Walter’s celebration

Dear Editor:

On behalf of the Claremont Community Foundation, I want to thank everyone who attended the celebration of Nangy and Fahima Ghafarshad’s 40 years as owners of Walter’s Restaurant and, more importantly, members of the Claremont community.

Nangy and Fahima were most generous to contribute the proceeds of the event’s ticket sales to both The Claremont Community Foundation and Claremont Heritage. Their thoughtfulness and generosity is greatly appreciated and will contribute to the programs of both nonprofit organizations.

It was a perfect evening, filled with delicious food and their many friends.   As always, Nangy, Fahima and their family welcomed everyone in attendance with their wonderful smiles. It was a very special night for the Ghafarshad family, the restaurant staff and their many friends.

It was wonderful to learn that several people had worked at Walter’s for more than 30 years. That is just one more testament of the love and care Nangy and Fahima exhibit as an integral part of our community.

We wish them and their family many more years of success and are thankful that they chose to be part of the Claremont community.

Paul Steffen

Chair, Claremont

Community Foundation

Tired of fighting

Dear Editor:

I’m done with the water fight.

I’ve had it with the ongoing fight between the city, Claremont Outrage and Golden State Water Company. I live on South College Avenue in a 1000-square-foot home on a 6000-square-foot lot.

I watch my water, electric and gas usage each month. My average monthly water bill in the winter is $48 and $109 in the summer (not bad for southern California). I don’t live beyond my means.

Yes, Golden State’s rates are high and their management needs to do something about it. I thought it was a good idea to have the community rally for lower rates. But it occurred to me that most people who are upset about their high water bills are the people that use too much.

I saw the Channel 2 news story a few months ago and noticed that the customer they interviewed had a sports car in his kitchen and a koi pond in his yard. Heck, I can’t even afford a fish tank (I’m sure you can find that video on YouTube). This very wealthy person, who has a large koi pond in his yard, is complaining about hundreds of dollars in water bills? I have learned he’s the one leading the flocks to have the city take over the water. It’s time people wake up.

I don’t have a college degree, but I do have common sense. I know that if the city takes over, the rates are really going to go up. That means me, the poor customer, is going to have higher bills to help the rich have lower bills. I can’t afford to sell my house and move, so I’m here for the long run. But the customers who are making a fuss can. They’ll end up having the city buy the water company, causing my bills to go up, and then they’ll sell their million dollar home and move, leaving me—the little guy—stuck paying for their greed.

I’m done listening to their pleas. If people don’t want to pay high bills—not only in water but everything—stop using so much. If you don’t want to pay over $100 every time you fill up your tank to your Escalade, then buy a Prius. If you don’t want to pay over $100 each month for your utilities, then conserve.

Stop being a part of the problem and start being a part of the solution. It’s people like that who have no problem draining the ocean and then complain that there’s no more water.

Alice McKay

Frustrated Claremont resident

Claremont Golf Course

Dear Editor:

A major issue here is consideration given by the Claremont College Consortium to their public image and interchange with the city of Claremont and surrounding communities.

The thought that alternative funding methods might be devised seems not to have been considered. The Consortium’s decision was purportedly based on golf course income, which had been down 30 percent since 2008, leaving them with no other decision than to close the course. Perhaps they plan to make room for a new college? Perhaps they plan to make room for dorms for a new college.

The Consortium already has as much as 200 acres of land not yet built on. During the last 100 years, thousands of students from The Colleges have earned college credit on this course. Hundreds have learned on their own, including many Claremont High?School students. Many rehabilitation therapies have been conducted by Casa Colina at the golf course.

The city has cooperated with and allowed the Consortium to acquire dozens and dozens of houses and other properties throughout Claremont to hold in reserve for future building. The Consortium has not revealed what their intended alternate use is for the golf course land.

It is urgent that the city of Claremont, including the city council, request that the Consortium provide a briefing as to the closing and what purpose they have in mind for the land. This briefing should include all of the other land the Consortium holds in reserve. Some still believe that The Colleges are—or should be—part of the Claremont community.

Maurice Carter

Claremont