City partners to introduce new Alzheimer's support group

Claremont Place Senior Living is introducing Yesteryear's Cafe, a new Alzheimer's support group in partnership with Community Senior Services of Claremont.

Yesteryear's Cafe is a monthly gathering for people living with Alzheimer's disease and other dementias, along with their families, caregivers, and other professionals. Caregivers are invited to attend with their loved ones and participate in a variety of stimulating activities.

The meetings will be informal social events with an educational component. The first meeting takes place on Thursday, March 8, from 10:30 a.m. to noon at Claremont Place Senior Living, 120 W. San Jose Ave. The monthly gatherings will be held on the second Thursday of the month from 10:30 a.m. to noon. For information or to RSVP, call 447-5259.

Y-art sale takes over the Claremont Village this Saturday

Claremont's 7th annual Y-art Sale will take place this Saturday from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the Village at 506 Yale Ave., on the corner of Harrison and Yale Avenues.

Six local artists will carry on the tradition of shedding a year's worth of collection by providing art and art materials at yard sale prices. Items include fabric, jewelry, buttons, beads, vintage and collectables, quilts and clothing. For more information call 626-3066.

Claremont police aid ailing train conductor

A Metrolink train came to an emergency stop at the Depot last night in order to attend to medical issues for the train’s conductor.

Claremont Police and the Los Angeles County Sherriff's Department responded to the Depot at 200 W. First St. around 7:15 p.m. to help the train’s conductor, who was feeling ill. The conductor was transported to the hospital for an unknown medical reason, according to Sergeant Jason Walters with the Claremont Police Department.

Pomona Valley Hospital blood drive this Friday

Pomona Valley Hospital Medical Center is hosting a blood drive at its Claremont clinic this Thursday, February 23, from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Themed "Have a Heart, Save a Life," the blood drive is open to all community members to donate blood and enjoy giveaways and raffles during the event.

PVHMC's Claremont Clinic is located at 1601 Monte Vista Ave. For more information on the blood drive visit www.pvhmc.org for more information.

Re-accredidation for Claremont Chamber CEO

Claremont Chamber of Commerce Executive Maureen Aldridge was recognized for renewing her Accredited Chamber Executive (ACE) status at the Western Association of Chamber Executives (WACE) annual conference in Las Vegas.

The ACE designation is awarded to only those chamber executives who meet stringent criteria set by the association's board of directors. To continue to hold the ACE designation, recipients must re-apply every 5 years and continue to meet strict professional development and educational requirements.

Ms. Aldridge was awarded her 5-year re-accreditation this year. The accreditation program was first awarded in 1993 to encourage chamber executives to upgrade and expand their skills through continuing education and training programs in the chamber management
and business fields. There are currently a total of 44 ACE recipients who are active in chambers of commerce in the West.

W.A.C.E. is an association of over 800 chamber executives and staff professionals with members in 14 Western states. The association's mission is to promote and enhance the professional development of chamber of commerce executives. W.A.C.E. is the
largest state or regional association of chamber of commerce executives in the United States.

Summer pilgrimage to the Holy Land

A pilgrimage to the Holy Land is planned from June 1 through 13, led by Pilgrim Place residents Alice and Rizek Abusharr, former residents of Jerusalem.

The trip includes 2 days in Bethlehem, 3 days in Galilee, and 6 days in Jerusalem. Highlights include Mt. of Olives, a swim in the Dead Sea, a boat ride on the Sea of Galilee, dialogue with Muslims, Christians and Jews, Bethlehem and the Church of the Nativity, Galilee and sites related to Jesus' ministry, Nazareth and Nazareth Village, and visits in and around
Jerusalem.

Cost of trip is $4000 and includes air fare, ground transportation (including to and from LAX), accommodations, meals, tips, and entrance fees.

For more information, please contact Alice or Rizek Abusharr by phone at 621-7502 or by email at abusharr@verizon.net.

Tony-nominated actor to peform one-woman show at Bridges Auditorium

Award-winning actor and playwright Anna Deavere Smith will perform and discuss her one-woman show On the Road: A Search for American Character on Wednesday, February 29 at 7 p.m., as part of Pomona College’s Distinguished Speaker Series. The event, to be held at Pomona College’s Bridges Auditorium, is free and open to the public.

Ms. Smith’s show presents a collection of excerpts from 25 years of interviews with diverse voices from communities in crisis. Known for her acclaimed one-woman plays exploring American character and national identity, Ms. Smith has won numerous awards, including 2 Obies, 2 Tony nominations, a Drama Desk Award, the USA Susan V. Berresford Award from United States Artists and a MacArthur fellowship. She was runner-up for the Pulitzer Prize for her play Fires In the Mirror. She has been hailed as creating a new form of theater, combining the journalistic technique of interviewing her subjects with the art of interpreting their words through performance. The New York Times called her “the ultimate impressionist, she does people's souls.” Her television and movie credits include Nurse Jackie, The West Wing, The American President, Philadelphia and others.

Ms. Smith is also the founding director of Anna Deavere Smith Works, a nonprofit that convenes socially-committed artists whose work addresses the world's most pressing problems and brings them into dialogue with scholars, scientists, activists, students and politicians. She the founder of the Institute on the Arts and Civic Dialogue at Harvard University, a center for artistic excellence addressing social change. Smith teaches at New York University.

She is the author of Letters to a Young Artist: Straight-up Advice on Making a Life in the Arts-For Actors, Performers, Writers, and Artists of Every Kind (2006) and Talk to Me: Listening Between the Lines (2000), among others.=

Bridges Auditorium is located at 450 N. College Way, Claremont. The free tickets are available at the Bridges Auditorium box office, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Friday. Limit 2 tickets per person.

Claremont businesswoman selected for exclusive marketing workshop

Congratulations to Claremont-based RD Photo Services, selected as one of 10 businesses across the country to participate in Project Rev 2012, a yearlong program to help small business owners improve their marketing, find more customers and grow sales.

RD Photo Services, owned by portrait and action photographer Robin A. Driscoll, was selected from more than 1200 applicants to receive $15,000 worth of free marketing tools from Deluxe and yearlong access to marketing advisors, mentors, products and services. RD Photo Services will also receive guidance from a local chapter of SCORE, a national nonprofit dedicated to educating entrepreneurs and helping small businesses start, grow and succeed.

“I didn’t think I could afford a marketing plan, so I began promoting myself by word of mouth,” Driscoll said. “Word of mouth marketing is great, but my business growth is slower than I would like.”

Growth of small businesses like RD Photo Services is critical to an economic recovery. In the United States, small businesses represent 98 percent of businesses, employ over half of the workers and produce over half of the gross domestic product. United States Small Business Administration

“Last year’s Project REV participants collectively doubled their sales despite the economy,” said Laura Radewald, vice president of brand and media relations with Deluxe. “Deluxe selected RD Photo Services as a 2012 program participant because, like so many small businesses across America, it needs marketing tools that will increase the reach of its message beyond what word of mouth and referrals can provide.”

Through Project REV, she hopes to grow her brand with a social media presence, blog, direct mail process and more.

For more information on Project REV 2012 visit www.projectrev2012.com.

City of Claremont online budget survey now open

The city’s online budget survey is once again open to residents.

The survey— originally slated to open last week—was made temporarily unavailable as city staff worked to make changes to the content following its community budget meetings.

The survey will be available online at www.ci.claremont.ca.us until Sunday, March 4. Information will then be compiled and sent to the city council members as Claremont prepares for its next 2-year budget cycle.

For more information call city hall at 399-5460.

Claremont street construction update

City Manager Tony Ramos has provided Claremont residents with this update on street construction in the city:

Indian Hill overlay project

Hardy and Harper Construction Company is continuing work on Indian Hill Boulevard. Concrete work on the west side of Indian Hill Boulevard from Eighth Street to Harrison Avenue was postponed this week because of reports of rain. Instead, the contractor repaired irrigation lines and landscaping damaged during construction.

Work on concrete and asphalt removal and replacements along the west side of Indian Hill Boulevard will resume next week. Weather permitting, Indian Hill Boulevard is scheduled for completion on March 16.

Foothill Boulevard

Golden State Water Company is working on the installation of water utilities for the Pitzer College Student Housing Project. To control traffic during the construction, Foothill Boulevard has been reduced to one lane in each direction. Drivers should consider alternative routes or expect some delays. Lanes should reopen by tomorrow. In the coming
weeks, the contractor will be trenching across Foothill Boulevard as well as trenching along the west side of Claremont Boulevard, north of Ninth Street. The project should be completed by March 3.

World War II vets featured in weekend art exhibit

Claremont Heritage and the Claremont Museum of Art are teaming up to host an exhibit that will feature local artists who were funded through the GI Bill after World War II.

Entitled Claremont Modern: The Artists of the GI Bill, the opening reception will be held at the Claremont Heritage Ginger Elliot Exhibition Space located in Memorial Park behind the Garner House beginning at 6:30 p.m. on Friday. The exhibit, in conjunction with Pacific Standard Time Regional Focus Weekend, will be featured from February 17-26 from
12 p.m. to 5 p.m. on Wednesdays and Sundays.

The GI Bill, also known as the Servicemen's Readjustment Act of 1944, provided college and vocation education for World War II veterans. The funding from the bill allowed many artists who served in the war to study art at the Claremont Colleges. The works of local artists Karl Benjamin, James Hueter and Harrison McIntosh will be part of the exhibit.

Other Pacific Standard Time related events this weekend will be held at the American Museum of Ceramic Art, Sam and Alfreda Maloof Foundation for Arts and Crafts, Petterson Museum of Intercultural Art, Pomona College Museum of Art and the Ruth Chandler Williamson Gallery of Scripps College. For more information on Claremont Modern: The Artists of the GI Bill, contact the Claremont Museum of Art at 621-3200.

City closed, trash collection canceled this Monday

City facilities will be closed next Monday, February 20 in observance of Presidents' Day. Trash collection will be delayed one day. Residents with a normal Thursday pick up will have their trash collected on Friday.

This week in Claremont weather

Sporadic rain showers are expected to continue throughout the day and into Monday evening. Today's high is expected at 60 degrees with a low of 39 degrees.

Though there is a very slight chance of early rain showers tomorrow morning, clear skies are expected for the rest of the week. This week's peak is expected at 72 degrees on Thursday and Friday.

For more information on this week's weather forecast visit www.weather.com.

Ontario Airport for Claremont council discussion Tuesday

The Ontario Airport and an update on the city’s crime data are slated for discussion at the Claremont City Council meeting this Tuesday, February 14, at 6:30 p.m.

The council will discuss adopting an ordinance in support of the city of Ontario’s efforts to acquire the rights to its airport. Ontario began a public relations campaign asking for other cities across the region to help aid in their fight to acquire the airport from the Los Angeles World Airports, L.A.’s aero department that also operates the Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) and Van Nuys Airport. Claremont officials have previously voiced support of the ordinance, but an official decision will be made Tuesday.

Claremont Police will also present information from its 2011 annual crime report released last week. The Claremont PD announced that the city’s Part I crime rates are at a 25-year low. See a full story on this year’s crime report in the February 8, 2011 edition of the COURIER.

The city council meeting is held in the City Council Chamber at 225 W. Second Street. Closed session begins at 5:15 p.m. with an open session to the public starting at 6:30 p.m. For the full agenda visit www.ci.claremont.ca.us.

City budget survey temporarily down

The city’s online budget survey will be temporarily unavailable as staff works to make some changes to the content following the February 6 budget workshop.

The survey will be available online at www.ci.claremont.ca.us until Sunday, March 4. For more information call city hall at 399-5460.

The final budget workshop will take place this Monday, February 13 at 6:30 p.m. at the Hughes Center, 1700 Danbury Road.

Free mulch event Saturday

Claremont's tree maintenance contractor is offering free mulch to residents this Saturday. The event takes place at Blaisdell Park beginning at 6 a.m.

Mulch helps to conserve water and limits the amount of waste sent to the landfill. The mulch will be available on a first-come, first serve basis. Residents are asked to bring equipment to transport the mulch.

Blaisdell Park is located at 440 S. College Ave. For more information contact the community services department at 399-5431.

Democratic Club luncheon this Friday

The Democratic Club of Claremont will hold its monthly luncheon at L.Y.L. Gardens restaurant at 921 W. Foothill Blvd. this Friday from 12 to 2 p.m.

This month's speaker will be Joe Tonan, President of the Claremont Faculty Association. He will discuss the nature and place of teacher evaluations in our schools. Mr. Tonan has been a teacher for 25 years and has experience in the development and use of teacher evaluations.

Cost of lunch is $10 and will be served from 12 to 2 p.m.; the presentation will take place 1 to 2 p.m. The Democratic Club of Claremont hosts luncheons the second Friday of each month.

For more information visit www.claremontdems.org.

The Iron Lady, Hugo among Oscar nominees playing at Claremont Laemmle this weekend

Those looking to catch a few nominated flicks before Oscar makes his debut in 2012 are in luck. Claremont Laemmle is featuring 5 Oscar hopefuls on its screens this weekend.

The 84th Academy Awards takes place Sunday, February 26.

Selections featured at the Laemmle this weekend include Albert Nobbs and The Iron Lady, Glenn Close and Meryl Streep nominated for best actress, respectively. Viewings of Best Picture-nominees The Descendents, Hugo and the Artist will also be available. Saturday and Sunday will also feature a special return of Midnight in Paris, Woody Allen's Best Picture-nominated flick (and my personal favorite film for 2011).

Here is the weekend rundown:

Friday

Albert Nobbs-1:10 p.m., 4 p.m., 7:10 p.m., 9:55 p.m.

The Artist-1:50 p.m., 4:30 p.m., 7:30 p.m., 10 p.m.

The Descendants-1:30 p.m., 4:10 p.m., 7 p.m., 9:45 p.m.

Hugo-3:25 p.m., 8:45 p.m.

The Iron Lady-1:40 p.m., 4:20 p.m., 7:20 p.m., 10:55 p.m.

Saturday

Albert Nobbs-1:10 p.m., 4 p.m., 7:10 p.m., 9:55 p.m.

The Artist-11:15 a.m., 1:50 p.m., 4:30 p.m., 7:30 p.m., 10 p.m.

The Descendants-1:30 p.m., 4:10 p.m., 7 p.m., 9:45 p.m.

Hugo-3:25 p.m., 8:45 p.m.

The Iron Lady-1:40 p.m., 4:20 p.m., 7:20 p.m., 9:55 p.m.

Midnight in Paris-11:10 a.m.

Sunday

Albert Nobbs-1:10 p.m., 4 p.m., 7:10 p.m., 9:55 p.m.

The Artist-11:15 a.m., 1:50 p.m., 4:30 p.m., 7:30 p.m., 10 p.m.

The Descendants-1:30 p.m., 4:10 p.m., 7 p.m., 9:45 p.m.

Hugo-3:25 p.m., 8:45 p.m.

The Iron Lady-1:40 p.m., 4:20 p.m., 7:20 p.m., 9:55 p.m.

Midnight in Paris-11:10 a.m.

Tickets are $11 for general admission, $8 for those 12 and under as well as for seniors 62 and above. Bargain tickets are available at $8 for films before 2 p.m.

The Claremont Laemmle is located at 450 W. Second St.

For more information call 621-5500 or visit their website at www.laemmle.com.

Blood Drive and BBQ today at Hibbard Auto

Richard Hibbard Auto Center is hosting its second annual American Red Cross Blood Drive today from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Those who participate in the drive or come to the dealership for services today will receive a free BBQ lunch. Donors will also receive a coupon for a free appetizer from Mimi’s Cafe, Los Angeles Galaxy tickets, 2 tickets to The Grammy Museum tickets, and 15 percent off car services for that day, according to Hibbard Sales Manager Michele Henson.

In addition to the drive, Hibbard will be showcasing new electric car offerings, including vehicles from Wheego Electric Cars and scooters from ZAP. Richard Hibbard Auto Center is located at 191 S. Indian Hill Blvd. For more information call 624-4541.

City budget workshops begin Monday

The city of Claremont will host 2 public workshops to discuss the creation of the city's 2012-2014 city budget. Residents are invited to take part in the process starting this Monday.

The workshops are an opportunity for residents to hear preliminary revenue and budget projections and give input on budget items. Residents attending the workshops will take an interactive survey and the results of the surveys will be used to develop the budget.

Monday's workshop will take place at the Blaisdell Community Center at 440 S. College Ave. The meeting begins at 6:30 p.m.

Another workshop will take place the following Monday, February 13 at the same time at the Alexander Hughes Center at 1700 Danbury Road.

Those unable to attend the workshops are invited to take the interactive survey online. The survey will be available starting Tuesday on the city's website at www.ci.claremont.ca.us.

Contact Interim Assistant City Manager Colin Tudor at 399-5466 for more information.

Blaisdell lunch program moved today

The Blaisdell Community Center—located at 440 S. College Ave.—will be closed today for a scheduled power outage.

The center will remain closed all day as Southern California Edison works on electrical system maintenance for the local area. Power needs to be shut off at the center to ensure safety.

The Blaisdell lunch program will be relocated to the Joslyn Center at 660 N. Mountain Ave. For more information call the Joslyn Center at 399-5488. Dial-a-Ride service is available to those in need by calling 623-0183.

Blaisdell will reopen at normal hours tomorrow.