Brad, thanks for the update.

They are disappearing.

Philosophical shinobi phoned Claremont/Upland Mission (from a payphone), yesterday (Tues, Oct 19) shortly before 5pm. It was just an answering machine or voicemail. A woman's voice: "Hello, this is the Church of Scientology Upland Mission. Please leave your name, number and a message after the tone, and we'll get back to you." Or something to that effect. No hours listed. Operative left a message along the lines of, "Hello, I was hoping to find out what your hours were. Perhaps another time."

Brad, clever. It's probably a "one man" show and the guy probably works a real job too.

Or one woman. A Ms. DeSilva is mentioned at Hubbard College for her successful physical therapy business (in Upland). Her name shows up in some of the documents at truthaboutscientology as well, indicating she's completed Word Clearing Method One or whatever, and given over $250k. She's also listed as a Volunteer Minister.

Brad, could be her.

We'll wait for more reports.

Thanks

Think tank concluded that if any time might have the Mission occupied, "Thursday stats" time might be one. Philosophical Shinobi operative observed what might have been office lights on inside the Mission, but a knock and a jiggled door handle produced no appreciable results on Thursday, November 18, '04, shortly before 1700hrs local time. Operative returned safely to base, as expected.

Thursdays is the Farmer's Market in Upland; booths extend one block in each direction from the intersection of 9th Street and Second Avenue. There's a lot of foot traffic: people shopping, listening to the music, or simply hanging out. A few months ago the Upland Mission relocated to a corner storefront at that very intersection, and on this Thursday evening its front door was open and lights were on. Two staff were seen.

Be that as it may, I saw nobody wander into the Mission from the street. The foot traffic wandered into the various other shops that were staying open late -- antique stores, a portrait photography studio, jewelry stores, etc.-- but for some reason none of it seemed to spill over the threshold of the Mission.

Staff took a photo of the guy sitting across the street with the sign that said
"Find Out xenu.net"
on one side and
"Honk if you think Scientology is Destructive"
on the other.

Thursday July 7, staff were at the counter inside the Mi$$ion, trying to give the illusion that the place had traffic during the Farmer's Market. They might not have noticed the guy outside with the xenu sign, handing out leaflets.

You go Brad!!!! I wish I was able to help.
Kathy

Activity/effort seems to have increased from my visits in previous months, mostly in the form of handing out pamphlets which Market goers distractedly take and then usually promptly dump into nearby waste bins (c'mon, use the *recycling* bins, people!). Of the pamphleteers, I saw one lone 'rover' in the Market, one mother/daughter roving team (daughter looked about 13), and two older ladies standing directly outside the mission storefront on the sidewalk. The two 8.5x11" sheets were the personality test and a calendar of events at the mission.

The Mission is still there, but Saturday afternoon I saw nobody go in, and only two people exit. However, it was a different two people than the driver and shutterbug passenger who captured the face of the guy holding the "Find out: xenu.net" sign. Some of the people just standing around at different points might have been $cienos, semi-discreetly keeping an eye on the low-key picketer.

Mission hours now 6pm-9:30pm, Monday through Thursday.
"For Rent" sign in the window, naming "Hope White" as contact person with two (909) area code numbers:
963-8211 (San Bernardino)
981-3876 (E.G Gesner, Upland)

Swung by the place a little after 6 the other evening-- lights still off, blinds down.... Mayyybe just someone late to work? How big on punctuality are these people?

It's hard to be punctual in Upland when you're RPF in Hemet.

DOWNGRADED!
<victory dance>
Scientology Mission Upland is NO LONGER in its spiffy corner storefront in a high-foot-traffic location in Upland! That place is now empty, empty, empty, with nothing on the door saying "Come visit us at our new location!" or any such. All signage indicating this had ever been a Scientology/Dianetics establishment is gone, gone, gone.

A local shopkeeper told me they'ed relocated. He'd referred to their presence in the shopping district as a 'black hole,' and was glad they were gone.

Google search still lists them at 200 N. 2nd Ave., Upland, but they ain't there no more, no sir, no ma'am.
</victorydance>

They still exist. They've moved just over two miles due west, to what I believe is an unincorporated area. The new place is ... not exactly a place with a lotta foot traffic, let's just say. 575 N. Central Avenue in Upland 91786 is called "Upland Plaza," and they're still moving in. They have an ugly Scientology (okay, that's somewhat redundant) sign up, dark letters on yellow background. They're on the same block with a porn/sex toy shop called "The Toy Box." Google Maps thinks the Scilon spot is still occupied by Canon Computer Systems.

More reconnaissance is in order.