Thursday, August 30, 2012

90th annual LA County Fair kicks off this weekend


The exhibits, animals and deep fried goodness return this week with the opening of the 90th annual LA County Fair. The confections and carnival rides continue from Friday, August 31, through Sunday, September 30.

Claremonters are welcome to take part in a special Claremont Day Celebration held on Thursday, September 20. All Claremont residents will be able to enter the fairgrounds for free from 12 to 6 p.m. with a donated pair of new or gently used shoes or a new package of socks. Before or after those times, admission can be obtained for $5 by visiting www.lacountyfair.com/online and entering the “claremont2” promotion code.

Locals Tony Marino, Randy Prout and McKenna Maglio will be honored that day as this year’s Claremont Community Heroes. Their accomplishment will be recognized with a special community reception at 3:30 pm. at the Millard Sheets Center for the Arts and a salute at 5:30 p.m. on the Expo Hall 4 Stage. A special parade will also take place at 5 p.m.

To learn more about this year’s fair and Claremont Day Celebration, visit www.lacountyfair.com. Fair coupons are available at the Hughes Center, Claremont City Hall and Chamber of Commerce. They will also be available at the Monday Night Concert information booth.

Claremont PD offers house check program


Claremont residents are invited to take part in the Claremont Police Department’s Vacation House Check program for those leaving their residence for vacation, business or personal reasons.

As part of the program, community patrol officers will perform house checks. Suspicious activity will be sent to officers on duty who will check the residence for further abnormalities. Applications for the free program may be printed online or picked up at the Claremont Police Department, located at 570 W. Bonita Ave. Forms must be dropped off in person to the CPD. Those submitted online or by mail will not be accepted. For more information, contact the police department at 399-5411. 

Friday, August 24, 2012

Pilgrim Place exhibit in full bloom tonight


“Healing Petals,” a unique collection of flower photography by artist and breast cancer survivor Sister Elizabeth Thoman will debut at Pilgrim Place’s Decker Hall this Friday, August 24, at 7 p.m. The gallery will continue through Sunday, August 26. 

Courtesy//Sr. Elizabeth Thoman
Sponsored by the Women-Church Claremont community at Pilgrim Place, the 3-day exhibit, designed as a “prayer garden,” will be an opportunity to reflect on what Sr. Thoman sees as one of the greatest gifts of God’s creation:  flowers in full bloom.

“We’re delighted to help bring Sr. Thoman’s ‘ministry of spiritual photography’ to Pilgrim Place,” says Peg Linehan, coordinator for the Women-Church group.  Virginia Bergfalk sees Healing Petals “opening up new ways to experience the Divine.  It carries on the great tradition of visual prayer begun in centuries past by icons, stained glass windows, paintings and statues.” 

The exhibit will open Friday with a reception and reflective presentation by the artist.  The exhibit will continue Saturday and Sunday with additional artist conversations on Saturday at 11 a.m, 1:30 and 3 p.m. and on Sunday at 1:30 and 3 p.m. Small cards will be available with “Prayer Prompts” for reflection and meditation.

Decker Hall is located at 665 Avery Road. For more information, contact Ms. Linehan at 626-9140 or peglinnehan@verizon.net

Wednesday, August 22, 2012

Get e-cycling this weekend


An e-waste collection event will take place at Claremont’s City Yard this Saturday, August 25, from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Residents are invited to dispose of their computers, televisions and other undesired electronics at the event hosted by the city’s contractor Greenway Solid Waste & Recycling. The City Yard is located at 1616 Monte Vista Ave. For further information, call the Community Services department at 399-5431.

Tuesday, August 21, 2012

'Crepes' brings the City of Light to the City of Trees


As the nation continues to struggle with economic troubles, and luxurious vacations to European getaways seem more a wish than a possibility, the team of Crepes de Paris Claremont looks to bring a little taste of Europe to town. With it also comes a desire to provide a new way of looking at the Parisian specialty from which it draws its name.

“Crepes aren’t just about dessert,” said employee Johann Aza. “They can be sweet or savory and both are really fulfilling.”  

Photo//Steven Felschundneff
The European-inspired eatery, which kicked off its first full week of business on Monday, is the latest food venture of Claremont’s Village West to open shop, filling one of the final spots of the area’s restored Packing House with a splash of Parisian flare. The wooden exterior of the storefront resembles a cafe in Paris: the tiny tables adorned with red carnations and umbrellas overhead take you to the City of Light without the cost of airfare.

“We immediately saw the potential,” said the franchise’s designer Marty Huyette of working with the historic Packing House space, which she said provided the “vintage feel” of an old French creperie.

Ms. Huyette achieves her goal of capturing the desired theme with meticulous detail from start to finish: a map of Paris in the hallway, names of famous French people on the back of each chair and vintage shutters to finish off the vintage French look. A movie projector entertains guests with Parisian cinema classics like Albert Lammorise’s 1956 sensation The Red Balloon. Customers are encouraged to send in postcards of their trips to Paris or other exotic locals to be fixed to the restaurant walls.

“These are little ways to bring Paris and draw our customers into the restaurant space,” Ms. Huyette explained.

The restaurant, a southern California franchise with a small-town appeal, is a welcome new addition, says Packing House manager Jerry Tessier. It brings with it something the Packing House has been missing: a food destination that offers culinary creations around the clock.  

“It offers breakfast all the way through dessert,” Mr. Tessier said. “The Hip Kitty and other spots don’t open up until much later. [The creperies] will be open for the morning traffic as well as for those wanting to mix things up for dessert after a dinner.”

The eatery offers a selection of sweet and savory crepes as well as sandwiches, salads, omelets and café latte specialties. Selections range from the tantalizing caramelized bananas of the Warm Wish crepe to the rich cream sauce of the Chicken and Spinach. For Emily Glavin, fresh off a tour of the Claremont Colleges Monday afternoon, it was all about the St. Louis crepe with mozzarella, cheese, mushrooms and tomato with a choice of turkey or ham.

“It’s different from what I usually have,” Emily said of what drew her to the savory option.

Friend Allie Barnes stuck with the more traditional dessert crepe, selecting the “Favorite”—fresh strawberries, raspberry coulis, Chantilly cream and powdered sugar—as the delicacy of her choice. For both the variety of the menu was a plus.

Prices range from $5.25 for your traditional chocolate crepe—dark chocolate, Chantilly cream and powdered sugar—to $9.95 for the Parisian Special, a mix of chicken, mushrooms, black olives and mozzarella cheese with garlic cream sauce. Beverages go from $1.75 for an espresso to $3.75 for a French iced coffee.

With a wide range of menu items and things to see about the restaurant, the Crepes crew hopes to transport its customers in both body and mind.

“We want it to be a mini vacation in the comforts of home,” Ms. Huyette said.

Crepes de Paris Claremont is open Monday through Thursday, 8 a.m. to 9 a.m., Friday and Saturday, from 8 a.m. to 11 p.m. and 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Sundays. For more on crepes, visit www.crepedeparis.com.

Monday, August 20, 2012

Rally early for Labor Day


A pre-Labor Day rally and multi-faith gathering will take place this Thursday, August 23, from 10:45 a.m. to noon at Pilgrim Place’s Decker Hall, 665 Avery Road.

Thursday’s event will feature a forum held with workers from Warehouse Workers United, local religious leaders and Connie Leyva, president of the California Labor Federation and  Local 1428 of United Food and Commercial Workers. Topics of discussion will include Warehouse Workers organizing for health and safety protection and to stop wage theft, state ballot propositions affecting working people and their communities as well treating workers, suppliers and communities legally and with justice.

For more information, visit www.puebledefeunido.org or call Gene Boutilier at 912-9999. 

Bobcat takes stroll through Mills Avenue

Hope you're having a great (and hopefully cool) Monday, Claremont!

Here are a couple photos to get the week going. One of our subscribers spotted a bobcat near their home in the 3500 block of Mills Avenue last week. Here they are for your enjoyment.



Wednesday, August 8, 2012

Claremont cool zones for residents looking to cool off


As the 100 degree squelcher continues this week, the city of Claremont is welcoming residents to take advantage of designated “cool zones” in order to beat the heat.

In addition, The Alexander Hughes Community Center will extend its hours this weekend to give residents more time to enjoy a cold sanctuary away from the August sun. The Hughes Center “cool zone” will be open Saturday, August 11, from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. and on Sunday, August 12, from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Here is a listed of regular hours for city-designated cool zones:

1. Hughes Community Center, 1700 Danbury Road
Hours: 
Monday-Thursday, 8 a.m. to 9 p.m.; Fri, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.; 
Sat, 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Contact: 
399-5490 

2. Joslyn Center, 
660 North Mountain Ave.

Hours: Monday-Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Contact: 
399-5488
3. Blaisdell Center
, 440 South College Ave.
Hours: Monday-Friday, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Contact: 
399-5367
4. Claremont Library
, 208 Harvard Ave.
Hours: Tuesday-Thursday, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.; Friday and Saturday, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Sunday, 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. 

Contact: 
621-4902





Tuesday, August 7, 2012

Claremont to host tequila extravaganza for good cause

Hot Tequila Nights, a fundraiser to benefit the Padua Hills Theater, takes place tomorrow—Wednesday, August 8—from 6 to 9 p.m.

Hosted by Claremont Heritage, the evening will include mariachis, traditional dance, cuisine and artisanal tequilas from Mexico. The festive celebration will be held at the Padua Hills Theater, 4467 Padua Ave.

All proceeds go to Claremont Heritage and its mission to preserve the historic theater. Tickets are $45 per person and may be purchased at the door or in advance at www.claremontheritage.org. Original memorabilia from the Padua Hills Theater will be on display and available for purchase.

"Cancer Prevention Foods" at Claremont health center


Claremont’s Pomona Valley Health Center will present “Cancer Prevention Foods,” a free presentation on the role certain food play in cancer prevention, on Wednesday, August 8 at 6:30 p.m. The event takes place at 1601 N. Monte Vista Ave.

Courtesy//PVHC
Pomona Valley’s Women’s and Children’s Services is sponsoring the free presentation as part of “Every Woman’s Journey,” an on-going, educational series. Seating is limited and reservations are preferred. For more information or to make a reservation, call 865-9858 or email FERC@pvhmc.org.

New site geared at healthy senior living


Pomona-based nonprofit Inter Valley Health Plan has launch a new website geared at providing free access to resources for living a healthy lifestyle.

“For Health and Living” though geared at individuals 55 years and older, has features useful for all ages, including information and programs about rejuvenating your body and revitalizing your spirit to retirement with a mission. Website features are wide ranging from how to manage your money and Medicare to local volunteer opportunities.

We are constantly monitoring and listening to our membership and the communities we serve, says Ronald H. Bolding, Inter Valley Heath Plan’s president and chief executive officer. The For Health and Living website is another example of how we are going above and beyond to help people create and maintain the mind-body-spirit connection.

Find out more by visiting the website at www.forhealthandliving.com.  

Water officials answers questions about Claremont's "musty water" issues


A few Claremont residents have reported "musty tasting" drinking water. Here is a note from the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California that might help explain the problem:

Claremont residents may be experiencing a musty taste and odor in their tap water, but it is an aesthetic problem caused by an algae bloom and not a health hazard, according to water quality experts.

Officials at the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California said the taste-and-odor event is affecting tap water in eastern Los Angeles County communities—including Three Valleys Municipal Water District, which services Claremont—as well as southwestern San Bernardino County. The impacts may vary as local agencies blend imported Metropolitan water with local supplies.

Courtesy//Getty Images
The earthy taste and smell stem from an especially large and persistent algae bloom in the east branch of the State Water Project, according to Jim Green, Metropolitan’s manager of water system operations.

“We are working with the State Department of Water Resources (DWR)—which owns and operates the state system—to address the situation,” Mr. Green said. “Consumers, however, can be assured that the taste-and-odor issues they may be experiencing in their tap water do not pose any health risks.”

The cause has been identified as both 2-methylisoborneal, or MIB, and geosmin. These nuisance compounds are produced from the growth of certain algae in freshwaters throughout the world.

“Unfortunately, people with sensitive taste and smell can detect these compounds in water levels as low as 5 parts-per-trillion,” Mr. Green said.

Mr. Green suggested refrigerating drinking water to help improve its taste until the problem diminishes. Though DWR water quality experts recently applied copper sulfate, an approved method, to control the algae bloom, Mr. Green cautions the problem may persist for another couple weeks. Officials stressed that the treated water will be safe for consumers. Fish and wildlife also will not be impacted.

Consumers interested in receiving additional information about the quality of Metropolitan’s drinking water supplies can visit the district’s website, mwdh2o.com, for the district’s annual water quality report and other related materials.