Trees Versus Signs on Main Street

When pioneers established downtown Ramona, shade was certainly an issue. It was so important to them that they came out with their families and pulled buckets of water on little wagons to keep the colonnade of eucalyptus trees at the west end of town alive.

Some things don't change a lot — like summer in Ramona.

Heatwaves still send residents looking for cover, a swimming hole or a swimming pool.

But at least a couple of small businesses on Main Street have expressed to Patch that trees or awnings might be blocking their window signs from view of potential customers.

One asked — "Who owns and maintains the trees, and can we trim them?"

The answer is that CalTrans has jurisdiction over any tree on Main Street because it's a state highway, according to and a CalTrans source.

"Cal Trans has the ultimate say on any tree on (Highway) 67," Craig Jung, the chamber executive director said. "But (Ramona) Tree Trust does the maintenance on them — except the trees on Main between 7th and 8th. We do those. There is a watering system in place purchased by CalTrans and I use it to water those trees. I just had five trees trimmed on that block because of concerns about signs."

Business owners can call the chamber with any questions.

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Another way to beat the heat is to grab an iced coffee or lemonade.

Anthony Daniels, co-owner of , a drive-through coffee place on Main Street, reports that his peak business is at 7 a.m.

"People come here before they drive down the hill to work," he said.

The Ol' Cup O Joe is in what's known as the coffee corral outside The Business Barn at the east end of town. It opened at the end of May.

Daniels is a former mechanic who worked in Poway. His wife, Nickie, owns the business with him. She formerly worked for Starbucks in Mira Mesa, he said.

"She wanted her own coffee shop," Daniels said.

Some customers like to get out of their vehicles and sit at tables under umbrellas before it gets too hot.

Drivers enter from Main Street and exit, ultimately, onto Fourth Street.

The coffee place has all the usual offerings: hot and iced speciality coffees, fruit smoothies, lemonade and muffins.

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The new owner of on Main Street, Frankie Berkley Newberg, continues to renovate and redecorate. A new fountain in the middle of the store adds the peaceful sound of water all day and a skylight adds an uplifting ray of sunshine behind it. Garden related antiques add an earthy, relaxing touch. A turntable and vinyl record albums are stationed in one corner.

"I like to listen to classical music when I design," Newberg said. "It's creative."

She said this week she had an especially happy occasion for which she provided flowers — a customer celebrating twins.

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Speaking of little people, the tiny tutus at have to be among the cutest items in town. See the attached photo.