Opinion

“Claremont’s Evangeline Lien was recently named a grand prize winner in Los Angeles Music Center’s Spotlight Performing Arts Competition. It’s clear her steadfast discipline has resulted in a confident, astoundingly grounded musician. The fact that she’s a 15-year-old Claremont High School freshman makes it all the more striking.”

“Modest at best, sorta rundown at worst, it’s not fancy, and the views are unremarkable. But the people are great, and so is the food. I’m of course talking about Los Jarritos, the little strip mall Mexican joint at 3191 N. Garey Ave. that so many Claremonters love, which, quite sadly, is closing May 14.” Courier photo/Mick Rhodes

There is no denying the role preservation has played in protecting the built environment of Claremont, while addressing the needs of the community for the present and the future. The National Trust for Historic Places is celebrating the power of place for this year’s preservation month. Photo/courtesy of Hartman Baldwin Design Build

“One afternoon in 2017, I had a transient ischemic attack. It’s sort of a mini-stroke. One minute I was fine, the next I could not recognize anything I was seeing. Words were unreadable. Letters seemed scrambled. It was terrifying. My first glimpse at a Welsh roadway sign was a little like that. ‘Gwernymynydd.’ ‘Tafarn-y-Gelyn.’ ‘Bodelwyddan.’ And the coup de grace, ‘Llanfairpwilgwyngyll.’ Every sign looked like the worst set of Scrabble tiles I’d ever seen.”

“The ‘make America healthy again’ movement has garnered attention for its promises to address the nation’s health challenges. There is no question the U.S. health care system is failing. Something needs to change. But MAHA exploits fears, oversimplifies complex health issues, and manipulates public sentiment for financial gain, rather than genuinely improving health outcomes.”

The signs in the front yard not far from my house are, if nothing else, insistent. They yell out at me every time I go by.

By Peter Weinberger | pweinberger@claremont-courier.com Electric bikes have become a hot topic — largely due to safety concerns, especially when riding around other people. And that’s nearly all the time. Yes, e-bikes are regulated, but enforcement is difficult, especially when it comes to limiting power and speed. As a longtime e-bike rider, and having lived […]

Americans have never been shy about the importance of free speech, or the right to agree — or disagree — with others’ opinions. How many times have we said that?

“It is well worth a trip to the Hilbert to see John Kosta’s masterful work. Beautiful colors, rich and warm; light that bathes what some might call sterile, or others see as dirty and blighted, Kosta’s brush paints with nature’s golden glow. Who knew concrete could have so many colors?”

“It’s just a tough time to laugh. I’m hoping to recharge over the next two weeks, when Lisa and I will be motoring around England and Wales. We have the first week mapped out and the second wide open. I’m hoping to return with something fun or funny to report. Based on my previous overseas foibles, that should be a guarantee.”

“The death penalty is riddled with hypocrisy. It attempts to punish murder through another act of murder. And the state’s murder is even more dehumanizing. Carried out through a series of legalities and with bureaucratic speed, the death penalty deliberately removes any individual involved from the reality of the act: the cold-blooded murder of a living person.” Photo/courtesy of World Coalition Against the Death Penalty

by the Rev. Thomas Johnson | Special to the Courier “The ultimate test of a moral society is the kind of world that it leaves to its children.” – Dietrich Bonhoeffer We’ve all heard the expression “unless we learn from history we are doomed to repeat it.” A man we can learn from is Dietrich […]

What I’ve learned through this whole experience is that no matter how much you think you’re prepared, you’re never fully ready for something like this. One of the most crucial things I realized was the importance of having the right legal and medical documentation in place. If you haven’t already, make sure you have a will, a living trust, power of attorney, and an advanced directive in place — especially if you’re over 40. These things are vital. Courier photo/Anna Hoy

“The First Amendment has guaranteed the right to free speech — even some extreme enough to be called hate speech — since 1791. It’s bedrock America. For a good 234 years, it’s always been an essential component of America’s DNA. But The Times They Are a-Changin’.”

“After five decades in the publishing business, one thing remains true: no two days are ever the same. Covering the news is inherently unpredictable, making each workday unique. Journalism isn’t a nine-to-five job — whether you’re at the New York Times or the Claremont Courier. And one has to be prepared to handle anything thrown your way. Sometimes literally.”