On Sunday, February 23 police are working on a follow-up investigation after a driver decided it was a good idea to go off-roading in the local cemetery over the weekend. On Sunday night, the driver of a white Honda Accord was spotted driving through Oak Park Cemetery, located at 410 Sycamore Ave. They left behind quite a bit of damage: three smashed gravestones, a broken water pipe that was shooting water into the air and tire marks across the grassy area.
Even with tree trimming in the news of late, it didn't stop Claremont from tending to the many city trees Tuesday in need of a seasonal trim along Monte Vista Avenue and Claremont Boulevard. Even with one lane closed much of the day, traffic remained light. Claremont and most of Southern California is preparing for what could be one of the largest rain events in the past two years. At this point, there's almost a 100 percent chance of rain Wednesday, Thursday and Friday. With highs staying in the upper 50s, snow may fall significantly only at higher elevations. COURIER photo/Peter Weinberger
Claremont officials took a break from the frenzy of municipal duties on Saturday to refocus on city goals at the council’s annual priorities workshop.
Taking a timeout didn’t mean taking a step away from city business. The yearly meeting provides an opportunity for council members and residents alike to revisit the city’s hot button issues and come up with a list of high-ranking agenda items for the coming year.
“By setting these priorities, we are saying for the next several months these are the things that we want to spend most of our energy and focus on very intently,” said Mayor Opanyi Nasiali.
The city recently installed two dual-mount electric vehicle charging stations for public use, states City Manager Tony Ramos in his weekly report. One station is located in the Village parking structure, on the first floor of the south side, and the other station is on the west side of Claremont City Hall. There are two chargers per station, and both are operable 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
The sun sets over high voltage transmission wires as seen from Johnson’s Pasture in the Claremont Hills Wilderness Park on Sunday evening. Temperatures in the area were very warm over the weekend however a series of winter storms are predicted for later this week that could generate over an inch of much needed rain. COURIER photo/Steven Felschundneff
City of Trees is more than just a nickname in Claremont. It’s a way of life.
The area’s lush urban forest is a huge draw for many of the city’s inhabitants, a notable part of the local landscape since the late 1800s. The ongoing drought and recent debate over the city’s tree trimming policies, however, have called that title into question. One example is this tree on the 2200 block of Indian Hill Boulevard, above. “It goes beyond simply calling ourselves the City of Trees. The value of trees here in Claremont is much more than the altruistic aspect of protecting the environment, but defines our community’s culture and livability,” said Claremont resident Barnabas Path.
COURIER photo/Steven Felschundneff
After years of decay and construction delays, the halls of the Old School House complex are bustling with business once more, and the center’s storekeepers are ready to celebrate.
Business owners will honor the plaza’s newest chapter with a fitting tribute to its past. Next weekend the Griswold’s art fairs, once a weekly gem of the Foothill Boulevard landmark, will make a long-awaited return.
UPDATED: Claremont resident Karen McMillen, right, works with collaborator Kelly Trabis on Tuesday while making a video at the Getty Leadership Institute in Claremont. Ms. McMillen recently received a Telly Award for her short documentary, “Peter Drucker: An Enduring Legacy,” about the renowned leadership expert who taught at Claremont Graduate University. The Peter F. Drucker & Masatoshi Ito Graduate School of Management commissioned the film as an orientation piece for incoming freshmen. COURIER photo/Steven Felschundneff
The slow start for 2014 continues as Claremont new listing inventory remains scarce. Total housing inventory remains low too, with only around 50 homes on the market.
Some of January’s statistics are misleading, as sales were actually a lower than this time last year. Because of several high dollar home sales, the averages shifted upwards. Some of these homes were actually on the market for several years.
A Claremont resident was found dead in the front yard of his home in the 800 block of Tenth Street on Wednesday afternoon. The body was seen by a person driving past the home around 1:30 p.m. Police arrived on scene shortly after. The elderly man was found with a single bullet wound to the head, according to Claremont Lieutenant Mike Ciszek. Police are ruling his death as a suicide. The portion of Tenth Street, from the 800 block to Vanderbilt, remains barricaded as police wait for the Los Angeles County Coroner to arrive. It is unknown when the street will be reopened. COURIER photo/Steven Felschundneff
The city of Claremont has one less lawsuit to worry about. Though problems persist with Golden State Water Company—who filed a lawsuit against the city in December in regards to issues surrounding the potential water system takeover—city officials have put to rest an ongoing dispute with Mike and Sue Verbal, owners of longtime Village eatery Pizza ‘N Such.
The Claremont City Council will gather on Saturday, February 22 for the annual priorities meeting. Claremont residents are invited to add their input on a number of city projects and priorities as council members look ahead. The meeting will take place at the City Council Chambers, 225 W. Second St. To view the agenda, visit www.ci.claremont.ca.us.
The 2014 Independence Day Committee is now accepting nominations for Grand Marshal, Honored Citizen and Honored Community Group for this year’s Fourth of July Celebration. The deadline to submit nominations is Thursday, March 27th. Nominees must live, work, attend school or have graduated from a school in Claremont. Applications are available at the event’s website www.Claremont4th.org or at the Alexander Hughes Community Center, 1700 Danbury Rd.
The Rancho Santa Ana Botanic Garden will play host to the zombie apocalypse this spring as the City of Trees becomes the City of The Walking Dead for the first annual Claremont Zombie Run on May 3.
Claremont’s inaugural fun run is a departure from the staple Claremont celebrations or the recent influx of quirky 5Ks like the Fairplex’s Color Run and Bonelli Park’s Tough Mudder. The object in this three-kilometer race is to navigate the trailheads teeming with crawling creatures and come out with limbs and flags intact.
