San Ber nardino's Most Haunted Locations: Separating Fact fr om Fiction

By Manny Sandoval

San Bernardino, the gateway to the Inland Empire, is home to many historic sites, but some of them are also known to be haunted From spooky cemeteries to abandoned buildings, these locations have been at the center of countless ghost stories and paranormal experiences But are these stories true, or are they just legends passed down through generations?

One of the most popular haunted locations in San Bernardino is the infamous Hotel Castañeda

Built in 1910, the hotel was once a luxurious destination for wealthy travelers

However, the hotel fell into disrepair and has been abandoned for years Visitors have reported seeing apparitions of former guests and hearing strange noises and voices throughout the building

"I've visited the Hotel Castañeda several times, and I can feel a presence there," says local ghost hunter, Emily Davis "It's one of the most active paranormal locations in San Bernardino "

Another haunted location in San Bernardino is the Pioneer Memorial Cemetery The cemetery was established in 1851 and is the final resting place of many early settlers of the city

According to local legend, the ghosts of these settlers still haunt the cemetery Visitors have reported seeing apparitions and hearing strange noises and voices throughout the grounds

"The Pioneer Memorial Cemetery is a very active location," says paranormal investigator, John Smith "We've captured EVPs of voices saying 'help me' and 'get out' in certain areas of the cemetery "

Another haunted location in San Bernardino is the Santa Fe Depot Built in 1918, the depot served as a hub for the city's transportation system

According to local legend, a train conductor was killed on the tracks outside the depot, and his ghost still roams the area Visitors have reported seeing the apparition of a man in a conductor's uniform and hearing the sound of a train whistle in the middle of the night

While many people are convinced of the paranormal activity at these locations, skeptics remain unconvinced

"There's no scientific evidence to support the existence of ghosts," says Dr James Lee, a professor of psychology at California State University, San Bernardino "It's important to remember that these stories are just legends and that there's no way to verify their authenticity "

Despite the debate, the haunted locations in San Bernardino continue to draw visitors and ghost hunters from all over Whether you believe in ghosts or not, there's no denying the eerie atmosphere and rich history of these spooky sites

Bewar e of potholes, and r epor t them!

Community News

The vexing thing about potholes is that they are most likely to appear during the time of year when they are nearly impossible to fix Repair materials do not bond well, if at all, when it's cold and wet

Community News

The City of Rialto receives $2 million in federal funding to support its Lake Rialto habitat project Congressman Pete Aguilar secured the funds for the program

The Congressman said, “Ensuring our residents can enjoy safe and clean open spaces for outdoor recreation is necessary to create a healthier, more sustainable community

“This funding I helped secure will help construct Lake Rialto, 10 acres of lake, wetlands and trails, that will protect vulnerable species and play a vital role in the environmental success for the Santa Ana River Habitat Conservation Plan ” This brings total funding for the $8 million project to more than $5 million, thanks to additional funding sources

The environmentally beneficial project includes the creation of wetlands and wildlife habitats on city-owned property adjacent to the City of Rialto Water Treatment Plant, which will provide recycled water for the lake itself, which then flows into the environmentally critical Rialto Channel

Rialto Mayor Deborah Robertson said, “The project design is now 90% complete and we hope to break ground this coming fall ”

The endangered Santa Ana sucker and Arroyo chub swim from the Santa Ana River up the Rialto Channel during cooler weather, but during hotter days, the water can be too warm for the fish Because of the depth of the lake, much needed cooler water can be taken from the bottom of the lake and discharged into the Rialto Channel, providing potentially significant environmental benefits to critical species The City of Rialto has worked diligently with potential partnering agencies to explore and maximize all of the environmental benefits of this project

The lake will also provide a welcome habitat for seasonal wildfowl who migrate to and from Mexico on the Pacific Flyway, providing abundant birdwatching opportunities for the community

Mayor Robertson said, “Rialto residents can look forward to enjoying the lake's open spaces, walking trails and environmental education programs Special programs for children will enable them to get a taste of the great outdoors right in their own city

We're so very pleased and honored that Congressman Aguilar has supported this leading-edge project to create an infrastructure that will serve as an environmentally sensitive and attractive recreational facility and wildlife habitat

Support for this model of an urban water stewardship project is something all of our elected policymakers should be advocating This needs to be at the forefront of their priorities ”

The City of Rialto has grown a lot in recent years with its ongoing development projects Now, Lake Rialto adds to an impressive list of commercial and residential projects, a different kind of addition to the City's assets that demonstrates that it “walks the talk” when it comes to planning environmentally sensitive development

The snow and the rain that has been abusing the mountain communities is also abusing the mountain roads, so many roads are showing signs of damage with new cracks and potholes Public Works crews are aware of the damage and will begin making repairs after the roads dry out

Until repairs can be made, motorists are encouraged to drive with caution, watch the road, keep in mind a shallow-looking puddle can actually be a deep puddle, and report pothole and other road issues by using the SeeClickFix app

You can download the app at Google Play or the Apple App Store Get more information at the Department of Public Works website

SeeClickFix is free and it allows county residents to provide the County Public Works team with pictures, videos, and descriptions of road issues

The app also allows residents to request cindering on local roads and report issues such as snow damage or cars blocking snow plows The app can also be used to report flooding and blocked storm drains

The County is helping to keep nuisance traffic in check by promoting its No Snow Play on the Roadway campaign to discourage people from heading to the mountains with plans to pull to the side of a highway to sled, make snowmen, and throw snowballs at each other

The County will leverage billboards and social media to make sure everyone knows that road-side snow play can be met with fines and towaways

Water Bill Assistance is Available at Community Action Par tner ship

Community News

Community Action Partnership of San Bernardino County (CAPSBC) is helping residents with their water or wastewater bill(s) through its Low-Income Household Water Assistance Program (LIHWAP)

LIHWAP is a federally funded program that offers a one-time payment, up to a maximum of $2,000, to help residents pay their current or past-due water or wastewater bills they have accrued There is no date restriction for when the overdue amount occurred

San Bernardino County households may qualify for assistance if:

Their total household gross income is at or below 60% of the State Median Income or a household member is a current recipient of CalFresh or CalWORKs

They receive service from a participating community water system or wastewater treatment provider (private wells and septic excluded)

Renters may also qualify if:

Their water and/or wastewater bill is included in their rental payment, and they are past due on rent

The application for renters will require additional steps as they must complete an agreement with their landlord to apply for the benefit amount

Residents with Disconnect & Shut Off Notices:

Applicants who are in danger of getting services disconnected, or whose services have already been disconnected, can submit the application as soon as possible with all the paperwork to be processed for immediate assistance

Qualifying Amount:

Households that qualify for LIHWAP could reduce their water or wastewater charges, or both if their bills include both services, by up to $2,000

Once an applicant is found eligible, a credit will be applied to their water and/or wastewater bill within 45 days or less CAPSBC staff will send a pledge to the water company or wastewater treatment provider with the approved amount, however, this does not always stop or prevent disconnections if the non-payment process has been too long

To schedule an appointment, San Bernardino County residents can call 909-723-1500

Applications can also be submitted via fax, email, in-person, or mailed in

Bloomington Little Lea gue Kicks Of f T heir Baseball Season with an Opening Day Cer emony

Community News

Supervisor Joe Baca, Jr helped kick off the beginning of the baseball season by participating in the Opening Day Ceremonies for the Bloomington Little League at Kessler Park All Little League teams were present, and they were able to join in on the games and giveaways The highlight of the opening was seeing two 1981 World Series Dodger Champions Kenny Landreaux caught the final out of the 1981 World Series, and Jerry Reuss helped the

Dodgers win The Department of San Bernardino County Library, First 5 San Bernardino, and the Bloomington Municipal Advisory Council (MAC) supported the event

"It was an honor to have the opportunity to join Bloomington Little Leagues Opening Day Ceremony The event was well attended, with a lot of community support and Dodgers baseball legends Kenny Landreaux and

Step Up In San Ber nardino will pr ovide housing

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Community News

Today, San Bernardino Mayor Helen Tran joined Shangri-La Industries and service provider Step Up to celebrate the opening of Step Up in San Bernardino a Shangri-La Community, the City’s newest permanent supportive housing for chronically unhoused seniors at the repurposed former All Star Lodge This partnership represents a significant investment in new housing and service options in San Bernardino

“This project exemplifies the transformative Homekey solutions providing thousands of individuals across California with the supportive services they need and a safe place to call home,” said Governor Gavin Newsom “I applaud San Bernardino and local leaders across California for partnering with the state to meet the urgency of this moment and make a lasting change in our communities ”

Funding for this facility was made possible through financing from Shangri-La Industries and the State’s Homekey program Notably, it is in the top 10% of the most-cost-effective Homekey projects in the state The entirety of construction at the site was handled with locally-hired labor, and completed in less than 12 months from Shangri-La’s official acquisition

“This project is a testament to what we can do when government and private industries come together to solve complex problems and deliver services to our communities,” said Andy Meyers, CEO of Shangri-La “We must be creative in our solutions- tackling homelessness at its core These 76 units will provide safe spaces for the unhoused community that they can finally call home ”

The hotel-turned-apartment complex provides 76 single occupancy 250-square-foot efficiency apartments and one permanent onsite manager unit All units will be fully furnished, and residents will be offered a wide array of rich wraparound services provided by Step Up In addition, eight units are designed specifically for occupants with mobility issues, and four units are outfitted for aurally- or visually-impaired individuals

“The renovation of the former All Star Lodge will provide much-needed permanent housing for the most vulnerable individuals who have been living on the streets of San Bernardino This housing project, Step Up in San Bernardino, which will provide onsite intensive support services to each tenant, is a wellproven model to solve homelessness in San Bernardino and other communities across the country,” said Tod Lipka, Step Up’s President & CEO

“Throughout my time in Congress, my top priority has been tackling the affordable housing shortage and homelessness crisis in the Inland Empire,” said Rep Pete Aguilar “I am proud to have helped secure this critical funding to reduce chronic homelessness in our community We need more creative solutions like Step Up in San Bernardino to ensure every Inland Empire resident has a place to call home ”

Shangri-La Industries is committed to expanding affordable housing opportunities and improving the quality of life for underserved communities

To date, Shangri-La Industries has delivered more than 2,000 affordable housing units throughout the Country

Jerry Reuss The Bloomington Little League members had a blast seeing, taking pictures, and getting autographed baseballs and cards from Kenny Landreaux and Jerry Reuss As a former coach of 12 years, I love baseball because it teaches life lessons, such as teamwork, working hard, working together, and never quitting ”