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The December 19 Claremont Unified School District Board of Education meeting had a bit of everything, including Kathryn Dunn, pictured here, elected board president, Richard O’Neill named vice president, and Alex McDonald clerk; a surprise appearance by recently elected state Senator Sasha Renée Pérez; and the swearing in of new Trustee Area 5 representative Cheryl Fiello, and Kathy Archer for a second term. Courier photo/Andrew Alonzo
Restructuring
To kick things off
The board then established its new look for 2025. Moving up from vice president, Superintendent Jim Elsasser remains board secretary.
“California’s recently passed Senate Bill 98 is a necessary step toward providing more equitable funding in our education systems. I’m not sure how many parents are aware of the power of this bill and what the results of the report mean for the future of equitable funding, thus I wanted to share my thoughts on the policy and why it is important.” Photo/courtesy of Anastasia Shuraeva
Longtime Claremont resident Janet Myhre began hosting annual Santa Lucia holiday celebrations in the 1970s, when she was a professor at Claremont McKenna College. The event was both a way to give back to friends, family and noted community members, and a fundraiser for what was then known as Claremont Museum of Art (now Claremont Lewis Museum of Art). The COVID-19 pandemic changed all that, stopping the decadeslong tradition in 2020. At the urging of her sister, Janet once again held the event at her home on December 15. Courier photo/Peter Weinberger
Cars were not the only hot item on the Claremont Toyota lot Sunday. More than 340 children were invited to choose a new toy at the dealership’s inaugural toy giveaway event. Kids came from Claremont, Pomona, and Ontario-Montclair school districts, and from foster and shelter care programs. “I’ll tell you the way it started was I was one of these children,” said Jane D’Amelio of Claremont Toyota. “I was in a shelter off and on from 2 years old to 18 years. I empathize with them. I was them, you know?” Courier photo/Andrew Alonzo
Pomona resident Rome Cornell, 36, the driver involved in a November 16 traffic collision in Upland that left three people dead, including a Claremont High School student, was arrested by California Highway Patrol officers Wednesday and charged with felony DUI and vehicular manslaughter, according to CHP spokesperson Rodrigo Jimenez.
In what has become an annual event at Padua Hills Theatre, the Cielo Rojo Dance Company entertained an enthusiastic, packed house on December 12. The evening included traditional Mexican holiday dancing, a marketplace, food, gifts, music, and plenty of cheer in the courtyard throughout the evening. Courier photo/Peter Weinberger
Claremont Lewis Museum of Art, 200 W. First St., Claremont, invites folks 21 and over to a 6 to 9 p.m. low rider ornament making workshop on Thursday, December 19. Admission is $50, museum members $40. “Holiday Glow, Low and Slow” part of the museum’s art night out series, will be led by artist Jaqueline Valenzuela who will speak about her art and the culture around low riders.
Free and open to the public performances of Claremont Symphony Orchestra’s annual “Sing-Along Messiah” concert take place at 1:30 and 4 p.m. Sunday, December 22 at Pomona College’s Bridges Hall of Music, 150 E. Fourth St., Claremont.
Pomona College had a record year for fundraising in 2024, it announced Monday.
Children’s Foundation of America celebrated its annual fundraising gala December 5 at Padua Hills Theatre. The evening included silent and live auctions, local and state dignitaries, and friends of the nonprofit.
Claremont High School senior cheerleader Kori Epling became the first athlete in the program’s history to earn All-American status throughout her four-year high school career.
“I want to be the guy in the ad strolling down a wintery city sidewalk, bundled up and smiling, with an armful of beautifully wrapped packages. But, I’m the sweaty guy in his pajamas hunched over his laptop in the wee hours illuminated by the sickly glow, overcompensating again for falling short on holiday cheer and gratitude, frantically filling my Amazon cart with kids’ gifts. I’m that guy.”
Congratulations to Abraham Park, who was chosen at random among the 10 readers who correctly identified last week’s “Where am I?” as one of Rod Baer’s sculptures at the Claremont Depot. Abraham is now entered into the year-end drawing to receive a copy of the Courier’s new coffee table book of photography, “Timeless Claremont.” So, “Where am I” this week? Email your answer, full name, and city of residence — and suggestions for future mystery photos — to contest@claremont-courier.com for your chance to win. Courier photo/Tom Smith
Pomona College has responded to a letter from free speech and legal advocacy groups asking the school to withdraw the suspensions of 10 students it alleges participated in an October 7 demonstration at Carnegie Hall. “The College’s response to the October 7, 2024, takeover of Carnegie Hall … does not implicate protected free expression/association,” read the response. “The focus of the subject discipline relates to the targeted disruption of the College’s ability to properly conduct scheduled classes in a well-established academic setting.” Courier photo/Andrew Alonzo
The Claremont City Council conducted its annual restructuring at its final meeting of the year on Tuesday, voting unanimously to name Corey Calaycay mayor and Jennifer Stark into the newly named mayor pro tem/vice mayor position for 2025. Calaycay replaces Sal Medina and Stark will replace Calaycay. Courier photo/Andrew Alonzo
Claremont High School’s cross-country program has a long history of success, and this season was no exception.
The team made its 11th consecutive appearance at the California Cross Country State Championships on November 30 at Woodward Park in Fresno, finishing sixth. Junior Lyle Mideiros also qualified as an individual and represented the boys varsity team. Photo/by Olivia Su
Santa Claus arrived in Claremont from the North Pole Friday evening as the city and Village Marketing Group hosted the annual Holiday Promenade. Festivities included carolers and live music, photos with Santa at city hall, the Packing House, and The Treatment Skin Boutique, and with reindeer at Shelton Park, a small petting zoo, cheer stops, and the 6:15 p.m. tree lighting. Courier photo/Andrew Alonzo