The Mellowdears, a group of singing seniors, need a new home

ONTARIO - Members of the Mellowdears, a senior singing group, were still reeling from the death of one of their members when they were asked to leave the site they called home.

About two weeks ago, after nearly 20 years of rehearsing and performing at Rancho Ontario Mobile Park, the group was asked to leave, said member Stephen Zirbel.

Zirbel said the owner of the park wanted the majority of the members of the singing group to be residents of the home park. For the past five years that has not been the case, he said.

"If that were the case, then we'd be a trio or a quartet rather than a choir," Zirbel said.

Besides weekly rehearsals, the group hosted dinner performances four times a year at the home park. They have performed at many senior centers, rest homes, San Antonio Community Hospital and other locations, said Ralph England, music director for the group.

The Mellowdears are rehearsing at a temporary location in Upland and have begun the process of finding something more permanent.

Finding that location isn't going to be easy, England said.

First, they are hoping to find a spot within a 30-minute radius of their old home in southern Ontario. That's because the group includes seniors who can't drive too far, or who rely on rides from other members.

"With the seniors, sometimes we get lost," member Fred Fielder said.

They also are going to need some storage space for the three cabinets full of sheet music being stored at the old location, England said.

The group is open to any senior, 55 or older who wishes to sing for fun, Fielder said. The 20-member group has seniors from Upland, Rancho Cucamonga, Claremont and Ontario.

What sets this singing group apart from others, England said, is that they do not require auditions.

"It's not a competition, but rather a time of fellowship," Zirbel said. "I believe that music and singing is therapeutic."

On Oct. 14, four members of the group - Zirbel; Rosemari Duckworth, Fielder and music director Ralph England - gathered at a local restaurant to discuss the Mellowdears and its future.

The group was formed by Betty Ingram in 1984, and at that time was mainly composed of residents from the park. At one point the group had more than 30 members, Zirbel said.

Through the years, members began to move away from the park, but they stayed in the group, he said.

All of the members agreed that being a part of the group is about having fun.

"We used to have a member who was here for the socialization, she just lip-synced," Fielder said "We're all here to have a good time."

It's been a couple of weeks since the group has held its regular Tuesday morning practice at the mobile home park.

"It makes me really sad that we're not rehearsing there anymore," said Duckworth, president and longest member of the Mellowdears.

Despite the recent developments, the group has not slowed its performance pace. They are preparing for the Christmas show, and on Nov. 9, they will perform at the Lewis Family Playhouse.

"One way or another, we're going to find a place to get together," Zirbel said.

To help, contact Stephen Zirbel at (909) 923-4803, or via e-mail at mellowdears@yahoo.com.