Opinion

Foothill Boulevard plans Dear Editor: The city of Claremont is in the process of creating a master plan for Foothill Bouelvard. Current discussions revolve solely around the tangible issues: sidewalks, bike lanes, landscaping, etc. There is, however, another aspect to be considered, which has not yet received much recognition. Let’s call them the “intangibles.” The […]

By Debbie Carini It took Michelangelo four years to paint the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel. I mention this because my name ends in a vowel, and I am on the verge of feeling that it might also take me that long to paint…my kitchen. It’s probably some form of blasphemy to compare oneself to […]

Embracing self-esteem, part II [Editor’s note: Claremont Girl Scout Junior Troop 1094 from Sycamore School is in the midst of earning a “Becoming a Teen” merit badge and, as such, have been working to debunk the myth of beauty in the media through an examination of airbrushed and Photoshop-enhanced images of women and girls online […]

Celebrating Beth Dear Editor: Among the many reasons I value the COURIER is the opportunity it provides for upward-bound journalists like Beth Hartnett to launch a career. Thanks to the COURIER for starting her, and thanks to Beth for starting here! Butch Henderson Claremont   Earth Day with the league Dear Editor: This week, people […]

By Mellissa Martinez By all accounts, Pope Francis has had a successful first year as leader of the Catholic Church. Celebrated for paying his own bills, washing the feet of non-Catholic prison inmates, residing in simple guest quarters at the Vatican and publicly pondering “Who am I to judge?” Francis has surprised the world as […]

My life has been a love affair with the English language, an infatuation fostered by Tolkien and time. I loved early readings of The Pokey Little Puppy, Little Golden Book Classic and personal bedtime story staple, with the same love I would find later for Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice. Soaking in the words of […]

Wilderness park master plan committee selection Dear Editor: A statement by Ludd Trozpek in his letter to the COURIER published April 11 needs correcting. In reference to Dean McHenry’s criticism of the composition of the Wilderness Park Master Plan Technical Advisory Committee (TAC), Mr. Trozpek asserts that the Claremont Wildlands Conservancy (CWC) “…was doubtless instrumental […]

By John Pixley “Yes, we support the subway, but don’t touch anything, and don’t inconvenience us in any way.” * * * Who remembers the veterinarian office in the Village along the west side of Indian Hill Boulevard? What about the Union Ice Company? I remember taking a kitten to the vet there when I […]

We had to destroy the wilderness to save it Dear Editor: My friend Dean McHenry spills out a cornucopia of grievances tied to the wilderness master planning in his April 4 viewpoint. His concerns are imaginary and overwrought. I will not address the first half of his article except to say that anyone dispassionately viewing […]

by Mark von Wodtke, FASLA Imagine entering Claremont from the freeways (210 or the 10) or by the highways (Base Line, Foothill or Arrow) and experiencing beautiful tree-lined streets with parkways that define our community. As we can see on Indian Hill Boulevard, street trees provide wonderful gateways that celebrate each season of the year. […]

Democracy to the highest bidders Dear Editor: Whatever your political persuasion—left, right or center—we should all be concerned about the corrosive influence of big money in politics. Over a hundred years ago, Teddy Roosevelt had to struggle with political bosses to get elected and pass reforms. Today’s real political bosses are the billionaires who spend […]

by Dean E. McHenry, Jr. The city is stumbling in its efforts to help foster the development of a fair and far-sighted Wilderness Park Master Plan aimed at resolving the variety of problems faced in our efforts to preserve and enjoy that wonderful asset to our north. This concern was raised to a critical level […]

Park parking Dear Editor: My neighbors and I just received the most recent parking restriction notification. We live on Michigan Drive, west of Mills. If you keep restricting parking for the park, the hikers and cyclists will eventually fill up the Vons parking lot. Already, there are easily a dozen vehicles that do just that. […]

By Mellissa Martinez Strolling past the Claremont Pooch Park, it’s hard not to notice the crazed canine vibe. Beloved pets yelp, jump and sprint in excitement. Others silently snoop around. Life, however, has not always been so sweet for our four-legged friends. Expressions like a dog’s life, sick as a dog, dog days, dog tired […]

When I was a little girl, I would imagine my wedding day as an extravagant affair in Paris complete with horse-drawn carriages, copious amounts of goodies and, of course, a show-stopping gown with an unreasonably long train. Perhaps I could even have my favorite songstress Joanna Newsom take the stage for the first dance. No […]

by Susan Schenk When I walk around the city, I look for gardens, big and small, that seem not only to embody principles of sustainability, but which add to the beauty of Claremont. I admire some that are simple, some that are complex, some that grow edibles, some given over to annuals or shrubs, some […]