Iowa resident and volunteer worker Renee Rockwell chats with Pilgrim Place resident Mavis Streyffeler as they take a break from the hard work of putting on the Festival at Pilgrim Place on Friday. The festival continues on Saturday with crafts, music, food and, of course, many fine items for sale. Hours are 10a.m. to 4 p.m. but get there early for the best deals. COURIER photo Steven Felschundneff
Friends and family of Leslie Pray remembered her as a kind and gentle person. Over 100 people attended a candlelight vigil for Ms. Pray, 54, on Monday night to pay tribute and remember the Claremont resident. The vigil took place in front of the home on Mills Avenue, the spot where she was hit by a car and killed while riding her bicycle Saturday morning. Ms. Pray’s life partner of nine years, Betsy Hipple, called her “absolutely my beloved.”
As of Thursday, Jennifer Stark, Jed Leano and Ed Reece still occupy the top three positions for Claremont City Council. But Ed Reece is only ahead of Zach Courser by 110 votes for third. According to city clerk Shelley Desautels, the county estimates 1,479 provisional and 1,383 vote-by-mail ballots from Claremont voters are not yet counted. They will start counting these ballots on Friday, November 9, but will not be announced until Tuesday, November 13. Stay tuned to the COURIER for election updates.
Police arrested a Claremont woman for murder on Saturday after they alleged she intentionally struck and killed a cyclist. Sandra Wicksted, 61, is charged with one count of murder and four counts of attempted murder, according to the Los Angeles County Superior Court database. She is being held on $6.1 million bail, according to Lt. Jason Walters of the Claremont Police Department.
Claremont residents with valid ID get in free Sunday, November 11 to Rancho Santa Ana Botanic Garden, 1500 N. College Ave., Claremont, as the treasured horticulture shrine begins its Second Sundays promotion with a celebration of Origami Day, an international holiday in honor of the art form. Second Sundays also serve to highlight its ongoing Origami in the Garden 2 exhibit.
Cynthia Cervantes McGuire lights one of the votive candles on the public altar during Claremont’s Dia de los Muertos celebration on Saturday in the Village. Ms. Cervantes McGuire and Elizabeth Camacho were in charge of the altar where any one could leave a photo or mementos about a loved one who had died. Claremont’s celebration, which ran from 11 a.m. to 6:30 p.m., featured food, music, face painting, contests and food trucks. COURIER Photo/Steven Felschundneff
Claremont police investigate the scene of a fatal collision on Saturday on Mills Avenue adjacent to Radcliffe Drive. Police say a green 1996 Mercury Tracer allegedly driven by Sandra Wicksted, 61, struck the bicyclist on Mills around 11:37 a.m. The bicyclist was pronounced dead at the scene. Ms. Wicksted was transported to the hospital for her injuries, but after an investigation, police believed she intended to strike the bicyclist and she was arrested. COURIER Photo/Steven Felschundneff
The election is Tuesday, November 6 and Claremont has 11 polling places throughout town.
Polling places include: Oakmont Elementary School, 120 W. Green St.; Sumner Elementary School, 1770 Sumner Ave.; Claremont Fire Station #62, 3701 N. Mills Ave.; Sycamore Elementary School, 225 W. Eighth St.; Vista Del Valle Elementary School, 550 Vista Dr.; Chaparral Elementary School, 451 Chaparral Dr.; Taylor Hall, 1775 N. Indian Hill Blvd.; Pomona College, 170 E. Sixth St.; the Joslyn Senior Center, 660 N. Mountain Ave. and more.
Claremont High theatre department is collaborating with a celebrity writer and adult actors from throughout the school district for a staged reading of Right Before I Go, a collection of actual suicide notes from persons ranging from the famous to the unknown.
The final missives of Virginia Woolf and Kurt Cobain are represented, interspersed with the personal experiences of Right Before I Go playwright Stan Zimmerman, who will join the cast in the role of narrator for two 7:00 p.m. performances Friday, November 2 and Saturday, November 3 at CHS’s Don F. Fruechte Theatre. COURIER photo/Steven Felschundneff
Baseball season might be over, but that’s not stopping Claremont’s Police Department from debuting its latest community outreach project—trading cards featuring the station’s 40-plus officers. The trading cards picture the officer on the front, similar to traditional baseball trading cards. Instead of statistics on the back, though, there’s information about the officer’s background and a quote of their choosing.
Three people, including a 15-year-old boy, were arrested after breaking into Jamba Juice and leading Claremont police on a wild chase to Los Angeles.
Just after midnight on October 29, a witness called police to report a burglary in progress at Jamba Juice and Poke Dot, both located at 175 north Indian Hill Boulevard, according to a release from the Claremont Police Department. Officers arrived shortly thereafter and saw the suspects’ car driving southbound on Indian Hill.
In 1958, Elvis was just beginning to make bad movies, suburbs were sprouting up across Southern California, and folk music was booming. Amidst this backdrop, Charles and Dorothy Chase opened The Folk Music Center in Claremont, and next week the beloved music and social hub celebrates the 60th anniversary of a store that has become so much more than a place to buy a guitar. “It is gratifying,” said the Chase’s daughter, Ellen Harper, who runs The Folk today.
Many people have reached out to the Temple Beth Israel community since the horrific attack in Pittsburgh took place. Now they want to give back to express gratitude for the heartfelt support, which has been immeasurable. With an opportunity to improve our communal cohesion, the Temple Beth Israel community is inviting faith leaders and their communities to join in their Shabbat Service this Friday, November 2 at 7:30 p.m.
