A Claremont Heritage guide will lead a 10 a.m. June 6 tour through the downtown Village area that starts in front of the Historic Claremont Metrolink Depot, 200 W. First St.

The tour includes a two-hour tour of the Village area, Historic Victorians, College and Commercial buildings and ends at the restored College Heights Lemon Packing House, according to a Claremont Heritage news release.

The admission is $5 per person. If raining at 8 a.m., the tour will be cancelled.

Information: (909) 621-0848, www.claremontheritage.org  or heritage.91711@verizon.net  

The city of Claremont, with the Claremont Chamber of Commerce, Tolkin Group's Village Square and the Village Marketing Group will hold Fright Nights Live from 6 to 9 p.m. Friday.

The event will run every Friday through Sept. 1 with bands at Second Street, Yale Avenue and the Public Plaza depending on the week, according to the city's Web site.

The bands Friday include Joel Ceballos at the Public Plaza near Laemmle Plaza and the Country Squires at City Hall on Second Street, according to the Friday Nights Live Myspace Web site.

In an interesting note, the event on the Myspace page identifies itself as a 45-year-old single female from Claremont.

Information: Human Services Department (909) 399-5490

High-end home decor Three French Hens and the European flower market and greenhouse Wisteria Grove will have a ribbon cutting at 5:30 p.m. today at 319 W First St Ste B. 

 

Photo of Wisteria Grove owner Lori Marino, left and Three French Hens owner Brenda Monahan, right, is by Thomas Cordova/staff photographer

http://www.wisteriagrove.com/ and http://shopthreefrenchhens.com/main.htm

This release is courtesy of the Sid Robinson, assistant vice  president of public affairs at Cal State San Bernardino.

The Claremont High School varsity baseball team will play against Los Osos High at the Epicenter in Rancho Cucamonga on Saturday, May 9, at 1 p.m.
 
The Epicenter is home to the Rancho Cucamonga Quakes minor league baseball team, the single-A California League affiliate of the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim.
 
Tickets to the event are available for $10 each in advance and are good for admission to all three Baseline League games at the Epicenter on May 9. The Claremont-Los Osos game gets the day started at 1 p.m., followed by Upland against Etiwanda at 4 p.m. and Alta Loma versus Rancho Cucamonga at 7 p.m.
 
All tickets are general admission and parking is free. Re-entry to the stadium will be allowed. Gates will open at noon.
 
To obtain tickets for sale and purchase, download a form from the Claremont High baseball Web site at www.claremonthighbaseball.com <http://www.claremonthighbaseball.com>  and return the completed form to Nicole Troli at nicoletroli@ca.rr.com, Debbie Inglese at eddeb6@earthlink.net or Sid Robinson at sid.robinson@verizon.net. Ticket orders are due Monday, May 4.
 
For more information, contact Troli at (909) 455-4059, Inglese at (909) 238-7153 or Robinson at (909) 227-9589.

Scripps Alumna and former Scripps college trustee Ruth M. Owades and civil rights activist and Claremont Graduate University emeritus president John D. Maguire will both receive a 2009 Fulbright Lifetime Achievement Medal with others on May 12.

Others receiving the honor at the Andrew W. Mellon Auditorium in Washington D.C. include composer Philip Glass and poet Rita Dove, according to a Scripps College news release.

The Fulbright "recognizes distinguished Fulbright Program alumni for their career achievements and civic, educational, and cultural contributions," according to the release.

"I am deeply honored by the Fulbright Lifetime Achievement Medal," Owades said in a news release. "This singular award validates my conviction that a strong liberal arts education is a solid foundation for leadership--in the corporation, the boardroom, and the global community."

Here's the news release from the Galaxy ...

Clinic Series Provides Free Professional Coaching To Underserved Kids in Southern California
 
CARSON, Calif. (Tuesday, April 28, 2009) - The LA Galaxy along with its corporate partners: KWKW 1330 AM, AM 570, AT&T, adidas, Bank of America, Farmer John, Herbalife, K1 Speed, La Opinion, Macy's, Marines, Sports Authority and Valero; will be hosting a season-long monthly clinic series to benefit underserved youth in Southern California. On Wednesday, April 29, the Galaxy will host their first Community Clinic Series of 2009 at Lewis Park in Claremont, Calif.
 
Through the Community Clinic Series, the Galaxy aim to fulfill their commitment to their surrounding community by creating health and recreational activities and programs for underserved children. The clinic series provides participants, ages 8-14, the opportunity to strengthen their soccer skills through drills that test their coordination, speed and ball handling.
 
In addition to the professional instruction participants receive from Galaxy Clinic coaches, LA Galaxy forward Bryan Jordan will provide on field support at Wednesday's clinic. City Council Member and Mayor Pro Tem Linda Elderkin as well as City Council Member Sam Pedroza will be in attendance.
 
All clinic participants will receive a gift bag at the conclusion of the event, courtesy of our corporate sponsors.   
 
WHAT:             LA Galaxy Community Clinic Series
 
WHO:               LA Galaxy Player - #27 Forward Bryan Jordan
                        City Council Member and Mayor Pro Tem Linda Elderkin
                        City Council Member Sam Pedroza
 
ACTIVITIES:     Kids will participate in interactive soccer skills stations, including an obstacle course to improve fitness, passing and shooting training drills. In addition, the kids will meet Galaxy forward Bryan Jordan.
 
WHEN:             Wednesday, April 29, 2009: 4:30-6:00 p.m.
4:25 p.m. - Galaxy Welcome
                        4:30 p.m. - Clinic Begins / Warm up as Group
4:30 p.m. - Groups into stations (Rotate)
Station #1 - Obstacle Course (Fitness)
Station #2 - Passing
Station #3 - Shooting
5:30 to 6 p.m. - Photos and Autographs with Bryan Jordan
 
WHERE:           Lewis Park
1700 Danbury Road
Claremont, Calif.  91711
 
--- www.lagalaxy.com ---
 

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Water district board member Xavier Alvarez had his jury selection moved to June 8 while a readiness hearing will take place June 3.

The jury selection, not trial, was set to take place today, said Los Angeles Superior Court spokeswoman Patricia Kelly.

The hearing and jury selection will take place at Pomona Superior Court, Kelly said.

Commissioner Wade Olson will oversee the June readiness hearing, she said.

Alvarez has pleaded not guilty to illegally registering his ex-wife for health benefits with the Three Valleys Municipal Water District.

Previously, Alvarez was fined and sentenced to probation in July for violating the Stolen Valor Act, which criminalizes false claims of military valor. He claimed he had received the Medal of Honor.

In the current case, Alvarez faces a maximum sentence of five years in state prison if convicted on the charges.

This is also from my editor Joe Blackstock ...

A representative from Bet Tzedek Legal Services will be the speaker May 20 at the next program in the "Legal Services for Low-Income Seniors" seminar at the Joslyn Center.

The program will be from 10 to 11 a.m. at the center, 660 N. Mountain Ave.

There is no charge to attend the program.

Bet Tzedek, founded in 1974, is a non-profit organization that provides free legal representation to low-income residents of Los Angeles.

Attorneys and paralegals from the group make regular visits to 30 neighborhood senior centers.

They provide legal advice, counseling and representation at trials, administrative hearings and appeals. The organization handles foreclosures and home equity fraud, wills, guardianships and conservatorships, Social Security complaints, consumer problems, Medicare and Medi Cal complaints, bankruptcy and unemployment insurance.

Call (909) 399-5488.

This is from my editor Joe Blackstock ...

New York Times columnist Bob Herbert will deliver the keynote address May 18 at the 116th Commencement Exercises of Pomona College.

The ceremony will be at 10 a.m. on Marston Quadrangle, which is located between 4th and 6th Streets in Claremont, followed by a reception on the lawn.

About 375 members will be awarded undergraduate degrees.

Herbert joined The New York Times in 1993, where he writes a twice-weekly Op-Ed column.

He is the author of "Promises Betrayed: Waking Up from the American Dream."

Also speaking will be Luis Valdez, the groundbreaking playwright of "Zoot Suit," an account of the Los Angeles riots of 1943, which was the first Chicano play on Broadway and the first Chicano major feature film.

http://www.sgvtribune.com/ci_12237621

CLAREMONT - In the wake of a global swine flu scare, Los Angeles County Health Services is investigating a possible incident in Claremont, officials said.

There are currently seven confirmed cases of swine flu in California.

"There are no confirmed cases of the swine flu in L.A. County," said spokeswoman Sarah Kissell. "Claremont is one area we are looking at."

Los Angeles County Health Services has a press conference scheduled for today at 3 p.m., Kissell added.

STATEMENT ON HEALTH PRECAUTIONS BEING TAKEN AT

OUR LADY OF THE ASSUMPTION SCHOOL IN CLAREMONT

This past weekend, a student at Our Lady of the Assumption School in Claremont fell ill with flu-like symptoms four days after returning from a visit to Mexico with her mother. The mother is also reportedly suffering from flu-like symptoms. The student and mother have been tested for the swine flu virus, but the results of the testing are not yet available.

School officials learned of the student's illness late Sunday night, and this morning called both the San Bernardino Health Department (where the student's family resides), as well as the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health.

The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health advised the Archdiocese to keep the school open, and to observe precautionary measures (hand washing, covering mouths when coughing or sneezing, etc.) to avoid potential contamination.

In addition to these measures, school officials are advising parents that they may take their children home from school early today. School officials are advising all parents to monitor their children's health and to report any illnesses to health officials immediately.

The Archdiocese has decided that there will be no classes at Our Lady of the Assumption School   tomorrow (Tuesday). Parents will be contacted regarding the resumption of classes, pending the outcome of the ill student's test results and further recommendations from the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health.

The school maintenance staff is in the process of cleaning the school's communal areas, including the school auditorium, the affected student's classroom and the rest rooms.

School and Archdiocesan officials will continue to monitor developments and report further information when it is available.

            ######

Cassie Zupke, a parent of a child with autism and founder of not-for-profit Open Doors Now, will speak Monday night as part of Autism Awareness Month at the Claremont Center for Spiritual Living.

Zupke will speak during a presentation "that will inspire and provide helpful information and tools for those whose lives are touched by autism," according to a Claremont Center for Spiritual Living news release.

The presentation will be held at the center, 509 S. College Ave.

Open Doors Now is an "organization comprised of educational professionals and parents/caregivers who are united in their belief that their efforts make a difference in the lives of those with autism," according to the release.

Information: Claremont Center for Spiritual Living Office (909) 624-3549, admin@claremontcrs.org or www.claremontcrs.org

Fontana's singer/songwriter Patrick Brayer and The Byrds' John York join together to perform at 7:30 p.m. Saturday at the Folk Music Center in Claremont.

Redneck Ninja featuring Brayer and York will take place inside the center, at 220 Yale Ave. 

Doors open at 7 p.m. and tickets are $10. 

Here are condensed bios (read them both at the folk music center:)

BRAYER
Brayer's style uses "Psychedelic Country, Catholic and Western, to Ezra Pound meets Hank Williams." His fans include Alison Krauss, Lyle Lovett, Leo Kottke, Ben Harper, John Doe, Alan Jackson, and Barry Lopez.  

YORK
York has worked with The Byrds, Clarence White, Gene Clark, Rick Danko, and Nicky Hopkins. He has five albums available and collaborated with his wife Sumi Foley on the television show "The Place Where I Am Dreaming. More recently, York composed and recorded music for Kim Fowley's lyrics on "West Coast Revelation."

 

The Claremont Police Department and Alcohol Beverage Control officers had four locations sell to decoys in a minor decoy operation.

The four locations were Hagelbargers at Claremont Graduate University, the Doubletree Hotel, Bua Thai Cuisine and Espiaus, according to a Claremont Police Department news release.

According to the release, two minors went to 11 "on-sale" locations where alcohol can be purchased and consumed in Claremont and tried to purchase an alcoholic beverage.

Police said people who sold the alcohol to the decoys received a citation and will appear in court at a later date while their establishments would have their liquor license reviewed.

Besides having the license reviewed, the businesses could possibly have their liquor license be suspended or revoked or be fined.

Funding for the program came from a California Office of Traffic Safety grant throug hthe Business, Transportation and Housing Agency, according to the release.  

will have a free grand opening and ribbon cutting, in conjunction with the Claremont Chamber of Commerce, from 5 to 7 p.m. Thursday. The center is at 1601 Monte Vista Avenue in Claremont. Tours, music, informational displays and more will be available to attendees.

Today I noticed Captain KJ, at 921 Foothill Blvd., has now become L.Y.L Garden Restaurant and will open in April (or as the sign says "GRAND OPENING on April.") I didn't get a chance to go inside to see if it is open but if you look here it looks like there's an L.Y.L Garden Seafood Restaurant in Monterey Park.  

I shot this photo of Tofu Kitchen today while I was in Claremont on my way to shoot the Pomona Valley Health Center at Claremont. Tofu Kitchen is at 956 W. Foothill Boulevard and I believe it used to be a Kentucky Fried Chicken. Maybe Colonel Sanders should start frying tofu. 

 

Here is the Claremont Village sign on Indian Hill Boulevard just before you enter the village. I took a photo of this awhile back and I'm not sure what I think of this (the sign not the photo). It's hard to make out the words "Claremont Village" and the color scheme is ... well ... uh ... interesting. Any thoughts?

An advisory director at Goldman Sachs and Company Paul S. Efron was announced Wednesday as elected chair of the Pomona College Board of Trustees.

Efron, a member of the 1976 Pomona Class, is the 14th chair of the Board since the school being founded in 1887 and he succeeds Stewart R. Smith, according to a Pomona College news release.

In 2000, he was named to the Board of Trustees and for the last two years had been chair of the Finance Committee and vice chair of the Executive Committee.

Efron, resident of Larchmont, NY, and married to Susan Efron, earned his B.A. degree in English and was named to Phi Beta Kappa.

In a news release, Pomona College president David Oxtoby said "Paul Efron has been a dedicated and thoughtful Board member, offering a broad perspective on the College as both an alumnus and parent. His expertise in areas related to investments and finance has been and will continue to be particularly helpful for Pomona at this point in time."

The event will take place from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday at Hair Connection at 370 W. Foothill Boulvard, said Wyndee Clements, a hair stylist at the Hair Connection.

Domino's Pizza is providing pizza and refreshments will be served.

The cut-a-thon will be held to raise money to support the salon's team for a Relay for Life cancer event on May 16 and 17. 

The salon's team "will be doing the walk at Claremont High School for the American Cancer Society," Clements said.

It's a $20 donation for a haircut. and $12 donation for chair massages and all goes to the relay.

Information: (909) 626-1617

The winners of a public art banner competition, you can see the banners in the Village, have been on throughout April and I apologize that I haven't mentioned the winners until now.

Here they are:

Johannah Bradley

Maeisha Bryant

Xany Edwards

Debbie Fuentes

Naomi Howland

Aleli Jolicoeur

Tara Prescott

Colin Senise

Sarah Starke

Lydia Zhang

The competition's theme is Enjoy Claremont and the images "include the hillsides, activities in the parks, the Claremont Colleges, ice cream cones and cups of coffee," according to the city of Claremont.

The Scriblerus Poetry Salons and friends of the Claremont Library are sponsoring a National Poetry month gala from 6 to 9 p.m. Saturday at the Claremont Forum inside the Packing House.

The Packing House is at 586 W. 1st St.

Everyone is invited to the event, which features a no-host bar, refreshments, door prizes and an auction.

Diverse poets representing classic and modern poetry along with guitars and poetry will perform.

A suggested donation of $5 is recommended.

Information: Helen Graziano 909.621-2876

The Pomona Valley Health Center at Claremont, affiliated with the Pomona Valley Hospital Medical Center, will have a grand opening reception and ribbon cutting from 5 to 7 p.m. Thursday.

The center is at 1601 Monte Vista Ave.

Ribbon cutting and grand-opening reception is held in conjunction with the Claremont Chamber of Commerce.

Information: (909) 865-9977

The Shop & Dine event takes place all day Friday to support the Claremont Education Foundation which helps Claremont Unified School District schools at the Village.

The Claremont Education Foundation "helps Claremont schools fund vital programs such as art and music for elementary students, technology upgrades and extracurricular activities to intermediate and high school students," according to the Claremont Village Web site.

Claremont's first community-wide Earth Day celebration takes place from noon to 5 p.m. Sunday in the Village.

Activities are as follows (according to the city news release):

Speakers and presentations on the environment, alternative transportation and sustainability
Tips on how to "Green" your home or business and save money
Music and entertainment
Fun and educational activities for kids
A bicycle "rodeo" and safety training
Educational workshops and displays
Exhibits by "Green" organizations
Additional lectures and workshops will be held throughout the community during Earth Week (April 19-26).
Event co-sponsors include the City of Claremont, Claremont Toyota, Pitzer College, Pomona Valley Medical Health Center, Claremont Smile Design, Hartman Baldwin, Le Pain Quotidien, Pomona College, Coates Cyclery, Friends of the Bernard Field Station, Maria J. Andrade, Mountain View Republican Club and Suntrek Solar.
Organized by Sustainable Claremont, the Claremont Interfaith Committee on Sustainability and the Claremont Bicycle/Pedestrian Advisory Committee.

Information: Chris Veirs, Senior planner/Sustainability Coordinator at (909) 399-5486

The re-landscaping of the Thompson Creek Trail Parking lot on Indian Hill Boulevard started Monday and is expected to be completed at the end of April.

A drip irrigation system will be installed, trail improvements will be made, a wooden fence surrounding the parking lot will be replaced, according to city manager Jeff Parker's weekly update.

There will also be the planting of 150 drought tolerant plants (salvia shrubs and purple lantanas).

The landscaping for Thompson Creek Trail was removed after Metropolitan Water District, who is performing the re-landscaping, made improvements to the Rialto Feeder which brings water from San Bernardino to the La Verne Reservoir, according to the update.

Sycamore Elementary School will celebrate Arbor Day at 10:30 a.m. Friday with a new hybrid American Elm species into a community forest.

Besides the new species, the United States Department of Agricultural Forestry Division will donate free tree seedlines for event participants, according to city manager Jeff Parker's weekly update. 

A new hybrid version of the American Elm tree, that is Dutch Elm disease resistant, will be planted for the traditional ceremonial tree planting as part of a recertification for the Tree City USA program, according to the update.

Sycamore Elementary School is at 225 W 8th St.

Information: (909) 398-0324

The Senior Forum presents a free lecture on Capitalism and Populism in Latin America from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. Saturday at the Claremont Joslyn Senior Center.

Phillip Koldewyn, Professor Emeritus of Claremont McKenna College, will be the speaker.

The Joslyn Center is at 660 N Mountain Ave.

Information: (909) 399-5488

The Spring Egg Hunt that took place from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. on April 11 featured a lot of people.

From my own count, there were about 50 people in the line for the petting zoo, another 50 people in line for the clowns giving out balloon animals and about 50 people in line for face painting.

So that's at least 150 people right there. The lines appeared to be moving OK, as for the petting zoo about 15 people would be let in for about 5 minutes each.

My biggest shock was seeing the egg hunt, or egg rush. Basically, Claremont officials take out plastic eggs and candy and dump them on the grounds of the Memorial Park before the kids are let loose.

I remember as a youth going to an egg hunt where the eggs were hidden and it was at least a challenge. Not here. No wonder people think kids today are lazy.

The other shock, besides seeing kids trying to run to the center and pick up eggs as quickly as possible, is to see their parents actually go out and scoop up eggs for their kids despite being told on a microphone to NOT do this.

I hope those parents got a nice dose of Catholic guilt for Easter.

Other than that, everything appeared to go smoothly.

 

 

Claremont's first Earth Day will take place from noon to 5 p.m. April 26 inside the Village.

Cut and pasted from the city's Web site, here are the activities:

• Speakers and presentations on the environment, alternative transportation and sustainability
• Tips on how to "Green" your home or business and save money
• Music and entertainment
• Fun and educational activities for kids
• A bicycle "rodeo" and safety training
• Educational workshops and displays
• Exhibits by "Green" organizations
• Additional lectures and workshops will be held throughout the community during Earth Week (April 19-26)

Information: Chris Veirs, Senior planner/Sustainability Coordinator (909) 399-5486 or http://www.ci.claremont.ca.us/

will perform at the San Bernardino Planes of Fame -- Chino Airshow 2009 on May 16 and 17 and also the Hemet-Ryan Airshow on May 30.

According to Harrison's news release, the shows will be Harrison's second and third airshow since he broke two ankles, his ribs, a hand and sustained "all kinds of cuts and bruises" on May 10, 2008 in Modesto.

The Chino Airshow takes place from 11:15 a.m. to 4 p.m. at 7000 Merrill Ave. in Chino. Tickets are $20 with one child age 5 to 11 admitted free with each paid adult ticket with additional children age 5 to 11 $5 and under age 5 is free. Advance discount tickets of $16 can be purchased here: http://www.planesoffame.org/airshows/2009/index.php

Chino Airshow information: (909) 597-3722; or visit the Planes of Fame website at www.planesoffame.org

The free Hemet-Ryan Airshow takes place from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at 2400 Walden Weaver in Hemet.

Hemet-Ryan information: http://www.hemet-ryanairshow.org/

The Pomona Valley Hospital Medical Center's health center will have a grand opening reception April 23 in Claremont.

The center, officially titled Pomona Valley Health Center, will have a reception and ribbon cutting from 5 to 7 p.m. April 23 at 1601 Monte Vista Ave.

The event is held in conjunction with the Claremont Chamber of Commerce.

Information: (909) 865-9977

The Claremont Unified School District will discuss an update on federal stimulus funding and other items at their board meeting Thursday.

The meeting will take place at 7 p.m. inside the board room of the Richard S. Kirkendall Education Center, 170 W. San Jose Ave.

The board will also discuss a family child care home education network service area expansion request; a resolution supporting medical insurance rate moratorium; recognizing national merit scholarship finalists and an achievement scholarship winner and other items.

Information: (909) 398-0609

 

Casa Colima Children Service's assistant director and speech language pathologist Melissa Driftmier will detail building social and pragmatic skills for success in the community, according to a Claremont Center for Spiritual Living news release.

The presentation will take place at the Claremont Center for Spiritual Living, 509 S. College Ave.

Driftmier will focus on organization, effective communication and conflict resolution "which lead to success within families and also individuals with autism," according to the news release.

Information: The Claremont Center for Spiritual Living office: (909) 624-3549 or claremontcrs.org

Per my editor ...

POMONA --  Nominations for the fair's annual Community Hero celebration can now be submitted with a deadline of May 30.

The winners will be honored at their respective community celebrations at this year's fair, which begins on Sept. 5.

Community Heroes this year will be in the categories of young adult, adult and seniors.

A nomination form can be printed from the fair Web site, www.lacountyfair.com, under the category of community days.

The forms should be mailed to Community and Government Relations Department, Fairplex, P.O. Box 2250, Pomona 91769-2250.

It also can be faxed to (909) 865-3602.

Information: e-mail, hatcher@fairplex.com or (909) 865-4648.

Charity Navigator, the largest evaluator of non-profit organizations in the U.S., has given Pomona College a four-star rating, according to a Pomona College news release.

The rating means "exceeds industry standards and outperforms most charities in its cause," according to the news release.  

According to the Charity Navigator website: "Givers can be confident that in supporting those charities rated highly by Charity Navigator, they will be supporting organizations that are fiscally responsible and financially healthy."
 

The Eagles of Death Metal and Frank Fairfield will perform as part of the second annual Record Store Day April 18.

The performances will take place at Rhino Records, 235 Yale Ave. Fairfield performs at 11 a.m. while the Palm Desert based Eagles of Death Metal with perform at 4 p.m.

Rhino will take off 10 percent of all purchases and offer exclusive releases from almost 100 artists including 7" singles from The Stooges, The Smiths, Tom Waits, Flight of the Conchords and others.

There will also be full-length album releases from Pavement, Cold War Kids, Iron & Wine and others.

Information: www.rhinorecords.cc.

The annual wildflower show and festival will feature watercolor artist Phyllis Case Bennett at the Rancho Santa Ana Botanic Garden.

The two-day show takes place from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday at the garden, 

Bennett has 28 years of experience in Chinese Brush painting and watercolor. She is a member of Pomona Valley Art Association, The Sumie Society of America, Inc., the Yuan Chinese Brush Painting Association and a Signature Member of WatercolorWest, according to a botanic garden news release.

The garden is at 1500 N. College Ave.

Admission is $8 general, $6 for seniors age 65 and up and $6 for students age 13 to 17 or full-time college students ; $4 youths age 3 to 12 and children under age 3 are free.

Information: (909) 625.8767

Bedol What's Next will have its new water drop shaped water powered clock featured Sunday on Bravo's second annual A-List Awards at The Orpheum Theatre in Los Angeles.

The show, with comedic host Kathy Griffin, celebrates pop culture with television, reality and fashion stars. Mark Bedol, from Bedol What's Next, will present the stars with a water powered clock in purple, pink, black, green or blue.

Bedol products are available at Bedol What's Next, located at 456 W. First St. or www.bedolwhatsnext.com.

Friends and Pomoan College students Patricia Nguyen Ashwin Balakrisnan and Jacob Cohen were awarded a $10,000 grant from Davis Projects for Peace.

The grant will help the friends give a four-week curriculum to Versailles high school students to help them engage their grandparents, parents and community to collect stories and write their history in July, according to a Pomona College news release.

Versailles, in eastern New Orleans, is a Vietnamese-American community.

The Versailles project will end with editing and publication of an anthology for everyone involved while the Pomona College students will help youths to get their information published.

If the information is not published, the anthology will be made available online so anyone can view it and an event will unveil the oral history project for the community.

Nguyen is a sociology major from Chicago, Balakrisnan is an environmental analysis major from Bloomfield Hills, Mich. and Cohen is a history major from San Francisco. 

A Senior Talent Showcase with more than 90 performers age 55 and up in the Claremont and other Pomona Valley areas with more than 300 people expected will take place Saturday morning.

The event takes place from 10 a.m. to noon Saturday at Taylor Hall, 1775 N. Indian Hill Blvd.

Radio and television spokesman Tom Hatten will be master of ceremonies while Inter Valley Health Plan is sponsor of the event with support from senior centers in the Pomoan Valley area, according to a city of Claremont news release.

Information: Joslyn Senior Center (909) 399-5488

The 31st Annual International Festival will take place between 11 a.m. and 4 p.m. Saturday at the Claremont McKenna College Quadrangle.

The event features free admission and food and entertainment from around the world.

The CMC Quadrangle is at CMC, 850 Columbia Ave. (which is between 8th and 9th streets).

Per the festival's Web site, here is the entertainment and cuisine:

Live Entertainment All Day Featuring

Masanga Marimba Ensemble	Classical Indian Dance	Made in Bahia	Petals the Clown
Psyko Taiko	5C Dance Company	Stilt Walker	Juggler
Capoeira	Lion Dancers	Rondalla	Belen
African Dance	Storytellers	Ken Habib	Tango
Sugar Mountain Mama Serenade

Sample Authentic Cuisine From Around The World

African Countries	Arab World	Brazil	Bulgaria	Canada	China	France
Germany	India	Indonesia	Jamaica	Japan	Korea	Latin America
Mexico	Pakistan	Phillipines	Singapore	Spain and Italy	Taiwan	Thailand
Turkey	United Kingdom	USA

Information: http://iplace.claremont.edu/iplace/main/festival.php

Bill Ayers, co-founder of the radical left group Weather Underground, will speak on "The State of Democracy in America: A lecture on the election of President Obama and the importance of civil activism and education."

The speech will take place from 7 to 8:30 p.m. Monday as part of Pitzer's Dining with Democracy inside the Gold Student Center Multipurpose Room at Pitzer College.

Pitzer College is at 1050 N. Mills Ave. The speech is free and open to the public.

Ayers, a Distinguised Professor of Education and Senior University Scholar at the University of Illinois, had his now-defunct Weather Underground labeled as terrorists by the Federal Bureau of Investigation in the 1970's.

Some people might know Ayers from Republican vice president candidate Sarah Palin's comment during the 2008 presidential campaign that the then Democratic presidential candidate Obama was "palling around with terrorists."

The comment was directed at Obama because he had served with Ayers on charity boards and Ayers group was labeled as terrorists by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.  

For more information, go here: http://www.pitzer.edu/event-calendar/2009_DWD_Bill_Ayers.pdf or here: http://www.collegescalendar.org/popup.cfm?task=description&module=1&template=19&ID=229208

Vons and Pavilions stores will fundraise for Easter Seals services for people with disabilities in the month of April.

Customers have the option of making a contribution to Easter Seals at every check-out counter, according to an Easter Seals news release.

The Claremont Vons is at 550 E. Baseline Rd.

Here are other locations in Los Angeles County: La Verne Vons, 2340 Foothill Blvd.; La Verne Vons, 1600 Foothill Blvd.; San Dimas Vons, 1160 Via Verde Ave.

Here are other locations in San Bernardino County: Upland Vons, 81 W. Foothill Blvd.; Rancho Cucamonga Vons; 6351 Haven Ave.; Rancho Cucamonga Vons, 8778 19th St.; Fontana Vons, 7390 Cherry Ave.

In 2008, Vons raised more than $1 million in support of Easter Seals in Southern California, according to an Easter Seals news release.

Information: http://southerncal.easterseals.com or the program center in Ontario at (909) 923-3352.

Sakena Yacoobi, founder of the Afghan Institute of Learning, will speak at noon Friday inside the Marian Miner Cook Athenaeum at Claremont McKenna College.

The free and open discussion will take place at 385 E. Eighth St.

Yacoobi became the fourth annual recipient of the Henry R. Kravis Prize in Leadership in January 2009.

Her organization is an Afghan women-led non-governmental organization "dedicated to providing teacher training to Afghan women, supporting education for boys and girls and providing health education to women and children," according to a CMC news release.

She is an advocate of education for children and women while presenting at international conferences like the Central Eurasian Studies Society conference at Harvard University.

Information: (909) 621-8099 or http://www.claremontmckenna.edu/news/pressreleases/article.asp?article_id=1222

Beth Burkhart, a former marketing manager for The Clorox Company and a co-producer of "The Believers" will speak at 6:45 p.m. today inside the Marian Miner Cook Athenaeum at Claremont McKenna College.

The Athenaeum is at 385 E. 8th St. and her free to the public lecture is titled "The Believers:' A Documentary Film by Todd Holland," according to a CMC news release.   

Burkhart, a 1994 graduate of CMC, co-produced the documentary film "The Believers" about the world's first transgender gospel choir Transcendence.

Transcendence won an Outmusic Award in 2004 and the film was named by Video Librarian as one of 2007's best documentary films. 

Information: (909) 621-8099

Arman Khodaei will present a free program on overcoming autism at 6:30 p.m. April 13 at The Claremont Center for Spiritual Living.

The center is at 509 S. College Ave.

Khodaei, 23, is a "high-functioning autistic that has overcome many of the challenges pertaining to autism," according to a Claremont Center news release.

Khodaei has a weekly YouTube series called "Insights from an Autistic" which says he is located in Rancho Cucamonga (and you can go here for more: http://www.youtube.com/user/armankhodaei) and is also a freelance writer.

Information: Claremont Center for Spiritual Living Office: (909) 624-3549 or admin@claremontcrs.org or www.claremontcrs.org  

 

The Claremont Forum presents Americana, roots music and Latin infused act Tremoloco with Rick Shea at 7:30 p.m. April 18 inside the Claremont Packing House.

The packing house is at 532 W. 1st St. Doors open at 7 p.m.

Tickets are $10 at Thoreau Bookstore or at the door.

You can listen to Tremoloco for free here: http://www.myspace.com/tremoloco

Information: (909) 626-3066; (909) 964-1940; www.claremontforum.org; www.rickshea.com; www.tremolocos.com  

A poet who is president of the national science poetry society and has published approximately 850 poems will take the stage today at 7 p.m. for a Haiku workshop.

Deborah Kolodji, who will be reading at the national library of Canada in the summer, will perform at 7 tonight at 154 Marywood.Ave near Arrow Highway.

To RSVP and directions: (909) 621-2876. You can check out Kolodji's poetry scrapbook here: http://dkolodji.livejournal.com/