Chino...A Cornucopia of Memories

(Cornucopia reference was for the old Chino Logo, but I could not find it.) A while back some friends and I started a "You might be from Chino" email. It quickly evolved to a "You might be from Chino, Don Lugo or the Chino III Ward" list. It was pretty funny. I was surfing the internet today and came across the list on some guy's website. He eliminated the entries that did not apply to him, mostly the Chino III Ward comments, but much of the list remained intact. Here it is in it's Chino/III Ward/Don Lugo form.


*You know you are from Chino when you know what the Milkcan game is.
*You know you are from Chino when you know what DAL and CHS stands for.You know you are *You know you are from Chino when people say "Damn! Whats that smell?" and you reply, "What smell?"
*You know you are from Chino when you know what "smells like Chino" means.
*You know you are from Chino when your idea of a scary time is Green Mist and the Cooper House.
*You know you are from Chino if you know who Kevin Cooper is.
*You know you are from Chino when people ask where you are from and you say; Chino, and they respond "Oh! Where the prison is?"
*You know you are from Chino when you have at least one friend who lives on a farm still.
*You know when you are from Chino when you have llamas and cows at your school.
*You know you are from Chino when you watch the O.C. and get offended.
*You know you are from Chino when you can honestly say you know who Diana Taurasi is.
*You know you are from Chino when all there is to do at night is to go toilet papering, cow tipping, or ice blocking.
*You know you are from Chino when you walk into Kelly's and half the joint is from your old high school.
*You know you are from Chino when you drive by what used to be "Drug Emporium" and it is now "Gigantic Super Mercado"
*You know you are from Chino when at least half of the girls from your high school work at one of the 2,356 tanning booths in your local area.
*You know you are from Chino when one Del Taco is closed, so you just make a left turn and.... voila! Another Del Taco!!
*You know you are from Chino when you remember that the Del Taco used to be a Naugles.
*You know you are from Chino when you're cooking and you run out of milk, so all you have to do is hop in your car and hit up the drive-through dairy down the street.
*You know you are from Chino when someone asks where you're from, and you start preparing the "Its really not as bad as everyone thinks...." speech.
*You know you are from Chino when you know what the airport lounge is, and know that on any given night, the bar may have 2 or 20 people in there (tractor trailer parking directly outside)
*You know you are from Chino if you think Flo’s is the best café ever!
*You know you are from Chino when you went to CHS, and all 10 of the P.E. teachers are football coaches.
*You know you are from Chino when you don't need to go to high school reunions to see everyone; all you need to do is go to the Demolition Derby!
*You know you are from Chino when people from Orange County think your gangster despite the fact you are clearly white.
*You know you are from Chino if you know why Zendejas’ Mexican Restaurant is called “Kickin’ Mexican Food”.
*You know you are from Chino when you wake up and smell the Wonder bread factory!
*You know you are from Chino when you get angry when you hear the words Chino Hills.
*You know you are from Chino when you say "Let's meet at Chino Burger for lunch" and you're friends show up at Ranch Burger, Chino Burger, and Super Chiliburger.
*You know you are from Chino when you STILL call the Ralphs on Mountain Ave. Alpha-Beta.
*You know you are from Chino when you think about the old times at the old AMC theatre, Kelly's, Godfather's, Skate Express, New York Pizzeria, and EZ Take Out.
*You know you are from Chino when you remember the old Pink Onion over on Riverside next door to the 7-11.
*You know you are from Chino when you can tell inquiring minds just which episode of The Simpsons Chino is mentioned, and who mentions it. (Day of the Jackanapes, Sideshow Bob.) "Oh, honestly! At Chino, they get to stay up till nine!"
*You know you are from Chino when you check the Champion Newspaper to see people you went to school with is getting married. Then feel really good when you see their spouse is ugly.
*You know you are from Chino when you know Officer McCombs, and know he's an A-hole.
*You know you are from Chino if you have ever witnessed someone buy pot or cigarettes off the ice cream man.
*You know you are from Chino when living in track housing makes you fancy. (Park East III Rocks!)
*You know you are from Chino when you've dry camped at the Prado Balloon Festival.
*You know you are from Chino if you had to come in early as a kid because that is when the Chino Sinners were out and about.
*You know you are from Chino when you know the Chino Sinners are now just fat balding old guys who get together to hold BBQ's for their families.
*You know you are from Chino when you know where Hottinger's meats is located at.
*You know you are from Chino when you know that all the streets that have a number or letter in its name have at least one Chino Sinner living there. D Street!
*You know you are from Chino when you remember when someone pooped in your school pool, and it wasn't you.
*You know you are from Chino when you know what a Conquistador is.
*You know you are from Chino if you ate at the El Rancho Grande before it was burned down as a Meth Lab.
*You know you are from Chino when you remember when Chino Hills was nothing but Los Serranos.
*You know you are from Chino when you remember the PIG MAN!
*You know you are from Chino when you know who owns a pool, and spend your whole summer there. (Thank you Batemans!)
*You know you are from Chino when you have eaten at Joey's BBQ.
*You know you are from Chino when you have had a Manna Donut, or remember the walk-up window for the Winchels on Central and Riverside!
*You know you are from Chino when on Halloween you know who gives mini wonder breads, and cheese popcorn away.
*You know you are from Chino when you know that the DAL kids are good at one thing... track.
*You know you are from Chino if you remember the days when DAL dominated CHS.
*You know you are from Chino when it's 115 degrees outside, no shade and you say, "well at least its cooler then it was yesterday".
*You know you are from Chino when you know where the DES hall is at.
*You know you are from Chino when you know who Coach Monger is.
*You know you are from Chino when you know where Bum Street is at.
*You know you are from Chino when your favorite smell involves driving up Central for the strawberry fields, and Christmas tree farms.
*You know you are from Chino if you picked your own Decker Corn.
*You know you are from Chino when you think you've moved up in the world when you've bought your two story home in Corona.
*You know you are from Chino when you go get the best Mexican food over at Mi Ranchito.
*You know you are from Chino when you know who Mr. Satterfield was...may he RIP
*You know you are from Chino when you can remember when the houses on the south west corner of Riverside and Mountain was Decker Corn.
*You know you are from Chino when the best parties take place at the Ellsworth Ranch.
*You know you are from Chino when you have ever avoided the light at Benson & Philadelphia by driving behind the Chino Town Square.
*You know you are from Chino when you can remember when Pac n' Save was Gemco, Vons, Pavillions, Vons (again), etc.
*You know you are from Chino when you hear "Zendejas" and think "kick ass Don Lugo football player" and not just "great Mexican food".
*You know you are from Chino if Dale has ever cut your hair.
*You know you are from Chino when you know who the Tamale King is.
*You know you are from Chino if you ever watched David Carradine Grand Marshall the Christmas Parade every year.
*You know you are from Chino when you remember MusicPlus and Blockbuster Music.
*You know you are from Chino if you ever did a Chinese fire drill at the intersection of Riverside Dr. and Central Ave.
*You know you are from Chino when you have spent time after time going to Bernard's Liquor... and remember when Bernard worked there.
*You know you are from Chino when you know that the Gov. Arnolds Cabinet Secretary is the former Mayor of Chino Fred Aguiar.
*You know you are from Chino when you have eatn at the Centro Basco and know any Basque people.
*You know you are from Chino when you remember when Pipeline Ave. was like a river when it rained... man it was tough getting across when you were walking home from school.
*You know you are from Chino when you have gone to Christmas Tree Lane!!!
*You know you are from Chino when you remember the snow cone lady over on Ramona Ave. just below Riverside Dr.
*You know you are from Chino when you have had pizza parties over at Pizza Peddler or New York Pizzeria.
*You know you are from Chino when you have played some baseball, football, or soccer over at Ayala Park.
*You know you are from Chino if you have ever heard the sirens while playing sports at Ayala Park next to the prison, yet no one flinched.
*You know you are from Chino if you know who Ruben S. Ayala is.
*You know you are from Chino if you know about Boy’s Republic or have a Del A Robbia wreath.
*You know you are from Chino when you called it the Chino Auction even though its in Ontario.
*You know you are from Chino when you went to DAL and took drivers training with Mr. McDonald or Mr. Setlich or Mr. Johnson.
*You know you are from Chino when you got caught ditching by Big Bird.
*You know you are from Chino when you can remember going to Art's... what is now Super Chili Burger over on Magnolia and Riverside.
*You know you are from Chino when you still crave those Taco Snacks at DAL.
*You know you are from Chino when you hung out at the local bowling ally... yeah... where the T-Shirt Mart is over by Chino Bike on Central and Riverside.
*You know you are from Chino when you got to Chino Ranch Market or the El Pueblo Meat Market to get carne asada.
*You know you are from Chino when you get all excited, and make everyone shut up when Snoop Dogg raps about living "in the hills, right next to Chino."
*You know you are from Chino if you remember when Chino Hills State Park was in the middle of know where.
*You know you are from Chino if you know what the Yorba Slaughter Adobe is.
*You know you are from Chino if you have ever been to the Planes of Fame Museum.
*You know you are from Chino if you ever went to the dairy on a field trip.
*You know you are from Chino if you ever rode your bike to Thrifty ice cream for Double Malted Chocolate Crunch.
*You know you are from Chino if you know Earl Schieb owned the Green Thumb Ranch.
*You know you are from Chino if you know that "The Sun Always Shines in Q Country".

*You know you are from Chino if you remember more Zendejas' played at Don Lugo than at Chino.

*You know you are from Chino if you remember when Skate Express was Skateway and Andy's was A&W.

*You know you are from Chino if you remember when Esera Tuaolo was straight.

*You know you are from Chino if you remember when Coach Monger wasn’t a traitor and Don Lugo had the winning football teams.

*You know you are from Chino if you've ever taken a date to the top of the "tower" at the "ranch".

*You know you are from Chino if you know what "the Ranch" is.

*You know you are from Chino if you've described Chino as "the place where the olympic shooting events took place in 1984"

* You know you are from Chino if you remember the smell of Embley Eggs.

*You know you are from Chino if you drove all the way to Bob's 7-11 just to get a free Big Gulp.

*You know you are from Chino if you bought bicycle parts and/or donuts at the Pink Onion.

*You know you are from Chino if you attended one or more schools that contained the name "Fundamental"

*You know you are from Chino if you remember the haunted house on Norton and Chino Ave.

*You know you are from Chino if you thought that Diamond Bar people were pious and snooty.

*You know you are from Chino if you or your friends were part of a Corona or Diamond Bar-connection.

*You know you are from Chino if you know where Leonard worked as a security guard.

*You know you are from Chino if you know what the term "Big Blue" is referring to.

*You know you are from Chino if you were 12-years old and worked for Dean Roberts and drove around in the woody.

*You know you are from Chino if you ever went to the Arbon's house after a Saturday night dance where the entire music system was set up and playing loud until way after 2 AM! Amazingly there were never police!

*You know you are from Chino if you ever heard Ed Bateman say, "I should have bought a Chevy Luv".

*You know you are from Chino if you ever raided girl's camp.

*You know you are from Chino if you know that parking in Don Howe's driveway was like breaking all of the ten commandments at once and might get you in trouble with his bb gun or his eyebrows.

*You know you are from Chino if you remember when the Concorde flew into Ontario airport.

*You know you are from Chino if you remember the Spook Alley at the ranch.

*You know you are from Chino if you were friends with Bishop VanBuskirk's or President Christensen's sons which meant unlimited basketball at the stake center.

*You know you are from Chino if you remember Rudy's sweet 55 Chevy.

*You know you are from Chino if you took part in the daily ritual of tackle football in the park by the Trosper's.

*You know you are from Chino if tears come to your eyes when you think about the Heumann's red Ford station wagon, Marque Trosper's blue Plymouth Horizon, Mont's Nova, Tara's Crest green Mustang and Tim's aqua blue Toyota.

*You know you are from Chino if you ever toilet papered the Burgon's house.

*You know you are from Chino if you remember when Marque spelled his name with a "k".

*You know you are from Chino if you never wonder why Myque Obrey spells his name with a "que".

*You know you are from Chino if you know who JB is.

*You know you are from Chino if you remember when Mont had hair.

*You know you are from Chino if you remember who said, "Marque, you look like Lucifer."

*You know you are from Chino if you remember who said, "Why don't you get up out of that chair once in a while and give it a break." and who it was said to.

*You know you are from Chino if you remember the Diamond Bar girls having a crush on Mont.

*You know you are from Chino if being barely 16 qualified you to work the swing shift at Bob's 7-11 selling beer, cigs, lottery tix, etc.

*You know you are from Chino if you remember the Corona girls having a crush on Mont.

*You know you are from Chino if you have ever seen Eric speeding at 80 mph on Arvidson Rd. while being chased by a Pomona gang after a DAL basketball game thanks to Mont.

*You know you are from Chino if you have ever been pulled over by an unmarked police car only to find it was Mike Makerov and Myque Obrey.

*You know you are from Chino if you remember Wayne (at Pizza Peddler) having a crush on Mont.

*You know you are from Chino if the "Corona Connection" means more than a reference to a Mexican beer.
*You know you are from Chino if Tom Cunningham's prom picture brings a smile to your face.

*You know you are from Chino if Eric Christensen's prom picture also brings a smile to your face.

*You know you are from Chino if Troop 200 holds a special place in your heart.

*You know you are from Chino if you have ever played Petals around the Rose.

*You know you are from Chino if you played basketball against Officer Vega weekly.

*You know you are from Chino if you ever wrote "Barry Rhodes' windowwashing" on the back of Rhode's dirty vehicle windows at least once.

*You know you are from Chino if you have saluted Ed Bateman as he was hoisted up the flagpole.

*You know you are from Chino if you you remember the agreement between Tom Cunningham and Aaron Palmer that Aaron would be Secretary of State in the Cunningham Administration?
*You know you are from Chino if you remember Marque wearing eyeliner. (I debated leaving this out, but didn't think it would be fair with all the other jabs at others remaining in the list).

*You know you are from Chino if you remember when Blair Bell was single.

*You know you are from Chino if you remember when the Chino III ward and Chino VI ward hated eachother. (I don't remember this).

*You know you are from Chino if you remember when there were only two high schools in Chino (this is still the case, but Chino Hills wasn't incorporated at the time)

*You know you are from Chino if you shot a hole in the back of Mont's suburban....Eric!

*You know you are from Chino if you had a motorcycle track in your backyard.

*You know you are from Chino if you had to play your highschool football games at the same stadium that your cross-town rival played at.

*You know you are from Chino if you have ever been in a fight with some Diamond Bar guys.

*You know you are from Chino if you have ever been in a fight at a church basketball game.

*You know you are from Chino if you ever stole the CHS Cowboy and taken it to DAL.

*You know you are from Chino if you went to LDS church dances to meet the “rich” girls from > Diamond Bar.

*You know you are from Chino if you remember when The Red Hot Chili Peppers opened for Oingo Boingo in nearby Pomona at the glass house for the lofty price of only $20.

*You know you are from Chino if the Ranch was like a private adventureland.

*You know you are from Chino if you have an inkling of who the “Rogues” AKA The Sinclairs were. EEEEYYYYAAAAHHH

*You know you are from Chino if you still aren’t sure to this day how many actual Howe brothers there are.

*You know you are from Chino if the “Promenade” used to be where you played ‘Ditch ‘em’ with your pals in the stacks of hay bails.

*You know you are from Chino if you have ever been hit by the Bathroom Bandit! (Poop with an umbrella)

*You know you are from Chino if you have ever been in a pinecone fight and won.

*You know you are from Chino if someone mentions “The Park” it’s appropriate to ask ‘I, II or III?’

*You know you are from Chino if were ticked when they built the movie theater because that used to be Chino’s very own Supercross track.

*You know you are from Chino if you are still in denial that Tuaolo is gay since you actually watched him beat three Hessians up at the same time.

*You know you are from Chino if you know who Esera Tuaolo is.

*You know you are from Chino if you know that ‘hessian’ refers to anyone who lived in Los Serranos.

*You know you are from Chino if you are vaguely familiar with the term ‘Honda Hills.’

*You know you are from Chino if you remember when they burnt down the Philadelphia building.

*You know you are from Chino if you remember discovering a secret tunnel in the Philadelphia building that led from under the stage, under the gym floor, over the chapel and into the sacrament prep room but of course you NEVER used it .

*You know you are from Chino if you ever stole the Bob's Big Boy statue.

*You know you are from Chino if you shiver when you hear the name Jay Fornier (For-Nee-Ca-Tor).

*You know you are from Chino if you ever took the drive to Lake Dolores to cool off.

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For those who have never been to Chino, hopefully this gives you a glimpse of what it was like there. It really isn't as bad as you would think.....