Vineyard Press

City News- By sector
The following entries are updates on issues affecting each neighborhood in Rancho Cucamonga. Please contact This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it if you have any comments on our sector format or if you would like to be a correspondent to the Vineyard Press covering your neighborhood.

• Hillsides: (All neighborhoods north of Hillside Road, including Haven View Estates, King’s Ranch, Inspiration, Rancho Hills Estates, and unincorporated areas) One problem is causing huge headaches. It is occurring in the far west side of this region- in the Inspiration/Skyline neighborhood, where cars are parking all over the neighborhood in order for people to make the hike up to Cucamonga Canyon swimming holes. The visitors are dropping trash, including beer cans, drug paraphernalia, used condoms, etc. The city must arrive at some decision quickly to preserve the quality of life for the residents. Parking permits for residents only should definitely be considered. No one deserves to have their neighborhood invaded by heaven knows who, littering and on some occasions casing the neighborhood. Other than that, the hillside areas are mostly holding steady in the difficult economy, occasionally producing new construction in small infill lots. Occasional foreclosures put stress on the ambience of the neighborhoods, though most foreclosed properties are snatched up sooner than in most other areas of the city. The west side of the Hillside area will benefit from a new fire station to be completed by early 2011. It will be located just below Hillside Road, on Hellman. Thousands of truckloads of dirt will be moved from stockpiles at the top of Amethyst to fill in the obsolete catch basin at the site, which was purchased from the county. Emergency response times will improve with the fire station at this location. The closest station previously was at Amethyst just below the 210 freeway. The top of Archibald, above city limits, continues to develop, with several homes planned in the “Rancho Hills Estates” neighborhood. The biggest issue confronting city leaders will be Gary Miller’s Carrari Ranch project of more than 140 homes at the top of Beryl. The bad economy has put the project on ice for a while, but it will be back. The difficult-to-develop hillside area above Charlotte Carrari’s old Christmas tree farm will undergo significant topographical changes to accommodate that many homes. Neighbors are largely opposed, though if the Miller homes are kept to the same standards as their neighbors (1/2 acre lots), most neighbors would acquiesce. However, such a move would greatly reduce the number of buildable lots, to between 40 and 50. Contact us at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it if you would like to add your two cents on this issue.

• Deer Creek: This neighborhood just above Chaffey College is steady as a rock. Not a lot of changes, other than some new construction on the north side. Deer Creek residents are surely aware of the proposed 1200 acre project that will be built north of Los Osos High School, from Haven View Estates on the west to Deer Creek on the east. It’s a monster project that will probably not see the light of day until 2020. But it will impact Deer Creek residents, who will insist that new communities to their east reflect similar densities and the high quality homes that they are accustomed to. It’s a good thing that the project, which could entail the building of potentially 3,000 living units, has been put on hold. Proponents of the project have mentioned commercial centers and multi-family units. Your editor’s concerns about apartments, condos, and retail/commercial will need to be addressed, given my longstanding opposition to multi-family units and retail/commercial construction north of the 210 Freeway. Traffic circulation issues will also need to be addressed, given the possibility of 6 or 7 thousand more vehicles traversing city streets. Regardless of how long the 1200-acre project takes to be developed, plans will move forward in the meantime to extend Wilson Avenue from Milliken to Day Creek. Ultimately, Wilson will extend to the eastern border of the city. Lastly, it should be noted that the city council has been debating the efficacy of a parking permit program for certain neighborhoods around Chaffey College. The debate started with the neighborhood just west of the Chaffey College entrance, but now Deer Creek may be affected if the neighbors on Wilson, Apple Lane, and Beechwood express an interest. Chaffey College has been expanding exponentially, with students parking in neighborhoods surrounding the college. “Two Hour Parking” signs have only had a limited effect, because of the sporadic nature of college classes. Parking permits are used by virtually all college towns, and may arguably make the neighborhoods safer. They are certainly used in cities like Beverly Hills, which limits evening parking on residential streets as well. Any resident wishing to weigh in on this issue should write me at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

• Alta Loma Northwest: (Alta Loma north of 210 Freeway, south of Hillside, and west of Beryl) This quiet part of the city is known for its Christmas light display on Thoroughbred Street and parts of Jennet Street. The city has become quite involved in supervising the traffic circulation between Thanksgiving and New Year’s, as this attraction brings throngs of viewers from all parts of the Inland Valley and beyond. Amenities include the beautiful Heritage Park, in the heart of equestrian country, and Beryl Park to the south. Schools in this area are Floyd Stork Elementary and Alta Loma Junior High. Not a lot of issues here lately, other than trying to keep Rancho residents shopping in Rancho, and not at the Upland Colonies, which is only a stone’s throw away. Impacts from the Colonies will arise from time to time. Upkeep of equestrian trails is always on people’s minds here. The new fire station on Hellman was originally planned for Heritage Park, but the Alta Loma Riding Club and others protested possible disturbances to horses from blaring fire trucks, as well as other impacts. Heritage Park will stay serene. Anyone wishing to enlighten us on issues in this area is welcome to write us at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

• Alta Loma Central: (north of 210 Freeway, south of Hillside, Beryl to the west, Haven to the east) This neighborhood is the recipient of the new fire station just south of Hillside on Hellman. It is discussed above on No. 1. There are no parks in this wide area, but two schools- Hermosa Elementary and Vineyard Junior High. Foreclosures are at a minimum here, and generally, the neighborhoods are pristine with few exceptions. The apartments at the northwest corner of Lemon and Haven have been cleaned up significantly. Crime is down, and the neighborhood is much-improved. The city needs to pay attention to the older sections of this area near Lemon and Haven. Home improvement loans/grants are available through the city, as well as significant opportunities for first-time homebuyers, especially for buyers of foreclosed properties. The apartment situation and crime really put a damper on the neighborhoods around Lemon and Haven. But help is on the way. The apartments were taken over with help from the city, and the quality of life is improving. But traffic issues generated by Chaffey College threaten to disturb the peace again. One neighborhood across from Chaffey College is fed up with student parking and loitering. They have requested permit parking for their streets. Chaffey College needs to step up and help solve the problem they created.

• Chaffey College: (including Compass Rose and neighborhoods east of Haven, north of the 210 Freeway and west of Milliken) As mentioned above, Chaffey College has exploded with students trying to get an education, especially in the current economy. But the quality of life has suffered in neighborhoods above and to the west of the college, where students have been observed loitering, littering, and generally showing disregard for residents. Chaffey also seems less a community focal point as it once was. The Fourth of July Fireworks spectacular was once held at the football stadium, but is now held at the Epicenter. It is just as well for residents who got fed up with the traffic congestion, as it took one to two hours for many to exit the college. Many high school football games were also held at Chaffey, but the high rental cost keeps high schools away except for rare occasions. The people of this area not only enjoy a local junior college, but they also have a fire station and Banyan Elementary. The open space area just east of Banyan Elementary will probably go in the sale along with the rest of the 1200-acre residential project in the next several years. Residents have expressed an interest in having a much-needed neighborhood park on that property. The apartments on Lemon Avenue have attracted some complaints in the past, primarily crime issues and the parking of vehicles all along Lemon Avenue after hours. The shopping area at Lemon and Haven got a much-needed boost when Trader Joe’s finally came to Rancho Cucamonga. That store had always been at the top of our wish list here at the Vineyard Press. Trader Joe’s made the move after Henry’s entered the city, and they preferred freeway access, not necessarily in a new center. It’s a great blessing that they chose their current location, as it gave Lemon/Haven a serious shot in the arm. Corky’s Café has also made the center a nice place. Complaints include the desire of residents to see the management company repaint stripes on the pavement, improve circulation and landscaping, and generally clean up the rather messy appearance of the center. Traffic congestion is a serious issue because of the proximity of Chaffey College, the freeway, and large apartment complexes.

• Caryn Community: (Highland Vineyards) This quaint community is home to Caryn Elementary, and a southerly neighbor of Los Osos High School, which neighbors liken to an imposing prison-looking structure. This is another case of the need for a local educational institution to become more of a partner to the neighborhoods around it. The northwest quadrant of Highland Vineyards has had trouble in the past with students parking on their streets. That would not be a problem, were it not for students removing garbage cans to park, leaving trash, including drug paraphernalia in mailboxes, egging neighbors’ homes who complain, having sex in cars, the list goes on. Most of the streets submitted petitions requesting two-hour parking during school days. That has been a good solution to most issues surrounding student parking, but some loitering continues in areas where students are dropped off before school and picked up afterwards. The police department is attempting to re-direct drop off traffic to other areas in order to reduce the congestion in the neighborhood and resulting loitering. Let’s see how it works when school begins on August 10. A semi-secluded parkway along many residences was blocked off, preventing students from loitering, selling drugs, and smoking. Unfortunately, some residents can’t enjoy the parkway either. Near Caryn Elementary, residents continue to express concern about the school traffic. Oddly, the school has very limited parking for staff. Some residents claim that teachers and other staff, as well as parents, crowd their neighborhood during the school week. Generally, the community is well kept and clean, with a few exceptions due to foreclosures.

• New Etiwanda: (new communities north of the 210 Freeway, including Day Creek west of Summit School) This booming community grew mostly during the latest housing spurt, and is trying hard to maintain its high value. Foreclosures are minimal, and the area is still highly desirable, partly because of strong schools (Day Creek Intermediate School, Summit Intermediate, Etiwanda Colonies Elementary and John Golden Elementary) and impeccable neighborhoods. Most of this community is new, with a few older neighborhoods to the southeast. Residents enjoy Day Creek Park, which finally got the lights fixed for night games. The park is definitely a focal point for residents, with a lot of activities also centered around the schools. Some residents complain about the rock crusher plant just west of Day Creek Boulevard, which brings trucks and their rock residue at early hours of the morning. The grinding of stones can be heard some evenings by area residents. Such a business is not conducive to residential living, and one of the benefits of seeing the 1200-acre development in the future will be the removal of the rock crusher plant. Wilson Avenue should be extended in the next few years to hook up Milliken with Day Creek. To the north, the county is almost finished with the North Etiwanda Preserve community trail, which will allow residents to hike and enjoy quite a few scenic surprises in their own backyard. You can view the progress by parking at the very top of Etiwanda and taking a walk. Enjoy! It’s your land. I have served for many years on the North Etiwanda Preserve Commission, which organized the building of the trail. I would love to organize some special evening hikes on significant occasions. The creative juices are flowing. Stay tuned!

• North Etiwanda: (Brentwood, San Sevaine, Pulte Homes) This community mixes the new with the not so new, yet beautiful neighborhoods on the outer limits of Rancho Cucamonga. Residents here are close to Fontana, but are quick to point out that they are NOT part of Fontana. Nevertheless, Rancho officials who cherish their sales tax dollars are trying to keep residents of North Etiwanda away from shops and restaurants (including COSTCO) in nearby North Fontana. Residents here enjoy a new park called Olive Grove Park, and are eagerly awaiting the continuation of Wilson Avenue to Day Creek and beyond in order to relieve traffic congestion to the south. Some residents have actually expressed concern with their proximity to Fontana. They would oppose the extension of Young’s Canyon Road, for example, if it would connect them to Cherry Avenue in Fontana. Having been the step child in Rancho’s outer limits, these residents are independent and resilient. But they expect their fair share of city services and amenities. There will be only limited growth in the future, as this area has almost reached its limit for residential development, which is a good thing for the people there. The extension of Wilson Avenue is a public safety issue, as the community needs quick response times from the fire station at the top of East Avenue.

• Etiwanda: (south of 210 Freeway) This area is both old and new, with quaint, medium-sized homes up against some of the largest new homes in the city. Amenities include access to the new Pacific Electric bike/running trail, Old Etiwanda historical sites and South Etiwanda Park. Schools here are Etiwanda High School, Etiwanda Intermediate, and Grapeland Elementary. Watch for the continuing evolution of the historical district. During the Founders’ Day Celebrations in November, Etiwanda Avenue is closed and a street faire brings the community together. Of note is the refurbishing of the Etiwanda Train Depot, along the old tracks (trail). When completed, it will be a landmark for everyone to enjoy. More details to follow. Also notice the cobblestone borders along the sides of Etiwanda Avenue. This area shows that a new community can retain its history, and look quite nice in the process. It will only get more beautiful. At the east of this community, look for the emerging issue of a 50-acre parcel that is owned by Chaffey School District. What would the impacts of another high school be on this community? We will discuss this elsewhere in the publication.

• Victoria Gardens Mall: (and surrounding neighborhoods) This entirely new community encompasses the new Victoria Gardens Mall and surrounding neighborhoods, a metropolitan mix of large homes, condos, and apartments. It has one park- Victoria Arbors Park, just north of the mall. Residents here are fortunate to be within walking distance of a city library and cultural center, located at Victoria Gardens. The library and Lewis Playhouse are wonderful resources, particularly during the hot summer months. Check out the resources available there, including free library events and job search tools. Don’t miss the wide variety of performances at the playhouse. The mall, naturally, is down a bit in sales tax revenue. Many young people go there to hang out, not necessarily patronize the businesses. The new H&M store has finally opened, which is expected to do well. But it doesn’t help that a monster-sized H&M store is opening at the Mills down the street, taking the place of Virgin Records. It will sell menswear there, as opposed to our store. We eagerly await the replacement restaurant for Sisely’s, which closed earlier this year next to AMC. It is uncertain whether or not AMC will expand out into the parking lot at the north end of the mall. It has been a huge success, and has definitely contemplated an expansion. The Shea Homes condos that were being built behind the library have stalled with the bad economy. Vacant land once intended for more condos has been sold back to the city. For now, additional parking is being considered, but someday the land will be prime real estate for possible mall expansion. The mall itself will someday be growing. You can read about that on vineyardpress.com. Residents around the mall seem generally pleased with their quality of life, though at various times I have received complaints about late-night loitering in Arbors Park. Also, I received complaints a while back about a group home of young men who appeared too bored for their own good. Lastly, neighbors around Mosaic Drive complain that a traffic device is needed on Mosaic and Victoria Park Lane to protect kids using the cross walk to get to the park. In the early evening, glare from the sun impedes the vision of drivers, who are usually driving way too fast to begin with. Those residents need to submit a petition as soon as possible. Anyone with comments or concerns should contact the Vineyard Press staff at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

• Etiwanda Windrows: This community is now well over 20 years old. It was designed with an abundance of lush green landscape, which has proven to be quite a chore to maintain. It is also blessed to have access to the new Pacific Electric walk/run/bike trail, as well as Windrows Park and Windrows Elementary School. The neighborhood is a favorite stop for the city’s annual Christmas Ho Ho Parade, and is ideal for riding on the many bike lanes. Some neighbors regret that they bought homes with on “zero-lot lines,” which have become problematic. Zero-lot lines are properties where you don’t need a wall on the side of your property. Instead, your fence or wall is your neighbor’s house. Residents prefer to not have to access a neighbor’s backyard to paint their wall or do other maintenance. And some residents resent having neighbor kids bounce balls or other objects off their wall, causing irritation and pictures to fall off walls. Nor do residents appreciate having to share a common driveway. The city will reconsider zero-lot lines in the future, as Windrows was an experiment in many regards.

• Rochester Tract: This is the east side’s oldest neighborhood, preceding Rancho’s 1977 incorporation. It is completely surrounded by new communities. Home Depot is on the west, Baseline to the north, the mall areas to the east, and the Epicenter to the southwest. Residents there prefer to be left alone, as they guard their independence. The economy has affected this neighborhood, like most others. Several beautiful properties are interspersed with foreclosures, which add to the stress this neighborhood is experiencing. And neighbors complain that burglaries and other property crimes are more common, in part because of the faltering economy. The city MUST consider projects to pump vigor into the older parts of the city. I would call this project “Rethink Rochester Tract,” with grants and low-cost loans going to property owners who are willing to invest in the neighborhood. It’s time to make our older neighborhoods blossom.

• Rancho Cucamonga High School: (south of 210 Freeway, north of Baseline, west of Day Creek Boulevard, east of Milliken) This community is part of the city’s Victoria Master Plan. It boasts several public amenities, including Rancho Cucamonga High School, a new fire station, Carlton Lightfoot Elementary, Kenyon Park, Vintage Park and Ellena Park. Furthemore, residents enjoy the Pacific Electric Trail and nearby shopping facilities. The area borders Central Park on the west, and the freeway to the north. It’s really the center center, and has about everything one could want. A new Mormon church is being built along the 210 Freeway. A large empty lot still sits undeveloped just east of Kenyon Park. It will probably be developed into single family homes when the economy makes a rebound. Life around the high school is pretty calm, although student parking spills into the neighborhoods, especially at the end of the school year. Residents to the north never got their freeway wall. They live below an embankment, and got cheated out of a wall because Caltrans claims that the housing tract was not approved at the time the freeway was signed off on by the city. Caltrans will only build a freeway soundwall next to established housing tracts, not open space. The city did come through with a row of pines that are expected to provide some kind of buffer. Also, Caltrans recently extended the guardrail to border more of the embankment. At least two vehicles have careened off the freeway, down the embankment, and onto Highland Avenue. The possibility of a catastrophe to cars or pedestrians on Highland is still very disconcerting to residents. The fight continues. On the southeast, near the fire station, residents challenged the selling of property by SCE to a self-storage facility. The self-storage would have been just west of the fire station. I have a real problem with most businesses or apartments north of Baseline Road. The residents prevailed after a spirited fight at City Hall. Residents have also been successful in getting stop signs on Ellena West to slow the traffic on a dangerous curve. The high school has received complaints about the landscaping/ or lack thereof, around the high school, particularly on Rochester Avenue. But today, the landscape looks better than the city’s. With the landscape maintenance districts running out of money, weeding and trimming has been greatly reduced. For the first time, the high school’s minimal landscaping is less unsightly than the city’s. More on that on another page of this publication.

• Terra Vista: (south of Baseline, east of Haven, west of Rochester, and north of Foothill) This master-planned community was the brainchild of the Lewis Family, who were among the city’s earliest developers. The area is quite densely populated, by design. It has apartments, condos, shopping areas, and single-family homes. It was once THE place to go for shopping, eating, and a movie. It still can be, but the Victoria Gardens Mall has made it a secondary destination. The Lewis Companies have continued to develop Terra Vista, and it is very well maintained. Terra Vista has more parks than any other area: the skate park, Spruce Avenue Park, Coyote Canyon Park, Ralph M. Lewis Park, West Greenway Park, Milliken Park and Mountain View Park. There are three schools here too: Ruth Musser Middle School, Terra Vista Elementary and Coyote Canyon Elementary. The area is close to Central Park, so Terra Vista residents enjoy lots of open space. And don’t forget that Terra Vista has three miles of trails, making it the most health-conscious community in the city. Check out the section of trail that goes under Milliken Avenue. It’s creative, as is the multi-level design of nearby Ralph Lewis Park. On Foothill, a replacement for Mervyn’s is desperately needed. Macaroni Grill left the area, and a once-contemplated Super WalMart next to the Home Depot is now on ice. Lewis continues to build multi-family housing, but Terra Vista is finally reaching maturity. There’s only so much land left, so the city and Lewis will have to be selective on what fills the last remaining parcels.

• Victoria Groves/Central Park: (north of Baseline, south of 210 Freeway, east of Haven, and west of Milliken) Central Park is the city’s center. It will take several more years to complete Central Park, now that the economy has destroyed hopes for Cucamonga Beach- the city’s aquatic center. The senior center and community center at Central Park are wildly popular. If you are over 55, check out the programs at the senior center. Don’t be shy. You will be impressed. The Pacific Electric Trail borders the north of Central Park, so when you take a stroll, you will comprehend just how big the park area is. There was some debate whether to clear the brush for passive park use, but even that option is too expensive in this environment. Residents here enjoy Victoria Groves Park and Victoria Groves School. It’s a quaint, family-oriented community divided down the middle by Deer Creek Channel. Residents around Fairmount successfully lobbied the city to permanently block off Fairmont near 19th Street, so the neighborhood is all the more quiet. On the northwest side, residents behind the self-storage facility on Haven have had to put up with many inconveniences, including bright lights, noise, a ruined view, the sound of rain on aluminum roofs, etc. The city will never again approve the building of facilities like this next to residential neighborhoods. Code enforcement issues have arisen in neighborhoods near Haven. Residents should do all they can to keep their properties in top notch condition, though the city is ready to work with them should economic conditions be a hindrance.

• Empire Lakes: The city’s east end, south of Foothill, is mostly industrial. There is the metrolink station for commuters. The problem of car theft and vandalism seems to have eased up a bit at the train station. The Epicenter and Animal Shelter are extremely busy. The fields are in constant use, and animals are always available for adoption at the new and improved city shelter. Please go by and save an animal. Hank Stickney has sold the Quakes, and George Brett and Co. have picked up right where Hank left off. Empire Lakes Golf Course has become quite a draw for residents who have moved into luxury apartments or condos in the area; and it has fueled more commercial/retail development to the south. Several hotels now dot the landscape on the city’s south end, providing the city with much-needed tax revenue. Please take a drive to the Empire Lakes area and beyond, and spend some money at one of the many fine businesses or restaurants on the NORTH side of Fourth Street. Ontario doesn’t need our hard-earned tax dollars.

• The Hawthornes: (7th Street to the north, 4th Street to the south, between Archibald and Hellman) The Hawthornes and neighboring communities seem to be weathering the economic downturn surprisingly well. Our city is blessed with some outstanding residents who are trying to keep their properties well-maintained. And I speak not only of the Hawthornes but of the neighborhoods to the immediate north. Residents in this area have only one park, so it gets plenty of use. It’s called Golden Oak Park, and the only complaints I have received are of baseballs being hit into the homes to the south of the field. The park should be monitored at night to assure that the area stays safe and quiet. The Hawthornes is a gated community, with several amenities. The rest of the area is older, but no less important. The city should not forget the residents off the beaten path. Amenities such as a quality grocery store should be encouraged for this community.

• Northtown: This is south Cucamonga’s old barrio. It is a small, yet cohesive, close knit community. If you’re not one of the originals, it can seem quite intimidating to make your presence felt. For that reason, and others, many people avoid this area. But the neighborhood has grown up quite a bit. Rancho Cucamonga Middle School and Cucamonga Elementary are active in keeping the community vibrant, as are Our Lady of Carmel Catholic Church, Old Town Park, and the Northtown Neighborhood Development Corporation. Leaders of Northtown Development keep the neighborhood alive with activities for families at their neighborhood center. An active program is currently rebuilding many homes, block by block. Northtown is worth a second look.

• Cucamonga South: (south of Foothill, city limits to the south, between Grove Avenue and Haven) This area is huge, and your advice is being solicited on how to break it down ( This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it ). There are three schools in this area: Central Elementary, Bear Gulch Elementary and Los Amigos Elementary. Interestingly for such a huge area, there is only one park- Bear Gulch Park. That situation could be remedied in due time, as an additional park is in the minds of city leaders. We realize that this older part of our city is seriously underserved. Calle Vejar is due for some serious improvements, as the city is slowly refurbishing streets in this area. The large number of homes that are very well-maintained here is impressive. Yet the foreclosed or otherwise under-maintained homes are an eyesore. This region will surely get a large bulk of dollars that the federal stimulus programs have targeted for rehabilitating foreclosed properties, buying and reselling abandoned properties, and providing assistance for home improvement and first-time homebuyer assistance. Like I mentioned above, the oldest sections of our city should be first in line for funding to rehabilitate and beautify our city. Now that would be the Rancho way. I know we can do better. Foothill Boulevard (Route 66) is undergoing a facelift, and will bring this area prestige and beauty. The railroad bridge above Foothill will be replaced, and the Pacific Electric walking/bike trail will extend from Amethyst to the border with Upland. This area has a bright future. But as I said, we can do better. Sadly, it appears that Cask & Cleaver Steakhouse has changed ownership. Hopefully, it won’t miss a beat. It has been a fixture in South Cucamonga for decades.

• Red Hill: The number one issue for Red Hill residents has been a traffic issue that has lingered for several years. This unique neighborhood is home to the private Red Hill Country Club. Residential streets have no sidewalks or street lamps. The rural ambiance of Red Hill lends itself to a quiet setting. But in recent years, speeding drivers have made walking and driving on the hill dangerous activities. Stop signs are often ignored, the primary culprits being non-residents who use Red Hill as a short cut between Baseline Road and Foothill Boulevard. Also troublesome is the route through Red Hill from Carnelian, up Red Hill Country Club Drive, and either down to Foothill or up to Baseline. After several community meetings and surveys, including a meeting hosted by Councilman Rex Gutierrez at Valle Vista School, the city council has decided against blocking Red Hill Country Club with a gate just above Foothill. That alternative simply did not have community support (60% of residents opposed the blockage). The council prefers a solution that garners more consensus, and, frankly, a solution that does not punish an entire segment of the community. Blocking Red Hill Country Club Drive would have punished Red Hill residents who live closest to Foothill, particularly those who need ready access to San Antonio Hospital and related medical facilities. Instead, the council has decided to take the steady approach of installing four more stop signs and step up traffic enforcement. If the residents who are most affected by cut-through traffic between Baseline and Foothill desire speed humps, then the city is willing to investigate the pros and cons of speed humps. Frankly, the city has never approved speed humps on public streets. It would be a very significant diversion from past policy to do so. But if the residents of Alta Cuesta Drive, Buena Vista Drive, and Valle Vista Drive desire speed humps, they will have to have some consensus, and the city council would have to approve them. Personally, I wouldn’t be opposed to giving speed humps a try. They are used in many cities, and have improved in design over the years. But that may be easy for me to say because I don’t live there. On the other hand, not living on Alta Cuesta and not coming close to danger on a daily basis means that the rest of us just don’t know how hard it is to put up with speedsters and the threat of accidents on a daily basis. If many residents of Alta Cuesta, and to a lesser extent, Buena Vista and Valle Vista, are willing to consider speed humps, then they must have a serious problem. Let the people of those streets decide. Speaking of Valle Vista Drive, much has been said of the congestion that the neighborhood experiences when school is in session. One solution worth looking into would be to create a secondary access route over the creek channel from Carnelian to the school. A bridge from Carnelian would relieve the congestion that occurs every school day. Besides, in the event of a catastrophic occurrence, a quick exit out of the school in two directions sure beats just one route. The character of Red Hill got a reprieve when the economy dropped out. Three major condo projects surrounding Red Hill have fallen through. Condos near Foothill and Vineyard sit idle, inviting vandalism. The Strawberry Patch property has gone back to the original owner, meaning that we will be buying strawberries at the patch for several years to come. Maybe that project can be improved with a facelift to the original designs when new owners reconsider its proximity to the prestigious country club. Foothill Boulevard will be widened below Red Hill approaching the Upland border. Jim Moffatt, owner of Red Hill Coffee Shop, worries that most of his parking spaces will be eliminated. And if a median is placed in the middle of Foothill, eastbound drivers coming from Upland will be forced to make a u-turn in order to return and drive up Red Hill Country Club Drive. That may sound inconvenient to many, but it will definitely discourage cut-through traffic from going up Red Hill from Foothill. Lastly, some Red Hill residents have asked me about the status of Tapia Park. This park is supposed to someday spruce up the unsightly area just below Baseline, next to Alta Cuesta along the creek channel. This no-man’s land had been maintained by county flood control for many years. It’s about time we get serious about cleaning it up. Anyone interested in submitting an article about Red Hill, or being our correspondent for Red Hill, contact Rex at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it . Thanks for the kind words Mr. Whisler and Michael Ramos. You are both studs. Jim Moffatt and Bill Hanlon: you are also to be thanked for standing with me. Best regards to Pat Bourland, the trash lady. And special hellos to Ken Brown, Hank Stoy, Howard Williams, The Bensema’s , Howard Mayer, Ed and Sandra Dietl, Dr. Lieberman, and all other Red Hill heroes. Like I’ve always said, there are several hundred wonderfully nice people on Red Hill, and three mean ones. Thanks for your hospitality, cool refreshment, and kind words.

• Cucamonga Central: (Vineyard to the west, Baseline to the north, Foothill on the south, west of Haven) The San Antonio Winery center at Foothill and Vineyard is undergoing a facelift. A new building will house Fresh & Easy neighborhood market, which is making a move with three locations in the city. The other locations will be in Terra Vista above Foothill and Haven, and Day Creek at Foothill, next to BevMo and REI. The Thomas Winery Center has had several of its businesses relocate. For example, the world famous Italian Restaurant, Antonino’s, has moved across the parking lot to a much larger, elegant setting. Please go by and say hi to Singh. This area, which we call Cucamonga Central, is home to the great Red Hill Community Park. Other facilities include the Lion’s Center and Park, the city library at Archibald, Church Street Park, Rancho Cucamonga Family Sports Center, Central Elementary, Dona Merced Elementary, and Cucamonga Middle School. This mature community has more concerns about tree removal than any other area because the trees have grown to stately heights, but have uprooted streets and sidewalks in many areas, and have had to be removed. There are concerns about abandoned homes, but most residents keep their homes very well-maintained, all things considered. Neighbors who live on Church Street have complained of traffic speed and safety issues around Cucamonga Middle School. Frankly, Church Street has become a major route for drivers traversing the city who want to get to the mall without the congestion of Foothill or Baseline. The city needs to address traffic concerns for the residents on Church. The city’s oldest fire station is on San Bernardino Road. Land is being sought for a larger, more modern station in the neighborhood. This area is known for Route 66, and several historic buildings like the Rains House (Cucamonga’s oldest), Sweeten Hall, the old gas station on Archibald and Foothill, the China House, etc. The Rancho Cucamonga Historical Society is especially focusing on restoring the gas station. This area will benefit from any efforts to restore Route 66. Furthermore, Cucamonga Central should also be the focus of city programs to buy up foreclosed homes, rehabilitate them for resale, and generally beautify the community. Comments on this entry should be directed to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

• Alta Loma High School/Old Alta Loma: (south of 210 Freeway, north of Baseline Road, from Upland border eastward to Haven) This area is also maturing, and in need of investments in beautification and economic stimulus. There is only one park in this area: Hermosa Park. The west side of this region is underserved; most activities taking place at its many schools: Alta Loma High School, Jasper Elementary, Carnelian Elementary, Alta Loma Elementary, and Deer Canyon Elementary. Foreclosures are a concern here, though I am continually impressed with the pride of ownership and resilience of almost all of the residents. This area contains old town Alta Loma, which really should assert itself in order to attract its fair share of reinvestment and historical preservation. A revival of the old town area would be fantastic- the most prominent business being Dr. Strange Records. The current configuration of the Pacific Electric Trail runs through much of this area- from Amethyst to Haven. The trail has brought this oft-forgotten area into focus. Past complaints include criminal activities at Lomita Court Apartments, foreign-language signage at a Korean Market that offends some people at 19th and Carnelian, and the speed of traffic on 19th. Some residents have had issues with overgrowth on some large lots, creating potential fire hazards. This area is truly unique, with a combination of classic historical homes, new construction, multi-family, and older residences. This area, admittedly, wasn’t exactly a planned community. But it is surviving, and even prospering, where people with pride of ownership have made it happen, in spite of the current downturn.

• Mobile Home Parks: Rancho Cucamonga is home to no fewer than eight parks: Casa Volante, The Pines, Alta Vista, Alta Laguna, Ramona Villa, Chapparel Heights, Sycamore Villa, and . They are under the guidance of the City-brokered Mobile Home Accord, which protects residents from excessive rent increases. These parks are home to some of the city’s most loyal citizens who have paid their dues and are deserving of a little peace and quiet. Alta Laguna is considered the crème de la crème. But Chapparel, Ramona Villa, and Casa Volante would have an argument with that. Most concerns here relate to issues such as tree trimming, improvement pass throughs, effects of sounds and lights by nearby businesses, and the methods whereby rent increases are calculated. Some residents may qualify for special home improvement grants or loans, and they are encouraged to call their city representatives to get on the waiting list. The word “mobile” is a misnomer. Residents of these parks cannot simply pull up and leave whenever they desire. In most cases, they are captive because of market factors, so they are entitled to special consideration. If anyone would like to be a correspondent to the Vineyard Press for their park, contact Rex at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or call (909) 615-1144.

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