Last week, the cities of Chino Hills and Diamond Bar filed new suits against the City of Industry over what they are arguing is a lack of information requested about a prposed solar farm on the Tres Hermanos Ranch, which Industry owns and which is located in Chino Hills (about 70%) and Diamond Bar.
The two cities claim that Industry would not release or significantly redacted paperwork and are asking for a full release of that material. Industry counters that it has responded appropriately and has been waiting for third parties to provide some of the requested information.
To read more, here is the article from Friday afternoon.
22 April 2018
15 April 2018
David Purington Reminiscences of Sleepy Hollow, Part Three
Returning to a series of posts based on typewritten recollections of Sleepy Hollow by David Purington, son of the community's founders Cleve and Elizabeth Purington, here are five pages of his story about the creation and operation of the volunteer fire department, which served the community for several decades. Thanks again to the neighbors here in Sleepy Hollow who provided the original typescripts.
Purington stated that the fire department started in the late 1940s and was housed in a garage at the back of the Sleepy Hollow Cafe, formerly a store operated by Dave Tidwell. This is in the area of the parking lot for the Sleepy Hollow Community Center where Rosemary Lane meets Carbon Canyon Road.
The initial crew of five volunteers, later seven, worked out of a garade behind the cafe, and were paid a couple of dollars per call, so that worker's compensation benefits could be obtained, but Purington noted that the money was put into a common fund so that the volunteers and wives could go out to dinner once in a while.
Purington also recorded that some volunteers had hitches on their vehicles so that a trailer, provided by the Chino Fire Department, could be hauled for calls. Training was provided by the department, which was mostly comprised of volunteers under a paid chief, Art Wagner, who worked for the telephone company, as well. This situation was, in fact, common for rural areas, remembering that this took place nearly three-quarters of a century ago.
The volunteers met weekly and conducted "dry run" drills, in which the equipment was brought out and hooked up, but no water used. Purington related one instance in which the trailer became disconnected from the hauling vehicle and a couple of volunteers riding outside on the trailer hung on for dear life as the wayward trailer headed into some brush along the road.
Wanting a better vehicle, but with the Chino department unable to acquire anything in its limited budget, the Sleepy Hollow volunteers acquired a four-wheel drive truck from Army surplus. The funds for this were raised by having Fireman's Balls, a common fund-raising technique, at the two cocktail lounges in the community (one at the east end where some apartments are today and the other at the former Party House #2 liquor store).
The fundraisers featured floor shows based on hit musicals of the day, like South Pacific and Guys and Dolls with scripts written by Nolan Hyde, secretary of the Sleepy Hollow Water Disrict (several years ago, Hyde's son provided some recollections posted on this blog). With enough money raised to purchase the vehicle, volunteer Verne Stearns, whose son lives in the Mountain View Estates tract just east of Sleepy Hollow, picked out one.
A pumper unit was also acquired and Purington fabricated and welded a water tank, with both added to the International Harvester truck in Stearns' garage. The vehicle was then taken to the Chino fire station for additional apparatus installation, including hoses, reels and a siren.
The fire company then moved to a new heaquarters on land owned by the water district once approval was obtained from the San Bernardino County Board of Supervisors. This became the volunteer fire building that stood for many years until the current community building was built in the early 2000s. As Purington noted, it was decided to make the building large enough so that it could be used "for community meetings, dances, parties, etc."
The structure, which was completed in 1951, included restrooms, a water heater, a cooking range, refrigerator, hot air furnace, sink and cupboards. To raise money for the building, more events were held, mainly at the bar at the east side of Sleepy Hollow, the building of which still stands right along Carbon Canyon Road with a two-story house and apartments behind it. These consisted of dancers, with the owner of the bar providing the space and allowing the department to keep all proceeds.
The volunteers used their skills in construction and contacts in getting deals for materials, including lumber, pipe and cement, and, after about a half a year of weekend work, the building was far enough along to park the truck in it, while more money was raised through community events, including dinners as well as dances, to get the lath and plaster finish done (the restrooms took a little while longer to get completed.) A Women's Auxiliary helped to stock the building with curtains, dishes, cups, silverware and other essentials. Purington gave particular credit to Jean Stearns, Verne's wife, for her leadership in the auxiliary's work.
A few more volunteers were allowed to join the department and there was even a firehouse dog, Purington's pet Roger. Purington recalled that there were times that, while he drove from his home to the hall, Roger would take off on his own route and arrive first.
In the late Fifties, the Chino Fire Department provided a Ford truck to the Sleepy Hollow volunteers and the International Harvester was retired. Purington also related a story of how one of the volunteers played Santa Claus for community holiday events and the fire truck was used as a vehicle to escort St. Nick to the oak grove near the currently shuttered liquor store.
He ended by noting that the fire house and community building needed some space cleared behind it on the steep hillsides as a park and patio area for events, but also to protect the building from exposure to water and rot. As noted above, the structure was removed to make way for the current community building, which was designed and engineered for modern standards and codes.
Purington stated that the fire department started in the late 1940s and was housed in a garage at the back of the Sleepy Hollow Cafe, formerly a store operated by Dave Tidwell. This is in the area of the parking lot for the Sleepy Hollow Community Center where Rosemary Lane meets Carbon Canyon Road.
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| David Purington's recollections of the Sleepy Hollow volunteer fire department in five pages. Click on any image to see them enlarged in a separate window. |
Purington also recorded that some volunteers had hitches on their vehicles so that a trailer, provided by the Chino Fire Department, could be hauled for calls. Training was provided by the department, which was mostly comprised of volunteers under a paid chief, Art Wagner, who worked for the telephone company, as well. This situation was, in fact, common for rural areas, remembering that this took place nearly three-quarters of a century ago.
The volunteers met weekly and conducted "dry run" drills, in which the equipment was brought out and hooked up, but no water used. Purington related one instance in which the trailer became disconnected from the hauling vehicle and a couple of volunteers riding outside on the trailer hung on for dear life as the wayward trailer headed into some brush along the road.
Wanting a better vehicle, but with the Chino department unable to acquire anything in its limited budget, the Sleepy Hollow volunteers acquired a four-wheel drive truck from Army surplus. The funds for this were raised by having Fireman's Balls, a common fund-raising technique, at the two cocktail lounges in the community (one at the east end where some apartments are today and the other at the former Party House #2 liquor store).
The fundraisers featured floor shows based on hit musicals of the day, like South Pacific and Guys and Dolls with scripts written by Nolan Hyde, secretary of the Sleepy Hollow Water Disrict (several years ago, Hyde's son provided some recollections posted on this blog). With enough money raised to purchase the vehicle, volunteer Verne Stearns, whose son lives in the Mountain View Estates tract just east of Sleepy Hollow, picked out one.
A pumper unit was also acquired and Purington fabricated and welded a water tank, with both added to the International Harvester truck in Stearns' garage. The vehicle was then taken to the Chino fire station for additional apparatus installation, including hoses, reels and a siren.
The fire company then moved to a new heaquarters on land owned by the water district once approval was obtained from the San Bernardino County Board of Supervisors. This became the volunteer fire building that stood for many years until the current community building was built in the early 2000s. As Purington noted, it was decided to make the building large enough so that it could be used "for community meetings, dances, parties, etc."
The structure, which was completed in 1951, included restrooms, a water heater, a cooking range, refrigerator, hot air furnace, sink and cupboards. To raise money for the building, more events were held, mainly at the bar at the east side of Sleepy Hollow, the building of which still stands right along Carbon Canyon Road with a two-story house and apartments behind it. These consisted of dancers, with the owner of the bar providing the space and allowing the department to keep all proceeds.
The volunteers used their skills in construction and contacts in getting deals for materials, including lumber, pipe and cement, and, after about a half a year of weekend work, the building was far enough along to park the truck in it, while more money was raised through community events, including dinners as well as dances, to get the lath and plaster finish done (the restrooms took a little while longer to get completed.) A Women's Auxiliary helped to stock the building with curtains, dishes, cups, silverware and other essentials. Purington gave particular credit to Jean Stearns, Verne's wife, for her leadership in the auxiliary's work.
A few more volunteers were allowed to join the department and there was even a firehouse dog, Purington's pet Roger. Purington recalled that there were times that, while he drove from his home to the hall, Roger would take off on his own route and arrive first.
In the late Fifties, the Chino Fire Department provided a Ford truck to the Sleepy Hollow volunteers and the International Harvester was retired. Purington also related a story of how one of the volunteers played Santa Claus for community holiday events and the fire truck was used as a vehicle to escort St. Nick to the oak grove near the currently shuttered liquor store.
He ended by noting that the fire house and community building needed some space cleared behind it on the steep hillsides as a park and patio area for events, but also to protect the building from exposure to water and rot. As noted above, the structure was removed to make way for the current community building, which was designed and engineered for modern standards and codes.
14 April 2018
New Share the Road Signs on Carbon Canyon Road
This morning personnel from District 8 of CalTrans were out and quickly and efficiently, over the course of a few hours, put up signs and painted markings along and on Carbon Canyon Road, on the San Bernardino/Chino Hills portion of the Canyon only from the county line to Old Carbon Canyon Road at the east end of the summit, warning motorists to "Share the Road" with bicyclists.
The state highway has long been a favorite route for riders and for obvious reasons: it winds through some nice scenery and provides a break from the urban areas on either side of the canyon. Obviously, funds from either county or state taxes were made available for these improvements and, hopefully, drivers will be more aware of bicyclists as they travel through the canyon, especially on weekends.
One of the big issues, though, is that state law requires at least a 3-foot separation from a motor vehicle and a bicyclist on any road. That is generally not a problem for most streets and highways, but, then again, Carbon Canyon Road is different than most thoroughfares. There are sections that are very narrow with no shoulders and no way to maintain that separation when passing a bicyclist. That means having to slow and ride behind the bicycle until there is room to provide that 3-foot cushion.
Then, there is the winding, curving nature of the roadway, which is one of its main attractions, but also one of its principal concerns. Signs and markings are certainly helpful and better than the absence of them, but there have been collisions involving bicyclists with injuries and the occasionl fatality. Riders should remember to constantly be watching traffic behind and in front and drivers, who are all-too-often distracted, need to be very mindful of who is riding on the highway.
The state highway has long been a favorite route for riders and for obvious reasons: it winds through some nice scenery and provides a break from the urban areas on either side of the canyon. Obviously, funds from either county or state taxes were made available for these improvements and, hopefully, drivers will be more aware of bicyclists as they travel through the canyon, especially on weekends.
One of the big issues, though, is that state law requires at least a 3-foot separation from a motor vehicle and a bicyclist on any road. That is generally not a problem for most streets and highways, but, then again, Carbon Canyon Road is different than most thoroughfares. There are sections that are very narrow with no shoulders and no way to maintain that separation when passing a bicyclist. That means having to slow and ride behind the bicycle until there is room to provide that 3-foot cushion.
Then, there is the winding, curving nature of the roadway, which is one of its main attractions, but also one of its principal concerns. Signs and markings are certainly helpful and better than the absence of them, but there have been collisions involving bicyclists with injuries and the occasionl fatality. Riders should remember to constantly be watching traffic behind and in front and drivers, who are all-too-often distracted, need to be very mindful of who is riding on the highway.
01 April 2018
Air Tour Photos of Puente-Chino Hills Wildlife Corridor
Last Sunday, I was given the privilege of taking an airplane tour, courtesy of Hills for Everyone, which works to preserve open space in the Puente Hills and Chino Hills, and Ecoflight, which does air tours as part of assiting in preservation of land and habitat, of the Chino Hills and Puente Hills ranges.
The flight, including city council members from Yorba Linda and Brea, left Chino Airport at 8:30 a.m. for a tour heading west along the northern portion of the hill ranges through Chino Hills, Diamond Bar, and Rowland Heights as far as Hacienda Heights and then returning east through the southern section of the two systems through La Habra Heights, Brea, Yorba Linda and then back to Chino.
Our pilot Bruce Gordon made the flight smooth and easy as we cruised along at what I think was about 2,000 feet in elevation and Melanie Schlotterbeck of Hills for Everyone did a great job narrating what we were seeing along the corridor.
Fortunately, we'd had some recent rain to provide some relief to what had been a dismal winter with virtually no precipitation, so that, by the time we took to the skies last week, there was enough green to really add to the beauty of the area.
Over 400 photographs were snapped in the course of the roughly half-hour journey because, after all, how often do these opportunities arise? The chance to get rare elevated views of our area was really a treat and the accompanying photos give some idea of the beauty of these two hill ranges and what past preservation and future efforts to conserve land mean for our heavily urbanized area.
The first photograph (from the top) shows the eastern entrance to Carbon Canyon Road from Chino Hills Parkway as the state highway wends its way westward towards Brea. The Summit Ranch, Carriage Hills and Western Hills Oaks communities are easily discerned.
The second image shows a nice panorama of the northern part of Chino Hills from Grand Avenue a little west of Peyton Drive and takes in many of the subdivisions there, but also much of Tres Hermanos Ranch, owned by the City of Industry, in the distance as the view looks southwest.
Photo #3 takes in much of Tres Hermanos Ranch from its northern reaches near Diamond Ranch High School, the land for which was donated by Industry to the Pomona Unified School District to the school which serves south Pomona and north Diamond Bar (part f which is at the upper right.) Grand Avenue cuts through the ranch from left to right and the Arnold Reservoir is towards the upper left.
An interesting view from over the 57 Freeway looking south from the southern part of Diamond Bar takes in the break Tonner Canyon (at the left) and the Puente Hills region that is known as the Shell-Aera area and which is subject to a new development proposal.
Melanie made sure to point out a gem in the Shell Aera location, a spot appropriately called Hidden Valley and which is the highlight of the fifth photograph in this set, which looks south from near Pathfinder Road in Rowland Heights/Diamond Bar.
Image number six shows portions of Rowland Heights at the bottom with an area of the Puente Hills that, at the center left, included a development that was allowed to be built at the crest of the hills impacting the wildlife corridor and complicating efforts to preserve open space habitat. Yet, to the center and upper right are sections that were preserved as part of the Puente Hills Native Habitat Authority, including some fine hiking trails.
The seventh photo shows the densely developed unincorporated community of Hacienda Heights which is at the north side of the Puente Hills, though, again, land has been preserved and trails built along the crest of the hills through the community out to Rose Hills Memorial Park at the west end of the hills.
Photo #8 shows the highest portions of the Puente Hills from the south with much of La Habra Heights, including the Hacienda Golf Club in the foregound and into the hills.
The ninth image shows much of the Shell Aera property in the hills above Brea looking to the north. Proposals are for a staggering 3,600 residences between Harbor Boulevard on the west and the 57 Freeway on the east. The effects would not just be on the lost habitat and recreational opportunities for hiking and walking, but on the already-congested streets and freeways of the communities (La Habra, Brea, Rowland Heights, and Diamond Bar) that adjoin the property.
Photo ten takes in the 57 Freeway corridor from about Lambert north into Diamond Bar, City of Industry and beyond. Again, Shell Aera is at the upper left and Tonner Canyon, proposed in recent years for a reservoir/dam and solar farm, is at the right.
The remaining photos continued the flight eastward, with a fine view of Carbon Canyon's western end near the Chino Hills State Park Discovery Center; a look at the entrance to the state park at the Rimcrest trailhead; a view of the park including the Rolling M Ranch headquarters; land flanking the park at the east that is being sought for acquisition, preservation and addition to the park; and a view of the area near Prado Dam and the intersection of the 71 and 91 freeways with the Santa Ana Mountains forming a great backdrop.
We then returned over the Prado basin, Santa Ana River and the rapidly developing areas of Corona, South Ontario and Eastvale before making our descent and landing at the airport. Again, many thanks to Hills for Everyone and Ecoflight for this rare opportunity to see the beauty of the Puente-Chino Hills Wildlife Corridor from the air, which only adds to the appreciation of what this corridor can do to improve the quality of life for our area.
The flight, including city council members from Yorba Linda and Brea, left Chino Airport at 8:30 a.m. for a tour heading west along the northern portion of the hill ranges through Chino Hills, Diamond Bar, and Rowland Heights as far as Hacienda Heights and then returning east through the southern section of the two systems through La Habra Heights, Brea, Yorba Linda and then back to Chino.
Our pilot Bruce Gordon made the flight smooth and easy as we cruised along at what I think was about 2,000 feet in elevation and Melanie Schlotterbeck of Hills for Everyone did a great job narrating what we were seeing along the corridor.
Fortunately, we'd had some recent rain to provide some relief to what had been a dismal winter with virtually no precipitation, so that, by the time we took to the skies last week, there was enough green to really add to the beauty of the area.
Over 400 photographs were snapped in the course of the roughly half-hour journey because, after all, how often do these opportunities arise? The chance to get rare elevated views of our area was really a treat and the accompanying photos give some idea of the beauty of these two hill ranges and what past preservation and future efforts to conserve land mean for our heavily urbanized area.
The first photograph (from the top) shows the eastern entrance to Carbon Canyon Road from Chino Hills Parkway as the state highway wends its way westward towards Brea. The Summit Ranch, Carriage Hills and Western Hills Oaks communities are easily discerned.
The second image shows a nice panorama of the northern part of Chino Hills from Grand Avenue a little west of Peyton Drive and takes in many of the subdivisions there, but also much of Tres Hermanos Ranch, owned by the City of Industry, in the distance as the view looks southwest.
Photo #3 takes in much of Tres Hermanos Ranch from its northern reaches near Diamond Ranch High School, the land for which was donated by Industry to the Pomona Unified School District to the school which serves south Pomona and north Diamond Bar (part f which is at the upper right.) Grand Avenue cuts through the ranch from left to right and the Arnold Reservoir is towards the upper left.
An interesting view from over the 57 Freeway looking south from the southern part of Diamond Bar takes in the break Tonner Canyon (at the left) and the Puente Hills region that is known as the Shell-Aera area and which is subject to a new development proposal.
Melanie made sure to point out a gem in the Shell Aera location, a spot appropriately called Hidden Valley and which is the highlight of the fifth photograph in this set, which looks south from near Pathfinder Road in Rowland Heights/Diamond Bar.
Image number six shows portions of Rowland Heights at the bottom with an area of the Puente Hills that, at the center left, included a development that was allowed to be built at the crest of the hills impacting the wildlife corridor and complicating efforts to preserve open space habitat. Yet, to the center and upper right are sections that were preserved as part of the Puente Hills Native Habitat Authority, including some fine hiking trails.
The seventh photo shows the densely developed unincorporated community of Hacienda Heights which is at the north side of the Puente Hills, though, again, land has been preserved and trails built along the crest of the hills through the community out to Rose Hills Memorial Park at the west end of the hills.
Photo #8 shows the highest portions of the Puente Hills from the south with much of La Habra Heights, including the Hacienda Golf Club in the foregound and into the hills.
The ninth image shows much of the Shell Aera property in the hills above Brea looking to the north. Proposals are for a staggering 3,600 residences between Harbor Boulevard on the west and the 57 Freeway on the east. The effects would not just be on the lost habitat and recreational opportunities for hiking and walking, but on the already-congested streets and freeways of the communities (La Habra, Brea, Rowland Heights, and Diamond Bar) that adjoin the property.
Photo ten takes in the 57 Freeway corridor from about Lambert north into Diamond Bar, City of Industry and beyond. Again, Shell Aera is at the upper left and Tonner Canyon, proposed in recent years for a reservoir/dam and solar farm, is at the right.
The remaining photos continued the flight eastward, with a fine view of Carbon Canyon's western end near the Chino Hills State Park Discovery Center; a look at the entrance to the state park at the Rimcrest trailhead; a view of the park including the Rolling M Ranch headquarters; land flanking the park at the east that is being sought for acquisition, preservation and addition to the park; and a view of the area near Prado Dam and the intersection of the 71 and 91 freeways with the Santa Ana Mountains forming a great backdrop.
We then returned over the Prado basin, Santa Ana River and the rapidly developing areas of Corona, South Ontario and Eastvale before making our descent and landing at the airport. Again, many thanks to Hills for Everyone and Ecoflight for this rare opportunity to see the beauty of the Puente-Chino Hills Wildlife Corridor from the air, which only adds to the appreciation of what this corridor can do to improve the quality of life for our area.
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