn field at Yucaipa High School is completed in time for the first home football game, scheduled for September 7. "Any donations or inquires can be made at the high school at 797-0106."

Yucaipans in the News

The News Mirror has a touching story of the Ortiz family. All three of teenaged Ortiz kids - Kira, 17, Thomas, 14, and Krisalynn, 12 - suffer from the rare and life-threatening disease, mitochondrial myopathy. The inherited condition is so rare that the family must often travel to Ohio to consult a doctor with expertise in the treatment. Despite hospitalizations and symptoms of their illness, all three kids sound like hard-working achievers.

• Kira - who wasn't expected to live past the age of 7 - is entering her senior year at Yucaipa High and is working on a book. She has expressed interest in becoming a youth minister after graduation.
  
• Thomas will be attending the YHS Ninth Grade campus. In May he received his heart's desire from the Kids Wish Network: his own French horn. He is planning to join the band this school year. He is interested in studying genetics.
  
• Krisalynn is entering seventh grade at Park View this year. She is interested in zoology, and her wish to swim with dolphins was granted by the Kids Wish Network.
  

If you know a kid who might be in need of having a wish granted, contact the Kids Wish Network.

The News Mirror has an update on Yucaipa High School grad, Marine Lance Corporal Joshua D. Pico who is currently serving in Iraq.

From Iraq Pico says, “Ramadi was pretty bad when we got here but the people are making a turn around to make this city safer.” He helps contractors fix schools or build new ones, make soccer fields and repair power and water lines. “The big picture,” Pico says, “is that we are trying to make Iraq better.” Pico told the News Mirror that when his deployment and contract is done he is not sure whether he wants to re-enlist or not.

Pico is scheduled to arrive home on leave September 1st.

The Sun writes about 92-year-old painter Catherine Stone, who lives in an assisted living center in Yucaipa and is a member of the VisionQuest Center for Creativity.

Stone said painting has kept her creative and it might be her recipe for aging gracefully. "I think it kept me from being a little old lady," she said chuckling. "I try to keep my sense of humor. I try to do something useful every day and I have a lot of faith."

The News Mirror has picked up the story about Clifford E. Trafzer being named the Costo Chair in American Indian Affairs at UC Riverside. Trafzer is scheduled to speak at the Yucaipa Valley Historical Society on October 7.

The News Mirror reports on Yucaipa High School varsity pitcher Matt Davidson's experience at the trials for USA Baseball Youth National Team. Davidson was named to the team last Friday, and will compete in the World Youth Championships in Barquisimeto, Venezuela this coming week.

The Yucaipa-Calimesa Joint Unified School District Board of Education presented three of the district's employees: Georgia Rankin for her work in Business Services, Fred Nelson in the maintenance department, and Tracy Doeden for her work in child nutrition at Yucaipa High School.

Tags: Yucaipa

Weekly News Roundup: August 11 Edition

Here's the Yucaipa news from the last week.

City News

The next City Council meeting is August 13 at 6PM. Download the Agenda Packet (pdf).

On the front page of this week's News Mirror was a sad story about animal cruelty. Yucaipa resident Debbie Roth complained several times to San Bernardino Animal Care and Control Department that her North Bench neighbor, Robert Minerich, was neglecting the many animals (goats, cats, dogs, chickens, and more) on his property. Each time they came out to investigate, Minerich was able to convince them that he was caring for his animals. It wasn't until July 23, that Roth was able to convince an Officer to come out again to check on the suffering animals.

The animals were in dire straits and needed immediate attention. It was too late for one dog on the property that was found dead tethered to a tree with no access to food or water. Davison called Smith to the location, who in turn called the Police Department to the scene and began removing the animals.

The Police Department was able to gain access to the inside of the home where more animals were found in deplorable conditions. The animals were locked in a sweltering house without food or water, where floors were covered with feces and urine. In addition, investigators found that the water on the property had been shut off two days before so the automatic water supplies had no way of being used by animals.

Minerich's house has been red-tagged as uninhabitable and his animals are on on "legal hold" until the investigation is complete. I can't even begin to understand people who don't care for their pets.

In what I would consider related news, The San Bernardino County Sun reports that a new, centralized animal shelter serving the East Valley (including Yucaipa) has been proposed. It's not just that there would be space for more animals, according to Ken Childress, animal control director for the city of San Bernardino.

Childress says an added benefit of a new shelter is improved animal care. At existing shelters, sick animals are taken to private veterinarians. In-house veterinary services could be established if a new central shelter is built, Childress said.

"It would probably double our adoption rates because it guarantees people a healthy pet," Childress said. "The end result is reduced euthanasia. When you have a shelter full of sick animals, it drives down the marketability of adoption."

According to the Sun, San Bernardino County Supervisors are moving forward with a plan to repair potholes and seal cracks on Sand Canyon Road all the way to Crafton Avenue.

"This is a win-win situation for the residents, taxpayers, and drivers in the area because it will protect and prolong the pavement," said 3rd District Supervisor Dennis Hansberger in a prepared statement. "It will not only make the roads better and safer, but it will save valuable resources and time so the pavement lasts longer."

The Sun also reports that a number of schools in the Yucaipa-Calimesa Joint Unified School District have been spruced up over the summer.

Keep an eye out for the new flooring that were done in 46 classrooms at Canyon Middle School, Yucaipa Elementary School, Yucaipa High 9th-Grade Campus School, Ridgeview Elementary School, Park View Elementary School, Oak View Education Center and Valley Elementary School.

There has been exterior painting at Park View Middle School and Yucaipa High School, and new paving at Yucaipa HS and the 9th Grade Campus.

The Yucaipa Planning Commission met on August 1. Some of the bits from that meeting:

• The new shopping center at I-10 and Live Oak Canyon Road being developed by Target will probably not have a movie theater.
  

  Associate City Planner Toomey told the commission that a cinema had backed out of the project, but other businesses have filled in the space. Toomey said while there were no specifics given, the decision may have been based on marketing and demographic decisions, including the expansion of the Kirkorian theater in Redlands and plans for a theater in Banning.

• There were no objections for a proposed 4,900 square foot storage unit at the 31000 block of Dunlap Blvd at the existing Shoein' Shop.
• A new office building on the southwest corner of Yucaipa Blvd. and 13th Street has been proposed.
  

  Magnolia, who also represented Jim Peterson and this project, which is to be built adjacent to Zabella's Mexican Restaurant, said, “The offices and retail stores would compliment the restaurant in structural esthetics and landscape.”

• A new car wash has been proposed for Yucaipa Blvd. near 10th, between Del Taco and A&W.
  

  After adjournment Mr. Toomey was asked if consideration was made that a car wash was being planned merely a stones throw away from another car wash with similar amenities. He said, “We are getting two more car washes. Demographic studies show this city can use even more.”
  
  He further noted, “Each car wash is different from all the others in some way. Some people like doing the work while others don't want to get out of their car.”

  That sounds totally crazy to me, but I wash my own car.
  

Apparently two "gargantuan developments" have been proposed for the western side of Calimesa, near the northern border with Yucaipa (map).

Corona-based Fiesta Development is the company proposing Mesa Verde Estates, a 1,492-acre project designed to include 3,450 dwellings, 350,000 square feet of commercial space, more than 57 acres of parks and about 453 acres of natural open space.

They could begin construction on Mesa Verde Estates as early as September 2008.

Developers have already won the City Council's approval for tentative tract maps covering all 2,590 acres of SummerWind Ranch. Workers could start building models for the 3,683 homes planned for SummerWind Ranch in 2008, said Peter Johnson, senior project manager for SunCal Companies, the Irvine-based firm developing it. Besides homes, SummerWind's designs include 129 acres for commercial development, 130 acres for business parks, 645 acres of open space, 90 acres of parks and space for three schools. Johnson said developers are working with Forest City Enterprises, the same company that operates Victoria Gardens in Rancho Cucamonga, to plan a new shopping center.

The Calimesa City Council will hold hearings in the coming weeks on the Mesa Verde Estates project.

Yucaipans in The News

The Press-Enterprise reports on the graduation of Class 67 of the Emergency Medical Technician-Paramedic program at Crafton Hills College.

Fifteen students now hold certificates from an intense program that included about four months of classroom time, 200 hours of hospital rotations and 600 hours of interning with a fire department or an ambulance crew.

Check out the article for a photo of the graduating class.

Yucaipa's Michael Coronado graduated with a degree in biochemistry from UC Riverside in June and is entering the Molecular Toxicology and Environmental Medicine Ph.D. program at The Johns Hopkins University.

His experiences at UC Riverside led him to say, “I knew that conducting research was definitely a passion that I could keep for the rest of my life because the fulfillment attained from it is truly grand.”

Good luck to Michael!

I love the headline for this article in the News Mirror: "Ellen Marie Drummonds - Destined for something great". She's not quite Harry Potter, but Ellen is a smart, academically-successful 14-year-old. Like most 14-year-olds she is still deciding on her post-high-school path: first doctor, then lawyer, now a novelist a la J.K. Rowling. To that end she's been taking Brenda Hill Seaman's novel writing class at Yucaipa Community Center and writing poetry.

She has her sights set on college and plans to apply for scholarships to help pay her expenses. She'd love to go to Stanford or, to be closer to home, University of Redlands. Miss Drummonds seems to be headed for something special in the future; perhaps we'll all be reading her novels in a few years.

Ellen if you are reading this: keep reading widely and set your sights high! You'll be pleasantly surprised when you get to college and find yourself surrounded by others who love books and learning. Also, consider the University of California - UCR is close to home, and UCB (my alma mater) is naturally superior to that other northern California college.

The News Mirror also has a nice story about the return of a young man to the Yucaipa Teen Center at 12385 Seventh St. at the park.

As the conversation went on, Hester said he mentioned how much he enjoyed hanging out there and what a huge influence the Teen Center had on him. He recalled how positive the staff was and how they kept him on the right path to do the right thing and make the right decisions, especially when it came to dealing with peer pressure to do drugs and alcohol. The last thing he asked was, “Do you accept donations?” Hester and his staff said proudly, “Yes, we do.” The man was gone before they got his name.

The Center is for teens from sixth grade to high school seniors to come and hang out after school or on holidays or during the summer.

The Fostering a Brighter Future blog has an article about Trinity Youth Services that was founded in Yucaipa in 1966.

A single group home in rural Yucaipa forty years ago is now home to a residential treatment center for sixty-six foster youth. Students learn to deal with the anger that comes from being victims of abuse and neglect and learn how to create healthy relationships with peers and adults through Trinity’s proprietary treatment approach, Group Centered Leadership. Students also receive individual therapy and attend specialty groups that address treatment needs. Adjacent to the campus is a non-public school designed to meet the special education needs of the children in care, Wilson Creek Jr./Sr. High School.

Finally, searching via Google News always pulls up some unexpected articles. This week I found one in the Waxahachie Daily Light about the 2007 Youth National Baseball Team. Yucaipan right-handed pitcher Matt Davidson is one of six players from California named to the team.

Team USA will remain in Cary (North Carolina) for four days of training before departing for Barquisimeto, Venezuela to compete in the IBAF World Youth Championships August 17-26.

Go Team USA!

Tags: Yucaipa, news

Weekly News Roundup: August 4 Edition (2 weeks for the price of 1)

Here's a roundup of the highlights of the last two weeks of Yucaipa news. It seems like we have had more crime than usual over the past couple of weeks. It must be the full moon or something.

City News: Crime

On Monday, July 23, Mario Medina Perez of Downey fled the scene of a traffic collision on Interstate 10 near Wabash street (map) and was shot by off-duty sheriff's deputy when he pulled a handgun and fired at the officer. Perez was booked into jail after surgery for his wounds.

• July 25 Press-Enterprise: Man accused of firing at deputy arrested
• July 24 San Bernardino County Sun: Man fleeing from crash shot in clash with sheriff's deputy
  
• July 23 Press-Enterprise: Man wounded in shootout with off-duty deputy in Yucaipa
  

Also on July 23, a hiker found the body of 46-year-old Mark Douglas Smith in a ravine alongside the dirt extension of Avenue E in southeastern Yucaipa (map). Two Yucaipans have been arrested in the Big Bear Resident's murder. Smith, who had been released from jail on July 21, apparently fought with 18-year-old Aaron Alan Dixon at a party in the 34000 block of Avenue E. Dixon was arrested July 25, and a second suspect, Kelly Lucien McLeod, was arrested July 31. Reports:

• August 1 San Bernardino County Sun: Second suspect arrested in man's fatal beating.
• August 1 Yucaipa/Calimesa News Mirror: Two charged with murder on Avenue E.
  
• July 27 San Bernardino County Sun: Fistfight at party blamed for death.
• July 26 Press-Enterprise: Yucaipa resident held in killing of man found dead in ditch Monday
• July 25 Press-Enterprise: Man slain hours after his release from Glen Helen jail
  
• July 24 San Bernardino County Sun: Hiker finds body off dirt road
  

  The desolate dirt patch where the body was found is a sore spot with people who moved to Yucaipa for peace and solitude.

  Kids are known to park on the windy roads and hang out, neighbors say. They speed past the houses and drive across their immaculate lawns. Armed men have been seen up there, and neighbors believe it is a hot spot for drug deals.

  The murder "was terrible, but I hope some good will come out of it," said Barbara Bartley.

  She explains that her neighborhood has been trying to get the City Council to approve a gate on the street to deter out-of-the-area people from going there.

• July 23 Press-Enterprise: Man's body found off road in Yucaipa
  

27-year-old Isaiah Waldron of Redlands was arrested on suspicion of carjacking a taxi on July 27th. The cab driver drove a fare to an address in the 35000 block of Canyon View Drive in Yucaipa (map). When the driver exited the cab to retrieve his fare, Waldron came out of a home, began jumping on the car, then jumped in and began to drive away. The driver was caught on the front bumper and broke his foot as he was dragged by the car. Waldron turned himself in on July 30th.

• July 31 Redlands Daily Facts: Taxi cab carjacking suspect surrenders.
• August 1 Yucaipa/Calimesa News Mirror: One arrested in carjacking
  

City News: Development and Schools

The Yucaipa/Calimesa News Mirror asks "Are we bursting our small town seams?" Some people like having the amenities. Others, not so much.

Life-long resident Shannon Eckert has remained in the community because she has always appreciated the small town feel of Yucaipa. Eckert said, “I wanted to raise my two boys here because it is a small town and free from many of the problems larger cities face. I don't mind driving to Redlands or San Bernardino for services and then being able to return home to the safety and hometown feel of Yucaipa.”

She added, “I don't mind the stores or restaurants, it's the new housing tracts that are bringing in people and over-populating this small town.”

As a resident in one of the newer housing tracts I have mixed feelings too. Part of the appeal of living here is the the peace and quiet. However, I'd also like a greater selection of restaurants and shops - but not really big box stores with their football-field sized parking lots and ugly appearance. I'm happy enough to drive 20 minutes to Walmarts and Home Depot. According to the Yucaipa Community Development Director, there will be a maximum of 6,550 more units which will take 25 more years to build

The Press-Enterprise reports that the three housing developments near the Interstate 10 - Live Oak Canyon interchange (map) have local neighbors concerned about the proposed development on land owned by the Robinson family.

But he and other neighbors were shocked this month to learn of a proposal for 810 apartments across the street, part of a plan for 3,982 multi-family dwellings, 178 single-family houses and 137 acres of commercial development on the family's 522 acres. The projects are split between three sites, two south of Interstate 10 at the canyon mouth and one north of the freeway and east of Oak Glen Road.

"Even an idiot can see you shouldn't build apartments," Winkler said, gesturing at the view of the canyon.

Neighbors in Redlands and Yucaipa learned about the project after the Yucaipa planning division mailed a notice to landowners on July 3. The project is on the border between the two cities.

About 9% of the proposed multi-family units would be low-income housing. Not only would could the increase in population overwhelm local rural roads, it could require the building of up to three new schools. The proposed development would require amendment of the city's plan for the development in the area, which "envision 1,500 houses, open space and a pedestrian-oriented shopping area."

The Press-Enterprise reports that construction of the artificial turf field at Yucaipa High School is proceeding without state review.

The Yucaipa-Calimesa district's legal counsel doesn't believe the approval is necessary, he said. He cited a document from the state architect that reads: "For school site improvement projects that involve only grading, landscaping ... or other work that does not support structures or involve their utilities, the school board is not required to file an application for DSA approval."

The document Stevenson cited refers more to the Field Act, which addresses seismic safety, said Craig Rush, principal structural engineer and regional manager for the division of the state architect. He said he didn't know the specifics of the Yucaipa High project.

Not having approval could expose school board members to personal liability if problems occur later, Rush said.

The Press-Enterprise reports that the new Inland Leaders Charter School has "cash-flow concerns," which is one reason why the Yucaipa-Calimesa school district is planning to "keep a close eye on the school's finances."

[33-year-old director Mike Gordon] acknowledged that his age might lead some to question his ability.

"People would consider me young," said Gordon, who said he reveals his age only reluctantly, despite having spent a decade in education. "I have limited experience in administration compared to some."

Others aren't as worried about his age as they are his school's finances. Yucaipa-Calimesa Superintendent Sherry Kendrick said the district plans to monitor Inland Leaders' financial state, noting that most failed charter schools were sunk by money problems.

The district is also concerned with teachers' job security (as is the Yucaipa-Calimesa Educators Association) and the exodus of 100 or so students from the district schools.

The British supermarket giant Tesco (think Walmart) is planning to build a Fresh & Easy grocery (think Trader Joe's) here in Yucaipa on the Southwest corner of Oak Glen Rd & Yucaipa Blvd (map - next to the CVS?). They applied for a liquor license in February, which is still pending. The San Bernardino County Sun reports that Tesco may not live up to its promise to be employee and environmentally friendly.

"Tesco has been especially adept at marketing itself as a socially responsible corporation," said Robert Gottlieb, a professor of urban and environmental policy at Occidental College. "However, our examination of Tesco's policies shows that its track record has significant gaps between what it has promised and how it has achieved its current position as one of the top multinational operations."

The San Bernardino County Sun reports that development along Greenspot Road between Highland and Yucaipa (map) will be significantly reconfigured as housing developments are built in the area, hopefully making a wider, less curvy road that can allow cars to safely travel at 55mph.

The city's general plan calls for a new road to be built that will branch off from Greenspot near the Santa Ana River and cut southeast across a swath of land to connect with Highway 38 near Bryant Street in Yucaipa. But it is the developers who will determine the timeline on that project, officials said.

About 1,600 acres of land southeast of Greenspot Road between the Highland city limits and Yucaipa is prime land eyed for residential development.

"We expect it will be a fairly significant development, 2,000 to 2,500 houses out there. That's what we're expecting potentially," said John Jaquess, Highland's community development director, of the area he refers to as "Sunrise Ranch."

Yucaipa City Council

The Trails and Open Space Committee Meeting will take place on August 7th at City Hall. Read the agenda (pdf).

You can read the agenda packet from the July 23 City Council Meeting (pdf). The next meeting is scheduled for August 13.

According to the News Mirror, the City Council is still talking about adding a shade for concerts at Yucaipa Community Park. The Press-Enterprise also takes a look at the park in front of City Hall that's finally taking shape.

Yucaipans in the News

The News Mirror reports that the Yucaipa Dynasty 12 and under fast pitch softball team is the champion of the NSA Western World Series, held in Stockton.

“We have Coach Nina Lindenberg to thank for the outstanding hitting demonstrated,” said Winters.

Lindenberg was overheard saying, “These girls played better than most 18-Under teams that I have seen play

The San Bernardino County Sun profiles Yucaipan Cliff Trafzer who has just been named the Rupert Costo Endowed Chair in American Indian History and American Indian Affairs at UC Riverside.

For Trafzer, it's an honer to have been selected. UCR along with many schools around the nation and Canada competed to receive the Casto [sic] funds, and after many recommendations, Trafzer was selected.

"I'm honored and privileged to continue to work in American Indian studies here at UCR and the American Indian communities."
[. . .]
Trafzer said he works to instill in his students a deep appreciation of the American Indian history. Though Native American history is taught in early grade level schools, it is not as emphasized as the history of America's forefathers.

Trafzer's goals have not only been to teach or research the history of Native Americans, but to pass on the passion he has to his students so they can continue the tradition.

The San Bernardino County Sun reports that The Farm Artisan Foods in Redlands gets their heirloom tomatoes from Maria Elser of Elser's Country Farm in Yucaipa. It's all part of their effort to use fresh locally grown produce.

Reingrover said the market gets their tomatoes from Yucaipa, their oranges from the Foothill Groves in Redlands and their eggs from Yucaipa and Cherry Valley. "We periodically have all kinds of things coming in," he said.

Reingrover often goes to Market Night to seek out other local growers, knowing, quite simply, that local growers just offer a better product.

"It tastes better," he said.

Check out the Elser's Country Farm web site for some excellent-sounding fresh tomato recipes.

The San Bernardino County Sun profiles Powerhouse Gym owner (and former Mr. San Diego) Ian VanGuilder.

VanGuilder understands that not everyone can afford to pay high gym costs or hire a personal trainer, so he takes a personal interest in everyone who walks through his doors.
[. . .]
When he took over Powerhouse, VanGuilder decided he wanted to be a part of the community. He upgraded and installed the latest equipment and offered his facilities for charity fundraisers, which led to the event on Saturday.

The Finally, San Bernardino County Sun reports that 47-year-old Yucaipan Eva Woods, a West Valley Superior Court clerk, has been arrested for eliminating fines or dismissing traffic tickets for her ex-husband and boyfriend. Woods plead "not guilty" to the charges. The story was also reported in the Press-Enterprise and the Yucaipa/Calimesa News-Mirror.

Whew! I hope it's quiet in Yucaipa this week.

Tags: Yucaipa, news

Weekly News Roundup: July 21 Edition

This week's news seems to be heavy on construction and low on crime. That's a good thing, I think.

City News

The Yucaipa Planning Commission met July 18. Download the agenda and minutes (pdf). The next meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, August 1.

Robinson Properties submitted a project notice indicating it would like to develop over 1,000 housing units on the north side of I-10 in what is District 1 of the Freeway Corridor Plan. Apparently Robinson Properties is either ignorant of (or chose to ignore) the current planning for that district.

The project notice submitted by Robinson Properties could hardly be more inconsistent with the city's projected development plan for this area. For example, the project notice distributed to adjacent property owners and reviewing agencies proposes a residential development called Oak Ridge Village on the hillside below Colorado Street, even though this area is designated as open space in the current Specific Plan.

The city council has approved the development of some residential units in District 1: up to 48 units on half acre lots. The Robinson Properties proposal calls for over 1,000 units in District 1 on approximately 60 acres.

A quick check with the calculator shows that the proposed units would average 0.06 acre lots instead of 0.5 acre lots - could Robinson have just misplaced a decimal point? Check out the current Preferred Land Use Map (pdf) for details of the proposed land use in the area.

Work on the I-10/Live Oak Canyon/Oak Glen Road interchange will begin in August.

The contract will cover the replacement of the current two-lane bridge with a new five-lane bridge. Eastbound and westbound ramps will be widened and realigned, traffic signals will be installed and the area between Calimesa Boulevard and Outer Highway South will be reconstructed.

The Public Works department has indicated that the bridge over the freeway (map) will remain open during construction, which will take 18-24 months.

Other news from the July update from the Public Works department (pdf):

• Oak Glen Rd. Widening between Avenue E and Yucaipa Blvd (map): Phage I (Utility Relocation) is complete. Phase II (pavement rehabilitation and widening to 4 lanes) is scheduled to be completed in August.
• 7th Street Park Rehabilitation (map): The restroom is completed and remaining construction will begin this month, to be completed in August.
• Traffic Signal Installation at Wildwood Canyon Rd & 5th Street (map): scheduled for completion in September.
• Traffic Signal Modification at Yucaipa Blvd. & 4th St (map): scheduled to be completed in September.
• Traffic Signal Modification at County Line Rd & 5th (map): scheduled to be completed in September.
• City Wide Speed Survey: scheduled to be completed this month
• Civic Center Park (map): scheduled to be completed this month
• Community/Bryant Glen Park Tree Planting (map): scheduled to be completed this month
• Yucaipa Blvd South Side Widening between 7th and 10th St (map): scheduled to begin this month and be completed by December
  

The San Bernardino County Sun reports that it looks like the end of the road for the Live Oak Canyon Christmas Tree Farm (map). Owner Gregg Palmer says they will be open for the 2007 October pumpkin and December Christmas tree seasons. In 2008 it may all be gone if the proposed Oak Hills Marketplace is finally approved.

If Palmer is able to find a new spot for the business, he may not have to move far.

He said Palmer General Corp., his family's company, owns 450 acres of land and is in the process of selling a portion of the acreage for marketplace. So there's a possibility that the farm could be moved to another part of the family's land or somewhere else in the Yucaipa area, Palmer said.

The Oak Hills Marketplace is slated to include a Super Target and possibly another large store such as Costco. There will be a public hearing on the project at the August 1st planning commission meeting.

Representative Joe Baca (D-Rialto) is trying to equal our Representative Jerry Lewis for local spending earmarks. As the San Bernardino County Sun reports , if the spending bills are approved Yucaipa gets a bit of the pork:

$305,000 to the Army Corps of Engineers for an ongoing study of erosion control and reduction of the impact of flooding along Wilson and Oak Glen creeks in Yucaipa.

$200,000 to develop joint park-and-recreation facilities between Yucaipa and Crafton Hills College.

Meanwhile, the San Bernardino County Sun reports that the residents of Mentone have mixed feelings about the construction in their town. Eventually there will be continues devepment between there and Yucaipa.

Farther down the highway, west of Bryant Street in Yucaipa, Oregon-based McDougal Bros. Inc. is grading land to prepare 57 lots for the Crafton Hills Estates. The lots are expected to be ready for building on in November, said Phil Velie, a spokesman for the company.

He said it hasn't been decided if the lots will be sold to a builder or used for custom-built homes. The company will evaluate the housing market in the fall in helping to decide which way to go.

The next city council meeting is Monday, July 23. Download the agenda packet (pdf).

Yucaipans in the News

Yucaipa Little Leaguers dominated the annual district tournament.

• 9-10 year old National All-Stars were champions of District 58
• Yucaipa Valley National Little League 11 year old All-Stars won the District 58 title.
• Yucaipa Valley National Little League 12 year-old won the District 58 title, beating last year's winner, Yucaipa Valley American Little League.
  

The San Bernardino County Sun reports that when Yucaipa brothers Steven and Terry Vakoc had their $10,000 dirt bikes stolen last year they thought they were gone for good. Deputies Wade Samuelson and Tony Negerte didn't give up though.

When the suspected thief failed to pay the storage fees, the facility cracked open his storage space and discovered the bikes. They reported the bikes to the police, and a DMV check revealed it was Terry Vakoc's missing dirt bike.

Negerte got the thief's address from the Alpine Storage, and paid him a visit.

Negerte said the man told him the other bike was sold. He also said there was someone else involved in the theft, according to Negerte. Then Negerte was able to recover Steve Vakoc's bike from the person who bought it.

The brothers are grateful for the deputies' hard work and are happy to have their bikes back.

Tags: Yucaipa, news

Weekly News Roundup: July 14 Edition

Here is your roundup:

City News

Congressman Jerry Lewis got a bit of money for Yucaipa included in the Fiscal Year 2008 spending bill for transportation, housing and economic development that was approved by the House Appropriations Committee. According to the Banning/Beaumont Record Gazette:

Also approved in the bill was a $200,000 Economic Development Initiative grant for development of a joint park and recreation facilities with Yucaipa and Crafton Hills College. The city's population has grown to more than 51,000, and this grant would help pay for the first substantial recreation facilities in the area.

The bill will be up for approval by the House next week.

The Yucaipa City Council clarified the city's Hillside Preservation Ordinance on two points:

• drainage channels are "exempt from acreage total used to calculate the amount of open space required of a development project."
• open space cannot be put to commercial or personal use. A public trail or pond for wildlife would probably be permitted, but the idea is to keep it as natural as possible.

Other bits:

• Construction of Civic Center Park is on schedule (map). The final cost is estimated to be about $700,000.
• The fire gutted USA Cleaners and adjacent businesses in Stater Bros Center - even those with just smoke damage (Hallmark, Yucaipa Family Dentistry) - will be closed for at least two months.
• Bye bye birdies! Now you can keep no more than nine birds if you live in a singal residential zone in Yucaipa.
  
• Pumpkins have been planted for the last time at the Live Oak Canyon Pumpkin Patch and Christmas tree farm. After Christmas the land will be cleared for a Target shopping center.
• Groundbreaking ceremonies were held for the new Turf and Track project on Thunderbird Field.
  

Two 16-year-olds took their aunt's car for a joyride at 80-100 miles per hour on Carter road. According to the News Mirror:

The driver lost control of the vehicle when it hit a dip in the road at Fremont Street. Heading toward a man in the street who had just exited his truck, the driver overcorrected and veered north, lost a wheel, which flew through a window, landed on a chair and slammed into a closet. The car destroyed a tree, crossed into the next yard, clipped the corner of the house and landed inside the bedroom.

Luckily neither the driver, the passenger , nor anyone inside the house were seriously injured.

On Wednesday, July 11, 53-year old Carson Edmond Lowe triggered a crash at the Live Oak Canyon/Oak Glen I-10 offramp. Lowe fled the scene, but two of the drivers involved in the crash followed Lowe to his home just south of the Yucaipa border (12000 block of Kendall Way). Lowe threatened them with a handgun, and they called police. Lowe threatened the officers with the gun, resulting in a standoff with the house surrounded by snipers and a helicopter overhead. Lowe was eventually taken into custody.

• San Bernardino County Sun: Suspect keeps police at bay Man accused of hit and run (with video)
• Los Angeles Times: Redlands man's arrest ends 8-hour standoff
• Press-Enterprise: Barricaded man in Redlands gives up after 8 hours
• Redlands Daily Facts: Redlands man surrenders after 8-hour standoff

Yucaipans in the News

In 1991 there was a contentious recall attempt of three members of the Yucaipa School Board.

Opponents called [school board member Jan Mishodek] foul names, her house was broken into and a truckload of manure was dumped on the steps of her husband's real estate office in Yucaipa.

At the same time, her supporters led a counter protest and the California Superintendent of Public Instruction Bill Honig came from Sacramento to stand behind her.

In the end, the recall was defeated and Mishodek stayed on the board.

Sadly, but not surprisingly, it was an ultra-right "Christian" group who felt the books in the literature series called "Impressions " were "promoting devil worship and anti-patriotic ideas." (IMHO parents who fight for ignorance in the schools should not be allowed to have a say in their or any children's education.). Mishodek passed away last week at the age of 79.

Make-a-Wish foundation made 7-year-old Cheyenne Broswell's wish come true: she and her family were given an all-expense paid trip to Orlando to visit Disney World. Cheyenne was diagnosed with a deadly brainstem glioma in December. Local real estate agent LaVonne Webb is helping by donating her commission on the sale of a custom home to Cheyenne's family. If you want to help Cheyenne and her family with expenses "an account has been set up in Cheyenne's name at Wells Fargo Bank. For more information, call Elite Realty Group at (909) 794-6908, or visit www.caringbridge.org."

The San Bernardino County Sun reports on the San Bernardino County Museum's day camp program "Growing Up Serrano." (next offered July 30 through August 3),

"Camp staff has learned the methods for making traditional California Indian tools and games from the Serrano people as well as from other Southern California Indian people. We try to keep close to traditional methods while using materials available to us. It's an engaging way to learn about how the Indian people lived in our area in years past," says.

"The Serranos were people who interacted with nature. In fact, both classes deal with subject matter kids are innately interested in - nature."

Kids should enjoy the Serranos camp because they are the local people who made their home here in Yucaipa, says.

Other programs include "Art in Nature" (August 6-10). Details are available on the program flyer (pdf).

The Sun also profiles the Yucaipa Valley Gem and Mineral Society.

The society's goal is to promote and educate the public about the earth science, paleontology and laboratory arts.

"It's finding the treasure of the world," said Mike Reason, society member. "It's studying rocks and determining the history of the area that's appealing."

The society meets the second Thursday of the month at the Mousley Musem in Yucaipa. See their web site for more information about meetings, talks and field trips.

The Sun also reports that the Yucaipa Valley Historical Society has two books in the works to follow up "Images of America, Yucaipa, CA"

The second book will focus on Yucaipa's history from the 1940s up to the time of Yucaipa's incorporation.

The The third, Teeters said, would be a book made up of news articles that highlight major events and important issues that shaped the city.

The Society is also working toward republishing "Gold Mining in the Crafton Hills." The new edition will indicate the history of the apiary and dairy industry from the 1950s to date.

Finally, the Sun profiles artist Trudy Wood, who does pencil drawings for LifeHouse Theater.

"He talked to me about drawing a poster from photographs taken of the cast, and supplying me with a logo for the title. That started my first commissioned poster for LifeHouse," Wood said. "Wayne would give me an idea for the background but usually would give me complete creative freedom to put it all together. From there, the print shop would scan my poster and put it on the LifeHouse programs. And when Wayne does the same play with a new cast, they use my original poster for that play. I haven't redone any posters yet." Since then, Wood has produced nearly 36 posters of pencil drawings, one for each LifeHouse show.

You can see her latest work when their next production - "Noah and the Ark" - opens on August 11.


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