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“Having the Courage … to imagine possibilities, to move forward, to persevere, and to show up and speak up.” That’s the theme for this year’s Claremont Graduate University commencement. It’s also the way that keynote speaker and honorary doctorate recipient Jennifer Freyd approaches life.

It was winter, and though nighttime temperatures dropped to -10F, we only had summer clothes. My father caught a cold and had a high fever. My mother and I sewed jackets for my children and father from blankets. The bathrooms were very dirty, the food barely edible. In the first 24 hours, I ate only a boiled egg. After five days and nights, we boarded a plane headed to America. Forty-eight hours later we arrived at Philadelphia International Airport. It was August 30, 2021. Exhausted and hungry, we were ready to start our new lives. Photo/courtesy of Nabila Painda

Some 40 Claremont Colleges students, local residents, and religious leaders took part in a demonstration in support of a cease-fire in Gaza at Shelton Park on Sunday. The action, organized by Claremont Community for Palestine, included a vigil honoring the more than 30,000 Palestinians killed in the conflict, and U.S. Air Force service member Aaron Bushnell, who died February 25 after proclaiming he could “no longer be complicit in genocide” and setting himself on fire outside the Israeli Embassy in Washington. Courier photo/Andrew Alonzo

With partly sunny skies and high temperatures in the 60s Sunday, Claremonters were not the only ones enjoying the day at Shelton Park. Squirrels roamed around the grass making their […]

We worked with women who had never attended school, including some who had not been allowed to leave their homes. They were unaware of their rights and lacked skills beyond household chores. Our goal was to educate them to the best of our ability. Many eventually joined schools and later, universities. But sadly, history repeated itself: on August 14, 2021 I was on my way to work when a man dressed in the garb of a Taliban member stood in front of me and shouted, “If you don’t want to die, go back home; a woman’s place is at home.” Photo/by Hamed Painda

Incumbent California Democrat Judy Chu made a strong showing in yesterday’s 28th Congressional District primary race, which includes Claremont, with 60.2% of the vote with 67% of the ballots counted. Republican challenger April Verlato was second with 35.6%. Chu was particularly strong in Los Angeles County, with Verlato taking San Bernardino County. Chu and Verlato will face off in the November 5 general election. Courier photo/Matthew Weinberger

A March 1 investiture ceremony to officially recognize Harriet B. Nembhard as Harvey Mudd College’s sixth president was delayed by a “die-in” protest by Claremont Colleges students calling for a cease-fire in Gaza. As HMC’s Board of Trustees Chair James Bean conferred the presidency to Nembhard, her daughter Naomi tied a ceremonial pendant around her neck. Video of the ceremony is at hmc.edu/inauguration. Courier photo/Andrew Alonzo

Diann Ring, former Claremont mayor and City Council member died from complications after a recent fall. She passed at the Pomona Valley Hospital Medical Center’s ICU on Saturday morning.

The City of Claremont’s annual Spring Celebration will be held at Memorial Park, 840 N. Indian Hill Blvd., Saturday, March 30, from 8 to 11 a.m.

Following a tumultuous seven hour meeting in which emotions ran extremely high, the Claremont City Council voted unanimously early Wednesday to affirm its “longstanding practice of not adopting resolutions or issuing proclamations that take an official city position on social or political issues that are not local to Claremont,” essentially rejecting an alternative declaration that would have called for a cease-fire in Gaza. This story will be updated later today. Courier photo/Peter Weinberger

Together We Prepare CPR and disaster preparation classes for El Roble eighth-graders have become a right of passage for thousands of middle-school students attending public schools in Claremont. Last week, the Rotary Club of Claremont just finished their 45th year of teaching at the school. The training includes three separate sessions covering not only CPR but also disaster preparation. Since its beginning, Rotarians have introduced CPR to over 21,000 students. Just this year it took 36 people to manage the classes, working with 459 students. Courier photo/Peter Weinberger

Growing up in Mobile, Alabama, 73-year-old Linda Perkins attended segregated schools and overcame various harsh challenges, all in the pursuit of knowledge. “We always got the leftover books from white people. You know, they were like 50 years old,” Perkins said. “That was the reality of Black people down there. But in spite of all that, Black people helped each other.” Courier photo/Andrew Alonzo

Big crowds flocked to California Botanic Garden’s Family Bird Festival on Sunday. The event showcased a variety of native birds, including the red-tailed hawk, great horned owl, and the incredible peregrine falcon, which can fly up to 240 mph and snatch prey right out of the air. Courier photo/Peter Weinberger

By Andrew Alonzo | aalonzo@claremont-courier.com About 100 mask-wearing Claremont Colleges students weathered steady rainfall Monday to take part in “5C walk out for Palestine” at Pomona College’s Marston Quad. The […]

About ½ inch of rain had fallen in Claremont by mid-day Monday when this photo was taken along Padua Avenue. The National Weather Service issued a flood watch Monday that is in effect through Wednesday morning, when showers should dissipate. Local mountains should see about a foot of snow above 7,500 feet. Courier photo/Peter Weinberger

Ba’ac Garcia, of the Tohono O’odham Nation, performs the traditional fancy dance Thursday at Foothill Country Day School as part of its international days week. Courier photo/Andrew Alonzo

Over the decades, Alan Carlisle has captured headlines as an older athlete who has competed in some of the most grueling high endurance races. Now 94, he has 93 marathons and eight Ironman triathlons under his belt, and he’s finally catching his breath at Mount San Antonio Gardens retirement community, where he lives with his wife of 55 years, Cherie, 91. Courier photo/Andrew Alonzo