Most Lakesiders remember the legend of historian Flossie Beadle trying to save the cork elm trees that created a canopy over Woodside Avenue. The story goes that she actually sat by the trees with shot gun in hand trying to keep the Telephone Company from destroying those trees. She lost out to progress.
Well, folks, we have a similar problem today, but we don't have Flossie to help us.  The Lakeside Historical Society is very concerned about the loss of mature trees in our community.  Fifty eight trees were cut down when the widening of Los Coches Rd was in the making. 40 were chopped down when the county straightened out Lakeview Road. 35 huge trees were cut down when the water pipeline was dug along Topo Road from San Vicente Dam to Helix Water treatment plant. Recently the Lakeside school District cut down many mature trees in an effort to modernize the school campuses.
Now with the widening and curb, gutters and sidewalks being built along Julian Avenue, many more old trees that were planted by Lakeside pioneer families along the dirt wagon trail are being cut down. Many Julian Avenue residents are appalled by this problem that is ruining the community character. Even though the sidewalks are being built for the safety of the school children, we wonder how it could be safer since the widening project will encourage traffic to drive even faster than the 40 miles an hour that is posted.
The widening of Los Coches has created a nightmare for the citizens who live there because the traffic has increased to freeway speeds. Folks, we are loosing our community character just so traffic can go faster!!!
Some folks call Los Coches Road the "Freeway to Nowhere." Remember when it was a two lane country road lined with pecan trees and there were pastures with horses grazing . . . that was only a few years ago.
At the last Lakeside Revitalization Steering Committee meeting, chaired by Supervisor Dianne Jacob, our preservation committee brought this problem to her attention and let her know that we want to preserve our historic old trees and community character.
Since the US Government is finally admitting to global warming we think that trees could be of great value to everyone and help keep Lakeside cool in the scorching summer days. We asked the County and Department of Public Works to create a new policy that for each tree being removed two be planted in its place, and to relax their policy of no trees in the county right of way. This may be a do it yourself project but if we all just plant a tree or two then we can help create the urban forest that would help keep us cooler. Come to think of it that is probably why the pioneers planted so many trees along the roadways; they knew they would be driving their horses and wagons under the canopy of those trees on the hot Lakeside days.

  The Lakeside Western Days Parade April 28^th provided another opportunity for Barney Oldfield to win once again in his "Green Dragon" racer. The theme for this yea's parade was "Turning Back the Clock." It was a perfect fit for our Lakeside Auto Speedway Centennial Celebration. The Society entered a float featuring Barney racing around Lindo Lake, the old locomotive #2 coming in from Foster, and our Boathouse sitting in the lake.
  I hope everyone the chance to see the float . . .  we won the trophy for the best theme award! It was pretty good, if I do say so myself. The Green Dragon replica is on display at the Olde Church.
  I want to thank all those who made this a successful and fun endeavor: Tracy McMillen (trailer and stuff), Ken Lansdowne, Barbara De Young, Janis Shackelford, Marcella Williams, Mike Lansdowne, Betty McMillen and James Douglas (sign).
  And thanks to our parade participants: Darren McMillen, Madison Lansdowne, Melissa Ruege, Richard White, Malorie Prentice, Jack Marks, Tyler Alcorn and Chaunce Lansdowne . . . you were spectacular!