For the fifth consecutive year the National Endowment for the Arts has awarded a Big Read grant to Pomona.

City leaders formally accepted the grant at this week's City Council meeting.

The $17,000 grant will be used to fund Big Read activities which will revolve around "The Maltese Falcon" by Dashiell Hammett.

"This was a very competitive process," said Pat Lambert, a senior librarian at the Pomona Public Library and a coordinator of the event.

Pomona is one of 75 groups across the country that earned grants, she said.

Big Read activities are centered around a book considered a significant work of American or world literature.

This year's book is one of literature's greatest mystery novels, Lambert said, and is expected to appeal to young male readers and could entice them to develop an interest in reading.

Big Read activities are expected to begin Oct. 7 and continue through mid November.

This year's Big Read kickoff event will be a panel discussion focusing on classic California noir and the lives of some of its most prominent writers.

Leading the panel will be Denise Hamilton, author of "Los Angeles Noir" and will feature Julie Rivett, granddaughter of author Dashiell Hammett; Judith Freeman, biographer of Raymond Chandler; and Ross Macdonald, biographer of Tom Nolan.

The event is set for Oct. 7 at Western University of Health Sciences, 309 E. Second St. The evening will begin with a 6 p.m. reception followed by the panel discussion and conclude with a book signing of books available for purchase.

Pomona's Big Read will offer residents numerous activities with something available for every age group ranging from book discussions to screenings of the film version of the "The Maltese Falcon" starring Humphrey Bogart, Lambert said.

Numerous community groups and non-profits will participate in the event by organizing activities and programs with ties to the book, she said.

A complete list of Big Read activities will be posted on the city's and library's web site after Sept. 1, according to a statement from the city.

City Council members will vote on a proposal Monday calling for the sale of a 2.5-acre property in the city's hands to a developer interested in building a 342-unit multi-residential development.

The proposal calls for selling the vacant property on Commercial Street east of Garey Avenue for $1 million to Monterey Station LLC and developer Darren Olsen, according to a city staff report.

The developer plans to purchase the city's property and land from other property owners to build the rental units in two phases.

The development would include a mix of lofts and live-work units along with studio, one bedroom and two bedroom apartments that would all be available at market rates, the staff report said.

The closed portion of the council meeting will begin at 5:30 p.m. and the open portion at 6:45 p.m. at Pomona City Hall, 505 S. Garey Ave.

As part of the Every Woman's Journey educational series, Pomona Valley Hospital Medical Center will offer a presentation on abnormal uterine bleeding.

"Heavy or Frequent Periods," will be offered free of charge at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday at the hospital's Pomona Valley Health Center at Claremont, at 1601 N. Monte Vista Ave.

Abnormal uterine bleeding is one of the most common reasons women seek medical assistance, according to a hospital statement.

Abnormal bleeding can occur at any age, can have many causes and is common at various times in a woman's life including as a girl begins menstruating and as a woman approaches menopause, the statement said.

Heavy or frequent periods are generally treatable conditions, the statement said.

Dr. Francisco Cuellar, a local obstetrician and gynecologist specializing in minimally invasive gynecological surgery, will speak on the topic.

To reserve a seat or for information on the presentation email FERC@pvhmc.org or call 909-865-9858.

City finances will be among the topics to be discussed during this month's meeting of the Willie White Park Focus Group.

The meeting begins at 7 p.m. Thursday at the Willie White Park Community Center, 3065 Battram St.

Addressing the audience will Pomona Finance Director Paula Chamberlain and Assistant to the City Manager Mark Gluba.

Among the items expected to be discussed will be the city's 2011-2012 budget, the city's redevelopment agency and the Mission Boulevard and 71 Freeway construction project.

All of the group's meetings are open to the public.

For further information on the meeting or the group call Melba Robison at 909-596-4273 or M. Joyce Bakersmith at 909-392-8666.

Pomona residents are invited to enjoy an evening of free music performed by the Pomona Concert Band at Ganesha Park.

The band is offering a series of concerts every Thursday at 8 p.m. as part of its 64th annual Summer Concert Series at the park's G. Stanton Selby Bandshell behind the Ganesha Park Community Center, 1575 N. White Ave.

Thursday's concert is titled, "The President's Choice" and features music selected by Allan Small, the band's president.

During the concert band members Kerry Kline and James Lytthans will also take the baton and conduct numbers by Ralph Vaughan Williams, Stephen Foster and the Beatles, according to a statement from the band.

On July 28 the band will welcome guest conductor James Christensen.

Christensen is a well-known conductor, composer, arranger and clinician who during nearly four decades with Walt Disney Productions produced music associated with Disney movies and theme parks, the statement said.

The final concert in the series will take place Sept. 1.

All performances are free and open to the public, which is welcome to bring a picnic meal to the musical events.

Pomona Valley Hospital Medical Center will offer computed tomography scans for a reduced fee to help smokers detect lung cancer.

Computed tomography, also referred to as CT screening, is the most effective means of detecting lung cancer, which is the No. 1 cause of cancer deaths in men and women, according to a statement from the hospital.

Lung cancer is so deadly because it is often detected at an advanced stage but it can be treated if found early, the statement said.

"When detected in the early stages, lung cancer can be treated more effectively than when diagnosis is delayed," said Dr. Johnson Lightfoote, radiologist and president of Pomona Valley Hospital Medical Center.

Hospital cancer specialists and expert technicians will offer lung screenings for the general public. If cancer is found program participants will be counseled on how to proceeds and access medical care.

Physician orders are not required to participate in the screening which cost $250. The fee can be paid with cash, debit or credit cards.

Screenings may not be covered by insurance.

To schedule an appointment call 909-469-9395.

A group of Mt. San Antonio College students pursuing health careers recently received awards during the recent Health Occupation Students of American national competition in Anaheim.

Students earned four silver medals and three bronze medals in the competition which drew more than 7,000 secondary and post secondary students to the event, according to a statement from Mt. SAC.

Bringing home silver medals in the creative problem solving competition were Alyssa Lee of Pomona, Elizabeth Meneses of Diamond Bar, Joe Diaz of Pomona, and Judith Ongere of Covina.

Tiffanie Dunn of Covina, Rashida Chappell of Rancho Cucamonga and Brian Ragland of Fontana all won bronze medals in the creative problem solving competition.

Susana Palomares of West Covina, Cleo Ashmore of Corona and Sikiru Bamgbose of Highland ranked in the top 10 as finalists, the statement said.

"All 10 of our competitors this year ranked nationally as finalists, and that is quite an accomplishment," said Mt. SAC psychiatric technician professor and Health Occupation Students of America advisor Mary Ellen Reyes in the statement.

"Being involved in and competing in HOSA is a life-changing experience for students."

Applications are available for the annual Great Campout.

Young people ages 9 to 12 who are residents of Pomona are eligible for the free event taking place from 5 p.m. July 22 to 10 a.m. July 23 at Fairplex.

The event is organized by the Pomona Police Department and the Community Engagement Group, which consists of residents, business people, members of law enforcement, clergy and others who organize safe activities for youth.

Children who attend the event will have a chance to participate in an evening filled with activities including games, crafts, dancing and giveaways, all under the supervision of Pomona Police officers and adult volunteers.

Parents can sign-up their children for the overnight event by filling out application forms available in the lobby of the Pomona Police Department, 490 W. Mission Blvd. or the department's crime prevention offices located at on the second floor of Pomona City Hall, 505 S. Garey Ave.

Campout applications will be accepted until the 300 available spaces are filled.

Those interested in making financial or other types of donations for the event can do so by contacting the Police Department's crime prevention office at 909-620-2318.

As a member of the astronaut corps, George "Pinky" Nelson made three trips into space aboard three different crafts in the space shuttle fleet in the 1980s.

The Harvey Mudd College graduate, who is now the director of Science, Mathematics and Technology Education at Western Washington University in Bellingham, Wash., was among the first astronauts to walk in space.

On Friday, Nelson was among those who gathered at Cape Canaveral, Fla., to watch the launch of space shuttle Atlantis for what is the 135th and final mission of NASA's space shuttle program.

Nelson was in Florida with two of his grandsons, ages 10 and 14, "hoping they'll get to see what their grandpa did."

During the trip, Nelson said he saw others who have been part of the space shuttle program.

"It's a fun, happy reunion. But it's also bittersweet," he said.

Watching the space shuttle program come to an end is frustrating for Nelson. He said the administrations of presidents Bill Clinton, George W. Bush and Barack Obama have shown an unwillingness to commit sufficient resources to the nation's space program.

As a result, "We've been left without any capability to go into space," Nelson said.

Space exploration is a worthwhile endeavor, he said.

"As a species, human beings have always explored," he said.

History is filled with explorers who have made significant contributions to society.

"Those seemingly useless, esoteric trips have played a part in improving our standard of living" and contributed to science, Nelson said.

In the current environment, politicians have little concern for space exploration.

"If we can't muster the collective will (to continue exploring space) that makes me a little less optimistic of the future of the human species," he said.

NASA is in a period in which it is floundering but the U.S., along with the Western world, has the knowledge and expertise to develop methods to further space exploration, Nelson said.

Other nations, including India and China, are working on space programs and, "Hopefully, they will pick up the mantle," he said.

The United States could partner with other countries to continue to make advances but the interest doesn't exist on their part or ours to collaborate, Nelson said.

During his years in the astronaut corps, Nelson went into space in April 1984 for a seven-day mission aboard the Challenger that included a space walk to retrieve a satellite, bringing it aboard the shuttle and make repairs to it before putting it back in orbit, according to NASA's website.

In January 1986, Nelson was aboard Columbia for a mission in which a satellite was deployed. When the shuttle returned, it landed at night at Edwards Air Force Base.

Nelson's last trip into space was aboard Discovery, which launched in September 1988. It was the first mission following the 1986 disaster in which the Challenger exploded shortly after launch and its seven member crew died.

Nelson said there isn't one memorable moment from his days as an astronaut -- there are three.

The first involves the launch experience.

"You'll never be that close to so much power again," he said.

Then there was experiencing weightlessness.

Finally there was the experience of watching the earth while traveling at 5 miles per second.

"What an incredible place human beings live on," Nelson said.

Nelson said he wouldn't mind going to space again as long as he didn't have to attend what seemed like an endless series of meetings that where part of preparing for a flight.

Nelson said he would be perfectly content "if they just wanted to stuff me aboard" a spacecraft.

Residents and business people are invited to attend the Pomona Police Department Southeast Area Commander's Meeting Tuesday.

The meeting will begin at 7 p.m. at the Washington Park Community Center, 865 E. Grand Ave.

Residents, business people and Neighborhood Watch group members are invited to submit questions or concerns about situations affecting neighborhood within the area east of Garey Avenue and south of Holt Avenue.

By submitting questions ahead of time police officials can bring answers to the meeting.

Questions or concerns can be emailed to AreaCommander_Southeast@ci.pomona.ca.us or phone in to 909-802-7496.

This month's crime prevention topic will be gangs.

For additional questions contact the police department's crime prevention office at 909-620-2318.