CMC receives $50 million gift

Claremont McKenna College is the recipient of an unrestricted $50 million gift from billionaire financier and CMC alumnus George R. Roberts.

CMC will use the money to build a new fitness and athletics center, to be named The Roberts Pavilion.

The new 3-story, 120,000-square-foot athletic facility will replace the school’s Ducey Gymnasium, a 55,000-square-foot structure. The Roberts Pavilion will include a fitness center, weight room and locker rooms along with an event center with a 2000 seating capacity. 

“CMC is a place that continues to grow and excel, and it is a privilege to support its terrific momentum,” Mr. Roberts said. “We have a great community here. Our student-athletes have the right attitude for both work and play. They deserve a fitness and athletic facility that mirrors the quality of their educational and residential experiences. I am honored that the CMC Board of Trustees has chosen to recognize my unrestricted gift by naming The Roberts Pavilion.”

Shoes That Fit and Dale Bros Brewery kick off a Hoppy Holiday season

Shoes That Fit, a nonprofit children’s charity based in Claremont that provides new shoes to children in need across America, invites you to join them for live music, great food and delicious brews at a ‘Hoppy’ Holiday event hosted by Dale Bros Brewery on Saturday, December 15 from 5 to 10 p.m. at 2120 Porterfield Way, Upland. $5 ticketed entry at the door.

Dale Bros Brewery is hosting this inaugural event to benefit Shoes That Fit and will be donating not only a portion of the $5 entry fee but also a percentage of the entire day’s sales.

“We really admire the work that Shoes That Fit does for kids in need. Sometimes it’s the simplest things—like a comfortable pair of shoes that fit—that can have a huge impact on their lives. We are always looking for ways that the brewery can give back to the community and, hey, it just happens that our new tasting room and outdoor beer garden are a fun place for doing just that,” says Andy Dale, co-owner of Dale Bros Brewery.

“Shoes That Fit was inspired by one woman who heard of one boy who was in physical pain and mocked by others because he had to go to school in shoes that were 3 times too small for him,” explains Roni Lomeli, executive director of Shoes That Fit. “Thousands of children can’t attend school in comfort or dignity because their feet hurt.” 2012 marks Shoes That Fit’s 20 year anniversary and the donation of one million pairs of shoes and other items to children in need.

“Thank you for the new shoes. I really like them. I think that was very nice of you. Now I’m not embarrased of showing my shoes now. Thank you again, and Merry Christmas,” wrote Jared, an elementary school student. Hundreds of thank you notes like this one reflect the urgency of the simple basic human need for shoes that fit. 

Get going! 2013 Senior excursions announced

Chart your course for adventure! The fun continues with the 2013 lineup of day trips, tours and adventures. Destinations include Jet Propulsion Laboratories (JPL), the Palm Springs Follies, Joshua Tree National Park, a day in Pasadena and much more. Excursions are open to adults ages 50 and over.

Registration is accepted at the Joslyn Center during regular business hours on a first-come first-served basis.  For a full listing of the 2013 Senior Excursions, please visit the city’s website.

Phebie’s Needle Art receives more than 200 scarves

Thanks to the community, Phebie’s Needle Art received more than 200 scarves, hats and knitted accessories for the store’s recent Yarn Relief campaign, sending victims of superstorm Sandy a gift of warmth.

All items were shipped to the east coast this week to provide comfort to those who continue to struggle in the wake of the storm. The Packing House yarn shop will continue to ship knitted donations to the relief efforts. Those interested in donating an item may stop by Phebie’s Needle Art, located on the second floor of the Claremont Packing House at 532 W. First St. For more information, visit www.phebies2.com or call 624-5250. The shop is open Monday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., through 8 p.m. on Wednesdays.

Senior program holiday party

Join us for a delicious holiday meal, live entertainment, a visit from Santa and a few surprises along the way. This festive event will be held on Thursday, December 13 from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at Taylor Hall, 1775 N. Indian Hill Blvd. Tickets must be purchased in advance at the Joslyn Center.

Hot topic series focuses on beating the holiday blues

Free informational presentations offered on a variety of topics relevant to seniors and their families. All presentations are held at the Joslyn Center at 10 a.m. To RSVP, please contact the Claremont Senior Program at 399-5488. The presentation on Wednesday, December 12 is titled “Beating the Holiday Blues.”

Pilgrim Place recognized for sustainable buildings

Sustainability has a reached a new level at Pilgrim Place. The senior community in Claremont received notice that 2 recently constructed buildings, the Norton Garden Apartments/Administration Building and the Friendship Court/Amistad Apartment Building, received a gold rating from LEED.

LEED, an acronym for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, is a nationally recognized program of the United States Green Building Council (USGBC), which sets guidelines and standards for building structures that are environmentally sensitive and sustainable.

Jay Blatter, an architect with Hochhauser Blatter Architecture and Planning in Santa Barbara, was the principal architect on the project. Mr. Blatter describes the effort to achieve LEED certification as something that started in the initial planning process and extended all the way through completion of construction.

Some of the construction features that lead to the LEED certification included: the diversion of more than 65 percent of construction demolition waste away from land sites, concrete that uses fly ash—a reclaimed material that is a byproduct of the coal power industry, paints, sealers and adhesives with a low content of volatile organic compounds, low-flow plumbing fixtures in bathrooms and kitchens and construction features that make maximum use of available sunlight.

A third building, the Napier Center for Creative Change, received a classification as LEED Certified. “The Napier Building was an existing structure that was converted for new uses,” explained Jay Blatter. “To get that kind of ranking for a building conversion is quite remarkable.”

           “We even received points for our proximity to mass transit,” added Cuntiz.  “There are fourteen linkages to community services within a half-mile of our structures. LEED looks at everything.”

            Pilgrim Place, founded in 1915, is a senior community for 330 retired clergy, missionaries and social activists. Pilgrim Place residents are devoted to social justice, world piece, lifelong learning and preserving the environment.