Claremont COURIER Holiday Magazine

8/13/2019 Claremont COURIER Holiday Magazine

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Holiday

Magazine

Mt. Baldy,home awayfrom home

A fondfarewell

Holiday

Magazine Cour er i

l remont

claremont-courier.com

November 2013

See page 12

See page 4


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Claremont COURIER/Holiday Magazine 2013 3

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Gift guideDolls and rockets and games, oh my!

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4Toy store by Sarah TorribioClaremont couple celebrate last Boon Companion Christmas.

Home away from home by Beth HartnettMt. Baldy and its lodge charm visitors, locals.

Holiday magazine and shopping guide, 2013

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CUSD wish listSee how you can help local schools.

Happy Holidays at The Old SchoolPaid Advertisement


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Claremont toyshop owners embark on final holiday seasonA t the end of February, Reed and Nancy Johnson, longtime own-ers of Boon Companion, will

bid goodbye to the toy business.Fans of the beloved shop around the corner will

be delighted to hear that while the original propri-

etors will be moving on, the Claremont business willremain a toyshop, even retaining its unique name.This kind of legacy wasnt a foregone conclusion.

Sometime around the first of the year, the Johnsons,who have been pondering retirement for a while, de-cided they would shut their doors at the start of 2014.They stopped ordering new merchandise for severalweeks, assuming they would be liquidating.

As their stock dwindled, some visitors to the store,whose front doors open right onto the corner of Har-vard Avenue and Second Street, asked what wasgoing on. Many were dismayed to learn the toy storewould soon be closing.

A lot of people have been saying, Thats whatson this corner. Thats what I expect to find here, Ms.Johnson said. Its been fun to have people come inand say we like shopping here and well miss you.

Once the couple decided they would stay openthrough their 31st holiday season, they began re-stocking their shelves. In March, they even madetheir usual pilgrimage to an annual toy show, largelyto say goodbye to the sales representatives withwhom they have forged relationships over the years.

Many of them expressed sadness at the thought of the Johnsons closing their shop, an oasis of stuffedanimals, dolls, books, craft sets and playthings of every ilk, including an extensive selection of games.

One longtime rep was particularly insistent andsaid, Let me find someone to buy the store, ac-cording to Ms. Johnson.

True to his word, he spoke to a friend named JayDemircift whoalong with his brother Sean Demir-

cift and his sister and brother-in-law John and ChrisPeltekciis the owner of a chain of toy stores calledPuzzle Zoo. Since the opening of a first shop in SantaMonica in 1993, Puzzle Zoo has expanded to includea second location in Santa Monica and stores in Pa-cific Palisades, Costa Mesa and Los Angeles as wellas in Dallas, Texas.

Not long ago, Jay moved to Live Oak, an unincor- porated area on the border of Claremont and LaVerne. When he heard the Johnsons might be open toselling Boon Companion, he was intrigued.

I said, Wow, this in my community. I dont actu-ally have a store here, he said. And since I have anoffice and warehouse in Glendora, it was a prettyeasy decision.

He expressed his interest in buying Boon Com- panion and the Johnsons were amenable. Wethought it would be nice for the community, in termsof continuity, Mr. Reed said.

Mr. Demircift could easily have decided to hoista seventh Puzzle Zoo sign. Instead, he opted for further continuity.

Puzzle Zoo hasnt built a brand here in this area,and Boon Companion is so well-known and recog-nized so much, he explained. We decided it was agood idea to keep the name, and we love the name.

The name, in case youve wondered, means aclose friend who often joins one in seeking fun.

Claremont financial adviser Jess Swick is pleasedthat shoppers will still be able to rely on this oldfriend of a toyshop, albeit under new ownership.Still, he feels a bit nostalgic at the thought of theJohnsons leaving.

Mr. Swicks four children were babies when BoonCompanion opened in 1983 at its original location onFirst Street. Before long, he became a regular. Everysingle one of my kids has bought more than their fair Nancy and Reed Johnson are retiring early next year after run-ning Boon Companion in the Claremont Village for three

decades. The couple has sold their business and looks forwardto traveling, working on their home and visiting with friends.

BOON COMPANIONcontinues on page 6


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COURIER photos/Steven FelschundneffBoon Companion owners Nancy and Reed Johnson chat with longtime customer Jess Swick as Mr. Swicks grandson plays recently at the Village toy store.


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share of gadgets, toys, puzzles, gamesand books there, he said.

With his kids grown, Mr. Swick now brings his 4-year-old grandson intoBoon Companion. Little Otis loves to

play at a little station equipped with toytrains and tracks.

What impresses me about Reed and Nancy is they actually know about everygame and toy in the place, Mr. Swick said. They know how it works and theyhave recommendations.

Though he hates to see them go, Mr.Swick said he is happy for the Johnsons.

If anyones provided a significant com-munity service to Claremont and all of itskids, its been them, he said. I think theyre going to have a nice retirement.

Ms. Johnson says they will miss their customers, many of whom have becomefriends, and they will miss the product. Infact, she plans to still attend toy showsafter they retire. The last day of theseexpos are particularly neat, because itgives her a chance to swoop down onsample sales, buying the kind of toys thatmake their home a haven for their four granddaughters, ranging from ages 5 to 9.

But its time to let go, Mr. Johnson said.Were at that age, he said. Some

people like to work so much they would probably keep doing it till they fell over at the counter. Were not going to do that.We want a better outcome.

That includes the Johnsons doingsome of the things they have put off for years, like travel. First up will be a tripnorth to see some friends in Claremontwho moved to Oregon some time ago.

We dont go to visit them becausewe never get away, but theyve always

been really good about visiting us, Mr.Johnson said. Theyre really goodfriendswere really bad friends.Weve told them as soon as were donewith the store, well pay them a visit.

The Johnsons, who love the beach,

will stay for a time in Claremont andthen relocate to their condo in Carlsbad.Ms. Johnson, an inveterate crafter whooccasionally hosts demonstrations on

projects like scrapbooking and card-making at Stamp Your Heart Out inClaremont, will likely have more timefor creative pursuits. At the last VillageVenture street fair, Mr. Johnson rejoinedthe Audubon Society in hopes of rekin-dling his interest in bird-watching.

Well be catching up, he said.Theres a lot of things we have wanted

to do for a long time but havent, becauseweve been concentrating on raising afamily and running a business.

The Johnsons will continue runningtheir business through the holiday sea-son and several weeks beyond. Soonafter Claremonts annual tree lightingceremony on December 6, they will addSundays to their usual Monday throughSaturday schedule, to better accommo-date holiday shoppers. Later in themonth, they will extend their hours,usually 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., closing at

7 p.m. for the final Christmas rush.The Johnsons are treating this like

any season. They have been getting innew things and are still placing orders.As always, they will provide free gift-wrapping.

Well be prepared for Christmas,Mr. Reed emphasized. Its got a littledifferent feel to it, knowing its going to

be our last one, but were looking for-ward to it.

Sarah [email protected]

BOON COMPANIONcontinued from page 4

COURIER photo/Steven FelschundneffFour-year-old Otis Swick surveys the Chuggington and Thomas the Tank Engine selection while shopping recently at BoonCompanion in Claremont.


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Our daughter grew up in Claremont and went to school here. For various birthday parties, Bat and Bar Mitzvahs and holiday gifts,we always shopped at Boon Companion. They have creative, edu-cational and unique toys and the recipients were always so happywith their gifts. If we couldn't decide, Reed or Nancy were there tohelp us decide.

Kathy Etter

I grew up in Claremont in the 1960s, though my sons didnt. However to inspire their own memories, we'd take the Metrolink out from Los

Angeles for visits when they were small. Breakfast was always at theVillage Grille, then a walk around old Claremont, culminating in avisit to Boon Companion where theyd happily spend their allowance.Taking new toys home on the train was always a pleasure.

Debra MacLaughlan-Dumes

They are kind, generous people who have dedicated many yearsto the families in Claremont. I love shopping there! We will missthem, but are thankful the new owners are continuing the legacy!

Karen Richardson-Nutt

My sister lived in Claremont in the 90s. (We had grown up here.) My girls loved going to my sister's house for sleepovers, cookie-baking and pizza-making. But I think next to spending time with their aunt,

going to Boon Companion was my daughters' favorite thing to do. Of course, having Aunt Christine buy them little gifts and games therewas awesome, but it was just going there and being there that was thetreat. We had nothing that compared to it. They looked forward to

going to the Village just to see what was new and exciting at BoonCompanion. It was their thing to do, not mine. It created wonderful,magical memories for my girls and my sister.

JoAnn Pedroni Stehly

My family has many, many wonderful memories at Boon Compan-ion! One memory in particular: When our oldest was 5 years old,he had to go into the hospital for complications from a recent sur-

gery. Our daughter was about to have her 3rd birthday and therewas no time to shop for her gifts. I called Nancy, told her the situa-tion, and she picked out the perfect presents for Catie, wrapped them beautifully and a family member picked them up. The next morning, a very happy 3-year-old was able to enjoy presents onthe bed! (a longstanding family tradition).

Mary Lamb

I have way too many stories of Boon Companionfrom the times I would call ahead and theyd have the gifts wrapped and waiting,to the personal help theyd give picking out just the perfect things.

My kids were fascinated with the store, and always loved going in,too. Reed and Nancy both always knew what would be just right. Oh, and their Crayola selection was the best in the wholeUSA. Every one of our family members, from the kids to the 80-

year-olds, would get a box of crayons from Boon Companion intheir stockings! Thank you so much!

Carol Beeson Dukes

My son Cole and I lived in Boon Companion for about four years. Apparently, one can never have too many swords and shields!Thank you for being a part of my children's childhood!!!!

Jennifer Stark

Sixteen years ago, my love and I spent an afternoon and a small fortune there purchasing Thomas the Train rails and cars for our

then 2-year-old grandson Addison! Lee Jackman

Nancy and Reed and I would talk about our grandchildren. Theywatched my grandsons grow (the oldest is 7). The patience Nancy[showed] while our boys played with their train track was price-less. I'll miss them, but happy new adventures to come for Reed and Nancy. Thank you for wonderful memories!

Sandy Garcia

When my 30-something son was a student at Condit, he and his friends were always at Boon Companion. Nancy knew what eachof the kids liked/wanted and when it was time for birthday pres-ents, I would just ask her what to buy and she would keep track sono one bought duplicates. It was like a birthday registry. Now,with my grandchildren I have been introduced to some wonderful

games I would not otherwise know about. What a treasure we havewith this store and the Johnsons.

Penny Johnsen Myrdal

Four-year-old Otis Swick shows his grandfather Jess Swick how a train engine works while shopping atBoon Companion in the Claremont Village. Otis eventually picked out an engine called Harrison from

Chuggington trains.

Stirring fond memories of our local toy shop

T he COURIER recently posted amessage on Facebook, inform-ing the community that BoonCompanion owners Reed and NancyJohnson would be retiring soon after celebrating their 31st Christmas in

business.While we were pleased to note that

the new owners will be keeping the

Claremont staple a toyshop and thatthey will retain the shops name,friends of the COURIER expressedsadness and nostalgia at the Johnsonsimpending departure.

They also related their happy memo-ries of Mr. and Ms. Johnson and their wonder emporium. We thought wedshare some of these with you.


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E ach of these items, recommended by Reed and Nancy Johnson, isavailable at Boon Companion,145 N. Harvard Ave. in Claremont.

Smart Games has an array of award-winning, brain-teasing games such as IQ-Link and IQ-Twist.

Usborne produces a popular line of Sticker Dolly Dress-ing books including Pop-stars . It features 400 stickersof clothing and accessories toget these hip ladies ready for the recording studio.

Dear Santaa holiday toy shopping guide

Three-dimensional globe puzzles in three different sizes by Ravensburger let you build, display and learnabout the world. TOY SHOPPING

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Green Toys, a company that makes toys from 100 per-cent recycled milk jugs, has launched a new item.The Green Toys Rocket (age 2 and up) includes a de-tachable top capsule, a flip-down door that doubles asa set of steps and two astronauts.

Ravensburgers Aquarelle line offers a variety of picture- perfect watercolor painting sets. Each image is pre- printed with a thin wax outline, which acts as a guide for the picture and prevents the colors from running. Theunique liquid watercolor ink allows you to mix just aboutany color you can dream of. Ideal for ages 8 and older.

Stomp Rocket lets kids send foam-tipped rockets toamazing heights. With Stomp Rocket Ultra, for in-stance, the rockets soar up to 200 feet.

From highway to construc-tion and from farm to fantasy,WOW Toys makes vehiclesof every kind for boys andgirls ages 1 to 5.

First Friends by Tolo: Thesechunky, pose-able characters(not pictured) are aimed at kidsages 1 through 5. Made from

phthalate-free and BPA-free plastic, theyre safe for teething.

Fastrack is a skill-oriented game recommended for two players ages 5 through 10 years old. Each player usesan elastic band to fling wooden discs through a tiny sloton the other side of the track, while avoiding their op-

ponents zooming discs.TOY SHOPPING


TOY SHOPPING

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Tenzi is a fast-paceddice game for 2 to 4

players thats a bit likeYahtzee on steroids.Players race to get all10 of their dice show-ing the same number,then yell out Tenzi!

Z Wind Ups (picturedtop right) are whimsi-cal moving toys thatmake fun stockingstuffers.

Corolle offer a series of fine dolls hand-designed inFrance. The company aims to make its dolls the perfectlook, size, feel and scent for little ones.

Distinguished by their big eyes, plush BeanieBoos are a popular

product from Ty.

TOY SHOPPING


TOY SHOPPING

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Three different sizes of teddy bears from Mary Meyer. Pro-duced since 1933, Mary Meyer stuffed toys are known for their quality workmanship and silky-soft fabric.

Folkmanis puppets such as this barn owl and duckling (picturedat left) make perfect gifts when

paired with Usborne books onsimilar animals.

TOY SHOPPING



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F or a crisp mountain re-treat this holiday season,locals can look to their own backyard. The sunnyweather may cling to Clare-mont but in Mt. Baldy, a con-venient 10 minutes from citylimits, its beginning to look alot like Christmas.

Several thousand feet above the Cityof Trees, the quaint mountain commu-nity calls, providing a welcome seasonalescape without the hassle of holidaytravel. Trails, lodging, great food andcommunity are just a stones throw away.

Such a short jaunt may not seem like

much of a vacation with the range such ashort distance away, but there is some-thing profound in a brief hiatus to the

bluffs of Baldy.Its a place where you can stay for a

night and feel like youve gotten away,said Mt. Baldy local Missy Ellingson.Hilltop travelers find solace in travers-

ing the mountain trails, Ice HouseCanyon being a popular, albeit rocky

climb. San Antonio Falls, on the other hand, offers a tempting reward at trailsenda glistening waterfall retreat.

Those less inclined to get their hike oncan see the sights from overhead at the

Mt. Baldy ski lift, a popular tourist des-tination. For $12-$25 round trip, adven-ture-seekers can tour the mountain fromthe skies. Warm drinks and meals awaitat the top, courtesy of The Notch restau-

rant. Or, for further thrills when snowseason is in session, rent a pair of skisand take the quick route to the bottom.

Others enjoy trying their luck at thelocal Trout Pools, fed by regional

streams and teeming with trout. Thoughdecidedly manmade, the pools provide awelcome bridge to the great outdoors.

Mt. Baldy: Claremonts winter escape

COURIER photos/Steven FelschundneffThe Mt. Baldy Lodge, though just a few miles from the sprawl of the Inland Empire, feels like a true mountain getaway witha restaurant, bar and cabins.

The moose head in the dining room of the

Mt. Baldy Lodge has become an informalmascot for the restaurant.

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COURIER photo/Steven FelschundneffMichelle Quessenberry pours a cocktail during a recent Saturday night at the Mt. Baldy Lodge. Many of the servers have worked at the lodge for years and live in the area.


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Claremont COURIER/Holiday Magazine 2013

Baldy is full of one-day affairs, buty doesnt have to be so short. While

ails and the Trout Pools certainlyeart to this peak, many mountain

ers would say its the Mt. Baldy that gives the mountain its heart-

Located in the center of the Mt.Village, the longtime local main-more of a district living room thane. Its a central place where all areme to grab a bite and go, or staye in a private cabin.e food here is great...and the peoplere really friendly, said loyal patron,Dvorak. So loyal, in fact, that thes outdoor patio is honorarily nameds Porch.

an see my house [from the patio], sokeep an eye on my kids, he joked.great outdoors and a need for natureMr. Dvorak home to Baldy 15 yearsn addition to the off-trail hikes andir, the lodges low-carb lunchtwoatties or chicken breasts with meltedOrtega chili and salsalends him

itional reason for staying hillside.Ellingson, the lodges co-innkeeper,herself on bringing the comforts of

to her customers. Every morning shefound working away in the kitchen,

ng local favorites like pepper steak arbecue chicken with homemadecue sauce, a men u item waitressy Taylor swears by.

Im not called chicken girl just be-cause of my legs, Ms. Taylor quipped.

In all seriousness, the lodge is aboutmore than just employment for Ms. Tay-lor. Its home.

Yes, its true, everyone knows your business, but I dont know if I would have been able to raise my son without every-one here to help me, she said. I love thecommunity spirit.

Open 365 days a year, the Mt. BaldyLodge is a place locals know they cancount on in times of need. Many did relyon the neighborhood lodge during thefirestorm of 2003. While many evacuated,Ms. Ellingson and her crew remained be-hind, feeding firefighters and running ex-tension cords from the inns generator tohelp provide power to the houses nearby.

That sense of camaraderie extends to allaspects of the Mt. Baldy community,shared lodge employee Correna Smith.Ms. Smith was making the regular driveup to Baldy back when she first landed her

job at the lodge several years ago. After acar accident left her stranded, Ms. Smithremembers no less than five locals offer-ing her the use of their car.

And it wasnt on a temporary basis. Itwas for as long as I needed it, she recalled.People are just not like that everywhere.

The mountains arent immune to thetroubles faced down below. The economicdownturn caused its fair amount of strifein Baldy, among its casualties the SnowCrest Lodge. Although Ms. Ellingson ad-

mits it hasnt always been easy, she ishappy to see business at the Mt. BaldyLodge is still chugging, and she doesnthave any plans to change that. Whether feeding daytime travelers or helpingguests cozy in for a much-needed nightaway, the Mt. Baldy Lodge is open andready for business.

Its a completely different world uphere, and sometimes thats what peopleneed, to get away, Ms. Ellingson said.By the time you hit the Mt. Baldy sign, itno longer counts as driving.

The six cabins of the Mt. Baldy Lodgestart at $109 a night or $79 if you book four nights or more. Three are single-cabins while the others offer one bed-

room and a living room. A vollcourt and pool are also a part of the

scape. The lodge restaurant is opena.m. Monday through Friday for and dinner, and 9 a.m. on SaturdaSunday for breakfast. For more mation, contact 982-1115 orwww.mtbaldylodge.com.

Beth Hnews@claremont-courier

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ABOVE: Pavel Dvorak, who is known as the unofficial mayor of Mt. Baldy, has been aBaldy resident for 15-years and believes it is the best community around. BELOW: TheMt. Baldy Lodge is located near Claremont at 6777 Mt. Baldy Rd., Mt. Baldy.

Dorri Satchell of Covina chats with her husband Taz at the Mt. Baldy Lodge. The cou-ple was having dinner and drinks with their friend Ruby Guntenspergen, at left.

COURIER photos/Steven FelschundneffStanley Van Hoogmoed and his girlfriend Holly Buchanan dance to the music of KillerShades during a recent Saturday night at the Mt. Baldy Lodge. The restaurant has livemusic on the weekends and attracts a loyal crowd.

MT. BALDYcontinued from page 12

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Chaparral Elementary School451 Chaparral Dr. 398-0305 Mini iPads for iPad carts Small microphone system for classroom iTunes gift cards to purchase apps for asingle iPad (smaller increments) Balls, jump ropes and other playgroundequipment Drums and other musical instruments Kid-size gardening tools Xerox paper, dry erase markers Clorox and baby wipes

Monetary donations for campus picnictables, Apple Volume cards for iPad apps,Science Camp trips and classroom chairs.

Claremont High School1601 N. Indian Hill Blvd. 624-9053 Instruments for the band (saxophones,trumpets, trombones, clarinets, flutes) LabQuest 2 devices (aiming for eight,

but any would be great) for the sciencedepartment Real doc cameras for the CHS special

education department Monetary donations to purchase art sup-

plies or gift cards (Blick Art Supplies,Michaels, Aaron Brothers, Amazon)

For the CHS math department Personal white boards with markers anderasers

iPads and laptops Graphing and scientific calculators Geometric compasses Sets of geo solids

For CHS English department Books for Sustained Silent Reading Monetary donations for English depart-ment field trips, including funding for sophomore English and world history stu-dents to travel to the Museum of Toler-ance in Los Angeles. Gift certificates (i.e., Amazon) for DVDmovies of the books students have readand plays/scripts for speech memorization

For CHS Theatre Department Grayco airless paint sprayer Rowenta fabric steamer Rose-brand custom theatre scrim Rosco projection screen Ceiling-mounted projector Lumber (2 x 4, 1 x 3, 1 x 4)

Condit Elementary School1750 N. Mountain Ave. 398-0300 LCD projectors to replace outdated ones iPads for student use in preparing for Smarter Balanced Assessments Any Common Core material (novels,

etc.) that would be beneficial for the im- plementation of the new standards.

Danbury Elementary School1745 Lynoak Dr., Claremont 398-0335 6 x 4 foldable PVC soccer goals(Toledo Physical Education Supply-OS-FGBB8)

Balloon pumps/high-quality balloons 30 soccer balls Write-Online by Crick Software (for twoclasses) Computer program Classroom Suite Classroom rug with letters and numbers Glue sticks CD player and a television 14 iPads, iPad keyboards Wagon Gift cards (CM School Supply, OSH,Lakeshore, Abilitations, Scholastic, Tar-get, Office Depot, Staples, Amazon)

El Roble Intermediate School665 N. Mountain Ave. 398-0343Gift cards that teachers can use to pur-

chase classroom supplies (Office Depot,Staples, Costco, Target, etc.)

Mountain View Elementary851 Santa Clara Ave. 398-0308 Two tripods One camcorder with mic jack or exter-nal mic Two 16-gigabyte SD cards , one 32-gi-gabyte SD cardCUSD WISH LIST/ continues on the next page

There are many ways to brighten up the holidays at CUSD schools

T he school budget situation may have improved a bit, but Claremont students could still use some help. Withthis in mind, the COURIER decided to reach out toeach of the schools in the district this holiday season with asimple question: What do you need?

The answers ranged from big-ticket items like computers and other technology to

smaller but still crucial school supplies like markers and copy paper.If you are a resident or business owner looking to make an impact in the com-munity, donating to a local school might be just the ticket. Any gesture can help.As Mother Teresa once said, Its not how much we give but how much love we

put into giving.


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Two 1- or 2-gigabyte xD cards for Fujifilm Finepixcameras Multi-card reader One USB microphone 25 new computers Eight picnic tables, six benches One iPad cart with iPads Reams of copy paper Kleenex

Four large folding tables Monetary donations towards field trips, a playgroundstructure, art/music program and reading books for kindergarten/first grade library

Oakmont Outdoor School120 W. Green St. 398-0313

Two-inch 3-ring binders Notebook dividers with pockets

Three-ring pencil pouches One-subject (wide ruled or college rule) notebooks Ultra fine-tip markers Blue and red pens, No. 2 pencils, highlighters Lined notebook paper Black Sharpies, dry erase markers Colored markers like Crayola washable markers Hand-held erasers and pencil sharpeners Stickers (any type), glue sticks Plastic baggies in quart and sandwich size Baby wipes White copy paper Playground equipment/balls Primary non-fiction books or Early Readers (any typefor class library) PC computers or laptops with keyboards and mice

San Antonio High School125 W. San Jose Ave. 398-0316

Four 11-foot retractable belt barriers to be used for

lunch line ($52.95 each for a total of $211.80). Avail-able at www.crowdcontrolwarehouse.com/queuemasterretractablebeltbarrierwith10ftbelt-

polishedstainless steelsuperbuy.aspx.

Copies of the book Building the Worlds GreatestHigh School for the newly-established Associated Stu-dent Body (ASB) class (40 at $22.49 for a total of $899.60). Available on Amazon.com.

Painting supplies for two murals for San Antonio HighSchools new logo and mascot (student-made schoolart/beautification projects) available at www.lowes.comfor an estimated $750 after tax and shipping:

- Paint in forest green, silver, yellow and black.(Eight 8-gallon containers at $39.98 each)

- Drop cloths (3 at $31.98 each)- Rollers/pole (3 at $24.98 each)- Paint trays (6 at $3.48 each)- One roll of painters tape ($15.88)- Paint brush and combo kit (4 at $19.97)

CUSD WISH LIST/ continues on the next page

WISH LIST



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Sumner Elementary School1770 Sumner Ave. 398-0320 ext. 3 iPads or iPad minis, Mac computers for computer lab Camp scholarship donation of $275 or any amount togo towards a childs payment. (This years camp is Jan-uary 21-24) Money toward shade structures for the lunch area Copy paper in white or various colors (8 x11) Colored pencils, Sharpie pens (color or black, mediumor small line), white board pens of any color Gift cards for teachers to buy books, gift certificates for educational supplies (LakeshoreLearning.com, etc.) Awards or certificates from local business for studentrecognition programs Playground/PE equipment such as volleyballs, basket-

balls, handballs, tetherballs, dodgeballs Orange cones (standard sized) Hand wipes for food allergies, boxes of tissues

Backpacks for students in need Wagon for transporting student council items Ten large Rubbermaid tubs for games and books Board games Art supplies for inclement weather days

Sycamore Elementary School225 W. 8th St. 398-0324

Monetary donations for students to attend Sixth GradeOutdoor Science School Highlighters, Dry erase markers in all colors, small- andlarge-tip Fine-point Sharpie markers, in various colors. Veryfine-point Sharpie markers, in black Blunt-tip student scissors, glue sticks Post-it notes of various sizes, highlighting tapeTwistable crayons and twistable colored pencilsTiconderoga pencils 70-page spiral-bound notebooks Playground balls, soccer balls (used is fine!)

HP 92 and 93 ink Vista del Valle Elementary School

Bucknell Ave. 398-0331

Two-inch 3 ring binders, notebook dividers with pock-ets, three-ring pencil pouches One-subject (wide ruled or college rule) notebooks Ultra fine-tip markers, black Sharpies Blue pens, red pens, No. 2 pencils, highlighters Lined notebook paper, white copy paper PC computers or laptops, along with keyboards/mice Primary non-fiction books or Early Readers(any type for classroom library)

Colored markers like Crayola washable markers Hand-held erasers and pencil sharpeners Stickers (any type), glue sticks Plastic baggies in quart and sandwich size Baby wipesDry erase markers Playground equipment/balls

WISH LIST



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H ouse of Ruth has been named awinner in Toyotas 100 Cars for Good program, which awardednew vehicles to 100 nonprofit organiza-tions based on votes from the public.

From October 1 to November 19, Toyota showcasedfive nonprofit organizations each day on their contestwebsite at www.100carsforgood.com. Visitors to the

page cast up to two votes per day to select the organiza-tions they feel are most deserving of a new car.

House of Ruth received the most votes and has beennamed a winner of a new Toyota Sienna, which will beused to transport domestic violence clients in emer-gency and transitional shelter.

For the last 36 years, House of Ruths mission has beento advocate for and assist women victimized by domes-tic violence and children exposed to violence in trans-forming their lives by providing culturally competentshelter, programs, opportunities and education.

House of Ruth began in 1977 as a graduate studies project, by a group of students from Claremont GraduateSchool who they assessed the need for domestic violence

services in the Pomona Valley. House of Ruth Incorpo-rated in 1978 with a 24-hour hotline, referrals to services

and crisis counseling. In 1981, an 18-bed shelter wasopened and within 24 hours it was full.

In the past year, House of Ruth has served 4,110 people through various programs and services, which in-clude an emergency shelter and transitional shelter, achild abuse treatment program and a 24-hour emergencyhotline. In addition, staff and volunteers provided com-munity education services to 21,654 people.Holiday Store

House of Ruths annual holiday store will be openfrom December 2 through December 23 to provide new

toys and gifts to women and children affected by do-mestic violence, at no cost.

For many families rebuilding violence-free lives,House of Ruths holiday store is their only source of gifts and food during the holidays. The store is de-signed to give mothers the opportunity to pick outgifts for their children, and children the opportunityto pick out the perfect holiday gift for their mom.Community members are welcome to make a contri-

bution to the store and help House of Ruth create anenjoyable holiday experience for the many familiesthey serve each year.

Join House of Ruth in creating an enjoyable holidayexperience for women and children affected by do-mestic violence by making a contribution to House of Ruth this holiday season. Donations should be new andtoys must be non-violent. All gifts must remain un-wrapped. Cash and gift card donations are also wel-comed. Donations can be delivered to House of RuthOutreach Center located at 599 N. Main St., Pomonafrom 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Please call House of Ruths Com-munity Services Director Melissa Pitts at 868-8021 tomake special arrangements to drop items off at a dif-ferent time. A holiday wish list can be viewed atwww.houseofruthinc.org.

For information on services, visit houseofruthinc.org.

For assistance, call the 24-hour toll-free hotline at 1-877-988-5559.

House of Ruth to win new car, holiday store opens for fundraising

Image courtesy of www.houseofruthinc.org

T he Rotary Club of Claremont sup- ports many programs at home andinternationally. One local pro-gram, Bikes for Kids, provides bicycles,helmets and bike locks to deservingClaremont kids.

Program organizers work with Corey McCroskey atCoates Cyclery to provide the bikes with donationsfrom Rotary members, community members, the Clare-

mont Senior Bike Group and additional support fromthe Claremont Rotary Foundation.In mid-December, the bicycles are delivered and

students from the Interact Clubs, members of theClaremont Senior Bike Group and Rotary memberswork to assemble and tag each bicycle with the nameof the recipient.

For many years, Claremont Rotary has worked withschool principals and staff members of the Title 1schools in Claremont to identify kids in need of bicy-

cles. Teachers identify several children from each gradeand ask the students to express in writing why they de-serve a bike. From the many essays turned in, schoolfaculty selects one or two kids from each grade. On av-erage, 25 to 35 bikes are donated annually.

The Saturday before Christmas, the kids, their fam-ilies and representatives from the schools are invited toCasa de Salsa restaurant in Claremont for the givingof the bikes. The program starts with a free breakfast

buffet followed by singing of Christmas carols, talksfrom school officials, and a safety talk by a Claremont

police officer.

Last year, bicycle locks were donated by Coates Cy-clery and helmets were donated by the city of Clare-mont through its Safe Routes to Schools program.

The Claremont Senior Bike Group has members onhand with tools to adjust each bike to the fit the recipient.Most of the kids already know how to ride a bike, butseveral each year have never ridden and instructions aregiven in the parking lot outside the restaurant.

For more information on how to participate in this program or to make a donation, contact the ClaremontRotary Bikes for Kids chairman, Tom Shelley at 496-8431 or by email at [email protected].

Coates Cyclery and Rotary Club of Claremont team up in Bikes for Kids program


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Being ThankfulBy Isabel Warth, a sixth grader at Sumner Elementary School

Around the time of Thanksgiving, I think about allof the things I am thankful for. I consider myself lucky to have all these wonderful things in life in-cluding parents who love me, a house in which tolive in, and a school in which to learn everything Ineed to know about the world.

School is important to me because it teaches meabout math, science, reading, history and manythings that will be helpful in the future. School willhelp me get a job when I am older and have a suc-cessful life. I enjoy school and am grateful for myeducation.

I love my parents. My parents are probably thegreatest thing in my life. They love me and care for me, and I would not have even existed if it werentfor them. My dad is the smartest person I know. Heteaches me a lot of things about life, math and even

politics. My mom is the parent who teaches meabout love and compassion. My mom and dad gaveme and taught me about life and I love them morethan anything.

The two most important things about understand-ing thankfulness are realizing that not everyone isfortunate enough to have the things you have, andknowing happiness does not last forever. You mustappreciate the things you have while you have them.

What I am thankful forBy Trace Hauptmann , a sixth grader at Sumner Elemen-tary School

The month of November reminds me that I shouldshow gratitude to many things that I am not alwaysgrateful for. I have so many things to be thankful for,

but the things that are most important to me and de-serve the most gratitude are our country, the people

in my life and God.I am thankful for our country, the United States

of America, because it has so many benefits thatother countries dont have. One of those benefits isthe great education we receive in America because,without education, we wouldnt be very smart andwe wouldnt make a difference in the world. An-other benefit we have are the companies from our country like Apple and Barnes and Noble becauseeven though not only Americans receive their prod-ucts, they are still American companies and com-

panies like that help our country grow. Also, the people that live in the US are another thing thatmakes our country unique.

Not only are the people in the US important, buteveryone in my life that I care about is important tome. I am thankful for my grandmother who lives inBrazil not only because she is family but also becauseshe cares for me and loves me even though we dontspeak the same language. I also show gratitude to-wards my parents who always care for me and whoare always there for me. I am also grateful for my sis-ters because, even if they dont show it, they care for me too and always help me through problems.

God is the most important thing in my life because,without him, nothing would exist. God created every-thing from an ant to an entire galaxy, but his favoritecreation is us. Even though not everyone believes inhim and not everyone obeys him, he still loves usmore than anything.

The month of November will always remind meof the many things in my life that I should showgratitude for, and it will always remind me to bethankful for them. I will always be grateful for everything I have.

CLAREMONT KIDScontinues on the next page


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Merry ChristmaWishing you a New Year filled with Peace & Happiness

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email: [email protected]

ThanksgivingBy Dirk Morken , a sixth grader at Sumner

Elementary SchoolThanksgiving is just around the cor-

ner, and its time that I remember whatI am thankful for. There are manythings that I am appreciative for, butsome of the most important things tome are entertainment, life and family.

Entertainment is one thing Im appreciative for, because life would be boring without it. Two things in enter-tainment that I love are going tohockey games and playing soccer. En-tertainment is great; you have games,

books and TV. A good thing on TV isthe news channel because you learnthings and get entertained.

Entertainments nice, but life ismore important. The things Im thank-ful for that help you live are shelter,water, food, medicine, oxygen andelectricity. If we didnt have thesethings, we wouldnt be able to survive.

What Im most thankful for is myfamily. I love my family; in fact, myearliest memory was at Big Bear withmy family. My dad is the main dinner chef at our house, and my mom some-times makes bacon and pancakes onthe weekend. My sister and I used tofight, but now we dont. Then theresour dog Scruffy. Hes just a big fur

ball who sheds on our carpet.Without family, you would be a sad,

lonely person. I have the best family Icould ever imagine and Im very

grateful that I have them. Together or apart, Im always thinking about themand theyre always thinking about me.

Thankful!!!By Brooke Bachman, a sixth grader at Sumner Elementary School

In the month of November, I like to

acknowledge some of the things I appreciate. I am thankful for manythings in my life. Those things I ap-

preciate most include modern re-sources, friends and family.

I acknowledge my appreciation for modern resources. Without the tech-nology, medicine and security wehave today, life would be much harder for a variety of reasons.

Modern technology is important be-cause most people, if not everyone,use computers, phones and other tech-nological resources for personal andwork-related communication. Modernmedicine is necessary to both humans

and animals. Without modern medi-cine, it would be much harder to sur-vive. Modern security is useful for many reasons, including keepinghomes, museums and airports safe. Itis also used to protect stores and banksfrom being robbed. Unbelievable ad-vances in security allow for technol-ogy device tracking, remote lockingand even satellite observation, whichimprove our safety.

I always feel safe around myfriends, and I know they are trustwor-thy. They can be trusted through joyfulexperiences and unpleasant circum-stances. My best friend, Hannah, has

been a major blessing in my life. Shehas never abandoned me when Iveneeded her most. She encourages meuntil I get through my problems. Idont think I would be the same with-out her in my life.

Another one of my friends is Katie.While I have not known Katie for along time, she has impacted megreatly. She is nice to everyone andnever gives up on anyone who needsher. All of my friends share a special

place in my heart.However, that which Im most

thankful for, that which is important tome, surpassing modern resources,friends and everything else, is myfamily. They have had the biggest im-

pact on my life and have helped methrough times of trouble and strife.

My mom and dad, whom I love somuch, have always loved me and al-ways will. My sister, Brianne, has also

been there to encourage and love mefor my entire life. Though she and Ifight sometimes, I still love her somuch. My parents remind me oftenthat Brianne would protect me fromharms way and from any person whointended to do anything bad to me.

Even my two puppies, Austin andDakota, have had an impact on mylife. They play with me when I am en-ergetic and happy, and sit with mewhen I am tired or sad. My family isextremely important to me, and I cantimagine living without their love.

I am appreciative of everything Ihave and am especially grateful for my friends and my family. I wish Icould name everything I am thankfulfor, but I know there are too many

blessings to mention. I am so thankfulto have the life that I do.

CLAREMONT KIDScontinued from the previous page


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T his year, the ClaremontCommunity Collegewill provide presents,entertainment and a visit fromSanta to more than 150 de-serving children. On Wednes-day, December 11, Santa will

be arriving at the CitizensBusiness Bank Arena to wishthe children well, by provid-ing gifts and a photo. Theevent begins at 6 p.m.

How can you help? To maximize buying power, the Claremont Com-munity College (CCC) will order toys straight from the manufacturersat very reduced prices. In addition togifts for the kids, families will re-ceive grocery gift cards to help pur-chase food for holiday meals.

To donate, visit www.claremontcommunitycollege.com. Donations

go a long way to giving these fami-lies hope.

When making a donation, consider

electing to volunteer with gift-wrapping. More than 50 volunteers will bewrapping gifts at 1 p.m. on Sunday,December 8, the Sunday prior to theevent. Gift-wrapping will take placeat JVH Incorporated, located at 8750Prestige Ct., in Rancho Cucamonga.

Also, additional elves will beneeded to help distribute gifts to thekids. What a great way to celebrategood fortune by seeing the smiles of kids with Santa!

The CCC Secret Santa event beganin 2001 with local residents helpingone family of 12 children. Santa andhis elves came to their house with aChristmas tree, food and gifts. Thefollowing year the event served threefamilies. In subsequent years, theevent grew to five families then 15

Help make a child's holiday brighter by joining theClaremont Community Colleges secret Santa event

SECRET SANTA



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and then 60 families and 150 chil-dren. The event has grown so large, itis now held at the Citizens BusinessBank Arena.

Toys are carefully selected and fam-ilies who recieve gifts are selected bythe Salvation Army. The groups phi-losophy is that the child should domore than the toyso there are novideo games or electronic gadgets.Gifts include items such as puppets,art sets and wooden trains.

More than 50 students volunteeredlast year to help with the event. As-signments included taking pictures,wrapping gifts, helping Santa andwelcoming the children. This yearsevent will also include a special holi-day show.

The Claremont Community Collegeis a nonprofit organization that putson events throughout the year, includ-

ing the Claremont 5 Second Invita-tional Film Festival. All donationsare tax deductible.

Visit www.claremontcommunitycollege.com for more information.


SECRET SANTAcontinued from the previous page

Photos courtesy of Claremont Community CollegeSantas elves gift wrap presents for local children at last years Claremont Community College Secret Santa Event.


23/27


S howcasing the best of collegiate a cappellamusic, the 18th AnnualSCAMFest (Southern Califor-nia A Cappella Music Festi-

val) will be held tonight,Friday, November 22, at 7:30 p.m., in Pomona CollegesBridges Auditorium (450 N.College Way, Claremont).

The concert will feature 12 of south-ern Californias top a cappella groups.Representing the Claremont Collegeswill be the Claremont Shades, After School Specials, Kosher Chords, Men'sBlue and White, Midnight Echo, Mood

Swing, Women's Blue and White, andthe 9th Street Hooligans. Visiting per-formers scheduled are Bruin Harmony(UCLA), USC Sirens, the Scattertones(UCLA) and SoCal Vocals (USC).

Reflecting the soaring popularity of college a cappella, more than 1000 peo-

ple typically attend SCAMFest. Accord-ing to Hannah Doruelo 16, president of the Claremont Shades, this years audi-ence should expect all of the craziness,musicality and entertainment of last year,and even more. Its always a surprise.You never know what each group isgoing to pull out.

The Claremont Colleges are home toeight a cappella groups and more than80 students participate in a cappellagroups each year. The Claremont

Shades, which produce SCAMFest,have been featured on two Best of Col-lege A Cappella (BOCA 2002 and2005) compilation CDs. Founded in1995, they have produced five CDs.Their most recent album, All ThingsGo, was released in 2010.

Tickets for the event are $10 at the door or online at www.pomona.ed/bridges.Presale tickets for Claremont Collegesstudents, at the Bridges AuditoriumBox Office, are $5.

For more information, email theClaremont Shades at [email protected] or visitwww.claremontshades.com where youcan also listen to The ClaremontShades singing Chicago, Crazy or There is No Arizona.

18th Annual Southern California A Cappella Music Festival perform tonight

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24/27


T he Claremont Interfaith Council (CIC)will hold its annual Interfaith Thanks-giving Service on Wednesday evening,Thanksgiving eve, November 27 at 7 p.m. at

Temple Beth Israel, located at 3033 N. TowneAve., in Pomona. As this year's service willfall on the first night of the Jewish festival of Chanukah, the evening will begin with thelighting of the first Chanukah candle.

The service will feature keynote speaker Fr. George Si-lidis, Priest-in-Charge of St. Ambrose Episcopal Church,who came to Claremont following a long period of servicein the Diocese of Alaska. The evening will also includeclergy and lay leaders from other faith communities in thearea, as well as music, including contributions from theClaremont High School Concert Chorale and a multi-con-gregation choir directed by Ruth Charloff. There will also becontemporary selections included and communal singing.

The conjunction of Thanksgiving and Chanukah is suchso unusual, said Cantor Paul Buch, Cantor at Temple BethIsrael, and I truly appreciate that the council memberswere enthusiastic about including elements of both in theevening's service, Mr. Buch said. In addition, though theevents they celebrate were almost 1,800 years apart, bothare rooted in finding strength through faith.

As has become the custom, an offering will be receivedat the gathering with the full proceeds going to Inland Val-ley Hope Partners in support of their food security program.For further information, contact Temple Beth Israel at 626-1277 or visit facebook.com/claremontinterfaithcouncil.

Annual Interfaith Thanksgiving service comes to Temple Beth Israel


25/27


T he holidays will be upon usshortly, and the Friends of theClaremont Library will provide anample opportunity to find perfect, distinc-tive books that will delight each person onyour gift list. On Saturday, December 7from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., the FOCL will host

its annual Book Lovers Book Sale.A wide variety of books will be offered includinga beautifully illustrated book about the artists of theAmerican Arts and Crafts movement, a book of

beautiful fabrics and textiles, and a series of books

about the art and science of bullfighting from Spainand South America in the 1950s and works about the

best bullfighters of the era.In addition, a beautifully bound edition of Heloise

and Abelard will be offered. This edition is numbered182 of a total printing of 1200.

Shoppers can find books about California and localhistory, about birding and wildflowers. Browse andfind prized cookbooks and books highlighting gar-dens of the world, architecture, interior design, fash-

ion, Hollywood icons, sports, games, toys and dolls all that intrigues anyones aesthetic senses. No cash or credit cardschecks only, please. The

Claremont Library is located in the Village at 208Harvard Ave., Claremont.

Friends of the Claremont Libraryhosts book lovers book sale


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Claremont COURIER Holiday Magazine

Documents

Transcript of Claremont COURIER Holiday Magazine