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Claremont

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CLAREMONTS
Grand Old

4th

Everything you need to know about Claremonts 2015 July Fourth extravaganza

FOURTH OF JULY SPECIAL/2015

Claremonts
Grand Old Fourth

Grand Marshal

by Sarah Torribio

Marilee Scaff

..........................................8

Fourth of July 2015

Honored Citizens

by Angela Bailey

Jerry and Maury Feingold

.........................................
Honored Citizen

12

by Collette Weinberger

Robin Gottuso

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Claremont Kids

16

by Sarah Torribio

Fourth of July fun for the whole family

........................................
Honored Group

18

by Kathryn Dunn

Pilgrim Place
COURIER photo/Steven Felschundneff

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22

FOURTH OF JULY SPECIAL/2015

Freedom 5000

njoy the beautiful tree-lined streets of Claremont as

you cheer on your friends or grab your own sneakers
during the Freedom 5000 run.

The course begins in Memorial Park and winds through the scenic streets of
Claremonts Village, then on to the picturesque Colleges campuses. See the
course map at right. Bib pick-up begins Friday, July 3 from 5 to 8 p.m. and continues on Saturday, July 4 from 6 to 7:15 a.m., with the first 1K Kids Run race
starting at 7:30 a.m. The 5K Run/Walk starts at 8 a.m. On July 3 and the day of
the race, registration is $35 for adults; kids ages 12 and under are $20. Groups of
10 or more will be given a $5 per person discount. Groups must submit all registration forms together and supply one form of payment for all group members.
Medals will be given to the first three in each age division, and all children
(ages 12 and under) who participate in the 1K will receive a medal.
Image courtesy of the city of Claremont

COURIER photo/Steven Felschundneff

Josh Bernstein drinks water and waits for his friends
after the Freedom 5000 in his red, white and blue
tutu. Mr. Bernstein was just one of many participants
dressed in patriotic colors for last years race.

FOURTH OF JULY SPECIAL/2015

Food, fun, frivolity at Memorial Park

he annual Claremont Fourth of

July celebration has been a timehonored tradition in the city for
more than 60 years.

The celebration consists of a morning 5K run, pancake

breakfast, opening ceremonies, festival and parade, and
ends with a bang at the Fireworks Spectacular. Memorial
Park is transformed as performers rove the park, providing color and fun for people of all ages.
Stage entertainment will include a variety of bands
and entertainment, and there will be demonstrations
throughout the park, including clowns, strolling
bands and jugglers.
Enjoy a good ol fashioned pancake breakfast spon# Booth

sored by the Kiwanis Club from 7 to 10 a.m. The breakfast helps raise funds for a variety of organizations and
programs supported by Kiwanis. Ticketsgoing for
$5may be purchased at the booth. The full breakfast
includes pancakes, sausage, juice, milk and coffee.
Proceeds from the breakfast help support AbilityFirst,
the ReadMe program, Shoes that Fit, Habitat for
Humanity, the Monday Night Concerts in the Park, Best
BET and other youth and community activities.
If still available, fireworks tickets will be sold in conjunction with the breakfast and may still be available at
the information booth at 10:30 a.m.
Handicapped parking and convenient drop-off is
available. Those with disabilities (with placards) may
park on Eighth Street between Indian Hill Boulevard

and Yale Avenue on the south side of Eighth Street.

Additional parking will be available on parts of Yale
Avenue (signage will direct you). Those with a handicapped placard may also drop off family members
using the circle drive in front of Garner House and then
park their vehicles on Eighth Street.
Saunter through the booths gathered on the grass at
Memorial Park. To locate a vendor, peruse the booth
vendor list below and locate their number and location on the festival map. The Independence Day
Committee information booth will be located just
north of Garner House.
Should the need arise for first aid, a station will be set
up next to the Police Command Station, located at
Tenth Street and Indian Hill.

Organization

1 Info
City Council
2 Info
Fourth of July Celebration Information
3 Info
CERT
4 Info
Committee on Aging (COA)
5 Info
American Legion
6 Info
Claremont Lincoln University
7 Info
Daughters of the American Revolution
8 Info
Sustainable Claremont
9 Info
Sustainable Claremont Garden Club
10 Info CHERP
11 Info League of Women Voters
12 Info Active Claremont
13 Info CHAP (Claremont Homeless Advocacy Program)
14 Selling Democratic Club of Claremont
15 Info Claremont Progressives
16 Info Temple Beth Israel
17 Info Friends of the Bernard Biological Field Station
18 Info NAMI Pomona Valley
19 Info The Branch Christian Ministry (Calvary Chapel)
20 Info Claremont Museum of Art
21 Selling Mountain View Republican Club
22 Info The Womens Club of Claremont
23 Info Food for the Poor
24 Info Claremont Presbyterian Church
25 Info Our Lady of the Assumption School
26 Info Fair Trade Claremont @ OLA
27 Info Claremont Friends Meeting
28 Info Amnesty International
29 Info Revive Church Inc.
30 Info LA County Sheriffs Department
31 Info St. Ambrose Episcopal Church
32 Info LA County Fair
33 Info Claremont United Methodist Church
34 Info Uncommon Good
35 Info Claremont Wildlands Conservancy
36 Selling Claremont Heritage
37 Food Claremont Youth Programs
38 Food Revive Church Inc.
39 Food Jobs Daughters
40 Food Italian Catholic Federation
41 Food Italian Catholic Federation
42 Food Knights of Columbus
43 Food CES7
44 Food Claremont Stars Soccer Club
45 Food Girl Scouts of Greater LA-Colorguard
46 Food Girl Scouts of Greater LA-Colorguard
47 Game Claremont High School Theatre
48 Game Claremont Boy Scout Troop 403
49 Game Solid Rock Church
50 Game Solid Rock Church
51 Game Claremont Rotary Club

Image courtesy of the city of Claremont

FOURTH OF JULY SPECIAL/2015

COURIER photo/Steven Felschundneff

Patty Bowman, Monica Copenhaver and Joseph Rosas cheer for their daughters as the Claremont 10-and-under all stars pass in last years Fourth of
July parade on Indian Hill Boulevard in Claremont.

FOURTH OF JULY SPECIAL/2015

T. Willard Hunter Speakers Corner

sing Londons Hyde

Park Corner as his
inspiration, Reverend
T. Willard Hunter began the
Claremont Independence
Day Speakers Corner in
1977 to showcase the constitutional right of free speech.

As a result, a variety of topics ranging

from politics and religion to current
events and history have graced the podium for the past three decades.
Perhaps best known was Rev. Hunters
34-hour speech at Independence Hall in
1982a speech he again delivered in
London in 1984.
Former mayor Karen Rosenthal continues the tradition by coordinating the
Speakers Corner each year.
Ms. Rosenthal paid tribute to Rev.
Hunter at Claremonts 2009 Fourth of
July celebration, just days after his death.
Willard was our social conscience,
our mentor and our friend, Ms.
Rosenthal said. We were very proud to
have had him with us for so many
Independence Days. He was truly a
Claremont treasure.
After graduating from Harvard Law
School, Rev. Hunter spent his early
career involved with Moral Re-

T. Willard Hunter

Armament, a political movement that

encouraged deference to honesty,
unselfishness and love. He and his wife
Mary Louise Hunter, who died
November 23, 2010, came to Claremont
in 1959 after Rev. Hunter became the
coordinator of development at the then
Claremont Graduate School. Mr. Hunter,
who lived his final years at Pilgrim
Place, died at age 93 on June 29, 2009.
Kathryn Dunn
editor@claremont-courier.com

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3 p.m.

Opening
Mayor Corey Calaycay
Colin Tudor: Declaration of Independence
Sam Pedroza: ClaremontA city for living, learning and re-learning
Kris Meyer: One Nation Under God vs. A Divided Nation Without God
Butch Henderson: The Conscience of the Community
Susan Allen: What 18th Century Almanachs Tell Us about America
Peter Weinberger: Is Journalism Dead?
Larry Ruotolo: Son of Prop 13
Michael Shea: Yes for Public Safety Facility
Ted Tryzna: Claremont in 1776
Barnabas Path: Claremont Energy Challenge
Daniel Davis
Mark von Wodtke: Urban Forest Master Plan
Merrill Ring: American Freedom
Doug Lyon: Remembering Independence Day
Ellen Taylor: Voting is Important!
Carolyn Gonzales
Joe Lyons: Liberty, License and the Future of Humanity
Darlene Nicgorski: Pilgrim Place 100 years & Peace Vigils 12 years
Dave Nemer: Public Schools: Good News, Bad News, and Mixed Messages
Adam A. Russell: This Is American Business
Michael Keenan: Corporate Attacks Upon National Sovereignty and Home Rule
Lora Illig: Here is NAMI
Catherine Erickson: Poems for July 4
Closing

FOURTH OF JULY SPECIAL/2015

Claremont centenarian will serve as Grand Marshal for July 4 parade

t this years Fourth of July celebration, there will be a new

leader of the pack. Marilee Scaff,
who turned 100 in November, has been
named Claremonts Grand Marshall.

Shes earned her place at the front of the parade

through decades of community service and her firm
commitment to making her town, and the world, a
better place.
Ive always been interested in public affairs,
because thats how we have to be, she said.
Ms. Scaff, who has been a member of the local
League of Women Voters since the late 1940s, considers water hugely important. A longtime regular at city
council gatherings, shes turned her focus in the last
decade to pushing for a more sustainable water supply.
We cant have a town without a good, reliable
water company, she said.
Shes glad the current city leaders agree, holding
strong in their resolution to acquire Claremonts water
system from Golden State Water. Im proud of that
city councila 5-0 vote and holding strong, she said.
Shes also proud of the fact that when crafting its
new General Plan in 2006, the city introduced
dozens of ways to support sustainability. One of
these was the creation of a group of environmentally
concerned residents. Ms. Scaff has been a member of
Sustainable Claremont ever since.
People often joke about memory slips, calling them
senior moments. Ms. Scaffs memory is in fine
shape, thank you very much. She spends a lot of time
retrieving the numbers, statistics and details stored in
her capacious brain.
When they redid the General Plan, they listed 63
points on sustainability and theyve done two-thirds
of them, she noted with typical mental alacrity.
Ms. Scaff has a practical approach to life, but she
also enjoys the occasional decorative touch. She
wears an oversized silver necklace, with a walnut
backing carved by her late husband. The metal pendant, which she crafted in a long-ago jewelry-making
course, features a tree whose branches are denoted by
simple lines.
It looks more than a little like the city of Claremonts

We can hardly
not be patriotic
to a country
that is ours.

Marilee Scaff
Fourth of July Grand Marshal

logo, which features an oak tree with outstretched

boughs. The accessory is a fitting way to underscore
Ms. Scaffs love of nature, green living and her city.
I love oaks. They are very long-lived, and they do
not need much water once they are established, she
said. When the other trees begin to die, they will
live. Its a trait to admire: long-term sustainability.
Ms. Scaffs own long life has been filled with
important work and momentous happenings.
She earned her bachelors degree in sociology
and economics from the University of Texas and a
graduate degree from the University of Chicago in
theology and social ethics. She married Alvin Scaff,
who she met while pursuing her undergraduate
degree, in 1938.
Soon after, the couple left for the Philippines, where
they served under the mission board of the
Congregational Church. They were stationed in a
remote mountain village, dividing their time between
raising their young family and teaching local children.
In 1941, the United States declared war on Japan.
In 1945, Japanese soldiers captured the Scaffs and

placed them in an internment camp.

In a 2013 COURIER interview, Ms. Scaff related
the incident with a characteristic lack of fanfare. We
thought it looked pretty good compared to some of
the places we had been, she said. It was crowded,
very crowded, but actually living in the mountains
was more dismal.
They were rescued by the 101st Airborne Division
and returned home, with their oldest son Lawrence
celebrating his third birthday at sea.
In 1947, Mr. Scaff took a job teaching sociology at
Pomona College, beginning Ms. Scaffs love affair
with the City of Trees. When she wasnt caring for
her three children, she taught part-time at the nursery
GRANDMARSHAL
continues on page 10

FOURTH OF JULY SPECIAL/2015

COURIER photo/Steven Felschundneff

Longtime resident and local activist Marilee Scaff has been named the Grand Marshal of the 2015 Fourth of July parade.

FOURTH OF JULY SPECIAL/2015

GRANDMARSHAL
continued from page 8

school of the Claremont United

Church of Christ, then called simply
the Claremont Church. She also
served as the churchs director of
Christian education.
She later taught at El Roble and then
served as counselor at the intermediate
school. Her involvement with education continued to grow with a spot on
the Claremont Unified School
Districts Board of Education.
After earning a PhD in educational
psychology from the Claremont
Graduate University, she taught at the
universities of Iowa and North
Carolina at Greensboro. She and her
husband also continued to undertake
missionary work, returning to the
Philippines and volunteering in places
as far-flung as Botswana.
All in all, they spent eight years in
the Philippines and nearly two years in
east Africa, where Mr. Scaff worked
for the United Nations in Ethiopia and
Uganda. But the Scaffs always
returned to Claremont over the years.
Membership in the local chapter of the
League of Women Voters has been a
touchstone during Ms. Scaffs peripatetic life, as well as a pleasure.
It was so nice to sit around with a
group of women who talked about
ideas instead of recipes and children,
she told the COURIER in 2013.
Her career, volunteer work and

COURIER photo/Steven Felschundneff

Longtime resident and local activist Marilee Scaff has been named the
grand marshal of the 2015 Fourth of July parade.

adventures make for an interesting life

story, but Ms. Scaff refuses to take herself too seriously.
Im supposed to look like the Fourth
of Julylike a firecracker, she joked
when posing for the COURIER on the
patio of her home at Pilgrim Place.
Ms. Scaff calls being Grand Marshal
a hoot.
I think the Claremont parade is the
quintessential small-town event. Its
folksy, although its not quite as folksy
as it used to be when we had the

Lawnmower Brigade and the Twiddlers, she said.

Ms. Staff may miss the parades erstwhile marching thumb-spinners, but
she is not one to get lost in nostalgia.
While the annual Village Venture crafts
fair now draws more visitors than residents, she points out that the city has
always been a cultural destination.
Claremont has been a center for
art, more in the past than even now,
she said. The Village Venture is a
giant art fair that is the current inheri-

10

tor of that legacy.

Ms. Scaff hasnt gone untouched by
time. She now uses a walker to get
about. Still, she gets about more than
the average person half her age.
Wherever she goes, she brings to bear
the lessons she has learned.
We can hardly not be patriotic to a
country that is ours. We chose it, or
inherited it, and its welfare is important.
But it should not stand in the way of recognizing that the planet is populated by
many people, all of whom love their
countries, or most of whom do. Patriotism
is sometimes too narrowly depicted. Its
working for the common good.
Ms. Staffs good works have not
gone unnoticed.
She is an incredible lady, fellow
Pilgrim Place resident Ken Frank said.
She knows about Claremonts history
and about its issues and politics. We
usually turn to her for insight.
Ms. Scaffs Independence Day holiday will be a bit more exciting than
usual. All or most of her four grandchildren and at least two great-grandchildren are expected to be in
Claremont to see Marilee in a sweet
ride with a big smile.
While she may not cherish any grand
notions about her starring role in a
small-town parade, she is looking forward to it. Its a way to build community, she said. The city gathers
together for a fun and happy day.
Sarah Torribio
storribio@claremont-courier.com

FOURTH OF JULY SPECIAL/2015

11

A reminder of holiday rules and regulations from city hall

parking exemption if they will be parks a reminder, the city of Claremont ing on the street.
prohibits all fireworks. People in The Claremont Municipal Code prohibits parking
vehicle on a city street for more than one hour
violation of this law may be issued any
between the hours of 2 a.m. and 6 a.m. Residents are
a citation. As an alternative, the city offers allowed three exemptions per month.
its annual fireworks show on July 4.
Overnight parking exemptions may be obtained
Fireworks prohibited

Overnight parking for holiday guests

f you are having guests stay with you

overnight during the holiday weekend, remember to get an overnight

by visiting the citys website at ci.claremont.ca.us

or by calling the Claremont Police Department.
Telephone exemption requests will only be accepted between 7 a.m. and 10 p.m. daily by calling
(909) 399-5411 or (909) 399-5415. Online exemption requests will only be accepted until 3:30 a.m.,

the morning of the request.

Parading down Indian Hill

The blankets and chairs will be placed on Indian
Hill Boulevard for days in advance. This years
parade will follow in the tradition of years past, with
hundreds of kids on bikes, dogs in carts and folks on
horseback as they all jockey for position in what has
become one of the most popular events of the day.
At 3 p.m., spectators head en masse to Indian Hill
with children in tow and cameras in hand to stake out
the best place to sway with the tunes of the marching
band and enjoy the sights of the decorative floats and
familiar faces.
Officially kicking off at 4 p.m., the parade will
wind west on 10th Street to Indian Hill Boulevard,
south on Indian Hill Boulevard to Harrison Avenue,
and then west on Harrison Avenue to Mountain
Avenue at Larkin Park, where the parade disbands.

FOURTH OF JULY SPECIAL/2015

12

Jerry and Maury Feingold always ready to lend a helping hand

ongtime Claremont residents

Jerry and Maury Feingold know
the value of community service.
This firecracker couple, with warm
smiles and a gregarious demeanor, has
devoted untold time and energy serving
those in the city they call home, and
they wouldnt have it any other way.
At some point in your life, you must do something for which you are not paid, but which will
make you feel good by helping other people, Ms.

Feingold says. By our involvement in all of the

things that we do in our community, weve not
only met many wonderful friends. I think weve
made a difference in peoples lives.
In recognition of their acts of service, Mr. and
Ms. Feingold have been chosen as Claremonts
2015 Fourth of July Honored Citizens, a mark of
distinction bestowed up them by the Blue Ribbon
Committee. The committee is comprised of representatives from the Claremont City Council, the
school board, the Community and Human Services
Commission and the Independence Day
Committee as well as delegates from local service

organizations and religious groups.

The title of Honored Citizen is an accolade these
longtime Claremont residents share with friend
and fellow Independence Day Committee member
Robin Gottuso, who nominated the Feingolds
based on their laurels.
Evidently, the Blue Ribbon Committee kept
voting and Jerry, Robin and I kept coming up as a
tie, explains Ms. Feingold. Steven Collins
called to tell us the news and I thought he was
kidding, then I started to cry. It was really nice of
HONOREDCITIZEN
continues on page 14

FOURTH OF JULY SPECIAL/2015

COURIER photo/Steven Felschundneff

Jerry and Maury Feingold have been named Honored Citizens for this years Fourth of July parade. This year, the Fourth of July committee
took the unusual step of having co-honored citizens, and so the Feingolds will be joined by Robin Gottuso.

13

FOURTH OF JULY SPECIAL/2015

HONOREDCITIZEN
continued from page 12

them to do that.
Ms. Gottuso is thrilled to stand
alongside the Feingolds during this
years festivities.
I look at both of them as individuals and as a couple, and theyve done
a lot in all their years in Claremont. I
couldnt think of anyone else I would
want to share this with. Im thrilled
to sit with them and enjoy this experience together.
Mr. and Ms. Feingolds story began
over five decades ago, just east of
Claremont in the town of Pomona.
Maury had graduated from the
University of Minnesota and was
offered a teaching job at Hamilton
Elementary School. With the location
fulfilling a requirement imposed by
her mother, she accepted a second
grade teaching post.
Were Jewish, and my mother said
I had to go somewhere where there
was a temple or synagogue, and
there was one in Pomona, explained
Ms. Feingold. I went to temple the
Friday night I came in, and Jerry was
there with his parents. Hed just
returned from three-and-half years in
Germany while in the Air Force. We
were the same age and we just connected.
On July 7, 1962, the couple married in St. Paul, Minnesota following
a two-year courtship. They lived
briefly in Montclair and Pomona
before settling in the City of Trees in
1974. The husband and wife purchased a home in north Claremont
and have remained there for nearly
41 years.
We thought the Claremont schools
were good. We knew some people
who lived here, Ms. Feingold

14

We feel very
blessed that were
able to give back
to the community.

Maury and Jerry Feingold

Fourth of July Honored Citizens

COURIER photo/Steven Felschundneff

Jerry and Maury Feingold watch the festivities during a recent Fourth of
July celebration.

recalls. It seemed like a nice place

to raise children, and it has definitely
exceeded our expectations.
After four years of teaching at
Pomona Unified School District, Ms.
Feingold spent the next 17 years
staying home and raising the couples childrenLisa, David and
Danielvolunteering with various
school organizations and undertaking
sports-mom duties while Jerry was
busy supporting the family, traveling
as a manufacturing rep for several
childrens clothing lines.
While I was doing that, I had my
own sporting goods company called
Such A Deal, says Mr. Feingold.
When I got off the road, I just continued doing it and its still going
today.
Established in 1984, the
Claremont-based business is thriving.
The couple works together, offering
sports equipment to schools, and is a
HONOREDCITIZEN
continues on the next page

FOURTH OF JULY SPECIAL/2015

HONOREDCITIZEN
continued from the previous page

staple at Village Venture as well as in various boutiques throughout the southland.

The school boutiques are happy to have us,
because what parent coming in isnt going to
spend $5 on a ball? Ms. Feingold says. Even the
kids coming through, if they have $5, they can
buy something and its not something that needs a
battery. Its something they can use for a little
exercise.
As their kids got older and with Mr. Feingold
traveling less for work, Ms. Feingold returned to

Pomona to teach another 16 years. Upon her

retirement in 2003, she jumped into more activities within the Claremont community. Shes previously served on the Senior Finance Committee,
has been on the Community and Human Services
Commission since 2002 and has worked on the
Youth and Family Master Plan updates.
In addition to substitute teaching a couple days a
week, Ms. Feingold serves on the Senior
Excursion Committee, which provides the olderadult community with a low-cost means to discover the best of southern California through its cultural activities, captivating art and rich history.
People who live all around here say Claremont

15

has the best senior trips of anybody, she says

proudly, noting, They do fill up quick.
As if that werent enough, the Feingolds have
for the past 12 years dedicated one day a week
to Pomona Valley Hospital, where Jerry drives
the shuttle and Maury works in the surgical
waiting room.
They both also serve on the Independence Day
Committee, and take great joy in participating in
Claremonts beloved summer celebration.
Weve always enjoyed the Fourth of July in
Claremont and thought we should get more
involved, says Ms. Feingold. Jerry and I have
been in charge of the Claremont Idol and the
theme contest for the years weve been on the
committee. Our responsibility is over on the
Fourth, so we just trouble-shoot and assist with
whatever needs to be done that day.
As a nearly 10-year member of the Kiwanis
Club of Claremont, Mr. Feingold does double-duty
on the Fourth of July, aiding with the city events
as well as donning his blue shirt to help out with
Kiwanis traditional Pancake Breakfast at
Memorial Park.
The proceeds from the morning event help support a variety of organizations and community
events, but you wont find Mr. Feingold behind
the griddle.
You wouldnt want to eat my pancakes! he
says with a hearty laugh. Instead, I get involved
with the set-up. Ive never joined an organization
to just sit in a chair. You cant just sit on the sidelines. Wheres the fun in that?
Married for nearly 53 years, the Feingolds are
proof-positive that the couple that plays together
stays together. When theyre not dedicating their
time to helping others, they love to travel to distant lands such as China, Europe, Mexico and the
Mediterranean as evidenced by the many photos
and artifacts displayed throughout their home.
Two large mapsone of the world and another
of the United Stateshang on the wall in their
home office and serve as a reminder of the places
theyve experienced together.
Every time we go someplace, we put a pushpin in, explains Ms. Feingold. We still have
places to go and things to do. This year, were
going to Alaska, then Hershey and Amish country
in Pennsylvania and finally a Caribbean cruise at
the end of the year.
When theyre not traveling, these active
Claremonters spend as much time as possible with
their five grandchildrenHailey, JT, Julie, Lauren
and Matthew.
The grandkids keep busy with school, sports
and activities, but we text, says Ms. Feingold.
Im a modern grandma. Thats why I had to
get the iPhoneso I could keep up with the
grandkids!
For Mr. and Ms. Feingold, the experience of
serving the people in and around Claremont not
only provides them with the opportunity to give
back. It has also enabled them to appreciate the
gifts they have been given.
We feel very blessed that were healthy and
were able to give back to the community, says
Ms. Feingold. My mom used to say, If you have
your health, you have everything. I think how
blessed we are that we are able to take care of ourselves, to be independent, to still have each other
and be able to still give to the community. Im just
thankful for that every day, because there are so
many people who cant.
Angela Bailey
news@claremont-courier.com

FOURTH OF JULY SPECIAL/2015

16

Robin Gottuso focuses on serving Claremont community

or Claremonters like
Robin Gottuso, serving
the community is far beyond a self-serving act. Instead,
it is a passion that has become
part of her daily routine.
To honor her volunteerism, her peers
on the Fourth of July Independence Day
Committee selected Ms. Gottuso as one
of Claremonts Honored Citizens.
Ms. Gottuso, a realtor for Century 21
Gene Hart Realty and an avid volunteer,
spends her days giving back to a community where she has spent most of her life.
I serve because I love to serve, she
said. Thats just who I am.
While growing up in Upland, Claremont was considered her second home.
Ms. Gottuso would frequently take
family trips to the Village for a variety
of activities. This also meant attending
Claremonts Fourth of July festivities.
By the age of 19, she moved to Claremont and has never looked back.
The seed was planted, and Ms. Gottusos fondness for the Fourth reflects
her involvement with Claremonts Independence Day Committee, on which she
has been active for 14 years.
Being involved with the committee
just seemed natural, she said.
Ms. Gottuso assisted in establishing
HONOREDCITIZEN
continues on the next page

COURIER photo/Collette Weinberger

Honored citizen Robin Gottuso, an avid volunteer, spends her days giving back to the community that has given her just
as much in return.

FOURTH OF JULY SPECIAL/2015

HONOREDCITIZEN
continued from the previous page

guidelines and policies for the annual 5k

race, and helped facilitate the partnership
between the Claremont High School cross
country team and the city. She also serves
as the coordinator of the National Anthem
and the theme contest, as the fireworks
show ticket sales coordinator and as the
community and human services liaison.
I drew myself to things that I thought
were important to other people, she noted.
In 1988, Ms. Gottuso joined the Parent
Faculty Association at Condit Elementary
School, which her two children, Nicole
and Justin Gottuso, attended at the time.
Ms. Gottusos volunteer work focused
on earthquake preparedness projects and
parking lot safety for students. As the
fundraiser coordinator, she helped raise
money for the installation of window
film, a laminate coating around windows
that prevents glass from shattering.
As her children grew older, Ms. Gottusos volunteer work continued when

she sat on the board for Claremont High

Schools cross country team and, beginning in 1996, the Claremont Young Life
board. Young Life is a non-denominational Christian ministry that reaches out
to adolescents of all ages.
Once Ms. Gottusos children graduated high school, she was ready to expand
her volunteer work to the city of Claremont, becoming a Human Services
Commissioner in 2006. It became the
Community and Human Services Commission when the two departments were
combined during the recession in 2008.
Ms. Gottuso began as Human Services
Commissioner because the role touched
so many aspects of Claremont life.
Having spent her summers outside benefitting from parks and recreation programs as a young girl, Ms. Gottuso wanted to give back to a commission that has
enriched her and her family.
When reflecting on the volunteer work
she has done, Ms. Gottuso says being a
Community and Human Services Com-

You dont realize

how passionate
people are about
a community until
you get involved.

Robin Gottuso
Fourth of July Honored Citizen
missioner has been the most significant
and impactful. It was a real eye-opener
for me, she said. You dont realize how
passionate people are about a community until you get involved.
Ms. Gottuso has been an active member of Claremonts Chamber of Commerce for 10 years, and on the Sequoia
International Ministries board for 11
years. SMI is a nonprofit Christian partnering organization that brings philan-

17

thropic groups together to work on joint

projects. As secretary for SMI, Ms. Gottuso meets with the board twice a year to
discuss plans to support the international
organization.
Ms. Gottuso found her way into realty
through her husbands family. Her husband Mario Gottuso is the intern director
at Cal Poly Pomona and a former school
administrator. Century 21 Prestige Properties remains in the Gottuso family and
is now owned by Vince Gottuso.
Since 1992, Ms. Gottuso has been a
Bible study discussion leader for the Bible
Study Fellowship in Glendora. From September to May, the Bible study, aimed at
women, meets every Tuesday. The room
is regularly packed with 500 participants.
I love being able to give back and
help other people, Ms. Gottuso emphasized. Even though its work, its just a
part of what we should be doing.
In her free moments, Ms. Gottuso enjoys gardening, spending time with
friends, traveling and watching movies.
She also loves to swim and cook
healthy food.
Ms. Gottusos motto is one she treasures and values day-to-day. If I lose sight
of who I am working for and why I am
working for them, then I dont belong in
this business.
Collette Weinberger

FOURTH OF JULY SPECIAL/2015

18

News Bites
Park yourself in the park
The Movies in the Park series begins on Tuesday,
July 7 with an evening screening of the animated feature Book of Life at Wheeler Park (626 Vista Drive
in Claremont).
The movie starts at dusk. So do four other fun family movies to be shown at various Claremont parks.
Heres the schedule: Night at the Museum: Secret of
the Tomb on Tuesday, July 14 at Lewis Park (881
Syracuse Drive); Paddington on Thursday, July 16 at
Blaisdell Park ( 1440 S. College Ave.); The Boxtrolls
on Tuesday, July 21 in Griffith Park (1769 Woodbend
Drive); and Big Hero 6 on Tuesday, August 4 at
Memorial Park (840 N. Indian Hill Blvd.).
Come early to play in the park and enjoy a picnic.
Bring a blanket to lay on the grass or low folding
chairs, and please leave your pooch at home.

Twist, but dont shout

Mr. Twister, the Balloon Man will stop by the
Claremont Library (208 N. Harvard Ave.) on
Wednesday, July 8 from 2 to 2:45 p.m. to share his
amazing balloon creations and teach kids some of
his tricks. Youll love this interactive presentation,
aimed at kids ages 8 and up. For information, call
(909) 621-4902.

by Alexander Hall,
a first grader at Vista del
Valle Elementary

Q. Why did the duck say bang?

A. Because he was a firequacker.
Q. What did one flag say to the other flag?
A. Nothing, it just waved.
Q: What does the Statue of Liberty stand for?
A. It can't sit down.
Q: Where was the Declaration of
Independence signed?
A. At the bottom.
Q: What was the most popular dance in 1776?
A. Indepen-dance.
Q: What's the difference between a duck and
George Washington?

A. One has a bill on his face, and the other has

his face on a bill.

COURIER illustration/Collette Weinberger

What do balloons
and fireworks have
in common?
A: Pop!

FOURTH OF JULY SPECIAL/2015

A great American hero

ho is the most patriotic of US

superheroes? Captain America,
of course!

You may be familiar with him. Hes a super-soldier who wears a red, white and blue costume and a
helmet featuring an A for America. He carries a
shield with a star in the centermade from a rare
metallic element called vibraniumthat he can
throw at enemies or use to protect himself from
blows and blasts.
My shield! Ive lost track of the times its saved
my life, Captain America muses in a 1966 comic
book. Its just an inanimate sheet of steel, and yet
its become truly a part of me.
Captain America is a part of The Avengers, a
bunch of Marvel superheroes who work together to

19

fight bad guys. Its a pretty amazing crew, featuring

Iron Man, the Hulk, Thor, the Black Widow,
Hawkeye, Black Panther, Ant-Man and Wasp,
among others. Sometimes, they perform missions
for SHIELD, a secret organization that protects the
planet from superhuman threats.
You might have first learned about Captain America
through the Avengers movies or films like Captain
America: The First Avenger and last years sequel,
Captain America: The Winter Soldier. But the flagloving freedom fighter dates back much further.
Captain America was created by cartoonists
Jack Kirby and Joe Simon and appeared in March
1941 in the first issue of his own comic book,
Captain America Comics #1. It introduced the
tale of Steve Rogers, a weak and puny soldier
who, after being given an experimental serum, be-

comes remarkably strong and coordinated.

The country was ready for a great American hero.
The United States had just declared war against Japan
the previous December when the Japanese military
bombed the naval base at Pearl Harbor in Hawaii.
Three days later, Germany and Italy declared war
against the United States.
America became fully engulfed in World War II. It
was called a world war because people across the globe
were fighting each other. The toughest opponents for
the United States were Germanywhose leader Adolf
Hitler wanted to take over the worldand Japan.
Pretty soon, Captain America became Timelys most
popular character, spawning a fan club called the "Sentinels of Liberty."
In his autobiography, Mr. Simon shared how he
came up with the superheros name. After sketching
out the character, he labeled him Super American but
then thought twice.
No, it didnt work. There were too many Supers
around, he said. Captain America had a good sound
to it. There werent a lot of captains in comics. It was
easy as that.
As the story goes, Captain America was trapped in
ice near the end of the war. Decades later, he was revived from suspended animation, still powerful enough
to lead the Avengers.
Who are some of your great American heroes?
Sarah Torribio
kids@claremont-courier.com

FOURTH OF JULY SPECIAL/2015

20

The states other names

id you know places

can have nicknames,
just like people?

California is called The Golden

State. Made official in 1968, the nickname comes from the discovery of gold
in 1848. During the Gold Rush, thousands of settlers headed for California,
hoping to strike it rich through mining.
The name also comes from the fields of
orange-gold California poppies that
bloom throughout the state in the spring,
including right here in Claremont.
Did you know there are nicknames
for all 50 of our countrys states?
Arizona is called The Grand
Canyon Stateyou can probably
guess why. Alaska is called The
Land of the Midnight Sun, because
when its summer there, the sun
shines almost around the clock.
Delaware is called The First State,
because it was the first of the 13 original states to say yes to the US

Constitution and put it on paper.

Hawaii is called The Aloha State,
because aloha is a common greeting
on the group of islands. Missouris
called The Show Me State because
residents pride themselves on being
skeptical, practical and a bit stubborn.
When you are skeptical, you doubt
what youve been told. You want
someone to show you something is a
fact or a workable plan, not tell you
about it.
When settlers were told they could
head west into American Indian territory in 1889, thousands of people
raced there to snatch up the land.
Those who went in early to set up
homesteads were called Sooners,
because they got there sooner than
anybody else. Today, Oklahoma is
called The Sooner State.
These are just a few of the affectionate nicknames given to our 50 states.
Look up some more. You can learn a
lot from a name.

Wordsearch:
barbecue
blue
celebrate
family
fireworks
flag
independence
July
music
parade
patriotism
picnic
red
summer
white

FOURTH OF JULY SPECIAL/2015

21

COURIER photo/Steven Felschundneff

Emma DeWees, 6, and Natalie DeWees, 8, walk away from a ring toss game at Purpose Churchs booth
after winning prizes in Memorial Park at last years Fourth of July celebration. Game booths, food stalls
and information booths are available throughout the day.

s:

Notable Quotable

ers
w
o
l
f
e
r
a
s
k
r
o
Firew
sky.
in the gardaerond Kintz
J

FOURTH OF JULY SPECIAL/2015

22

Pilgrim Place earns Honored Group distinction

ith its beginnings rooted in

offering quiet refuge for missionaries, Pilgrim Placeand
its sprightly residentshas evolved over
the last century to become a haven for
Claremonts most astute and civic-minded
population. This year, as the busy Pilgrims
celebrate their centennial, they can add
another honor to their reserves: Claremonts
Independence Day Honored Group.
With mainstays like the annual Festival in November
and Friday afternoon peace demonstrations at Arrow
and Indian Hill, its no surprise that Pilgrim Place has

extended its influence far beyond the clusters of bungalows on Harrison Avenue. To say the Pilgrims are
enlightened would be an understatementfrom local
elections to water issues to sustainability, there is nary
a concern not undertaken by the Pilgrims.
In 2010, for example, Pilgrim Place took on an initiative to reduce its energy use by 25 percent. The need
was recognized, the goal was set and, one by one,
passersby could see the CHERP signs popping up
along Eighth Street. At the time, 100 percent of the residents expressed favor for the project with a commitment to retrofit residential units through upgrades such
as better insulation and the installation of double-paned
windows and solar roofing.
COURIER photo/Jonathan Gibby
In 2002, the Pilgrims set a five-year goal to reduce
Pilgrim Place residents demonstrate in solidarity
water
consumption by 50 percent. Just four years in,
with the Occupy Wall Street movement.
they had achieved a 42 percent reduction and were recognized by the city council and the Three Valleys
Metropolitan Water District. Then again, years before
the water fight with Golden State took hold, the
Pilgrims launched a drought-tolerant landscaping
effort that included removal of turf and installation of
Mediterranean plants and upgraded sprinklers throughout the campus. Development of a food garden has
begun, with residents working together to plant and
harvest the crops.
The campus is open, as Pilgrims welcome the community to enjoy a notable speaker in Decker Hall,
peruse the Petterson Museum or foot-tap to a performance by the Pilgrim Pickers in the Abernethy.
Putting thought into action seems to come naturally
to the world travelers who have settled here. The late
Judy Wright quoted Harold Davis from his book, This
is Claremont, where he states, Missionaries from all
parts of the globe come and go through the Pilgrim
gates, bringing added riches, a cosmopolitan point of
view and hosts of interesting stories.
The Pilgrims will have to put political engagement
on the back-burner Saturday, July 4 as they enjoy their
well-earned spot as the Honored Group at this years
Independence Day parade.
Kathryn Dunn
editor@claremont-courier.com

COURIER photos/Steven Felschundneff

Pilgrim Jim Lamb shows Claremont High School
student Martin Clark a photo taken in the 1940s
when he was in the US Navy during a visit by the
students to Pilgrim Place. A group of students
interviewed Pilgrims who served in the armed
services as part of their English class.

Residents and visitors walk the grounds of Pilgrim

Place during an open house.