From the city manager’s office

Neighborhood Forum

The community is invited to a Neighborhood Forum on Tuesday, June 19 at the City Yard from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. The forum is an opportunity for residents to talk with 2 members of the city council in an informal setting. The city council members scheduled for the meeting are Corey Calaycay and Sam Pedroza.

Police receive grant for underage drinking prevention training

The Claremont Police Department has been awarded a $25,000 grant from the Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC) to conduct education and training on underage drinking.

A portion of the funds will also be used for enforcement and training for servers. The purpose of the ABC grant assistance program is to partner with local law enforcement agencies to develop an effective, comprehensive and strategic approach to eliminating the crime and public nuisance problems associated with problem alcoholic beverage outlets and then institutionalize those approaches within the local police agency.

The grant also provides funds for officers to offer drinking and driving education at the local high schools.

City accepting bids for Oak Park Cemetery expansion project

On June 5 the city issued a notice inviting bids for the Oak Park Cemetery Expansion Project. The expansion project will include clearing, grubbing, and grading approximately 0.9 acres of land north of the developed cemetery.  Development will also include extension of the existing service road, additional irrigation, landscaping and installation of 11 trees to match the existing cemetery’s tree density and species.  

The expansion will generate 732 in-ground burial spaces as well as 300 cremation spaces available through the new niche wall.

A mandatory pre-bid meeting will be held on Wednesday, June 20, at 10 a.m. at Oak Park Cemetery, 410 Sycamore Ave. Sealed bids will be due to the City Clerk’s office by Thursday, July 5, 2012 at 2 p.m.

For more information on this project, please contact Kristin Turner, community and human services manager, at 399-5433 or kturner@ci.claremont. ca.us.

Residential permit numbers up

During the month of May, the Building Division issued 101 permits, with a total building valuation of $997,354. The majority of permits were for photovoltaic systems, roofs, residential remodels and new HVAC systems.

St. Ambrose presents new Priest-in-Charge

St. Ambrose Episcopal Church in Claremont announced the appointment of Rev. George Silides as Priest-in-Charge by the Episcopal Diocese of Los Angeles.

Rev. Silides and his family come to us from Juneau, Alaska where he was Rector of Holy Trinity Episcopal Church since 2004. His ministry spans 25 years in which he has also served as missionary in Ft. Yukon, Alaska, as chaplain and service learning director at St. Paul’s Episcopal School in Oakland and curate of St. Matthew’s Episcopal Church in San Mateo.

He has also ministered extensively with many youth organizations, for the National Episcopal AIDS Coalition, for the Diocese of Alaska as an anti-racism curriculum developer/trainer, and as a board member for the Juneau Homeless Shelter.

Rev. Silides will host his first service this Sunday, June 17, at a special single service at 9 a.m. or on a future Sunday at 8 a.m. (Rite I) or 10 a.m. (Rite II with music). Sunday school and childcare provided.

St. Ambrose Episcopal Church is located at 830 W. Bonita Ave., Claremont. For information, call 626-7170

Foothill Family Shelter hosts casino night fundraiser Saturday

Foothill Family Shelter is hosting Fiesta Casino Night on?Saturday, June 16 at the Claremont University Consortium. Tickets are $35 per person. and include dinner and $100 in gaming chips.

To register, call their office at 920-0453 or visit: http://conta.cc/JqcxSk.

All attendees must be over 21.

For more information on Foothill Family Shelter and its services, visit www.foothillfamilyshelter.org.

Salastina Music Socitey offers concert at Garrison Theater

The Salastina Music Society will present a concert at Garrison Theater tomorrow, Thursday, June 16 at 3 p.m.  The program features artistic directors/violinists Kevin Kumar and Maia Jasper, along with a renowned tenor and cast of instrumentalists, offering a diverse range of music from classical, Mexican habanero-bolero, to a US premiere.

The performers include:

Raul Hernandez, internationally acclaimed tenor; Joanne Pearce Martin, LA Philharmonic principal keyboardist; Meredith Crawford, Pacific Symphony violist; Xiao-Dan Zheng, Los Angeles Opera cellist, principal of Tucson Symphony; Jason Yoshida, early instrument specialist (Pomona College).

Audience members can meet the artists at a reception sponsored by Some Crust Bakery following the performance.

Garrison Theater is located on the Scripps College campus, 231 E. Tenth St. Discounted tickets ($18) can be purchased at www.salastinasociety.org; regular-priced tickets will be available at the door for $25. 

Claremont resident graduates from Naval Academy

Holly Berger of Claremont, daughter of Dennis Berger and Lisa Beckett, graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in political science from the United States Naval Academy, Annapolis in May.

Ms. Berger attended Our Lady of the Assumption School in Claremont and St. Lucy’s Priory High School, graduating in 2008.

She was a 4-year volleyball student/athlete for the Navy and was team captain her senior season. Upon graduation, she will be commissioned as a 2nd lieutenant in the United States Marine Corps.

Ms. Berger is currently on temporary duty at USMC Air Station, Miramar in San Diego, practicing with the all-Marine volleyball team and will compete in the All-Services Tournament in Great Lakes, Illinois next week. She will begin 6 months Marine Officer Training at Quantico, Virginia in September.

A gathering of Claremont friends, alumni at Bufffalo Inn

La Puerta, El Roble, Claremont High and San Antonio High School alumni are invited to an evening of blues and burgers at the Buffalo Inn this Saturday, June 16, beginning at 6 p.m. Live music will be provided by local blues bands Toomstone and Mothership.

Organizers invite you to get reacquainted with “the magic of the Buff beer garden,” and catch up with old friends at this impromptu Claremont reunion.

The Buffalo Inn is located at 1814 W. Foothill Blvd., Upland.

Teen volunteers needed for summer reading program

The Claremont Public Library is seeking teen volunteers to help the library and earn service hours during its summer reading program.

Hours and shifts will vary, dependent on library hours and the activity schedule. For more information, call Susan at 621-4902. The library is located at 208 N. Harvard Ave.

Mt. Baldy Steak Fry to benefit fire department

The 55th annual Mt. Baldy Steak Fry is set for Saturday, June 23 from 3 to 9 p.m. at the Baldy Trout Ponds.

The annual event, which includes live music,  food, beer and a raffle, is organized to raise funds for the Mt. Baldy Fire Department. Tickets are $25 for adults ($15 for vegetarians) and $10 for children under 12.

For ticket information call 982-1213.