Claremont budget workshops begin next week

The city of Claremont has begun preparations for its 2014-16 budget. The public is invited to take part in the process. A community budget workshop will be held on Monday, February 3 at the Hughes Center, 1700 Danbury Rd., and on Monday, February 10 at Blaisdell, 440 S. College Ave. Both meetings will begin at 6:30 p.m. At the workshops, city staff will present an overview of the budget and lead discussions among residents on budget priorities. For more information, call (909) 399-5460. 

Claremont hosts weekend E-waste drive

The County of Los Angeles Department of Public Works and the Los Angeles County Sanitation Districts will host a household hazardous waste and E-waste Roundup on Saturday, February 1 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Claremont Corporate Yard, 1616 Monte Vista Ave. This one-day, drive-through event is open to all Los Angeles County residents, but limited to a transportation limit of 15 gallons or 125 pounds of hazardous waste per trip per vehicle. For more information about the roundup, call 1-888-CLEAN-LA or visit the County of Los Angeles Department of Public Works website at www.lacsd.org.

Claremont resident offers reward for ring

A Claremont resident paid a higher than usual price for a meal out at Walter’s over the weekend. The woman’s wedding ring, given to her by her husband 40 years ago, went missing from the restroom of the Village restaurant. The woman says she had accidentally left the band behind after slipping it off to wash her hands. Realizing her mistake an hour later, the woman returned to the bathroom, but the ring, valued at $10,000, was gone. The owner is offering a reward, no questions asked, for its safe return. Contact the COURIER if you have any information.

Local teens give back with "Teens for Jeans" campaign

The community is invited to join the Fairplex’s Junior Fair Board in their “Teens For Jeans: Make a Difference” effort, collecting used jeans of all sizes for local homeless children.

Approximately one in three homeless people in the U.S. is under the age of 18 and one of the most requested items that young people in homeless shelters ask for is a pair of jeans. In its seven years running, the national campaign, led by Aeropostale clothing store and DoSomething.org, has gathered countless pairs of denim to clothe the nation’s reported 1.7 million homeless youth.

Through February 16, gently used jeans of any size with no rips or holes may be dropped off at the CTEC office in the Admin 1 area of the Pomona Fairplex, by the reception desk. For each pair of jeans donated, donors will receive a 25 percent off coupon for use at any Aeropostale store. For more information, visit www.dosomething.org.

Local nonprofit brews for good cause

The Children’s Fund Claremont/West End Auxiliary will host its annual teatime fundraiser on Thursday, January 30 and Saturday February 1 at 3605 Leicester Court in Claremont. Proceeds from the benefit will go toward the nonprofit’s efforts to prevent child abuse.

Tea times on both days begin at 10:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. with a suggested donation of #35 per person. To make a reservation, call (909) 624-4471 or email Lou Ehresman at LuEhres@aol.com. 

Foothill Master Plan meeting tonight

Claremont officials will host a meeting to discuss the Foothill Boulevard Master Plan on Wednesday, January 22 at 7 p.m. in the Padua Room at the Hughes Center, 1700 Danbury Road.

The project team of traffic engineers, landscape architects, arborists, and planners will present preliminary findings on the project and seek input from the public on how the roadway should be maintained and improved in the future. Issues to be discussed include intersections, lane widths, bicycle and pedestrian improvements, transit improvements, public art opportunities, entry signs, street trees, and landscaping of the medians and parkways. Residents, neighboring property owners, Foothill Boulevard business owners and other interested residents are encouraged to attend and provide comment. For more information, contact Senior Planner Chris Veirs at (909) 399-5486 or email at cveirs@ci.claremont.ca.us.

Claremont cops take over Casa de Salsa tonight

Claremont police officers are trading handcuffs and batons for aprons this evening as the CPD takes over Casa de Salsa for the department's Tip-A-Cop fundraiser. 

From 5 p.m. to midnight, officers will serve as waiters at the Old School House Complex restaurant, raising funds for House of Ruth. For 36 years, House of Ruth has provided services to women and children victimized by domestic violence. Casa de Salsa will donate 15 percent of all proceeds earned today to House of Ruth. Casa de Salsa is located at 415 W. Foothill Blvd. 

Claremont school hosts weekend film fest

Claremont Lincoln University’s Center for Process Studies will hold its 13^th annual Whitehead International Film Festival, featuring movies from around the world that promote a common good next weekend, January 17-20 in the Mudd Theater at 1325 N. College Ave.

Each year, the festival features 10 of the best films recently released, spotlighting work that offers a fascinating look into the cultures, lives and spiritual aspirations of people in foreign lands. A Faith and Film class is being offered in conjunction with the festival.

This year’s feature films include Closed Season (Germany), Tall as a Baobab Tree (Senegal), Hannah Arendt (Germany), Touch of the Light (Taiwan) and The Deep (Iceland) among others. A number of short films will also be presented. Visit http://whiteheadfilmfestival.org/festival/short-films/ for a list of showings.

Tickets are $5 per film, with package rates also available including a full pass with banquet for $100. A Faith and Film Class, offered at $300, includes admission to all events. Students, faculty and staff of Claremont Lincoln University and Claremont School of Theology may attend for free. For information, visit www.whiteheadfilmfestival.org or call (909) 447-2533.

Last day to register for Lifelong Learning program

Today is your last chance to sign up for the Claremont Senior Program's free Claremont Avenues for Lifelong Learning (CALL) program concludes today. This program is designed to permit those 60 years of age and older to audit courses at the Claremont Colleges during the spring 2014 semester.

Registration comes to an end at 5 p.m. at the Joslyn Center, 660 N. Mountain Ave. Classes are filled on a first come, first serve basis with priority given to Claremont residents. For more information, call (909) 399-5488.