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Eight-year-old James Hawkins traverses a hollow log at the April 9 opening ceremony for California Botanic Garden’s new Children’s Woodland, a natural play area for kids and the culmination of nearly 50 years of planning. Courier photo/Andrew Alonzo
“If someone wants to know what’s happening with Claremont schools, a housing project, or a local crime story, they go to Google and type a few words. The Claremont Courier is taking a major step by stretching our reach to make sure our journalism is part of those searches. It’s a move so dynamic I believe it will even impact the City of Claremont’s Search Engine Optimization.”
Claremont Graduate University recently announced veteran poet Jennifer Chang and newcomer Eduardo Martinez-Leyva are winners of the 34th annual Kingsley Tufts and Kate Tufts poetry awards, respectively. Chang won for “An Authentic Life,” Martinez-Leyva for “Cowboy Park.” The poets will take part in a free and open to the public 6 p.m. Wednesday, April 15 reading and reception at Lyman Hall, 340 N. College Ave., Claremont. Photos/by Jessica Attie, Nicholas Nichols
California State University Board of Trustees recently named Vanya Quinones the eighth president of Cal Poly Pomona and the school’s first Latina leader, at a yearly salary of $492,500, annual deferred contribution of $61,244 to the CSU Deferred Compensation Plan for Executives, potential incentive pay up to 5% of her base salary, a $1,000-per-month auto allowance, and standard executive benefits. Currently president of Cal State Monterey Bay, Quinones starts at Cal Poly Pomona on July 1. Photo/courtesy of Cal Poly Pomona
As of early April 2026, U.S. gas prices continue to vary widely by region, with the national average for regular gasoline hovering at $4 per gallon. California remains the most expensive market, with statewide averages exceeding $5.50 per gallon, while many Southern and Midwestern states continue to see much lower prices. See our state by state comparison.
Calls for justice and accountability regarding the November 2025 death of Diego Rios after a traffic stop by Claremont police dominated the April 2 Claremont Police Commission meeting, which was overseen by Chair Allison Fung, pictured here. The Los Angeles County Medical Examiner’s Office determined Rios’ death was a homicide. The incident involved Rios, Claremont Police Department Corporal Benjamin Alba, and officer Joshua Orona. Investigations by the LA County Sheriff’s Department and District Attorney’s Office are ongoing. Courier photo/Andrew Alonzo
Hundreds of kids and their family members, including 3-year-old Samuel Stannislaus (right), took part in the City of Claremont’s spring egg hunt at Memorial Park Saturday morning, which included the annual Kiwanis Club of Claremont pancake breakfast, a petting zoo, face painting, crafts, music, photos with the Easter bunny, and a puppet show. Courier photo/Andrew Alonzo
Congratulations to Mo Dyson, one of 13 readers who correctly identified last week’s “Where am I?” as Pomona College’s red sandstone cornerstone, placed in 1888 at the school’s intended location at Piedmont Mesa, near the mouth of Live Oak Canyon.
Claremont’s Charles Phoenix will present his “Big Retro Road Trip ’Round the Pomona Valley” show as part of a Claremont Educational Foundation fundraiser at 7 p.m. Wednesday, April 15, at Padua Hills Theatre, 4467 Padua Ave., Claremont. A pre-show reception for the 21-and-over show runs from 5:30 to 7 p.m.
Claremont’s Pooch Park, at 100 S. College Ave., closed for biannual turf maintenance on Wednesday and will reopen Friday, May 1.
On March 13 the Claremont Police Department released a new public online database, a citizen records information management system portal called “Citizen RIMS” at claremontpd.citizenrims.com/map.
“Another ‘No Kings’ rally is in the books and with it has come another joy hangover. As hangovers go, this is the good one. I joined more than 3,000 like-minded folks here in Claremont last Saturday, proving once again that righteous anger displayed on a mass scale doesn’t have to end in violent insurrection. The vibes were joyous, despite the seriousness of the moment. It gave me, and I suspect thousands of others, a much-needed dose of hope.” Photo/by Jessie Cadenas
Village Partners, developers of the South Village project, recently informed the City of Claremont it intends to change a portion from a mixed-use development of 429 units — 300 apartments, 106 “flat style” condominiums and 23 townhomes, which the city approved in 2023 — to 140 three story, “row house” style townhomes. The developer is also contending the new plan is exempt from public hearings and City Council and environmental review. Courier photo/Andrew Alonzo
Local sustainability dialogs have contributed significantly to our public conversations about creating a healthier, greener, and more resilient community. This ambition characterizes each of the estimated 100 dialogs that have occurred since 2009 under the aegis of the host organization, Sustainable Claremont. Launched in March 2009, the first three dialogs set an ambitious agenda. Join us at 7 p.m. Thursday, April 9 in Pomona College’s Hahn Auditorium, 420 Harvard Ave., as we begin yet another compelling series of free and open to the public sustainability dialogs. Courier file photo
Standout Claremont High School baseball team pitcher Brady Houlton delivers during the team’s 6-5 loss at Diamond Bar on Tuesday. With the loss the Wolfpack is now 2-1 in Palomares League play, 13-4 overall. Courier photo/Andrew Alonzo