December 2008 Archives

Have a holiday (meaning Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, Atheist, etc.) tree you want to get rid of?

Well the City of Claremont will collect the holiday trees to recycle them through Friday, Jan 9.

Just remove everything from the tree including the stand and place the nude tree at the curb at 6 a.m. on the regular collection day, city officials said in a release.

But don't bag the tree and any trees more than 6-feet-tall must be chopped in half.

Information: Community Services Department at (909) 399-5431

The free Claremont Village Trolley will resume its regular hours on Friday Jan. 2.

Regular hours for the trackless trolley run every 15 minutes from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Thursday through Saturday with the last stop at 11 p.m. at the Depot.

The city offices will continue to be closed on Friday Jan. 2 but will reopen at 8 a.m. Monday Jan. 5.

The candidates for the Claremont city council election on March 3 are scheduled to be at a 7 p.m. Thursday Jan. 15 forum inside the Padua Room of the Alexander Hughes Community Center, 1700 Danbury Rd.

A Claremont Now blog entry in the Dec. 31 newspaper was off a day. Thanks to Active Claremont's Jackie McHenry for calling me about the error.

Mayor Pro Tem Corey Calaycay, former Claremont assistant city manager Bridget Healy and current Claremont Community Services Commissioner Larry Schroeder are scheduled to attend.

The event is free and open to the public with refreshments served.

Information: (909) 621-5412

is scheduled for 7 p.m. Wednesday Jan. 7 at the city council chamber, 225 W. Second St.

The commission will receive a report documenting hate crimes and incidents in 2008, a mid-year work effort report on 2008-2009 and discuss reassigning liaisons to the committees and review current committee assignments.

Committee reports and a recreation attendance report are also scheduled to be given.

Go here for the agenda: http://www.ci.claremont.ca.us/download.cfm?ID=25792

is scheduled for 7 p.m. Thursday Jan. 8 at the City Hall council chamber.

There will be a recommendation the commission recommend to the city council they "direct staff to develop a cleanup/restoration plan for Sycamore Canyon Park and for staff to seek grant funds to pay for the improvements."

Besides the above administrative item, there is also an approval of minutes for Oct. 13 and an attendance report for September, October and November and commission and department reports.

Go here for the agenda: http://www.ci.claremont.ca.us/download.cfm?ID=25795

For more information, go to www.foothilltransit.org or (800) 743-3463 better known as 1-800-RIDE-INFO.

Patricia Yarrington, who graduated from Pomona College in 1977 with a political science degree, was recently named vice president and CFO of Chevron Corporation effective January 1.

The information was announced in a December 16 news release from Pomona College. Yarrington will take over for retiring CFO Steve Crowe.

Yarrington, who is Chevron's current vice president and treasurer, earned an MBA from Northwestern University after her Pomona degree.

In 1980, Yarrington joined Chevron and went through the comptroller's department training program before she worked her way to the top of the company.

Said Chevron Chairman and CEO Dave O'Reilly in the news release: "Pat is uniquely qualified for this position, having already served in senior leadership roles in finance, operations, strategic planning and public affairs. Her financial background and strategic insights, along with her leadership and judgment, will be important contributors to the company's future success."

Yarrington was just elected to the board of the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco and is also a member of the board of directors for Chevron Philips Chemical Company LLC.

Jazz/fusion band POLYHEDRA will perform from 2 to 5 p.m. Sunday Jan. 18 at College Center, 665 E. Foothill Blvd.

The show is free and open to the public.

Information: (909) 946-1398 or www.jazzatcollegecenter.com

Here are the new voted-in officers for Claremont's school board (from the Dec. 18 meeting which I wrote about but wasn't published because of computer problems so I am rewriting the story):

President Mary Caenepeel (she replaces outgoing president Jeanne Hamilton who is still on the board) 

Vice president Hilary LaConte

Clerk Beth Bingham

Board representative to the Los Angeles County School Trustees Association Steven Llanusa (he is also the outgoing clerk)

A five-man all-passing flag football league will take place in Claremont (and also Pomona, Fontana, Norco, Yucaipa and Corona) but those interested must be age 18 or over to play.

Be careful in flag football ... one of our editors sustained brused ribs (and other people had injured hamstrings) in a game we played with other employees in late November. I couldn't use my left index finger for a couple of days and my ribs ached when I walked. However, my team won so it was worth it.

There will be inter-league playoffs with neighboring counties, said Top Gun Flag Football League officials.

Referees are needed. Per the Web site, looks like the Claremont, Pomona and Corona games will be Sunday nights. The Fontana games will be on Sundays.

The Norco games will start Jan. 31 and Feb. 5 and take place on Saturday nights and Thursday nights. The Yucaipa games start Feb. 4 and will be played on Wednesday nights.  

Information: (877) 846-3178 or www.topgunflagfootball.com

There's going to be 20 percent off everything from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on New Year's Day.

Rhino Records is at 235 Yale Avenue.

For more information, go to www.rhinorecords.cc

per Claremont's Web site.

Here they are ... 

From  Jan. 22 to Feb. 10 the sample ballots are mailed to registered voters

From Feb. 2 to Feb. 24 voters can request an absentee vote by mail  

February 16 is the last day to register to vote

March 3 is election day and polls are open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.

from 2 to 5 p.m. at the College Center, 665 E. Foothill Blvd. on the east patio. 

The performance is free as part of the Jazz at College Center series and is sponsored by the college center businesses.

Information: (909) 946-1398 or www.jazzatcollegecenter.com

Here's the link to the trio ... http://sixstringgreen.com/About.html

The jazz band performs from 2 to 5 p.m. at College Center, 665 E. Foothill Blvd.

You can check out their Web site here: http://www.zzaj-jazz.com/

Information: (909) 946-1398 or www.jazzatcollegecenter.com

The forum is from 7 to 9 p.m. Jan. 26 at the Alexander Hughes Community Center, 1700 Danbury Road.

Candidates are Mayor Pro-Tem Corey Calaycay, former assistant city manager Bridget Healy and former Lakewood and Glendora finance director Larry Schroeder are scheduled to attend, officials said.

Mayor Ellen Taylor declined to run for re-election in March citing health reasons. Taylor, elected to the council in 2005, served for less than a year in the rotating mayoral position.

Claremont League of Women Voters president Barbara Musselman will moderate but the public can write questions down they want the candidates to answer, said the league's voter services vice president Angela Bekzadian-Avila in a news release. 

Once the questions are gathered, Musselman will "choose a range of questions to ask the candidates," officials wrote in the release. 

Of course, I don't know if your question will be picked or if it will be answered but go and find out.

Information: Angela Bekzadian-Avila at (909) 621-7809 or angelanb25@yahoo.com

on vacation which is why I wasn't posting. My parents don't even own a computer and only have a broken VHS player. I did a lot of roof and sidewalk snow and ice shoveling but nothing's better than visiting my family and friends. 

Anyway, I'll get back to regular posting now.

free program will take place from 10 to 11 a.m. Jan. 21 at the Joslyn Senior Center, 660 N. Mountain Ave.

Foothill AIDS Project spokesman Mike Maher will present the seminar.

The workshop will discuss the negative attitudes and cultural misconceptions about sexual behavior and older people, city officials said in a news release.

"The notion that sexuality is a lifelong process goes contrary to the thinking of some elderly people, their children and health care providers," the release said.

Topics addressed will be contraception, discrimination against gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender elderly community and sexual transmitted infections/

The non-profit Foothill AIDS Project has comprehensive support services and helps prevent HIV infections through outreach and education.

Information: (909) 399-5488   

include Claremont High School's Mark Fetzer, who will retire effective June 12, 2009, according to a news release from the Claremont Unified School District.

San Antonio High School's Joseph Steven Motisi resigned effective Dec. 1, 2008, the release said. 

The Claremont Youth Advisory Council and the Teen Activity Center programs will take 11 teenagers today to the Union Rescue Mission in Los Angeles, according to City Manager Jeff Parker's weekly update.

The teens will prepare and serve breakfast/lunch and "interact with the homeless community" to complete an Intergenerational Community Service Project, the update said.

given annually to nutrition sites in Los Angeles County that meet high standards and specific criteria in areas like enhancements, menu choices, hospitality, quality and service.

City manager Jeff Parker's weekly update said the facilities received plaques to display at the nutrition sites, which exceeded the requirements for the award.

The Claremont Joslyn Senior Center is at 660 N Mountain Ave. while the Blaisdell Park Community Center is at 440 S. College Ave.   

of excellence from the California Park & Recreation Society for its Senior Excursions Program marketing materials, according to a weekly report from city manager Jeff Parker .

The senior program, in the category of Single-Focus Agency Brochure, will be honored March 3 through 6 at the 2009 California and Pacific Southwest Recreation an Park Training Conference.

The awards program, held in Santa Clara, is the highest recognition an agency can receive, officials said.

because the Bedol Eco Friendly Water Powered Clock will be on the show and given to Leo DiCaprio, Kate (I will assume it's Winslet) and Mickey Rourke, said Mark Bedol, president of Bedol What's Next.

The program is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. Dec. 19 on NBC 4.

Bedol What's Next is located in Claremont at 456 W. 1st Street and Chino Hills at 13920 City Center Drive, Space #3090.

Bedol said Access Hollywood "purchased a case of the Eco Friendly Water Powered Clocks from us and wanted to share the water powered eco gem with the Golden Globe
nominees."

Andrew Danowitz, class of 2008, presented results of The Aerospace Corporation's Corporate University Affiliates Program (CUAP) sponsored 2007-2008 Harvey Mudd Clinic project in Rome

Danowitz presented the project at the 3rd International Association for the Advancement of Space Safety Conference on Oct. 21 through 23, Harvey Mudd College officials said in a news release.

His presentation was from the paper "Optical Distress Beacon for Space Use" which will be published in the conference proceedings.

Co-authors and collaborators on the project include Michael Braly '09; Andrew Giles '08; Howard Chen '08; Nathaniel Pinckney '08; and Samuel Osofsky '85, liaison for The Aerospace Corporation; and Sarah Harris, professor of engineering at HMC and faculty adviser.

Danowitz was the only team member to attend the conference. He is currently working toward his doctorate in electrical engineering at Stanford University.

Here is the news release: http://www.hmc.edu/newsandevents/clinicrome.html 

Harvey Mudd College clinical professor of enginnering Carl Baumgaertner received a Silver Star for his service in World War II.

Baumgaertner was presented with the medal on a Veteran's Day Celebration at St. Paul Minn. St. Thomas Academy, where he went to military high school, Harvey Mudd College officials said in a news release.

The medal is the third highest military decoration for gallantry in action, officials said.

"It was one of the greatest shocks I've ever experienced in my life," Baumgaertner said in the news release. "I went to St. Paul to receive the first annual Flemming Award from St. Thomas Academy. When that grand ceremony was over, they called me back on stage 'to correct a 63-year-old error.' I couldn't believe what happened next. It was very moving."

college officials said in a December 10 news release.

Chandramohan is the former chairman and CEO of American Reprographics Company (ARC), the largest reprographics company in the U.S., officials said.

ARC is listed on the New York Stock Exchange and serves approximately 110,000 customers with a global network of more than 3,000 on-site print centers.

Chandramohan founded the company in 1998 and became CEO in 1991 before he retired as CEO in June 2007. He later retired as chairman of the company's Board of Directors in July 2008 but remains the company's largest individual shareholder.

Before Chandramohan founded ARC, he was was COO and CFO of U-Save Auto Parts Stores, Inc. and also held a position with the Hong Kong and Shanghai Banking Corporation, officials said.

at Scripps' Ella Strong Denison Library, 1090 Columbia Avenue.

The hours are from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday Jan. 5 through Jan. 9 and Jan. 12 through Jan. 16. The library will then be closed until classes begin on Jan. 22.

The exhibit is titled "Broadway and America: Reflections of a Cultural History." Curators are Scripps College students in Core 3: "Democracy, Populism, and American Musical Theatre," an Interdisciplinary Studies core curriculum class.

Charles W. Kamm, Scripps assistant professor of music history and director of choirs in the Joint Music Program, is a co-curator. In Kamm's Core 3 class, students will use "popular 20th century American musicals and operas as primary texts and examine works through the lens of both history and sociology," officials said.

Officials said in the work students examine race, gender, politics, colonialism, orientalism, gender, class and religion. 

The free exhibition is open to the public.

Posters, recordings, playbills, LP jackets and other memorabilia from America's musical theater history on Broadway will be on display. Information: Humanities Institute at (909) 621-8326 or Denison Library at (909) 607-9351.

Nichole Runge, a Latin American studies major, won $3,000 in cash and more than $2,000 in prizes back on July 23 but the episode aired December 5, Pomona College officials said.

She was able to take part in the "Plinko" game after she placed a $1,847 bid on a $2,000 marble-top cabinet, officials said.

"Plinko" is where you drop coins down a pegboard in amounts from 0 to $10,000 and she ended up winning the $3,000 and appliances that included a hot-dog maker and a "drum-machine mouse pad."

The full release is here.

and scheduled for 2 to 3:30 p.m. Sunday Jan. 11 at the Garner House in Memorial Park.

The Garner House is at 840 N. Indian Hill Blvd.

Burgess, regional historian who is an author and director of the A.K. Smiley Public Library in Redlands, will speak on "The Inconvenience of History: Reflections on Historic Preservation."

Burgess, a news release from Claremont Heritage said, will detail recent and past regional preservation projects and some failures.

Some of Burgess' books include "The Smileys: A Biography (1969, 1993)," "The Hunt for Willie Boy (1994)" and "Images of America: Redlands (2004)."  He gives 50 to 60 programs on Southern California history.

Burgess has a doctorate from Claremont Graduate University and was Redlands' interim city manager in summer and fall 2000.

The meeting will conclude with the election of three new Claremont Heritage Board members, an annual report and recognition of outgoing board members including retiring President Judy Wright.

Information: Claremont Heritage executive director Ginger Elliott (909) 621-0848 or e-mail heritage.91711@verizon.net

start Jan. 23 at Scripps and Pomona Colleges.

The Center for Movement Education and Research offers comprehensive Alternate Route Training Courses for professional development and to explore dance/movement therapy to become a dance/movement therapist.

The C.M.E.R. courses are the only dance/movement therapy educational offerings in the Southern California area, center officials said in a release.

Many C.M.E.R. courses provide continuing education credit for licensed Marriage and Family Therapists and Licensed Clinical Social Workers,

Check the C.M.E.R. at http://www.movement-education.org/therapy/index.html for course information.

The American Dance Therapy Association defines dance/movement therapy as the "psychotherapeutic use of movement as a process that furthers the emotional, cognitive, social and physical integration of the individual," officials said.

The therapists work with groups and individuals in schools, nursing homes, alternative health care centers, psychiatric facilities, addiction treatment programs and private practices.

Officials said their work focuses on improving:

Scripps College is at 1030 Columbia Avenue and Pomona College is at 333 N. College Way.

Information: Judy Gantz at (310) 477-9535 or  judy@movement-education.org

on Christmas, which is Thursday Dec. 25.

The trolley will resume its rail-less route Friday Dec. 26.

Christmas (Dec. 25) and Dec. 26.

New Year's Day (Jan. 1) and Jan. 2.

City officials said public safety, sanitation and critical operations will continue normally on Dec. 26 and Jan. 2.

at 3 p.m. at 170 W. San Jose Avenue.

The Alexander Hughes memorial bench will also be rededicated during the ceremony.

You got 9 minutes according to my computer clock here.

The ceremonies will honor former Claremont Unified School District Superintendent Richard S. Kirkendall and a long-time District Administrator and principal, the late Alexander Hughes.

Kirkendall and Mrs. Anita Hughes will be honored during the ceremony.

in Los Angeles Superior Court in Pomona at his arraignment Thursday morning.

Alvarez, the Three Valleys Municipal Water District board member who had three felony charges filed against him, will have a preliminary hearing on Feb. 24.

Alvarez was charged with misappropriating public money, insurance fraud and grand theft of personal property. Alvarez, who represents south Pomona on the water board, was elected in 2006. He reportedly placed his ex-wife, Juanita Ruiz, on his insurance from Jan. 24 to Oct. 31, 2007. He was previously fined and sentenced to probation in July for violating the Stolen Valor Act, which criminalizes false claims of military valor.

a candidate for Claremont City Council.

The club will hold its monthly second Friday lunch at noon at Captain KJ's, formerly the China Star, at 921 W. Foothill Blvd. 

The lunch fee is $10 and consists of several dishes without pork with some vegetarian options.

The discussion is free. 

Schroeder, said democratic club officials, has been a Claremont resident since 2002. For 26 years he served Lakewood and Glendora as a finance director but he is retired.

He is now serving on the Community Services Commission  Schroeder recently completed a doctorate in Public Administration at the University of La Verne where his dissertation was on influences that affected Los Angeles County affordable housing development.

He is an adjunct professor at the University of La Verne.

Schroeder, an Indiana native, moved to Southern California in 1971 and soon married a south Pasadena native.

Larry Schroeder and Laurie Schroeder have been married 36 years. They have three grown children and three grandchildren. Laurie Schroeder is an associate professor of education and the program chair at the University of La Verne. She also has a doctorate in educational studies from Claremont Graduate University. 

Information: (909) 626-2858
 

Elementary School every time the school is mentioned when an order is placed.

The dates are from 4 to 9 p.m. Wednesdays on Jan. 14, Feb. 11, March 11, April 8, May 13 and June 13.

The Domino's Pizza is at 366 W. Foothill Blvd.

Domino's will donate $3 per order.

Information: (909) 398-0404.

progression, per a Claremont McKenna College officials.

The work, during the Kravis Center construction, will include excavation of underground utility lines and removing concrete sidewalks that serve Roberts North.

The college community will have to deal with possible intermittent closures of Roberts South and North bathrooms when sewer and water lines are disconnected and reconnected.

There will be attempts to schedule the work during off-hours or with a 24 hour advance notice.

But air conditioning, heating and ventiliation will not be completed until mid-January for Roberts North. This will prevent comfort cooling or heating in the building until then.

Renowned architect Rafael Viñoly has designed the center.

Go to the news release here: http://www.cmc.edu/news/pressreleases/article.asp?article_id=1129

to approximately 30 schoolchildren Saturday Dec. 20.

The program will take place from 8 to 10 a.m. at Casa de Salsa at 415 West Foothill Blvd. in the Old School House.

A Claremont Police Department bike safety officer will give a brief program on bicycle safety.

A buffet breakfast for youths and their families will start at 8 a.m. and the program begins at 8:30 a.m.

Principals from Oakmont Elementary School and Vista del Valle Elementary School will attend the event.

Information: (909) 624-3377

7 p.m. Thursday Dec. 18 at the Claremont Unified School District offices, 170 W. San Jose Ave.

There will be the public hearing of the California School Employees Assocation Chapter No. 200 proposal for negotiations on a master contract with the Claremont Unified School District; a Claremont Unified School District Initial Contract Proposal with the CSEA and the Claremont Faculty Association Initial Contract Proposal with the Claremont Unified School District.

Before the negotiations information, there will be recognitions of Claremont High School student Jeffrey Kwan, former superintendent Richard S. Kirkendall and a first interim budget report.

To see the entire agenda, go here: http://www.cusd.claremont.edu/boa/pdfs/agenda_new.pdf

were both cancelled.

The council meeting and the architectural commission meeting, both held at 225 West Second Street at the city council chamber are now scheduled for January.

The city council meeting will be held at 6:30 p.m. Jan. 13 and the architectural commission meeting will be held at 7 p.m. Jan. 14 at the city council chamber.

at 7:30 p.m. Saturday January 3 at the Folk Music Center.

Tickets are $10. Doors open at 7 p.m.

Tremoloco's mix of jazz, Latin, Cajun and blues was used in a new album titled "Dulcinea" which was recorded with roots musicians from co-producer/drummer//pianist Cougar Estrada and David Hidalgo, a Los Lobos steel guitarist among other talented musicians.

Shea is a vocalist and guitarist who played in San Bernardino bars and honky tonks growing up. He has worked with roots rocker Dave Alvin and indie rock's R.E.M.

The Folk Music Center is at 220 Yale Ave.

Information: (909) 624-2928 or www.folkmusiccenter.com

from 5 to 8 p.m. Sunday Dec. 28.

The center, at 220 Yale Ave., will have an open house party.

Information: (909) 624-2928 or www.folkmusiccenter.com

* $2 off all new and used CD's and DVD's priced $6.99 and up. This sale takes place from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Friday Dec. 19.

* 15 percent off all purchases from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday Dec. 20.

* 25 percent off all shirts, books, toys and "fun stuff" on Sunday Dec.  21.

Rhino Records is located at 235 Yale Avenue.

Information:  www.rhinorecords.cc or (909) 626-7774

about the college songs controversy involving the alma mater "Hail, Pomona, Hail" and "Torchbearers" on Monday.

To:  The Pomona College Community

From:  David Oxtoby, President

Last spring, I announced a temporary suspension of performances of the Alma Mater and the creation of a committee to explore issues surrounding this and other College songs. My reason was our community's concern over a rediscovered aspect of Pomona history--that our Alma Mater, Hail, Pomona, Hail, might have been written for a blackface minstrel show. The goal was to make this an educational opportunity for all members of the College family to benefit from research concerning the history and historical context of these songs and from discussions concerning our own relationship with unfortunate parts of our past.

Today, after receiving the College Songs Committee's final report and after much deliberation, including a full discussion with the Board of Trustees, I am writing to you with my decisions concerning the Alma Mater and Torchbearers.

First of all, I have decided to confirm Hail, Pomona, Hail as Pomona's Alma Mater and to end the suspension of performances at official College events such as Alumni Weekend. Given the divisive nature of the controversy over the song on our campus, however, it will not be included in the programs for Commencement or Convocation for the present. In doing this, I have chosen to replace a compromise put forward by the Committee with a compromise of my own. The Committee recommended that Hail, Pomona, Hail should no longer be our Alma Mater but should remain as a college song, to be sung only by our alumni. They also recommended that a new Alma Mater should be composed to take its place.

My decision to confirm the status of Hail, Pomona, Hail as our Alma Mater, rather than replacing it, is based upon a conviction that traditions--like people--should be judged on their merits, not on the basis of historical associations unconnected to their actual character. All are agreed that there is no harmful meaning in either the words or the music of Hail, Pomona, Hail. The question is whether the context of its possible first performance should be determinative.

Three things concern me here. First, there is the inconclusive nature of the evidence. While research conducted by two students and an alumna taught us much about the minstrel show that took place here in 1909-10, it also revealed that the evidence for a connection between that event and Hail, Pomona, Hail is contradictory and open to interpretation. Second, there is the troubling idea that all things associated with an imperfect past should be considered tainted even if there is nothing inherently objectionable about them. And finally, there is the false sense of closure provided by getting rid of something so that we no longer need to talk about the issue that it calls to mind. The Alma Mater still has things to teach us, and the people who cherish it should not be constrained in any way from honoring it.

That said, however, we must also be sensitive to the concerns of the diverse College community of which we are so proud. It is clear that many of our current students--including students of all races--would now find it uncomfortable to be asked to stand and sing the Alma Mater during Commencement or Convocation. Indeed, in solidarity over these concerns, the Associated Students of Pomona College voted this year to recommend that the Alma Mater be decertified. Commencement belongs to our seniors, who are celebrating the culmination of their college years, and Convocation is where we welcome a new class into our midst. In these special, student-focused settings, unity and a sense of mutual respect are paramount. For that reason, we will not sing the Alma Mater at these events for the present.

In the case of Torchbearers, the Committee was divided, but I am accepting the recommendation of a plurality of the Committee that the song should be sung by our choral groups only after a thoughtful revision of some of the words. This is appropriate because portions of the song make reference to Native American traditions in ways that are, at best, stereotypical and, at worst, offensive. It is worthy of note that these words have already been rewritten once, in 1930, so this is consistent with our past practice. I will consult with the Music faculty to explore how the rewriting may be done in a professional fashion.

Finally, I strongly support the final recommendation of the Committee that we should take steps to increase the understanding of College history throughout our community. The attention this process has received, both on campus and off, has already played a role in this regard. Discussions began last spring at Alumni Weekend. This was followed in the fall by a forum for students and another for faculty and staff. The community learned about our history in a number of ways, including a performance of The Dance, an informative and compelling presentation about minstrelsy, and summer research projects by two students, presented in a poster session and a website.  An alumna followed up with additional research about the Alma Mater, and another conducted research concerning Torchbearers. All of these things have added to our understanding of the history surrounding these songs.

But understanding the origins and connections of our College songs is only the first step. Traditions are intended to connect us to our history, but unless we understand them in their full historical context, they are empty vessels. To build a deeper engagement with College history--including the ambiguous role race has played throughout that history--some steps can be taken relatively quickly: in the coming months, we will work to create a website concerning Pomona history, including such source materials as past issues of the Metate. Other important steps, such as developing a curated space to present historical materials on campus, will take somewhat longer to carry out. Ultimately, we need to introduce a position of Campus Archivist to help us to safeguard and learn about our past in ways that will inform our understanding of Pomona College and its traditions.

I am deeply grateful for the hard and thoughtful work of the faculty, students, staff, alumni and trustees who made up the College Songs Committee. I understand the challenges that they faced in dealing with issues on which there are such honest and forceful differences. Their full report is available at http://www.pomona.edu/collegesongs. I have benefited greatly from their analysis and counsel, and I believe the entire College has been well served by the public forums that they organized. I have also appreciated hearing from so many alumni and other members of the Pomona family with a range of views.

Through my years at Pomona, I have come to treasure our traditions as vital touchstones with the past. Singing the Alma Mater is always a moving experience for me--I love the profound sense of connection that it gives me with the generations who were here before me. However, in a changing world, the reality is that each generation decides which traditions to honor. One cannot impose a tradition, and efforts to do so generally fail. The future of our traditions will always remain in the hands of the people who will come after us, and that is as it should be.

I make these decisions with the support of the Board of Trustees and the full understanding that some members of our community will disagree. In the months ahead, I welcome the opportunity to discuss any questions that may result from the Committee's report or from my own decisions in these matters.


Pomona Staff Mailing List

from 2 to 4 p.m. at the Claremont Village Green Apartments and at Rancho San Jose Park, respectively.

The city's Youth and Family Division, Mobile Recreation program and Claremont Police Department are hosting the events, which are free.

There will be live entertainment, face painting, two large inflatable rides, arts and crafts, hot dogs, potato chips, cookies, beverages, kettle corn and beverages for families to enjoy.

The event Saturday takes place with the help of the Claremont Village Apartments & Village Investments Inc. The Claremont Village Green apartments are at 630 West Bonita Avenue.

More than 400 apartment residents are scheduled to attend this event and the village apartments and village investments donated $2,000 to offset the city's cost of holding the event.

The Rancho San Jose Park is located at the 600 block of West San Jose Avenue and will be held for apartment residents along San Jose Avenue. More than 250 residents are scheduled to attend.

to fulfill any requests from residents or city staff, city officials said.

Letters have been mailed to almost 100 residents telling them the city plans to plant a tree in the public-right-of-way near their home, officials said.

Planting will start in February.

Questions: Community Services Department (909) 399-5431

helps Claremont families who need one-time assistance paying medical expenses, rent or utilities during a family crisis.

City officials said the majority of the requests impact youth who live in the home and because of the current recession, the need has gone up.

The city's Human Services Department has started a fundraising campaign to get donations for the Family Emergency Fund and partnered with churches, service groups and employee groups for help.

The Claremont Community Foundation recently gave $5,000 while the Claremont Kiwanis Club gave $1,000. City employees raised $2,148 from a recent employee Holiday Boutique (besides donating all of the boutique items) and $353 after they sold hot cocoa at the Holiday Promenade. 

The Senior Finance Committee has also started a funding a campaign for the Senior Emergency Fund to address financial concerns of seniors.

Information/donation: Bill Pallotto (909) 399-5490

The exhibitions are The Passerby Museum and Multiverse.

The Passerby Museum has a collection of diverse items such as political buttons or other objects from people who gave them after working, visiting or living near the museum when it was available for donations.  When the museum was in Claremont, about 400 items were collected.

Multiverse uses mixed media sculptures, photographic installations, a light box installation and other media to explore multiple, parallel universes.

The Claremont Museum of Art is located at 536 West First Street. The hours of the museum are 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday.

The museum store is open until 7 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday and until 5 p.m. on Sunday.

Admission is free from 5 to 8:30 p.m. the first Friday of every month. The galleries and store is open until 8:30 p.m. the first Friday of every month are closed on Christmas and New Year's Day.  

Information: http://claremontmuseum.org/current.html or (909) 621-3200.

Dec. 12 for Master Diamond Cutter Marteen de Witte discussing and showing a film presentation on the world's most historical diamonds.

Replicas of diamonds and discussion of the famed Hope Diamond will be featured.

The Diamond Center is at 147 Yale Avenue has been in business for 35 years in Claremont and La Verne.

Information: (909) 399-9133

will be held at the district offices, 1021 E. Miramar Ave.

The meeting starts at 10 a.m. and will feature a report from general manager/chief engineer Richard Hansen; the possible approval of a resolution to support the construction of a privately funded pro football stadium complex in the city of Industry; calendar year imported water purchases; Miramar operations report for November 2008; and a review of upcoming events.

In closed session, there will be discussion of the existing case of Chino Basin Municipal Water District v. City of Chino, et. al., San Bernardino County Superior Court Case Number RCV51010; and an anticipated case with no further information.

Information: (909) 621-5568 or http://www.threevalleys.com/

The meeting, which is in closed session, starts at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday in the Citrus Room (or second floor) of City Hall, 207 Harvard Ave.

The city manager is of course Jeff Parker.

Mayor Ellen Taylor, Mayor Pro Tem Corey Calaycay, and council members Sam Pedroza, Peter Yao and Linda Elderkin are scheduled to attend because the city council hires the city manager.

Because the meeting is a public employee performance evaulation, I won't be able to go.

But if Parker gets a raise, is fired, etc. the city has to announce that.

before their Sunday performance of "Los Posadas," a Mexican Players tribute to Christmas in old Mexico.

Mayor Ellen Taylor said after the certificate was awarded, the next day everyone wanted individual certificates.

So the additional certificates were made with individual names on them and given to them, Taylor said at the city council meeting Tuesday.

Here is my story about the Mexican Players below that ran Friday Dec. 5.

inside the Padua Room at the Alexander Hughes Community Center, 1700 Danbury Road.

The meeting starts at 6 p.m. and everyone is welcome.

The city wants to eventually open the park to the public and officials want to detail their plans while taking attendee input and "learn about funding opportunities for this project," in the city news release.

City officials want to plant native vegetation, re-establish the trails, remove non-native vegetation, create picnic areas and clean the watershed.

Information: Community Services Department (909) 399-5431.

and we received a 4:50 p.m. fax Thursday about it.

Hip-hop artist Ludacris, who has a new album titled "Theater Of The Mind," will perform at 8 p.m. Jan. 23 at Bridges Auditorium.

The auditorium is located at 450 N. College Way.

General admission tickets for the Associated Students of Claremont McKenna College are $45 and you can go through the auditorium directly or go here (which is the direct link to the ticketmaster.com site for tickets but there is a service charge).

Information: (909) 621-8032

will take place from 10 a.m. to noon Saturday Dec. 20.

Head to the East Classroom, Administration Building at the Rancho Santa Ana Botanic Garden, 1500 N. College Ave.

Fee is $15 for non-members and $12 for members. Staff will lead participants in a walk of the garden that features currants, manzanitas and mallows.

Information: (909) 625-8767, Ext. 224.  

Adams was appointed by Assembly Republican leader Mike Villines of Fresno to serve for the 2008-2010 legislative sesson.

In a Tuesday news release, Adams said: "California faces many challenges such as a growing budget deficit and a declining economy, but I'm ready to roll up my sleeves and work with my Republican colleagues to craft the solutions that will bring our state back to prosperity."

Adams was a Republican Whip in the 2006-2008 legislative session and in his new role he will give guidance and direction to Republican Whips when they "advance the Republican caucus position during Assembly floor sessions."

Adams' 59th Assembly District includes the Los Angeles County communities of Claremont, La Verne, Glendora, San Dimas, Sierra Madre, Monrovia, Bradbury, Arcadia and La
Crescenta and the San Bernardino Communities of Apple Valley, Hesperia, Lake
Arrowhead, Crestline, San Bernardino, Highland and Mentone.

starts at 7:30 p.m. Wednesdays from Jan. 7 through Jan. 28 at the Folk Music Center, 220 Yale Ave.

The fee is $80. As the Folk Music Center's Web site from Joe Clark puts it: "There ain't no notes on a Dulcimer you jus' play it."  

Information: (909) 624-2928

at 6:30 p.m. on Wednesdays for four weeks from Jan. 7 through Jan. 28.

The fee is $80. The Folk Music Center is located at 220 Yale Ave.

No prior music experience is needed.

Participants will learn songs like "You Are My Sunshine," "Amazing Grace," "Blue Moon" and others. 

Information: 909-624-2928.

is still unsettled.

Pomona College spokeswoman Cynthia Peters said Wednesday afternoon in a phone message there had been no conclusion made about the alma mater, which was composed for the finale of a blackface minstrel show nearly 100 years ago, but a decision would be made before Dec. 25.

If anyone has heard anything else, please let me know.

Here is the September story I wrote about the issue:

School song at center of controversy

will be delayed one day on Christmas Day Dec. 25. The program will also observe the New Year's Day holiday Jan. 1 and be delayed one day.

Information: Community Services (909) 399-5431.  

January is a ways off but these trips, which have limited seating, can sell out in advance.

Participants will spend from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Merle Norman Nethercutt Collection Museum in Sylmar.

Tickets are $30 and pre-registration is required.

The collection has 200 classic and antique luxury automobiles, a 5,000 pipe organ, large amounts of mechanical instruments, Louis XV furniture, a restored steam locomotive and more.

Lunch will be at Odyssey Restaurant's Mexican food buffet.

Comfortable shoes are recommended for the walking tour.

Information: Joslyn Center at 660 N. Mountain Ave. (909) 399-5488.

Home For The Holidays will take place at 7 p.m. Dec. 16 at the United Church of Christ Congregational at 233 Harrison Ave.

Admission is free.

The concert will feature songs "inspired by images of warmth, home, family and community," school officials said in a news release.

"I'll be Home for Christmas" "Jingle Bells" and other "more obscure treasures" will be featured.

Information: Joel Wilson (909) 624-9053, Ext. 30463.

The original deadline for submitting nomination papers for Claremont was Dec. 5.

But state laws say if an incumbent does not file for re-election, the filing period is extended for three business days.

A seat on the council became open when Mayor Ellen Taylor announced she would not seek re-election.

Incumbent Corey Calaycay's seat is also being contested.

Calaycay, former assistant city manager Bridget Healy and Larry Schroeder, a former finance director for the city of Lakewood, had turned in their nomination papers Wednesday.

The discussion will be from 6 to 7 p.m. Thursday inside the Platt Campus Center Meeting Room, Harvey Mudd College, 301 Platt Blvd.

Harvey Mudd students will present information about possible advances in artificial intelligence, neuroscience and biotechnology.

The discussion will include the impacts on society if the technologies are developed and the technical challenges that need to be overcome.

Go here for the news release information or call (480) 227-2596 or maksym_taran@hmc.edu or ozzie_gooen@hmc.edu

The club sponsoring the event is Carefully Reasoning About Important Stuff.

The ceremony is at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday at the Claremont Chamber, 205 Yale Ave.

For more information on the Inland Valley Youth Chorale/Chamber event, go here or call the Chamber at (909) 624-1681.

Entertainers include The Carly Moultrie Singers at the Public Plaza, 100 N. Indian Hill Blvd., and the Claremont United Church of Christ's bell ringers at the Claremont Chamber, 205 Yale Ave.

They'll perform from 2 to 5 p.m. Saturday.

Information: (909) 624-1681

The City Council Economic Development Committee will not meet at 4 p.m. Dec. 11 Thursday inside the Citrus Room at City Hall, 207 Harvard Ave.

The group was to discuss the administrative items of the Depot reuse recommendations and give a commercial property update. The meeting was canceled for a lack of quorum.

Meanwhile, the Community Services Meeting set for 7 p.m. Dec. 11 inside the city council chamber Thursday has also been canceled for a lack of quorum.

The meeting takes place at 7 p.m. at the council chamber, 225 W. Second Street.

There will be public hearings for: architectural and site plan review for proposed retractable awning, side panels and wall heaters at 128 Oberlin Avenue; a review of a sign program at the Claremont Promenade Shopping Center at the 400 block of Auto Center Drive; and review of a freestanding wireless telecommunications facility at the northest corner of Base Line Road and Padua/Monte Vista Avenue; and review of a parking lot layout amendment at the Old School House Development located south of the Candlelight Pavilion Theater and west of the west-facing balcony Old School House.

My editor just forwarded me this ...

The Mellowdears will provide the entertainment Wednesday Dec. 10 at the Christmas meeting of the Woman's Club of Claremont.

The meeting, at noon, will be held at the clubhouse, 343 W. 12th St. \

Lunch is $6 for salad, entree and dessert.

Reservations are required at (909) 982-4302.

takes place as part of the free Friday Noon Concert Series.

The concert starts at 12:15 p.m. Dec. 12 despite noon being in the name.

The concert takes place at Balch Auditorium at Scripps College at 1030 Columbia Avenue at the corner of Tenth Street.

The conductor is Charles W. Kamm.

Information: (909) 607-3266.

The Pomona College Department of Music has free student recitals.

Performances take place at 7 p.m. Tuesday Dec. 9 and 7 p.m. Wednesday Dec. 10 at Lyman Hall, Thatcher Music Building at Pomona College, 340 N. College Ave.

Students will present the music they have been studying during the semester.

Information: Pomona College Department of Music (909) 607-2671.

The Pomona College Balinese Gamelan Ensemble Giri Kusuma performs at the Bridges Hall of Music, 150 E. Fourth St.

The 8 p.m. Monday performance features the dance and music of Bali. Music director is Nyomen Wenten and dance director is Nanik Wenten.

The performance is free. Information: www.music.pomona.edu or (909) 607-2671 or go here

at Pomona College, 333 North College Way.

The Pomona College Staff Council sponsored event takes place from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.

For more information, e-mail Elaine Baker at Elaine@BakersCakery.com.   

at various drop-offs on the Claremont McKenna College campus.

The effort benefits JumpStart, a 5-C (that's the Claremont Colleges) organization which has trained college students to help build literacy and early language skills in low-income preschools for seven years, Claremont McKenna College officials said.

Book donations for the children between the ages of 3 and 5 can be placed in a colorful box under the bulletin board in the Collins Dining Hall lobby.

Organizers want to collect more than 200 books. They will repair and clean the books as needed.

at Memorial Park, 840 N. Indian Hill Blvd.

The non-violent rally, scheduled to start at 2 p.m., is scheduled to coincide with the release of the movie "Milk" about Harvey Milk, California's first openly gay elected official. 

Guest speakers are scheduled between 2 and 5:30 p.m. at the out door performance stage. Around 6 p.m., people will march from Memorial Park to the Claremont 5 Laemmle Theatre.

Organizers are asking people to bring candles that are battery/electric operated for a rally/march/candlelight vigil.

For more information, go here: http://www.myspace.com/ClaremontShameOn8Rally

at the Claremont Folk Center (but scroll down if you hit the link to see the event), 220 Yale Avenue.

The doors open at 7 p.m. and the performance starts at 7:30 p.m. Admission is $12. Po Girl features writers and singers Allison Russell and Awna Teixeira.

For more info on the bands, go to http://www.myspace.com/pogirls or check out JT Nero at http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewProfile&friendID=417971424

For more info on the event, go to (909)-624-2928.

Ernest Goh's family will decorate the Donate Life Rose Parade float Sunday Dec. 7.

When Claremont resident Goh, 61, died in 2005 he was an organ and eye donor.

His family said his donation has saved five lives, per a Donate Life California Organ news release.  

Donate Life America member OneLegacy coordinates the Donate Life Rose Parade float which has 60 official partners including tissue banks, transplant centers and more supporting it.

There are more than 28,000 lives saved each year in the U.S. through organ donation, Donate Life officials said.

For more information, go to www.donatelifefloat.org.

starts at 7 p.m. Saturday Dec. 6 at Bridges Auditorium, 450 N College Way.

The Nutcracker features a cast with more than 100 dancers, colorful costumes, sets and lighting and performers will sign autographs and take photos after the show. Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky wrote the ballot.

Tickets range from $48 to $26 for adults; $48 to $23 for seniors; $48 to $23 for groups and $48 to $13 for youths.  

For more info on tickets go here: http://www.ipballet.org/tixOrder/ticketOrderForm.php?progID=4

Performances continue at:

1 p.m. Sunday Dec. 7;

1 and 7 p.m. Saturday Dec. 13

1 p.m. Sunday Dec. 14

1 and 7 p.m. Saturday Dec. 20

1 p.m. Sunday Dec. 21

per a Neighborhood E-Watch newsletter.

Two people approached a man in his garage around 2 p.m. Nov. 29 at Padua Avenue and Pomello Drive north of Baseline Road.

The men asked if the man's car was for sale and the man then told the men to leave and he called the Claremont Police Department. The men were described as two men who drove an older 1970's red Ford pickup.

Police said this is a distraction technique where people talk with the resident and one of the people will ask to use a telephone or a restroom. While one person looks for credit cards, money or small jewelry, the other person will talk to the resident to distract them.

If you see this activity, call the Claremont Police Department at (909) 626-1296.

Rick Wartzman, director of the Drucker Institute at Claremont Graduate University, said Peter Drucker has "always encouraged organizations to look to the future, not to cling to the past."

An example from Wartzman is when in 1946, after Drucker chronicled the inner-workings of General Motors in his landmark book "Concept of the Corporation."

Drucker told GM to reconsider strategies and policies that were in place for decades. GM's management said no because of their success, Drucker said.

Since there was no incentive for the auto company to innovate, their strategies became obsolete and the company had difficulty trying new techniques. "Drucker thought GM was a little slow-footed," Wartzman said in a release. "Why would a company that hasn't been able to innovate change its way simply because you hand them $25 billion?"

The Drucker Institute, according to the release, "is a think tank and action tank whose purpose is to stimulate effective management and ethical leadership across all sectors of society. It does this, in large part, by advancing the ideas and ideals of Peter F. Drucker, the father of modern management."

The League of Women Voters will celebrate its senior discount worthy birthday from 2 to 4 p.m. Sunday Dec. 7 at the Hughes Center.

The celebration will include a brief, visual retrospective of the league and its members' contributions and provide light refreshments.

In a news release, the League is described as "an organization of women and men dedicated to promoting the common good through informed and active participation in government; working to increase understanding of major public policy issues; and influencing public policy through education and advocacy."

Information: (909) 624-9457.

City council members from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. will be answering questions of residents at the city council booth at the Farmer's Market in the Village.

Here is the schedule:

8 a.m. - 9 a.m.  -  Sam Pedroza

9 a.m. - 10 a.m. - Peter Yao

10 a.m. - 11 a.m. - Corey Calaycay

11 a.m. - noon  -  Linda Elderkin

Noon - 1 p.m.  -  Ellen Taylor

Tonight (Dec. 2) is the 7 p.m. planning commission meeting, at the city council chambers, 225 West Second St.

The meeting features a conditional use permit for a wireless telecommunications facility at Baseline Road and Padua/Monte Vista Avenue; General Plan Amendment and zone change for Claremont Graduate University properties at College, 12th, 10th and Dartmouth; and revisions to an antenna and wireless telecommunication facilities ordinance. 

At 7 p.m. Wednesday is the community services commission special meeting at the citrus room in City Hall, 207 Harvard Ave.

The meeting will discuss awarding a three-year contract to CLS Landscape of Chino for Citywide Right-of-Way and Irrigation Maintenance Program at $294,812.95 per year and authorize the City Manager to execute the one-year extensions if both parties agree; and review landscape design and plant palette for the south side of Foothill Boulevard between Mountain Avenue and Berkeley Avenue.

Also at 7 p.m. Wednesday is the human services commission meeting at the city council chamber at 225 W. Second St.

The meeting will discuss electing a new vice chair for 2009; discuss a proposed strategic work plan and adopt it for 2008/2009 and receive an update on Community Based Organization site visits.  

At 7 p.m. Thursday is the police commission meeting at 225 W. Second St. where oral reports will be discussed. 

Information: (909) 399-5460. 

Director of the Drucker Institute Rick Wartzman will interview Kinsley about his new edited book "Creative Capitalism: A Conversation with Bill Gates, Warren Buffett, and Other Economic Leaders."

The interview will take place at 7 p.m. in Room B16 at the Peter F. Drucker and Masatoshi Ito Graduate School of Management, 1021 N. Dartmouth Ave.

The event is free and open to the public, but RSVP is required to jinny.ki@cgu.edu.

Kinsley is a regular contributor to Time magazine and was formerly the editorial page editor of the L.A. Times, founding editor of the online magazine Slate, editor of The New Republic and co-host of CNN's "Crossfire."

In a news release, Wartzman said: "Gates's idea--that businesses should serve the greater good and must focus on more than just the bottom line or shareholder interests--certainly is in step with Peter Drucker's deeply held beliefs. But not everyone agrees with this approach, and I look forward to teasing out with Mike both the pros and cons and the complexities of the concept."

Wartzman used to work with Kinsley at the L.A. Times.

The band Rhythm Child, which introduces young kids to music in a family drum circle, performs at 4:30 p.m. Sunday Dec. 7 at the Folk Music Center.

Norm Jones and his wife Heather started the group, in conjunction with the Rhythm Child Network, to be used as a resource for people looking to work with their children to bring musical appreciation, cultural understanding and creative expression.

Admission is $5.

The Folk Music Center is at 220 Yale Ave. Information/tickets: (909) 624-2928 or www.folkmusiccenter.com