Talk taxes at Monday's Democratic club meeting

The Democratic Club of Claremont hosts Sand Brim, director of strategic campaigns for the California Nurses Association and the  National Nurses Union, at its monthly meeting to take place this Monday, April 29. 

Ms. Brim, a a member of the Robin Hood Tax Campaign's steering committee, will give a talk on, "The Robin Hood Tax: not a tax on the people but a tax FOR the people." 

The meeting takes place at 7 p.m. at Pilgrim Place's Porter Hall. There will be a business meeting for members following the presentation and the discussion.  All are invited. 

Home tour and craft fair in Claremont this weekend

The Claremont/West End Auxiliary of Children’s Fund will host its annual home tour tomorrow, Saturday April 27 and Sunday, April 28, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Proceeds will benefit at-risk children.

This year’s tour will highlight 4 Claremont homes, including a classic craftsman designed by Green & Green in the early 1900s.

In addition to the homes, enjoy complimentary refreshments, an arts and crafts fair and the opportunity to win a $500 shopping spree at Victoria Gardens, box seats for three, including parking, at angel stadium and $500 in dining opportunities at Inland Empire restaurants.

Tickets are $30 in advance and $35 at the door. Tickets can be purchased in advance at Aromatique, Barbara Cheatley’s, The Bath Workshop, 4C’s Finecraft Jewelers, Claremont Heights Postal Center, Claremont Village Treasures, Packing House Wine Merchants, Rhino Records, Rio de Ojas, Stamp Your Heart Out. Tickets are also available at the Graber Olive House in Ontario, Molly’s Souper and The Sideboard in Upland. Or visit www.childrensfundonline.org at to purchase tickets online. Click on events at the top of the site to be directed to the home tour page.

Directions to the homes come with the tickets. For more information, contact 624-5781 or 920-9438. 

Claremont Place dedicates the day to all things strawberry

Indulge your sweet tooth and celebrate spring by stopping by Claremont Place's Strawberry Festival, taking place later this afternoon from 4 to 6 p.m. The event is free and open to the public.

Build your own strawberry shortcake, sip on strawberry champagne and sink your teeth into some chocolate-covered strawberries, all courtesy of Claremont Place Senior Living. In addition to the decadent treats, there will be a Best Decorated Strawberry Hat contest, live music arts and crafts booths and photo ops.

Claremont Place is located at 120 W. San Jose Ave. For more information, call 447-5259.

TAC upgrades ready for viewing

The new and improved Tracks Activity Center (TAC) is ready for some showing off. 
Parents and community members are invited to join the students at the youth center for a special open house tomorrow, THursday, April 25, from 4:30 to 5:30 p.m. Checkout the new equipment and furniture while enjoying light refreshments. The TAC is located at El Roble Intermediate, 665 N. Mountain Ave. in Claremont. For more information, contact Katie Distelrath at 300-5378 or kdistelrath@ci.claremont.ca.us. 

Crosswalks and community organization funding top Claremont council agenda tonight

The saga of the Claremont Hills Wilderness Park continues. The Claremont City Council on Tuesday will consider adopting a code prohibiting jaywalking as the city continues to work to address overcrowding at the popular hiking destination.

Over the last 2 years the city council has been working to address overcrowding, littering and safety issues at the park. A major concern for many has been pedestrians using the roadway as a walking path. To fix this problem, the city has created a pathway along the west side of Mills Avenue as well as created a crosswalk connecting the south parking lot with the park itself.

However, it is believed that a further step is needed. If adopted, the local ordinance will require pedestrians to use crosswalks not just in the wilderness area, but throughout the city.

City Attorney Sonja Carvalho has indicated that she believes adopting such a code might conflict with existing city law. For example, under one city code pedestrians are allowed to walk along the roadways in residential and business areas. Mills Avenue is included in that regulation. Despite this conflict, staff still recommends moving forward with regulating the city’s crosswalks, believing it “will still resolve much of the conflict that has been occurring between motorists and pedestrians in the roadway.”

The council will also approve the use of funding for the 2013-2014 Community Based Organization (CBO) and Homeless Program.  

Both programs provide an opportunity for the city of Claremont to help aid local nonprofit organizations dedicated to providing for the needy in the local community. CBO is dedicated to building the social, economic and family infrastructure within the city of Claremont. The homeless program serves those providing shelter and aid to the chronically homeless, those without reliable shelter or on the verge of homelessness.

The city has allocated $86,650 for the CBO Program with $60,000 available through the Homeless Program. Eighteen agencies have appealed to the city for CBO funding with requests totaling $131,776. Six have asked for a total of $68,000 in homeless funding. View the list of applicants and requests on the city’s website at www.ci.claremont.ca.us. The city council meeting takes place at 6:30 p.m. in the City Council Chamber, 225 W. Second St.

Sumner Elementary seeks community participation

Sumner Elementary invite the community to participate in a special Arbor Day celebration this Thursday, April 25. The celebration takes place at 10 a.m. on the Thompson Creek Trail, on the corner of Ridgefield and Sumner. 

Fitting with the holiday that commemorates planting or taking care of a tree, Sumner students will be adding a new tree to the wilderness area landscape. Listen to a presentation and take part in the planting. For more information, call 399-5490. 

Claremont PD to conduct checkpoint tomorrow night

Photo Courtesy//Steven Felschundneff

The Claremont Police Department will set up a sobriety checkpoint within the city of Claremont tomorrow, Saturday, April 20, from 7 p.m. to 2 a.m. Police have not disclosed the checkpoint’s location. Through the checkpoint, made possible by grant funding from the California Office of Traffic Safety, police will make sure drivers are not under the influence of alcohol or drugs, that they are in possession of a valid driver license and that seatbelts are being worn. For more information, contact the police at 399-5411.