by Andrew Alonzo | calendar@claremont-courier.com

Friday, May 12

• The California Botanic Garden, 1500 N. College Ave., Claremont, is free from 8 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. today in observance of the American Public Gardens Association’s Go Public Gardens Days. Limited tickets and details are at calbg.org/event.

• Tri-City Mental Health Services will screen “Wonder” (2017) during a free and open to the public 6 p.m. movie night at its wellness center, 1403 N. Garey Ave., Pomona. Masks are required. Call (909) 242-7600 for more information.

• The City of Claremont’s free live music showcase, Friday Nights Live, continues from 6 to 9 p.m. tonight with Mick Rhodes and the Hard Eight at Shelton Park, Squeakin’ Wheels at Village Plaza, and Ana Maria de la Cruz and the Claremont Unified School District Student performers at the chamber of commerce. More info is at claremontchamber.org.

• The Claremont High School Theatre Department mounts Jonathan Dorf’s “Rumors of Polar Bears” at 7 p.m. tonight and Saturday, May 13 at the Don F. Fruechte Theatre for the Performing Arts, 1601 N. Indian Hill Blvd., Claremont. An additional 2 p.m. matinee is set for May 13. Presale admission is $10 at onthestage.tickets/claremont-high-school. Tickets are $12 at the door. Visit chstheatre.cusd.claremont.edu for details.

• The Pomona Concert Band’s annual spring concert, “Fanfare and Flourishes,” begins at 7:30 p.m. at Palomares Park Community Center, 499 E. Arrow Hwy., Pomona. The evening’s master of ceremonies is columnist and author David Allen, and the color guard will be headed by United States Air Force veteran Heriberto Feliciano. For more information visit pomonaconcertband.org.

• Ophelia’s Jump Production celebrates Mother’s Day early with performers reading stories about motherhood at 7:30 p.m. tonight and 3 p.m. Saturday, May 13 at 2009 Porterfield Way, Suite H, Upland. Doors open one hour prior performances. Tickets are $20 at opheliasjump.org. Call (909) 734-6565 for more details. Specialty cocktails and desserts will be available.

• It’s La Verne Day at the Los Angeles County Fair. Admission is $8 at the door or online at lacountyfair.com/laverneday today for city residents. Go to lacountyfair.com/get-started for more information.

Saturday, May 13

• In recognition of Claremont Colleges commencements, select streets will be closed this weekend, including Dartmouth Avenue and 10th Street from 5:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. today, and College Avenue and Sixth Street from 1 to 4:30 p.m. College Avenue will again be closed Sunday, May 14 from 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. For details, visit ci.claremont.ca.us.

• The Pomona Valley Genealogical Society will welcome historian, genealogist, and lecturer John Schmal via Zoom at 2 p.m. for a free and public meeting. Schmal will discuss Native Americans of Southern California’s mountains and deserts. For access, email a request to raulncal@aol.com.
• The Friends of the Pomona Public Library hold a book sale from noon to 4 p.m. the second Saturday of each month at the library, 625 S. Garey Ave. Questions? Email friendspomonalibrary@gmail.com.

• The Claremont Chorale’s 4 p.m. concert, “Celestial Sounds,”will feature music from the Baroque period, folk and jazz at Claremont United Methodist Church, 211 W. Foothill Blvd. Tickets are $10 at the door or at claremontchorale.org/concerts.

• The free Pomona Art Walk takes place from 5 to 9 p.m. at Pomona Arts Colony, 191 W. Fourth St. It includes a community market in the Shaun Diamond Plaza, 197 E. Second St., with crafts, jewelry, candles, clothing, and food. Visit downtownpomona.org for details.

• Singer, songwriter, and stringed-instrument maker Ed Hume will perform his new album, “Strumming Stories,” at 7:30 p.m. at Ophelia’s Jump Productions Music Lounge, 2009 Porterfield Way, Suite H, Upland. Admission is $15 and doors open one hour prior to the performance. Get tickets and info at opheliasjump.org.

• Brenley MacEachern and Lisa MacIsaac, who make up the JUNO-nominated Canadian music duo Madison Violet, will play a 7:30 p.m. concert at the Folk Music Center, 220 N. Yale Ave., Claremont. Tickets are $25 and doors open at 7. For details call (909) 624-2928, email info@folkmusiccenter.com, or visit the store.

Sunday, May 14

• Happy Mother’s Day! Moms can enter the California Botanic Garden, 1500 N. College Ave., Claremont, for free today beginning at 8 a.m. Tickets and details are at calbg.org/event. Then from 4 to 6 p.m. the garden will host “Flower Hour,” a separately ticketed event for families to celebrate mom, $25 for adults, $15 for children ages 3 to 12, $20 for member adults and $10 for member children.

• The Claremont Farmers and Artisans Market is held every Sunday from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the Village, with locally made crafts, organic food, clothing, and jewelry available. Visit claremontforum.org/farmers-artisans-market for more information.

• Zzaj plays a free concert from 2 to 5 p.m. at College Center, 665 E. Foothill Blvd., Claremont. To view the monthly lineup or for more information, visit jazzatcollegecenter.com.

Monday, May 15

• At 10:30 a.m., the Joslyn Center, 660 N. Mountain Ave., Claremont, hosts gentle yoga, a free course where the practice is taken nice and slow for seniors. Call (909) 399-5488 for information.

• The Pomona Pride Center, 386 S. Thomas St., hosts reading rainbow, a book club by and for the LGBTQ+ community, every first and third Monday from 5 to 6:30 p.m.⁠May’s selected reading is “The Ethical Slut: A Practical Guide to Polyamory, Open Relationships & Other Adventures” by Dossie Easton and Janet Hardy. For details visit pomonapridecenter.org or call (909) 326-0482.

Tuesday, May 16

• Seniors meet at Shelton Park, on the corner of Bonita and Harvard avenues in Claremont, for a free stroll through the Village with Get Walking Claremont. Walks begin at 8 a.m. Arrive 15 minutes early to sign in and hear announcements. Those not fully vaccinated are asked to wear a mask. Questions? Call (909) 399-5488.

• Seniors can practice tai chi and qi gong for free at Larkin Park, 660 N. Mountain Ave, Claremont, from 1 to 2 p.m. Register at anc.apm.activecommunities.com/claremontrecreation.

• The Claremont Planning Commission meets at 7 p.m. at the council chambers, 225 W. Second St., Claremont. Agendas are posted online and at city hall the Thursday before the meeting. Visit ci.claremont.ca.us for meeting details or Zoom info.

Wednesday, May 17

• Tri-City Mental Health Services hosts a noon hiring fair at its wellness center, 1403 N. Garey Ave., Pomona, for those interested working with FedEx Ground. Have a resume ready and speak with FedEx team members about career options in Chino and Bloomington. For more information or assistance, call (909) 242-7651 or email wellness@tricitymhs.org.

• The Benton Museum of Art, 120 W. Bonita Ave., will host a free and open to the public gallery talk, a discussion of art led by students, faculty, or staff, at 12:15 p.m. This week’s topic is Michael Menchaca’s exhibit “La Raza Cósmica.” More information is at pomona.edu/museum.

• The public is invited to a free 1 p.m. lung health workshop presented by Breathe Southern California at the Joslyn Center, 660 N. Mountain Ave., Claremont. Learn about the risks and triggers for common lung diseases and receive a free lung capacity test. Pre-registration is required at anc.apm.activecommunities.com/claremontrecreation.

• Claremont Senior Program and Los Angeles Regional Food Bank’smonthly senior food bank distributes from 1 to 2:30 p.m. at Larkin Park, 660 N. Mountain Ave., with a free food kit for L.A. County residents 60 and older who meet income guidelines. Identification with date of birth is required for food pickup. Call (323) 234-3030 for more info.

• The Claremont Chamber of Commerce welcomes Mazda of Claremont to the city with a 5 p.m. new business ribbon cutting at 667 Auto Center Dr., Claremont. RSVP or learn more at business.claremontchamber.org.

Thursday, May 18

• This month’s Claremont Chamber of Commerce walk beginsat 8 a.m. at California Botanic Garden, 1500 N. College Ave., Claremont. Admission is $5 for chamber members and free for CalBG members and children under 3. Non-member prices vary. Attendees must register by Tuesday, May 16. For details visit business.claremontchamber.org.

• The Rembrandt Club of Pomona College and Claremont hosts its annual spring luncheon, featuring guest speaker Li Machado, at 11:30 a.m. at the Blue Room of Pomona College’s Frank Dining Hall, 260 E. Bonita Ave., Claremont. Tickets are $50 at the door. Call (650) 678-4132 or email info@therembrandtclub.org for information.

• The public is invited to the 7 p.m. hybrid Claremont Unified School District Board of Education meeting at the district office, 170 W. San Jose Ave. Visit cusd.claremont.edu/board to view the agenda, which includes Zoom connectivity instructions. Call (909) 398-0609 for more information.

Friday, May 19

• University Toastmasters 2250, the Claremont branch of Toastmasters International, is back with free, open to the public 7 a.m. speaking and leadership skills hybrid classes. Attendees should complete an online membership form prior to attending at 2250.toastmastersclubs.org. In-person gatherings are held in room 22 of Claremont Graduate University’s Peter F. Drucker School of Management, 1021 N. Dartmouth Ave. Email university.toastmasters.2250@gmail.com for a Zoom link.

• The City of Claremont’s free live music showcase, Friday Nights Live, continues from 6 to 9 p.m. tonight with Blue Highway at Shelton Park, Soulshine at Village Plaza, and Randy Miller at the chamber of commerce. More info is at claremontchamber.org.

• Stage veteran Robin Steege performs “The Silence Within Her,” a cabaret featuring melodies from her 32-year musical theater career, at 8 p.m. tonight and 4 p.m. May 20 and 21 at Ophelia’s Jump Productions Music Lounge, 2009 Porterfield Way, Suite H, Upland. Admission is $32. Tickets and info are at opheliasjump.org.

Saturday, May 20

• The Mennonite Central Committee’s Southern California Festival and Sale opens at the Pacific Community Center, 800 W. Arrow Hwy., Upland, with an early bird breakfast at 7:30 a.m. Attendees can peruse antiques and bid on live and silent auctions afterward. Children’s face painting and other activities are also included. Visit socalfestivalandsale.org for more info.

• The La Verne Symphony Orchestra’s annual free and open to the public spring concert takes place at 3 p.m. in the University of La Verne’s Morgan Auditorium, 1950 3rd St. The concert features music by Georges Bizet, Franz Schubert, Ralph Vaughan Williams and others. Email lvsodirector@gmail.com for more details.

• Dritta, a vocal ensemble of sopranos Devon Guthrie and Lacey Jo Benter and mezzo-soprano Abi Levis, will perform with Los Angeles Opera pianist Lucas Nogara in a free and open to the public 4 p.m. concert at Claremont United Church of Christ, 233 Harrison Ave., Claremont. Donations will benefit the CUCC’s choral music program and the Brigid Alliance. Questions? Call (909) 626-1202 or email music@claremontucc.org.