by Kathryn Dunn | editor@claremont-courier.com

Housing Claremont

I attended a terrific kickoff event for the new nonprofit Housing Claremont on Wednesday night at Garner House. The evening included comments by board president Zach Courser and Councilmember Jed Leano.

Mr. Courser identified several projects the organization will undertake, including a workshop with contractors to provide guidance to residents on constructing backhouses and a partnership with the school district under the guidance of board member Nancy Treser Osgood.

Special thanks went to Ilsa Lund, vice president of the board; Lynn Marsenich, treasurer; attorney Ron Vera for volunteering legal services to establish nonprofit status; as well as Megan Perez and Joe Lyons.

Housing Claremont’s maxim, “educate, advocate and connect,” will provide a framework for the group to help coordinate services and to find solutions to affordable housing and homelessness issues in town. To learn more and to get involved, visit www.housingclaremont.org.

Vote by mail drop-off

For those lucky decided voters, the city is offering two vote-by-mail (VBM) drop-off locations for the presidential primary Tuesday, March 3.

Ballot boxes are now available at the Hughes Center, 1700 Danbury Rd. and at city hall, 207 Harvard Ave. 

Through March 3, ballot boxes will be picked up twice a week by the county, and swapped with empty boxes. Completed VBM ballots can be dropped off at the Hughes Center Monday through Thursday from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., Friday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., and Saturday from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. VBM ballots can be dropped off at city hall Monday through Thursday from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m.  Both drop-off locations will be in operation until 4:30 p.m. on Election Day.

The county Registrar-Recorder mailed out VBM ballots January 23. Permanent vote-by-mail voters should have automatically been sent a ballot. If not, or to submit a request for a VBM ballot, visit www.lavote.net. You can call Shelley Desautels, our city clerk, at (909) 399-5460 for more information on the drop-off locations.