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C
our er i
laremont
claremont-courier.com
Police union settles with city on contract
Story on page 3
Saturday 05-12-12
u
75 cents
t
Making a game plan:
What’s next forthis weekend’s college graduates?
Story on page 5
COURIER photo/Steven FelschundneffTraffic turns left from Foothill Boulevard onto Indian Hill Boulevard Thursday evening in Claremont. Following years of political wrangling, the section of Foothill that runs through Clare-mont has been transferred from state to local control.
City acquires ownership of Foothill Boulevard
Story on page 3
 
A life of seeking brings joy andcontentment
Story on page 12
 
Claremont COURIER/Saturday, May 12, 2012
2
The Claremont Courier (United States Postal Service 115-180) is published twice weekly by the Courier Graphics Corporation at 1420 N. ClaremontBlvd., Suite 205B, Claremont, California 91711-5003. The Courier is a newspaper of general circulation as defined by the political code of the state of California, entered as periodicals matter September 17, 1908 at the post office at Claremont, California under the act of March 3, 1879. Periodicals postageis paid at Claremont, California 91711-5003. Single copy: 75 cents. Annual subscription: $52.00. Send all remittances and correspondence about sub-scriptions, undelivered copies and changes of address to the Courier, 1420 N. Claremont Blvd., Suite 205B, Claremont, California 91711-5003. Tele- phone: 909-621-4761. Copyright © 2012 Claremont Courier 
one hundred and fourth year, number 38
1
420 N. Claremont Blvd., Ste. 205BClaremont, CA 91711
(909) 621-4761Office hours: Monday-Friday9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Owner
Janis Weinberger
Editor and Publisher
Peter Weinberger
pweinberger@claremont-courier.com
Managing Editor
Kathryn Dunn
editor@claremont-courier.com
Newsroom
City Reporter
Beth Hartnett
news@claremont-courier.com
Education and Sports Reporter
Landus Rigsby
reporter@claremont-courier.com
Features Reporter/Obituaries
Brenda Bolinger
brendabolinger@claremont-courier.com
Photo Editor/Staff Photographer
Steven Felschundneff
steven@claremont-courier.com
Reporters At Large
Pat Yarborough, Sarah Torribio
Calendar Editor
Jenelle Renschcalendar@claremont-courier.com
Back Page
Sammy
sammy@claremont-courier.com
Production
Ad Design/Classified Pages
Jenelle Rensch
Page Layout
Kathryn Dunn
;hAdvertising
Advertising Director
Mary Rose
maryrose@claremont-courier.com
Classified Editor
Jacquie Fischer
classified@claremont-courier.com
Business Administration
Office Manager/ Legal Notices
Vickie Rosenberg
legalads@claremont-courier.com
Billing/Accounting Manager
Dee Proffitt
Distribution/Publications
Tom Smith
publications@claremont-courier.com
Circulation/Subscriptions
subscriptions@claremont-courier.com
W
e don’t often see a situation where agovernment agency says they want todramatically reduce their spending andCongress says, “No, thanks.” That’s pretty muchthe case as the United States Postal Service (USPS)grapples with billions in losses in 2012 and be-yond.
Most folks know the amount of mail delivered each year byUSPS is dropping like a rock. The numbers vary, but they hoveraround 25 percent less since 2006. And this trend is only pick-ing up steam.It’s easy to see why, as the digital age continues to changehow people communicate and access information in all sorts of ways. But USPS has a plan to help stem the losses. Cuts and re-organization are already happening, but there are a number of fundamental changes that need to be made to stop bleeding.The USPS plan focuses on 3 areas of service that would meansignificant pain for residents all over the country. The least pop-ular is the closing of over 3700 of the least-profitable rural postoffices all over the country. Since many small towns rely heav-ily on their post office, this is a big hit for small-town America.The Mt. Baldy post office is the only location in the Claremontarea on this list.The other 2 service cuts involve eliminating overnight andSaturday delivery. These are also very unpopular choices, largelydue to expectations of the public, concerns from business andthe huge amount of mail this would impact.These proposals would also hurt the newspaper industry in avariety of ways. So here’s using the COURIER as an example.Although Claremont is located in a highly populated area, thusminimizing any post office closings, as a newspaper we are guar-anteed overnight delivery to key zip codes. We print the paperTuesday and Friday nights, then deliver to our readers onWednesday and Saturday.If given the chance, USPS would put newspapers in the samedelivery category as junk mail, thus adding a day to our deliv-ery time. We already had to fight this issue (successfully) be-cause of current cost-cutting measures.But these cost-cutting proposals happen to be very unpopularwith voters, too. Congressional leaders in an election year arebrutally aware of this, especially since there are so many organ-izations fighting these cuts. The National Newspaper Associa-tion (NNA) has been a leader in trying to find alternatives tohelp USPS solve their budget crisis without cutting many keyservices or costing taxpayers money.The good news is Congress is involved. The bad news is Con-gress is involved.Congress has oversight over USPS and has to approve anycuts in services. That’s a good thing because the post office is notparticularly adept at making itself more efficient (I’m being nicehere) and will propose or make changes without looking at thereal impact to their business.The NNA has stepped in, supporting and shaping a bill (S.1789) that focuses on changing how USPS handles their bene-fit funds, which currently have liberal rules on payments. It alsochanges the criteria of what is deemed a “profitable” post officeand gives small communities a voice to review all options beforeclosing down a local office. The bill is not a bailout, as so manybudget hawks like to call it.But Congress is involved, which means any change will hap-pen slowly (I’m being nice again). There are many other ideason how to handle this mess, so USPS will remain in the newsway past the elections in November.For the COURIER, we will sit and watch how things develop.Although changes may be in the wind, it’s important to remem-ber Claremont has a healthy community newspaper and web-site, with a lot of public and business support.So whatever happens, we will deal with change and continueto deliver accurate, unbiased news coverage to Claremont resi-dents. If you have an idea or thought on COURIER delivery,I’m all ears.
—Peter Weinberger
pweinberger@claremont-courier.com
READERS’ COMMENTS
The COURIER welcomes all readers’ comments onany issue or topic. Comments may be submitted by emailto editor@claremont-courier.com, by fax 621-4072, bymail 1420 N. Claremont Blvd. Ste. 205B, Claremont,CA 91711, or hand-delivery. Email is the preferredmethod.Deadline for submissions in the Wednesday issue isFriday at 5 p.m.; the deadline for the Saturday issue isWednesday at 5 p.m.The COURIER cannot guarantee publication of everyletter. We reserve the right to edit letters for space. Let-ters should not exceed 250 words.
by Peter Weinberger
Intern
Sasha Rindisbacher, reporter
Changes in the US Postal Service will bea painful, lengthy process
GOVERNINGOURSELVES
Sunday, May 13
City Council booth at Farmer’sMarket, Second Street8 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Monday, May 14
Tree Committee, 6 p.m.City Yard, 1616 Monte Vista Ave.
Tuesday, May 15
Planning CommissionCancelledNeighborhood ForumJoslyn Center, 6:30 p.m660 N. Mountain Ave.
 Agendas for city meet-ings are available at www.ci.claremont.ca.us
 
Claremont COURIER/Saturday, May 12, 2012
3
City acquires Foothill Boulevard in long-awaited move
W
ith a unanimous vote of ap-proval by the Claremont CityCouncil, Foothill Boulevard,from Towne Avenue to the county line be-fore Monte Vista Avenue, now belongs tothe city of Claremont.
The decision signified the city’s last step necessary toacquire the major roadway from Cal-trans, and the realization of a decades-long goal of the city. The ownershipwill be finalized following the approval of the Califor-nia Transportation Commission (CTC) next month.“I believe control of Foothill Boulevard will be agreat benefit to the city and we will be able to moveahead with the needed repairs,” said Mayor LarrySchroeder.Throughout the past 10 years, the city has workedwith Caltrans, which currently operates the Claremontportion of Foothill Boulevard, with the hope of re-claiming the street, but with little success.“Caltrans wanted to relinquish, but when we ex-plained to them what we considered to bring the road-way into a state of good repair, they kind of let it dieabout 10 years ago,” said City Engineer Craig Brad-shaw.Senate Bill 993, introduced by Senator Bob Huff in2010, was created to help the city and Caltrans throughthe process. A year later, the 2 groups negotiated anagreement, but financial uncertainties made the deal animpossibility at the time.“Unfortunately, the timing could not have been anyworse,” Mr. Bradshaw said. “The state’s economy wasin disarray, as it continues to be, and no funding couldbe located.”Recent funds, however, have been identified in theCaltrans Shop, a state highway operations and protec-tions program, within the 2011-2012 budget. As part of the agreement, Caltrans will give the city $5.7 millionin funding to begin much-needed repairs and updates tothe city’s portion of the major roadway, according toMr. Bradshaw. Updates include repair and additions tosidewalks, curbs and gutters; installation of and updatesto handicap ramps; audible pedestrian signals at Moun-tain, Indian Hill, Mills and Claremont Boulevard, andcorrecting drainage deficiencies. A majority of the re-pairs are expected to begin in the summer of 2013, ac-cording to the city’s report, with $200,000 of safety,traffic and ADA improvements to begin within 6months of receiving the compensation funds.Some of the improvements not included in the relin-quishment compensation include new streetlights, fu-ture street resurfacing, undergrounding of existingelectrical and utility lines, as well as routine traffic sig-nal electrical maintenance. Routine maintenance of Foothill is expected to cost the city $120,000 annually,which will be funded by available gas tax through fis-cal year 2014-2015.
City settlement with police ends 6-month impasse
The Claremont City Council has given final approvalfor a contract with the Claremont Police Officers As-sociation (CPOA) good through 2014.With a 3-2 vote the council approved the memoran-dum of understanding with the police union, endingnearly 6 months of impasse.The 2 opposing votes came from Mayor Pro TemOpanyi Nasiali and Councilmember Corey Calaycay,who also voted no on the 4 previously-approved con-tracts with other employee groups. Mr. Nasiali and Mr.Calaycay believe all groups should be paying their fullpension share immediately instead of the contract’s tax-deferred basis. Every group will pay their full pensionby the end of the contract.Councilmember Joe Lyons felt positively that theneogitaions had at last come to a close.“Negotiations are what they are, and in my opinion thishas certainly been successful,” said Mr. Lyons. “I want tothank the negotiators on both sides...for coming to an eq-uitable, fair and impartial decision.”With its approval, the city council has now agreedupon contracts with 5 of its 6 employee groups. Nego-tiations continue with the Claremont Police Manage-ment Association.Through the new agreement with the CPOA, whichexpires in June 2014, the city will save an estimated$311,562, according to Personnel Manager ShawnaUrban. This excludes the estimated $7000 in legal feesused for the latest Public Employment Relations Board(PERB) hearing, part of a lawsuit filed by the CPOAafter reaching an impasse late last year.In return, the police union members will get a total 5percent Cost of Living Increase. Forty members willalso be given an annual uniform allowance of $400.Cost to the city over the life of the 3-year contract isapproximately $435,352.“The joint, good faith meet-and-confer efforts havebeen successful in reaching an agreement that meetsthe best interest of both parties,” Ms. Urban said.With the joint agreement, the CPOA will also dropboth of its outstanding lawsuits against the city of Claremont. Members say they are thankful an agree-ment has been reached, and look forward to a continuedfocus on public safety and giving back through com-munity events like their annual Tip-A-Cop fundraiser.“We are ready to move forward and get back on trackwith working with the city and the council,” said CPOAVice President Detective Robert Ewing. “We are gladto put this all behind us.”
—Beth Hartnett
news@claremont-courier.com
CITY NEWS
CITYCOUNCIL
From the CityManagerʼs office
Amended sign program for ChaseBank in the Sprouts Center
The Architectural Commission ap-proved an amendment to the sign restric-tions for the new Chase Bank building atthe northwest corner of Foothill Boule-vard and Mountain Avenue. The amend-ment will allow for largerbuilding-mounted signs and 2 freestand-ing signs at the future bank location.The first freestanding sign, to be lo-cated on the corner, is 6 feet tall and willlist only Chase Bank and Sprouts Market.The second freestanding sign, just west of the main entrance to the Sprouts Center,will be 13 feet tall and list 8 tenants of thecenter, including Chase Bank and SproutsMarket.Both monument signs will have colorsand materials that match the existingSprouts and approved Chase buildings.
Renovation and expansion of PitzerCollege President’s House
The Architectural Commission has ap-proved a major renovation and expansionof the Pitzer College President’s residenceat 739 N. Harvard Ave.The historic front portion of the homewill be preserved, while a large addition tothe rear and south end of the originalhome will be demolished and recon-structed.The new addition will be designed tobetter blend with the original portion of the home, and several safety and accessrelated deficiencies will be corrected. Thehome has served as the college president’shouse for nearly 40 years.
Political sign guidelines for residents
As the Tuesday, June 5 California pri-mary election nears, residents may expecta number of candidates and supporters todisplay campaign signs in the comingweeks.Residents and property owners are wel-come to display such signs on privateproperty. Signs may not be placed on pub-lic property such as utility poles, trafficsignal poles or in public parks. Signs maynot be posted within public rights of way,such as parkways and medians.Though there are no restrictions on thenumber of signs permitted per premise,sign sizes are limited to no more than 16square feet and freestanding signs cannotbe more than 6 feet in height.Residents can review the ClaremontMunicipal Code Section 18.015.030.F,“governing temporary political signs,” inits entirety at www.ci.claremont.ca.us orcontact Community Improvement at 399-5467 with further questions.
Carbon monoxide detectors nowrequired in homes
The city of Claremont’s Building Divi-sion reminds residents that all homes inCalifornia are now required to beequipped with a carbon monoxide detec-tor. Carbon Monoxide (CO) is known asthe “silent killer,” because it is an odor-less, colorless and tasteless gas that cancatch its victims completely unaware. COdetectors can be found at hardware storesfor around $20.
Video detection installation at keyintersections assists cyclists
Video detection has been installed atsignalized intersections to “improve traf-fic flow and to allow for the detection of bicyclists.” The intersections of IndianHill at Eighth and Tenth Streets; Bonita atCambridge and Mountain; ClaremontBoulevard and First Street; and Base Lineat Towne Avenue now have video detec-tion.The old push buttons at Indian Hill andEighth and Tenth Street are no longer nec-essary for bicyclists to cross Indian HillBoulevard.
OUR TOWN
The city of Claremont has recently taken over controlof Foothill Boulevard from the State of Californiawhich means that maintenance of the corridor willnow be handled by city crews. Pictured is the inter-section of Foothill and Indian Hill as seen Thursdayevening.
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