Readers’ comments: January 16, 2026

Remembering Al Villanueva
Dear editor:
Reading his obituary in the January 9 issue of the Courier, I came to think back to the time when Al Villanueva and I met many years ago as adult leaders with two different Boy Scout troops here in Claremont.
I believe that I first met Al at the Boy Scout camp at Holcomb Valley near Big Bear Lake.
As it happened, we lived very near each other, in a neighborhood once rudely described in these pages as “Baja Claremont.” I admired him, a devout Catholic, as a man of faith, while he was very respectful of my identity as a Jew.
In his obituary, we are told that Al had fulfilled his “manda,” his command, and that he had walked a spiritual path. I like to think of the possibility that we will meet again wherever old men go, and that Al and I will one day again walk along a trail together.
Don Fisher
Claremont

Know your handicrafts
Dear editor:
On the Claremont Helen Renwick Library’s invite to young quilters to learn the craft to submit their handicraft to the LA County Fair [“Young quilters needed for county fair project,” January 9] the image used is of a granny square crochet afghan. Quilting and crochet are unrelated textile crafts. 
As mentioned in the invite, quilting involves the act of sewing material cut up into scraps then sewn together creating an artistic piece design. The sewing is more commonly performed by using a sewing machine, although it may be accomplished by hand too. 
Crochet is a yarn craft using a single hook, and typically a single color of yarn at a time, although different methods of crochet can use multiple colors at once, to create articles of clothing, coverings, and many other items for personal or household use by pulling the hook around and through the yarn.
Although both crafts produce beautiful bed coverings by hand, and both crafts can be submitted for competition at the LA County Fair, they are in separate categories, and produce drastically different, but equally beautiful final products. 
While crafters of each craft will immediately recognize the difference between the invite and the image provided, majority of those viewing the invite will likely not be able to identify the difference.
Jenny Parrett
Pomona

Vote as if our democracy depends on it
Dear editor:
November 2026 can’t come soon enough. Again, the orange felon flouts the law with impunity.  Page after page of the Epstein files were blacked out, redacted. What are these political hacks hiding?
Jerome Powell, head of the Federal Reserve is threatened with criminal investigation. Meanwhile his coal and oil policies cook the planet.
ICE continues to terrorize and kill American citizens with impunity. No search warrant necessary.  Just bust into homes and schools heavily armed.
The New York Times reports that Trump judges side with him over 95% of the time in reversing lower court decisions. And the Republican kangaroo Supreme Court has fouled their black robes bending to his inanities. Lady justice has been raped and left bedraggled at the side of the road. All for sale to the highest bidder.
Our only hope is to continue to flood the streets of this nation with incensed protest. It’s a patriotic duty. It’s a spiritual duty; my bishop the Rev. John Taylor has counseled the congregations and clergy the Episcopal Diocese of Los Angeles. I’m listening!
The day after November 3 must be impeachment day. And for such occasion I’ll happily bake an impeachment pie. These indeed are the times that trial men’s souls and those of women — to paraphrase Thomas Paine. See you on the corner of Foothill and Indian Hill on January 20.
And speaking of Mr. Paine, he would counsel us on our folly in Venezuela: “Whoever starts a war will unleash the full contagion of hell and open a vein that will bleed the nation dry.”
This November, vote as if our democracy depends on it — because it does.
John C. Forney
Claremont

Look, a squirrel!
Dear editor:
So now Trump and his goons have invaded and taken the head of the Venezuela government, Nicolas Maduro. Why? Originally, they said Maduro was responsible for the fentanyl epidemic in our country when in fact fentanyl comes from Mexico and China, and Trump pardoned former Honduran president Hernandez a convicted cocaine drug czar just days before (how much did he have to pay for that pardon?). Then Venezuela was the source of immigrants which supposedly included prisoners, insane asylum patients, and gang members. None of that proved to be true and was easily disputed.
Then Venezuela’s oil somehow became “our” oil and “we need to take it back.” This is of course nonsense. There are several problems with Venezuelan oil and the oil infrastructure in that country. The amount Trump thinks the U.S. will get is likely wildly overstated. So why take Maduro? Some other options might include it is a distraction. Is anyone talking about Epstein right now (Trump has to protect the pedophiles and himself)? Anyone listen to Jack Smith’s testimony (conveniently released on New Year’s Eve) on the January 6th Trump-led attempted coup? Maybe taking Maduro was just another way for Trump to prove that he can use the U.S. military anywhere and anytime for any reason he wants.
I can guarantee the Trump family will find a way to commodify the taking of Maduro. Maybe selling Venezuelan oil in Trump cryptocurrency? Maybe getting seats on an oil company board? They always find a way to grift. Maybe Trump and Hegseth just like to be the bullies. We may never know the real reason why, but if Trump’s lips are moving, he is stating a lie.
Sydney Pollard
Claremont

Words to live by?
Dear editor: 
In the new year we can be guided by Julio Iglesias lyrics:
“Let us live for today, tomorrow is one of yester years.”
Opanyi Nasiali 
Claremont

Demonstrators in Trump’s America: get your affairs in order
Dear editor:
Genesis, Chapter 2, Verses 16-17. says (16) “And the Lord God commanded the man, saying Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat: (17) But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surly die.”
Adam and Eve could have walked around the garden peacefully protesting God’s commandment but no, they decided to disregard God’s command and ate the fruit of the tree. As a result of their actions, now generations later, I have to confess my sins to God before going to bed.
As I reflect upon my life, I know I did not always obey my parents, teachers, employer, etc.; but I did always obey commands from an armed officer of the law (as my parents taught me to). Fortunately my non-obeying incidents never resulted in injury or death. Other people were not so fortunate.
If you are going to protest, please protest peacefully. If you decide to get more actively involved and demonstrate, think carefully about having a will or health directive for the benefit of the child (children) and loved one(s) left behind or for those who will have to take care of you (24/7) should you become incapacitated as a result of your decision.
David Stedman
Claremont